Thanksgiving week: A retrospective of Valley events

Celebrating the holiday right here in the Valley, that's me.

My husband, Ralph, and I enjoyed the camaraderie at the Master's Table Community Dinner Sunday in Assumption Church hall in Ansonia. 
It was the nonprofit's annual Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey and all the fixings. 

Master's Table fed close to 200 people that afternoon. 
The meal is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, right, greets Master's Table 
founder Jim Fedak.

Attendees were pleasantly surprised by a visit from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and two of his aides. 
Murphy spoke with Master's Table founder Jim Fedak, and also met with volunteers and members of the community.

That evening, daughter Allegra and I attended the Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving service. 
The service offers participants a chance to experience a variety of faith traditions.
Each year a different house of worship hosts the event, and this year it was held at the First United Methodist Church in Ansonia.

On Thanksgiving Day I took a break from preparing our dinner to pose wearing my new hat. 
Lovely, isn't it?

Allegra and I attended yet another community event on Friday: the opening of a 100-year old time capsule that was removed from the cornerstone of the Derby Elks Lodge building. 
It was fascinating to see the items that had been placed inside by members of the Lodge a century ago.

Read the story and watch a video by Derby resident Jack Walsh here.

And below is a slideshow that Ralph created from my photos:  

Today daughter and I took in the sights of the ever-elegant and welcoming Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby. 

Each year area garden clubs beautifully decorate the Colonial Revival-style home for the holiday season. 
Hours for guided tours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 19. 
Twilight tours will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 11, and 18.

This year the theme was "Holiday at the Farm." 

As you can see, our visit was a moo-ving experience.


Please stay tuned to The Valley Voice website for many more photos of the homestead decked out for the holiday season. 
We recommend a trip to 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby to help you get into the Yuletide mood.

Ansonia to host Christmas Tree Lighting

Derby Elks open time capsule from 1915

Derby resident George Kurtyka, a 25-year member of the Elks, holds a time capsule from 1915 on Saturday moments after it was taken out of the cornerstone of the Elks Lodge building at 73 Elizabeth St., Derby.


Stay tuned for a story and more photos in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Talk at Griffin Hospital in Derby to focus on healthy eating for the holidays

DERBY - The Diabetes Education and Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free talk about eating healthy for the holidays at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in Griffin Hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A, 130 Division St.

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger of Griffin’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurse Program, will host “Healthy Holiday Eating.” 

This open talk will discuss how to handle healthy eating at holidays and special events, including the importance of planning ahead, stress management, and making time for physical activity.

The Diabetes Education and Support Group meets September-June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges and day-to-day dietary concerns. 
All diabetics and their families are welcome to attend. 

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Swansiger at 203-732-1137.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Author of local history book to speak at Seymour Library

 *Sharing from the Facebook page of the Office of the First Selectman of Seymour.

Reminder: Derby to hold annual Christmas tree lighting today

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Dear readers,

I want to thank every one of you who visits me here.

The number of readers each day has been about the same for quite a while, which indicates to me the same folks are stopping by, and for that I'm grateful.

I hope your Thanksgiving Day is filled with making memories with family and friends.

Gobble, gobble.