Spooky artwork sought for gallery in Derby

Rotarians ready to host Shelton Day Sunday

Aerial view of Howe Avenue on a previous Shelton Day. Credit: Derby-Shelton Rotary Club website.

SHELTON - The Derby-Shelton Rotary Club will host its annual Shelton Day street festival downtown from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine.

The festival features continuous live entertainment on two stages, informational booths from local businesses and organizations and vendors offering food, crafts and more.

The event was started in the mid-1980s by the Shelton Business District Association and has turned into an annual celebration for the city.

Proceeds from the festival benefit the community, in the form of scholarships for Derby and Shelton High School graduating seniors and other projects. 

Handicap parking will be available in the lot off of White Street, behind Echo Hose, Hook and Ladder Company firehouse.

Information in this post was taken from the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club website.

Seymour Library slates activities for kids, book sale, more

This calendar of events is from the Seymour Public Library Facebook page.

Update: 
The library announced two changes to the calendar: 

Origami on Oct. 17 has been changed to 3:45 p.m. Oct. 22, and Danny Magic will perform at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

Derby Library to host book talk, author visit

DERBY - The Derby Public Library scheduled its next Lunchtime Book Discussion for
12:30 p.m. Oct. 29.

The selected title is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. 

This novel by the author of The Secret Life of Bees is set in pre-Civil War South Carolina.
It follows Sarah, the daughter of the wealthy Grimke family and slave Hetty "Handful" Grimke, her handmaid.

The story, which follows 35 years of their lives, was inspired by real-life historical figure Sarah Grimke – feminist, suffragist,and abolitionist. 
It goes beyond the recorded history and explores the inner lives of all the characters, both real and imagined.

Multiple copies of the book are available at the circulation desk.

Participants are asked to bring a sandwich and a friend as they “chat and chew."
Dessert and beverages will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

Author to discuss sweet treats

The Library has scheduled a visit from author and bakery owner, Maria Bruscino Sanchez, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27. 

She will discuss her newest cookbook, Small, Sweet and Italian: Tiny Tasty Treats from Maria’s Bakery and share her journey from baking as a young girl with her family, to opening her own bakery in Waterbury, to writing several cookbooks.

Books will be available to purchase.
Registration is requested.

For more information about either program stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Food bank in Derby needs donations

Cupboard is bare at St. Vincent De Paul

Contributed photo

DERBY - Cindy Barbian, manager, St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley Thrift Shoppe and Food Pantry, said today in a release the organization desperately needs food donations.

"Our shelves are empty, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up and we are servicing
six-plus families a day," she said.


"We don't have the food to pack," Barbian said. "We are in desperate need of soup, stew, canned ravioli/spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, canned fruit, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, boxed potatoes, canned corn, canned carrots, you name it, we need it."


The store and food bank are located at 237 Roosevelt Drive. For information call 203-734-7577.

The nonprofit's hours are 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.



*If you're looking for a place to donate food or supermarket gift cards, consider donating to St. Vincent De Paul Helping Hands of the Valley.
The nonprofit provides support for local needy families throughout the year, not just at holiday time!

Barbian and director Sandi Bailie deserve to be commended for their continuing efforts to help the less fortunate.

Art for every taste on exhibit at Derby restaurant

Ansonia resident Ralph Villers (my spouse) checks out Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo's entry, 'Bigger, Better,' during Thursday's opening reception of the council's 'Delicious II' show at Marco Pizzeria and Restaurant in Derby.

Please check out my previous blog post and story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

5K to benefit Derby schools wins support

Derby resident Kiley Drezek, 10, nears the finish line Saturday at Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K Run/Walk.

DERBY - The city's four public schools received a lot of enthusiastic support Saturday.

Runners from the Valley, Bridgeport, Bethany, Cheshire, Hamden, Middletown, Milford, Naugatuck, Newtown, Prospect, Suffield, Waterbury, West Haven, and Diamond Point, N.Y. took part in Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K Walk/Run.

The runners were joined by walkers of all ages. Derby teachers and administrators took part in the fun. 

It almost made me want to take up running. Almost.

5K to benefit Derby schools attracts young and old

Rock Nichols, 4, of Derby, participated in the Fun Run for kids held prior to the Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K on Saturday. He said, "I ran all the way to the finish line."

Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto, right, chats with runners before the 5K.

Healthy snacks await Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K participants. 

The event benefitted Derby public schools. 

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Concert to benefit Seymour family

SEYMOUR - A Concert for a Cause will be held starting at 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Community Center, 20 Pine St. 

In addition to several local bands, the event will feature food trucks and craft vendors.

It precedes the annual Smoke in the Valley Craft Beer & Chili Festival that will run from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at the same location.

