Wesley Village in Shelton holds prayer shawl ceremony

Wesley Village knitting group members gather for a photo during an annual Prayer Shawl Blessing. The group of staff, residents, and volunteers knits shawls and blankets for those in need throughout the year./Contributed photo

SHELTON - A Prayer Shawl Ceremony was held at Wesley Village March 30 to bless more than 50 prayer shawls and lap robes that were hand-knit by staff, residents, and volunteers from the campus communities of Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, Lifestyle Transitions, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The event, organized by Barbara Quinn, Director of Volunteer Services for Wesley Village, featured a candle-lighting, reading, and blessing of the shawls, which was performed by Chaplain Cathy Nickse, Coordinator of Spiritual Care for the Wesley Village Campus. 
Shawls were then donated to Masonicare Home Health and Hospice to share with patients in need and those receiving end of life care. 
Thanks go to Masonicare Volunteer Coordinators, Sue Laughlin and Cindy Kemp, and Spiritual and Bereavement Coordinator the Rev. Paul R. Ricard for their help with this special event.

Since 2004, Wesley Village has donated more than 3,200 prayer shawls to provide comfort and peace to those in need. Truly a collaborative effort, volunteers of the campus work together throughout the year to raise funds to purchase yarn and knit shawls to share them with others. A message of hope and love is attached to each shawl before it is given away. 

To learn more about becoming a volunteer at Wesley Village, contact Volunteer Services at 203-925-4952 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. 
Wesley Village is a campus of senior living and care communities in Shelton, including Crosby Commons Independent & Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent and Assisted Living Apartments and Cottages, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 
The campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Conroy reads to kindergartners at Chatfield-LoPresti School in Seymour

State Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, read Wednesday to Miss Giannettino's kindergarten class at Chatfield-LoPresti School in Seymour as part of Read Across the Valley. The event was organized by The Early Childhood Task Force of the Valley Council for Health and Human Services.

Conroy read "Pete the Cat and His Magical Sunglasses" by James and Kimberly Dean.   
The children happily participated and sang the story’s refrain:

The birds are singing

The sky is bright

The sun is shining

I'm feeling alright

*Singer/songwriter Al deCant of Orange, a retired educator, entertained at a breakfast for more than 60 readers before they went out to schools to "Read Across the Valley." 

Boys & Girls Club recognizes alumnus from Shelton

SHELTON - As part of its year-long 60^th anniversary celebration, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley will recognize the life of someone who has been positively affected throughout the year by the Club.

For the month of March Senior Chief Navy Counselor Harold “Butch” Gibbs was recognized. 
Butch grew up in Shelton and at a young age was a very active member of his Boys & Girls Club. Gibbs was most involved in the Keystone Club from 1986-1991, the Boys & Girls Club’s most dynamic teen program aimed at providing awareness and impact in the areas of community service, career preparation, and teen outreach. 

Butch served as President of the Keystone Club for four years. During that time he attended nine regional and national conferences, served on five steering committees, and was a Co-Chairman for the Northeast Regional Conference.  His outstanding commitment to The Club and community earned him the title of 1989 Junior Boy of the Year, 1991 Boy of the Year and in 2011 was inducted into the LNV Alumni Hall of Fame.

In 1993 Gibbs joined the United States Navy. After recruit training camp in Great Lakes, Ill., he reported to the USS Aubrey Fitch in December of 1993, where he completed four years of service. 
From 1997-2001 Senior Chief Gibbs worked on shore duty at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton.  After completion of his duties in Groton, Butch served six years abroad on board the USS Essex and USS Harpers Ferry from 2001 to 2007 based out of Sasebo, Japan.  
While deployed to the Persian Gulf on the USS Harpers Ferry he participated in many security operations to protect the Iraqi oil platforms from insurgents.

After this successful tour, Gibbs was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, and he reported to the Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, as the Regional Career Counselor for all shore commands in Japan. Chief Gibbs was also sent as an individual augmentee to Baghdad, Iraq as the Leading Chief Petty Officer and Regional Career Counsel for Iraq from July 2007 to January 2008. In 2009 he reported to the USS Nassau as Command Career Counselor where he served an eight-month deployment and decommissioned the ship in 2011. His next tour of duty was for Commander, Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Forces Command where he oversaw career development and inspected 413 commands servicing more than 10,000 sailors throughout the world.

