Griffin Hospital in Derby to host fall prevention program

Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program Sept. 25 at the hospital, featuring fall risk assessments, fall prevention techniques and exercises to help improve balance./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 25 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby marks Grandparents Day

Kindergartner Derek Lucarelli enjoyed lunch with his grandparents at an annual Grandparent Luncheon Friday at St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby. 

With Derek are grandparents Helen and Albert Lucarelli, Great-grandmother Mary Maler, 94, and grandparents Barbara Scarduzio and Donald Chonko./ Submitted photo 

Valley United Way to host Harvest House VI in Shelton

This is a wonderful event that provides so much for Valley residents in need.

Hilltop Hose in Ansonia to host memorial tag sale

ANSONIA – The Fall 2015 Jim “Skinny” Evans Memorial Tag Sale, sponsored by Hilltop Hose Company #5, will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 17, rain or shine.

The firehouse is located at 80 Pulaski Highway (Rte. 243). Several Hilltop neighbors will also be sponsoring tag sales on the same day.

A selection of holiday decorations is available for sale, as well as household items.

All proceeds will be donated to the Jim “Skinny” Evans Mack fund, established in 2011 to support the refurbished Mack firetruck and the garage built to house it.

For more information about the sale, leave a message at (203) 410-8403.


This is a press release from Hilltop Hose Company.

Restaurant to hold fundraiser for Seymour Pink 5K team

Seymour Pink to hold 4th annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink at 9 a.m. Oct. 3 in downtown Seymour.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'The Tempest'

SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival is set to present “The Tempest” as the latest entry in its popular “Shakespeare in the Bar” script-in-hand performance series.  

Porky’s Café, 50 Center St., will again host the event Oct. 29 upstairs in its second floor bar venue.    

Doors will open at 6 p.m., and guests are invited to enjoy free pizza, courtesy of Porky’s, at 6:30 p.m. prior to the performance which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  

“The Tempest” is a story about family, and all its complexities: loyalty, rebellion, betrayal, revenge, reconciliation and redemption. It is filled with love, magic, humor and music.  It is the last play that Shakespeare wrote on his own, and many say his most personal, in that the main protagonist, Prospero, represents the Bard himself relinquishing the “magic” of his craft to the next generation. 

Valley Shakespeare Festival traditionally presents two “SIB” offerings each year, one in October and another in March.  
This October’s performance is being dedicated to P.J. Carroll, beloved brother of VSF co-founder and dear friend, Stacey Carroll.

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  Space is limited; advance purchase is recommended.  

For tickets and more information, visit www.vsfestival.org or call 203-513-9446.

This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theater company serving the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

Seymour Historical Society to shine spotlight on state's diners

SEYMOUR - More than 100 classic diners still dot Connecticut’s roadways and Main Streets, filling empty stomachs and serving as community gathering places. 

The inside story of these iconic eateries will be the focus of a Seymour Historical Society program at 2 p.m. Sept. 27.

Featured speaker Garrison Leykam, a public radio host and author, will focus on material drawn from his book, “Classic Diners of Connecticut.” 

He’ll talk about the companies that made the distinctive diner buildings, celebrate mouth-watering recipes, and reveal the colorful lingo used by waitresses and cooks to describe certain dishes. (Perhaps you’ll even learn what a “Noah’s boy” and “frog sticks” are.) 

Best of all, you’ll hear stories about what makes Tony’s Diner in Seymour and other diners featured in the book into important community landmarks. 

The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West St., near the Trinity Episcopal Church. 

The program is free to Seymour Historical Society members; $5 for non-members. Doors open at 1 p.m. 

For more information, call 203-881-2156, contact psussman@snet.net. Or visit www.seymourhistoricalsociety.org. 

This is a press release from the Seymour Historical Society.