Support The Outback in New Canaan

The Outback is a safe harbor for our children and we participated at many events and parties, fundraisers, etc. My son, Dan Antoniu was part of the initiative to start a recording studio at the outback and we were very happy that the initiative came to fruition and is there now for all New Canaan musicians to enjoy. Cutting the funding for the outback is like denying our children the opportunity to grow up in a safe and fun environment.

We need this asset for our youth and our entire community. Other area towns fully fund their teen centers. We need this resource!

the Outback is a valuable facility to the town. It provides a safe place for kids to hang out and it also is a great facility for various groups to use for meetings and social events. We should not cut funding to theOutback.

My son loved the Outback and it was a very important place for him to spend time. Please continue the funding.

Please continue to support this valuable resource

In this day and age our teenagers need every bit of support we can possibly give them. We need to continue to be "part of the village" that raises them and gives them opportunities to grow.

The Outback is a community asset that needs to be supported by both public and private funds. Over the years I have seen ups and downs in teen enthusiasm for the Outback. Some years it has been filled with high schoolers at dances and concerts, other times it has seen middle schoolers hanging out with their friends and playing pool. With childrens’ homes spread all over town, the Outback provides a central location within walking distance from Saxe and NCHS that allows kids a place to hang out with their friends. There has been a recent wave of negative publicity, much of which has been misinterpreted by the public. The Outback deserves a chance to come back from a tough year and try to fulfill its potential. It needs town funding and support to achieve its mission of providing a positive and enriching environment for New Canaan’s teens.

I have supported the Outback from the beginning. I believe New Canaan needs to embrace this community asset.

The Outback Teen Center is a proven asset tend should be supported by the town and the private sector.

Would be a terrible loss for the town and its youth. The Outback gave my son an important outlet and extracurricular respite in hi High School years. Closing the facility would be a terrible loss!

RESPONSE from Sangeeta Appel, Outback's President of the Board It is easy to state inaccuracies behind the mask of anonymity. The Outback does not allow drinking on site. That is completely wrong. First of all the high school parties are just a small part of the events and activities at the Outback. Last year we had four high school parties, however, the focus is only on the one in which there was a problem. We work with the New Canaan youth officer and hire police officers to help chaperone our large parties. Case in point, at the October underclassmen party, we hired and paid to have two officers at the party. One uniformed who interacted with each student to look for signs of intoxication. as he/she entered the facility. The other one dressed in civilian clothes roaming around to monitor the facility. There were 9 adult chaperone/staff members to monitor the students throughout the party to maintain a 1/20 supervision ratio. Staff checked throughout the facility to make sure no alcohol was stashed in any area within and around the facility before the party. During the party, staff members were assigned to particular areas to monitor and check the restrooms at half hour intervals. Students were asked to sign a conduct code which states that we do not tolerate alcohol consumption. Students were not allowed to bring in any bottles or bags. Any bags/backpacks were checked in storage before they were allowed into the main facility. Learning from prior events, a staff member was assigned to monitor each emergency exit to make sure kids did not sneak in any alcohol. Any student suspected of being intoxicated was breathlyzed by the police officers we hired. The one student who was sent to the hospital, threw up waiting in line to enter the main facility and was pulled out by the officer we hired to be sent by ambulance to the hospital. A few others did not show signs of intoxication initially but when they did exhibit it, they were breathlyzed, removed t

Firstly, don’t be a coward by hiding behind anonymous postings …who are you and how informed are you really? You don’t seem informed about the variety of activities offered that benefit a wide range of members of this community. For your information (and all those reading about this petition), the Outback has expanded its reach and offers multiple unique programs and services to New Canaan residents including middle school children and adults who certainly do not see the Outback as a place for drinking. These programs include, customized cooking classes for different ages (from middle school boys to adults); math, skateboard, fashion, beading, self-defense, art and active parenting workshops; teen and adult kickboxing and yoga; and summer camps. It also offers leadership programs through its Student Governing Board and community service programs. It serves as a great facility for school and social gatherings including best buddies, NC Cares kids Power, sports and NCHS theater banquets and fundraisers. The Outback also organizes the annual basketball and soccer exhibitions, Hoops with the Harlem Rockets and Kicks with New Canaan Vs Darien coaches, each with over 1,000 attendees every year. Secondly, by signing this petition, people are not “ignoring the Outback’S troubling history of on-site drinking”. They are probably better informed and aware of the value of a facility dedicated to our youth. They probably understand that closing down a facility that is dedicated to serve them could actually aggravate the current problems and demoralize our youth. They most likely appreciate that community members and reputable non for profit organizations have invested almost $2 million (not town’s money, all private funding) and would be a travesty to lose it. They probably also understand that a town that supports its youth, as evidenced by the existence of such a facility, adds to the attraction for families to move to New Canaan, hence benefiting their real estate inve

Outback is the best we need it!!!!!

As I was reading through the comments, I've noticed that many say that the Outback is useful. However, no one has specifically described these so called, "benefits". People are ignoring the Outback's troubling history between the on-site drinking and the recently arrested staff for inappropriate comments. The Outback has been a site for drinking. Despite some claims of my inaccuracy, I would like to clarify some points. First of all, there are many high schoolers that see the Outback as nothing better than a place to drink, and several parents agree that the community needs a place for the students to drink safely. May I remind everyone that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink. I am describing the on-site drinking at the Outback. Also, it would not be plausible for drunk students to be on the premises as police have breathalyzers. So much wasted money has been put into this while there are plenty of other educational non-profits throughout the town. The town should cut the funding as the Outback continues to go downhill. And if we let this continue, I can only imagine how it will negatively impact out community's reputation. We should be proud residents of New Canaan.

Let me be controversial but honest about what is going on I think. I do not know a single middle school or HS teen who thinks the Outback is cool. I am glad that it had so many visitors and attendees recently as quoted by Sangeeta in the paper. But... if it is not a 'cool' place to go, let's not throw more taxpayer money at it to keep it going in that fashion. Think about what it is really being used for, who is going to the events and what these events are. If it is NOT proving to be a teen center, then you need to re-brand it differently and fund it differently and not call it a Teen Center and keep it open as such. You will not get the financial support of teen parents if their kids do not use it. I am only speculating in part but I think you need to re-think the concept. And turn it into something else if the teens are rejecting it. I have a freshman and junior in HS (the exact target audience) and they totally diss it. I think that's probably the case with most kids in town. Be honest with yourself. Sorry to be blunt but we are talking a lot of money here so it's time to be frank. If it is faltering.... make it into something else.

I was attended a fund raiser for the Outback and I know the great lengths the people in the community went through to try and raise money to keep it going. It would be a shame to close it down, because there are many young people who benefit from it on a daily basis.

Our children are part of the New Canaan Community, and teens need a place to be teens. Where else can they go? We need to build the Outback into a hub of activities so these young people can feel just as important as the adults they will soon become. Keep it alive and help it thrive.

We need this resource in our town without question!

The town needs to show meaningfu support for a youth/community center that serves an important segment of our population.

Research shows that teens need caring adults, safe places and meaningful opportunities to thrive. The Outback teen center provides all three.