Friday, September 25, 2015
Center Stage in Shelton to present 'Mother Hicks'
2 performances to feature deaf interpreter
SHELTON - Center Stage Theatre will embark into the world of the deaf with their upcoming production of “Mother Hicks," which opens Oct. 2.
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| Deaf actor Joseph Ronan of West Haven to perform at Center Stage Theatre in Shelton./ Contributed photo |
SHELTON - Center Stage Theatre will embark into the world of the deaf with their upcoming production of “Mother Hicks," which opens Oct. 2.
The play features a deaf character, which will be played by deaf actor Joseph Ronan of West Haven. The production will also feature two performances, on Oct. 2 and 15, which will utilize interpreters, who will sign the entire play for interested deaf patrons.
“We are having the experience of a lifetime with this play,” said Center Stage director Gary Scarpa.
“Besides having the good fortune to have a wonderful deaf actor in our cast, we also have an American Sign Language consultant, Diane Gamse of Monroe, to assist us with a very wonderful play. In the process, we have learned a great deal about sign language and about communicating with the deaf.”
An award winning play by Suzan Zeder, “Mother Hicks” places us in the town of Ware, Il. during the Great Depression.
We meet three people living on the outskirts of society: a young deaf man, an orphan girl, and a mysterious older woman who lives all alone on a hill outside of town. The year, 1935, is hard for everyone, but especially for the girl, who—with no family of her own—gets passed around from household to household, until, with the help of a caring young, deaf man, she encounters the eccentric but nurturing Mother Hicks.
Mother Hicks touches the heart of this lost little girl, helping her to find herself. A play for the entire family, “Mother Hicks” recounts the difficult journey we all make in life, the journey to discover who we really are.
Joining Ronan in lead roles are Shelton Intermediate School student Ainsley Lougal, as “Girl” and East Haven resident, Joyce Piscitelli, as Mother Hicks. Other Shelton residents include Margaret Mikan, Justin Zenchuk, Justine Critchley, Rainey Martovich, Colby Trembley, Ben Souza, and Bobby Marcinauskis
Ronan said, “I’m really excited to be playing a role in this great production. I think it will give the audience an idea of what it’s like to be deaf and misunderstood. We have an awesome cast, and the play is very perceptive and moving.”
Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.from Oct. 2-17; Sundays at 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, 11, and 18; and at 7 p.m. Oct. 15.
Center Stage Theatre is a non-profit organization, founded in 2005 by directors Gary and Francesca Scarpa.
“We are having the experience of a lifetime with this play,” said Center Stage director Gary Scarpa.
“Besides having the good fortune to have a wonderful deaf actor in our cast, we also have an American Sign Language consultant, Diane Gamse of Monroe, to assist us with a very wonderful play. In the process, we have learned a great deal about sign language and about communicating with the deaf.”
An award winning play by Suzan Zeder, “Mother Hicks” places us in the town of Ware, Il. during the Great Depression.
We meet three people living on the outskirts of society: a young deaf man, an orphan girl, and a mysterious older woman who lives all alone on a hill outside of town. The year, 1935, is hard for everyone, but especially for the girl, who—with no family of her own—gets passed around from household to household, until, with the help of a caring young, deaf man, she encounters the eccentric but nurturing Mother Hicks.
Mother Hicks touches the heart of this lost little girl, helping her to find herself. A play for the entire family, “Mother Hicks” recounts the difficult journey we all make in life, the journey to discover who we really are.
Joining Ronan in lead roles are Shelton Intermediate School student Ainsley Lougal, as “Girl” and East Haven resident, Joyce Piscitelli, as Mother Hicks. Other Shelton residents include Margaret Mikan, Justin Zenchuk, Justine Critchley, Rainey Martovich, Colby Trembley, Ben Souza, and Bobby Marcinauskis
Ronan said, “I’m really excited to be playing a role in this great production. I think it will give the audience an idea of what it’s like to be deaf and misunderstood. We have an awesome cast, and the play is very perceptive and moving.”
Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.from Oct. 2-17; Sundays at 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, 11, and 18; and at 7 p.m. Oct. 15.
Center Stage Theatre is a non-profit organization, founded in 2005 by directors Gary and Francesca Scarpa.
