Bit of local history: Photo shared of former landmark in Derby Narrows

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo is of Leman Stone's "Castle." 
It was built in 1785 to accommodate Stone's business with the West Indies. 

Stone occupied the "Castle" as his residence, a store and a warehouse for more than 20 years. Located in Derby Narrows where the Housatonic met the Naugatuck Rivers, it was a landmark by both land and sea. 

The walls on the water side of the building were very deep and five feet wide to withstand the freshets common at that time. The building was demolished in 1891.

This interesting photo is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Derby Public Library to present program on Medicare benefits

DERBY - David Cowan, endorsed AAA retiree advisor, will discuss the four parts of Medicare and explain differences between Supplements and Advantage plans at 6:30 p.m. April 19 at Derby Public Library. While the program is targeted for those approaching 65, the general public is welcome to attend.   Registration is requested. Call 203-736-1482. The Library is at 313 Elizabeth St. This information is shared from the Library's online calendar.

Program on Naugatuck River planned at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and The Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society will host a program, Welcome to the Naugatuck River: The River Few Have Ever Seen presented by Kevin Zak at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Kellogg Environmental Center.
Zak is President of the Naugatuck River Revival Group.

The Naugatuck River begins in the towns of Winchester, Norfolk, and Goshen to converge in Torrington and flow 39 miles to its confluence with the Housatonic River in Derby.  It has a watershed area of 311 miles in portions of 27 towns, is the only river contained entirely in Connecticut, and is the largest tributary of the Housatonic River. 

The informative program, produced by Zak, features a video set to music. Attendees will take an imaginary journey down the Naugatuck River and visit a variety of ecosystems, including one found below the water’s surface. Discover the world of predator and prey, songbirds, fishing birds, fish, and a jawless fish known as the sea lamprey. 

See how conservation efforts are helping to educate the public, promote recreation, and help restore the river. Learn the threats to this so often unnoticed river and satisfy your curiosity as to what is being done to solve its problems and to keep this river beautiful.

The NRRG is a non-profit started by its President, Kevin Zak and Executive Director, Sondra Harmen. Zak is a member of the Waterbury Greenway Advisory Committee and the Naugatuck River Greenway Committee. Zak also assists A Place Called Hope with rescues of birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, and owls. NRRG is involved in the Naugatuck River microbead study by Post University and assists DEEP in river herring migration monitoring.   

The Kellogg Environmental Center is located at 500 Hawthorne Ave. 
A suggested donation of $5/adult is requested. Children under 12 are free. 

Light refreshments will be served.

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


This is a press release from DEEP.

Conroy: Congress must restore benefits to Blue Water veterans of Vietnam War

State Rep. Theresa Conroy

State Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) hailed unanimous House passage of a resolution to restore federal health benefits to a group of Vietnam War veterans.

Sailors who patrolled Vietnamese bays and harbors (blue waters) and were potentially exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are not classified as Vietnam War veterans by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and do not receive care and benefits for Agent Orange-related illnesses. 

“Those in the waterways were potentially exposed due to the spraying that went on in Vietnam,” Conroy said. 
“If you didn't have ‘boots in the ground’ there was still exposure to Agent Orange.”

The Connecticut Blue Water Navy Resolution calls on the U.S. Congress to stand by the Blue Water veterans and restore their benefits.

“My constituent, Raymond Melninkaitis from Beacon Falls, brought this issue to me and has been a leading advocate in the nation for federal VA recognition to the Blue Water Navy Veterans,” Conroy said.  
“Blue Water Navy Veterans continue to fight a battle that should have ended a long time ago.” 

The Institute of Medicine reports that Blue Water veterans could have been exposed to Agent Orange by the ship's water distillation system or through the air as it was sprayed.  

Last year, the VA extended benefits to Air Force crews that spread the Agent Orange. 

Conroy worked as a nurse at the West Haven VA Health Center for 28 years.

This is a press release from Conroy's office.

Derby Town/City Clerk shares information on voting in April 26 primary

DERBY - Please click on link below to access information on the upcoming Connecticut Presidential Preference Primary for both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party on Tuesday April 26, 2016 from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.  

Voting will be held at Bradley School and Irving School.

http://www.derbyct.gov/Election-Information/

Please remember that you must be registered with a Party in order to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.

The PPP eligibility deadline to register to vote online is Thursday April 21, 2016 – Here is the link –https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do

The PPP eligibility deadline to register to vote by mailing in your registration card is Thursday April 21, 2016 – Here is the link to print out a card – http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671.pdf

The PPP eligibility deadline to register to vote in person at the Office of the Registrar of Voters at Derby City Hall is 12:00 noon on Monday April 25, 2016 – Here is the link to print out the card -http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671.pdf

Any question may be addressed to either the Registrars of Voters at 203.736.1454 or via email atlpitney@derbyct.gov or egaudio@derbyct.gov .  Louise Pitney is the Democratic Registrar of Voters and Ernestine Gaudio is the Republican Registrar of Voters.

Or  by calling or emailing:

Marc J. Garofalo, MPA

Town / City Clerk

City of Derby

1 Elizabeth Street

Derby, CT 06418

BHcare slates 22nd annual employment salute in Ansonia

ANSONIA - BHcare will host its 22nd annual employment salute at noon May 4 at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen, 557 Wakelee Ave.

The luncheon event for area employers is sponsored by the BHcare Business Advisory Council and The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

Keynote speaker Attorney Leonard A. McDermott will present "Protecting Employer Rights."


Employer of the Year Award will be presented to Lowe's of Orange and J&B Auto Body of Shelton.

For more information and/or to RSVP, call John Yeager at 203-736-2601, ext. 1412, or email jyeager@bhcare.org.