Holiday farm market slated at Kellogg Center in Derby

DERBY - The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will hold a holiday farmers market celebrating Connecticut Agriculture from 3-7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Kellogg Environmental Center, 500

Hawthorne Ave.

The farmers market will feature Connecticut grown gifts and foods fresh from local farms and ready for the holiday season.  

Tour the homestead holiday display and enjoy shopping for unique items.

Farms from around the state will be selling products. 

They include bath and body lotions, soaps, pet food, woolen products and yarn, fresh meats, seasonal produce, jellies, pickles, syrup, honey, cheeses, teas and spices, salsa, and more.  

Visitors will experience a great family fun day for all.

For information or more details contact donna.kingston@ct.gov or call 203-734-2513. 

This is a press release from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Santa to arrive Saturday at Seymour Ambulance HQ for photos

SEYMOUR - Santa will arrive at Seymour Ambulance headquarters, 4 Wakeley St., at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Come and support a great cause and avoid the long lines at the mall. 
Seymour Volunteer Ambulance Association will be holding its annual Pictures with Santa fundraiser Saturday and Sunday.
Join us to kick off the holiday season, get a jumpstart on your holiday cards, and give Santa your holiday wish list.

Your digital photo will print while your child enjoys a holiday movie, writes a letter to Santa, does a craft project with one of Santa’s elves, or has a Christmas treat. You are free to preview the photos taken, and then select the one you wish to purchase. You can choose from 1 - 8X10, 2-5X7s, or 9 wallet-size photos. Each printed sheet is $14, or you can get the whole package for $35. 
All proceeds will benefit the volunteers of Seymour Ambulance.

Picture times are:

Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

If you have any questions or require more information contact Amanda, 203-888-8843 ext 0, or picswithsanta@seymourems.org.


This is a press release from Seymour Ambulance.

Boys & Girls Club recognizes youth advocates at meeting in Ansonia

SHELTON - The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley recognized two recipients at this year’s Service to Youth Awards at the Annual Meeting Nov. 18. 
The meeting was held at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen in Ansonia.

This award is our Club’s highest honor, presented to an individual or individuals worthy of recognition due to their involvement in serving the youth of our community. 

The first recipient William ‘Bill’ Miller, Jr., was awarded the 2015 Raymond P. Lavietes Service to Youth award for his longstanding commitment to the youth of our community. 
This Award is our Club’s highest honor, presented to an individual or individuals worthy of recognition due to their involvement in serving the youth of our community. Miller has served on our board for 22 years, leading us as our Board President from 2005-2006 and then as Chairman of the Board from 2007-2008. 
Miller has committed countless hours attending Club functions, meetings, and also led our annual Back-a-Kid campaign for many years. Miller started his own investment practice, Miller Investments, in 1996. He will continue his service to our Club as our Board Treasurer over the next three years.  

Secondly we recognize Cohen & Thomas, Attorneys at Law, as our 2015 Champion of Youth award recipients. The Derby law office was founded in 1936 by David B. Cohen, who believed in volunteering his time to give back to his community.
Soon after, James Cohen would carry on his father’s traditions and values. Cohen was President of the Valley Community Foundation, as well as a recipient of the Gold Seal Award from the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. He and Dominick Thomas have dedicated their insight, time, and resources to the Club for decades. Thomas has served on our Board for 35 years as well as many other Boards and Commissions throughout our State. 
The firm was chosen due to its outstanding commitment to our youth, club, and community. 

We are extremely grateful to have Bill Miller and Cohen & Thomas be a part of our organization. Their remarkable commitment to our community has helped impact the lives of many of our local youth.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley visit us at www.BGC-LNV.org.


This is a press release from the Boys & Girls Club.

Annual tree lighting slated Friday in Ansonia

A fun, family-oriented event is planned! Come join your neighbors, donate a new toy, and meet Santa. 