The theatre presents a full season of five productions. Center Stage's purpose is to enhance the cultural environment within its community; to present high quality theatrical productions at affordable prices; to encourage growth and education through the performing arts; and to provide a means for interested adults, teens and children to experience and participate in various aspects of live theater.
Center Stage is located at the former Lafayette School at 54 Grove St. For further information about “Mother Hicks” or Center Stage, visit www.centerstageshelton.org or call 203-225-6079.
This is a press release from Director Gary Scarpa.
Center Stage is located at the former Lafayette School at 54 Grove St. For further information about “Mother Hicks” or Center Stage, visit www.centerstageshelton.org or call 203-225-6079.
This is a press release from Director Gary Scarpa.
Fundraisers planned for The Valley Goes Pink
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The sixth annual Valley Goes Pink campaign invites the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding communities to enjoy a variety of events featuring good food, drink, and fun for a good cause this October.
The Valley Goes Pink is a grassroots, community-wide effort to increase awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection, support the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and to celebrate the charitable spirit of the region’s businesses and organizations.
The following is a list of unique Valley Goes Pink fundraising events. For more information about “going pink” and joining the campaign visit griffinhealth.org/pink or contact the Griffin Hospital Development Fund at 203-732-7504, Jodi Dawley at 203-521-2233 or dawleypink@yahoo.com, or Sue Petrizzo at 203-400-1068 or petrizzopink@yahoo.com.
Sept. 28 is The 6th Annual Valley Goes Pink Kick-off Dinner from 6-9 p.m. at Wellington’s Restaurant, 51 Huntington Plaza, Shelton. Meals will be served by a volunteer wait staff who will donate their tips and a percentage of the night's proceeds will be donated to the campaign. Make reservations at 203-929-0336.
Throughout October – Proceeds from every sale of pink sangrias at 66 Church gastropub and restaurant in Naugatuck will be donated to the campaign.
Oct. 4 is the Annual Pink Breast Cancer Brunch at 11 a.m. at Dante's Restaurant & Bar, 7365 Main St, Stratford. Tickets are $50 per person. For information, call 203-732-1977 or email annadurante1@gmail.com.
Oct. 6 is Bingo for Boobies at 6:30 p.m. at Porky’s Café, 50 Center St., Shelton. A donation of $20 includes pizza and Porky's famous wings, and four bingo cards. Call Sue Petrizzo at 203-400-1068 for reservations.
Oct. 8 marks the Young Emerging Professionals' “Pinktober Fest” from 6-8 p.m. at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen, 557 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. The event will feature a variety of craft brews, specialty pink drinks, games and prize drawings, and more. For more information, visit the Young Emerging Professionals on Facebook www.facebook.com/CTYEP or contact the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce at 203.925.4981 or www.greatervalleychamber.com.
Oct. 12 is the Yuengling Pinkling Beerfest from 5-9 p.m. at Wellingtons Restaurant, 51 Huntington Plaza, Shelton. Presented by Star Distributors, this event offers a tasting of Yuengling beers and a Pinkling menu featuring German specialties. Proceeds from the beer sales will support the campaign.
Oct. 14 is Pink Trivia Night at 7 p.m. at Caloroso Eatery & Bar, 100 Center St., Shelton. A $20 donation includes an evening of trivia, prizes, pizza, and soft drinks. For reservations, call Jodi Dawley at 203-521-2233.
Oct. 24 is The Social Convention Goes Pink event from 6-11 p.m. at River Rock Tavern, 5 Main St, Derby. The band Social Convention hits the stage at 8 p.m. at this event featuring food and prizes. Cover charge is $10.
Oct. 26 marks The Valley Goes Pink Wrap-up Celebration Wine Tasting at 6 p.m. at Wellingtons Restaurant, 51 Huntington Plaza, Shelton, to close out the month’s festivities and to celebrate its success.
For more information and to make your reservation, call 203-414-8851.
The Valley Goes Pink is sponsored by WPLR, Hearst Media, Spector Furniture, and Real Estate Two.
This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.
T-shirt sale today at football game to support 2 Ansonia families
* These images are shared from the Ansonia Community Updates and Forum Facebook page.
