St. Mary's Church in Derby to sponsor tag sale Saturday

DERBY - St. Mary’s Church will hold a huge tag sale from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in the basement of the church, 212 Elizabeth St.

Furniture, clothing, knick knacks, sporting goods, tools, children’s toys and clothes, books, DVDs, holiday decorations, and much more will be for sale.

Sunday is fill a bag for $5!


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

Crisco displeased with health insurance rate hikes

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, today expressed his displeasure with the size and scope of the various private health insurance rate hikes approved last week by the state Insurance Department, though Crisco also noted the good news that some large insurance companies covering more than 136,000 state residents were told to go back to the drawing board and re-submit their rate requests.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

Late last Friday, state Insurance Commissioner Katherine L. Wade announced the state Insurance Department made rulings on 17 rate filings from 12 companies selling individual and small group plans that cover approximately 300,000 people in Connecticut. 

Rate hikes averaging 2.6 to 27.9 percent were approved for individual and small group plans covering more than 146,000 people, while rate hikes covering 136,000 people were disapproved; insurers have until tomorrow to re-submit new, proposed rates.

On Aug. 3, when the Insurance Department held its public hearing on the proposed private insurance company rate hikes, Crisco testified against any rate increases.

“Anthem had first-quarter profits of three-quarters of a billion dollars, and their stock price went up $2.63 a share. Aetna’s second quarter earnings were $783 million, or $2.21 per share. They are making money hand over fist and claiming they need double-digit rate hikes just to keep their heads above water,” Crisco said today. 

“I’m familiar with the concepts of profit and medical inflation, but I’m also familiar with the necessity of health insurance and the average person’s ability to pay. Health care profits should be used as a factor in determining health insurance rate hikes; if they are not, we are only headed toward a two-tier system of health insurance in this country, and that is not good for America or for any family’s health.”

Wade noted in her Friday decision that the state Insurance Department conducted thorough actuarial reviews on each rate request and made its decisions based on several factors, including rising health care costs, increased demand for services, and significantly higher prescription drug costs.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Hewitt Foundation donates $70K to TEAM Elderly Services in Derby

Pat Carey, President, Hewitt Foundation Board of Directors, at left, recently presents a check to David Morgan, TEAM President/CEO, to support Elderly Services./  Contributed photo



DERBY - TEAM, Inc. has announced the Hewitt Foundation presented the agency with a $70,000 donation in support of the Elderly Service programs. 

Serving more than 940 Valley seniors, many of whom are elderly and homebound, TEAM’s Elderly Services Department includes Meals on Wheels, Homemaking, Medical Transportation and Volunteer Caregivers. 

Without the daily and weekly contact these services provide, many of these seniors would be isolated and without interaction with the community. 
Meals on Wheels, for example, provides a simple, inexpensive service that can help prevent the need for more costly services, such as hospitalizations and nursing home care. 
TEAM’s staff provides a nutritious well balanced home delivered meal for frail homebound individuals 60 years of age and older, giving priority to those with the greatest economic or social needs and particular attention to low- income, minority individuals. 
Each meal meets nutritional requirements and special dietary needs are considered. 
The Program also provides a wellness check, an opportunity for socialization, nutrition education, nutrition counseling, and access to social services based on the needs of meal participants five days a week.


This is a press release from TEAM, Inc.

Wednesday matinees offered at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library continues its weekly Wednesday Movie Matinees series for ages 18 and over.

Newly-released DVDs will be shown at 1 p.m. every Wednesday.

Light snacks will be provided. Registration is requested.  

For a list of featured films, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St. or call 203-736-1482.   


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Friends of Derby Neck Library plan bus trip to Vermont

DERBY - The Friends of Derby Neck Library will sponsor a bus trip to Bennington, Vt. Sept. 17. There are six seats left.

The trip leaves from the Derby High School parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and returns at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The $87 cost includes transportation, lunch, and the driver's gratuity.
The group will tour the Bennington Potters and have shopping time there, choose from three entrees for lunch at the Publyk House and visit the The Country Barn and apple orchard where there will be a motor coach tour. Cider and donuts will be served there.

The Country Barn has a bakery, ice cream parlor, made in Vermont products and of course, apples.
Call Derby Neck Library at 203-734-1492 or Ellen at 203-734-3561 as soon as possible for information and reservations.


This is a press release from Friends of Derby Neck Library.

Assumption Church in Ansonia to collect donations for area diaper banks

Check out the vendors Wednesday at Hilltop Hose firehouse in Ansonia