Derby official collecting paper goods for St. Vincent De Paul in April

Written Words Bookstore in Shelton to host author talk

SHELTON - Joe and Rose Kennedy’s strikingly beautiful daughter, Rosemary, attended exclusive schools, was presented as a debutante to the queen of England, and traveled the world with her high-spirited sisters. 

Yet Rosemary was intellectually disabled, a secret fiercely guarded by her powerful and glamorous family. 

In Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter, author and historian Kate Clifford Larson uses newly uncovered sources to bring Rosemary Kennedy’s story to light. 

Young Rosemary comes alive as a sweet, lively girl adored by her siblings. But Larson also reveals the often desperate and duplicitous arrangements the Kennedys made to keep her away from home as she became increasingly difficult in her early twenties, culminating in Joe’s decision to have Rosemary lobotomized at age 23 and the family’s complicity in keeping the secret. Only years later did the Kennedy siblings begin to understand what had happened to Rosemary, which inspired them to direct government attention and resources to the plight of the developmentally and mentally disabled, transforming the lives of millions. 

Larson will be at Written Words Bookstore, 415 Howe Ave. at 2 p.m. April 23 for an appearance and signing of her book, Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter (Mariner Books • 2015).

The event is free and open to the public. Books presented for signing must be purchased at the event from Written Words Bookstore. 

For more information, contact 203-944-0400.

This is a press release from Dorothy Sim-Broder, owner, Written Words Bookstore.

Pardon my French, but ...

being sick sucks.

And being sick when you are a caregiver sucks more.

And what really takes the cake is when you end up giving your patient whatever you have. Husband Ralph is sick now, courtesy of me.

I've been composing this blog post in my head for several days as I have been spending most of my time lying in bed.

I realize it's just a dry cough, runny nose, lose your voice, body ache kind of situation. 
And there are much more serious things with which to deal ... and we do. 

Ironically it seems easier to deal with bigger issues; Ralph has a form of Muscular Dystrophy and it almost seems more manageable than the "common cold." After more than 20 years of him using a wheelchair, it's part of our daily routine.

We normally put together a newsletter on Mondays but today just was not the day. We had to call in sick - to each other.

Here's hoping we'll both feel better tomorrow so we can return to doing what we need to do.

Church in Seymour to hold dinner, raffle basket fundraiser

SEYMOUR - Seymour Congregational Church will sponsor a turkey dinner and raffle basket extravaganza from 5:30-7 p.m. April 29 at the church, 45 Broad St.

Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.; cost is $14 for adults.

Basket raffle is at 7 p.m.

For information call 203-888-6729.