Celebrating after inaugural ceremony in Ansonia

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, right, shares a laugh Monday night at Ansonia High School during a post-inauguration ceremony reception with event coordinator Rich DiCarlo.

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Shelton High's 2014 robot shows its stuff at contest

Shelton High School students demonstrated their 2014 Gaelhawks robot's abilities at the FIRST LEGO League competition Nov. 21 at the school. Here it picked up three plastic containers and moved them across the floor. It was not part of the qualifying tournament that day. 

Kudos to the three Shelton teams that did qualify for the upcoming FIRST LEGO League state championship Saturday! Great job.

Check out the story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Celebrate Shelton to host tree lighting Friday

TEAM to hold career fair in Ansonia

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

Ansonia Cultural Commission slates coloring contest

ANSONIA - The Cultural Commission is holding a coloring contest for children. 
According to commission member Melissa Torres, parents can download the picture and have their children color it, and upload their creations to www.facebook.com/ansonia125.

The winner will be the one with the most likes on Facebook. 
Torres said children should only enter if they will be at the event, since the winner will help with the countdown and lighting of the tree at 6 p.m. Friday alongside Mayor David S. Cassetti and Santa on the Green next to City Hall.

This is the drawing to be colored:

Have fun!

Griffin Hospital in Derby wins high marks for quality, patient safety

DERBY - Griffin Hospital was recently recognized by two national healthcare organizations for continued excellence in quality and safety.

Griffin Hospital was named a 2014 “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®” this month by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, and was honored with an “A” grade in the Fall 2015 update to the Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital safety rating organization whose Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety.

Griffin is the only Connecticut hospital to be named a Top Performer by The Joint Commission four times, and it is the third consecutive time the hospital earned top Hospital Safety Score. 
Griffin is one of only 1,043 hospitals out of more than 3,300 eligible hospitals in the United States to achieve the 2014 Top Performer distinction, and one of an even more select group of 773 hospitals nationwide receiving a Leapfrog Group A grade.

“As a patient-centered care hospital, Griffin Hospital is focused on doing what is best for patients, caregivers and our community,” said Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel. “These recognitions are a tribute to the staff at Griffin Hospital who work together to make sure patient-centered care starts with high-quality, safe care.”

Top Performer

As a 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®, Griffin was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2015 annual report “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety,” for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. 
The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions. 
The performance measures included in the recognition program are heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, inpatient psychiatric services, stroke, venous thromboembolism, perinatal care, immunization, tobacco treatment and substance use.

To be a 2014 Top Performer, hospitals had to meet three performance criteria based on 2014 accountability measure data, including:

• Achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures; 
• Achieve performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure with at least 30 denominator cases; and
• Have at least one core measure set that had a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and within that measure set, achieve a performance rate of 95 percent or above on all applicable individual accountability measures.

“Delivering the right treatment in the right way at the right time is a cornerstone of high-quality health care. I commend the efforts of Griffin Hospital for their excellent performance on the use of evidence-based interventions,” said Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and CEO, The Joint Commission.

For more information about the Top Performer program, visit jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.

“A” Grade for Safety

The Leapfrog Group is an independent hospital safety rating organization whose Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety. 
The score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading patient safety experts, rating hospitals on errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. The first and only hospital safety rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety, the Hospital Safety Score is published widely to give consumers information they can use to protect themselves and their families when choosing a hospital stay.

“Griffin Hospital’s A grade is a powerful reminder of its commitment to putting patient safety above all else, and we are pleased to recognize the persistent efforts of your clinicians and staff to protect your patients,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score.

Developed under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single A, B, C, D, or F score, representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. 

More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in October 2015, with Griffin Hospital among only four Connecticut hospitals in the select group of 773 hospitals nationwide receiving an A grade.

The Hospital Safety Score is fully transparent, offering a full analysis of the data and methodology used in determining grades on the website. Patients can also review their hospital’s past safety performance alongside its current grade on the Hospital Safety Score site, allowing them to determine which local hospitals have the best track record in patient safety and which have demonstrated consistent improvement.

To see Griffin’s full score, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org or follow The Hospital Safety Score on Twitter or Facebook. 
Consumers can also download the free Hospital Safety Score mobile app for Apple and Android devices. 

The hospital is at 130 Division St.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Santa to visit Huntington Branch Library Saturday in Shelton

Shelton business raises more than $26K for nonprofits at golf tournament

Event benefits The Umbrella, Boys & Girls Club, Spooner House

The 10th Annual DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament was an overwhelming success with several generations of DiMatteos organizing the tournament at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford. John DiMatteo of Bethany, center, President, the DiMatteo Group in Shelton, is pictured with his two sons, Anthony, left, and Michael, right, who all volunteered./Contributed photo

            The DiMatteo Group in Shelton recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament. 
       Nearly 123 area golfers played a round of golf at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford and at the same time supported three local charities.  

The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation raised more than $26,000 for three vital non-profits: The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley in Shelton, and Spooner House in Shelton.

The foundation was established by the DiMatteo Group in Shelton. 
This spirit of philanthropy resulted in the creation of the DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation 10 years ago and the annual golf tournament. 
The foundation was started as a tribute to Anthony “Tony” DiMatteo, their late father who was battling cancer at the time. 

        “Our Family Foundation is committed to supporting various organizations that have made a difference in the lives of our family, clients and staff,” said John DiMatteo, President of the DiMatteo Group. “Since its inception over a decade ago, we have contributed over $300,000 for various well-known local and national charities that fund research, education and finding a cure for diseases.”

