Derby Library slates April activities for teens

Games on Wednesdays 

DERBY - The Derby Public Library hosts YA Wednesdays every month from 6-7:30 p.m. 

All young adults ages 12 to 17 are invited to join the fun each Wednesday in April as Nintendo Wii, board games, and Legos will be available.

Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is requested. 

Chess club

The Derby Public Library Teen Chess Club invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to meetings Mondays in April from 6:30-7:30 p.m. 

All skill levels are welcome. 

Participants will learn how the game is played as well as defensive/offensive strategies. 

Julio Maldonado provides superb expertise from a life-long love for the game. Registration is requested. 

Anti-Bullying Forum

The Derby Public Library invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to our second Annual Anti-Bullying Forum, from 3-4:30 p.m. April 9. 

Participants will increase their understanding of what bullying is, how to better deal with bully circumstances, and consequences associated with these confrontations. Issues pertaining to social media bullying and school violence will also be addressed by local professionals from Valley Youth Bureaus, and the Parent/Child Resource Center through interactive dialog and support materials in a friendly environment. Dinner will be provided and registration is requested. 

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

This is a press release from Tony DeLos, Young Adult/Reference Librarian, Derby Public Library.

Council seeks to enhance Griffin Hospital services

The 2015-17 Griffin Hospital’s Community Advisory Council includes Susan Baxter, Theresa DeCesare, and John Shatney, of Oxford, Bill Blewett, Nadine Civitelli, Corrine Gilbert, Alfred Pettit, Joseph Skrabl, Rita St. Jacques, and Margaret Sullivan, of Ansonia, Palma Calvert, of Derby, James Healy, Robert Newton, and Arlene O'Brien, of Seymour, Jamie Mastrony and Janet Onidi, of Shelton, Natasha Koonce, of Orange, Susan Wisneski, of Beacon Falls, and Donna Bak, of Woodbury. / Submitted photo


DERBY - The new Griffin Hospital’s Community Advisory Council held its first meeting last week.
As either former patients themselves or family members of patients, the 18-member Council is charged with providing real-time feedback/insight with the goal of enhancing hospital services and programs.

The Council will partner with hospital professionals at Griffin to help the hospital maintain its patient-center care.

At each meeting, the Council hears a presentation by one of the department directors to learn about the elements of their area, ask questions and provide feedback. Council members are also briefed on current hospital news and serve as a valuable resource, offering opinions and input on a number of new programs or projects that may be under consideration.

The Council meets once a month and commits to serving a two-year term.

The 2015-17 Council members are Susan Baxter, Theresa DeCesare, and John Shatney, of Oxford, Bill Blewett, Nadine Civitelli, Corrine Gilbert, Alfred Pettit, Joseph Skrabl, Rita St. Jacques, and Margaret Sullivan, of Ansonia, Palma Calvert, of Derby, James Healy, Robert Newton, and Arlene O'Brien, of Seymour, Jamie Mastrony and Janet Onidi, of Shelton, Natasha Koonce, of Orange, Susan Wisneski, of Beacon Falls, and Donna Bak, of Woodbury.

The Community Advisory Council is just one of many ways individuals in the community can play a critical role in providing this exceptional care at Griffin Hospital. Starting with a patient’s first step in the door at the hospital, Volunteer Ambassadors escort patients to appointments as well as assist visitors and caregivers find their loved one’s location in the hospital.

Room Service Volunteers visit patients to tell them about all the Planetree amenities, including complementary soft touch massage, therapeutic touch or Reiki treatments, therapy dog visits, guided imagery meditation, aroma therapy, portable DVD players, or a fresh-baked cookie or muffin.

In addition to being the messengers about these services, Griffin Hospital offers opportunities to become the volunteer provider of these services, providing training in each of the therapies and baking.

For more information about these and other volunteer opportunities at Griffin Hospital, call 203-732-7555 or visit griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital, a full-service, 160 bed, not-for-profit acute care community hospital committed to providing high quality, state-of-the-art medical care in a healing, nurturing environment.
Griffin has earned local, national, and international recognition and praise for its unique facility, innovative programs and services, and patient-centered Planetree model of care.