The game starts at 7 p.m. at Nolan Field on Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia.
Shelton teen to compete for National Youth of the Year title
Brooke Grand will vie for a national title in Washington, D.C.
SHELTON - Brooke Grand, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s 2015 Youth of the Year, is headed to Washington, D.C., to vie for the title of National Youth of the Year.
She will be representing the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the great State of Connecticut, and the entire Northeast region next week.
Grand and five other regional winners from across the U.S. will gather in our nation’s capital Tuesday where a winner will be chosen.
Grand has gone through a series of local, state, and regional events over the last several months.
“Being selected as the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s Youth of the Year was such a great honor to me,” she said.
“Being selected as the Connecticut State Youth of the Year has been my dream for the past four years, a dream that I never believed would come true.
"Being selected as the Northeast Youth of the Year was never even a thought in my mind. I am so honored to be representing my amazing Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, and the Northeast Region.
"I will do my very best at nationals to make everyone proud. I can’t thank everyone enough for never giving up on me, especially my Boys & Girls Club.”
"I will do my very best at nationals to make everyone proud. I can’t thank everyone enough for never giving up on me, especially my Boys & Girls Club.”
The Boys & Girls Club of America’s Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.
The program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring youth on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed, and inspire.
Grand has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s Raymond P. Lavietes Unit for 12 years.
It became her home-away-from home and her sanctuary, offering her endless opportunities to keep her mind off home life and focused on where her future was headed.
She is a hardworking, highly motivated young woman with a willingness to help others and a positive attitude despite the obstacles she has faced. She has earned honors in school and was the top athlete in every sport she participated in.
In addition to serving as Keystone Club officer, she also runs the Happy Hoopers health program and works as a staff member.
Grand recently began her freshman year at Southern Connecticut State University, where she is majoring in business. Her charismatic and compassionate nature has given her the opportunity to win up to $100,000 in renewable, four-year scholarships if she wins the national title.
This is a press release from the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. For more information, visit www.BGC-LNV.org.
I wish Brooke the best of luck in the national competition Tuesday!
Thrift shop in Derby seeking furniture donations
Sharing this post from Facebook to help a worthy cause:
"St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley thrift shop and food bank are looking for donations of furniture.
"We are a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate in the lower Naugatuck Valley.
"Proceeds from the sale of items in our store go to purchase food for our food bank.
"We have finally opened up our new room after several months. We are looking to fill the room up with furniture. Especially needed are dining table and chairs, end tables, coffee tables, small couches, comfy chairs, recliners.
"Please, please, all items must be in good usable, saleable condition. If it's dirty, torn, ugly, sorry, we don't want it.
"We may be able to arrange pick up if items are in great shape."
The thrift shop and food bank are located at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby.
For information, call 203-734-7577.
"We are a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate in the lower Naugatuck Valley.
"Proceeds from the sale of items in our store go to purchase food for our food bank.
"We have finally opened up our new room after several months. We are looking to fill the room up with furniture. Especially needed are dining table and chairs, end tables, coffee tables, small couches, comfy chairs, recliners.
"Please, please, all items must be in good usable, saleable condition. If it's dirty, torn, ugly, sorry, we don't want it.
"We may be able to arrange pick up if items are in great shape."
The thrift shop and food bank are located at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby.
For information, call 203-734-7577.
Griffin Hospital in Derby offers 5-week CNA program
DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, is offering two sessions of its Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program this fall to help aspiring healthcare professionals quickly jumpstart their careers.
There will be a daytime session of the five-week CNA Program starting Oct. 5 and an evening session starting Nov. 16. Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission.
The program runs for a total of 104 hours. The first four weeks of the program will be classroom education and skills training and the final week will include clinical experience at an extended care facility and Griffin Hospital for the required 40 hours for CNA certification completion.
The days and hours for the session starting Oct. 5 are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for the first four weeks, and Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for the final week.
The session starting Nov. 16 will be Monday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m. for the first four weeks, and the times for the clinical hours in the final week will be discussed in class.
Tuition includes books, CPR training and malpractice insurance.
For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.
Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers Phlebotomy and other professional educational programs to provide training, education, and certification in selected health careers.
Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, located at 300 Seymour Ave.
This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.
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