Valley lawmakers applaud House passage of opioid bill

Pictured from left, state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, state Rep. Themis Klarides. /Submitted photo

State Representatives Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, are pleased to announce passage in the House of HB7052, a far-ranging bill which continues efforts to address opioid addiction. 

  

"This comprehensive bill is so desperately needed to address the ever growing opioid crisis that we have been experiencing over the last several years,” Gentile said. “This crisis has impacted virtually every state in our country, including Connecticut. It has affected families of every socio-economic class and we have seen a number of deaths right here in our Valley communities. No family should ever have to face such senseless, tragic loss. It is my hope that this bill will reduce these untimely deaths and reverse this heartbreaking trend of opioid addiction."

“Opioid abuse and overdose has overwhelmed society and demands that we take action to combat this scourge. Every week we read and hear about overdose deaths. Everyone knows someone who has been lost to this epidemic, and we need to wake up and take steps so that makes sense and will result in positive results,’’ House Republican Leader Klarides said.

"The opioid crisis has hit our communities and the state of Connecticut extremely hard," Klarides-Ditria said. "This legislation takes proactive steps to educate the public and children about the dangers of opioid abuse and will help us halt the spread of the opioid crisis. All of us in Hartford, Republicans and Democrats, are working together to find solutions to curb this disease once and for all."

Three of the more integral parts of the bill, AAC Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion and Abuse are: 

•  Require that prescriptions be transcribed electronically to safeguard against over prescribing
•  Reduce the maximum number of days for a prescription from seven to five for minors
•  Allow patients to request drugs other than opioids to be prescribed.

Klarides said these are common sense ideas that will address the explosion of opioid abuse and overdose that has affected every segment of society in recent years.

The bill passed 146-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

This is a press release from the House Democrats office.

Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby to participate in Historic Gardens Day

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is participating in Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day at the Osborne Homestead Museum, Derby and at Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, from noon-4 p.m. June 25, free of charge. 

Connecticut Historic Gardens Day, now in its 14th year, is designed to increase the awareness of the state’s unique historic sites and gardens and offers visitors an opportunity to explore a variety of historic garden styles.  

The gardens at the Osborne Homestead Museum and at Harkness Memorial State Park are two of 15 members of the prestigious Connecticut’s Historic Gardens.

Osborne Homestead Museum 

Guests are welcome to visit the lovely Colonial Revival gardens and learn about the medicinal uses of the flowering plants.  
After strolling through the gardens, tour the historic house museum, view the photo exhibition of Frances Osborne Kellogg’s favorite roses from the 1893 New York City flower show, and learn about her love of flowers and land conservation.   

A decoupage workshop will be offered at the museum and guests can make artwork from pictures of the Kellogg Estate’s gorgeous flowers.  
All materials will be supplied, and there will be no fee. Complimentary museum and garden tours will be offered every half hour beginning at noon. 

The Osborne Homestead Museum is open for free guided tours on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays from 

noon-4 p.m.   
It is located at 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.  
For additional information call 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov. 

Harkness Memorial State Park

Tours of the gardens designed by America’s first female landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand, and the history of the  Harkness Estate, EOLIA, will be presented free of charge from noon-4 p.m. by Park Staff and Friends of Harkness volunteers. 
Tours of the Harkness mansion will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a suggested donation. Visitors may also want to stop at the Gift Shop and at the Carriage House – open from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.  
Bring a picnic and after your tours enjoy the spectacular views of Long Island Sound from the Great Lawn.

The gates at Harkness Memorial State Park are open year round from 8 a.m.-sunset.  
Mansion tours are available for a fee on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  
The park is located at 275 Great Neck Road, Waterford. 
For more information call 860-443-5725.

For more information, go to www.cthistoricgardens.org where you will find additional selected events offered at each of the 15 CT Historic Gardens and links to member pages.


This is a press release from the DEEP.

Learn to prevent falls at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program June 9, featuring fall risk assessments, fall prevention techniques, and exercises to help improve balance./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon June 9 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. 

