Physicians at Griffin Hospital in Derby conduct free cancer screenings

Pictured from left, Dr. Ronald Hirokawa, Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Dr. Eaton Chen, and Dr. Joyce Chung, who were part of a team of seven doctors and dentists that conducted free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings at the Center for Cancer care at Griffin Hospital. Also participating were Dr. Ken Yanagisawa, Dr. Mark Aferzon, and Dr. Jay Dworkin. / Contributed photo

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital recently gave free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings to 51 individuals in recognition of the 18th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®.

This is the fourth year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community. Participating physicians included Dr. Mark Aferzon, Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Dr. Eaton Chen, Dr. Joyce Chung, Dr. Jay Dworkin, Dr. Ronald Hirokawa, and Dr. Ken Yanagisawa.

As a result of the screenings, six individuals were referred for further evaluation, two individuals were referred to a dermatologist for skin lesions and one participant was referred to an endocrinologist for an enlarged thyroid.

Oral, head, and neck cancer can arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). 
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 121,790 new cases of head and neck cancers will be diagnosed in 2015, resulting in more than 14,000 deaths.

Oral cancer screenings are recommended for every adult, especially for tobacco and alcohol users who are traditionally at the greatest risk. 

However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research indicates this development is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus.

Symptoms associated with oral cancer include:

A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size

Persistent pain in your mouth

Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth

Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue

Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat

Changes in your voice

A lump in your neck

If you have any of these warning signs, contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-1280 right away.

About the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital

Opened in October, 2008, Griffin Hospital's Center for Cancer Care provides care that's comprehensive, comforting, and close to home. 

The Center provides access to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and a range of affiliated physicians under the same roof in a Planetree-inspired healing environment. Support services include a Patient Care Navigator, dietary/nutritional consultations, genetic counseling, social work services, pastoral care, education and support groups, and a variety of non-traditional therapies offered through the Integrative Medicine Center. 

For more information, visit griffincancercenter.org or call 203-732-1260.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Valley Market Place kicks off in Ansonia Wednesday

Sharing from the City's Facebook page:

"The kick off for Ansonia's Valley Market Place will be tomorrow (Wednesday) from 5 - 7:30 pm. Stop by and support our local vendors ~ Bowtique by Alexa, Selfish Delights, Penelope's Web, Beads by Alyssa, Griffin Health, CT Blessed Creations, Jamie Marti's handmade earrings, Laurie Casey's handmade jewelry, Maxcenia Brown's Gift Baskets and jewelry, Irene Hudobenko's cat items. 

"Looking to get bigger and better every week!! See you on Main Street."

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host diabetes prevention talk

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation on ways to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes at 5:30 p.m. July 16.

Join Mary Swansiger for “Diabetes 101,” a comprehensive overview of diabetes, including the signs, symptoms and risk factors of diabetes, preventative health steps, and treatment options.

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 29 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and 86 million have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

This presentation is sponsored by the Valley Senior Services Council and Griffin Hospital, and is funded by the United Way and TEAM, Inc.

Dinner will be served prior to the talk compliments of Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To register or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit the events calendar at griffinhealth.org.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby plans road milling this week

DERBY - Street Commissioner Anthony DeFala Sr. has announced that road milling will take place Friday and Saturday to prepare certain roads for repairs and repaving. 
The milling will occur between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on each day.

He wants the residents and visitors to the City of Derby to be aware of these ongoing project schedules so that any inconvenience will be kept to a minimum.
Here is the schedule:
Friday - Benanto Drive and Pleasant View Road
Saturday - Evelyn Road and Yocher Lane

The milled roads will remain in this milled condition for approximately three weeks at which time the paving will commence.
The current Derby Road Maintenance and Paving Program was approved by the voters of the City of Derby on Nov. 4, 2014 as an initiative of the administration of Mayor Anita Dugatto.

For information on the ongoing Derby Road Maintenance and Paving Program contact Street Commissioner Anthony DeFala, Sr., 203-736-1468 or derbypw@derbyct.gov.


This is a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office. 

City officials to host booth at Derby Day

DERBY – Derby Day is an annual community event that brings Derby’s downtown area alive with music, food, and festivities for the entire family.  Every year, Elizabeth Street from Main Street to the Derby Green is crowded with an assortment of vendors offering something for everyone.  

Mayor Anita Dugatto and city representatives will again host a booth at the festival, which is being held June 27, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

“Derby Day presents a unique opportunity to connect with our community," Dugatto said.

Dugatto believes Derby’s government should be accessible and responsive to the people it serves. 
That philosophy is also the motivation behind Dugatto’s weekly Open Door Sessions and the creation of the City’s new website, www.derbyct.gov.

Visitors can drop by the booth on Derby Day to meet city representatives and learn more about planned improvements; city services and amenities, including Citiesense, Derby’s new commercial real estate listing platform; current job openings; volunteer opportunities; and other areas of interest.  

“This event gives residents and visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with our city and all that it has to offer - it’s another opportunity to Discover Derby,” Dugatto said.

The booth will also feature child-friendly activities centered on recycling.

To add to the fun, the Derby Inaugural Ball Community Fund will once again be sponsoring an interactive game during the event, suitable for all ages.  Each player successfully completing the game will win a free prize.  

Stop by the City of Derby booth to participate.

For more information about this year’s Derby Day, sponsored by the Derby Cultural Commission, check out the Commission’s Facebook page.

This is a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office.

Shelton Historical Society to host antique car show Sunday

SHELTON - Enjoy a day with Dad and Granddad peeking under the hoods of the cars they 

remember from their youth at the Shelton Historical Society’s annual Vintage Vehicles Antique and Classic Car Show on Father's Day this Sunday.

Two wheels or four, from Model Ts to muscle cars, there’s bound to be something that 

will trigger a memory from every visitor.  This show will be held at Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Past shows have featured everything from a 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom, to a restored 

rickshaw that was used as an ambulance in the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, to a 

1911 wood paneled Model T.  Nearly every decade of automotive history from the 20^th 

century has been illustrated on the shaded grounds of the Shelton History Center with 

more recent muscle cars, Mustangs, and Army Jeeps joining many Ford Model As and Ts. 

All vehicle owners generously share information, their cars, and their hobby with the public with pride. 

Awards in five categories will be presented to crowd favorites.   

  

Visitors will enjoy tours of the buildings at Shelton History Center, refreshments, and 

voting for their favorite vehicles. Admission is $1 for dads, $5/adults and $10/family. 

Proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the Shelton Historical Society, whose 

mission is to “preserve elements of the community’s history in order to create connections between Shelton’s past, present, and future generations through education, maintaining a museum with its collections, and providing a voice in the community regarding matters of historical significance.”

For additional information including directions or rescheduling in the event of rain, call 

203-925-1803, visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or see announcements on Facebook.

This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

History comes alive at Society's open house in Ansonia

Connecticut 6th Regiment re-enactors await commands from Lt. Abel Bachelor, a.k.a. Ross Kenney of Fairfield, during the Derby Historical Society's open house Saturday at the Gen. David Humphreys House, 37 Elm St., Ansonia.

Members of the 6th Connecticut Regiment fire flintlock rifles at Saturday's open house.

The Derby Historical Society Saturday also unveiled its unique 'Derby Junction' train layout depicting the Lower Naugatuck Valley in 1918. 

Please click here for my story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.