Capturing fall foliage in Ansonia

I saw these brilliant colors this afternoon and took a photo through the windshield. (I wasn't driving).

We need to enjoy the season before the leaves fall.

Newsletter highlights Ansonia's Wakelee Avenue project, more

Dear readers,

The latest Valley Voice newsletter is now out.
You can read about a reconstruction project for Ansonia's Wakelee Avenue, Valley United Way's newly-hired President, and PerkinElmer donating to St. Vincent de Paul in Derby by clicking here.

Thanks for reading,

Patti and Ralph

Adam's House of Shelton to hold paddle tournament fundraiser

Adam's House grief education center, 241 Coram Ave., Shelton

SHELTON – Adam’s House™, a newly opened grief education center, is holding its Healing Hearts Paddle Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 19. 

Finals and Semi-Finals, along with a celebratory dinner and drinks, are hosted at Aspetuck Valley Country Club, 67 Old Redding Road in Weston. 
Competitive players on 16 Men’s and 16 Women’s teams will also play at the Wilton Y, Weston Field Club and Wilton Riding Club. The deadline to register to play is Nov 9^th. 

"Adam's House™ has had very successful Paddle Tournaments for the past four years, but this year is the first time we've had separate Men's and Women's teams for competitive players," said Allison Wysota, Adam's House™ founder. 

"Our Paddle Tournaments always attract enthusiastic players and supporters who have a great time playing, plus enjoying dinner and drinks and the chance to win prizes." 

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bill tickets to the New Year’s Day game at 1 p.m. will be raffled off at the dinner, which starts at 5:30 p.m. 

The winning raffle ticket holder will walk away with three Club Seats and parking. Another raffle for the New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions game Dec. 18 at 1 p.m., will give the winner two Club Seats and special Club parking. 

Adam’s House™ also will feature an Apple Picking Game, giving supporters a chance to pick an “apple” off the tree and win one of these prizes: wine, free Paddle Lesson, gift certificates for spa treatments, Tennis Spot gift card, gas gift certificates and gear, including vests, golf shirts or baseball caps. 

Sponsorships are still available at the Gold level for $3,000; Silver for $1,500; and Bronze for $750. 
Sponsors will receive a package of tickets, signage, and advertisements for their valued support.

Entry deadline: Nov. 9 - Limited to 16 Men’s and 16 Women’s Teams

Cost: $180 per team. (Two players are on each team). The cost includes food, drinks, and a favor. Players are guaranteed 3 matches (weather permitting). 
Non-Paddle players are welcome to sign up for the “Dinner Only” option for $50 per person, which includes dinner and drinks, and watching the Semi-Finals, Finals, and the Trophy Presentation. 

Registration: Go to www.adamshousect.org or click on the direct link below: 

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/AdamWysotaFoundationInc/paddleregistration.html

Contacts:  Fundraising Chair Anne Santa-Maria-annesantamaria@optonline.net 

Fundraising Co-Chair Susie Minkowitz -ssmlmink@aol.com 

With the proceeds raised, Adam’s House™ will offer grief support services free to Connecticut children and their families. If you can’t make it to the Adam’s House™ Paddle Tournament, please consider a donation to enable Adam’s House™ to offer its eight-week program of educational services to families at no cost by making a donation by mail at 241 Coram Ave., Shelton, 06484 or by using this link: 

http://www.adamshousect.org./we-need-your-support.

Adam’s House™ is offering grieving families and children free weekly programs guided by trained facilitators that help parents, teens and children gain new insights for coping with the loss of a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. Adam’s House™ has partnered with 15 therapists from Shelton and neighboring communities to help support families before they begin the themed “Healing Hearts” program. Families are currently going through the Adam’s House™ intake process, the first step to beginning the eight-week Adam’s House™ “Healing Hearts” program.

In addition, the Adam’s House™ “Helping Hearts Heal,” Widow’s Support Group meets monthly here with more than 30 members. Future plans call for the group to include widowers. 

Adam’s House™ Mission

At Adam’s House,™ we believe no child should ever grieve alone. Each child deserves a supportive and understanding community to learn and explore their feelings of loss. All grief journeys are unique and grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a loved one. At Adam’s House,™ we will be a partner in support of your healing process. 

Adam’s House™ Background

Adam’s House™ is located at 241 Coram Ave. in Shelton, and is an entity of The Adam Wysota Foundation. Adam’s House™ represents a strong grassroots network of Connecticut family and friends plus supporters from throughout the country who helped raise the funds to begin offering Adam’s House™ programs. 
Adam’s House™ honors the memory of Adam Wysota, a beloved father, Little League coach and active volunteer in his Weston community. 

Before his passing, Adam Wysota held prestigious Wall Street positions at Depository Trust & Clearing Corp., Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. 

Adam’s House, ™ an entity of the Adam Wysota Foundation, is a 501c3 organization. All donations to Adam’s House™ are tax deductible. 

For more information, go to adamshousect.org or call 203-513-2808. 


This is a press release from Adam's House.

Vendors sought for Holiday Marketplace in Ansonia

Derby Neck Library to host singer in concert

DERBY - The Derby Neck Library will host 'Fall in Love,' a free concert featuring Sherri Miller, at 2 p.m. Nov. 12.

