First Annual DARE Day Celebrated at Oxbow Farms

Middletown's first annual DARE Day celebration and festival was co-hosted by Oxbow Farms on Rogers Lane Thursday with the and

DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and was started in 1983. Since that time, the program has expanded to help young people make good decisions throughout their lives.

Officer Josh Mello is Middletown’s Community Police Officer. He is also a school resource officer, as well as the town's DARE pointman.

“The whole message is that the DARE program tries to get across, in addition to talking about substance abuse awareness, is decision making. Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s the most import a thing we talk about in the DARE program. It’s not a matter of if someone finds themselves in a risky situation as they grow up, it’s a matter of when. We try to use certain tactics to help kids make good decisions,” said Mello.

The best part of his job, said Mello, is helping people and making an impact--before kids choose the wrong path in life.

“A lot of kids know me and have contact with me from the schools so I believe it gives them a positive outlook of the Middletown Police Department," he said.

Two young ladies that have a positive outlook because of the DARE program are Chloe Viveiros 9, and  Bella Pine 10.

“It’s good that they have activities in the summer so kids have something to do and won’t get in trouble,” said Viveiros.

“I think it’s a good way to teach kids not to do drugs and not to misbehave and it’s a really good way for older kids to teach their little siblings or little cousins not to go on drugs,” said Pine.

In addition to the MFD and the MPD, other local groups that participated in the festival on Thursday included Child & Family Services, Day One, and the Middletown Substance Abuse and Prevention Task Force.

The Middletown Police Department also put on a car seat safety demo.

Shaw’s Market was helped sponsor the event.

Officer Mello on Thursday also spoke about another program that is special to him, “Project Hope.”

“Project Hope” is a mentor program for kids who are at a crossroads. It’s designed to help them choose the right path in life," Mello said. "The Newport Boys & Girls Club, the Middletown Police Department and Salve University are all a part of it. We believe it will really take off in the fall."

At the DARE event, KJ Whaley, 12, seemed to have a firm grasp on what DARE teaches.

“I have learned to stay off drugs because I don’t want to ruin my life,” he said.

His good friend Erron Esquerre echoed those thoughts.

“I want to stay away from drinking and I want to make good decisions,” said Esquerre.