The concert will benefit the family of Mark Condo, a board member of Smoke in the Valley and of Seymour Tradition.
Condo died in June at age 45. He is survived by a wife and two children.

Smoke in the Valley follows Seymour Pink's 3rd annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K, which starts and ends at the community center. 
The walk/run to benefit the nonprofit Seymour Pink will start at 9 a.m. Oct. 4.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'll be walking and "pounding the pavement" with other members of Griffin Hospital's  'Circle of Friends,' a breast cancer support group. 
Several of us walked last year - after being treated to breakfast and given goody bags full of fun stuff - and had a great time and a lot of laughs.
We may have brought up the rear, but we finished the walk and that's what matters!

Runners, walkers turn out to support Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K event

Derby Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway and his wife, Ali Conway, head to the finish line Saturday morning at Derby's B.E.S.T. 5K Run/Walk to benefit Derby public schools.  

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Seymour students to benefit from event today in Ansonia

Information taken from Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page.

5K Run/Walk at Greenway to benefit Derby schools

DERBY - The Derby campus of Walnut Hill Community Church will host a 5K Run/Walk Saturday on the Derby Greenway.

The Derby's B.E.S.T benefit is being held to Better Empower the Students and Teachers in Derby public schools.

Registration begins at 8 a.m.; a Fun Run begins at 8:40 a.m. and the Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m.

A Free Bib Raffle is slated for 10:20 a.m., and awards will be presented at 10:30 a.m.

Net proceeds from Derby’s B.E.S.T. 5K event will be used to fund initiatives, submitted by teachers and administrators, that enhance, enrich, or improve the educational opportunities for students in Derby public schools.

The route will start and end at the industrial park road behind BJ's at 20 Division St.

This post is taken from information on the Walnut Hill Community Church site.

Scout from Seymour gets new sign for school in Derby

Matthew Moran, a Seymour High School senior and member of Boy Scout Troop 3 in Derby, recently had a new sign made for St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby, as his Eagle Scout Project. He is pictured here with Principal Linda Coppola. Moran attended St. Mary-St. Michael School./ Contributed photo

Party along Riverwalk to celebrate Ansonia, river

See you Saturday at the Riverwalk! 

Technology puts Ansonia resident to the test

That would be me.

I've come to the realization that I no longer get a charge out of having all these electronic devices. I want to go back to 1993!

Am I the only one who keeps forgetting to charge my "stuff" until I'm ready to run out the door?

Wires and cables and chargers, oh my. 

Another charge-hungry device missing from photo: camera. I was using it ;-)

Yes, I do indeed remember using manual typewriters..no electricity needed!

Seymour event supports Poeta Strong

Seymour resident Nina Poeta enjoys a shampoo Thursday from Kellie Steeves, owner of Oxford Hair Academy in Seymour during a Cut-A-Thon there to benefit Poeta Strong. Nina, 17, is battling cancer. 

Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller supports the cause by getting a trim. 

Volunteers and staff wear their "Keep Calm and Nina Strong" pink T-shirts at Thursday's cut-a-thon.


A big thank you to Seymour resident Elizabeth Pisano, a friend of the Poeta family, for sharing these photos. Pisano said the cut-a-thon raised $6,000 for Nina.

Art lovers enjoy 'Delicious II' in Derby

More than 40 people turned out Thursday night to support the Valley Arts Council's 'Delicious II' food-themed art exhibit at Marco Pizzeria and Restaurant in Derby.

Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo of Derby chats with Naugatuck artist Martha Struber. She won Best in Show for her acrylic painting featuring reflections from a soda bottle, 'Coke Foreshadowing'.

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Arts council members ready show in Derby

Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo and artist Dawn Kraemer Wednesday put together an art show to be featured at a reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Marco Pizzeria Restaurant in Derby. Please see below for information.

Please join us! 

Officials announce first step in heritage area designation at Derby Greenway

Pictured from left, Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto, U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President William Purcell, Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal at a press conference in Derby Wednesday about the Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage Area Study Act. Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel. / Photo submitted by Sheila O'Malley, Ansonia Economic Development Director

Cut-A-Thon to support Seymour teen battling cancer

Proceeds to benefit the Poeta Family Fund

SEYMOUR - Nina Poeta, 17, is  a cheerleader for Seymour High School and a very special young lady in the Valley community.

Most people in the area know of her battle with cancer.  She was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in November. 

The past 10 months have been quite challenging for Nina and her family. 

She has undergone radiation, two very delicate surgical procedures, and is currently receiving a second round of chemotherapy. 

The community’s love and support has been a blessing to the Poeta family. A fund was set up on Go Fund Me and has raised more than $80,000 to help with the financial challenges they are facing. 

