'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) features Naugatuck River

Turnback Tuesday is highlighting the Naugatuck River. The river has a total length of 40.2 miles starting in Torrington and ending in Derby at the Housatonic River. 

Our river is never more beautiful than in the spring. Osprey, geese, and eagles are returning to their nests and fishing grounds. Boaters are enjoying the beauty and tranquility of fishing in these waters. The name Naugatuck is derived from an Algonquin term which means “lone tree by fishing place.” It was a great food source. 

Today our river is clean and enjoyed by many. Take a stroll along the Derby river walk and you will see. Just a reminder to please be safe while enjoying the river.

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

Ansonia to hold ribbon cutting Friday before game at Nolan Field

 

Cassetti updates community on new turf at Nolan Field, game change

Mayor David S. Cassetti provides the following update about Ansonia Charger football:

"Our new turf facility at Nolan Field is almost
complete, and we know how much excitement there is to see our teams take the field. While construction is moving along, the facility is not quite ready for this week’s home opener. To ensure the safety of our athletes and to deliver the best possible facility for our community, this week’s game will be played at Seymour High School on Thursday night at 6:00
p.m." 

Please support our Chargers at Seymour High School!
"Charger fans – I promise you the wait will be worth it — we are proud to announce that the grand opening of the new turf facility at Nolan Field will be celebrated on October 3 when Ansonia hosts Torrington at 7:00. This will be a special night for our athletes, students, and the entire community, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
Thank you for your patience and continued support as we put the finishing touches on a first-class facility that will serve Ansonia for years to come."
THANK YOU – AND AS ALWAYS, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GO CHARGERS!

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Naugatuck River history

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the Naugatuck River as it goes under the Route 34 bridge and alongside Downtown Derby.

The Naugatuck River proper starts in Torrington where its east and west branches meet.

The total length is 40.2 miles, and the river empties into the Housatonic River at Derby. “Naugatuck” is derived from an Algonquian term that means “lone tree by the fishing place.” Originally, the Native Americans used the river’s abundant food source.

Since the 19th century, the Naugatuck River has had a long history of industry using the water for washing and power generation.

Due to this industry, the river suffered great damage by 1915 that wasn't improved upon until the early 1970’s. With the help of the DEP and the Valley community, progress has been made towards the river’s restoration.

Passageways have been constructed at the dams along the river. Having made great strides with cleanup efforts, the return of fish is now quite apparent. This can be seen on any given day in the spring and summer along the Derby Greenway. Bald eagles and osprey can be spotted in the trees along the river, as well as nests from our aquatic birds that dot the edge.

[Originally posted on this date in 2017.]

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

Gentile, colleagues seek cost-saving report from education department

Request update on special ed improvements passed in 2015

HARTFORD - State Reps. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, and Michael D’Agostino, D-Hamden, recently sent a letter to the state Department of Education requesting a progress report on implementation of cost-saving measures related to special education.

Legislation passed in 2015 directed the department to create a new Individualized Education Program form that is easier for parents and students to understand and implement an online IEP system to be made available to public school districts at no cost. 

IEPs are documents created by the school system for each special education student outlining their educational plans.

The letter states, “We are specifically concerned that the implementation of a digital IEP system allowing districts to share information online with authorized State Department of Education personnel for audit purposes, negating the need for certain site-visits, may never have been implemented.”

The letter requests a progress report specifically on the implementation of Sections 264 to 285 of Public Act 15-5.

“We pushed for the passage of this bill because we knew implementing the new digital IEP form would improve Connecticut’s special education system,” Gentile said. 

“It’s important that we start this cost saving measure as soon as possible and hope that our inquiry to the Department of Education will give us a better understanding as to why certain provisions in the bill have yet to be implemented.”

“We passed these proposals in order to improve the special education system for families and schools while containing costs. IEPs are integral to meeting special education students’ needs, but the lack of a streamlined process can create headaches for everyone involved,” Cook said. “Given the state’s current fiscal situation, it’s particularly concerning that we have not seen the implementation of a digital IEP system. The current system is not cost-efficient for the state or for school districts.”

