New month, personal blog post: Final farewell

Photo credit: John S. Zaleski 

This week a friend and I said goodbye to our friend, Bob Pollack, at a burial ceremony with military honors at the state Veterans' Cemetery in Middletown.

Bob, a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, passed away in February at age 93. This is the link to his obituary on my blog.

I want to give a special thank you to John Zaleski, owner of Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, for coordinating the arrangements for the beautiful military service for Bob, and for taking photos while we were there.

Cemeteries are inherently peaceful but my friend and I both felt we were in an especially serene setting, far from the bustle of everyday life. It is a truly beautiful resting place for our nation's deserving veterans.

Mizzi Cosmetics donates lip gloss to Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital

From left, Mizzi founder Brenda Mierzejewski and her mother Concetta (Mizzi) Susi delivered 50 gift boxes containing lip gloss to Cancer Center Clinical Operations Manager Laura Howell, and Debbie Bender of the Griffin Development Fund, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Mizzi Cosmetics of Middletown recently provided lip care gifts for patients at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mizzi Cosmetics founder and Ansonia native Brenda Mierzejewski and her mother, Concetta
(Mizzi) Susi, delivered 50 gift boxes containing lip gloss for the Cancer Center patients to provide comfort during treatment.

Mizzi makes cosmetics using only natural and organic ingredients. Mizzi has gained national
fame since starting in 2013. 

Celebrity Kylie Jenner mentioned Mizzi products on social media and the company’s lip balm made it into a swag bag at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Klarides-Ditria: Final military honors planned for 8 veterans' unclaimed remains

The Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc. have announced they will hold a military funeral ceremony for eight U.S. veterans’ unclaimed cremated remains. 

The remains are those of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony on Oct. 1 (rain or shine) at 10:30 a.m. at the State Veterans Cemetery 317 Bow Lane, Middletown. DVA Commissioner Thomas J. Saadi will lead the ceremony which will be supported by the directors of various funeral homes from across the state. In attendance will be local, state and federal Officials and members of Veterans Organizations. Commissioner Saadi, CFDA President David W. MacDonald, and other dignitaries will deliver remarks during the ceremony that will include the posthumous presentation of Connecticut Wartime Service Medals. Masks are strongly encouraged even though the event is outdoors.

At 9:40 a.m., the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders will escort four CFDA hearses containing the cremains of the eight Veterans from the DVA Rocky Hill Campus to the Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.

This is the seventh such ceremony hosted by the DVA in coordination with the CFDA since 2009 when Connecticut established new protocols to identify unclaimed cremated remains of honorably discharged U.S. veterans in Connecticut funeral homes with the goal of providing them a dignified burial with full military honors.

Sincerely,

Klarides-Ditria: Veterans can view annual ceremony in Middletown via Zoom

Dear Neighbors,

Today, we observe Veterans Day and pay tribute to the unbroken line of brave citizen soldiers going back to the Revolutionary War who stepped forward and served our great nation in times of peace and armed conflict. 

We honor the brave men and women who fought to preserve freedom for each successive generation.

While traditional gatherings should be avoided because of COVID, we can still commemorate the day by reaching out to Veterans by phone, text, or email and thanking them for their service. I hope you will join me in honoring their service to our great nation, by attending the virtual ceremony below or sharing the list of discounts provided to veterans.

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day Ceremony

This year, the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affair’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane in Middletown at 2 p.m. today.

The ceremony will comply with all COVID-19 restrictions, guidance and executive orders. Commissioner Saadi welcomes all of Connecticut’s veterans, their families and friends to join virtually. This ceremony will stream live via Zoom Meeting.

You can join the Zoom meeting here.

Meeting ID: 986 7749 7482 Passcode: 3iaz2X

Discounts for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has provided us with a list of restaurants and attractions that offer discounts to veterans, both on Veterans Day and every day. 

To view the full list, please click here.

Sincerely,

Newsletter features re-opening of Shelton store, Donate to Life fundraiser

Dear readers, 

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features a grand re-opening celebration at Marks of Design jewelry store in Shelton and a Donate for Life fundraiser in Middletown.  

Thanks for reading,

Patti

This Middletown roadside attraction will help you start feelin' groovy

My daughter and I stopped out of curiosity Friday at a local landmark - Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center - an antique and collectibles store in Middletown after enjoying afternoon tea at Tea Roses Tea Room in Cromwell with friends. 
We didn't go inside but took a few photos of the interesting outdoor decor.

You can't miss this sign if you're traveling along Newfield Street in Middletown.

'Woodstock Nation'

We plan to return some day and check out the memorabilia store and the rest of the attractions.