Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Valley United Way presents humanitarian award at dinner in Seymour

Shelton resident Ned Miller accepts the Valley United Way's 46th Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award Tuesday night at the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour. At right is his high school yearbook photo.

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Friends of Gatison Park in Ansonia to present spring festival


Derby Public Library children's room to host craft program, Lego Time

   DERBY - The Derby Public Library is hosting a Mother’s Day Craft program at 10:30 a.m. May 7 for children ages 6-11.  
    Michelle Novak will help kids tap into their creative talents while making a surprise gift and card for mom’s special day.  
    All materials will be supplied, and there is no fee to attend.  
   Registration is requested.
      
Lego Time
      The Derby Public Library invites children ages 4-11 to use their creative talents and stir their imaginations during Lego Time at 12:30 p.m. May 7. 
      All levels of building skills are welcome to come by for this drop-in program. 
      There is no fee to attend and all building materials will be provided.  Place your building masterpiece on display in the Children’s Room for everyone to admire!
       For more information, call the Children’s Room at 203-736-1482, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Sue Sherman, Children's Librarian, Derby Public Library.
    

Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby to reopen May 7 for season


Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby (Photo from www.ct.gov) 

DERBY - The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced today the Osborne Homestead Museum will reopen May 7 for its 33rd season.
The homestead is at 500 Hawthorne Ave.

Guided tours will introduce visitors to the extraordinary life of Frances Osborne Kellogg and to her wonderful collection of antiques and fine art in this charming Colonial Revival house.  

As the spring season unfolds enjoy the flowering trees, fragrant shrubs, and gorgeous flowers of the Kellogg Estate.

Frances Osborne Kellogg had a tradition of supporting the arts and promoting conservation.  
This tradition continues with special events in June:

June 11 - Connecticut Open House Day 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Connecticut Office of Tourism is sponsoring the 12th annual Connecticut Open House Day, a statewide event designed to showcase Connecticut’s diverse world of history, art, and tourism. 
Osborne Homestead Museum is joining their effort by providing tours and a decoupage workshop at 1 p.m. at the Kellogg Environmental Center. 

June 26 - Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day noon-4 p.m.

Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day is a special state-wide celebration of Connecticut’s stunning historic gardens.  
Osborne Homestead Museum is a member of the Connecticut’s Historic Gardens and is one of 15 historic house museums whose different garden styles are honored on this day.
Upcoming events this summer include a tea crafting workshop for children, a Victorian tea etiquette workshop for adults, and a presentation about Derby’s Downton Abbey for the whole family.  

For more information on upcoming events, visit the Osborne Homestead Museum and Kellogg Environmental Center's calendar of events at: http://www.ct.gov/deep/calendar

The Osborne Homestead Museum will be open for guided tours Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., and Sundays, from noon-4 p.m. through October.  
There is no admission fee, but donations are gratefully accepted.  

For group tours or more information contact the Kellogg Environmental Center, 203-734-2513.
The Osborne Homestead Museum and the Kellogg Environmental Center are facilities of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.



This is a press release from DEEP.


Valley lawmakers hail passage of bill to combat opioid crisis


HARTFORD - State Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby, state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, and state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, praised passage of legislation that will impact the state’s opioid crisis. 
The House of Representatives Monday approved HB 5053, An Act Increasing Access To Overdose Reversal Drugs.

The legislation will improve access to Naloxone, often known as Narcan, a medication that is used to treat opioid overdose; cap first-time painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply; strengthen the prescription monitoring program; and release health care professionals and good Samaritans from liability when they administer an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan, to treat an overdose.

“Heroin and prescription drug overdoses are claiming more lives in Connecticut every year,” Conroy, an APRN, said. “Expanding access to Narcan is an important step in this public health crisis. Allowing more first responders to carry Narcan will save lives.”

The seven-day cap on painkillers applies to first-time adult prescriptions and all prescriptions for minors, with exceptions for certain medical conditions.

“There are very few families who have not been touched in some way by the devastating impact of an opioid overdose,” Gentile said. “It is a public health epidemic that affects every socio-economic class, every ethnic background ,and every age.”

The bill requires that local emergency medical services are equipped with and trained in the use of Narcan. It also allows doctors to write prescriptions for the overdose reversal drug without first getting permission from a patient’s health insurer.

“The world has awoken to the public health emergency that is prescription opioid addiction and the havoc it is wreaking on our friends and families,” Crisco said. “This bill contains multiple provisions to help alleviate some of the pain and suffering caused by these addictions.”

Public Health Committee House Chair, state Rep. Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said, “This bipartisan legislation acts on two fronts by making it easier for those currently struggling with opioid addiction to access Narcan and preventing new cases of addiction by capping first-time pain killer prescriptions. We have a responsibility to all those who have lost a loved one to this deadly addiction to address Connecticut’s opioid epidemic, and today we took an important step forward.”


This is a press release from CT House Democrats.

Derby Historical Society supporters enjoy merry old time


Lt. Col. David Humphreys (a.k.a. David Loda), a Derby native and Revolutionary War hero, waves to passing cars Monday in front of The Hops Company on Sodom Lane in Derby.
The Derby Historical Society hosted Celebrate CT Libations, a fundraiser to support the Gen. David Humphreys House Exterior Restoration Project. The house at 37 Elm St., Ansonia, is the birthplace of Humphreys. About 125 people attended the event.