Thursday, April 16, 2015

Lighthouse leads way to sweet treats in Shelton

Some of the sweets available at Lighthouse Rum Cakes, 480 Howe Ave., Shelton. This week owners Jon and Michele Vallee of Milford marked the first anniversary of the storefront and celebrated their business expansion.


Read my story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel about the three-year old business.


Seymour Senior Center to host book club



*Sharing information from the Facebook page of the Office of Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller.

Farm bureau recognizes Gentile for support of agriculture

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile
HARTFORD - The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association has recognized State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, with the Legislator of the Year Award for her support of Connecticut agriculture in the 2014 legislative session.

The award was announced at CFBA’s annual meeting, but was recently presented to Gentile at her office at the Legislative Office Building.

“It’s an honor to receive this recognition from such a distinguished organization,” she said. “Agriculture is such an important part of our history and very much a part of the fabric of our local communities. It is a huge economic force in Connecticut. As such, we need to do whatever is possible to protect, preserve and expand farm operations and commercial agriculture in this state.”

The Connecticut Farm Bureau acknowledged Gentile’s work on the animal care bill in her role as Chair of the Environment Committee.
Among her efforts on that bill, she authored an editorial in the New Haven Register calling for sound, science based reason in legislating animal care in Connecticut.

“Representative Gentile laid out the issue so clearly for the committee and to the public through that editorial,” says Connecticut Farm Bureau Executive Director Henry Talmage. “She advocated for a livestock advisory council working in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Farm Bureau and expressed her confidence that this collaboration could and would establish comprehensive, consistent, and reasonable standards for all livestock.”

Voluntary organization
Since 1919, The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association has provided a strong, clear voice in state agricultural issues.
As a non-governmental, voluntary organization of farm families, the Connecticut Farm Bureau is united to find solutions for concerns facing production agriculture in our counties, state and nation.



This post is taken from a press release on Gentile's website.

Sidewalk sale slated at Gallery at 37 in Derby


A note from President Rich DiCarlo:


THE VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL IS HAVING A HUGE SIDEWALK ART SALE!

This weekend!
Saturday 
Noon til 7 p.m.

Sunday 
Noon til 6 p.m.
at the Gallery@37
37 Elizabeth St.
Derby

Select art priced to sell... 
Everything must go

Please spread the word!

Derby mayor asks residents to pledge to protect water quality


DERBY – The city is graced with many natural attractions such as Osbornedale State Park, Witek Memorial Park, and the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers.  Not only do these attractions provide a beautiful landscape, they give Derby residents and visitors many opportunities to enjoy nature through activities such as fishing, kayaking, hiking, bird watching, and picnicking.  

Safe, clean water is vital to the continued enjoyment of these attractions and to the survival of the plants and animals that live there.

This Earth Day (April 22) Mayor Anita Dugatto is asking Derby residents, in partnership with Housatonic Valley Association, to join her in making the River Smart Pledge to protect the water quality of Derby’s natural resources.  
The River Smart Pledge can be completed online at www.riversmartct.org.  Paper copies of the Pledge are available at Derby City Hall, Derby Senior Center, Derby Public Library, and Derby Neck Library.  

“Not only am I asking Derby residents to make the Pledge, I am challenging them to encourage their family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.  Water quality is important to every community,” Dugatto said.

Years ago, most water pollution was caused by industry.  Today, much of it is caused by polluted runoff.  When rain falls or ice or snow melt, it flows down city streets and parking lots into storm drains, picking up pollutants such as fertilizers, automotive fluids, pesticides, litter, and pet waste along the way.  The storm drains then transport that water, clean or not, to nearby streams, ponds and rivers, and ultimately to Long Island Sound. 

“To maintain the health, safety, and beauty of our waterways for years to come, we must do our best to minimize the pollutants flowing into stormdrains.  Making the River Smart Pledge is one step toward that goal,” Dugatto said.

For more information on how to keep Derby’s waterways clean, visit www.derbyct.gov.


This post is taken from a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office.

Clinic at Griffin Hospital in Derby trains parents, installs car seats

Some of the child car seats distributed to parents and grandparents Wednesday during a car seat safety clinic run by Griffin Hospital's Valley Parish Nurses.


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Sons of Italy in Derby to hold dinner dance April 25



Click here to read the press release in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Silver alert issued for Derby teen

*Sharing this information from the Valley Independent Sentinel's Facebook page:

A SILVER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR:
MISSING CHILD
Endangered Runaway
MICHAEL JACKSON
Age: 14 DOB: 8/18/2000
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 130
LAST SEEN WEARING:
GRAY SWEATSHIRT, BLUE JEANS, AND BLUE
SNEAKERS
Missing From: DERBY, CT
Missing Since: 04/15/2015
***** SILVER ALERT *****
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON
MICHAEL JACKSON CONTACT DERBY POLICE
203-735-7811

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host bereavement support groups

Bereavement support groups will start April 21 at the hospital. / Contributed photo


DERBY - Griffin Hospital is starting new support groups April 21 for anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one.
These groups provide grief education and support to ease the pain of loss as well as encourage healing and growth. 
The groups meet on Tuesdays in an eight-week cycle at the hospital, 130 Division St.. There is an afternoon group that meets from 2:30-4 p.m. and an evening group that meets from 6:30-8 p.m.

Due to limited capacity, pre-registration is required.

To learn more or to register, call Janice Lautier, 203-732-1132 or Cormac Levenson, 203--732-1100 or emailjlautier@griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.



Shred event slated at St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby


DERBY - Eco Shred will be shredding personal documents for $10/$15 per bag from 9 a.m.-noon April 25 at St. Mary-St. Michael School, 14 Seymour Ave.

Bring a bag of legal documents, banking statements, tax papers, and other personal papers to be shredded for $10 (up to 30 lbs.) / $15(over 30 lbs).

This school fundraiser is an eco-friendly chance to clean out, save the environment, protect yourself from Identity Theft, and support the school.


This is a press release from St. Mary-St. Michael School.