“The legislation that was signed into law in 2015 sought to strengthen our state’s special education system by putting our students first and ensuring their individual educational needs were met. This bill sought to implement a digital IEP system and develop a new form that was easier for parents and students to understand - at no cost to public schools. Some of these provisions, however, have not yet been implemented. It is vital for us to better understand why these efforts to improve our education system have been stalled so we can identify a way to bring this measure to fruition for the improvement of our children’s schooling,” said D’Agostino.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Ansonia Parks and Recreation to offer free ice fishing class at Armory

ANSONIA - A free ice fishing class is being offered by the Parks & Recreation Department in January. 

The class is taught by certified instructors from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection C.A.R.E. Program. 
C.A.R.E. is an acronym for Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education. 

The instructors are experienced fishermen who volunteer to share their experience and expertise with anyone wanting to learn.
The classroom instruction will take place at the Ansonia Armory Jan. 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It
covers the basics of the equipment, safety, dress, rules and regulations and species identification.

Participants will have an opportunity to practice what was covered in the classroom session.
The event is in Torrington on Feb. 3. The Torrington event is “No Child Left Inside” Winter Festival. 
Various winter activities are offered at Burr Pond State Park. Ice fishing is one of the main attractions and again all loaned tackle and bait is provided completely free. 
Additional information about the fishing event will be available at the classroom session.

The Armory is located at 25 North Cliff St.
Advance registration is required to insure sufficient materials are provided for the class. 

The class is open to all ages, and participants, not just Ansonia residents. It is recommended children under the age of 12 be accompanied by an adult. 
Register by calling Dave Connelly, chief instructor, at 203-231-0946. 

'Turnback Tuesday' features Naugatuck River in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the Naugatuck River as it goes under the Route 34 bridge and alongside downtown Derby. 
The Naugatuck River proper starts in Torrington where its east and west branches meet. The total length is 40.2 miles, and the river empties into the Housatonic River at Derby. 
“Naugatuck” is derived from an Algonquian term that means “lone tree by the fishing place.” Originally, the Native Americans used the river’s abundant food source. 
Since the 19th century, the Naugatuck River has had a long history of industry using the water for washing and power generation. Due to this industry, the river suffered great damage by 1915 that wasn't improved upon until the early 1970s. With the help of the DEP and the Valley community, progress has been made towards the river’s restoration. Passageways have been constructed at the dams along the river. 
Having made great strides with cleanup efforts, the return of fish is now quite apparent. This can be seen on any given day in the spring and summer along the Derby Greenway. Bald eagles and osprey can be spotted in the trees along the river, as well as nests from our aquatic birds that dot the edge.

Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing this local history each week!

Ansonia Chargers football team congratulated on 800th game win

*Sharing from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Seymour-based nonprofit is collecting school supplies

Sharing a message from Connecticut Partnership for Children:

The Annual Communities Care for Education Program is brought to you by BIC Corporation and supports children in Shelton, Torrington, New Britain, and Seymour this year. 

Of course, you can do your shopping at any store, but if you're using Amazon, be sure to click the link below and use Amazon Smile, as a portion of the proceeds will get donated back to us.

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-460936

Meghan Tarby, founder and executive director, Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc., said, "We are collecting now through Aug. 28 (at our annual Barefoot Summer Festival held at Colonial Tavern in Oxford) and are in need of pencils, notebooks, erasers, highlighters, folders, backpacks, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, and crayons." 

*** BIC Marking is donating pens for all children served! ***

Ansonia Nature Center to host ice fishing class Wednesday

ANSONIA - A free ice fishing class is being offered Wednesday by the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.  

The class is taught by certified instructors from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection C.A.R.E. Program.  

C.A.R.E. is an acronym for Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education.  

These are experienced fishermen who volunteer to share their experience and expertise with anyone wanting to learn.  

The classroom instruction will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ansonia Nature Center. 

The instruction covers the basics of the equipment, safety, dress, rules and regulations and species identification.  

Participants then have two opportunities to actually practice what was covered in the classroom session.  

The first is at a state-wide ice fishing derby Saturday held in Coventry. All equipment, bait, and instruction is provided free of charge.

The second fishing event is in Torrington Feb. 6. The  event is “No Child Left Inside” Winter Festival.  Various winter activities are offered at Burr Pond State Park.  
Ice fishing is one of the main attractions and is completely free. 
Additional information about the fishing events will be available at the classroom session.

Advance registration is required to insure sufficient materials are provided for the class. 
The class is open to all ages, and participants, not just Ansonia residents. 
It is recommended that children under the age of 12 be accompanied by an adult. Register by calling Dave Connelly, Chief Instructor, 203-231-0946.


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