Need for services now apparent
Thanks to all who initiated the opening of Bridges Mental Health Center on Elm Street in West Haven. Its attendance is growing at a rapid pace, and as clinicians have been attending both Milford and West Haven’s centers, it is likely grow even larger.
We held a rally a few years ago. We worked hard and received support from so many passionate people including doctors, nurses, and clients. I can’t express the gratitude I felt when I walked into the Elm Street center for the first time. It was surreal. It felt like I received a gift. What I and others fought hard for had come to fruition. It also showed me that many politicians were humane. People like Charles Ferraro led me to other Republicans who were always such a pleasure to talk to. We talked about issues we were interested in, and agreed on many things. Even when we disagreed, he made it clear he took my views seriously.
Politics have become bitter and even dangerous. We must look inside ourselves and not let the poison in. We must be compassionate and honor all. No matter race, creed, color or religion. There is just good and bad, not Democratic and Republican. We need to heal our nation. Some fight for this, but many times politics gets in the way.
In a letter sent a few months ago, I talked about our rights and freedoms being threatened. This conflict has gotten worse. It’s a long hard battle, but we must fight as one!
Jonathan Bober
Son’s memory kept alive in Foundation
My name is Shantavia Chappell. My 5-year-old son Darius Chappell passed away unexpectedly while he was sleeping on Thursday Oct. 6.
I started a nonprofit organization called The Darius Chappell Holiday Giving Foundation, Inc., on November 23, 2022. I started this nonprofit to keep my son’s name alive.
I will be hosting my first giveaway event next week for Christmas. This Christmas, I have teamed up with The Hometown Foundation to provide toys to 40 children at Kiddie Tech University in West Haven, CT and 28 students at Forest Elementary School in West Haven, CT.
In upcoming years, I would like to continue to provide Christmas toys to the students at his previous schools, Easter baskets to the children in local churches, costumes to children in need for Halloween and Thanksgiving baskets to families in need for Thanksgiving. These events will be conducted annually. Every year, I would like to help even more families than I did in the previous year.
Darius was an amazing little boy. He lit up every room he walked into to. He was born at 31 weeks & 3 days and was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis due to him being born prematurely.
After undergoing reconstructive surgery on his skull before his 2nd birthday he continued to thrive and meet all his developmental milestones. Darius was healthy overall, and his passing was sudden and devastating. The autopsy results are still pending, but they think it was natural cases or something medically undiagnosed. The preliminary results were all negative.
Darius was my only child, my heart, and my world. I am currently a graduate student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, studying to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This traumatic experience has shifted my focus to grief counseling for parents who have lost a child or children. I would love to share more about my son’s life and legacy.
He touched so many lives in his short time here on earth. Darius was truly an “Angel on Earth.”
Shantavia Chappell, BA