Group at Griffin Hospital in Derby makes cards to offer friendship, hope

'Girls Love Mail' initiative

DERBY - I'm a member of the Circle of Friends breast cancer support group at Griffin Hospital and at last week's meeting we got crafty. 
We took part in a nationwide initiative called "Girls Love Mail," and had fun creating cards to be sent to those who also have heard the diagnosis of breast cancer. 

Stay strong, smile, live life to the fullest, dream big. Those were some of the messages of hope we shared.

According to one of our support group's facilitators, Donna Hayes, oncology social worker at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, Girls Love Mail collects handwritten letters and gives them to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer via cancer centers around the country.

Girls Love Mail was founded by Gina Mulligan after her own breast cancer journey. Mulligan received more than 200 letters, mostly from people she didn’t know, and realized that letters from caring people have the power to heal.

Derby student's recipe takes the cake in cooking contest

Derby Middle School sixth grader Danny O'Hara, left, anxiously awaits the judges' opinion of his original recipe, "Pick-A-Pepper Bean Salad," at Monday's second annual Valley Initiative to Advance Health and Learning in Schools cooking competition at Griffin Hospital in Derby.
Congratulations go out to Danny today! His healthy recipe won the contest.


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to host benefit brunch in Shelton

BHcare to host block party in Ansonia

Free event to have 'Luau' theme
ANSONIA - This month, BHcare is raising awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives and encouraging members of the community to learn more about their own mental health and to take action immediately if they are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. 

When we think about cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, we don’t wait years to treat them. 

We start before Stage 4 — we begin with prevention. When people are in the first stage of those diseases, and are beginning to show signs of symptoms like a persistent cough, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar, we try immediately to reverse these symptoms. 

We don’t ignore them. In fact, we develop a plan of action to reverse and sometimes stop the progression of the disease.

Mental illnesses are not only common, they are treatable. BHcare has helped thousands of individuals and families who struggle with mental illness live happy, healthy lives. Learn what you can do both to protect your mental health and know the signs of mental illness #B4Stage4. 
Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, BHcare will hold its annual Community Block Party from 4-7 p.m. May 28 at 435 East Main St. 
The event will culminate a variety of month-long activities to promote the importance of good mental health and to celebrate the improved quality of life provided for thousands of individuals and families. 

This year’s “Luau” block party will feature food, games, arts and crafts, music and more. The Block Party is free and open to the public. Children and adults are invited to wear their Hawaiian shirts and clothing. 
Mayor David S. Cassetti will be presenting a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month.


This is a press release from BHcare, a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and Shoreline communities.

Ansonia to hold 'Star Spangled' parade Sunday

Come and honor our veterans ~ freedom isn't free!


Poster created by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo. 

Oxford fire company to celebrate 75th anniversary

Info shared from the Town of Oxford's website.