Thursday, April 20, 2017

Newsletter highlights Earth Day celebration in Ansonia, award for Derby resident


Dear readers,

The latest Valley Voice is out. It features Anam Cara Holistic Center in Ansonia and a much-deserved humanitarian award for Derby resident Jack Walsh.

Please check it out here.

Thanks for reading,

~Patti and Ralph

Logan, Gentile to host coffee hour Friday at Valley Diner in Derby


Ansonia to mark National Day of Prayer

ANSONIA - The Mayor’s Office welcomes all to celebrate the 66th National Day of Prayer with a public observance scheduled for May 4 in Veterans’ Memorial Park adjacent to City Hall on Main Street.
The observance will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., rain or shine. 
In the event of rain, it will be moved to the Aldermanic Chambers in City Hall.


This observance is a result of the joint resolution in the United States Congress in 1952, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

“Prayer gatherings will be taking place all day and evening throughout our nation,” said Mayor David S. Cassetti. “I encourage all residents to stop by Veterans’ Park and enjoy a moment of prayer.”

The Governor’s Proclamation will be read by Cassetti. 

“We are very thankful to have Ansonia residents Pat and Larry Boemmels as National Day of Prayer local organizers,” said Cassetti. 
This marks the fourth annual National Day of Prayer at Veterans’ Park.

The 2017 theme is:

For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us…Forgive Us…Heal Us



Talk tech issues at Derby Public Library


DERBY - The Derby Public Library offers monthly Tech Time sessions.  
Every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and every third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. a staff member will be on hand to answer your tech-related questions and concerns.  

Whether you are having trouble downloading e-books, searching databases, completing on-line job applications, scanning/sending documents and photos, etc., your problems will be addressed.  
Sessions will be held May 17 at 6:30 p.m. and May 18 at 10 a.m.  
No registration is needed.  
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.

Ansonia High School Class of '17 to hold fundraiser

Proceeds will support a senior trip and end-of-year events.

Holistic center in downtown Ansonia to host Earth Day event


Wellness for Life program slated at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital is offering its lifestyle change program Wellness for Life starting June 13./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital is helping individuals make the change for a healthier life this summer with its Wellness for Life program.
Wellness for Life is a 12-week, evidence-based lifestyle change program that helps prevent and treat many chronic diseases. 
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 80 percent of chronic diseases, like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, can be prevented with better lifestyle choices in nutrition, activity and emotional health.
Starting June 13 from 1-3:30 p.m., the program offers a custom fitness evaluation, individual nutritional guidance, one-on-one coaching, and small, interactive health seminars so participants can make a commitment to a healthier life. 

Each participant also receives a Fitbit, which helps track participants’ activity, sleep patterns and food intake.
“Making changes for a healthy lifestyle isn’t easy – it requires one-on-one guidance and on-going support,” said Wellness for Life Program Director Eunice Lisk. “This program helps people assess their lifestyle, provides them with a personalized plan to increase vitality and gives one-on-one and group support every step of the way to better health.”
Wellness for Life focuses on hands-on learning, featuring an activity monitor, health coaching, and weekly group sessions to establish healthy weight control, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, better sleep and energy, and increased personal strength and resilience.

Since its start in 2015, Wellness for Life participants have seen significant weight loss and reductions in blood pressure, and the program has received high satisfaction scores from participants in meeting expectations and for presentations by the expert speakers.
Wellness for Life meets on Tuesdays from 1-3:30 p.m. at the new Occupational Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, 10 Progress Drive, Shelton.

For more information about Wellness for Life, visit griffinhealth.org or call Program Director Eunice Lisk, MS, at 203-732-7107.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Gentile lauds House passage of safe havens bill

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby), announced Wednesday a bill she co-sponsored to strengthen protections for individuals caring for infants in the custody of the Department of Children and Families under the state's safe haven program, has passed the House of Representatives.
State Rep. Linda Gentile


““The Safe Havens program is one that has supported women in some of the most desperate moments of their lives,” Gentile said. 
“With Safe Haven, mothers and parents can make decisions with peace of mind and know that their child is protected. I will continue to support anything we can do to improve and strengthen the safe haven law and this bill does just that.”

House Bill #7121 makes various changes to the state's safe haven law: 


  • Requires the Department of Children and Families to identify an adoptive parent for a safe haven infant within one business day of receiving notice of the infant's surrender
  • Specifies circumstances under which DCF may require DNA tests to determine the infant's parentage
  • Limits the circumstances in which DCF may remove a safe haven infant from a prospective adoptive parent's home 
  • Clarifies the information a hospital employee may disclose about a safe haven surrender if he or she believes the infant was abused or neglected
  • Prohibits DCF from disclosing information about the parents of a safe haven infant to a prospective adoptive parent or foster parent without a court order unless otherwise required by law


Since its passage in 2000, Connecticut’s Safe Havens law has saved 27 infants from abandonment and near certain death. The law allows anyone to drop off a newborn baby (30 days old or younger) at any hospital emergency room in Connecticut. 
The person dropping off the baby will remain anonymous, and the police will not be called. 


This is a press release from Gentile's office.