'Turnback Tuesday' features Derby Lumber Company

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features The Derby Lumber Company. The company was once one of the largest lumber companies in the country. It was first started by Willis and Lewis Hotchkiss in 1836 and was originally called The Derby Building and Lumber Company. The two brothers ran the company until 1840, when they partnered with Willis Sperry and Merritt Clarke and changed the name to Hotchkiss, Clarke, & Co. 
The name was again changed in 1850 when the company consolidated with a firm in Ansonia and thus became the Derby Lumber Company. In 1905 the company sold a significant portion of its land and buildings to allow for a double railroad track to be installed.


*Thanks to Derby Public Library for providing this interesting local history!

Recuperation journey: Making some art

DERBY - I ventured out of the house Monday evening with my daughter to attend a watercolor workshop led by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo at Derby Public Library.

Rich DiCarlo teaches a step-by-step method of painting a dilapidated old truck. 

My version.

I hadn't attended a water color class in more than a year, and my painting skills are certainly lacking. Water colors are tricky.

I wasn't going to post my creation, but decided I might as well. I'll keep it small to minimize the many mistakes. I'm told they can be fixed.

Creating art is always fun, and Monday it also was therapeutic. 
It was good to get out and join the outside world for awhile! And daughter Allegra enjoyed herself too.

Seymour FD, animal shelter join in calendar fundraiser

Check out this wonderful story about a fundraiser for the Seymour Animal Shelter by my friend, New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to stage 'Twelfth Night' in Shelton

The cast of 'Twelfth Night, or What You Will' strikes a pose./ Submitted photo

SHELTON - Can love be comic? Shakespeare thought so! His romantic comedy, “Twelfth Night, or What You Will” is all about the silly, ridiculous and crazy things people will do for love.  

Or, at least, for what they hope is love.

Who of us hasn’t pretended to be more (or less) than we are to impress someone?  We dress-up, we wear make-up, we feign interest in books, movies, music, and activities that don’t even interest us just to find something in common to share with that certain “someone”.    

But is it all for love? Or is it ego? Or maybe it’s the challenge? Or perhaps it’s just plain lust?  What is it that motivates us to turn ourselves inside out, upside down, and oftentimes even make utter fools of ourselves, to gain the attention and affection of another?  

Come and see how Shakespeare’s merry band of misfits con, connive, coerce and even cross-dress to win their “true” loves in the mythical kingdom of Illyria July 13-16 at Veterans Memorial-Riverwalk Park.  

The performances begin at 8 p.m., are open to the public free of charge, and are presented by Valley Shakespeare Festival, the Valley’s very own professional, nonprofit theater company.  

Audiences are invited to arrive at 6 p.m. for picnic and family time prior to the performances.  

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, relax and enjoy the “festival” atmosphere each evening with music and a variety of Food Trucks.  

The music prior to the Friday evening performance will be live, provided by a local band.

Come and celebrate “Christmas in July” with Valley Shakespeare Festival’s “Twelfth Night, or What You Will.”  Perhaps you’ll discover what you will (do for love…)

This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit professional theater company based in Shelton, dedicated to bringing free and low-cost theater to the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley and its environs.  

For more information, visit www.vsfestival.org, our Facebook page, or call 203-513-9446. 

MedExpress Urgent Care to open in Derby

DERBY - MedExpress Urgent Care, a neighborhood health care provider, will open its first two neighborhood medical centers in Connecticut this summer.

The centers, in Derby at 68 Division St., and Meriden at 875 E. Main St., will open on July 5 and Aug. 9, respectively. 

As a gift to each community, both locations will offer free sports physicals for patients ages five and up for two weeks after the centers open.

The new neighborhood medical centers will care for people of all ages, providing urgent care, employer health services, and basic wellness and prevention services. 

Walk-in treatment is available for everyday illness and injury, including more advanced offerings such as X-rays, IVs, labs, minor surgery, stitches, and treatment for broken bones, sprains, and strains. 

Local employers can use MedExpress for employer health services including workers’ compensation, injury care, pre- and ongoing employment screenings, physicals, and regulatory exams. 

Basic wellness and prevention services offered at MedExpress include sports physicals, routine physicals, and immunizations to help Derby and Meriden residents maintain good health.

“We are delighted to join the communities of Derby and Meriden to provide friendly, high-quality, and convenient care to families and employees,” said Sarah Moses, MedExpress Area Manager in Connecticut. 

“We know how busy our patients’ lives are and that unexpected illnesses and injuries can be an inconvenience for families. We look forward to bringing our model of care to Connecticut so that our neighbors in Derby and Meriden can walk in, see our friendly medical team, and receive high-quality treatment in a timely fashion.”

The centers will be open every day from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., with no appointment necessary. MedExpress accepts all major insurances and offers affordable pricing for those without insurance. 