Conroy works to improve government efficiency

State Reps. Jonathan Steinberg, Kevin Ryan, Peggy Sayers, and Theresa Conroy at the MORE Commission organizational meeting Monday at the Legislative Office building in Hartford.  Photo by Brian M. O’Connor

HARTFORD - State Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) has been appointed by Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey to serve on the bipartisan Regional Entities sub-committee and Municipal Efficiencies sub-committee of the MORE (Municipal Opportunities & Regional Efficiencies) Commission.

“We must continue to search for ways to do more with less,” Sharkey said. “The ability of cities and towns to operate efficiently and in partnership with surrounding towns and the state is critical to supporting our economy.”

With an emphasis on cost efficiency through regional collaboration, the sub-committees will look for ways to regionalize some of the functions of local government and other entities.

“Finding regional ways to provide services saves money and streamlines government,” Conroy said.

In 2010, Sharkey formed the original Municipal Opportunities & Regional Efficiencies Commission.

The group worked in a collaborative manner, bringing together legislators with town officials, advocates and concerned citizens.


This is a press release from Conroy's office.

Derby Library to host craft class, Sports Talk, more

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled a Recycle, Repurpose, and Reuse Spring Craft Class at 6:30 p.m. April 7.

Ansonia Animal Control Officer Jeanie Roslonowski
returns to the Library to show participants, ages 18 and over, how to make decoupage flower pots using old calendars.

The class will also include information on conservation and animal issues. Registration is required.

Sports Talk
The Derby Public Library will begin its 10th season of Sports Talk at 10 a.m. April 2.
These informal sessions will be held every Thursday morning throughout the baseball
season.

They will again be facilitated by radio talk show host, author and Major League Baseball Rules Consultant Rich Marazzi.
Each session will include trivia contests, videos, lively conversation, and more.

All ages, from rookies through veterans, are invited to join Marazzi and his group of Silver Sluggers.
No registration is necessary.

Resume writing
The Derby Public Library is now offering Resume Workshops on the first Wednesday of
each month at 6:30 p.m.

During these sessions, participants are welcome to either start from
scratch or bring copies of their existing resumes, cover letters as well, for review and optimizing.

Often times a new resume can be created simply by making a number of subtle tweaks versus a whole new change.

The April class will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 1.
Registration is not required.

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


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

Club to hold annual 5K Run-Walk on Derby Greenway

DERBY - The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley is holding its annual Herbie Rollinson Memorial 5K Run-Walk April 12 at the Derby Greenway.

Registration is now open at www.BGC-LNV.org/5K Run-Walk.Registration fee is $25 and includes a commemorative T-shirt. Deadline is March 31 to guarantee your T-shirt size.

Runners will pick up their race bibs at 8 am, the walk begins at 8:30 a.m., the 5K run begins at 9 a.m., and post-race activities and refreshments are at 10 a.m.

Awards will be presented at 10:30 a.m.
Divisions and awards include 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, last place, and 12 and Under 1st place. Last year’s photos and results are available on our website. While there is no age limit or requirement, if the participant is a child, the parent or guardian must decide whether or not they should participate. See our website for some tips about the fundamentals of youth running.

The 5K will start at the BJ’s Wholesale Club entrance to the greenway. Participants will continue to the Derby-Shelton Bridge end and return to the starting line. Water will be available along the course, and at the start/finish line.

Sponsorships are welcome and needed. Marquis Sponsorship is $2,500 and includes your headliner logo on our T-shirt, your logo on all marketing materials, and a prominently displayed sign. Gold Sponsorships are $1,500 and include prominent logo on our T-shirt and a prominently displayed sign. Silver Sponsorships are $1,000 and include your logo on our T-shirt and a prominently displayed sign. Bronze Sponsorships cost $500 and include listing on our T-shirt and a prominently displayed sign. Friend of the Club sponsorships cost $100 and include listing on our T-shirt. 

To sign up as a sponsor or download our sponsorship form, visit our website.

Proceeds from the event will support programs at the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s three units—Raymond P. Lavietes in Shelton, Joel E. Smilow in Ansonia, and Seymour—as well as its satellite programs at Elizabeth Shelton and Perry Hill schools in Shelton.

Herb Rollinson was a director of the Boys & Girls Club from 1972 until his death in 2008. He was club historian, remembering much of our treasured history. This event is an annual salute to his dedication to our organization and the youth we serve.

For more information visit www.BGC-LNV.org.


This is a press release from the club.