'Turnback Tuesday' photo of long-ago Derby shared

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features an old advertisement clipping for George C. Allis' book and jewelry shop. 
Allis started the business when he was only 15 years old. It was originally established in 1852 in a small room on "lower Main Street" in Derby, but in 1857, one Edward Lewis graciously built Allis a small store at 171 Main St. 

In 1859, George Allis began a circulating library within his shop and offered ~4,000 volumes. He acquired ownership of the building from Lewis in 1866 and managed his shop for over 70 years. The store closed between 1924-25, and Allis died on Dec. 28, 1927, at the age of 92.


*A big thank you goes to Derby Librarians for posting this interesting photo on Facebook. 

My guess is it's the building that houses Mario's Cafe'. What do you think?

Bird walk planned at Kellogg Center, Osbornedale State Park in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will host an outdoor Winter Bird Walk from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 28 led by Master Wildlife Conservationist Maria Stockmal.  

An expert at local flora and fauna, Stockmal will guide the group through the property at the Kellogg Environmental Center and then across the street to venture into Osbornedale State Park.
The group will be looking for birds that stay local during the winter months and learning how they adapt to survive the challenges of Connecticut’s winters.
Participants will meet in the parking lot of the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., and the walk will begin from there.

This program is free and open to the public. Participants of all ages are invited to attend.

Please dress according to the weather.

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


This is a press release from DEEP.

Seymour school district named to advanced placement honor roll

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public School District has received national recognition this week as one of 433 school districts in the United States and Canada to be named to the seventh annual Advanced Placement Honor Roll by the College Board. 

The College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity.

The AP District Honor Roll recognizes school districts for increasing AP access to students while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher.

Students who take AP courses have the opportunity to earn college credit which decreases college costs.
They tend to be more successful in college than those students who do not take an AP course.

Students who have taken at least one AP course had higher college course grades, and were more likely to graduate from college within four years.

To qualify for the AP Honor Roll, a district must work to broaden the pool of students taking Advanced Placement classes while also maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.

To be included on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll an examination of three years of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, is done for the following criteria:

• Increased participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts; 
• Increased or maintained the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students who scored 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and 
• Improved performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2016 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2014, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a 3 or higher. 

Seymour High School Principal James Freund said, "I am very proud of the faculty and students who have supported and participated in the AP Program over the last several years. To be nationally recognized is an honor for the Seymour community."


This is a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.

Derby Boy Scouts continue Super Bowl sub sale tradition

Support the Boy Scouts and have a stress-free game day!


*Information shared from Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo.

Learn to be a nursing assistant in accelerated course at Griffin Hospital in Derby

The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is offering its five-week Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, is offering its Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program starting March 20 to help individuals start the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed five-week schedule with classes Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care.

The CNA course tuition fee includes the course book, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

The CNA clinical experience will be at Griffin Hospital and a long-term care facility from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for 40 hours.

After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the State exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut.

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers training, education, and certification for Phlebotomy, Nursing Assistant, and Patient Care Technician health care careers.
Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, located at 300 Seymour Ave.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.