GRISWOLD - After a week of tragic events in town that have yet to be fully resolved, Griswold officials and community services are hoping residents will reach out to each other for help this holiday season.
"This has been a very rough week for the town, for neighbors, for the troopers and the fire departments," First Selectman Todd Babbitt said. "This is a strong community with strong people, but everything takes its toll."
The responders
Local and state officials responded to a reported snowmobiler who fell through ice on Pachaug Pond Dec. 16, and have yet to recover his body. The town is also reeling after a fully-involved fire Wednesday in the upscale neighborhood of Kenwood Estates left two dead.
Griswold Fire Chief Tom Holowaty was on scene for both tragedies. Babbitt, former fire chief, said he has been in nearly constant contact with Holowaty through the week about not just the incidents, but support for fire department personnel as well.
"Their training is put on hold because of the holidays for the next couple of weeks, so hopefully that will be some much-needed downtime away from the job," Babbitt said. "But the department may also get together just for the holidays so they can have some support."
Babbitt said as the former fire chief he knows the toll that comes with not just responding to a call, but the amount of paperwork and labor that comes after.
"It can be draining," he said.
The community
Babbitt said residents also need to be aware of the resources the town can offer them if they're struggling during difficult times.
Coordinator of Griswold PRIDE, or Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone, Miranda Nagle said the holidays are identifiable as a time of struggle for people suffering with mental illness. Given the heightened emotions that can come with traumatic experiences in the community, Nagle said help is still available at the holidays.
"We have numerous behavioral health agencies in our area that offer mental health and substance use disorder services. And the state police at Troop E have a new CRISIS program that provides assessments and referrals in collaboration with the troopers and a licensed clinical social worker, as well as mobile crisis services," she said.
One of the town's behavioral health agencies is the UCFS Jewett City office, located on Main Street. Practice Manager Heidi Simmons said tragic events bring people to the office for services year around.
"There is tragedy in people's lives everyday," Simmons said. "We try to partner with the community to reach people where they are."
Jewett City Warden Al Geer said he hopes neighbors will look out for each other after the week's events, referencing the addage "if you see something, say something."
"As a resident, I hope we can get through all of this. Just be nice to each other and help or ask people if they are okay," he said. "Spend the holiday with your families and embrace them."