Ansonia to hold annual Christmas Tree lighting, collect toys

Newsletter features holiday food drive in Shelton, Derby Historical Society reception

Dear readers,

The latest Valley Voice is now out. Please click here to read it.

We feature the Soffermans' holiday food drive to benefit Spooner House in Shelton and the Derby Historical Society's annual appeal reception.

Happy reading!

~ Patti and Ralph

Boxing tournament at Ansonia Armory a 'knockout success'

The Pinky Silverberg Boxing Show drew a crowd at the Ansonia Armory. /Contributed photo

ANSONIA - On Nov. 11, Mayor David S. Cassetti led the Pinky Silverberg Boxing Show to an extremely successful evening of fundraising, demonstration of skills, and matches from renowned amateur boxers from New England. 

Roughly 550 people attended the show with 60 girls and boys participating in the tournament, and the event raised $6,000. 

“I was thrilled with the success of this event,” Cassetti said. “It was wonderful to see the Armory packed to capacity with residents of all ages.”

Cassetti plans for another boxing tournament featuring the Young Gloves to be held again in November of next year. 

The Pinky Silverberg Boxing Show first featured the Valley’s Young Gloves of children between ages 6 and 13 competing and showcasing their talents. 

Later in the night, the USA Boxing Amateur Fighters took the spotlight, as well as an official Connecticut Amateur Boxing Card. 

The program was named for Silverberg, the Ansonia native who held a flyweight boxing title in 1927 and is a member of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. 
Cassetti, a middleweight champion himself, ran the program with other directors to help children gain self-confidence, while having fun with the sport simultaneously. 

Boxing had a positive and profound effect on Cassetti when he was a child, and he said he hopes to share the specialty of the sport with other children. 

The Young Gloves’ program strives to teach technique, discipline, and self-confidence in the boxers, and to engage more in physical activities and a healthier lifestyle. There were 22 bouts, or fights, during the event, which were split up into two, 1-minute rounds. 

This event would not have been possible without the generosity of the following sponsors: Ortiz Boxing Gym in Bridgeport, Ronald and Susan Silverberg, Edo Construction, Country Disposal Services LLC, Webster Bank, McDonald’s, Teamsters Local 677, and Prime AE.

This is a press release from the city of Ansonia.

Cassetti applauds Ansonia plumbing business on its 100th anniversary

Pictured from left, Craig Mann, fourth generation, Craig Mann, third generation, Idela Mann, Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti. /Contributed photo

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti Thursday presented a proclamation to Ralph Mann & Sons, Inc., a plumbing and heating company, 505 Main St., for being in business for 100 years.  

The company held an open house for its customers.

Coming up: Holiday food drives for Spooner House in Shelton

Friday November 18th:

Adams Food Drive
Shelton Adams - 200 Leavenworth Rd
When: 8am - 4pm
*frozen turkeys accepted*


Saturday November 19th:

Girl Scout Troop #64164
First United Methodist Church
188 Rocky Rest Rd, Shelton
9am - 1pm
*frozen turkeys accepted*

Seymour Middle School
211 Mountain Rd
Seymour
9am - 3pm
*frozen turkeys accepted*

Chatfield-LoPresti Elementary School
51 Skokorat Rd
Seymour
9am - 3pm
*frozen turkeys accepted*

We hope to see you at one of the community drives!
Thank you so much for your support.

*This is a flier from Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton.  

Local dentist, family collect food for Spooner House in Shelton

This was the scene Thursday morning in front of 1000 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, where Dr. Bruce Sofferman, his wife, Deborah, and their daughter, Sophia, were collecting food and monetary donations for Spooner House. Oxford firefighters stopped by to drop off 30 frozen turkeys.
This is the 30th consecutive year that the family has held the Thanksgiving food drive, which has become a Valley tradition. 
Sofferman will be relocating his dental office to 1000 Bridgeport Ave. in the near future.

Turkeys! 


Please stay tuned for more info about the food drive in the next edition of The Valley Voice newsletter.

American Legion Post 50 in Ansonia raises awareness of veteran suicides

This display features 22 signs that symbolize the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day./Contributed photo

ANSONIA - In its continuous support for the military and its veterans, the Ansonia Gordon-Visselli American Legion Post 50 is addressing veteran suicides with a unique awareness activity. 

Nationally, the well-recognized statistic of 22 veterans per day committing suicide is a grim reality that need not be. Across the country, a popular “’22 push-up” movement, where people volunteer to do 22 push-ups for 22 days while challenging others to do the same, has increased the awareness of this sad truth while giving hope to those veterans that are troubled in so many ways, for so many reasons. 

Post 50, under the command of U.S. Army veteran Jack Granatie, looked for a more public way to get the message of veteran support out to the community at large. 
A display was designed that consists of 22 individual signs depicting the silhouettes of kneeling soldiers. 

Accompanying them is a larger sign declaring “22 Veterans Commit Suicide EVERY DAY. Please pray for our Vets,”along with the following contact information.
To help:  www.22kill.com; www.mission22.com; www.preventsuicideCT.org.  
For help: Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 PRESS 1; Military One Source 1-800-342-9647.

The display is being relocated to a new spot every day for at least 22 consecutive days so that they can receive maximum exposure throughout town, utilizing public places, businesses and residential front yards as backdrops. It made its debut on Nov. 11 at the Ansonia Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park next to City Hall. When the 22 days or more has run its course, the entire display will be offered to other American Legion Posts to set up in their towns. 

Anyone in Ansonia who would like to share in supporting veterans and this cause for awareness is encouraged to contact Post 50 Adjutant Pat Henri at phenri@comcast.net or 203-734-1851.

Veterans interested in joining Post 50, which meets monthly at the Ansonia Armory, should contact Senior Vice-Commander Mike Heise at 203-308-7845.

This is a press release from Pat Henri. 

12th annual breakfast in Seymour to benefit TEAM Toys 4 Kids

12th annual breakfast in Seymour to benefit TEAM Toys 4 Kids

YA Wednesdays offered at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library hosts YA Wednesdays every month from 6-7:30 p.m.  
All young adults ages 12 to 17 are invited to join the fun each Wednesday in December with Nintendo Wii, board games, and Legos. 

Light refreshments will be provided. 

For more information stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


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

Learn about improving literacy skills at Griffin Hospital in Derby

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital will host a free talk about free resources to improve literacy skills Nov. 30./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., will host a free educational talk about free resources to improve literacy skills at 2 p.m. Nov. 30.

Kathi Hunt, Program Manager for the Valley Program of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, will present “Literacy & Health,” an overview of free tutoring available for residents of Shelton, Derby, Ansonia, and Seymour who would like to improve their reading, writing and speaking English skills. 
Valley Program of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven offers Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language courses. 
In addition, the presentation will provide information about how low literacy can impact one’s health and wellness. There will also be information on how people can volunteer to be tutors for the Valley Program of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. 

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399. 
The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials. 
The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness, and play an active role in decisions about their health.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.