Seymour seeks military personnel addresses for Christmas gifts

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Town Clerk's Office is reminding residents of Seymour to submit the names of servicemen and women in the military.

Their complete service address should be submitted to the Seymour Town Clerk including their Seymour home address and the name of the person submitting the request.

The Town of Seymour would like all Seymour servicemen and women currently serving in the military to receive a Christmas check from the Richard R. Pearson Memorial Fund.

Please submit names as soon as possible to the following address:

Seymour Town Clerk's Office
1 First St.
Seymour, CT. 06483  

School in Derby to host Christmas Bazaar, Breakfast with Santa

DERBY - A Festival of Trees Christmas Bazaar and Breakfast with Santa will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the All-Purpose room at St. Mary-St. Michael School, 14 Seymour Ave.

The free event is open to the public.
There will be more than 21 unique vendors, as well as a Cookie Walk, decorated Christmas tree raffles, and a Chinese auction as well as Breakfast with Santa! 

Come for breakfast, stay to shop, and then hit the kitchen again for lunch! 
Santa will be staying for pictures, so why brave the lines and the people at the mall when you can get a professional quality 4x6 print for only $5!?



*This information is shared from the school's Facebook page.

Teens invited to decorate baked holiday treats at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen “Baker” Space, a Holiday Treats Decorating program, from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 15.

Participant creativity will be applied to a variety of baked goods. 

All materials will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

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

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

'A Sparkling Holiday' is planned at Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby

DERBY - Celebrate the holidays at the Osborne Homestead Museum and learn about the legends and origins of gemstones. 

Each room will be brilliantly decorated to the theme “A Sparkling Holiday.” 

The holiday tours will run from Nov. 25 through Dec. 17. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4  p.m. 

On Fridays, December 2, 9, and 16, the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to show off the shimmering glow of the decorations from 4-7 p.m.

For more than 30 years, volunteers have created the gorgeous holiday decorations at the museum. 

These talented and committed volunteers are members of the Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Pomperaug Valley Garden Club of Woodbury, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.

Visitors will also get a chance to support local farms and small businesses at the Connecticut Holiday Market in the Kellogg Environmental Center located behind the museum. The Holiday Market will be held Dec. 2 from 4-7 p.m. and Dec. 3 from 9 a.m.-noon. 

Choose from a wide variety of products, such as Connecticut Grown produce, meat products, beauty and bath products, teas, and much more.

The Osborne Homestead Museum celebrates the life of Frances Osborne Kellogg, the award winning dairy farmer who bred the legendary Holstein bull Ivanhoe. 

In the early to mid–1900s, she and her husband Waldo Kellogg made Osbornedale Farm second to none in New England with their record-breaking, prize-winning Holstein-Friesian cattle. 

Frances held many high ranking positions in several dairy associations, including President of the American Holstein Friesian Association and Director of the New Haven County Farm Bureau. She also left an endowment to the University of Connecticut which established the Kellogg Dairy Center in Storrs. 

Her cow pastures and farm, which she deeded to the State of Connecticut, are now Osbornedale State Park and the Kellogg Estate in Derby.

Make it a “jewel” of a holiday and visit the Osborne Homestead Museum. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. 

The Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum are located at 500 Hawthorne Ave. 

To register for group tours and for more information, call (203) 734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.

This is a press release from DEEP.

Ansonia Nature Center to offer wreath workshop, host annual bird count

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has a variety of fun activities planned in December.

NATURE’S CHILD: A Tree for Wildlife –  Dec. 2, 10 a.m.

Make some simple pinecone bird feeders, then take a short hike to visit our “giving tree.” 
Preschoolers with an adult will learn about our local evergreen trees and how they make great shelter for wildlife in the winter. 
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents). Please register in advance.

WINTER WREATH WORKSHOP – Dec. 3, 10 a.m. 

Celebrate winter and the festive season as you create a wreath from fresh locally grown greens, then decorate your masterpiece with natural trimmings. Enjoy some warm mulled cider and a cookie too! Wreath frames and wire will be provided. Please bring your own hand clippers. Pre-registration required. Materials fee: $15. 

BACK TO BASICS: Needle Felting –  Dec. 3, 1 p.m.

Bring a dose of your own unique creativity for this class based on an ancient craft. Dawn Sotir, needlecraft wizard, will inspire you with her beautiful and practical items made from natural fibers. 
Create a 3D animal of your choice; it’s easier than you might think! Pre-registration only for this popular program. Fee: $10.

117TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT – Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m.

This annual survey provides important data to assess the increase or decline of avian populations worldwide. After an early morning start, the New Haven Bird Club will stop at the Nature Center for their lunch at 12:30. Be ready to join members of the club to look and listen along the park’s trails. For adults. Free.

DRUM IN THE WINTER –  Dec. 17, 5 p.m.

True winter begins on Dec. 21! On that day we’ll have a full 15 hours of darkness! Since June, the days have been getting shorter, but from now on, the reverse will be true. We’ll stoke the fire pit, so bring your drum and other percussion instruments, and warm yourself with good fellowship. Ranger Dawn will lead us. Free, but bring a canned food item for our local homeless shelter.