This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther at 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Ansonia mayor to dedicate street sign for boxer Pinky Silverberg

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti's initiative to recognize former Ansonia resident and World Flyweight Boxing Champion Pinky Silverberg will come to fruition at 10 a.m. Thursday with a street sign unveiling and dedication.

The sign's unveiling, at the corner of Main Street and Father Salemi Drive, is the location of Pinky Silverberg's residence in Ansonia where he lived for most of his adult life. Silverberg passed away in 1964 at age 59.

His son Ron Silverberg will attend and speak at the ceremony, unveiling the sign and exhibiting Pinky's original 1927 Flyweight Boxing Champion belt.

Pinky moved to Ansonia from the Bronx in 1920 seeking employment in the many Naugatuck Valley factories, and soon turned to pro boxing at the age of 16 by adding two years to his age. (Although listed as age 59 at his passing, his age was actually 57, due to adding the two years.)

In 1925, Silverberg took the Connecticut Flyweight Championship by winning a 10-round points decision against Al Beauregard held at the Opera House on Main Street in Ansonia. The win heralded his emergence as a potential flyweight contender.

He won the National Boxing Association Flyweight title in 1927.

Last fall, Cassetti debuted his original Pinky Silverberg Valley Young Gloves boxing program for area youth at the Ansonia Armory, an event that is scheduled to return later this year.

"Pinky was an inspiration for me growing up and I was intrigued by his Ansonia boxing history," said Cassetti, who was once a promising middleweight boxer himself.


This is taken from a press release from the mayor's office.

I can barely believe I missed the bear in my yard

Since I'm home recuperating from surgery I spend a lot of time working on my desktop computer. 
I happen to have a perfect view of the side yard from where I sit. 

That's how I'm able to see opportunities for wildlife photos - i.e. cardinals, blue jays, and squirrels. The camera is right next to me.

But this morning I missed seeing a perfect photo subject - a black bear cub.

Yes, a friend of ours pulled up to do some work in the house at 10:30 a.m., and the first thing he said when he came in the door is that he thought he saw a bear ambling across the road. 
He said what looked like a bear was walking, with its head down, along the hedge in the side yard - the same yard I can readily see from my desk.
Naturally I wasn't sitting here, so I didn't see the cub. I was in the kitchen.

Soon thereafter an Ansonia police officer stopped by and told us about the bear, warning us if we had animals to keep them inside. My cat never goes outside, nor does he try to escape when we open the door, thankfully.

I went on an Ansonia FB page and found a thread of Hilltop residents talking about the bear sighting.

I saw a video of the bear cub playing with a bird feeder somewhere in the vicinity on Channel 8's site.

All I can say is, dang, I missed it. I hope people just leave the bear alone and let it amble back into the woods.

Derby Public Library to host book discussion June 28

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled its next Lunchtime Book Discussion at 12:30 p.m. June 28.
The selected title is the charming novel I’ve Got Your 

Number by Sophie Kinsella.  

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier.  

She is about to marry 

her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart.  

Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but her phone is stolen.  

She spots a phone in the hotel trash can and takes it, rationalizing “finders keepers”.  

As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, she soon realizes she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.  

Fast-paced and funny, this is a tale about how modern technology changes our lives.   

Participants are asked to bring a sandwich and a friend as they “chat and chew.”  Dessert and beverages will be provided.  

Registration is requested. For more information, stop by 

the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.   

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

Griffin Hospital names Orange resident employee of year

Liz Laden of Orange was named Griffin Hospital Employee of the Year for 2017./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 700 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five years and more and announced the employee and department of the year award winners at its 47th Annual Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.

Accountable Care Organization Coordinator Elizabeth Laden of Orange was named Griffin Hospital’s 2017 Employee of the Year, and the hospital’s Surgical Services Department was named the 2017 Department of the Year.

At a “High School Yearbook” inspired celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the winners.

The celebration is held each May during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

Laden named top employee

Laden began her career at Griffin Hospital in 2005 as part of the Emergency Department, and assumed the newly created position of ACO Coordinator in the Case Management Department in 2014. 

In this role, she provides follow up assistance to patients who have visited the ED, ensuring they understand their discharge instructions, have follow up appointments with their community physicians and have filled their prescriptions.

