Gratitude expressed for quick work of Ansonia emergency personnel

This was the scene on Platt Street in Ansonia Thursday evening. When I took this photo emergency workers had already gotten my disabled husband, Ralph, out of his minivan and into an ambulance.

Soon after returning home from attending a political debate at Seymour Middle School Thursday evening, I heard sirens. Lots of them. 

I was sitting at my desktop computer and since Ralph wasn't home - he had been at a meeting in downtown Ansonia - something made me turn on broadcastify. 
In less than a minute I heard a voice on the scanner say it was a minivan involved in an accident. 
I knew before the person said "extrication needed, this is a disabled driver with a handicapped van" or something similar - that it was Ralph. 

The next moment the phone rang and caller ID said Jared Heon, Ansonia Rescue Medical Services director, was on the other end.

Cue shaking.

"Is it Ralph?" I asked him. He said yes, it was but that he was OK. He gave me the location of the accident and I said I'd be right there.

I told our daughter, Allegra, what happened and ran out of the house and headed less than a mile down the hill to the accident. I parked the car and ran down Platt Street to the scene. Allegra followed minutes later.

When I got there Ralph was still sitting in the driver's seat with a neck brace on. 
The airbag hadn't deployed. I was relieved to see that he was coherent. 
Ansonia Police Officer Michael Castillo had used a pick axe on the passenger-side window so that workers could unlock the door and get to Ralph. The van was leaning at about a 20-degree angle to the right, Ralph said, and he was leaning with it, still strapped into his seat belt.

He said he had swerved to avoid a car, and ended up off the road.

At Griffin Hospital emergency department Ralph was immediately taken care of, and X-rays were taken of his knee. Fortunately nothing was broken.

I am writing this mostly because I want to publicly thank the Ansonia Police Officers, firefighters from Webster Hose Hook & Ladder Company #3, and members of Ansonia Rescue Medical Services who took care of Ralph at the scene, and the medical personnel who took care of him at Griffin Hospital.

We truly appreciate everything.

AT&T gives $10K in scholarships to Derby High School; 20 graduates to benefit

Pictured from left, AT&T External Affairs Manager Kelly Wade Bettuchi, Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway, state Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, Derby Schools Business Manager Mark Izzo./ Submitted photo

DERBY - AT&T Connecticut Thursday announced a $10,000 donation to Derby High School to support the school’s college and career readiness program. 

State Rep. Themis Klarides, Superintendent of Schools Matthew J. Conway, Business Manager Mark Izzo, and AT&T External Affairs Manager Kelly Wade Bettuchi were on hand for the announcement and donation.
The funds will be utilized for 20 $500 scholarships that will be presented to graduates of the class of 2017. 
Scholarships will be awarded to students who are continuing their education in a two-year, four-year or certificate program. 

Scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate strong school service, outstanding school citizenship, a strong academic record, and financial need.
“This is exactly the public-private partnership model we all should hope to achieve, to establish the synergy and common goals that will benefit our young people and ready them for careers in an ever evolving workplace,’’ House Republican Leader Klarides said.

To encourage students to apply and be eligible for these scholarships, various school and community volunteer activities will be available throughout the 2016-2017 academic school year. 
The activities will give students an opportunity to develop leadership skills, as well as other skills to prepare them for college life such as such as time management, project management, and team collaboration. 
This involvement will help them not only with their Derby High School experience but will be valuable when entering a new college campus community.

Students will submit a scholarship application and will complete a written essay describing how they meet the necessary scholarship criteria. 
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of faculty members and awarded to students at the annual Awards Night ceremony in May 2017.
“AT&T’s generous gift will help prepare and support 20 students learn and practice the value of community service and citizenship. This is something that if practiced, has the potential of affecting so many more lives over one’s lifetime. It becomes a lifestyle,” Conway said.


This is a press release from Derby Public Schools.

Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby to host talk on Icelandic birds

DERBY - The Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society, in cooperation with Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will present a program at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Naturalists Peter and Barbara Rzasa will present a slide show of several Icelandic birds that they photographed while traveling Iceland’s 832-mile long Ring Road and visiting the West Fjords. 

Join us as the Rzasas provide interesting stories and a brief overview of Iceland and its natural history.  
On display will be their collection of Iceland’s volcanic rocks and ash as well as guide books, literature, and nature field guides.

Iceland is often called “The Land of Fire and Ice” because of the many volcanoes and glaciers that populate the country. 
The country is also a noted birder’s paradise famous for its population of Atlantic puffins, ptarmigan, arctic terns, harlequin ducks and white-tailed eagles.  
Sea birds such as northern fulmars, gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes and great skuas are found in abundance along Iceland’s 3,700 miles of coast.  Lake areas provide habitat for great northern divers, red-necked phalaropes, and tufted ducks.  Inland areas host short-eared owls, European golden plovers, Eurasian woodcock, whimbrels, gyrfalcons and common redshanks amongst other birds.

A donation of $5 per adult is requested. Children under 12 are admitted free. Light refreshments will be served. 

Kellogg Environmental Center is at 500 Hawthorne Ave.

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


This is a press release from DEEP.