Hundreds participate in Valley YMCA Sunset 5K in Ansonia

Valley YMCA Sunset 5K winner Tom Milenkevich of Ansonia crosses the finish line Wednesday in front of John G. Prendergast School on Finney Street.

On your marks, get set ...

A big thank you goes to Derby resident Jack Walsh, President and C.O.O., Valley United Way, for providing the photos. 
He said 195 people completed the run, and about 75 participated in a two-mile walk on the Ansonia Hilltop. 
The 2016 Corporate Cup run/walk was included in the event.

Crisco awaits hearing on proposed Cigna-Anthem merger

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said today he is eagerly awaiting the state-mandated public hearing that must be held by the Connecticut Insurance Department regarding the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-132 requires the state Insurance Department to hold a public hearing within 30 days of receiving a comprehensive packet of information (called a ‘Form A’ application) from any entity seeking to purchase or control a Connecticut-based insurance company. 

Anthem, Inc. - headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. - is seeking to acquire Cigna, headquartered in Bloomfield, therefore triggering the Form A application and the necessary public hearing.

Crisco was one of 19 signatories to a May 13, 2016 letter to Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Katherine Wade seeking a series of public hearings on the proposed merger, as well as granting intervenor status to consumer advocates and commissioning a study of the economic and health care impacts of the proposed merger.

Crisco noted that Florida, California, and Indiana have already held public hearings on the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger which, if successful, would create one of the largest health insurance companies in America.

“Connecticut consumers will be well served by having their voices heard regarding this proposed merger, and it doesn’t have to be limited to a single public hearing. We could have a series of public hearings across the state, much the same way the governor and other elected officials have sought to inform the public and elicit their input on a variety of important issues,” Crisco said. 
“We need to know what impact such a huge merger would have on health insurance premiums in Connecticut, on access, and on patient care. In my opinion, public hearings are as much a fundamental part of the merger review process as looking at issues like company balance sheets and plan enrollments.”

If the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger is ultimately approved by dozens of U.S. states, state attorney generals, the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Justice Department, the resulting company would control 64 percent of the health insurance market in Connecticut, allowing that single company greater control of provider networks, physician reimbursement rates, insurance premiums, and deductibles.


This is a press release from Crisco's office. 

Newsletter highlights Seymour Pink, bike festival in Ansonia

Dear readers,

We just wrapped up our latest Valley Voice newsletter. You can check it out here:


http://media.wix.com/ugd/329bf6_13a786c1ea22490ca1bf2fa04d5a851f.pdf


Thanks for reading!

30th annual celebration at Griffin Hospital in Derby recognizes nurses

3 presented with Nightingale Award

Griffin Hospital Vice President of Patient Care Barbara Stumpo, at right, recognized Griffin Hospital nurses, from left, Jamie Perdo, RN, BSN, RN-BC, of Branford, Ashley D'Agostino, RN, BSN, WCC, of Oakville, and Cheryl Tompkins, RN, BSN, of West Haven, as winners of the 2016 Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently held its 30th Annual Nurse Day Celebration to honor its more than 330 staff nurses and present awards to those nurses who delivered exceptional care during the year.

Ashley D'Agostino, RN, BSN, WCC, of Oakville, Jamie Perdo, RN, BSN, RN-BC, of Branford, and Cheryl Tompkins, RN, BSN, of West Haven, were named 2016 Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing winners.

Originally developed by the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut, the Nightingale Award celebrates outstanding nurses and elevates the nursing profession. 
The goals of the Nightingale Award program are to encourage retention, inspire future nurses, focus public attention and recognize the breadth and scope of nursing practice at the local level.

Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel and Vice President of Patient Care Barbara Stumpo, right, presented Jamie Perdo of Branford with The 2015 Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award./ Contributed photo

Jamie Perdo, a seven-year employee of the hospital, works on the inpatient floors and assumed the role of temporary Clinical Manager of 2 North A when needed last year. 
Her colleagues recognized Perdo as a silent leader on her unit, training new nurses, taking charge in difficult situations and strengthening the hospital’s commitment to patient safety. 
She recently traveled to Tigoni Hospital in Kenya with a team from Griffin Hospital as part of a World Health Organization program to teach hand hygiene and other ways to provide safer, more reliable care in Africa.

“Jamie takes her role as a nurse to heart,” Griffin Hospital Vice President of Patient Care Barbara Stumpo said. 
“She is the type of nurse who shows enthusiasm in all she does. She is a patient advocate who goes the extra mile to ensure her patients, their families, and her co-workers have what they need.”

The celebration also recognized Ursula Zajac, RN, of Bethany, with The Marie Santini Perioperative Nursing Excellence Award; Lisa Hyland, RN, of Naugatuck, with The Richard Stivala, M.D., Obstetric Nursing Excellence Award; Michelle Tirella, RN, of Ansonia, with The Mary Schumacher Leadership Award; Samantha Case, RN, of Seymour, with the Donald Torok Memorial Scholarship; Jennifer Ricuarte, RN, of Seymour, with The Mary Nelligan Award for Continuing Education; and Kristen Nesta, RN, of Oxford, with the Shirley Yale Memorial Scholarship.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Economic development forum planned at Fountain Lake in Ansonia

From the city of Ansonia Facebook page: 

"An economic development update will be provided by Mayor Cassetti and staff, to be followed by a general discussion between Ansonia business owners and leaders."



*Click on post to enlarge.