Derby Public Library to host water color workshops

DERBY - The Derby Public Library will host two Water Color Painting Workshops at 6:30 p.m. Mondays, July 20 and 27.

Ages 18 and over are invited to enjoy these unforgettable workshops with friends, fun, and fabulous art.   
Participants will go home with new friends, great memories, and a newly-created masterpiece that will show off your “inner-artist.”  
No experience?  No problem!  

Local artist Rich DiCarlo, president of the Valley Arts Council, will guide you step-by-step on this creative journey

as you learn the ins and outs of creating your own water color painting.  

No previous artistic experience necessary – great for beginners or seasoned professionals.  
Bring along a friend. Snacks will be provided. 
It is promised to be a surprisingly easy and fun way to spend an evening!

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.

Summer concerts slated at corporate park in Shelton

SHELTON - R.D. Scinto presents the Summer Concert Series with two Happy Hour at the Towers events. 

The first event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the Corporate Park fountain area. The second will be held on July 30, same time/same place. Attendance is open to the public. 

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Six food trucks, including Taco Pacifico, Super Duper Weenie, Fryborg, Tipsy Cone, The Melt Mobile, and Old World pizza truck. There will also be beer and wine served by Il Palio and free live entertainment by Mystic Bowie (June).
Additionally, there is more information coming regarding a large Carnival, with 100 percent proceeds being donated to local charities, to be held on Sept. 26.

Thanks to Bob Scinto and his focus on his tenants, it is events like these that help to build on the special Enterprise Corporate park community that has developed over the years.

For additional information, look for the Facebook event at Facebook.com/RDScintoInc or call the main number, 203-929-6300. 

If you would like to receive the monthly Enterprise Corporate Park Newsletter via email, send your address to Newsletter@Scinto.com.

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

Wesley Village in Shelton to debut Music & Memory program

Staff and volunteers from Wesley Village complete training and instruction for Music & Memory, a personalized, therapeutic music program being introduced on the campus this summer./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Beginning this summer, individuals struggling from dementia and other cognitive and physical impairments will now have the opportunity to reconnect with family, friends, and caregivers through Music & Memory, a personalized digital music program to be offered on the Wesley Village Campus.

“Sincere thanks to the Valley Community Foundation for making this new program possible with the help of a $4,700 grant,” says Carlene Rhea, Director of Mission Development. 

“This grant enables our senior care campus to purchase iPods and other technology needed for music collection and storage and costs associated with staff training and instruction.” 

Rooted in extensive neuroscience research, the Music & Memory approach involves training care professionals to set up personalized music playlists, delivered on iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care. These musical favorites can then tap deep memories not lost to dementia, which enable patients and residents to converse, socialize, stay present, and feel like themselves again.

After completing three days of training with staff and volunteers, Wesley Village is the first Music & Memory Certified Care Facility in the Valley and one of only a few in the State of Connecticut. The Music & Memory program will be implemented first at their new Lifestyle Transitions memory care neighborhood on the campus and then in the Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center.  

For more information about Music & Memory and the life-changing benefits of personalized therapeutic music, visit www.musicandmemory.org.

About Wesley Village:

Wesley Village is a campus of senior care communities including Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Assisted and Independent Living Apartments and Cottages, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care at Wesley Heights, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 
The campus is owned and operated by UMH, a local, faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community and is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024.

About the Valley Community Foundation:

Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. 
To learn how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, visit www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Derby to host session for commercial property owners, developers

Meeting planned Wednesday at City Hall

DERBY – Like many other cities and towns, Derby has a varied stock of available commercial properties.  

These dormant properties hold potential for jobs, increased commerce, and additional tax revenue.

To drive economic development activity, the City of Derby has partnered with Citiesense, 

an exciting new Connecticut-based tech company, to support a real estate marketing web platform that encourages smart, equitable, and financially rewarding private market development outcomes.

"With Citiesense, we will be able to maintain a citywide, open-access database of active commercial real estate listings and in-progress developments - both public and private," 

said Mayor Anita Dugatto.  

As a collaborative marketplace, Citiesense will promote projects that reflect Derby's planning initiatives and growth strategies, encourage a positive relationship between developers and the community, and facilitate inquiries by curating hard-to-find property data.

Comprehensive in scope, Citiesense will feature interactive visualization tools to provide all users with a clear understanding of land use regulations, planning initiatives, incentives, and details about local real estate market activity.

"As demand for downtown development sites continues to rise in cities across the country, Citiesense will be a helpful tool in attracting investment opportunities to Derby," Dugatto said.

To learn more about Citiesense and its free listing opportunities, Dugatto is inviting all Derby commercial property owners, brokers, and prospective developers to attend an information session from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Joan Williamson Aldermanic Chambers, Derby City Hall, 1 Elizabeth St.  Refreshments will be provided.  

This is a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office. 

Shelton fire official offers summer safety tips

SHELTON - Summertime presents the return of several seasonal fire hazards with activities shifting outdoors. 
Among the most common involve outdoor cooking grills. 
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over half (57 percent) of grill fires occur in the months of May, June, July, and August. 
Most fires involve propane gas type grills, including leaks or breaks of gas containers or pipes. 

Contributed photo

However, many grill fires also result from spark, ember, or flame. Grill mishaps can result in both significant property damage and severe burn injuries that last a lifetime. 

Ted Pisciotta, assistant chief, fire prevention encourages everyone to consider the following fire safety practices:

•   Locate grills and any propane tanks/cylinders a safe distance from buildings, wooden decks and other combustibles. Never use a grill indoors or in an enclosed area. Never store propane indoors!
  
•   Keep the grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills, burners, and in collection trays below the grill.
  
•   Inspect and clean of venturi tubes and burner (check owner’s manual) of gas grills where spiders and small insects may make nests or spider webs. This could lead to a fire.
  
•   Check propane gas hose connections. Be sure all are tight from the propane cylinder, regulator, and where the hose connects to the burners. Tighten if loose.
  
•   Carefully check gas hoses and connections for leaks by applying a soap-water solution to the hose and connections. Once the propane cylinder is opened, any leak will produce bubbles around the area of the escaping gas. If there are no bubbles, your grill is safe to use. If there are bubbles, turn off the tank and check connections, then have your grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak doesn’t stop, call the fire department immediately.
  
•   Always open the lid of the grill when lighting.
  
•   As you are cooking, if you smell gas, turn off the gas tank and burners. If the leak stops immediately, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the smell continues, move away from the grill and call the fire department immediately. Do not move the grill.
  

•   For Charcoal Grills, use only charcoal starter fluids designed for grills and do not add fluid after coals have been lit.
  
•   Keep children and pets away from the grill area. Also, keep charcoal fluid, matches, and lighters of the reach of children.
  
•   Never leave any lit grill unattended.
  
•   When finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal
  container. 
• 
  Always have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.
  
• 
  
• For additional information on fire safety, visit the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau website, www.cityofshelton.org under “Public Safety.” 
  
• 
  

This is a press release from Ted Pisciotta, assistant chief, fire prevention.