Founded more than 55 years ago, this family-owned and operated business specializes in insurance, employee benefits, income tax and financial services. Giving back to the community is part of their company’s mission.
Volunteers recognized

A committee of nearly 30 volunteers plans this annual golf tournament.  
The following volunteers deserve special recognition for volunteering more than five years: Shelton residents Barbara Gelozin, Nancy Opitz, Karen Minopoli, and Maureen Yash;

Milford residents Maria Rodrigues and Jenine Motasky; Christine Libby of Ansonia, Anthony DiMatteo of Bethany, Sue Doolan of Orange, and Genie Tricarico of Seymour.

            Many area companies and business associates of DiMatteo Group contributed to the tournament as sponsors. Top gold sponsors included: the Southern New England Regional Office of The Hartford, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Fairway Payments, and the DiMatteo Group. 

            At the silver sponsor level, the following generous sponsors were: Preferred Tool and Die, Inc. of Shelton and the Homebuilders Association of Hartford County.

            In addition, for the past 10 years, Steve Geremia from Safelite AutoGlass in Bridgeport organized a "Hit the Windshield" putting contest on the day of the tournament and donates the prize and the proceeds.  

           Other major donors were Park City Ford of Bridgeport for the hole-in-one and signs by Think Link, LLC of Shelton.

Grateful to supporters 
        John DiMatteo said, “We are extremely grateful to all our many friends, family members and customers who have so generously contributed to our golf tournament year after year. This annual event is the major source of funding for our family foundation and we depend on the ongoing support of the community. This year we are proud to touch the lives of others in need.”

            Some of the past beneficiaries of the golf tournament have included: Project Purple, National Kidney Foundation, St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services, The Kennedy Center, Juvenile Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound, Homes for the Brave Female Soldiers/Forgotten Heroes and MovingWithHOPE.   

               DiMatteo Group continues to maintain its foundation of integrity, personalized service and treating others as an extension of the family. “We have successfully transitioned the business from our parent and founders to the second generation with three siblings and two spouses, each of whom manages a key department,” John DiMatteo said. 

             Three siblings serve as officers of the company.  
             John specializes in financial planning and works with his wife, Kim DiMatteo of Bethany, a partner in the business.  
             Loretta Lesko of Shelton, the second youngest sibling, serves as Vice President, and is in charge of Operations, while her husband Robert Lesko is a partner.  
             In addition, Rosemarie Esposito of Shelton, the eldest sibling, is the agency’s Treasurer, an Enrolled Agent and manages DiMatteo Group – Tax & Accounting Services LLC. 
         View www.dimatteogrp.com for more information.


This is a press release from the DiMatteo Group.

Sharing slideshow of photos from time capsule at Derby Elks Lodge

My husband Ralph put together this slideshow with my photos from Friday's opening of the time capsule at the Derby Elks Lodge at 73 Elizabeth St., Derby. 

It was a fascinating event to witness.

I forgot to post the slideshow here Saturday ~ had too much turkey I guess! Please check it out.

Seymour Library to host crafts, music and movement, more for kids

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public Library, 46 Church St., has scheduled fun activities for children in December. Registration is required for all programs.

Dec. 3 - 4 p.m. – StoryKids’ Book Club for K-Grade 2. Book talks, craft and a snack. Child must have some reading ability.

Dec. 9 - 10:30 a.m.– Preschoolers’ “Winter Wonderland Crafty~Party.” Join us for games, stories, crafts, refreshments, and fun! For all children - infants - 5 year olds.

Dec. 9 - 4 p.m. – Nutmeggers’ Book Club for Grade 5 and up. Book talks, craft and a snack - features the Intermediate Nutmeg Nominees

Dec.10 – 4 p.m. – BookChatters’ Book Club for Grades 2-4.  - Book talks, craft and a snack - features the Magic Tree House Series.

Dec.15 –10:30 a.m. – Science Snoopers "Arctic Adventures" - Natural science and a craft for ages 2 and up - must be able to sit and listen.

Dec.17 -10:30 a.m. – Lynn Lewis - Music & Movement for infants through age 6. And a live visit from Rudolph! Fun for all!

Dec.18 – 3:45 p.m.– YA Origami – Miss Tina teaches how to make a splendid winter holiday craft.

For ages 10 and Up!  Great for giving -or keeping!

All programs are free; some have limited enrollment.

For information call 203-888-3903 or visit us on Facebook or at www.seymourpubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Ann Szaley, children's librarian, Seymour Public Library.
                 

Learn local history at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library welcomes back local historian Rob Novak, Jr. at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 to discuss Yesterday's Headlines.  

Novak has specialized in presenting local history in fun, interactive formats for both general and specific audiences

for more than 20 years.  

He is past director of the Derby Historical Society and the city of Shelton's Municipal Historian.

In addition, he has authored four books through Arcadia Publications, and has been a popular historical columnist.

Participants will be taken back to 1915, 1940, and 1965 to 

see what was happening locally 100, 75, and 50 years ago in the Valley.  
A look back at holiday news of the times will be included.

Registration is requested. 

Holiday decorations in Derby

The Library holds weekly Local History Information Sessions from 6-7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays. 

During this time the Library’s Local History Coordinator offers information on monthly highlighted topics.

December’s topic will be A History of Holiday Decorations in Derby. The first session is 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Assistance will also be available for research on topics such as genealogy, prominent 

local figures, major area events, and more.  

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.