It's almost time to start talkin' baseball at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library will begin its 11th season of Sports Talks at 10 a.m. April 7.

These informal sessions are held Thursday mornings throughout the baseball season.  

They will again be facilitated by radio talk show host, author, and Major League Baseball rules consultant Rich Marazzi. 

Each session will include trivia contests, videos, lively conversation, and more.  

All ages, from rookies through veterans, are invited to join Rich and his group of Silver Sluggers.  

No registration is necessary.  

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.

A late winter day in the Valley that feels a lot like spring

Although I didn't take a walk on the Derby Greenway this afternoon, taking a photo of it and the beautiful blue sky above seemed to be the next best thing. Let's hope Old Man Winter has taken a hike for another year.

Conroy backs legislation for Beacon Falls solar project

State Rep. Theresa Conroy

HARTFORD - State Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) testified this week before the legislature’s Energy Committee in favor of SB 394, An Act Concerning Virtual Net Metering and Certain Low Emission Generation Projects. 

The legislation would enable Beacon Falls to benefit from the Zero Renewable Energy Credit through the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

Currently, Beacon Falls is constrained by the virtual net metering cap established in the ZREC program. This means that although ZREC has been such a success for communities around the state, Beacon Falls and other similarly situated municipalities have been left as “stranded towns” – unable to take advantage of the credit.

“I asked committee members to support expanding the cap for communities that would otherwise make great candidates for this credit program,” Conroy said. “Allow Beacon Falls to reduce our municipal energy footprint while reducing costs into the future.”

The Beacon Falls solar project would be located adjacent to the community’s public works and water pollution control facilities at 411 Lopus Road and would offer green energy to the community.

“The solar project is projected to save my constituents in Beacon Falls more than $900,000 in municipal electric costs over the next several decades,” Conroy noted.

The 297 kW system is expected to cover almost 77 percent of the town’s municipal electricity usage.

This is a press release from Conroy's office.

Circle of Friends at Griffin Hospital in Derby supports others with cancer diagnosis

DERBY - At our 'Circle of Friends' support group meeting Thursday night we created cards for friends we've never met. 
We are breast cancer survivors who meet once a month at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital. 

We always have a lot of laughs, and Thursday night was no exception. As always a big thank you goes out to our group facilitators, Joyce Grohe and Donna Hayes, for making the meetings memorable! 

The notes we penned for women who recently have been diagnosed with breast cancer are meant to encourage them on their treatment journey. 
Our handwritten, colorful cards will be sent to the Girls Love Mail program based in Folsom, Calif. to be read over before being distributed. 

Participants are urged to start their letters with "Dear Friend," or "Dear Sister," and to follow writing guidelines.
We had fun using stickers, feathers, and other forms of "bling," as we called it, to decorate the cards. 

Here's a sample:

Here's a photo of one of my 'Circle' friends snapping a picture of our display. 

Girls Love Mail was not around in 2011 when I was diagnosed, but I know I would have loved to receive a hand-written note of encouragement from a friend I had never met. 

PKD Challenge for March: Day 11 ~ Make an appointment

March 11

Has it been a while since you had a check-up with your physician or nephrologist? 

Make an appointment today!