Monday, May 7, 2018

Ansonia students to perform 'Peter Pan Jr.' at high school


ANSONIA - Ansonia students will present Peter Pan Jr. at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at Ansonia High School, 20 Pulaski Highway. 
Join them on their trip to Neverland!

Tickets are $1 for students; $5 for adults.

For tickets, email JHUDSON@ANSONIA.ORG.



*Information shared from Facebook. 

Young children can learn Spanish at Huntington Branch Library

SHELTON - Spanish with Sandra will be offered from 5-5:30 p.m. Thursday at Huntington Branch Library, 41 Church St.


Children, ages 1-6, and their caregivers learn Spanish through songs, games, stories, and other fun activities. 


Please register: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm…


This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

55th annual carnival, parade on tap in Beacon Falls


Sharing info from Facebook:

The 2018 Beacon Hose Firemen's Carnival and Parade is where the party's at! 
The 55th annual event is set for its return to downtown Beacon Falls this June - here's the quick info you need to know:

- WHAT: The continuation of a tradition that stretches back to 1963, where we bring together old friends and new neighbors for fun, food, music, rides and camaraderie
- WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, June 7-9
- WHERE: Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 (35 North Main St., Beacon Falls)
- WHY: Our volunteer fire department and EMS service's biggest annual fundraiser to help fund our many programs, including fire prevention, scholarships, youth sports sponsorships, holiday celebrations, community events, opportunities for our volunteers, and more

Here's what we've got on tap:

- $10,000 RAFFLE: Yep, we're going crazy to make our carnival raffle bigger than ever! The grand prize is $10,000, followed by 24 more cash prizes that total $7,000 (and a 26th prize of 10 Yard Goats tickets). 

Tickets cost $20 and are currently on sale through the carnival. They can be purchased at the firehouse, at our events, through a Beacon Hose member, or on our website.
- MORE FOOD, MORE BETTER: We're once again going to be adding some new items to our favorite carnival menu. Trust us, didn't we hit the nail on the head last year with lobster rolls? (They'll be back.)
- POUR ME SOMETHING: Domestic drafts, local craft beers, margaritas, sangria, and MAYBE something else over there at the beer truck!
- FUN FOR EVERYONE: Carnival rides and games from Marenna Amusements, live music all three nights, one of the state's biggest parades on Saturday, and all sorts of opportunities to kick off the summer with your friends and neighbors.

And finally, here's our schedule of events:

- THURSDAY: We're open from 6-10 p.m. Join us for our fourth trivia competition at 7:30 p.m., hosted by Jeff Kean. Teams of 2-8 can join for $5 per player, and the winning team gets half the pot! We'll also have live music by Jimi Jam and the Rehabs at 6:30 p.m.
- FRIDAY: We're open from 6-11 p.m. Join us for live music by Nashville Drive at 6:30 p.m.
- SATURDAY: We're open from 3-11:30 p.m. The parade steps off at 6 p.m. at Route 42 and South Main Street. Join us for live music by the Hazzard County Band at 7 p.m. The raffle drawing will be held at 9:30 p.m.

The support of Beacon Falls residents and all friends of Beacon Hose is always loyal and always appreciated. We're looking forward to another edition of our favorite event - hopefully bigger and better than ever.

We're also seeking donations from local residents and sponsorships from local businesses to help offset the substantial costs of the running the event. 

Any donation or sponsorship helps, so we appreciate anything you can do.

Stay tuned for more news as we get closer to the event! In the meantime, check out some of these links for more information and ways to donate to the carnival cause.


- CARNIVAL HOME: http://bit.ly/bhccarnival
- 2018 CARNIVAL PREVIEW: http://bit.ly/2018bhccarnival
- BUY RAFFLE TICKETS: http://bit.ly/2018bhcraffle
- DONATIONS: http://bit.ly/bhcdonate
- SPONSORSHIPS: http://bit.ly/bhcsponsor
- PARADE REGISTRATION: http://bit.ly/bhcparade


Valley letter carriers to collect non-perishable food donations Saturday


Fill a bag with healthy, non-perishable food and leave by your mailbox on Saturday. Avoid glass containers.
Suggested items include pasta, cereal, oatmeal, canola oil, peanut butter, tuna, and canned goods. 
Donations will be delivered to Valley food banks and pantries.  

