Griffin Hospital in Derby slates self-management workshop

To assist patients coping with chronic conditions

Griffin Hospital will host a Live Well Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop this summer./Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host a free six-week workshop starting July 11 to help individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions take back control of their lives.

The Live Well Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop provides health information and strategies to help those with chronic conditions like diabetes, depression, heart disease, arthritis, and pain and anxiety increase their energy and take control of their health.

Along with clinical care, participants will learn ways to cope with difficult emotions, depression, and stress/anxiety, reduce pain, improve mobility, increase energy, increase physical activity, eat healthier, use medications appropriately, and solve everyday problems and communicate effectively with family and health care providers.

The workshop will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. on Mondays from July 11 to Aug. 15 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The Live Well Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Social Services Aging Services Division, Connecticut Department of Public Health, and Griffin Hospital.

To register, call Esther Jones at Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurse Program at 203-732-1523.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Freedom Run in Oxford Monday to benefit veterans' groups

The eighth annual Memorial Day race is rain or shine.

Lawmakers announce $750K for Fountain Lake access road in Ansonia

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, and state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, today announced $750,000 in funding for the Fountain Lake Industrial Park.  

This money will allow for completion of the access road for Fountain Lake.

“Completing the access road is necessary for the continued development of the industrial park,” Gentile said.  

“It will allow interested parties ease of entry into the development zone, thereby providing new and much needed revenues to our Grand List and create opportunity for new jobs. All of which are good for not only our local community, but also for the communities that surround us.”

“We had a company that had been in Ansonia for 160 years and was considering leaving if there was not an access road built to the new Fountain Lake industrial park,” said Crisco, who worked with Gentile to help secure state bonding for the new access road.  

“This is just another example of Connecticut’s commitment to keep and grow our local manufacturing base, and spending the money necessary for the infrastructure improvements that businesses expect and demand.”

Fountain Lake’s proximity to Routes 8 and 334 makes it an attractive location for businesses.  

And completion of the access is expected to promote economic growth for the area.

This is a press release from House Democrats' office.

CT Trails Day event planned at Kellogg Estate in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection celebrates Connecticut Trails Day at the Kellogg Estate from 3:30-4:30 p.m. June 4 offering families the chance to be a habitat explorer and a nature illustrator. 

Connecticut Forest & Park Association has been coordinating this special weekend to celebrate National Trails Day since 1993 to encourage visitors to experience the numerous trails around the state. 
The Kellogg Estate exploration is one of more than 220 free events scheduled in Connecticut.

The adventure begins at the Kellogg Environmental Center where visitors will be provided with a sketchbook and art supplies. 

An environmental educator will then lead a hike of easy to moderate level of difficulty.  
During the hike, visitors will learn about the plants and animals they encounter in the Kellogg Estate Gardens or on one of the Osbornedale State Park trails.  
Participants will be encouraged to examine and then draw the plants and animals they discover.  

Admission is free, and pre-registration is required.  

For more information and to register, call 203-734-2513.  

The Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  


This is a press release from DEEP.

All-female group to perform at Master's Table dinner in Ansonia

19th annual walk in Derby raises $15,500 for Spooner House

Walk participants at the Derby Greenway entrance./Contributed photo

DERBY - Spooner House appreciates all the walkers, runners, volunteers and sponsors who came to the Derby Greenway May 21 to participate in the 19th annual Walk for the Hungry and Homeless. 
A total of $15,500 was raised from generous sponsors and more than 100 walk registrants.

Many teams participated including Paul Revere DeMolay Chapter, Oxford Greens, Emmett O’Brien National Honor Society, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Young Emerging Professionals, Curves of Trumbull, Shelton High National Honors Society, Book Club Walk for a Cause, Electri-Cable Assemblies and Spooner House food bank volunteers.

"The Spooner House food bank and shelter are here for those in need in the lower Naugatuck Valley," said Executive Director Susan Agamy. 
"It’s so good to know that the people and businesses in the Valley are truly there to help us support those in need."

This year generous sponsors stepped forward in support of the annual Walk for the Hungry and Homeless. 
They include as Gold Sponsors: Unilever, Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte, and Sterczala PC, AD-MERICA, Precision Aerospace, Inc., New Haven Terminal, and The Valley Community Foundation. 
The Silver Sponsors are: Gary's East Coast Service, Calvert Safe + Lock, Pepe Reality, Tuttle Insurance Group, Apple Health Care, BIC Corp., and PerkinElmer.
This years Bronze Sponsors include: O.E.M. Controls, Inc., DataTel, LLC, Newtown Savings Bank, R.D. Scinto, Inc., Friedberg Smith & Co., P.C., St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oxford, Teamsters Local 1150, and Iroquois Gas Transmission System.

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Naugatuck Valley’s social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 150 men, women and children each year. More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 100,000 meals. 
Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley. Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. 

This is a press release from Area Congregations Together, Inc., a partner agency of the Valley United Way.

BHcare holds Mardi Gras for community in downtown Ansonia

Food, games, and dancing to music provided by DJ Phyllis Kaplan added up to old-fashioned fun Thursday at BHcare's annual block party.

And the summer-like weather cooperated!

BHcare's mission is to provide "comprehensive behavioral health, prevention and domestic violence services that improve the lives and health of the individuals, families and communities we serve."

For more information visit www.bhcare.org.