Klarides seeks holiday donations for Connecticut veterans

Derby Public Library is drop-off site

This information is shared from state Rep. Themis Klarides' Facebook page.

History of holiday decorating topic of December sessions at Derby Library

Derby resident Mary Bisaccia talks about the history of holiday decorating Wednesday at Derby Public Library.

I visited Derby Public Library Wednesday to learn about Christmas celebrations through the ages from local history coordinator Mary Bisaccia.

She described a variety of traditions that today range from decorating in an "understated, classical" way with wreaths and candles in windows to colored lights, blow-up characters, and more. Light was always a Christmas symbol, Bisaccia said, and the custom of decorating exteriors of houses became "mainstream" in the mid-1950s, she said.

Valley towns traditionally put up holiday banners, decorate street lights with garlands, and light a community Christmas tree, Bisaccia said. 
She mentioned a generous donation of a live tree to the City of Derby in 2007 from residents Gary and Diane Cirillo. 
The evergreen stands in the center of the Green and it is lit each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Bisaccia said trees that are green throughout the year had a special meaning in ancient times. Decorating with evergreen boughs was thought to keep away "witches, ghosts, and evil spirits," she said.

Today's Christmas tree tradition started in the 16th century in Germany, Bisaccia said. Trees were adorned with apples, nuts, and marzipan candies.
Bisaccia said Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the first to add lighted candles to an evergreen tree. He wanted to replicate the effect of twinkling stars in the night sky, she said.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and you learn that the 
first holiday tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City was put up by construction workers in 1931. Bisaccia
said the tallest tree to date at Rockefeller Center hailed from Killingworth in 1948. 
Modern-day trees at Rockefeller Center feature more than 25,000 colored lights.

The most popular evergreens used for Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Frazer fir, Balsam white, and pine.

This is just a sample of the large amount of history and interesting tidbits Bisaccia provides. She outlines Yuletide traditions in Britain, Guatemala, Brazil, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, the Philippines, and more.

I urge you to stop by the library to discover the interesting history of our many holiday traditions.

Monthly local history sessions are held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays at the library, 313 Elizabeth St.

Church in Orange to host annual Holiday Fantasy of Trees

Adam's House to hold grand opening in Shelton

Contributed photo

Adam's House, a charming Victorian home at 241 Coram Ave., Shelton has been renovated to offer a warm, comforting setting for families, volunteers and staff. 

A grand opening celebration will be held from 5-7 p.m. today with tours and an opportunity to meet the staff and learn more about specialized grief education programs planned for parents, children, and teens. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers health career training

Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is accepting applications for its winter Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, and Phlebotomy programs./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206 is ready to help train and place individuals in a fulfilling health care career in 2016 with the winter semester of its accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program, and Patient Care Technician and Phlebotomy programs.

Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission. 
Early application is encouraged for all courses, as space is limited.

The school’s five-week, accelerated CNA program starts Jan.18 with classes Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. There will also be five days of clinical training held from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for the final week.

The accelerated CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed schedule. 

Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care. 
After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the State exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut. The course tuition includes the course book, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

The 16-week PCT program starts Jan. 19. Students will attend practical training on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and have the option to take the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes either during the day from 9 a.m.-noon or evenings from 6-9 p.m.

The Patient Care Technician program offers ample hands-on training and opportunities for practical experience in the school's fully equipped mock hospital room. The course tuition includes textbooks, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, a 160 hour clinical internship and the sitting fees for national exams.

The 13-week phlebotomy program starts Jan. 19 with day (9 a.m.-noon) and evening (6-9 p.m.) class options available for its Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule. The course tuition includes a 40-hour internship, national certification, lab coats, CPR certification, malpractice insurance and textbook.

Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers Phlebotomy and other professional educational programs to provide training, education, and certification in selected health careers. 

Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building at 300 Seymour Ave.

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-7578 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Walnut Hill Community Church in Derby to host Christmas celebration

Mark your calendars for this family-oriented event!