Griffin Hospital in Derby to host boating safety course

DERBY - The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Griffin Hospital will host a boating safety course from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 1 at the hospital dining room, 130 Division St.

The course will fulfill education requirements to obtain the mandatory State of Connecticut Combination Boating License. 

Topics covered include the safe operation of boating, seamanship and maritime laws for motor, sail, jet-ski, tubing, towing, canoe and kayak.

The class fee is $50 per person. Pre-registration is required. 

Contact Stephen Perrone, ADSO-PE D1-SR, at 860-663-5505 or skperrone@hotmail.com.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Club to host annual Memorial Day breakfast in Shelton

SHELTON - The annual "Doc" Bednar Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast will be held May 30 before, during, and after the Shelton-Derby Memorial Day Parade.

The breakfast, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, will be held at Walgreen's Pharmacy at the corner of Center Street and Coram Avenue.

All-you-can-eat fluffy buttermilk pancakes will be on the menu.

Cost is $5 per person; $4 for children under 12.

Tickets may be purchased at the Boys & Girls Club, 1 Positive Place, or pay at the breakfast.

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

St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby to hold flea market

DERBY - St. Mary-St. Michael School is holding its first Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14.

Rain date is May 15. 

The school is at 14 Seymour Ave.

Organizers are looking for all kinds of vendors, from regular clean-out-the-house flea market/tag sale to crafters and regular vendors. 
Please note: The items you bring in to sell that don't sell need to go home with you that day.

Table space is $25 if you bring your own table, $35 if the school needs to supply a table.

For an application or information, email Carla Lombardo at Beadog15@yahoo.com.

This is a press release from the school.

Derby selects 2017 Paraeducator of the Year

Elise Campbell was named Paraeducator of the Year in Derby

DERBY - The Derby Public Schools has selected Elise Campbell as its 2017 District Paraeducator of the Year.

The Connecticut State Department and the School Paraprofessional Advisory Council has established the Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Program to recognize the important role of the Paraeducator in supporting student achievement.  
The award is named in honor of Anne Marie Murphy, a Paraeducator who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting.  

Campbell has been a Paraeducator at Irving School in Derby for 10.5 years and currently works in the grade 3-5 Learning Center.  
She was chosen to receive this award because she has demonstrated excellent skill and dedication to the students, teachers, administrators, co-workers, and parents of Derby.  

According to the nomination written by Elise Chambers, Special Education teacher, "the students appreciate Mrs. Campbell's warm, positive, and respectful manner. When we break in to small groups after a whole class discussion, I can always count on Mrs. Campbell to carry out the lesson as planned in a way that works best for the students."

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Conway said,"Ms. Campbell wrote the book on how to personalize education for our most challenging young students. Her ability to adapt and deliver learning to meet each student's needs is remarkable."

Campbell will be recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 13.


This is a press release from Derby Public Schools. 

Comedy show to benefit Derby High School Post Prom

Wine tasting on tap at St. Mary Church Hall in Derby

Playground at Ansonia Nature Center being demolished today

It was so sad to see a backhoe knocking down the wooden playscape that has been a focal point at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center for a quarter century.

Stay tuned for more in this week's issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.

Update: Sharing this post from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center Facebook page:


"Please donate directly to our 501(c)(3), FANCI (Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center) for the NEW Playground. Our donation page accepts PayPal, credit cards and of course we welcome cash and checks earmarked for the playground replacement.

http://ansonianaturecenter.org/support/donation/

"We thank any and all donors for their efforts on our behalf!"

Reiki 2 workshop planned at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital will offer a Reiki Level 2 Workshop May 14./ Contributed photo


DERBY - Griffin Hospital is offering area residents an opportunity to advance their Reiki training with a Reiki Level 2 Workshop from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 14.

Reiki Master Eileen Carino, RN-BC, and Mark Sampieri, RPh, will provide practitioners with the ability to perform emotional healing, to learn three of the four Usui Reiki sacred symbols, and to enhance their healing abilities. 

Reiki 2 attunement intensifies the energies introduced at Reiki 1. Participants must have completed Reiki Level 1 training and a minimum of six months Reiki practice.

Reiki is a complementary healing method based on ancient healing practices. Reiki involves the conscious direction of healing energy through the practitioner’s hands to the patient. When channeled properly, this energy promotes healing by relieving energy blockages to the body. The practice of Reiki is intended to bring balance to the energy fields thereby promoting healing on all levels.

The cost of the Reiki 2 workshop is $125.

Workshop space is limited, and preregistration is required by April 29. 
The hospital is at 130 Division St.

To register, call Laura Murphy, Planetree Services Supervisor, at 203-732-7466.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Talk at Seymour Public Library to focus on N.Y. World's Fair

The Unisphere is a lasting reminder of the New York World's Fair. I happened to get this photo in 2013 as we were driving on the Whitestone Expressway. 

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public Library will host a presentation on the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The fair attracted approximately 50 million visitors during its two April-October seasons, including many from Connecticut.
Situated on more than 640 acres of Flushing Meadows parkland, the fair exuded the spirit of mid-20th-century America.

Jason Scappaticci from Manchester Community College will give a talk on the lasting history of the event.

The library is at 46 Church St.

This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Playground at Ansonia Nature Center to be razed today

Sharing this post from the Ansonia Nature Center Facebook page:

"We found out today [Monday] that the playground will be torn down tomorrow. It's 25 years old and has become a safety hazard. So very sad. Please help us to raise funds for a new playground."

This is sad for so many families and community volunteers who helped build the playground, and whose children and grandchildren spent many happy hours there. 

I know my kids loved going there; it was always difficult to get them to leave! 

Shelton fire company to hold tag sale Saturday