Church in Ansonia to hold Christmas fair

ANSONIA - Homemade cookies, cakes, and candy, crafts, books, and more will be featured at the annual Christmas Fair at Christ Episcopal Church.

The fair will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the church, 56 S. Cliff St. The church is across from the Ansonia Library.

There will be a basket raffle, Chinese auction, sweets and eats candy sale, bake sale, cookie walk, hand-crafted items; book sale; fresh popcorn; children's room (for children to purchase gift items for family and friends); and numerous vendors.

A special feature will be "FANTASY OF LIGHTS," a display decorated by members of the Spanish congregation.

A delicious lunch menu will be available, including baked potatoes served with broccoli and sour cream.

Santa is scheduled to visit the fair.

Seymour school shows patriotism, welcomes veterans from Post 10

Bungay students learn about flag history, etiquette

School chorus performs patriotic songs at Wednesday's assembly.

SEYMOUR - The members of Emil Senger Post 10, American Legion of Seymour visited Bungay Elementary School Wednesday to present a Veterans Day program. 

Students performed the Star Spangled Banner, read aloud facts about Veterans Day, and presented Post members with cards and red carnations. 

Post Commander Michael Kearney, at left, spoke about the history of the American flag and the importance of respecting it. 

Kearney pointed out Post member George Wityak, seated on stage with the American flag draped around him, to demonstrate something that one should never do: wear the flag.

Kearney also pointed out several other improper uses of a flag, including hanging it upside down or backwards, using it as a tablecloth, letting it touch the floor, or flying it lower than other flags next to it.

Students and veterans joined hands at the end of the program.

The gym was filled with patriotic spirit.

Several students marched alongside Post members as they marched out.

Student Council members placed flags at the entrance to the school driveway.

Senior community in Shelton receives $18K in grants

Submitted photo

SHELTON - Wesley Village has received two grants for 2014 for Wesley Heights Assisted & Independent Living Community.

Wesley Heights, a senior living community on the Wesley Village campus, received a one-year grant of $8,000 from the David N. Lane Trust for Aged & Indigent Women. 

Established in 1964 to support and promote quality human services and health care programming for underserved older women living in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, the trust is managed by the Connecticut based Philanthropic Solutions office of the Bank of America, N.A. 

Funds from the grant will provide assisted living services for low income elderly women living at Wesley Heights.

The community also received a one-year grant of $10,000 from the Valley Community Foundation to support assisted living services to low-income elderly residents of Wesley Heights Middle Court Apartments.

The VCF was established in 2004 and distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. Wesley Village also received a $250 sponsorship from the VCF to support its Sixth Annual Road Race, which benefitted life-enriching programs for seniors living on the campus, as well as the PTA of neighboring Long Hill Elementary School. 

To learn how your gift can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.

Wesley Village is a campus of senior care communities: Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Assisted and Independent Living Community, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center.

The campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. To learn more, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or call 203-225-5000.

This is a press release from Marisa Salvesen, Marketing and Promotions Manager, United Methodist Homes.

DeLauro seeks postage stamp honor for Derby native

Bassett served as first African-American ambassador

Bassett

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, today introduced the Ambassador Ebenezer D. Bassett Commemorative Stamp Act, which calls for the creation of a stamp to honor Ebenezer D. Bassett, the nation’s first African-American diplomat and native son of Derby.

If the bill were to become law the Postmaster General would be required to issue a stamp honoring Bassett.
“I am proud to introduce this legislation to recognize Ebenezer D. Bassett’s profound service to this nation and his historic appointment as the first African-American diplomat," DeLauro said.

"Throughout his life, Ambassador Bassett inspired his community and worked tirelessly to give a voice to some of the most vulnerable members of society. As an educator, abolitionist, and civil rights activist, Ambassador Bassett became a pioneer in race relations. President Grant appointed him to represent his country and build diplomatic relations with Haiti - a role he served in with honor and distinction.

"Today, his story serves as a source of inspiration and is an important reminder to us all of the virtues of hard-work, quality education, and humility,” she said.

Bassett was appointed U.S. Minister to Haiti in 1869 (the equivalent of today’s ambassador) and served in a posting that was one of the most difficult of its time, due to ongoing civil war.

Bassett was the first black student to attend what is now Central Connecticut State University.

This is a press release from DeLauro's office.