Thursday, March 3, 2016

Reminder: Ansonia nature center to host maple fest Saturday

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center will hold its Annual Maple Festival from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Start with a delicious pancake breakfast with real maple syrup, sausages, juice, coffee, and tea from 8–10 a.m. for $8.

There will also be a maple bake sale, crafts, live animal presentations, tree-tapping demos, and more!

All proceeds benefit the center's critter care.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road
.

Presentation on waterfowl planned at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

DERBY - The Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society, in cooperation with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announces a March program for the entire family at the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Come learn about Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield with Environmental Education Director Ben Sonnenbergon at 7 p.m. March 16.  

S. Dillon Ripley, an ornithologist and aviculturist with an extensive list of accomplishments, began his collection of waterfowl at the Litchfield duck pond in the 1920s at the age of 17. 
Along with housing native Connecticut waterfowl, the work of collecting, research, breeding, propagating, and release of threatened and endangered waterfowl species from around the world continues today. 
Whether you have visited LWRC or not, this is a program that will surely fascinate you.

The mission of LRWC is to conserve waterfowl and wetlands through research, education, and conservation.  
Sonnenberg will enlighten participants on waterfowl natural history and, as winter is courtship season, breeding displays. 
LWRC is home to more than 60 species of waterfowl, along with an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Barn Owl, and Laughing Kookaburra. Sonnenberg will bring a few of the Avian Ambassadors so be sure to join us and meet some live birds. 

Sonnenberg relocated from Bozeman, Mont., is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and has worked at the Alaska Sealife Center. 
In his free time, Sonnenberg volunteers as a bird bander at Bent of the River and with Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship program at Sharon Audubon.


The Kellogg Environmental Center is at 500 Hawthorne Ave. 
A donation of $5/adult is requested. Children under 12 admitted free. 
Light refreshments will be served after the meeting. 

For more information, directions, or to register call 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.


This is a press release from DEEP. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host talk on positive psychology

Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation March 23 about positive thinking./ Submitted photo


DERBY - Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., will host a free presentation about positive thinking and how it can help individuals cope with life stressors and symptoms of depression at 6 p.m. March 23.
Deborah Ranilla, LCSW, and Emily Medina, LCSW, of the hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry Department will host “Positive Psychology,” a free discussion on how gratitude, kindness, optimism, self-compassion, forgiveness, and other similar topics can improve well-being and help people live happier and more fulfilling lives.

This talk is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U Talks, a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics.

To reserve your spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org/events.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 


Dr. Seuss' birthday celebrated at Bungay School in Seymour

SEYMOUR - Students at Bungay Elementary School in Seymour learned about Dr. Suess Wednesday. It would have been the children's author's 112th birthday.

The goal of the "Read Across America" celebration each year is to instill in students a lifelong love of reading.



Superintendent of Schools Christine Syriac and Bungay Assistant Principal Kris Boyle were among those who read Dr. Seuss books to classes throughout the day. First Selectman Kurt Miller had planned to read to students but was not feeling well and could not attend.


I always enjoy covering school programs in the Valley, but I had a prior commitment to attend a meeting in Shelton and could not get there.


But you can read all about the birthday celebration in a story by my friend, New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.

PKD Challenge for March: Day 3 ~ Help raise awareness

March 3Store collage

All merchandise on our online store is 20% off today. 
Get your PKD gear to help raise awareness.



(I'm not urging anyone to buy stuff; but I agree with the need to raise awareness of this disease.)