Ice cream on the menu for teens at Shelton History Center

Press release follows:

SHELTON - Area teens will have a chance to make their own sundaes at Shelton History Center from 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

First, however, they will actually be making the ice cream to go into the sundaes!

Shelton Historical Society’s Teen Time Travelers will host the party for teens and their 

parents or guardians.  

The Teen Time Travelers is a group that was formed in 2014 for students ages 13-18

to provide learning, volunteer, and enjoyable activities based on historical themes. 

They have practiced their public speaking skills by giving information about the buildings 

to visitors during events, traveled to other museums for behind the scenes tours, learned 

research techniques, organized activities for children, and completed community service requirements for their respective schools.

The teens will provide activities for visitors during the ice cream party. 

While everyone is welcome, the party will introduce others to the group and invite those 

interested to join. There is no charge for the event.  

Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road, is owned and operated by Shelton Historical Society.

For more information, including directions, call 203-925-1803, visit 

www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or see Shelton History Center’s Facebook page.   

    

This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

Ansonia resident seeks return of chair stolen from porch

UPDATE: The chair was found Wednesday a few streets away.

A resident of Franklin Street, Ansonia, has taken to social media today to ask why anyone would steal a purple chair from her front porch. The theft occurred Monday night.

This is the photo she posted. She is hoping for a quick return of the chair, no questions asked.

8 to be honored at 15th annual luncheon in Seymour

Event recognizes Women Making a Difference in the Valley

The Valley Women's Health Initiative will honor women from Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford and Shelton at the 15th Annual Women Making a Difference in the Valley Tribute Luncheon and Breast Cancer Fundraiser at noon Oct. 1 at the Inn at Villa Bianca, 312 Roosevelt Drive, Seymour.

The tribute recognizes outstanding women who have made positive contributions to the community and have demonstrated significant achievement in their fields of endeavor, both professional and volunteer.

This year’s honorees are: Anne Miller-Lynch of Ansonia, Caroline O’Bar of Beacon Falls, Grace Torres and Ruth Tuccio, both of Derby, Elizabeth Pisano of Oxford, and Antonietta Hallet and Susan Petrizzo, both of Shelton. 

A Special Recognition Award will be presented to Martha Dulla-Andrade of Grassy Hill Lodge for her contributions to the Valley and long-standing support of this event. 

Liz Kennard of Comcast will host this year’s event.

Valley Breast Health Care Fund

Proceeds from the event benefit the Valley Breast Health Care Fund. Established in 2001, this fund is an effort to ensure that no person, regardless of age or socio-economic condition, is denied screening mammograms or diagnostic testing for breast cancer.

Make a Difference and Pink Ribbon sponsors are sought for the event booklet. 

Benefits include a table at the event and recognition during the event. Sponsorships start at $30 for a business card sized ad.

Tickets for the event are $40 per person. Reservations are due by Sept. 15.

The event is sponsored in conjunction with Griffin Hospital, The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and Bigelow Tea of Fairfield.

To purchase a ticket or make a donation, call 203-888-3290 or email: katecosgrove7@yahoo.com., or send a letter to the attention of C. Cooper at Radiology Dept., Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, 06418.

To become a sponsor or place a congratulatory ad, call 203-233-7639 or email dott.g@comcast.net.

The Women’s Health Initiative, co-chaired by Kate Cosgrove of Oxford and Dr. Stephanie Wain of Griffin Hospital, is comprised of members of the community working toward a common goal of addressing and improving women’s health issues including breast cancer awareness. 

Committee members include Daun Barrett, Cary Carpino, Dolores Chew, Christine Cooper, Karen Cusick, Dorothy Gandy, Antonietta Hallet, Elizabeth Johnson, Lauren Kazzi, Peggy Marlowe, Frank Michaud, Mia Talamelli, Patricia Tarasovic, and Nancy Valentine. Committee membership is open to all interested persons.

About The Valley Women’s Health Initiative

The Valley Women's Health Initiative is a coalition of health agencies, community leaders, and volunteers from the Valley community working toward the common goal of addressing and improving women's health issues including breast cancer awareness and heart disease.

To join or for more information, visit griffinhealth.org/VWHI.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Ansonia families take advantage of backpack giveaway

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, behind table, helps out at a backpack giveaway Tuesday morning at John G. Prendergast Elementary School. At left is Joseph Apicella, principal of Prendergast. Next to him is the school's mascot, "John G." Ansonia Middle School seventh grader Olivia Toth, who was helping at the event, is behind Cassetti. 
The first day of school is Aug. 27 in Ansonia. 


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Annual drive nets backpacks, supplies for Valley children

Community comes together, continues a back to school tradition 

Pictured from left, front row: Jennifer Sneider, owner, J Cuts in Shelton; Marcia Jones, BHcare; Nicole Polifka, Bright Horizons Day Care; and Phyllis Hyde, Barb’s Corner Consignment. Back Row: Ross James, barber, J Cuts; Jennifer Olson, Principal of Irving School; Jen DeLeon, Boys & Girls Club of the LNV; Suzanne Reilly, Director, Family Support Services, TEAM, Inc. and Jessica Lanzi, LNV Parent Child Resource Center. 
Missing from photo: Jane Bailey, Shelton School Readiness Council./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - For the ninth year in a row, the Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has been a great success.  More than 138 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected. 

This drive, originally begun by the owners of the former Luther's Garage, continues through J Cuts at 505 Howe Ave.

Each year beginning July 1, Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, provides the main collection location for book bags and supplies. 

"The outpouring kindness of the community always warms my heart," Sneider said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations.  Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on.  It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!” 

Minuteman Press at 427B Howe Ave. donated collection posters as it has in the past.

For the first time this year, Bright Horizons Day Care and First United Methodist Church, both of Shelton, held their own collections and drop-off donations.  

In addition, Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St., Ansonia, joined the drive this year by taking up a collection.

For the second year coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, the dental plan for HUSKY Health.  They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, and oral health education.  

The CTDHP is the dental plan for HUSKY Health and promotes good oral hygiene to more than 700,000 children and adults on the HUSKY Health plan. For the last two years, CTDHP has partnered with community agencies, primary care providers and OB/GYN offices across the state to share oral health kits with children and pregnant women who are HUSKY Health members. 

Romaniuk said, “The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth to maintain a person’s general health. The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855- CT- DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.  

Children receiving donations from this drive are serviced by TEAM, Inc. and Irving School in Derby, along with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center, all in Shelton; and BHcare in Ansonia.

More than 250 oral kits were given to all students who received back to school donations, as well as, the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

J Cuts will be the main collection location beginning Jan. 1, 2016 for the 10^th Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive.  Although this community drive officially kicks off on Jan. 1, donations are accepted at any time.  For health and safety reasons, donations must be new stuffed monkeys with tags.

This drive will benefit the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive.  The more stuffed monkeys collected, the more donations can be shared with additional agencies who serve children. 

To celebrate their 10^th consecutive year, coordinators are planning a special event at J Cuts.

Any individual, group, business, or organization is welcome to join in the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive by holding their own collection. 

This is a press release from drive organizers.