The center will be staffed by a full medical team, which includes customer service representatives, nurses, medical providers, and radiologic technologists. As a community health care partner, MedExpress believes strongly in the importance of working with fellow community health care providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. 
When necessary, the Derby and Meriden teams can help refer patients within the broader health care system, including referrals to specialists, primary care physicians, and hospitals.

For a full list of centers and health care services available, visit medexpress.com.

MedExpress has more than 200 neighborhood medical centers in 17 states, with plans to bring the same warm, welcoming approach to more communities in Connecticut this year, including the opening of a new center in Middletown this winter.

About MedExpress
MedExpress is a national leader in delivering high-quality, convenient and affordable walk-in care. We offer urgent care, employer health services and basic wellness and prevention services to help ensure families and employers have access to patient-centric care when they need it. 

Each of our nearly 5,000 health care and customer service professionals is committed to transforming health care delivery – one patient at a time. 

For career opportunities or to learn more, visit www.medexpress.com or connect with MedExpress on Facebook and Twitter @MedExpress and @MedExpressJobs.

This is a press release from MedExpress.

Valley Community Foundation helps center in Shelton create garden

SHELTON – A $2,500 grant from the Valley Community Foundation recently helped volunteers with Adam’s House construct a garden surrounding the memorial walkway for the nonprofit grief education center. 

Adam’s House Founder and Executive Director Allison Wysota said, "We are thrilled that our front garden is now a beautiful, welcoming space that will offer peace and healing not only to grieving children and families that enter our program, but to all in the Shelton community that pass by our doors.” 

As part of the Adam’s House “Healing Hearts” program, children and their families can create a commemorative brick to place on the Memorial Walkway to honor and celebrate the life of a loved one. 

VCF board chairman Alan Tyma and 

Adam's House founder Alison Wysota.

The Valley Community Foundation grant funded the plantings and construction of the gardens that encompass the Memorial Walkway. 

The Olde Ripton Garden Club in Shelton led by Garden Designer Renee Marsh, owner of A Simpler Place, contributed the project’s landscape design. 

Twelve volunteers from the Shelton office of Nasdaq made up the labor force that turned Marsh’s landscape design into reality.   

During a warm, sunny day, the Nasdaq volunteers cheerfully planted a new array of hydrangeas, lilies, catmint, roses, and a dogwood tree to create the Memorial Walkway landscaping and front garden. 

“Our Nasdaq Shelton office was proud to partner with Adam’s House in their garden restoration event,” said Tanya Smigocki, Nasdaq Sr. Advisor, Corporate Responsibility 
“Our employees give back by exercising their corporate know-how and investing their time and talent in communities to provide the biggest impact.”

Wysota said the completion of the Memorial Walkway project could not come at a better time. Adam’s House currently has openings for families, including children from 3 to 18 years of age, to participate in its eight-week “Healing Hearts” program. 

The new program starts Aug. 30 and is offered at no charge to grieving families. 
Interested family members must pre-register by contacting Adam’s House Executive Director Allison Wysota at 203-513-2808 or adamshousect@gmail.com.

Located in a charming, multi-story Victorian home at 241 Coram Ave., Adam’s House is a supportive place where bereaved families come together to share experiences and ideas on how to navigate their grief. 

Nurturing educational workshops, arts and crafts programs and personalized discussion groups are part of the program. 
“We believe no child, no family should ever grieve alone,” Wysota said. “Through educational programs guided by compassionate, trained facilitators, we can help grieving families ease their feelings of loneliness and isolation and build hope and resiliency.”

This is a press release from Adam's House. 

UI to inspect transmission lines in New Haven, Fairfield counties

Sharing from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:
"Please see the attached document from UI detailing a scheduled aerial inspection of UI Transmission rights-of-way. 

"The inspection will be done between June 29-July 3, 2017 by a low-flying helicopter over UI Transmission lines for compliance purposes. We are notifying you in anticipation of any inquiries to the police from members of the public or other parties."

Winners of Housy River Duck Race in Derby announced

Photo taken Saturday at Derby Day festival.

The prizes and contest are sponsored by the St. Mary-St. Michael School Development Committee.

Logan, agency officials discuss energy assistance efforts

Ansonia, Derby residents would benefit

State Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, center, met Friday with Community Action Agency of New Haven President and CEO Amos L. Smith, second from right, and Smith’s senior staff to discuss CAANH’s efforts to provide energy assistance and other services to residents of Ansonia, Derby, Hamden, and throughout the Greater New Haven area./ Contributed photo 

CAANH’s dedicated energy and food pantry line is 203-285-8018. 

Logan, who serves as Vice-Chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany and Derby; and parts of Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge. 

He can be contacted at George.Logan@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421. 

On the web: www.caanh.net and www.SenatorGeorgeLogan.com.


This is a press release from Logan's office.