Please visit the site to learn more about Nina and her journey" http://www.gofundme.com/5eirqo.

A special event is planned for Nina and her family  fro, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 25). 

Oxford Hair Academy and Body Shoppe Salon are hosting a Cut-A-Thon. 

We are hoping to have a great turnout to show Nina that she is not alone in this fight. This will be a great way to show your love and support. 

Haircuts are $15 and all proceeds will be donated to The Poeta Family Fund. 

Oxford Hair Academy and Body Shoppe Salon is located at 153 North St.

Visit the Poeta Strong Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PoetaStrong or call Elizabeth Pisano at 203-415-4387 for more information or to donate a raffle prize.

This post is taken from a release from Elizabeth Pisano, a friend of the Poeta family. 

Vigil in Shelton to honor survivors, remember victims

SHELTON - The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence affects all ages, races, socioeconomic, educational, religious, and occupational segments of society.

Every nine seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S.
One in four women and one in seven men in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

In an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence, BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will hold a vigil to honor and remember survivors and victims of domestic violence.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Gazebo at Huntington Center Green.

A special welcome will be given by Mayor Mark Lauretti and Attorney Paul Garlinghouse will be the keynote speaker.

The vigil will also include an invocation by Monsignor Robert Weiss, St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, recognition of law enforcement officials, and a survivor testimony.

For information about the vigil or about domestic violence services call 203-736-2601 ext. 1381, or visitwww.bhcare.org.


This is a press release from The Umbrella, a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, more than 7,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help, and hope.
Learn more at bhcare.org.

Derby Library slates book sale, sports talk, women's series

DERBY - Calling all readers!

The Derby Public Library is planning its Annual Fall Book Sale.
It will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 4, and from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7.

Shoppers are invited to fill a bag for $5.
Bags will be provided.

Adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, magazines, videos, DVDs, and audio materials will be available.

Talkin' sports

The Library is in its ninth season of hosting the very popular Sports Talk series at 10 a.m. every Thursday.

These informal sessions meet throughout the baseball season. Rich Marazzi, author and
Major League Baseball Rules consultant, facilitates.

Each session includes trivia contests, videos, lively conversation and more.
All ages, rookies through veterans, are invited to join Rich and his group of Silver Sluggers.

No registration is necessary.


Just for Women


The Library continues its program series, Just for Women, at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

The next session will be held Oct. 6.

These sessions offer women an informal opportunity to come together to learn how to
enhance the quality of their lifestyle, share challenges and joys with other women,
provide support to one another, spend time with old friends, and make new ones.

The series is facilitated by Valley resident Joan Joyce. She is a licensed professional
counselor in the State of Connecticut, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a
Certified Senior Advisor.

Scientific studies show that an integral component of achieving and maintaining optimal
health and well being includes having a strong social support network.

All women, ages 18 and over, are invited to join this new and vital group.
Registration is requested; walk-ins are also welcome.

For information on any programs stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This post is taken from a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Ground broken for O'Brien Tech renovations in Ansonia

Superintendent of Connecticut Technical High School System Nivea Torres Monday addresses the crowd at a ceremonial groundbreaking for additions and renovations to the school in Ansonia. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman is seated at right.


ANSONIA - Emmett O'Brien Technical High School is being transformed.

Construction started in May, and on Monday morning state education officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking to kick off the $94.3-million project.

Murphy to address TEAM annual meeting in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s youngest U.S. Senator, Christopher Murphy, will address the 49th Annual Meeting of TEAM Inc. 

The breakfast event will be held Oct. 10 at Grassy Hill Lodge, 77 Sodom Lane.

Registration is at 7:45  a.m.; the meeting will end at 9:30 a.m.
The public is invited to attend.  Cost is $35. 
Reservations are required by Friday;  RSVP Silvia Paytas at 736-5420, ext. 202 or spaytas@teaminc.org. 

Murphy’s support for programs that help area residents battle the impact of poverty will be recognized with TEAM’s Chairman’s Award. 
Two other award recognitions are planned.  
The Echo Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Shelton will receive the 2014 Partnership Award for its extraordinary coordination of the response to January’s Howe Avenue fire that left 23 households homeless. 
Julie Penry, retiring Director of the Shelton Youth Services Bureau, will receive the Lillian Chrostwoski Award for her extraordinary work developing programs for community teens and youth.

This is TEAM’s 49^th Annual Meeting and 2014 marks the 50^th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s initiation of his Great Society program, a campaign to combat poverty. 
Known also as the beginning of the War on Poverty, the effort created legislation to assist economically vulnerable families. 
Those programs – Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Head Start – form the backbone of today’s federal safety net for families.

