Demo at Derby Public Library to feature cooking with potatoes

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled another cooking demo at 6:30 p.m. May 15.  
The topic will be One Potato, Two Potato.  

Stacey Ference of Savour Catering will show participants how to use the new spring crop of potatoes to make a variety of dishes, including potato dumplings, potato pancakes, potato chips, and more.  
There will be samples of all demonstrated foods. The class is for ages 18 years and older.  

Registration is required.  
For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby to recognize volunteers, offer opportunities

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection invites environmental stewards who enjoy wildlife and the outdoors to get involved in protecting important species and preserving habitat by becoming volunteers for DEEP. 

Join others at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave. for a special evening as the Agency thanks our volunteers and welcome new ones.  

The gathering takes place April 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. to learn about current and new volunteer opportunities.  

The Kellogg Environmental Center offers a variety of volunteer and citizen science projects that involve monitoring wildlife, educating the public, and maintaining park trails.  

The Kellogg staff will share the findings of its winter citizen science project, Project FeederWatch, and announce the schedule for its spring and summer opportunities.  

Guest speaker Michelle Duong, of Yale University and also the Project Coordinator for Map of Life, will present a new citizen science project and explain the use of its app to help with wildlife inventory and studies.  

Map of Life is a project by Yale University and the University of Florida that gathers species data worldwide to preserve biodiversity and prevent extinction.  

The American Association of School Librarians awarded it the Best App for Teaching and Learning in 2016.  

Bring a friend and join us in celebrating the volunteers who make it happen.  

This event is free, and light refreshments will be served.  Please register by calling 203-734-2513.  

The Kellogg Environmental Center is a facility of the Connecticut DEEP.

This is a press release from DEEP.

Course for caregivers offered at Wesley Village in Shelton

SHELTON - During the month of May, Wesley Village will host a free Caregiver Course, a four-week training program for caregivers, family members, and friends of people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. 

The course will be presented by the Alzheimer’s Association, with Maria Tomasetti and other speakers from the local community. 

The series will include discussions on the following topics: Overview of dementia, communication techniques and behavioral strategies, keeping the caregiver healthy, utilizing community resources and strengthening family dynamics, understanding legal and financial issues surrounding dementia. 

The course will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays  May 3, 10, 17, 24 at Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community (on the Wesley Village Campus at 580 Long Hill Ave.). Registration starts at 5:30. 

Light refreshments and snacks will be served. Registration is required to attend. 

For more information or to RSVP, contact Lisa Bisson at 203.225.5024 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.  

Labor official to speak at BHcare employment salute in Ansonia

ANSONIA - Assistant Director and Economist of the Connecticut Department of Labor Patrick Flaherty will be keynote speaker at the 23rd Annual Employment Salute sponsored by BHcare’s Business Advisory Council and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

The luncheon will be held at noon May 18 at Holy Rosary Church Hall in Ansonia. The complimentary lunch will be catered by David Grant and is open to area businesses.

Flaherty will address the changing economics and opportunities for business.

The Employment Salute will honor TEAM, Inc. as Employer of the Year. 

An Employee of the Year Award will also be presented. BHcare recognizes that employment is integral to an individual’s recovery and therefore promotes competitive employment in the community through individualized support services. 

Seating is limited. For information and to R.S.V.P., call John Yeager, 203-736-2601, x1412 or email jyeager@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 bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer reiki workshop

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer a Reiki Level 2 Workshop May 13./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital is offering area residents an opportunity to advance their Reiki training with a Reiki Level 2 Workshop from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 13.

Reiki Master Eileen Carino, RN-BC, and Mark Sampieri, RPh, will provide practitioners with the ability to perform emotional healing, to learn three of the four Usui Reiki sacred symbols, and to enhance their healing abilities. 
Reiki 2 attunement intensifies the energies introduced at Reiki 1. Participants must have completed Reiki Level 1 training and a minimum of six months Reiki practice.

Reiki is a complementary healing method based on ancient healing practices. Reiki involves the conscious direction of healing energy through the practitioner’s hands to the patient. 
When channeled properly, this energy promotes healing by relieving energy blockages to the body. The practice of Reiki is intended to bring balance to the energy fields thereby promoting healing on all levels.

The cost of the Reiki 2 workshop is $125.

Workshop space is limited; preregistration is required by May 6. 

To register, call Laura Murphy, Planetree Services Supervisor, at 203-732-7466.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Grant enhances Derby school's art enrichment program

Comic book artist Frank McLaughlin works with students at St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby./ Contributed photo

DERBY - St. Mary-St. Michael Elementary/Middle School recently received a $1,000 grant from the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation.

The grant was awarded to enhance the schools after school Art Enrichment Program.

Stephen DiRienzo, vice president of the Valley Arts Council and art teacher at St. Mary-St. Michael, said the school is using the grant money to have community artists visit the school to teach students various art techniques.

“We do these after school programs throughout the year; this particular session has visiting artists. Usually it’s myself working with the kids with various media and various techniques, but now we’ve invited three community artists because I wanted unique media and styles for them to be exposed to,” DiRienzo said.

One of the artists was comic book artist Frank McLaughlin.

McLaughlin has published comics for over 50 years and was featured in both DC and Marvel Comics, including issues of “Captain America,” “Green Lantern,” “The Defenders,” “Wonder Woman,” “Green Arrow,” “Batman,” and “The Justice League of America.”

McLaughlin said he published 65 consecutive features of “The Justice League of America” in the 60’s and 70’s. He also had a syndicated cartoon called Gil Thorpe, featuring the life of a high school coach.

Along with McLaughlin, polymer clay sculptor Lynne Schwarzenberg will teach students sculpting. She has been instructing students for 20 years.

Also, collage artist and owner of After Midnight Creations, Betsy Rosenberg, will instruct students.

All three artists will teach one class a week for two consecutive weeks.

DiRienzo said the grant, from the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation, will be used to provide supplies and a stipend to each artist.

Principal Linda Coppola commented on receiving the grant and having the artists visit the school.

“We are grateful to the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation for funding this Art Enrichment Program,” Coppola said. “The students are fortunate to have such gifted artists exposing them to new techniques and styles. Mr. Steve DiRienzo always looks for ways to bring the best out of our students and to stretch their creativity to higher levels".

The Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation is dedicated to the support of young artists who share in Jamie Hulley’s passion and her love of taking artistic risks.

The foundation's goal is to provide opportunities for young artists and early career professionals to expand their artistic talent and to pursue their dream.

For more information about the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation go to jamiehulleyartsfund.org.


This is a press release from St. Mary-St. Michael School.