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.