Officials to kick off domestic violence awareness month at New Haven event

NEW HAVEN - Join BHcare and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Long Wharf Pier to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

The press conference will address the ongoing need for life-saving domestic violence services and will recognize the 26 Connecticut residents who lost their lives due to domestic violence in the last year.

Speakers include Mayor Justin Elicker, City of New Haven, Roberta J. Cook, President/CEO, BHcare, Meghan Scanlon, President and CEO of CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, David Zannelli, Assistant Chief of Police, City of New Haven, Esperina Stubblefield, Director of Domestic Violence Services, BHcare along with a domestic violence survivor.

Every October, the nation observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month to bring to light an issue that affects all our communities. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. 

Domestic violence services providers are facing a fiscal cliff as the federal funds that support their services dwindle to record low levels. CT providers are facing a 70-80% reduction in funding from CT Judicial Office of Victim Services for hotline and court-based services, as well as the potential closure of programs directly funded by federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) grants. 

Last year, BHcare helped more than 6,000 victims and children find hope, safety and justice. Approximately half of its funding for domestic violence services is in jeopardy. VOCA funds support on-site court advocates in New Haven, Derby, and Milford, its in-home Assistance, Support, and Counseling program for high-risk victims of domestic violence, its Hope Family Justice Center in downtown New Haven, and 24/7 crisis services for victims throughout Greater New Haven and beyond.

Participants will honor the 26 women, men and children who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence in 2023. Each person will receive a flower to toss into the harbor. The flowers represent the hopes and struggles of the survivors as they strive to become free from violence. The flower also gently reminds us of the lives that have been taken from us due to domestic violence. 

In addition, the event will honor local law enforcement who have been an integral part of BHcare’s domestic violence programs. 

Their dedication and tireless efforts have not only ensured the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence, but have also fostered a sense of trust and collaboration that is invaluable to the pursuit of ending domestic violence once and for all. 

Those honored are Officer Daniel Evans, New Haven Police Department, Officer Evan Kelly, New Haven Police Department, Officer Heriberto Rodriguez, New Haven Police Department, Officer Igor Gloss, New Haven Police Department, Officer Mark O’Connor and Guilford Police Department, Officer Michael Stephens, North Haven Police Department.

For more information about the event or about domestic violence services visit www.BHcare.org. 

If you need immediate assistance, please call the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline 1-888-774-2900.

The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services is a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, nearly 6,000 domestic violence victims, survivors and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help and hope. 

The Hope Family Justice Center, a program of BHcare, is a collaboration of multiple community providers under one roof providing free wraparound services for domestic violence victims and their families. Victims of domestic violence receive support, healing and pathways to empowerment. 

This is a press release from BHcare. 

Klarides-Ditria outlines new laws effective Oct. 1

I just wanted you to know that several new laws will take effect Tuesday, Oct. 1, that could have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I highlighted some of them below. 

An expanded list of those that will take effect, along with summaries, can be accessed here. 

AN ACT SUPPORTING CONNECTICUT SENIORS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF NURSING AND HOME-BASED CARE. - Public Act No. 24-39 (Sec. 1-5, 7-9, 15-19, 21-23) AN ACT PROMOTING NURSING HOME RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE. - Public Act No. 24-141 (Sec. 8-9) AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE A SERVICE-CONNECTED PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY RATING. - Public Act No. 24-46 (Sec. 1) AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF POLICE BODY-WORN RECORDING EQUIPMENT. - Public Act No. 24-15 (Sec. 1) AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORITY TO DECLARE THAT A FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICER OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PERSONNEL DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. - Public Act No. 24-16 AN ACT REQUIRING RESTITUTION WHEN A POLICE ANIMAL OR DOG IN A VOLUNTEER CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM IS INJURED OR KILLED. - Public Act No. 24-65 AN ACT CONCERNING DOG RACING. - Public Act No. 24-1

Sincerely,

Ansonia Library to host fire department's Touch-A-Truck event Saturday

 

Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries in Ansonia to distribute food Monday

 

Seymour Public Library to host spooktacular science show for family

      Free Program - No Registration Required

Seymour Public Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from the Library's website.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Griffin Hospital, Birmingham Academy

[This post was first published on Sept. 29, 2015.]

