Shelton fire prevention poster, essay contest winners applauded

First place poster in fifth grade drawn by Selin Ho.

SHELTON – The two first place Fire Prevention Poster Contest winners, a fourth-grade and a fifth-grade winner, were announced Tuesday during the annual Shelton Fire Prevention Contest Awards Ceremony at Shelton Intermediate School. 

Overall City of Shelton winners are:

4th Grade - Griffin Marcinczyk, Elizabeth Shelton School

5th Grade - Selin Ho, Perry Hill School

Each of their posters have advanced to a state level contest. 

First place poster in fourth grade created by Griffin Marcinczyk.

Assistant Chief Ted Pisciotta congratulated students and thanked parents, teachers, principals, school staff, and firefighters for their efforts.
Mayor Mark A. Lauretti spoke about the benefit of this annual contest and his gratitude for all the many individuals that support this fire safety program. He commented that fire safety education is important to save lives, prevent harm, protect property, and keep everyone safe. 
Fire Marshal James Tortora and Chief Fran Jones also congratulated all the winners for a job well done. 
All first and second place winners from the fourth and fifth grade representing each of Shelton’s public and parochial schools, received a cash award of $100 and $75, respectively, from Lauretti. The two, Overall City of Shelton winners, were each presented a cash award of $125, a certificate, and a medal.

Contest launched in 1984 

The annual poster contest, launched in 1984, is designed to develop fire safety awareness in youngsters and to encourage them to take the message home to their families. 
It is jointly sponsored by Connecticut FAIR Plan, representing the insurance industry in the state; the Connecticut Fire marshals Association; Connecticut Board of Education and the Office of State Fire Marshal. 
The local contest is administered by the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau. 

Approximately 900 posters were submitted this year from Booth Hill, Elizabeth Shelton, Long Hill, Mohegan, Perry Hill, St. Joseph, St. Lawrence, and Sunnyside schools. 
Each student who submitted a poster will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a pen from the Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Committee. 
Judging was held on Dec. 16, with representatives from the Board of Aldermen as judges. All first place posters will be displayed over the next year at schools, public buildings, and events. 

Lauretti also presented cash awards and certificates to winners of the Sixth Grade Essay/Public Service Announcement Contest. 
Classrooms, and each student author, received a cash award of $100, $75, and $50 for first, second, and third place, respectively. 

The Bureau is thankful for the volunteer essay/PSA judges: reporter Ethan Fry from the Valley Independent Sentinel, and Patricia Villers (that's me) from The Valley Voice blog and website. I must say I always enjoy reading the creative essays written by the sixth graders. 

Since the contest began in 1996, its purpose has been to promote fire safety by having students research the topic while writing their PSA. 
The fire department/fire prevention bureau would like to use the essay to help remind adults and children how important fire prevention is to Everyone/Everyday. This year’s winners are:

1st Place

Ms. Ibsen’s class, Perry Hill School

Author:  Joe Schiappa

2nd Place

Mr. Federowicz’s class, Perry Hill School

Author:  Ella Dzujna

3rd Place

Mrs. Coffin’s Class, Perry Hill School

Authors:  Nicole and Natalie Plavec

Participants in both the poster and essay contests depicted many of the essential elements of preventing fire from ever occurring and of preparation and planning required to be ready for fire. 
Pisciotta is hopeful that the messages of posters and essays will be shared with everyone in the community to help further reduce needless damage to property, injury to persons and loss of life that can result from fire. 
In addition to spreading information about fire safety, Pisciotta finds the contest helpful to measure the effectiveness of educational programs of the fire prevention bureau.  
From reviewing the nearly 900 posters and 20 essays it becomes apparent where the bureau has made a great impact and has identified areas where special focus may be needed to improve educational efforts.

For more information about fire safety, the public is encouraged to contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau at 203-924-1555 or on the web at www.cityofshelton.org, where all winning posters and essays may be viewed by finding the Fire Prevention Bureau under “Public Safety.”  
For direct access go to: www.sheltonfireprevention.org.

This is a press release from the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau. 

Dinner in Derby to benefit Ansonia Animal Shelter

Griffin Hospital in Derby schedules driver safety class

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 5 in the hospital’s dining room meeting rooms.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. 
While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to everyone.

The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and make some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. 

The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. 

As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance company about discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Make checks payable to “AARP.”

To register, call Esther, 203-732-1523.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.