As a result of these efforts, Laden has been able to reduce avoidable ED visits for Griffin’s ACO patient population by 32 percent. 

She is a key member of multiple hospital committees, including preferred provider meetings with area skilled nursing facilities, home care, and physical therapy partners.

Laden is also currently participating in Griffin’s Healthcare Leadership Academy program, and in the hospital’s Medical Spanish program to better communicate with her Spanish speaking clients.

The hospital's Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. 

Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” In addition to Laden, Kyle Finnucan, of the Distribution Department, Dike Miller, RN, and Tracy Volpe, RN, of The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, were finalists for the top honor.

Surgical Services named departments of the year

Griffin Hospital’s Surgical Services Department was honored with Department of the Year for effectively maintaining excellent service during renovation projects, significantly improving patient safety, and meeting ambitious financial goals for the year.

The department’s Short Term Surgery staff seamlessly transitioned to a temporary location in the hospital during construction of the new Ambulatory Surgical Suite, including creating a new unit, redesigning workflow, and collaborating with Interventional Radiology caregivers to minimize impact on start times, turnover times or inconvenience to patients, their families and surgeons.

Surgical Services has reported no Surgical Care Improvement Project infections in more than two years, and has significantly decreased sharps injuries and sterilization errors. 

The department achieved its goal of 75 percent on-time starts and surpassed savings goal. Surgical Services also increased hip replacement surgeries by 451 percent, knee replacement surgeries by 165 percent, and increased overall surgical volume by 19 percent. 

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. 

In addition to Surgical Services, Department of the Quarter winners were Planetree Programs & Services, Business Services and The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

A sweet way to celebrate my progress

I'm getting better ... I just made chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate contains potassium, and it has to be limited/avoided on a renal disease diet. 
Now it's OK to have, so I'm celebrating!

'Turnback Tuesday' features original Naugatuck Railroad

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the original Naugatuck Railroad before it merged with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroads in 1906. 
The original Naugatuck Railroad was chartered in 1845, and spanned between Bridgeport and Winsted. Construction began in 1848 and the first train ran in June of 1849. 
This image shows the railroad behind the Hallock family home. 
After the 1955 Flood in Connecticut, the railroad was relocated and ran between Thomaston and East Litchfield.


*Thanks go out to Derby Public Library for sharing this local history!

Visit Osborne Homestead in Derby on CT Open House Day

DERBY - Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Osborne Homestead Museum will participate in the 13th annual Connecticut Open House Day - a statewide celebration of art, history, and tourism -from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 10. 

During this one-day event, the museum will offer free tours featuring Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints.  

From 1-2:30 p.m. the Kellogg Environmental Center will have a special presentation and workshop on ukiyo-e.  

The ukiyo-e presentation and art workshop will pay homage to this unique Japanese art form and Francis Osborne Kellogg’s collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Learn about the history of ukiyo-e and make your own ukiyo-e—inspired art using paper crafts. 
The workshop is appropriate for all ages.  

All materials will be supplied, and there will be no fee. After the workshop, visit the museum and view its collection of Japanese prints and more Asian-influenced artwork.  

Visitors can also explore the beautiful gardens surrounding the museum.

Connecticut Open House Day is sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Tourism and is designed to broaden awareness among residents of Connecticut’s exceptional art, culture, and history.  

This special day encourages residents to become ambassadors who share their newfound discoveries with visiting family and friends.  

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

Space for the workshop is limited. Call 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov to register or for more information.  

This is a press release from CT DEEP.

CWV Post 1562 in Derby to host venison/elk dinner

DERBY - CWV Post 1562, 112 Derby Ave., will hold a Venison/Elk and Wild Boar Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

RSVP required, only limited seating. Admission: $35

Contact the Post, 203-734-9748.


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

Sterling Lion Theater Company to stage comedy in Seymour

From Facebook event page:

$10 General Admission

Reservations are suggested for priority seating, but tickets will be available at the door. (Reservations must be paid in advance to hold seats.) 

