Slideshow features 'Holiday at the Farm' at Osborne Homestead in Derby

Exterior of the Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby decorated for the holidays.


Thanks go to my husband, Ralph, who created a slideshow of photos I took during a tour Saturday at the beautiful Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

Talented members of area garden clubs have decorated the home following the theme of "Holiday at the Farm."
This is the 30th year that the house has been decorated for the public to enjoy.

Please take a moment to watch the slideshow here: https://youtu.be/Y75DnHA6ykY.

The groups include: Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Pomperaug Valley Garden Club of Woodbury, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement of Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.

Holiday tours will run through Dec. 19. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 
 On Fridays, Dec. 4, 11, and 18, the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to show off the ethereal glow of the decorations, 4-6:30 p.m.

I recommend you visit the museum during the holiday season. You won't be disappointed.

Seymour Library to host Celtic Holiday Concert Sunday

*Information shared from the Facebook page of the Office of the First Selectman of Seymour.

Pancake breakfast planned to benefit Assumption School in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The Knights of Columbus will host a pancake breakfast Dec. 20.

The breakfast will be held in the Assumption Church hall from 9-10:30 a.m. on North Cliff Street.

Price is $8 for adults; no charge for children under 12.

The proceeds will benefit Assumption School, 61 N. Cliff St.

For more information, call Rick, 203-881-2624.

This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Spooner House in Shelton provides 357 Thanksgiving baskets

 SHELTON - Spooner House assembled and distributed 357 Thanksgiving holiday baskets last week to residents in need living in the Valley. 
The Spooner House Food Bank is projecting another 150 food baskets will be needed before the December holidays are over.
The Food Bank hopes to also receive enough donations to prepare an additional 200 frozen turkey and fixings meal baskets to have on hand to start the New Year. 
The items suggested for each basket are below.
If these numbers are reached, Spooner House will be thankful once again for the generosity of people and businesses in the Valley for their help this holiday season in accomplishing this important goal.

Particular thanks go to Dr. Bruce and Rev. Deborah Sofferman from Smile Dental Centers as well as the Adams Hometown Markets in Derby, Milford and Shelton; Seymour Cinemas 12; Starbucks in Shelton; L2 Innovate Computers and Technology in Ansonia; Super Stop & Shop in Ansonia and Shelton; the Boy Scouts' “Scouting for Food” drive; the Girl Scout Troop 64164 food collection at First United Methodist Church, Shelton; Shelton High School basketball clinic at Shelton Intermediate School, as well as continuing the tradition of frozen turkey drives at Seymour Middle School and Chatfield-LoPresti Elementary School in Seymour. 
Visit www.actspooner.org for updates. Also check for updates and pictures on our Facebook page. 
Again this year, some locations will not be able to accept frozen turkeys, only non-perishable items for those in need.

Food items and frozen turkeys may also be dropped at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though there is staff on duty 24/7.
Contact Kate to arrange a donation delivery: kpipa@actspooner.org or 203-225-0453 ext. 102. 

REQUESTED LIST OF FIXINGS 

Please place items in a sturdy box or bin.

· 1 Box Instant Potatoes
· 2 Packages of Gravy
· 1 Box/Bag Stuffing Mix
· 1 Can Cranberry Sauce
· 4 Cans of Vegetables, for example:
-corn/peas/asparagus/yams/carrots/beets
· Pie Crust Mix
· Pie Filling
· 1 Can Evaporated/Powdered Milk
· 1 Jar Pickles
· 2 Cans Olives
· Canned Fruit, for example:
-peaches/pineapple/mixed fruit/fruit cocktail
· Coffee/Tea
· Powdered Juice Mix
· Extras: Napkins, Sugar, Brownie Mix, Corn Bread/Bisquick Mix.


Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Valley’s social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 200 men, women and children each year.
More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising over 130,000 meals. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley.
 Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.


This is a press release from Spooner House in Shelton.

Seymour Historical Society to host Santa, Mrs. Claus

Holiday fun! 

*Info shared from the Office of the First Selectman of Seymour Facebook page.

Celebrate Shelton creators plan holiday events

SHELTON - After last weekend’s Plaid Friday Kick-Off and Small Business Saturday Handmade Market, Celebrate Shelton creators Nicole Heriot-Mikula, Michael Skrtic, and Jimmy Tickey are ready to continue the Celebrate Shelton events.

The schedule follows:

Community Tree Lighting

Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m. at Veteran's Memorial Park

Free entry. Join us for our Second Annual Community Tree Lighting along with a performance by Center Stage, and a special appearance by Santa! 
We encourage all families to bring their own ornament to help decorate the tree. 
The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley will be selling hot cocoa and baked goods. 
All proceeds go directly to the club. 
Sponsored by City of Shelton, Valley Community Foundation, Center Stage Theatre and Jones Family Farms.

Holiday Handmade Markets

Dec. 5, 12, 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free entry. Featuring live music and more than 75 handmade artisan vendors! 
Each week we will have new and different vendors than the week before; please keep coming back throughout December!

This week’s artisans include: 
Art by Noah, Bambooties, BBA Bracelets Bead Dangle Design, Decor from the Shore, Grateful Pawz, Greystone Bookworks, Hipponotic Candle, Home Brewed Crafts, Julemi Jewelry, KnitBeadRepeat, Lilla Rose, Liquid Lunch/GROW, Lisa's Soaps, Little Feet, The Little Dog Laughed, Look & Sea, Middle Sister Styles, Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies, Origami Owl Jewelry, Oronoque Farms, Positiv-A-Tea LLC, Quark Tees, Quilts by Nancy, Re-Designed by Elizabeth, Reid's BBQ Sauces & Rubs, Sacred Mystery Arts, Spirit & Sage, Tiny Hobo, The Two Oh Three, Upcycle and Vinyl Delights. 

The Conti Building Shops include: 
BringtheHoopla, The Glass Source, Memories From Aunt Helen's Attic, Nikki's Attic, Periodic Tableware, Shadee Lady, Written Words Bookstore and more!

Food Vendors include: Mama Dee's Italian Kitchen and Riverhouse Cafe

Live Music by: The New Paradigm Theatre, Matt Miklus, and Radio Play.

Celebrate Shelton's Holiday Downtown Handmade Markets are sponsored by: Bricks & Barley, Electri-Cable Assemblies, Bic Corporation, Griffin Hospital Occupational Medicine Center, Jones Family Farm, J&L Enterprises, People's United Bank, Minuteman Press, Center Stage Theater, City of Shelton, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Community Foundation, and the Sound Magazine.

Celebrate Shelton, a city-wide initiative, was created by small business owners Nicole Heriot-Mikula, Michael Skrtic and Jimmy Tickey. 

Learn more about Celebrate Shelton at www.celebrateshelton.com, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/celebrateshelton) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/celebshelton). 


This is a press release from Celebrate Shelton.

Holiday fair slated Saturday at Ansonia Middle School

*Shared from Ansonia Middle School PTSO Facebook page.