The meeting is also the final one for TEAM President & CEO Richard Knoll, who will retire at the end of the year after 34 years of service. 
The new President & CEO will be introduced by the Board of Directors at the meeting. 

      

This is a press release from TEAM Inc., a private, 501c (3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to connect individuals and families with solutions that lead to well-being, self-sufficiency and full participation in the community.  
It aims to achieve its mission by conducting activities that address the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and families including resource mobilization, education, advocacy and service delivery. 
TEAM programs serve the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Shelton, Seymour and Woodbridge. 

Construction now 'official' at O'Brien Tech in Ansonia

Shovels were lined up and ready for a ceremonial groundbreaking held this morning for a $94.3 million construction project at Emmett O'Brien Technical High School in Ansonia. The project includes additions and renovations to the school at 141 Prindle Ave.


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Art show slated Thursday in Derby

Wheel-A-Thon makes waves in West Haven

WEST HAVEN - It was a beautiful morning Saturday for the Center for Disability Rights' 9th annual Wheel-A-Thon to benefit youth with disabilities. 

CDR's catchment area includes the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 

Wheelchairs were available for able-bodied participants to use to better understand what it's like to be in a wheelchair.

Don't let this lonely-looking yet scenic photo fool you. About 150 enthusiastic supporters walked and rolled a one-mile course along the shoreline. 

Sandy's Steamrollers, led by CDR staffer Sandy Roberts (in wheelchair), show their enthusiasm at the end of the walk. They tied for most spirit with a team of employees from N&D Sports of Hamden, pictured below at the awards ceremony.

N&D sports donated the white CDR T-shirts for the event.

These walkers are nearing the end of the route. Savin Rock is at left. 

Bird migration is focus of program at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The early bird gets the worm.

And the early birder gets to learn about migration in a free program at 9 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Called Birds on the Move, the program features Ranger Jessica who will concentrate on the end-of-summer journeys taken by our "flying friends" to faraway places each year.

Find out who's going and who's staying put!

Registration is requested; call 203-736-1053.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road.

This information is taken from the center's calendar.

Singer to present tribute to Irving Berlin at Derby Library

Performance to celebrate songwriter
DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled A Tribute to Irving Berlin at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20. 

Patty Carver

Singer/songwriter and actress Patty Carver will share stories and songs in celebration  of one of the greatest American songwriters of all time.

From Alexander's Ragtime Band to Always, from This is the Army to There’s No Business Like Show Business, Berlin’s music with its memorable melodies, unbridled emotion and timeless lyrics is uniquely American and will continue to be 

sung by many generations to come.

Carver has performed in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

She has written more than 30 original musicals for audiences that have been produced for national tours and New York productions.

Registration is requested. 

For information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 ,or visit 

www.derbypubliclibrary.org.    


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

I put this event on my calendar and hope I can attend. It sounds like a wonderful show.

Wheel-A-Thon is today on West Haven shoreline

Better late than never.

I meant to post this sooner, but if you're reading this now and want to help a great cause you can register as an individual participant in this morning's 9th annual Wheel-A-Thon.
Registration fee is $25.

The event raises awareness and funds, and proceeds benefit:

•  CDR's Youth Transition Project that assists high school students with disabilities with their transitions into adulthood;
• Ongoing training and technical assistance for teachers, special education professionals, and counselors;
• CDR's Scholarship Program that in 2013 awarded five $1,000 scholarships;
• The expansion of CDR's programs into the Shoreline/Estuary area.

In the past there has been a breakfast available (coffee, pastries, cereal, fruit, and yogurt) starting at 9 a.m. in the Savin Rock Conference Center, 5 Rock St., West Haven.
And I hope that will be the case again this morning!

If 9 a.m. is too early, the event gets rollin' at about 10 a.m.

Join us!

Food truck fest in Shelton benefits Parent Child Resource Center

My husband, daughter, and I enjoyed our food truck dinner experience Thursday at the Shelton Riverwalk. 
And judging by the crowd and long lines of people waiting to place their orders, we weren't alone. 

I'd venture to say the first-ever Food Trucks in the Valley event was a success! 

And 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center in Derby.

Shelton residents Lindzee Teixeira, left, and Tatiana Rivera demonstrate their skill at using hula hoops.

The band Monster Eats Pilot was one of four bands to rock the crowd.

Beef, cheese, and sauteed peppers being prepped for cheesesteak sandwiches.

This boy seemed more interested in playing with light toys than trying out some of the delicious food truck offerings.


Kudos to the Parent Child Resource Center staff and in particular Veronica Parsloe, director of development and marketing, for putting on a wonderful event.

We're looking forward to returning next year!