Concert to highlight Derby Public Library open house

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites everyone to its Annual Spring Open House from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. May 16.

Information on all Library services and events, including 

summer programs, will be available.  
Cookies and punch will be on hand throughout the day.

There will also be two free Spring-themed basket raffles.

The day will end with a Carol King and James Taylor tribute concert performed by Willie and Jan Nininger at 6:30 p.m.

Songs will include the well-known hits Tapestry and Sweet Baby James, as well as pieces from the Broadway hit “Beautiful.”  

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.

Playground at Ansonia Nature Center closed

Sharing post from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:


Updated post: "Important Notice: For the safety of the residents of the City of Ansonia, the playground at the Ansonia Nature Center will be closed to the public effective immediately due to splintering wood on parts of the playground. We will keep you posted with any further updates and we thank you for your cooperation."

Original post: "Important Notice: For the safety of the residents of the City of Ansonia, the playground at the Ansonia Nature Center will be closed to the public effective immediately. We will keep you posted with any further updates and we thank you for your cooperation."

American Legion Post 16 in Shelton to host resource fair in May

Wesley Village in Shelton honors volunteers

Wesley Village volunteers gather for a group photo with staff during National Volunteer Week./Submitted photo

SHELTON - Wesley Village honored and recognized their dedicated team of volunteers with a week-long celebration during National Volunteer Week, April 10-16. 

The Wesley Village Campus (comprised of Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent/Assisted Living Cottages and Apartments, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center) is proud to partner with 150 registered volunteers each year, ranging in ages from 14 to 104. 
On any given week, 100 active volunteers work in each of the three communities on campus, fostering caring relationships with residents, staff, and family members, and enriching the lives of those they serve. 
Celebrations for the special week culminated with a volunteer dinner, held at the campus on Wednesday. 

Volunteers honored at the dinner included residents, employees, and members of the greater community. Those who had reached 100 (or more) hours of volunteer service were presented with a special appreciation gift. 

Barbara Quinn, who worked as Director of Volunteer Services at Wesley Village for the past 17 years, was also honored for her many contributions to the campus. Quinn, who officially retired this month, was hired in 1998 to create and develop a thriving volunteer program at Wesley Village, which included as many as 230 registered volunteers and 26 registered resident volunteers through the years. 
Successful programs Quinn helped to implement included the Wesley Village Prayer Shawl Ministry, Life Stories, Hands of Comfort, Pet Therapy, Music and Memory, Sign Language, Email Correspondence, the TEAM Festival of Trees/Wesley Village Craft Fair, and more. 

“I have so many fond memories of my time here at Wesley Village,” Quinn said. “Watching student volunteers build relationships with our residents and grow in self-confidence through the process has been one of my favorite parts of working in Volunteer Services. Volunteering has so many mutual benefits for every generation.” 
Quinn’s plans for her time after retirement still include Wesley Village. “I plan on following the good example of our volunteers and volunteering weekly with the Prayer Shawl Ministry.” 

Before taking the director position at Wesley Village, Quinn also worked as the Volunteer Supervisor at Griffin Hospital for 10 years. 
Throughout her career she also served on the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club for eight years, the Advisory Board of the Volunteer Action Center (United Way), the Advisory Board for the New England Association of Directors of Healthcare/Volunteer Services – Education Committee, and with the CT Association for Healthcare Resource Professionals).  
She was also honored with several local, state, and national awards including the 2014 President’s Award (Derby-Shelton Rotary Club), the 2010 CAPE Award for Professional Excellence and the 2004 Dove Award. 

Reflecting on her experience at Wesley Village, Quinn said, “I have been blessed to have worked with such a caring and compassionate team of staff and volunteers who support and continually demonstrate what it means to enrich the lives of our residents. I have seen firsthand the difference you can make in someone else’s life.”

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Wesley Village, contact the Office of Mission Development at 203-925-4952 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. 

