Pumpkin is theme of next Cookbook Club at Derby Public Library

DERBY -The Derby Public Library’s Cookbook Book Club meets on the first Monday of every month.  

A different theme is picked for each month. 
Participants select a cookbook from the 

Library’s large collection to peruse and choose an enticing recipe.  

They then select one recipe to make and bring to the meeting for all to share.  
After eating, the group rates the recipes and reviews the cookbooks.  

The theme for November is Pumpkins: More Than Just for Pies.  
If you love browsing through cookbooks and trying new recipes, then this is the club for you! 
The Library will provide beverages and all paper products and utensils.  
Registration is required.
For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.  

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

Derby to start issuing hunting, fishing licenses

DERBY - Town/City Clerk Marc J. Garofalo, announced today effective Tuesday (Oct. 10), the City of Derby Town/City Clerk’s Office will begin issuing Hunting and Fishing Licenses. 

“I am happy to have our office offer this service to hunters and anglers so that they may conveniently enjoy these outdoor sports in our City and State,” said Garofalo, who has served as Town/City Clerk since 2013. “We have received numerous requests to re-institute this service and I felt it was a service that the City should be providing.”  

The Town/Clerk’s office stopped issuing sports licenses in 2009.
The Town/City Clerk’s Office obtained, at no cost to the City, the necessary hardware from the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and it has been installed. 
“It was a pleasure working with DEEP to reintroduce this service to the City of Derby. They have been very helpful through the process,” Garofalo said.

Residents may also obtain a Hunting or Fishing licenses online by visiting DEEP at https://www.ct.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales .
Derby City Hall is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The Town/City Clerk’s Office can be reached at 203-736-1462 Ext. 2 or
http://www.derbyct.gov/City/Town-Clerk/.

This is a press release from  Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo.

Getting ready to Pound the Pavement for Seymour Pink

Saturday is the sixth annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K walk/run in downtown Seymour.
I'm sharing candid photos of friends who are members of our 'Circle of Friends' support group team participating in the 2015 and 2016 Pounding the Pavement for Pink walk/runs. 

We walk; we don't run. 
And we do have fun. 

And a supporter we met along the way.

The forecast looks to be rain-free. I'm ready to go, and I hope our team is ready too.

Griffin Hospital posts schedule of upcoming Valley Goes Pink events

SHELTON - The 8th Annual Valley Goes Pink invites the community to a fun-filled week of beer, trivia, and bras!

The 3rd Annual r Pinktoberfest will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at Wellington's, 51 Huntington St.

The event will feature Yuengling beers, a special Germanfest tasting menu and giveaways.

Team Tatas Trivia Night will start at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Porky’s Café, 50 Center St. The cost is $20 per person and includes Porky’s famous wings and prizes for correct answers to general knowledge questions.

Experience an exciting night of fashion and entertainment at Bras for the Valley at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at Il Palio, 5 Corporate Drive. 

This event will feature ART BRAS designed by individuals in the community and then showcased at a fashion show and live auction. 

Tickets are $25 per person. 

Call Jodi at 203-521-2233 for sponsorships or to enter a model.

Grassroots effort

The Valley Goes Pink is a grassroots, community-wide effort throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley to create awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection, support the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and showcase partnering organizations.

For information on how you can go Pink, including a calendar of events, visit griffinhealth.org/pink, like us on Facebook, or contact the Griffin Hospital Development Fund at development@griffinhealth.org or 203-732-7504.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Eye health is topic of talk Tuesday at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation about eye health Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the hospital, 130 Division St.

Submitted photo

Dr. Lorenzo Cervantes will present “Everything You Wanted to Know about Eye Health and Diabetes, but Were Afraid to Ask,” an informal discussion about common eye health risks, warning signs and prevention education for individuals diagnosed with diabetes.

Cervantes is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a fellowship-trained specialist in cornea, external disease, cataract, and refractive surgery. 

He currently serves as the Medical Director of Eversight Connecticut (formerly the Connecticut Eye Bank and Visual Research Foundation), and is an active member of the Paton Society and the Eye Bank Association of America.

The presentation will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A. 

There will be free valet parking.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September-June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend. 

No registration is required.

For more information call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137. 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby Public Library to host Teen Maker Space program

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen Maker Space’s Build a Better World, from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 26. 
Available resources include 3D design programs, 3D printer, 3D doodle pens, Legos, and more. 

Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is requested. 

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


This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

TEAM in Derby seeks volunteers for tax assistance program

DERBY - TEAM, Inc. is seeking volunteers to assist low-income families and individuals in filing their taxes and claiming refunds owed to them, such as federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) that can boost their yearly income by up to 35 percent.  

The TEAM VITA program is held at the VITA Clinics located at TEAM Derby, Derby Neck Library, and the Milford Senior Center and operates from Jan. 29 to April 16, 2018. 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offers free preparation of federal and state income tax returns to low-income individuals and families.  

No experience is necessary.  
All volunteers will receive training appropriate for their position.  Volunteers receive the materials for self-study on basic income tax law for federal and state returns.  In addition, training sessions will take place in January 2018.  

To become a VITA Volunteer and to learn more about the program, a VITA Information Session will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 30 at TEAM, 30 Elizabeth St. Please call (203) 736-5420 ext. 202 or email spaytas@teaminc.org to reserve a seat.

This is a press release from TEAM Inc., a private, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to strengthen our community by educating, supporting and empowering individuals and families. 
TEAM programs impact the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Naugatuck, Orange, Oxford, Shelton, Seymour, Waterbury and Woodbridge.    

Recuperation journey: Friday morning sky

I didn't catch the sunrise but these dramatic clouds inspired me to grab the camera. 

This post is a look back to several years ago when I was participating in memes in the blogosphere, including one of my favorites, Looking at the Sky on Friday.

Have a great day!

Vigil in Shelton to honor survivors, remember victims of domestic violence

SHELTON - Every October, the nation observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month to bring light to an issue that affects all of our communities. 

Every nine seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S. One in four women and one in seven men in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

To raise awareness about domestic violence, BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will hold a vigil to honor survivors and remember the victims of domestic violence. 
The candlelight vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Gazebo at Huntington Center Green. In the event of rain, the vigil will be held at Huntington Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 19 Church St.

Geralyn O’Neil-Wild, Director of Legal Advocacy, CCADV, will be the keynote speaker. Local police officers will be recognized for their role in the fight against domestic violence – Officer John Edwards, Officer Michael Sterling and Officer Jacquelyn Troesser of the Ansonia Police Department, and Officer Christopher Brosz of the Shelton Police Department.

For information about the vigil, or about domestic violence services call 203-736-2601, ext. 1381, or visit www.bhcare.org. 

If you need immediate assistance, please call the 24-hour domestic violence hotline 1-888-774-2900.

UCDVS is a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, more than 6,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help and hope. 

Learn more at bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.