Seymour Public Library to host talk on Titanic

Mark World Turtle Day at Kellogg Center in Derby

DERBY - Enjoy a family day of activities and programs to learn about turtles and their importance to the environment on World Turtle Day starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave.

These interesting reptiles are always present in the landscape of Connecticut. They are frequently misunderstood and their special needs and habitat requirements are often over looked.

The day will start with ongoing activities featuring a turtle viewing station at the pond, a reading corner for turtle stories, and an ongoing public art station on turtles.

11 a.m.: Native Turtles of Connecticut Program

noon: Turtle Races

Local turtle ambassadors from area nature centers and Kellogg will race to the finish line to see which center has the fastest turtle.

An afternoon pool-side turtle feeding demonstration will then be held in the Kellogg Center with explanations about our resident turtles and what they eat. 

The day has something for everyone and for all ages to enjoy. You are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the day.

The adjacent Osborne Homestead Museum will be open for tours from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will have the unique challenge of “spot the turtle” in the rooms and on the grounds.

The Kellogg Environmental Center and the Osborne Homestead Museum are operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.


This is a press release from the DEEP.

Talk at Wesley Village in Shelton to focus on emergency services

SHELTON - Balancing the responsibilities of work, finances, family life, and caring for an aging loved one can leave you feeling “Sandwiched” and in need of support. 

Let us help! Caregivers are invited to join us at Wesley Village from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. June 3 for our caregiver education series!

Our topic is Navigating the 911 Emergency Response System. Gain a better understanding of Emergency Medical Services and how they can help in times of crisis. 

Scott Tenney, of American Medical Response, will offer a discussion on the 911 response, medical information and tools that can help in an emergency, and an overview of State of Connecticut DNR Guidelines.

To RSVP, call 203-925-4952 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. The program will be held at Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community on the Wesley Village Campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. A light supper will be served. 

Please note: we will be taking a reprieve from our series during the summer months of July and August.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Let there be light at art gallery in Derby

Sharing some good news from the Valley Arts Council:

The unnamed behemoth that controls electricity turned the power back on this afternoon at the Gallery@37, 37 Elizabeth St., Derby. 
As a member of the arts council, I say "Hooray!" 

And to quote Tangelene Ramsay, gallery administrator: "Having the lights off was a hardship; however, it was also a blessing. It gave us an opportunity to look at our future and make some changes. I, for one, am extremely excited at where these changes are taking us. Stay tuned folks! There is so much more to come!"

Cooking demo on tap at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled another cooking demonstration for 6:30 p.m. June 15.

The topic will be Cooking with Zest. Stacey Ference of Savour Catering will show participants how lemon can be used to create refreshing summer dishes. 

Recipes will include lemonade, lemon vinaigrette, preserved lemons, lemon  marinade, lemon chicken, lemon potatoes, and lemon cake.

There will be samples of all demonstrated food. The class is for ages 18 and older. 
Registration is 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.

Music, arts festival slated in June in Shelton

Derby firefighters to hold boot drive Saturday

DERBY - The Paugassett Hook & Ladder Company #4 of the Derby Fire Department will be conducting its semi-annual boot drive in front of the firehouse on Route 34 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. 


This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the New Haven Independent.

Crisco: Ban on variable rate electricity contracts a win for consumers

Lawmaker joins bipartisan group to push for protections

HARTFORD - Connecticut moved one step closer to becoming the first state in the nation to ban potentially deceptive and unpredictable variable-rate electricity contracts when senators added Senate Bill 573 to the chamber’s consent calendar for a unanimous vote late Wednesday. 

Once enacted, the bill would ban variable-rate contracts to residential electric customers for electric generation service.  

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

“This consumer friendly legislation keeps suppliers honest and accountable,” state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, said. “Unscrupulous business practices are leading consumers down an unstable path of severe rate hikes. Consumers deserve to be protected from this sort of deceptive business practice.”    

Variable-rate contracts can be highly unpredictable, allowing for significant fluctuations in electricity rate charges each month. Customers are often sold on a variable-rate contract by being offered a low “teaser” rate by sales agents who misrepresent the extent to which the rates will change. 

Customers, many of them seniors, have reported that several months after signing onto the variable-rate contract their electricity rates increased from the low teaser rate to an increase of over 100 percent in many cases and over 200 percent in some cases. 

No notice of the rate increases was given to consumers until their bill arrived and payment was demanded using the threat of disconnection of service if payment wasn’t made. 

Last year, the General Assembly passed Public Act 14-75, which enacted several reforms for the protection of electric consumers. Perhaps the most significant of these measures was a new requirement that, beginning this July, every residential electric customer’s monthly bill must display their rate for the coming month. 

Now that Senate Bill 573 has passed in the Senate, it moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Crisco represents the 17th District. This is a press release from his office.