Shelton Farmers Market to open for season June 4

The market is at 100 Canal St., Shelton.

Sharing from an event page on Facebook:

"Visit all of our wonderful local verified producers for your produce and goods, listen to some live music, and grab some delicious market food!"

Ansonia Gridiron Club plans annual recognition dinner

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Gridiron Club will hold its annual Recognition Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. June 3 at the AM Club, 30 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

The Gridiron Club will honor former players Pat, Tim, and Terry McNamara and also the state championship teams of 1976 and 1977.

The McNamara brothers are arguably the greatest pass catching family in the history of Connecticut high school football.

The 1976 and 1977 Ansonia Football teams both went undefeated at 11-0 and won state championships.

Reserved tables and individual tickets for the prime rib dinner are $40 and can be obtained by calling Rob Lisi Jr. at 203-231-5197.

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

Crisco joins retired veterans at Bethany Town Hall to learn about benefits

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. meets today with retired veterans./ Submitted photo

BETHANY – On a beautiful day in Bethany Town Hall, just days before the start of the Memorial Day weekend, state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, joined approximately 80 retired veterans and their family members to learn about the variety of state and federal veterans aid programs available to keep them healthy and financially secure.

Today's event was sponsored by the VFW Beletzky-Hoppe Post 2448 and the Bethany Human Resources Department and featured a presentation by Anne James, a Veteran Service Officer with the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

“As we approach Memorial Day – a day to remember those who have died in service to our country – we also need to remember the millions of military veterans who are still with us, and their family members, and the debt that we continue to owe them for their service and sacrifice,” Crisco said. 
“State and federal governments have done a very good job of caring for our vets, and they need to be aware of these government programs, how they benefit from them, and how to apply for them. That’s what today is all about.”

“All through the year, we are at senior centers, assisted living facilities, anywhere senior veterans might congregate and ask questions about their benefits. We try to show up wherever we can help, all year long,” James said.

She said the most asked-about veterans benefits usually involve money: “service-connected disability compensation,” where a veteran is paid for any injury, wound or illness caused by their military service, and the “VA pension,” which is a needs-based financial support program for honorably discharged wartime veterans age 65 or older who the VA determines are in need of financial aid.

The State of Connecticut also passed several this year to aid local veterans, including giving veteran-owned small businesses additional bidding preferences under state contracting laws, and doubling the size of the property tax break that towns can give to wartime veterans or their surviving spouses.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Teens invited to 'Duct Tape 101' session at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen Makerspace, Duct Tape 101, from 4-5 p.m. June 16.

Participants will be guided in the art of manipulating duct tape into practical and fun creations. 
All materials will be provided. 
Registration is requested. 

For more information stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

CWV Post 1562 in Derby to hold annual dinner

DERBY- Catholic War Veterans Post 1562, 112 Derby Ave., will holds its annual Venison, Elk, and Wild Boar Dinner at 7 p.m. June 3.

Donation is $30.
For tickets, contact Post 1562 at 203-734-9748 after 1 p.m. RSVP only, limited seating.


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

Ansonia Police announce parking ban for Memorial Day Parade

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Police Department released this information today:

"The City of Ansonia will be hosting the annual Memorial Day Parade on May 29th, 2016. The parade will start at 2:00 pm at the Nolan Field Sports Complex on Wakelee Ave. The parade will travel south on Wakelee Ave., East on Jackson St., south on Maple St., over the Maple St. Bridge and then south on Main St. ending at the Big “Y” Supermarket at the corner of Main St. and West Main St.

"Officers will be putting out No Parking reminders on vehicles parked along the parade route. Please remove vehicles from the parade route by 11:00 AM on Sunday May 29th, 2016. Any vehicles not removed by 11:00 AM will be towed from the parade route.

"Roadways near the area of the parade route will be blocked off by 1:00 PM to allow time to make the parade route safe from vehicular traffic. The parade will end at approximately 4:00 PM and all roadways will be reopened."

Oxford resident to share her cancer journey at Griffin Hospital 5K Walk/Run

Anne Cristanti of Oxford will be featured speaker at the 5K Walk/Run to Benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital June 4. / Contributed photo

DERBY - It has been almost a year since Anne Cristanti walked out the lobby doors of the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby and completed her nine months of intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

For some, there is no desire to return to the place where they underwent a long and physically draining treatment regimen, but Cristanti says it’s not hard to come back to the center for her aftercare visits because it reminds her of how she was treated humanely and compassionately during her battle with cancer.

On June 4, the Oxford resident will return to the center to share her cancer journey and her thanks for the center as the featured speaker at the Eighth Annual 5K Walk/Run to Benefit the Center for Cancer Care. 

