Staff, volunteers celebrate expansion at St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop in Derby

Bob Lally, left, board chairman, St. Vincent de Paul Helping Hands of the Valley, thanks board member Ed Twarog who was instrumental in the nonprofit's expansion project.
A reception was held Tuesday to celebrate completion of the addition to the building at 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby that houses a thrift shop and food bank.

Stay tuned for a story at www.thevalley-voicect.net.

Crisco celebrates breast cancer 'awareness to action' day

State Sen. Joe Crisco, left, with Nancy and Joe Cappello. / Submitted photo

As a policy leader in making Connecticut a global trailblazer in breast cancer early detection and treatment, state Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, today joined breast health advocates from Connecticut and the region to celebrate the Third Annual Breast Cancer Awareness and Action Day in Hartford, which recognizes Connecticut’s leadership in breast density education and legislation.

The event was hosted by Dr. Nancy M. Cappello, a breast cancer survivor and the director and founder of Are You Dense, Inc., a nonprofit group dedicated to educating the public about the risks and screening challenges of dense breast tissue and its impact on missed, delayed and advanced-stage breast cancer.

Dense breast tissue is comprised of less fat and more connective tissue, which appears white on a mammogram. 

Cancer also appears white - thus tumors are often hidden by the dense tissue. Two-thirds of pre-menopausal women and a quarter of post-menopausal women have dense breast tissue.

“Joe Crisco is my legislative champion. Without our champion legislators, we would not be here, nor would we have 24 states that have mirrored our work from 2009,” Dr. Cappello said.

“With Senator Crisco’s understanding of the science, and his understanding that his job as a legislator is to protect the safety of our citizens, we went to work on this. And in 2009 we became the first state in the nation to require disclosing density to a patient through their mammography report.”  

“The thing we have to remember above all is the thousands of women whose lives have been saved, and the pain and suffering that has been avoided or minimized, due to our laws and the work of Nancy Cappello and her husband Joe,” Crisco said. “It has been a team effort, and it has been eminently rewarding."

As Senate Chair of the Insurance Committee, Crisco has led the legislature in passing two important laws to help ensure women’s breast health: requiring insurance companies to cover an ultrasound or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for women with dense breast tissue, which can obscure cancerous tumors in an otherwise standard mammogram.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Get creative with recycled materials at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled another Recycle, Repurpose, and Reuse 

Craft Class for ages 18 and over at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3.

Ansonia Animal Officer Jeanie Roslonowski returns to the Library with a Grab and Growl session.  

She will bring a variety of materials, along with ideas on what to make with them.  

Come and relax and see your creativity emerge.  

The class will also include information on conservation and animal issues.

Registration is required.  

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

www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Arts commission to host Trick or Treat event in downtown Seymour

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Culture and Arts Commission will be hosting its ninth annual Downtown Trick or Treat for the elementary school children of Seymour and their younger siblings from 1-3 p.m. Saturday.

Youngsters are asked to come in costume and meet at the corners of Bank and First Streets to receive a map of where the pumpkins will be located to collect candy from participating downtown merchants and local organizations. 

This event is held rain or shine. Do not park in the First Street plaza parking lot as shop owners will have your car towed. 

For questions or more information call Kim, 203-888-7880.

*Sharing this slightly edited post from the Office of the First Selectman (of Seymour) Facebook page.

Seymour Library schedules fun activities for kids

Chili cook-off, touch-a-truck planned at church in Shelton

Ansonia public works crew commended for raising awareness

In support of "The Valley Goes Pink," the Ansonia Department of Public Works goes pink today. 

Employees have also made a donation to this great cause.

Pictured from left: Back row: Dave Lombard, Rich Velleco, Darlene Zawisza, Carmen Pitney, Tim Holman, Jim Mead, Mike Eheman, Jason Dziubina, Lou Maida, Tyrone Maynard, Joe DiVincenzo, Bruce Stetson, Joe Czajkowski, Bob Caruso, Jeff Billing, Kevin Cegelka, and Doug Novak. 

Front row: Jim Goggins, Ken Belardinelli, Mike D'Alessio, Jim Vartelas, Sean Rowley, Harry Danley, Mike Morey, and Kente Douglas. 

Missing from photo: Dave Donofrio and Judd Blaze. — at Ansonia Public Works.

*This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

The public works employees deserve plaudits for helping to raise awareness of this disease that affects so many.

Seymour to hold candlelight vigil on Veterans Day

SEYMOUR - A candlelight vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 11, Veterans Day, at Broad Street Park.

Broad Street Park
(Photo from www.seymourct.org)

The public is invited.

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

Job search help available at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library is now offering Resume Workshops at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

During these sessions, participants are welcome to either start from scratch, or bring copies of their existing resumes, cover letters as well, for review and optimizing.  

Often times a new resume can be created simply by making a number of subtle tweaks versus a whole new change.

The next class will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4.

Registration is not required.  

Career Coach visit

The American Job Search Career Coach returns to the Library Nov. 13

from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

During both the morning session, 10 a.m.-noon, and the afternoon session, 1-3 p.m., 

instructors will be offering the class, Create a Great Resume.

Participants must attend a full session. 
The classes are free and open to the public.

Registration is requested but walk-ins will be welcomed on a first come, first 

served basis.  

The American Job Search Career Coach is operated by Career Resources.  

For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St. or call 736-1482 or visit 

www.derbypubliclibrary.org. 


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Shelton fire official offers Halloween safety tips

SHELTON - The Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau is encouraging everyone to keep fire safety in mind this Halloween. 

The National Fire Protection Association reports that decorations are often the first thing to ignite in home fires during Halloween when located too close to a heat source. 

Many of these fire are ignited by a candle. Candles may also pose a serious fire and burn hazard if they come in contact with costumes. 

Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief - Fire Prevention, suggests that everyone seriously consider the tragic consequences associated with combustible decorations, costumes, and use of candles. 

Physical injuries could last a lifetime.  

• Use flameless candles or glow sticks in jack-o’-lanterns or for light effects. Do not use candles.

• Be sure to stay away from candles and jack-o'-lanterns that may be on steps and porches of homes visited. A costume could catch fire. Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)

• Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, and heaters.

• Keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.

• When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can clearly see out of them.

• According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the leading cause of Halloween residential fires in recent years remains cooking, so pay particular attention in the kitchen during this busy evening.

Always have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. 

And remember to practice your home escape plan.

For additional information on fire safety, visit the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau under public safety at: www.cityofshelton.org.

This is a press release from Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention.

Shopping night Thursday to benefit Seymour Pink