Shelton Historical Society to hold yard sale

SHELTON - The Shelton Historical Society is holding a Membership Yard Sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 3.

This multi-booth tag sale will be held on the grounds of the Shelton History Center complex, 70 Ripton Road.

  

Many participants will offer a variety of treasures just awaiting your discovery.

Community members interested in setting up a space to sell their items may rent a 10-foot by 10-foot space for $15.

Shelton Historical Society members may participate by paying $5 for selling space.

Contact the Shelton History Center office at 203-925-1803 for guidelines and more information, or visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org.

This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

Shelton Market to host harvest festival, collect food donations

SHELTON - The Shelton Farmers Market Association invites the community to join a “September Harvest Festival” from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Shelton Farmers Market building, 100 Canal St.

This market will feature seasonal specialties to welcome in the fall season while also helping fight hunger in the community.

September is Hunger Action Month and the farmers market will be collecting non-perishable and perishable food donations at the market for local food banks the day of the Festival and at both the Saturday and Wednesday markets until Sept. 26. 

The Farmers Market Band, made up of Joe Ballaro, Fred Monahan, and friends will be playing live music. 

There will be face painting, musical instruments, a coloring activity, and other children’s activities. 

The day will feature antique tractors in a “Touch A Tractor” display, sponsored by Laurel Glen Farm and Rudy Hudak of Shelton’s Dairy.

Vendors will have specialty items to offer. Seasonal Sweets and Catering will have bacon or sausage, local egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches with sausage sourced from Stone Gardens Farm in Shelton. 

There will also be apple fritters, corn fritters, and hot mulled cider. The September Harvest Festival will offer the community an opportunity to see what our local farmers put so much care into producing and to celebrate the bounty of the season. All of the produce sold at the market is grown within six miles of the farmers market building.

Vendors of the day include East Village Farm, Grassy Hill Farm, Laurel Glen Farm, Liquid Lunch, Oronoque Farms Bakery, Seasonal Sweets and Catering, Stone Gardens Cut Flowers, Stone Gardens Farm, The Little Dog Laughed, These Things Take Thyme, and Waterview Farm.

Shelton Farmers Market vendor Jim Calkins of Seasonal Sweets and Catering, said, “September is Hunger Action Month. Together we can help alleviate hunger in our local community. Bring a non-perishable donation to the market or donate fresh produce. This is a great way to support the community and to support your local farmers.”

This September Harvest Festival coincides with the Valley United Way’s Harvest House being held at the Shelton Riverwalk throughout the weekend of the Sept. 26. With help from volunteers, the walls of Harvest House will be constructed from non-perishable food items, which after construction will be distributed to Valley food banks.

The Shelton Farmers Market takes place at the Farmers Market Building, 100 Canal St., every Wednesday from 3-6:30 p.m. and every Saturday from 9a.m.-1 p.m., until Nov. 25. 

In addition to accepting cash and credit cards, the market also accepts SNAP and WIC benefits. Community members are encouraged to join the Shelton Farmers Market Association for an annual membership fee of $20 to show support for the producer-only market. 

Interested individuals can sign up at the market or email sheltonctfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheltonFarmMkt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheltonFarmMkt  

Email Address: SheltonCTFarmersMarket@gmail.com

This is a press release from the Shelton Farmers Market Association.

Crisco visits pre-K classroom at Mead School in Ansonia

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, visited a new "Smart Start" pre-K classroom for 12 students that he helped fund through the state budget and now in operation at John C. Mead School in Ansonia. Crisco looked on as two students girls examined pine cones, acorns and small stones under a tabletop magnifying glass./ Submitted photo

ANSONIA - State Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, Wednesday toured a new pre-kindergarten classroom for 12 children at John C. Mead School that he helped create and fund last year through Connecticut’s Smart Start initiative.

The initiative is a competitive state grant program designed to expand preschool classrooms in public school settings.

Ansonia successfully applied for $75,000 in state funding (which Crisco voted for) to retrofit and furnish a classroom with new desks, chairs, bookshelves, rugs and other equipment. The Smart Start hours will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily for the entire 181-day Ansonia Public School system school year.

“Over the past decade, Ansonia has done a tremendous job of increasing the percentage of kids who are entering first grade with pre-K experience, and we all know that every bit of early learning a child gets makes a great difference down the road,” Crisco said.

“I was very proud to support Connecticut’s Smart Start pre-K initiative, and very proud to vote for the funds to make it a success, and I am equally happy that some of that money has come home to help kids right here in Ansonia.”

“It is a great opportunity to be able to expose more of Ansonia’s pre-K age students to the readiness skills required for kindergarten,” Mead School Interim Principal Elizabeth Nimons said. “It also provides them time in a school setting to develop their vocabulary and language acquisition skills.”

Since 1998, Ansonia has provided a high-quality preschool program for 3- and 4-year olds through the School Readiness program. In 2004, the percentage of children entering kindergarten in Ansonia was 33%; by 2013, that had increased to 78%.

The new Smart Start classroom will be staffed by one certified early childhood/special education teacher; a non-certified lead teacher with an associate’s degree in early childhood education; and a non-certified Pre-K classroom support assistant with experience in special education classes.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Spooner House in Shelton marking Hunger Action Month

Spooner House is operated by Area Congregations Together at 30 Todd Road, Shelton.

Board members participate this week in Spoontember. (Photo shared from Spooner House Facebook page.)

Ansonia mayor celebrates UConn women's team at White House

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, right, meets UConn women's basketball team Coach Geno Auriemma Tuesday at White House celebration.

ANSONIA - On Tuesday, Mayor David S. Cassetti was invited to the White House to celebrate the UConn Women’s Basketball Team and their championship year.  

The Mayor met with President Barack Obama and the Connecticut Congressional delegation Tuesday to welcome the University of Connecticut’s Women’s basketball team to the White House in celebration of their 2015 NCAA championship title. 

“I am so proud of the UCONN women’s basketball team, Coach Geno Auriemma, the coaching staff and all that they have been able to accomplish," Cassetti said. 
"I am especially proud of Ansonia’s own Tierney Lawlor. It was an honor and a distinct pleasure to be a part of the celebration.”  


This is a press release from Cassetti's office.

Light the night blue for Ansonia's angels

Residents are being asked to pause for a moment of silence Saturday evening after illuminating blue lights or candles in memory of these precious girls.