Rep. Steinberg and Sen. Haskell Push Dignity in Death Legislation for Connecticut
Today, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg and State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) applauded the Public Health Committee's bipartisan support of legislation that would provide terminally ill patients with options about the time, manner and setting of their passing. Now in its tenth year, this legislation is gaining momentum in the General Assembly and passed the committee by a vote of 21-9. With bipartisan support, Connecticut may soon join a number of states across the country that offer this small measure of comfort to those who are struggling with a terminal diagnosis.
"We're gratified that the Aid in Dying legislation passed out of the committee once again by a wide, bipartisan margin," said Rep. Steinberg. "We had a good, if somewhat emotional, debate. The people of the state overwhelmingly support enabling this end of life option, and it's time for us to join other states in making it available."
"This bill is all about allowing patients to be the author of their own final chapter," said Sen. Haskell. "I'm so grateful to the constituents who participated in the public hearing and shared their personal stories about watching a loved one suffer, or suffering themselves, with a terminal diagnosis. Their stories clearly had an impact on our committee, and I'm hopeful that we will finally give patients this choice. With many safeguards in place, it's time for Connecticut to join the growing list of states that permit aid-in-dying. We've heard from too many terminally-ill patients that they will have to leave Connecticut in order to pursue this option. Let's allow these folks to spend their final days in their own home, surrounded by loved ones."
Senate Bill 88, "An Act Concerning Aid In Dying For Terminally Ill Patients," would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to voluntarily request aid in dying, where they would then receive medical assistance to end their lives. The voluntary option would be available only to adults of sound mind who would be required to make three total requests over a period of weeks and can rescind that request at any time.
At least nine stages currently have dignity in death laws; Oregon compiles an annual report of those who opt into that state's dignity in death program. In 2020, the most recent month where statistics were available, 370 people received prescriptions to end their lives; 245 chose to end their lives, meaning 40% of patients making requests in that year did not choose to proceed at that time. Roughly 85% of those patients suffered from cancer, heart disease or neurological disease; 81% were over the age of 65.
Ronald Robert Schlack, 77, Died; Westport Downshifters Member, US Air Force Veteran
Ronald Robert Schlack, 77 a resident of Norwalk, C.T. and formerly of Westport, CT died February 23, 2022.
Born on September 22, 1944 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late Harold and Lillian Schlack.
He lived in Westport for both his and his sons' childhoods before moving to Norwalk, C.T., where he and his beloved wife Joanna resided.
After attending Staples High School in Westport, C.T. he joined the U.S. Air Force. He then worked as an Electrician for nearly 40 years and served as a teacher for incoming apprentices for many years.
His hobbies included skiing and snowmobiling in his younger years, woodworking, glass working and antique automobile restoration during retirement. He was a member of the Norwalk Woodcraft Club and Downshifters of Westport.
He and his wife Joanna enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing golf, traveling in Europe as well as spending time in the Florida Keys
He was predeceased by his son Kevin Schlack as well as his brother Allen Schlack. He is survived by his wife Joanna of Norwalk, C.T., his son David, his wife Beth and his grandson Jake of Wilton, C.T. His stepson Damian Elias, his wife Megan and his granddaughter Mairead of Norwalk, C.T.
Memorial Service to be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the charity of your choice
Play with your Food heads to MoCA Westport
(L-r clockwise, from top-right): Stacie Morgain Lewis, Fior Rodriguez, Brian J. Carter, Marca Leigh, Sofia Ross, Michael Raver. Contributed photosJIB Productions is delighted to announce the March (re) opening of its celebrated lunchtime playreading series, Play With Your Food (PWYF)! After two long years and multiple virtual and outdoor performances later, Play With Your Food is convinced there’s no place like home – unless, of course, it’s a NEW home in Westport. When Play With Your Food takes to the stage beginning March 16, audiences in Westport are in for a treat when they walk in the doors of MoCA at 19 Newtown Turnpike. Westport’s newest art museum multiple galleries with spacious seating for both theater and lunching plus state-of-the-art ventilation. In addition to Westport’s MoCA, PWYF will be returning to Fairfield Theatre Company and Greenwich Arts Council for its four-month season beginning Tuesday, March 15 (Fairfield Theatre Company) and Thursday, March 16 (Greenwich Arts Council) and running monthly through June.
Carole Schweid, JIB’s Artistic Director couldn’t be more thrilled with the new collaboration “While we’ve so missed performing our regular season for two years, this time away has allowed us to take a step back and make some exciting changes. Once we came to visit MoCA and saw their spectacular spaces, we knew we had to be here. Throw in plenty of parking to the mix and the partnership between JIB and MoCA is a match made in theater heaven!” Producer Diana Muller adds that keeping audiences (and performers) feeling as safe as possible is a top priority and that they are working with each of the venues (as well as Actors Equity) to maintain appropriate protocols.
Headlining the program on March 15,16 & 17 is a special tribute to the late, great theater composer Stephen Sondheim. Broadway veteran (and Westport-based) actress Stacy Morgain Lewis will perform along with Brian J. Collins in Michael McKeever’s poignant one-act play Move on or Sondheim at Studio 54. Lewis was featured in the 2008 Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George and will share stories from that experience with the audience during the talkback session which follows the plays. Audiences will be treated to two additional playreadings, including The Donor, a hilarious one-act by Avery Deutsch (featuring Marca Leigh and Michael Raver) that puts together a single mom, an out-of-work actor and what should be a simple favor…until things get dramatic! Wrapping up the program is Cary Gitter’s Big Date: It's back to January 2017 and one college freshman has more on her mind than what could be the best night of her life (featuring Fior Rodriguez and Sofia Ross.)
Other one acts patrons can expect to see throughout the season include irresistible gems by both well-established and up-and-coming playwrights like David Auburn, Terence McNally, Noel Coward, Scott Mullen and Susan Glaspell, to name a few.
Following the plays and talkback with the professional cast of CT and NYC-based actors, audiences will be treated to a fresh and delicious boxed lunch catered by Gruel Britannia (Westport & Fairfield) and Meli Melo (Greenwich) to enjoy with friends in the galleries, outside or to take to go. The introduction of boxed lunches outside last spring was so successful that Managing Director Inge Maki thinks they are here to stay: “We’ve lined up a great selection of both new and familiar restaurants who are eager to work with us on creating terrific lunches for our crowd. On the menu this season are The Porch in Westport, The Granola Bar, Norwalk’s new Wall Street Tavern, The Pantry and more. And of course we’re bringing back the coffee and cookies!”
Opening day performances are 12 noon, Tuesday, March 15 (Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford Street); Wednesday, March 16 (MoCA Westport, 19 Newtown Turnpike) and Thursday, March 17 (Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Avenue). Tickets $60 each or $224 for a 4-month subscription. For complete schedule, COVID policies and to purchase tickets, visit: jibproductions.org or call 203.293.8729 (10 am – 4 pm).
Support has been provided to JIB Productions from CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.
Blue and Yellow for Ukraine
Ahead of Saturday’s downtown demonstration, the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge was adorned in flowing blue and yellow fabric today in support of the Ukraine people battling war.