A survivor of triple negative breast cancer that required 28 weeks of chemotherapy and 30 weeks of radiation treatments, she is proud to share her cancer journey and hopes to provide encouragement for those undergoing treatment, as well as highlight the strength of her fellow cancer survivors. Above all, Cristanti said she hopes her talk will provide the same support, warmth and hope she experiences at the Center throughout her continued treatment.

“I think all cancer centers should be like this place,” Cristanti said of the Center for Cancer Care and the Smilow Cancer Care Center oncology service located in the Center for Cancer Care. 

“When you enter the building, the atmosphere of the place just looks beautiful to the eye and all the staff greet you with smiles and hellos. The nurses, the techs, phlebotomists, secretaries, doctors, social workers - just everyone - cares about you not as just a patient, but as a whole person. Every time I came here, they knew me by name, and my care was really personable. It was unbelievable, and it made me feel like I wasn’t alone and very cared for.”

A perfect example of this personal compassion happened on Cristanti’s first visit to the Center. The chemotherapy drugs made her extremely nauseous and sick. As she was checking in, the office staff responded with compassion for her wellbeing and sympathy for her feelings, letting Cristanti know that her comfort was just as important as her treatment. They had her take a seat and brought her all the items she needed for that visit.

The caring and calming nature of the staff at the Center for Cancer Care was supported by the Center’s serene, spa-like atmosphere, which includes a healing garden and waterfall that patients can look out on while receiving treatments. 

Cristanti took advantage of many of the center’s wellness offerings, which include free massages, Soft Touch and Reiki, as well as patient services like post-operative Pilates classes for breast cancer survivors, support groups, and physical therapy and speech therapy.

Cristanti also received a free wig and salon services through the fund supported by the 5K Walk/Run. Proceeds from the event support the Center’s free patient service programs and cover special patient needs such as wigs, transportation needs, groceries, and medical supplies like lymphedema sleeves.

Being treated as a whole person and being in a calm and relaxing environment is unfortunately not commonplace during her cancer treatment, Cristanti said. She recalls a number of times when she went to another center for treatment and felt like just another number being sent though a system.

“You get spoiled because you expect the same treatment as you got at Griffin, and when you go to other places, you get miffed,” she said. “It’s funny, but I looked forward to going to the Center for Cancer Care even though I hated going for the treatment.”

It will also be a return to the Walk/Run for Cristanti. She walked in the event last year and enjoyed the community spirit of the event. She believes the event also brings an important awareness to the state of breast cancer in the Connecticut, where an estimated 1 in 8 women will be affected.

“It’s a horrible illness and you get to meet many heroes along the way who are right there with you to help you though it,” she said. “The nurses, support staff, social workers and doctors are truly wonderful in that they understand the depth of this illness and give it their all.”

The 5K Walk/Run invites all area cancer survivors to come to the event. 

There will be a special Survivors’ Tent with food, gifts and information about local cancer support resources. The Survivors’ Tent will be open at 8 a.m. on June 4. The tent is sponsored by Jefferson Radiology.

Check-in for the 5K Walk/Run begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Center for Cancer Care parking lot, 350 Seymour Ave.

The Walk/Run is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. 

To register or for more information, visit griffinhealth.org/5k or email 5kwalkrun@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin 5K Walk/Run, Derby Day duck race team to raise funds

Two Great Races Working Together

Come to the Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts to race a duck on Derby Day to support local cancer patients!

The Griffin 5K Walk/Run has teamed up with the Housy River Duck Race to raise money for the 5K Fund.

Become the owner of a rubber duckie in a race down the Housatonic River on Derby Day June 25 for $5 and see if your duck wins you prizes.

For every duck sold, the 5K Walk/Run Fund gets $2!

65 Prizes will be awarded including $1,000 and 4 passes to Disney Theme Parks! 

Tickets will also be on sale at the 5K.

Contact 5K Director Christian Meagher at 203-732-7431 or email 5kwalkrun@griffinhealth.org for more information.

The hospital is at 130 Division St., Derby.

This information shared from a slightly edited email from Griffin Hospital.

Learn to spot imposters at uniform fashion show in Seymour

Salute at Seymour Middle School a family affair for Conroy

State Rep. Theresa W. Conroy, D-Seymour, left, poses Wednesday after a Veterans' Wartime Service Medal Ceremony she sponsored in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Veterans' Affairs. She is joined by her niece, Kathleen Cass, center, an Air Force veteran and the youngest honoree at the ceremony, and her mother, Ann Conroy.