Knights of Columbus to sponsor variety show at Holy Rosary in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a variety show at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at Holy Rosary Church hall, 10 Father Salemi Drive. 
Doors open at 5:15 p.m.

Tickets are $15. 
BYOB; mixers, snacks, coffee, tea will be available.
Entertainment will be provided by a magician, Take Four barbershop quartet, and a comedian. 

For more information and tickets call John Balisciano Jr., 203-735-4293, or jbaliscianojr@aol.com, or Joe Lascari, 203-732-0633. 

Proceeds to support works of charity in the community.




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

Griffin Hospital to sponsor survivorship at Relay in Shelton

In addition to supporting Lower Naugatuck Valley’s cancer survivors through its annual 5K Walk/Run, The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital is proud to be Survivorship Sponsor of the 2017 Relay For Life of Naugatuck Valley set Saturday and Sunday at the Riverwalk in Shelton.

Relay For Life is an overnight walk-a-thon that raises funds for the American Cancer Society’s cancer education and research.

Griffin Hospital recently hosted a dinner for area cancer survivors and caregivers, and is providing support with the event’s survivor recognition activities, including its survivor luncheon at the Relay and the Hope Tent, which offers food, refreshments and free massages for cancer survivors and caregivers.

The Relay For Life of Naugatuck Valley will have entertainment for families for 18 hours and there are many opportunities for volunteer hours. 
Contact Kristen Ostrowski at NVRelayEventChair@gmail.com for more information. 
If you would like to join or support the Relay For Life of Naugatuck Valley, visit relayforlife.org/naugatuckvalleyct.

The Ninth Annual 5K Walk/Run to Benefit the Center for Cancer Care is set for Sept. 30 at the Center, 350 Seymour Ave.,  Derby. 
For more information, visit griffinhealth.org/5K.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Ride for Children slated Sunday in Oxford

6th annual Pedal for PCRC

Cyclists participate in last year's event./ Contributed photo

Do you love cycling events? Do you want to support children and families in your community? 
If you said yes, you should join the Ride for Children at Quarry Walk! 

The Ride for Children at Quarry Walk, sixth annual Pedal for PCRC, will be held Sunday. It leaves from Quarry Walk in Oxford. 

Riders can choose from three routes, 15, 32, or 50 miles. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:15 a.m.  

The ride benefits the Parent Child Resource Center, which provides innovative mental health services, prevention, and early intervention programs for more than 1,000 children and families in the Valley and beyond. 

The Ride for Children hopes to raise $60,000 this year! Cyclists are encouraged to form teams and collect donations online. 

Registration fee is $50 per cyclist and includes T-shirt, food, and beverage. 

Register today at www.bhcare.org or call Joy DeMarchis, 203-736-2601 x1856.

The Ride for Children at Quarry Walk is sponsored by Haynes Development and Quarry Walk.

PCRC, a division of BHcare, provides hope and help for children, adolescents, teens, and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. 

Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Trash collection schedule in Ansonia posted

Sharing info from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

"Trash and Recycle pick up will be one day behind this week. If your normal pick up day is before the holiday, there will be no change in pick up day. 
If your normal pick up day is ON or AFTER the holiday, your pickup day will be ONE DAY BEHIND. 

"(Example: Monday pick up will be on Tuesday, Tuesday pick up will be on Wednesday, Wednesday pickup will be on Thursday, Thursday pick up will be on Friday, Friday pick up will be on Saturday)."

Almost $300K raised for Valley nonprofits during The Great Give

DERBY - The Valley Community Foundation announced that with the help of Valley residents, employees, and VCF donor advised fund holders during The Great Give® 2017 nearly $300,000 was raised for nonprofit organizations located in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, or Shelton. 
The total amount includes $25,000 in matching funds and prizes provided by VCF and others, which were shared during the fifth annual celebratory ice cream social May 25.
“Of the nearly $1.3 million raised in The Great Give® 2017, approximately 25 percent will be specifically distributed for the benefit of Valley residents,” said Sharon Closius, President and CEO of the Valley Community Foundation. 
“It is truly inspiring to see this level of sustained support for local nonprofits, especially those here in the Valley.” 

