Car wash at Hilltop Hose Co. 5 in Ansonia to support firefighter

 

Recuperation journey 2.0: New month, new personal blog post

I recently wrote an article for our church newsletter about God’s perfect timing in my life. I'm sharing a slightly edited version here.

I witnessed that timing on a November night in 2007. My 83-year old mother unfortunately had been a smoker for her whole life. As it turned out, cigarettes were almost her undoing. 

She had gone to bed unaware that she had dropped a stll-lit cigarette in between the couch cushions. That’s what the Fire Marshal had concluded. That cigarette must have smoldered for quite a while because by around 2 a.m., black smoke was coming out of her house. 

If her neighbor hadn’t come home at just that time and seen the smoke and called 9-1-1, my mother would not have survived. 

An alert volunteer firefighter happened to live a short way down the road. He quickly arrived on the scene, put a ladder up to the bedroom window and grabbed my petite mother who was frantically waving out the window. This hero brought her down the ladder to safety! 

Her travail didn’t end there. She had suffered smoke inhalation that landed her in two hospitals for treatment. We welcomed her home on Thanksgiving Day that year. We were all thankful indeed she was finally on the mend. 

God’s grace intervened that night. His watching over my mother until help arrived was no coincidence. It was truly a blessing on our family. I believe the neighbor’s quick actions were part of God’s perfect timing. 

Her rescue gave my mother another nine years. And it afforded her the opportunity to attend both of her grandchildren’s college graduations and witness them both starting their careers. 

       

Life can change in the blink of an eye, whether through an accident, fire, or diagnosis of a serious illness. I believe how our lives go forward is part of God’s perfect plan for each of us. 

Dinner to benefit Ansonia resident slated at Assumption Church hall

Derby Town Clerk regrets omission, sends corrected version of release

DERBY - In an email this morning Town Clerk Marc Garofalo issued a new release about the passing Sunday of Past Chief James J. Butler. 

He said in part: 

"Please find at the end of this email, the corrected version of last evening’s email.  In the shock of this tragic news, I inadvertently omitted the name of one of Chief Butler’s daughters.  

"I regret any additional stress that may have occurred due to my haste.  Also, Past Chief Butler was a Deputy Fire Marshal with the City of Derby.  He moved from the Inspector position in the past year due to the death of Past Chief and Deputy Fire Marshal Charles M. Stankye, Jr.

"The entire City mourns the loss of one its sons who served it well for a long time.  Funeral arrangements will be announced as they become available.  May he rest in peace."

The corrected release:

"It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of James J. Butler.  He was the son of James R. Butler, a member and past Chair of the Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation and the late Josephine DiDonato Butler.  He was the father of Sarah Butler, Julianna Butler and James Butler.  He was the brother of Barbara Butler and Janice Butler. 

"James J. Butler, 50, was a past Chief of the Derby Fire Department and a Deputy Fire Marshal in the City of Derby.  He was a member of the Paugassett Hook and Ladder Company #4 of the Derby Fire Department for more than 30 years.

"Please join Mayor Anita Dugatto and the entire City of Derby in extending our sincere sympathy and condolences to the entire Butler family during this difficult time.

"Expressions of sympathy may be addressed to:

"The Family of James J. Butler

18 Prindle Avenue

Derby, CT 06418."

Sincere condolences go out to the Butler family.

Sad news to share: James J. Butler, Derby fire official, dead at 50

Derby Town Clerk Marc Garofalo e-mailed this message late this afternoon:

"It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of James J. Butler.  He was the son of James R. Butler, a member and past Chair of the Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation and the late Josephine DiDonato Butler.  He was the father of Julianna Butler, James Butler and Sarah Butler.  He was the brother of Barbara Butler and Janice Butler. 

"James J. Butler, 50, was a past Chief of the Derby Fire Department and an inspector with the Derby Fire Marshal’s Office.  He was a member of the Paugassett Hook and Ladder Company #4 of the Derby Fire Department for more than 30 years.

"Please join Mayor Anita Dugatto and the entire City of Derby in extending our sincere sympathy and condolences to the entire Butler family during this difficult time.

"Expressions of sympathy may be addressed to:

"The Family of James J. Butler

18 Prindle Avenue

Derby, CT 06418."

Condolences go out to the Butler family at this sad time.

Sharing sad news of passing of Ansonia bake shop owner

Roy Tidmarsh photographed in February 2015 at 'In Love and Chocolate' fund-raising event in Shelton.

ANSONIA - I was saddened this afternoon to read the news of the passing of resident Roy W. Tidmarsh.

I met him in his bake shop at 66 Westfield Ave. a few days before Valentine's day in 2012, and thoroughly enjoyed our chat about baking, candy-making, and Valley traditions that go back decades. 

The last time I spoke with him was in February at 'In Love and Chocolate,' a fund-raising event in Shelton.

I extend my condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.

Please click here to read the story I wrote in 2012 about Tidmarsh for the New Haven Register.