In June 2014, Gibbs returned to Japan to report to the USS George Washington, the United States Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier as the Command Career Counselor. In 2015 he was instrumental in the completion of the first ever three carrier crew swap involving the movement of more than 9,000 Sailors between Japan; San Diego, Calif.; and Norfolk, Va., culminating with the USS George Washington moving from Japan to Norfolk, Va., and receiving the 2015 Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award. He is currently awaiting transfer to Commander, Naval Medical East located at Portsmouth Naval Hospital where he will oversee the career development of more than 20,000 sailors from the Mississippi to Italy.  

Senior Chief Gibbs has been awarded several honors and awards through his naval career, which include four Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and seven Good Conduct Medals. Butch holds an Associate’s Degree in counseling and applied psychology, as well as holding Department of Labor certifications in Counseling and Computer Operations. He resides in Newport News, Va., with his wife, Denise, two daughters, Alexandria and Charlotte, and two stepchildren, David and Taylor.

If you or anyone you know would like to share their story about their positive experiences with the Boys & Girls Club, email Press@BGC-LNV.org, or call Ann Wheeler, 203-924-7462. 
All are invited to the 60^th Anniversary Gala Nov.10. For details visit www.BGC-LNV.org.


This is a press release from the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

Valley YMCA in Ansonia to host 25th annual Healthy Kids Day

ANSONIA - The Valley YMCA, a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, is holding a free community event April 30 to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. 
This year marks the 25th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families. 

The day-long event features activities such as youth sport demos; parachute play; a bike course; corn hole toss and visits from local physicians, the hospital, and police department to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home.

The Valley YMCA is located at 12 State St.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,300 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long, which is a critical time for kids’ health. 
When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y hopes to focus on wowing them with their potential and make this their best summer ever by staying active and learning.

“The Y believes in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find the Wow! factor inside themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer,” said Christian Engle, Senior Vice President & COO, Central Connecticut Coast YMCA.

In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits:

•  High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings a day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend to maintain healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.
  
•  Foster an Early and Ongoing Passion for Books – Read to and with your kids. Help children read at every age and every stage of their development. 

      Team Up for Athletic Events – Set a family goal of great health by teaming up for community or charity events like races, walks, fun runs, bike rides, etc.

      Volunteer Together – Find a cause that matters to the kids. Open their eyes to a world beyond themselves and the rich rewards that come from making a difference.

      Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.

The Valley YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. It will feature fun, active, play and educational activities.

For more information, contact the Valley YMCA, 203-736-9622 or visit cccymca.org.



This is a press release from the YMCA.

Cheese pairing class at Colonial Tavern in Oxford to benefit nonprofit

OXFORD - Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro of New Haven will sponsor the second cheese pairing class to benefit Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc. April 14 at Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Road.

CTPFC is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting low-income children throughout the state. 

The April class, entitled "Curds N' Vines" will feature five gourmet cheeses, paired with five wines, as well as local-made jam, honey, and chocolate. 

Caseus owner, Jason Sobocinski, will run the class. 
Guests will learn all about the cheese and wine, including where it comes from, how it's made, and what it pairs well with. 

Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and light dinner fare will be served until 6:30 p.m. when the class begins. After the class, dessert will be served. 

Cash bar is available before and after the class. 

This event makes a great early Mother's Day gift for that special mom in your life, or make it Ladies' Night Out. Entry is 21+ only. 

Tickets are $50 per person and all proceeds will benefit Connecticut Partnership for Children. 

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.ctpfc.org or call (203) 881-1804.

This is a press release from Connecticut Partnership for Children.

Calling all vendors for Rock the Valley in Ansonia

Teachers, community leaders attend breakfast in Shelton before going out to 'Read Across the Valley'

Singer/songwriter Al deCant of Orange, a retired educator, entertains at the annual 'Read Across the Valley' breakfast Wednesday at Harry B. Brownson Country Club in Shelton. 

The event was sponsored by The Early Childhood Task Force of The Valley Council for Health and Human Services.

Stay tuned for a story in the next issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.