For the fifth consecutive year, VCF has been the second largest sponsor of the event, incentivizing giving by matching funds and offering prizes to participating organizations.

This year, Valley-based organizations won multiple special prizes awarded throughout The Great Give® 2017, which was announced at the ice cream social. 

A total of $25,000 in prizes were awarded by VCF during The Great Give® 2017 to organizations located in the Valley. 

VCF awarded two prizes, the first to the Valley Independent Sentinel for greatest total number of Valley donors and the second to St. Mary-St. Michael School for the greatest number of new Valley donors. Both organizations also received additional prizes. The Valley Independent Sentinel received $250 as an Early Bird prize and St. Mary-St. Michael School received an additional $750 as a result of two hourly prizes. 

For the second year in a row, the Liberty Bank Foundation sponsored a prize in the amount of $2,000 for the Valley-based organization supporting basic needs that attracted the greatest number of individual donors during a specified time, which was presented to TEAM, Inc.

Center Stage Theatre was awarded a second place overall Grand Prize from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven for most money raised by an organization with less than five full-time staff in addition to a $1,000 Early Bird Prize. 

BHCare was also awarded a second place overall Grand Prize for the most money raised by an organization with more than five full-time staff. 

Derby Day Care, Shelton High School Robotics Team, and Shelton Historical Society also received money as a result of competitive hourly prizes.

The Great Give® is the annual online giving event on giveGreater.org®, a local resource for learning and giving created in 2010 by VCF’s partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to increase philanthropy in the Greater New Haven region of South Central Connecticut. Overall, The Great Give® 2017 generated nearly $1.3 million, including matching funds and prizes from the two foundations and other generous community sponsors for nonprofits serving the 20-town region of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which includes VCF’s five-town service area. 

There were more than 8,000 donors who gave more than 11,000 gifts. 

To see participating nonprofits and prize information, visit www.thegreatgive.org.

This is a press release from Valley Community Foundation.

Goose rounds out the garden 'family'

Following up on previous post: 

My artistic friend also refurbished our goose. The pink collar is for breast cancer awareness. 

A special delivery arrived today

An artistic and extremely thoughtful friend absconded with my faded, aging garden gnomes when I was in the hospital for my surgery. 
Today he returned them, freshly painted and refurbished. He even created new limbs for two who sadly lost their limbs to the snow blower a few years ago.

This is Fred. He has a pet frog.

  The turtle is looking a bit faded and worn now. He might  need some work.

  I may have to separate these two. 

          This is my greeter. I'll name him Greg.

This guy is my oldest gnome. He was a gift many years ago from my late mother - and the only ceramic one I have.


This was a special delivery I'll never forget!

Shelton fire company to hold community tag sale Saturday

SHELTON - Pine Rock Park Volunteer Fire Department Company 4 will hold a Community Tag Sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. The event is rain or shine.

     $25 for a 10’ X 10’ space

$5 table rental  (limited quantity)

*Also accepting donations for the fire department table.

For more information: email grandpagum04@gmail.com, or call Al, 203-583-1591, or Mark, 203-258-3103

A day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation

Quiet afternoon at home

Linus keeps me company as I recuperate. He's a helper.

Happy unofficial start of summer!

For my friends who love the beach 

These two dudes always make me smile. :)

Derby Public Library to mark birthday of Holton Harcourt Wood

DERBY - The Derby Public Library will commemorate the birthday of Holton Harcourt Wood, the young boy in whose memory the Library was built, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 

H. Harcourt Wood

June 19. 

The Library will be decorated with flowers in compliance with Col. H. Holton Wood’s request, which he made at the dedication of the Library in 1902.  
At that time he asked that flowers be placed throughout the Library every year on the birth date of his son. 
His request has been honored ever since.  

Several years ago, the Library added the tradition of commemorating this special day with a birthday cake. 
This time-honored tradition has become well known over the years, not only throughout the Valley, but well beyond. It has been written about in the New York Times.

A memorial plaque in Harcourt’s memory is displayed at the front entrance of the Library.  
The public is invited to visit throughout the day for cake and to learn more about the history of the Library.  

The library is at 313 Elizabeth St.

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