WINTER NATURE DAYS – Tues.–Thurs., Dec. 27–29, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

For children who love the outdoors and wildlife. These popular educational classes are designed for children 5 to 10 years old. We’ll have a chance to explore the park’s 150 acres and visit a variety of habitats. Come join new and old friends, play games, create beautiful and useful items using natural objects, and even go for a sled ride if we have snow. 
Tuition: $30/day ($90 for all three days) for priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members); $35/day ($105 for all three days) all others. Please come in to register in advance by Dec. 16.

JANUARY 2017

NEW YEAR’S DAY HIKE – Jan. 1, 10 a.m. Bring a healthy start to your new year at the Nature Center. Our ranger will conduct this brisk walk while you learn a little 

natural history trivia along the way. Free, but please register in advance. Inclement weather cancels. 


This is a press release from Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Italian Cabaret slated Saturday in Derby

I saw this posted at the Valley Diner today and thought I'd share the info. Sounds like a fun evening is on tap.

Church in Shelton to hold soup and book sale to benefit missions

DOT to resurface Rte. 8 in Seymour, lane closures planned

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that a nighttime milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 8 Northbound in Seymour beginning Thursday.

The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 0.135-mile segment of Route 8, NB in Seymour. 

The project is scheduled to occur from 8 p.m.-5:30 a.m. Thursday, through Saturday morning.

LANE CLOSURE INFO

Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 8, NB between the Exit 19 (Wakelee Avenue) on ramp and Exit 21 (Derby Avenue) off ramp. 

Impact attenuators, state police, and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. 
The regular work schedule for this project is 8 p.m.-5:30 a.m. (Thursday through Saturday).

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. 
Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.


This is a press release from the website of state Sen. Rob Kane.

Ansonia Police to hold annual Stuff-A-Jeep Friday at Stop and Shop

ANSONIA - Ansonia Police will hold its annual Stuff-A-Jeep food drive Friday at Stop and Shop on Division Street.
The food drive will be in front of the store from noon to 6 p.m. 

Any food or donations collected will be given to a local food bank. 

Last year's event was extremely successful, so please stop by if you have a chance and make a small donation. Every donation counts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

*Sharing info from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Griffin Hospital earns 5th consecutive 'A' grade for safety

DERBY - Griffin Hospital received its fifth consecutive “A” grade from a national patient safety organization this fall, ranking it amongst the safest hospitals in the United States.

Griffin was one of six hospitals in the state and 844 in the country to receive the top mark in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S.

Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals in the spring and fall of each year. The scoring methodology was developed by top patient safety experts, has been peer-reviewed, is fully transparent, and free to the public.

Griffin is the only hospital in the state to achieve the “A” grade in the last five consecutive reporting periods.

“At Griffin Hospital, we are committed to providing an exceptional patient experience which includes safe, high quality care,” said Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel. “We are honored to be recognized for an industry leading level of patient safety and care effectiveness, and I’m grateful to all Griffin caregivers who contribute to our culture of high reliability and patient centered care.”

“Protecting patients from harm is the most important charge for any hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We recognize and appreciate ‘A’ hospitals’ vigilance and continued dedication to keeping their patients safe.”

To see Griffin Hospital’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in hospitals, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org or follow The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices.


About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other healthcare purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American healthcare.

The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers information they need to make informed decisions.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.


About Griffin Hospital
Griffin Hospital is a 160-bed acute care community teaching hospital serving more than 130,000 residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Region. Griffin Hospital also serves as the flagship hospital for Planetree, the global leader in advancing patient-centered care, and has received national recognition for creating healthcare facilities and approaches to patient care that are responsive to the needs of patients. Griffin Hospital has been recognized for having industry-leading patient experience ratings and has received numerous quality and clinical excellence awards. It is the only Connecticut hospital recognized four times by the Joint Commission as a "Top Quality Performer" on key quality measures.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'A Christmas Carol'

Performances planned in Shelton, Seymour

Valley Shakespeare Festival will present its third annual script-in-hand dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, A Christmas Carol at Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton, at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and at the Seymour Historical Society, 59 West St., at 2 p.m. Dec. 11. 

The production at Plumb Memorial Library will be held upstairs in the library’s elegant 1895 Romanesque Revival-style Reading Room which features a soaring cathedral ceiling, Victorian wing chairs and a massive fireplace.

This year is the first time VSF will perform at the Seymour Historical Society. The company is very excited to be presenting this beautiful story of redemption and the true meaning of Christmas in its debut at the venue.

Performances are being presented to the public free of charge with a suggested donation of $10 per person.

Valley Shakespeare Festival is a federally-certified non-profit theatre company based in Shelton. It is known throughout the Valley as the company which performs free full-length productions of Shakespeare plays in Shelton’s Riverwalk-Veterans Memorial Park each summer in July and its infamous Shakespeare in the Bar series which runs twice yearly in local eating establishments.

A Christmas Carol, adapted for the event by VSF’s Executive/Artistic Director Tom Simonetti, will be performed with minimal props and costuming and a cast of local and out-of-state actors, many of whom returning audience members will recognize from previous VSF productions.

Audience members will also have an opportunity to mix and mingle with the cast and crew after both performances.

For more information or to make reservations, please call Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446 or visit www.vsfestival.org.

Seating is limited at both venues, so please reserve your place early and begin your holiday season by celebrating the true spirit of Christmas with this classic tale for all ages.


This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theatre company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the lower Naugatuck Valley and beyond.