'Turnback Tuesday' highlights history of Jack-O-Lanterns

Turnback Tuesday looks at the history of the “Jack-O-Lantern”.

The name Jack-O-Lantern comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. According to stories, Stingy Jack played tricks on the Devil and twice made the devil promise not to bother him.

When Jack did die, God would not allow an unsavory person into heaven. The Devil keeping his part of the bargain would not take Jack's soul or allow him into hell. The Devil gave Jack a piece of coal to light his way in the darkness. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming with the lighted Turnip ever since.

In Ireland and Scotland, people made their own versions of Jack-O-Lanterns by carving out scary faces into turnips or potatoes. Then they put them in windows to frighten Stingy Jack and other evil spirits.

Immigrants from these countries brought their traditions to the United States and soon found that the American-grown pumpkins made perfect Jack-O-Lanterns. Stingy Jack was referred to as “Jack of the Lantern” and later became Jack-O-Lantern.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting history each week.

St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby to hold shred, recycle day

 

All In For Seymour to hold dinner, Trivia Night at Trinity Church

 

Prostate screening slated at Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - In recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., and the Health Initiative for Men (HiM) will host free prostate cancer screenings from 3-5:30 p.m. Nov. 9.

The screening is sponsored by HiM, which encourages men to have an annual physical and to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. For more information about HiM, visit griffinhealth.org/him.

Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. Men at higher risk, including African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should be tested at age 40.

Approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is important to improve chances of cure. Screening, although controversial, is important because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. 

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of prostate cancer making treatments more effective and causing much less side effects.

The screenings will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited, so early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1260.

For further information on prostate health, individuals should contact their primary care physician or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at 203-732-2651 to schedule a consultation.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Make a luminous leaf lantern at Ansonia Nature Center program

Saturday, 2-3 p.m. Nov. 4  Capture the beauty of autumn with this one-of-a-kind leaf craft. Make your luminous leaf lantern to take home.  Space is limited for this all-ages class. Register here. The Nature Center is at 10 Deerfield Lane, Ansonia.

Seymour Public Library schedules Infant Story Times for November

 Seymour Public Library is at 46 Church St.

Wanted: Vendors for Ansonia's Holiday Marketplace slated Dec. 2 at Armory

 

Join fellow crafters at Huntington Branch Library get-together

 

Huntington Branch Library is at 41 Church St., Shelton.

Master's Table offers Thanksgiving meal pickup at Assumption Church Hall in Ansonia

 

Recuperation journey: Photo memory from this date last year

 Happy day before Halloween! 

Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries in Ansonia to give out food this morning

 

Derby Public Library to host presentation on Revolutionary War spy

DPL History Series: John Trumbull, Revolutionary Spy

Nov. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m.

313 Elizabeth St., Derby

Please register at https://bit.ly/47oBmiT

Join us for this fascinating presentation by Connecticut Historian, Morgan O’Brien.

During the Revolutionary War, John Trumbull, son of the first non-royal Governor of CT, served as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

After resigning due to a dispute with Congress about his position, Trumbull traveled to London to study under renowned painter Benjamin West.

His acclaimed paintings of the American Revolution include his 1818 work, Declaration of Independence.

Through twists and turns, O’Brien will take the audience through Trumbull’s life and artwork as well as explain the possibility of Trumbull being one of Benjamin Franklin’s spies.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Treat yourself to shopping at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop in Derby

No one will BOO this sale! Don't GHOST us this week - come on in for guilt-free shopping!

New outfits, costumes, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations galore!

Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 237 Roosevelt Drive, Derby.

Shared from the organization's Facebook page.

Celebrate all things Halloween Tuesday on the Derby Green

POSTPONED from Monday to this TUESDAY, Halloween Night! (Even Better)

Spooky Fun: Candy Treats; Music; Costume Parade, Halloween Wreath Making all on our beautiful historic Derby Green!

This is shared from the Derby Cultural Commission Facebook page.

Derby Neck Library's Youth Twitch Club to meet Monday

Follow our Twitch channel to watch the Derby Neck Library’s Youth Twitch Club play a variety of games like Pokémon, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Overcooked, Astro Bears, and even older games like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. 

No Twitch account is necessary if you just want to watch, but you will need one if you’d like to chat with us. 

Tune in every Monday from 3-6 p.m. to join in!

Shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Count Cassetti to host pizza party on Halloween at Ansonia Armory

This Tuesday - Halloween night - stop by the Ansonia Armory to hang out with Count Cassetti and his Pizza Party Band!

Free pizza, free candy, and some frightfully

fun surprises…doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event runs as long as the full-size candy bars last!

Check out the Count’s latest video right here:

https://fb.watch/n_xpDPbJdz/?mibextid=UVffzb

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Ansonia Library posts schedule for Story Times in November

 The Library is at 53 S. Cliff St., Ansonia.

Trick or Treat Tuesday at Seymour Public Library

SEYMOUR - Stop by the front desk and staff offices at Seymour Public Library between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday for Halloween treats!

Costumes are welcome but not required.

The Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

Tonight's full moon surrounded by interesting cloud formations.

Sharing fun memory from 2019 at John C. Mead Elementary School in Ansonia

 I remember the students (and teachers) had a blast at this fun fundraiser! 

Little Free Pantry on Skokorat in Seymour posts weekly wishlist

WEEKLY WISHLIST 

Good Morning AMAZING Community!

We hope your weekend is off to a terrific start! We would like to take a moment to say THANK YOU to everyone sending and leaving donations. 

We see you and we appreciate you. Every donation matters. This operation truly takes a village. 

Also, huge thanks to all our Pumpkin Patch visitors AND daily visitors. We truly appreciate your trust in us and hope you leave this space knowing you matter here. We are so happy you are a part of this community. 

Just a reminder that our most consistently needed items are:

 PROTEINS (tuna, chicken, salmon, nuts)
 shelf stable milk
 microwave meals (Hormel, chef Boyardee, instant Mac and cheese)
 peanut butter
 pasta & sauce
 canned vegetables
 snacks (popcorn, crackers, granola bars)
coffee & tea

We will also gladly accept fresh produce, including from your gardens. 

Hygiene products like tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, pads/tampons, and shampoo are also always needed and deeply appreciated.

You can drop off items in person by either placing them directly into the Pantry or into the black donation bin by our garage door. You can also order through our Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/31DQMG6QQ65HX.... OR you can have items shipped or delivered to 58 Skokorat St.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

This is shared from the Little Free Pantry Facebook page.

Derby Neck Library presentation to offer look at Valley in Gilded Age

DERBY - Visit the Valley in the Gilded Age of the 1890s at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 with a Powerpoint presentation by Pat Sweeney at Derby Neck Library.

Learn how industrial work and leisure time were spent around the area.The bicycle craze will also be highlighted.

The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Sharing 'Turnback Tuesday' 2015 archives: Derby Post Office history

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" is a picture of the Derby Post Office on Olivia Street built in 1932. The first Derby Post Office was actually on Main Street and was built in 1798.

The current Post Office is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It served as a fall-out shelter during World War II and has changed from this picture since being made ADA compliant in the 1990s.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Save the date: First Church in Bethany to hold annual Christmas Bazaar

 

Naugatuck Valley Health District offers free diabetes workshop from home

 

This is shared from the Health District's Facebook page.

Save the date: View Geminids meteor shower at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - Celebrate one of the last meteor showers of 2023 on Dec. 14 with Ranger Jeremy at the Ansonia Nature Center! 

The Geminids will fill the sky with 120 meteors per hour at its peak between 9 and 10 p.m. 

Bring appropriate clothes for the weather, chairs, and blankets for a relaxing view. 

The Nature Center is at 10 Deerfield Lane.

Register online for this FREE event, suitable for all ages.
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeBA6PYnZ7xNs.../viewform

This is a press release from the Nature Center.

Halloween event at Ansonia Armory to benefit Ansonia Animal Shelter

ANSONIA - A Halloween party and fundraiser to benefit the Ansonia Animal Shelter will be held Saturday at the Ansonia Armory, starting at 7 p.m.

Haunted attraction specialist Kevin Lowenadler and his team - who were behind the Haunted Isle at East Haven’s Trolley Museum - will host the event for ages 16+.

Oxford Cultural Arts slates 52nd annual Arts and Crafts Fair

 

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

 Tonight's waxing gibbous moon, 93 percent illuminated. 

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

Backyard view at sunset.

Save the date: Celebrate Shelton to host tree lighting at Veterans Memorial Park

 

Alumni Night in Derby to feature Red Raiders vs. Ansonia Chargers