Voting 'brisk' today in Valley

The Valley Independent Sentinel reports that poll workers in the Lower Naugatuck Valley have been busy since this morning.

You can check out the Valley Indy's story here.

Vigil in Seymour to light up night with Nina's spirit

From the Office of First Selectman: 

Nina Poeta Walk of Light Vigil
Seymour High School will be hosting a Walk of Light Vigil for Nina Poeta Wednesday November 5 from 6 pm to 8 pm on the John T. DeBarber football field. 

Nina Poeta

Any and All who would like to participate in this Vigil are welcome to attend. 
Nina will be remembered fondly as a student who has an unquenchable spirit who will be forever with us. 
Nina Poeta Strong Forever

Please bring a flashlight or glow stick with you which we will use to light up the night with her spirit.



This information was posted this morning on the Office of Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page.

Valley Chamber to present Gold Seal Awards at banquet in Orange

The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce will recognize five individuals and their outstanding achievements Thursday at the 43rd Annual Gold Seal Awards Banquet.


The event, sponsored by Aquarion and People’s United Bank, will be held 5-9 p.m. at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange.

The Chamber will present the Silver Medal Award, three Gold Seal Awards, and the Platinum Award to business and community leaders who exemplify the spirit of selflessness and volunteerism.
These awards are among the most prestigious and time-honored community service awards in the Valley.

Janice Sheehy, 1994 Gold Seal recipient, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The Silver Medal Award has only been presented 26 times and was first awarded in 1986.

The Chamber has presented the award to recognize volunteer groups or partnerships that have made extraordinary contributions to the community or to recognize an individual’s dedicated service and assistance to the community.

This year’s Silver Medal Award recipient is The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation (Shelton) created in 2010 as a tribute to their late father, Anthony. Over the years they have raised over $225,000 and helped charities such as the Boys & Girls Club, Moving with Hope, Spooner House, Project Purple, and BHcare, to name a few.

The Gold Seal Award has been presented to 149 individuals since 1971. This award is given annually by the Chamber to a recipient who demonstrates outstanding community service through dedicated and effective leadership.

The Gold Seal Award this year is being presented to Robert M. Bradley of Beacon Falls, Susan Coyle of Shelton and George S. Logan of Ansonia. 

Bradley is a founding member of the Beacon Falls Merchants Association and member of the Beacon Falls Economic Development Commission and the Beacon Falls Lions Club. 
He can also be found assisting with small fundraisers and at many of the town’s events. 

Coyle has devoted countless hours as Co-Chair for Griffin Hospital’s Breast Wellness Center Campaign and now The Valley Goes Pink Initiative. She has been active as a Corporator for Valley United Way and Griffin Hospital, as well as a Director for the Shelton Economic Development Corporation, Valley Community Foundation and Secretary for the Center Stage Board. 

Logan currently serves on the Junior Achievement of Western CT Board of Directors, the Griffin Hospital Board of Directors and the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA Board. He is a corporator for the Boys & Girls Club and he also has assisted with TEAM’s fund-raising efforts.

Platinum Award honoree

In 2001, in honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Gold Seal Awards, the Chamber introduced the Platinum Award. Only 14 individuals have received the Platinum Award. It is presented to a past Gold Seal recipient of at least 10 years who is still dedicated to volunteering their time and resources on behalf of the Valley community.

The 2014 Platinum Award honoree is attorney Dominick J. Thomas of Woodbridge, a 1991 Gold Seal Award recipient.

With over 30 years of service on the boards of both the Boys & Girls Club and BHcare, and 20 years on the board of VARCA, there’s no denying Thomas’ dedication to the Valley community. 

He recently began his eighth year of service on the Valley United Way Board of Directors. He was a member of the Valley Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven as well as the Katharine Matthies Foundation Advisory Board, Oxford Charter Commission, and Oxford Town Council. 

Through the years, Thomas has been recognized with numerous awards including the CGFGNH President’s Award, the Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award and most recently the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award from the Valley United Way in 2010.

The combined efforts of all recipients, both past and present, have resulted in lasting contributions in the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

For more information, contact the Chamber, 203-925-4981.


This is a press release from the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

It's Election Day

Just a reminder that the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.