Miller is a talented guitarist and singer in the folk/rock tradition.

No registration is needed, just stop in with family and friends.

For information call 203-734-1492.

The library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.

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

DEEP seeks waterfowl artwork for 2018 stamp contest

Wildlife artist Mark Thone won the 2017 stamp art contest with his painting of canvasbacks at the mouth of the Thames River in New London./ DEEP website photo

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is once again inviting artists to enter their waterfowl artwork in Connecticut’s annual Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Art Contest. 

DEEP continues to encourage local artists to submit entries that contain Connecticut specific imagery. 
The winning contest entry will be featured on the 2018 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.

“The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program is a great example of how conservation works – concerned citizens paying into a program that was formed to protect and enhance vital habitat. Being more than just a ‘duck’ stamp, the conservation work it funds provides habitat for a multitude of wildlife species, including herons, egrets, fish, and amphibians,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen.

“By state law, funds generated from the sale of Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamps can only be used for the development, management, preservation, conservation, acquisition, purchase, and maintenance of waterfowl habitat and wetlands, as well as the purchase and acquisition of recreational rights or interests relating to migratory birds,” Whalen added.

Contest Details

• The contest is open to all artists (including Junior Duck Stamp artists), regardless of residence, age, or experience. Artwork may be in any full-color medium, including acrylic, oil, colored pencil, and watercolor. Images that include a Connecticut scene or landmark are preferred. Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, general rendering, and suitability for reproduction.
• Entries must be received in person or postmarked on or before April 15, 2017, to be eligible. Entries should be sent to: CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Attn: Migratory Game Bird Program, 391 Route 32, North Franklin, CT 06254.

Full contest rules, judging criteria, and an official entry certificate are available on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/ctduckstamp or by calling the DEEP Wildlife Division’s Franklin office at 860-418-5952.

History of CT’s Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Program

The Duck Stamp Program was initiated in the early 1990s when concerned sportsmen worked with DEEP to develop legislation that would generate revenue for wetland conservation. Modeled after the federal Duck Stamp Program, the Connecticut program requires the purchase of a state Duck Stamp, along with a hunting license, to legally hunt waterfowl and other migratory birds in the state.

The first Connecticut Duck Stamp debuted in 1993 with a fee of $5. From 1993-2002, the sale of Duck Stamps and prints generated over $1.2 million in revenue. Print sales gradually declined over time and the print program was discontinued with the 2002 Duck Stamp. Hunters and conservationists have consistently expressed strong support for the Duck Stamp Program and associated conservation projects. The sale of stamps alone currently generates approximately $50,000 per year. With the return of full-color artistic Duck Stamps in 2013, art enthusiasts, stamp collectors, and conservationists are encouraged to purchase as many stamps as they wish to provide funds for wetland conservation projects. Full-color prints may also be available at the discretion of the winning artist.

Previous Winners

• The inaugural art contest in 2012 was won by wildlife artist Richard Clifton, whose depiction of three wood ducks appeared on the 2013 Connecticut Duck Stamp. 
• The 2013 contest was won by John Brennan, whose painting of hooded mergansers graced the 2014 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.
• Guy Crittenden won the 2015 stamp with his depiction of northern shovelers. The painting that won the 2015 contest was of three Atlantic brant that was painted by Jeffrey Klinefelter and it was featured on the 2016 Connecticut Duck Stamp. 
• The 2017 stamp is of a pair of canvasbacks at the mouth of the Thames River with the historic New London lighthouse in the background, which was painted by Mark Thone.

Benefits of the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program 

• Funds generated through the Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program have been responsible for restoring and enhancing over 3,545 acres of critical wetlands. Projects have encompassed nearly 50 sites, mostly on state-owned wildlife management areas. This has benefitted many of the approximately 274 species of birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles of the state that rely upon clean, healthy wetlands. In many instances, Duck Stamp funds were the only source of money for these projects.

• Specialized large equipment was purchased to conduct extensive marsh restoration work, particularly along the coast.
• Connecticut was the first state in the nation to establish a unit dedicated to wetland restoration. The DEEP’s Wetlands Restoration Unit receives no state funds and operates solely off of outside monies and Connecticut Duck Stamp funds.
• A 75-acre addition to the Wangunk Meadows Wildlife Management Area in Portland was purchased.
• Duck Stamp funds have generated additional monies for Connecticut through matching grants from federal conservation initiatives. By combining Duck Stamp funds with these additional monies, over $4 million have been available to complete wildlife conservation projects. Thus, Connecticut has received a 4:1 return on Duck Stamp monies.
• The Duck Stamp Program is a prime example of a user fee program that has greatly benefitted not only wildlife, but also the people of Connecticut by improving the health of our local environments.

Do your part for conservation in Connecticut. Buy a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and contribute to habitat protection and restoration.


This is a press release from DEEP. 

Pet photos with Santa to benefit Friends of Shelton Animal Shelter

SHELTON - Pet Photos with Santa will be held at Pet Supplies Plus, 675 Bridgeport Ave., from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Digital photos are $19; cash and checks will be accepted.

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Shelton Animal Shelter. 

All pets must be leashed.

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