Since we missed last week's posting, this week's "Turnback Tuesday" features not one but TWO photos:

This first one is of Griffin Hospital, which admitted its first patient on Dec. 9, 1909. 

Originally designated as "The Derby Hospital," the name was changed when George Griffin, a wealthy Shelton industrialist, bequeathed a portion of his estate towards the building of the new hospital.

The second photo is of Birmingham Academy, built in 1838 on Fifth Street. 

This building became the Irving School in 1869 and was located where the Derby Veteran's Community Center is today.

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

Register for LNV Basketball League at Boys & Girls Club in Shelton

 

Registration for Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K ends Wednesday

Registration Closes October 2nd

The 13th Annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K will take place Saturday, Oct. 5 in Seymour. Last call for 5K registration - there is NO SAME DAY REGISTRATION - if you want to participate this year, head to RunSignUp today to secure your race bib! This is a press release from Seymour Pink.

 

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop in Derby posts this week's sales

Here's ACORNY sale for you this week! 6 days! 6 awesome sales! 

And take a peek at our fall and Christmas items too! We are so very grateful for your shopping and donating - both helping us refill our pantry shelves and freezers!

This is shared from the organization's Facebook page.

Ansonia Public Works to resume regular hours Monday

ANSONIA - Effective Monday, Sept. 30 Public Works will resume regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and Saturday 8- 11:45 a.m. 

Gate closes accordingly.

All In for Seymour alliance works to support flood recovery efforts

SEYMOUR - In response to the recent floods that have devastated Seymour, Oxford, and surrounding towns, a growing local and regional alliance of churches, food pantries, local businesses, service organizations, and residents called All In for Seymour has joined forces with their neighbors and government to support the recovery effort.   

Within hours of offering to become an aid distribution site, Trinity Episcopal Church was flooded with clothes, blankets, toys, toiletries, and other items donated by the community. Surveying this outpouring of generosity, Rev. Tricia Pasley commented that “I saw ‘Valleyness’ firsthand. We planned to collect donations over several days, but in the span of four hours the donations were eight feet deep.  

The Seymour Oxford Food Bank, faced with a marked increase in need, expanded its operating hours and began distributing fresh produce, bottled water, and pantry staples with no questions asked. 

Director Kristina Walton, who also runs the Oxford Neighbor to Neighbor Pantry from her front lawn, hopes the food bank can remain “a place where everyone is welcomed and loved, and can have their needs met.”

Other All In for Seymour alliance members quickly stepped up to collaborate. 

The Blessing Pantry, the Little Free Pantry on Skokorat, and Seymour Food 2 Kids helped collect, sort, and distribute donations of food pouring in from all over the state. 

M&T Bank worked with Trinity Church to raise over $20,000 for flood relief. Seymour Congregational Church organized a benefit concert - still available for viewing on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/live/PAXB1crzYu0) – and the Love Mom XOXO Foundation started an apparel campaign featuring the logo “Small Town. Big Heart” - apparel can be purchased through the foundation’s website (www.lovemomxoxo.org/floodrelief) or Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/lovemomxoxo?mibextid=LQQJ4d).  

Seymour Congregational Church has also been collecting food donations, storing overflow donations for the food bank, and offering people of all faiths space for comfort, meditation, and healing.

In addition to these efforts – and taking part in ongoing clean-ups at sites like Klarides Village – All In for Seymour has been hosting monthly Eat and Greet gatherings, an opportunity for neighbors to share a meal, hear each other’s stories, and work together to come up with solutions to common challenges. 

The September event at Trinity Episcopal Church featured home cooked comfort food, including Trinity’s famous meatloaf, as well as breakout rooms for optional mini reiki sessions and spiritual support. As always, events are free and open to everyone. 

Corrine Weston, who recently moved to Seymour and attended last month’s Eat and Greet gathering, said, “My family and I have come from a different Connecticut town, where we experienced three floods, had to evacuate twice and lost so much. During those times not once did the rally come from our leaders in the church community or the residents to help their neighbors. 

"Instead, people complained that you were taking too long to clean or that your dumpster needed to be emptied. No phone calls or offers of support. But what happened here in Seymour was everyone pitched in to first check on the safety of their community and neighbors, rolled up their sleeves and worked side by side. 

