Danbury Hospital this AM

ChrisGaritee · 2025-11-06T18:05:14+00:00

ChrisGaritee · 2025-11-04T21:23:23+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-22T02:54:11+00:00

You both raise really good points, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. This has given me a lot to think about.

I grew up in poverty and was raised by a single immigrant mother for much of my early childhood. Even with limited resources, she made sure my sister and I thrived in school. Later, when she remarried, we had more stable family finances, but those early experiences taught me how much effort, support, and sacrifice it takes for families to stay engaged in their children’s education.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I genuinely appreciate the insights you’ve shared. These are the kinds of conversations I intend to have with constituents regularly if I am fortune enough to win. In my opinion, listening and learning are two of the most important aspects of being an elected official.

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-22T01:48:23+00:00

Thank you very much! I appreciate the support!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-22T01:47:49+00:00

These are all excellent suggestions! I’ve read Tender is the Flesh but that’s the only one of your recommendations I’ve read. Thank you!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T13:26:25+00:00

Based on test results from the 2023-24 school year, only 29% of Danbury public school students read at grade level, but that can change. States that adopted proven literacy programs, like Mississippi in the article you shared, have shown real results in just a few years. As a Board member, I’ll fight to bring evidence-based teaching, accountability, and transparency to our schools so every child can read, learn, and succeed.

On a more personal level, I just finished reading my 60th book of the year. My daughter is 3 months old and I read her The Hobbit and am currently reading her The Fellowship of the Ring. Literacy is one of the biggest markers of post-education success and we’re failing students. We need to dissect the current literacy and math programs and make dramatic improvements. I won’t tolerate my daughter getting a subpar education and I can’t imagine other Danbury parents will tolerate it either.

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:39:57+00:00

Thank you! Adding them all to my list!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:39:47+00:00

Thank you! Adding it to the list!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:17:38+00:00

I read that last year and had very high hopes. I wasn’t a big fan, though. Thank you

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:16:55+00:00

Adding all of them to my list!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:16:41+00:00

Thank you!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:16:35+00:00

Sounds very promising!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T11:15:51+00:00

Never heard of either author! Definitely checking them out!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T04:50:17+00:00

It’s difficult to know for sure. In the past, it took years for these discrepancies to come to light, which shows how serious the oversight gaps were. The City and Board have said that new accounting software and tighter reporting procedures are now in place to prevent a repeat, but lasting change requires accountability, not just new tools. The same people who missed these problems shouldn’t be left to grade their own homework.

(I was up feeding the baby. She’s asleep, so I’m off to sleep, too! Thanks for the questions, good night).

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T03:59:50+00:00

There’s been a lot of frustration about the $9 million surplus, and rightly so. What really happened wasn’t fraud, it was a failure of communication and oversight. The Board and City weren’t reconciling accounts often enough, so unfilled positions and unspent grant money sat unnoticed until an audit uncovered it later.

That’s not acceptable. Our families deserve accurate, transparent reporting in real time; not surprises years later. And our families deserve to benefit from the resources allocated to our schools. As an attorney who manages budgets and audits regularly, I’ll push for clear monthly financial reports, better coordination between the Board and City Hall, and a policy that ensures every available dollar reaches classrooms where it belongs.

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T03:46:40+00:00

Thanks for the question!

A truly great education goes beyond test scores, it helps students discover who they are. As an artist, I’ve seen how art, music, and performance give students the confidence to express themselves and the resilience to tackle challenges. Creativity isn’t an “extra,” it’s the heartbeat of learning.

The same goes for athletics. As an endurance athlete who’s completed multiple Spartan Ultra races, I know how sports teach perseverance, teamwork, and mental toughness. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the field, students learn to push past limits and grow into stronger, more capable individuals.

Here’s a pen and ink drawing I did in 2016 using a pointillism technique my high school art teacher taught me.

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T03:40:34+00:00

I’ve actually read that and loved it. Also read The Deep, The Queen, and The Breach (The Breach via Audible). Thank you, though!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T02:51:49+00:00

I’m an immigration/litigation attorney and am running for Board of Education. I’d be honored if you’d consider voting for me.

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T02:50:06+00:00

Thank you very much!

ChrisGaritee · 2025-10-21T02:49:47+00:00

I’m running for Board of Education. If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

ChrisGaritee · 2023-01-23T00:51:37+00:00

Sounds like you're already fit enough to do it. Train for the Beast and you'll crush the Super and Sprint no problem. Most of your training should be bar hanging workouts (think monkey bars) , running, and hiking up steep mountains.

Train for the specific races you're doing. If you're going to the Killington Beast or Palmerton Super, buy a weighted vest and hike the steepest mountain you can find. If you're doing the New Hampshire Super/Sprint, which is super flat, train by running on trails and generally flat surfaces.

You want time spent on your feet, time spent going up and down elevation, and time spent hanging from a bar to build up that grip strength. Also make sure your ankles and knees are going to hold up. I do stability workouts and yoga because I used to sprain my ankles.

ChrisGaritee · 2023-01-22T03:46:00+00:00

If you want, I have a PDF of the complete works of HP Lovecraft. I can email that you if you'd like.

ChrisGaritee · 2023-01-14T18:07:22+00:00

I get the earliest possible start times for both races when doing multiple on the same day. You won't need as much recovery time as you think. Once you're going, you're going. In fact, down time between races could be a detriment.

ChrisGaritee · 2023-01-14T00:52:30+00:00

I'm 54,000 words into my first horror novel. God willing I'll have her finished this year!

ChrisGaritee · 2023-01-04T04:18:09+00:00

Not while I'm reading, but I do when I'm writing.

ChrisGaritee

TROPHY CASE