Wesley Village is located at 580 Long Hill Ave., and is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a mission-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Ansonia Middle School posts honor roll

ANSONIA – Ansonia Middle School Co-Principals Amy O’Brien and Terri Goldson have announced the names of students who attained the honor roll for the third marking period of the 2015-16 school year:

Grade 7 - First Honors

Reign Bernard, Amelia Dias, George Fischer, Dylan Keefe, Linh Le, Tessa Peluso, Kristo Praseutsack, Lisa Marie Shehada, Emma Sirico, Michael Szewczyk.

Grade 7 - Second Honors

Zachary Anderson, Kendyl Auddino, Eric Belko, Andrew Bosworth, Jonathan Cibulsky, Nathaniel Collazo, Jordan-Sahara Credle, Johnny Diaz, Anthony DiBlasi, Remo DiLorenzo, Madison Dirgo, Jake Douglas, Julia Fraulo, Gabriella Gjoni, Omar Gonzalez, Shania Hankins, Savanah Lake, Alison Lopez, Juan Lopez, Abigail Magarin, Sean McDermott, Erik Mota, Tre' Ragin, Gabriel Rico, Thomas Rowland, Lindsey Stolze, Morgan Teodosio, Alexis Thomas, Alivia Toth, Anna Waterbury, Monica Wojcik.

Grade 8 - First Honors

Rachel Bendkowski, Lexi Brinkmann, Emma Brown, Garrett Cafaro, Tyler Cafaro, Faiza Chowdhury, Joseph Cortez, Skylar Evans, Ian Gifford, Nikola Jaworska, William Kaye, Evan Laskey, Joseph Mongillo, Anna Msciwujewska, Jere Mae Pintacasi.

Grade 8 - Second Honors

Bianca Abad, Ashmal Baig, Selena Bishara, Kyana Bispat, Madison Boylan, Brixhilda Bujaj, Hawa Camara, Alexander Capeles, Austin Couture, Wesley Couture, Nadia Coward, Jonathan Diamond, Elijah Ellis, Laura Eye, Kynowshka Figueroa-Mojica, Sara Frashuer, Nadia Gomes-Araujo, Jontea Hargrove, Lizette Herrschaft, Isaiah Hicks, Remy Hurd, Busra Koc, Kaitlyn LaRiviere, Emmanuel Lopez, Damian Lyman, Idalisse Martinez, Alan Mercado, Kiani Michel, Debra-Lynne Morales, Maliqa Mosley-Williams, Trinity Nguyen, Madison Ramos, Shane Randall, Marissa Rosado, Jordan Saleh, Alexis Sanchez, Angie Sandoval-Gonzalez, Luis Santiago, Elton Sela, Taylor Sherman, Malori Shortell, Starletta Smith, Noah Wagnblas, Janel Xayarath.

Congratulations to all the honor students on their achievement. Keep up the good work!

Child safety event is today at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Sharing information provided this morning from Griffin Hospital:

WHAT:  Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley is hosting information and interactive tables at Griffin Hospital in Derby on Monday, April 18 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. to celebrate kids and help families take action to make every kid a safe kid. We will be showcasing our efforts on Child Passenger Safety, Teen Driving, Home Safety and Water Safety.  The event is presented by Nationwide,® with support from Johnson & Johnson, FedEx, Chevrolet, Kidde, Safety 1^st and Tide. Safe Kids Worldwide’s national events have attracted the support of celebrity heroes including Mark Wahlberg, Sir Elton John, Gwen Stefani, Piers Morgan, and more. To learn more about Safe Kids Day, please visit: https://www.safekids.org/safekidsday.

WHERE: Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, Ground Floor, outside Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts

WHEN: Monday, April 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WHY: Around the world, a million children die each year from preventable injuries. Millions more are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime. In fact, preventable injuries are the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and resources to celebrate kids, prevent injuries and save lives. 

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce slates Schoomza Palooza in Shelton