Letter carriers to hold food drive May 14 in Valley

National Day of Prayer event planned in Ansonia

ANSONIA - We invite all who have a love for the Lord Jesus Christ and wish to pray for our nation, to join us for the Judeo-Christian expression of the 65^th annual National Day of Prayer to be held May 5.  

Valley residents and their families are invited to answer the call of prayer from 6-7:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, located adjacent to Ansonia City Hall, 253 Main St.

The National Day of Prayer is an expression of the Judeo-Christian faith that was first designated in 1952.  

The theme for 2016 is Wake Up America, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of Fathers in reverence for His Holy Name. 

To further highlight this theme, event organizers have chosen Isaiah 58:1a as our Scripture for this year:  “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.” The prayer for the nation was written by Dr. Tony Evans, 2016 Honorary Chairman, and will be read at each prayer event occurring across the country.

The main purpose of this event is to be in one accord as we repent, intercede, ask forgiveness, and seek God’s wisdom. 

We will be praying for the Seven Centers of Influence:  Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church, Family, and we have added Israel. The Governor’s Proclamation for the National Day of Prayer will be read by the Honorable David Cassetti, Mayor of Ansonia. 

Prayer gatherings will take place all day and evening throughout our nation. Last year there were more than 43,000. 

This is a privilege and responsibility for every believer, especially in these critical times, no matter who we are or what position we hold. It is time to seek the Lord.

This is the fifth year that we will be holding the National Day of Prayer observance in Ansonia. 

We are so grateful that each year we have been honored to have Clergy and congregants from local churches, city officials, police, veterans, emergency responders, and so many others, make time to pray with us. 

The National Day of Prayer will take place rain or shine (believing for “shine”).  

We hope you and your family will mark your calendar and join us this year!

For further Information, history of the National Day of Prayer and local event locations, visit the official National Day of Prayer Website:  www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

This is a press release from the City of Ansonia on behalf of the Ansonia National Day of Prayer team.

Valley YMCA in Ansonia to hold Healthy Kids Day Saturday

*Sharing this post from an Ansonia community Facebook page.

Griffin Hospital in Derby holds open house for new low vision center

Griffin Hospital and Lions Club of Fairfield and New Haven Counties recently cut the ribbon on a new Lions Low Vision Center at Griffin. 
Pictured from left: Lions Club members Tom DePalo and Leonard Berger, Jon Christensen, president, Lions Low Vision Centers of Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Occupational Therapists Leslie Prescott and Frances Harmeyer, and Myra Odenwaelder, DPT, director, Griffin Hospital's Rehabilitation Services Department. /Contributed photo
DERBY - Griffin Hospital and Lions Club of Fairfield and New Haven Counties recently opened the new Lions Low Vision Center at Griffin Hospital Rehabilitation Services at 350 Seymour Ave.

“This is the culmination of a truly excellent partnership between the Lions and Griffin Hospital to serve the area from Naugatuck to Bridgeport, which really wasn’t being served before today,” said Jon Christensen, president of the Lions Low Vision Centers of Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

The Low Vision Center assists individuals whose degree of vision loss can no longer be corrected by eye glasses, medicine or surgery. 
Common disorders that cause low vision include macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts. Symptoms of low vision are reduced reading vision, and deterioration in peripheral and color vision, and in the ability to adjust to changes in levels of light, contrast or glare.

Occupational therapists at the Center evaluate an individual’s degree of vision loss and make recommendations for vision aids and devices that are provided at no charge. 
Funding for the aids and devices are donated by the more than 50 local Lions Clubs in Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

According to Christensen, there are more than 58,000 individuals with Low Vision in Connecticut, including an estimated 8,500 in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and Greater Bridgeport area.

“Low Vision is a significant issue not just in the state, but right here in this community,” he said. “That’s why this new center at Griffin is so important.”

The center’s opening featured a talk by Dr. Joseph Sokol of Connecticut Eye Specialists in Shelton who stressed the need for adaptive devices for those with Low Vision.

“Assisting individuals with Low Vision at our new center is one of the most gratifying experiences and occupational therapist can have,” said Myra Odenwaelder, DPT, director of Griffin Hospital's Rehabilitation Services Department. “It’s an incredible feeling to provide our expertise to help people get back to doing activities they thought they would never be able to do again.”

For more information about the Lions Low Vision Center at Griffin Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department, call 203-732-7445 or visit griffinhealth.org or lionslowvisioncenters.org

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Crisco backs bill to help firefighters facing cancer diagnosis

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, voted Tuesday in support of a bill that creates a firefighters’ cancer relief program and account to provide wage replacement benefits for certain paid and volunteer firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan and nearly unanimous 34-1 vote after passing the House of Representatives last week on a unanimous 141-0 vote. 
The bill now heads to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his consideration.

Crisco spoke in favor of the bill in the Senate chamber.

“There are towns in my region that are completely staffed by volunteer firefighters, thereby saving communities millions of dollars in full-time salary costs,” Crisco said. ‘I want to thank our firefighters for their professionalism and their sacrifice to our communities, and this vote is one way to do that.” 

The bill establishes a new cancer relief subcommittee of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association to award benefits to firefighters beginning July 1, 2019.

The wage replacement benefits must be approved by the subcommittee, wages cannot be provided for more than two years, and the bill prevents a firefighter who receives benefits from the account from simultaneously receiving unemployment or workers’ compensation benefits or any other municipal, state or federal wage replacement benefits

The account will be funded through a diversion of 1-cent per month per phone line from the enhanced emergency 9-1-1-program, which is funded through a monthly subscriber fee.

This is a release from Crisco's office.

BHcare to mark May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' official to visit

ANSONIA - As part of BHcare’s May is Mental Health Awareness Month activities, a luncheon will be held May 11 at noon at the Ansonia National Guard Armory, 5 State St. 

Guest speaker will be Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

There will be a light lunch followed by a question and answer period. 

The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Phyllis Kaplan, 203-736-2601 Ext. 1232.

For more information about BHcare’s May is Mental Health Month activities and events, visitwww.BHcare.org.

BHcare is a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and Shoreline communities. 

For more information, visit www.BHcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.