Valley mystery photo


Where in the Valley did I take this photo? 
If you know, please leave your answer in the comments. Location will be revealed later this week. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby tests 63 for oral, head, neck cancer

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital recently gave free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings to 63 individuals in recognition of the Annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®.

This is the seventh year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community.

Participating physicians included Joseph Cardinale, M.D., Joyce Chung, M.D., Khanh Nguyen, M.D., Ken Yanagisawa, M.D., Ronald Hirokawa, M.D., Ihor Ponomarenko, M.D., Michael Naso, M.D., Shaileja Pamnani, M.D., Richie Li Hao Xu, M.D., and Heide Kalra, PA.

As a result of the screenings, 43 individuals were referred for routine follow-up screenings, and four were referred for further head and neck evaluation. 
In the past six years of this program, more than 400 free screenings have been conducted, with more than 45 instances of individuals being referred for follow-up screenings that could have saved their lives.
Oral, head, and neck cancer can arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). 
The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance estimates that there will more than 63,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, throat, and thyroid world-wide, and approximately 13,000 deaths from these cancers in the United States. Cancers of the oropharynx (tonsil and base of tongue) are increasing in incidence, particularly in younger nonsmokers, and it is estimated that these cancers alone will account for over 40,000 cases per year in the United States
Oral cancer screenings are recommended for every adult, especially for tobacco and alcohol users who are traditionally at the greatest risk. 

However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research indicates this development is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus.
Symptoms associated with oral cancer include:
  • A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
  • Persistent pain in your mouth
  • Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
  • Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
  • Changes in your voice
  • A lump in your neck
If you have any of these warning signs, contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-1260 right away.

About the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital
Opened in October, 2008, Griffin Hospital's Center for Cancer Care provides care that's comprehensive, comforting, and close to home. The Center provides access to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and a range of affiliated physicians under the same roof in a Planetree-inspired healing environment. Support services include a Patient Care Navigator, dietary/nutritional consultations, genetic counseling, social work services, spiritual care, education, and support groups, and a variety of non-traditional therapies to reduce anxiety. 

For more information, visit griffincancercenter.org or call 203-732-1260.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.


Resident of Crosby Commons in Shelton creates 'Taj Mahal'


Don Walkley, an active resident of Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community in Shelton, with the Taj Mahal he built out of Legos. / Contributed photo

SHELTON - For Christmas, most families give their loved ones clothes, games, or sweets, but this Christmas, Don Walkley, a 92-year old resident of Crosby Commons, received a 5,923-piece LEGO set of the Taj Mahal. 

Lining the shelves of his apartment are famous buildings Don’s built from intricate LEGO sets, including the White House, Eiffel Tower, and the Lincoln Memorial, but none have compared in size to his new Taj Mahal display. 
Don’s family chipped in for Christmas and surprised him with the $300 puzzle and since December, Don has worked hours every day to complete the massive puzzle. 
“I just like to stay busy,” Don said. Whether he’s playing games on his computer, completing crossword puzzles in the newspaper or participating in the many programs offered at the senior living community, Don fills his day with engaging activities. 
Once Don’s Taj Mahal was built, he held an open house for his fellow residents and after being on display for a few weeks, Don decided to disassemble the set and is in the process of donating it to Bricks for a Cure, a non-profit that collects LEGOS to raise money to help children afford cancer treatments.
When asked what his next LEGO project was going to be, Don was uncertain, as LEGO puzzles can be very expensive. After hearing of Don’s commitment to building the Taj Mahal and his love for LEGOs, an anonymous company worked with employees of Crosby Commons through the community’s Journey of Dreams program to donate a new 598-piece set of the New York Skyline to Don. 
Members of the Crosby Commons team then surprised Don with the new LEGO set.   
“I’m overjoyed,” Don exclaims while holding his new LEGO set. “I’m most appreciative.” He estimates his new puzzle will take a month to complete and was eager to get right to work on it.
Crosby Commons offers residents opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment of individual dreams through its Journey of Dreams program. 
If you’re interested in learning more about independent and assisted living at Crosby Commons or the Journey of Dreams program, visit crosbycommons.org or call 203-225-5024. 


This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.