Assumption School in Ansonia to host annual wine, beer fest

*Shared from the Ansonia Community Updates Facebook page.

Chef at Crosby Commons in Shelton earns recognition

Chef Manager Hector Velez, center, shows off his award-winning entrée at the CALA 2016 Chef Challenge. With him is Crosby Commons Executive Director Lori Pisani and Chef Supervisor Richard Scaife./ Submitted photo

SHELTON - Wesley Village Chef Hector Velez was recently recognized for excellence in the 2016 Chef Challenge at the Connecticut Assisted Living Association’s 21^st Annual Conference and Trade Show. 

Velez, Chef Manager at Crosby Commons Independent and Assisted Living Community at Wesley Village, won first place for his entrée, “Mofungo with Shrimp,” in the seafood category of the challenge. 

The annual competition, which featured several of the best chefs in senior living in all of Connecticut, is designed to showcase creativity using a variety of food products. Contestants are judged by a panel of professional chefs on several scoring elements including: organization, sanitation, creativity, culinary technique, portion size, taste, presentation, nutritional balance, utilization of ingredients, and use of allotted time. 

All competitors received 60 minutes to fabricate, prepare, and cook their dish, with an additional 15 minutes allocated for dish-up and judging. 

Winners in each category (Beef, Poultry, Seafood) were awarded the “Chopped Award”. The event was held on March 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Cromwell. 

Congratulations to Chef Velez and the Crosby Commons community on this fine award!

Crosby Commons is located on the Wesley Village Campus and offers award-winning independent and assisted senior living options, along with access to a broad continuum of care. The campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local mission-based, not-for-profit organization. 

To learn more about senior living options at Crosby Commons or Wesley Village, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free talk on diabetes

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation on the basics of diabetes to help individuals understand the condition at 6:30 p.m. March 29.

Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, will present “Diabetes 101,” an easy-to-understand overview of prediabetes, diabetes type 1, and diabetes type 2 as well as risk factors and prevention.

According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 29 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, including eight million who are undiagnosed. There is also an estimated 86 million people with prediabetes.

The presentation is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U Talks, a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics. 
Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve your spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org/events. The hospital is at 130 Division St. 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

PKD Challenge for March: Day 16 ~ Take a short quiz

March 16

How well do you know your PKD facts? 

Take the PKD facts quiz. 


Note: I can't seem to embed the quiz, the above link will bring you to the calendar I am using each day on the blog to raise awareness of PKD this month. 

Bit of local history: Photo of the home of a Derby industrialist

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo is of the Willman House on Fifth Street in Derby. Joseph Willman, originally from Germany, owned a factory along the Housatonic River in Derby. At one time, he held a patent for an ice-cream making machine issued in 1910.


*I'm sharing this post from the Derby Librarians' Facebook page. I love old photos that give us a glimpse of what life was like a century ago, and I'm sure others do too.

Senior center in Ansonia to host Game Day Thursday

Derby Public Library plans spring book sale

DERBY - The Derby Public Library Annual Spring Book Sale will begin April 9 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

It will continue into the following week, which is National Library Week.

On April 11 and 12 the hours will be from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Shoppers are invited to fill a bag for $5. Bags will be provided.

Adult and children fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, magazines, video and audio materials will be available.

For more information, stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.