Friday, April 13, 2018

Boys & Girls Club in Shelton to hold Family Fun Night


Join us for a behind the scenes experience of what a day at the Club feels like! 
The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. April 20 - only $5 per ticket which includes dinner, dessert, games, activities, and raffles! 

Tickets can be bought at the Lavietes Clubhouse in Shelton. Hope to see you there!

*Info shared from Facebook. 

Newsletter: Seymour Pink dinner, Ansonia Library book, bake sale, more


Dear readers,

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features the 11th annual Seymour Pink Pasta Dinner, Griffin Hospital's 'Circle of Friends' saying thanks, and more.

Thanks for reading!

Patti

Recuperation journey: April is National Donate Life Month

Celebrated in April each year, National Donate Life Month features local, regional, and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.

As I approach my one-year anniversary in May of receiving a kidney from an altruistic donor I wanted to share this reminder about organ donation. 
I celebrate her and I could never thank her enough! 
I also celebrate Ralph's sister Suzanne, who originally came forward last year to donate to me, but her kidney went to another needy Connecticut resident who also was suffering with kidney disease.

Consider registering to be an organ donor! It's the best gift you can give another person.


Seymour Public Library to host talk by military historian

Versailles and the Great War
SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public Library will host a program with lecturer Mark Albertson at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.


Albertson is historical editor of Army Aviation and a longtime member of the United States Naval Institute.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed after World War I and was drafted by “The Big 4,” who were representatives from Britain, Italy, America and France. 

The treaty directly led to WWII and the rise of Fascism, Nazism, Bolshevism, militarism and nationalism. 

Even further it was the catalyst that brought about the demise to European colonialism and allowed two super powers to rise, the United States and Soviet Union, hence the Cold War.

For more information contact the Library, 203-888-3903. The Library is at 46 Church St.



This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent. 

Oxford resident to receive Caring Heart Award at Woodbridge event

Honoree Barbara Casagrande of Oxford

The Women’s Heart Wellness Committee will honor Barbara Casagrande of Oxford with the Caring Heart Award at the 13th Annual Women's Heart Wellness Caring Heart Award Ceremony  at 6 p.m. April 26 at the Birchwoods at Oak Lane Country Club, 1027 Racebrook Road, Woodbridge.
The Caring Heart Award recognizes an individual from the Lower Naugatuck Valley who made significant contributions to the wellness of an individual or the community at large by his or her actions and/or volunteerism.

Known by the children in Ansonia as “Ms. C,” Casagrande dedicated most of her life to working in the Valley as a paraprofessional at the former Ripton School in Shelton, and as education coordinator at the Ansonia Housing Authority's Tinney Community Center. 
At the Center she managed the after-school program, taught GED classes, ran a summer camps and secured grant funding for programs.

Throughout her career, Casagrande regularly involved herself with back-to-school rallies, clothing drives, and other community outreach, and was especially influential in the lives of Ansonia teenagers, many of whom she continues to keep in touch with.

“Her overall mission is to be a bridge to the community,” Diane Stroman, vice president of TEAM Inc., wrote in Casagrande’s nomination. “Barbara is an individual who gives of herself unselfishly, works tirelessly, and gives 150 percent of herself in whatever she does. She has volunteered in many capacities in the Valley community and does so with a smile that can light up a room.”

Following her retirement, Casagrande partnered with Restoring Hope Ministries, which focuses on feeding the homeless and providing school supplies, clothing and a school success incentive program to Valley children. 
She helped open the Hope Center in Ansonia, a volunteer-based adult education and job training center. 
Casagrande is a volunteer for the Greater Valley Salvation Army, and serves as a deaconess at Living Springs Christian Fellowship in Seymour. She was the coordinator for the TEAM, Inc. 2017 Toys 4 Kids drive, donating 200 hours to the program. 
She is currently assisting at TEAM's Elizabeth Street location and is volunteering with the VITA tax program.
Casagrande received the 2012 Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Gold Seal Award. 