"Clothing and food supplies are overflowing and still this community is looking to comfort anyone hurting. Years ago, when we traveled past this area, we often wondered what type of people live in Seymour, now we know.”  

All In for Seymour (allinforseymour.org) is an alliance of community members and local organizations working to ensure that everyone in Seymour has a place including a safe and affordable place to live, a place where access to food is secure, and a place in the discussions and decisions that affect residents’ lives. 

All In for Seymour is one of several All In alliances in the area (allinalliances.org), supported by the regional antipoverty agency TEAM, Inc. (teaminc.org) and the regional community organizing network the Naugatuck Valley Project (nvpct.org). 

This month’s All In for Seymour “Eat and Greet” community gathering will be held Oct. 24 from 6-8:30 p.m. with location TBD. 

Event updates and RSVP (which is recommended) are available via the All In for Seymour website, www.allinforseymour.org/gathering.

This is a press release from Jenny Rice, founding member, All In for Seymour, and steward, Little Free Pantry on Skokorat. 

Save the date: Salvation Army Greater Valley to host 2nd annual kickoff breakfast

Please join us on November 19 for this wonderful event! 
#DoingTheMostGood

To purchase tickets please go to:
https://give.salvationarmy.org/.../use-sne.../e605584

This is shared from the Salvation Army - Ansonia, CT Facebook page.

Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton to host Frankenstein Felt Fun

Grades: 4-6
Day/Date: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 5-5:45 p.m.
Location: Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton

Register online https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2661&EventID=538377&PK=
or call 203-924-1580 ext. 5108.

What’s not to love about a green monster with stitches? 

Join Miss Maura as she teaches you learn how to hand stitch a monster of your very own using felt, a needle and thread. Caregivers will be participating in this program with their child.

This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Seymour Public Library posts movie schedule for October

 

Seymour Public Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page. 

Cars, Cops, & Coffee slated Sunday at Nolan Field in Ansonia

 

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Last ship built in Derby

This week's *Turnback Tuesday* features a photo of the schooner "Modesty" which was the last ship ever built in Derby.

It was built by the Hallock family and launched in 1868. Schooners are a type of sailing vessel that had two or more masts and were very fast. Their high speeds made them conducive for trading goods.

In the Modesty's case, coal was transported, but sadly it was ship wrecked in Boston Harbor on December 16, 1896.

[This was first published Sept. 27, 2016]

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

Paranormal researcher to speak at Seymour Public Library

 

Seymour Food 2 Kids to hold pasta dinner at Great Hill UMC

 

Family Fun Night slated at Seymour Community Center

 

Nonprofit donates $5K to Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital

Maria Ammar, center, presents a $5,000 donation from the Hope Lives fundraiser to, from left, Laura Howell, director of The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, and Cindy Madsen, Griffin Health Diagnostic Imaging Outpatient manager./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The 21^th Annual Hope Lives event raised $5,000 for breast cancer screening services at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.

Hope Lives is a non-profit organization associated with Horizon of Hope, a national campaign by Longaberger Baskets to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer research and local breast cancer services.

Maria Ammar, a Longaberger Stylist Consultant for more than 25 years, has organized the luncheon fundraiser as part of the campaign, raising over $130,000 for the Center.

“Hope Lives is devoted to making a difference in the Valley for breast health, and early detection is the key,” Ammar said.

Hope Lives has been raising funds for the Center for more than two decades, and the Horizon of Hope program has raised over $20 million for breast health, education, awareness. The donation will be used to help local women pay for breast cancer screening services.

About The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness 

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital opened in 2011 and primarily serves the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding communities. 

It combines state-of-the-art technology, a team of highly trained physicians and staff, and a Planetree healing environment to offer patients a comprehensive range of personalized breast care and wellness services.  

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness features two new, state-of-the-art digital mammography suites with 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) capability, a breast ultrasound suite, and the most advanced system available to perform stereotactic biopsy.  

The Center also utilizes a rapid diagnostic model where patients are often given test results the same day imaging tests are performed, and if indicated, follow up testing (ultrasound, breast biopsy) and even consultation with a breast surgeon are often available the same day if the patient’s schedule permits. 

For more information, call 203-732-1300 or visit griffinhealth.org/cbw.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.