Wesley Village to collect donations at Shelton Day Sunday

To help support music and memory program

SHELTON - Planning to attend the Shelton Day festivities this Sunday? 

Members of the Shelton community are encouraged to visit the Wesley Village tent and help support individuals struggling from dementia and other cognitive and physical impairments. 

Wesley Village will be collecting spare change donations to purchase digital music files for their Music and Memory program, offered on their senior living campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. 

The Music and Memory program, rooted in extensive neuroscience research, involves training care professionals to set up personalized music playlists, delivered on iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care. 

These musical favorites can then tap deep memories not lost to dementia, which enable patients and residents to converse, socialize, stay present, and feel like themselves again. The program was made possible with the help of a grant from the Valley Community Foundation, which enabled the campus to purchase iPods and other technology needed for music collection and storage and costs associated with staff training and instruction. Anyone who would like to support the program is asked to stop by with a donation of spare change to help purchase music. 
For more information about Music & Memory and the life-changing benefits of personalized therapeutic music, visit www.musicandmemory.org. 

Wesley Village is a campus of senior care communities including Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Assisted and Independent Living Apartments and Cottages, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care at Wesley Heights, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center.

The campus is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local, faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community and is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. 

To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, please visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson at 203-225-5024.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Derby Library invites teens to learn electronics, water color painting

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen Maker Space from 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 20 , to learn basic electronics by assembling, activating, and operating micro-electronic kits. 

Light refreshments will be provided. 
Registration is requested. 

Learn to paint

The Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to a Teen Watercolor Workshop, from 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 15. 
This workshop will be led by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo. 
All materials will be provided. Registration is requested. 

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


This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

Harvest House VI in Shelton helps fill Valley food pantries

A variety of donated non-perishable food fills the shelves of Harvest House VI at the Shelton Riverwalk. 
Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Eat at Joe's at Derby Train Station

DERBY - City resident Joe Miani, who recently retired, has opened Joe's Dogs next to the Derby Train Station on Main Street.

Read all about it here in a story by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.


Wishing him the best of luck in his new business venture! 

Gentile recognized for support of environment

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile (D-Ansonia, Derby) has been recognized by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for her 100 percent support of environmental legislation during the 2015 legislative session.

“I am pleased to see this report by CTLCV as I believe a key component of healthy communities is a healthy environment,” Gentile, former House Chair of the Environment Committee, said. “I will continue to support like initiatives that aim to preserve and protect against the effects of harmful legislative acts.”

CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard assesses both lawmakers’ votes on environmental legislation and their roles in championing specific issues.
Environmental issues this year included banning micro beads, encouraging residential solar, reducing pesticide use on municipal playgrounds, preserving the fiscal sustainability of state parks, open space and various clean water projects including the Long Island Sound Blue Plan.
CTLCV Scorecards dating back to 2000 can be found online at www.ctlcv.org. 

Market in Shelton to feature pumpkin painting, live music

SHELTON - Downtown Handmade Market kicks off autumn! 
Celebrate Shelton’s “First Saturdays” celebration of handmade artisans continues this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Conti Building at 415 Howe Ave. 

Each month, a collection of local artisans, craftsmen and small businesses showcase their wares. 
Their full list of artisans include: Bead Dangle Design, Greystone Bookworks, Hipponotic Candle, Emma Lyn Designs, KnitBeadRepeat, Kohler Imaging, Lilla Rose,  Liquid Lunch, Little Bee of Connecticut, Quark Tees, Oronoque Farms, Reid’s BBQ, Shimmer & Sugar, Special Treats, The Little Dog Laughed, The Scented Lady, TJJ Sews, Tori Divina Jewelry, Woody Things, Vinyl Delights and Tipsy Cones Ice Cream Truck.  

Conti Building Shops include BringtheHoopla, The Glass Source, Periodic Tableware, Shadee Lady, Memories from Aunt Helen's Attic, and Written Words Bookstore.

Children’s activities will feature CrazyFun FacePainting and Pumpkin Painting.  Live music is scheduled from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with Natalie Riccio and 12:30-3 p.m. with Tom McNulty. 

Upcoming events include: Downtown Handmade Market First Saturdays, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Plaid Friday, Nov. 27, 4-8 p.m.; Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Community Tree Lighting, 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Veteran's Memorial Park; and Holiday Handmade Markets: Dec. 5, 12, 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Learn more about Celebrate Shelton at www.celebrateshelton.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/celebrateshelton) and Instagram. 
For any questions, e-mail celebrateshelton@gmail.com or call 203-924-4368.

Ample parking is available, and the site is handicap accessible.


This is a press release from Celebrate Shelton. 

Autumnfest slated Oct. 17 at Ansonia Nature Center

Enjoy the season, support playground project 

Visitors enjoy a horse-drawn hay wagon ride at a previous Autumnfest at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. / Contributed photo

  

ANSONIA - Celebrate this wonderful season with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center at Autumnfest. The event will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17.

Take a ride over hill and dale in a horse drawn, story hay wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales!  

Learn about bats, spiders and owls! Have some fresh-squeezed apple cider and freshly-made donuts, then visit the Friends Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related gifts. 

You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, and make some creative crafts. 
All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s playground project efforts. 

The fest is rain or shine. No park admission fee. 

For more information call 203-736-1053.