The Caring Heart Award Ceremony is open to the public. 
The theme of the event is “Who’s That Woman in the Mirror?” 
The evening will feature a panel of health experts discussing women’s health and answering questions related to healthy aging. 
There will also be a health fair with information on overall wellness and more. 
WTNH Health Reporter Jocelyn Maminta will be the emcee for the evening.
Tickets are $35 per person and include plentiful hors d'oeuvres and a complimentary glass of wine. 

To reserve a seat, become a sponsor, or for more information, call Eunice at 203-732-7107 or whw@griffinhealth.org.


The Women’s Heart Wellness Committee consists of healthcare professionals, heart patients and women from throughout the Valley communities. 
The primary focus of the group is to increase heart health awareness among women, empower them to love and save their hearts, and ensure they are provided the means to do so through education and rehabilitation. 

Membership is open to all interested persons.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton slates Homeschool Club program


Sharing from the Shelton Library System Facebook page: 
SHELTON - The Homeschool S.T.E.A.M. Club will meet at noon Tuesday, April 17 at Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St.

This is a monthly program geared toward homeschooled children, both preschool and elementary-aged. 
We will learn about science, technology, engineering, art or math through a book and a captivating experiment or project. 

Branford Lions Club donates $1,000 to BHcare's Clothing Bank

Contributed photo

BHcare's Clothing Bank recently received a $1,000 donation from the Branford Lions Club. 
The money was raised during an annual Octoberfest event. The Branford Lions Club has been a loyal supporter of the Clothing Bank for many years.

For more than 35 years, BHcare has been providing hope and help for individuals, families, and children affected by mental illness, domestic violence, and substance abuse. 
The BHcare Clothing Bank is an outreach program of BHcare that provides clothing to those in need. 
Thanks to generous donors, the Clothing Bank supplies clothing, shoes, accessories, baby gear, linens and personal care items for than 3,000 individuals and families each year. 

Clothing Bank clients can visit monthly and select several articles of clothing for each family member for a nominal charge of $20 per year. 
We need the help of the community for both donations and volunteers to assist at the Clothing Bank. 
For more information contact Jim Lamb at jlamb@bhcare.org or 203-641-5638.

The Clothing Bank is located in the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Service Center, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford. 
Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Regional community provider
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 www.bhcare.org.



This is a press release from BHcare.   

Make a beaded bracelet in class at Ansonia Library

ANSONIA - Join Georgette and create an “Easy to make, Easy to wear” bracelet using memory wire and beads at 10 a.m. April 21 at Ansonia Library.  

Leave class with an eclectic bracelet that resembles stacked bangles.  

This is a great project for beginners. Wire, beads, and silver-plated embellishments will be provided.  

Registration is required. The Library is at 53 S. Cliff St. 


This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Ride/Run/Walk June 10 in Oxford to benefit Valley children



OXFORD - Do you love cycling events? Are you a runner? Do you like to walk? 
Do you want to support children and families in your community? 

If you said yes, you should join the Ride/Run/Walk for Children at Quarry Walk! Sponsorships are available for this fun community event that benefits BHcare’s Parent Child Resource Center.
PCRC provides innovative mental health services, prevention, and early intervention programs for more than 1,000 children and families in the Valley and beyond. 

The Ride/Run/Walk for Children at Quarry Walk will be held June 10 at 300 Oxford Road.
The event features 15, 32, or 50-mile bike routes, 5K run and a 2K walk. 
We hope to raise $100,000 this year! Participants are encouraged to form teams and collect donations online. 

Registration fee is $50 per cyclist, $20 for runners, $20 for walkers, $10 for children 10 and under. 
Register today at www.bhcare.org or call Kati Lewantowicz, 203-446-9739.

The Ride/Run/Walk for Children at Quarry Walk is sponsored by Haynes Development and Quarry Walk.

PCRC, a division of BHcare, provides hope and help for children, adolescents, teens, and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. 
Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.


This is a press release from BHcare.

'Circle of Friends' at Griffin Hospital in Derby enjoys photo shoot


This is a few of our 'Circle of Friends' breast cancer support group members as we posed Thursday at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital. 
The photo was taken to thank a wonderful organization, After the Storm, Inc., based in Rockfall, Ct. for its continued support. 


Stay tuned for more information in an upcoming issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.