54th annual firemen's carnival on tap in Beacon Falls

A community tradition starts Thursday

Information shared from a Facebook event page:


- WHAT: The continuation of a tradition that stretches back to 1963, where we bring together old friends and new neighbors for fun, food, music, rides and camaraderie
- WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, June 8-10
- WHERE: Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 (35 North Main St., Beacon Falls)
- WHY: Our volunteer fire department and EMS service's biggest annual fundraiser to help fund our many programs, including fire prevention, scholarships, youth sports sponsorships, holiday celebrations, community events, opportunities for our volunteers and more

Ansonia High School's Top 10 graduates congratulated

Sharing this post from Ansonia High School Principal Terri D. Goldson, Sr.'s Facebook page. He is pictured with his Top Ten students.

Goldson wrote:
"Ansonia High School's TOP TEN were honored last night. All are heading to college, we wish them luck and expect nothing but great things in the future. Congratulations to the families, teachers, community and all who inspired them to be high achievers."

Gentile hails House passage of Safe Haven legislation

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, said today she is pleased a bill she supported to educate parents about Safe Haven laws has passed the House of Representatives on a 127-73 vote.

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

“The Safe Havens program has been there for young women in some of the most desperate moments of their lives,” Gentile said. “Sometimes young mothers are not aware of all their options, but this bill will ensure that women are informed about the safe haven program and laws. The more people are educated about the Safe Haven program, the more infants can be saved from abandonment.”

House Bill #7273 will:

• Teach Safe Haven laws in schools to avoid tragic consequences of young mothers not being aware of all of their options. 
• Require the Department of Children and Families to provide the state Board of Education with instructional materials relating to the safe haven 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. 

The bill also allows the state Board of Education to issue an occupation instructor permit to an applicant that is under contract or employed by a private occupational school to teach nursing.

The bill will now be heard before the Senate.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.  

Classic cars to shine in Father's Day show at Shelton History Center

This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible is a staple each year at the classic car show./ Submitted photo 

SHELTON - Enjoy a day with Dad and Granddad peeking under the hoods of the cars they remember from their youth at the Shelton Historical Society’s Vintage Vehicles Antique and Classic Car Show on Father’s Day, June 18.  

Two wheels or four, from Model Ts to muscle cars, there’s bound to be something that will trigger a memory from every visitor.  

This annual event will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road. 

Past shows have featured everything from a 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom, to a restored rickshaw that was used as an ambulance in the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, to a 1911 wood paneled Model T. 

Sometimes a fire truck shows up; a 2016 entry included a penny farthing, or high-wheeled bicycle.  

Nearly every decade of transportation history from the 20th century has been illustrated on the shaded grounds of the Shelton History Center with more recent muscle cars, Mustangs, and Army Jeeps joining many Ford Model As and Ts. 

All vehicle owners generously share information, their cars, and their hobby with the public. Sponsors of this year’s show include the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club and the Valley Community Foundation.  

There is still time for owners of antique and classic vehicles of all kinds to register to participate in this special event.  

Entry forms may be found at www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or by calling 203-925-1803.  Registration costs $10.  

A new award category for Most Unique was added for this year so six prizes will be presented to crowd favorites.      Proceeds from last year’s show benefitted repairs and improvements to the Brownson House that had been damaged during a rainstorm in late October 2015.  

The house was recently reopened to the public with a completed 1913 appearance and will be available for tours along with the other buildings at Shelton History Center.

Visitors will enjoy refreshments and voting for their favorite vehicles. 

Admission is $1 for dads, $5/adults and $10/family of four. PProceeds will benefit the educational programs of the Shelton Historical Society, whose mission is to “preserve elements of the community’s history in order to create connections between Shelton’s past, present, and future generations through education, maintaining a museum with its collections, and providing a voice in the community 

regarding matters of historical significance.”

For additional information including directions, call 203-925-1803, visit the website listed above or see www.facebook.com/SheltonHistoricalSociety.   

This is a press release from Shelton Historical Society.

   

My Sister's Place in Ansonia seeks donations of packing materials

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host meet-and-greet with animal medical service

DERBY - People and Animals Working in Spirit (P.A.W.S.), Griffin Hospital’s Pet Therapy Program, will host a meet-and-greet with the Connecticut Emergency Animal Response Service (EARS) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 17 in the hospital parking lot, 130 Division St.

EARS is a team of volunteer first responders trained for rapid-response to "all-hazard" animal emergencies within Connecticut. 

The organization focuses on disaster response, emergency transport, technical rescue and training pet owners how to respond to an emergency.

The meet-and-greet will feature the EARS Rescue 2 Animal Ambulance, and information on pet safety and the organization’s training programs.

For more information about EARS, visit earsct.org.

The event is open to the public. 

For more information, call PAWS Coordinator Ruth Tuccio, 203-732-1298.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Gentile applauds House passage of workforce development bill

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, applauds the House passage of a bill she co-sponsored that supports workforce development initiatives in the state.

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

“In order to improve the effectiveness of our workforce development, we have to evaluate our economy and study the ways in which we can strengthen our labor force,” Gentile said. 

“Connecticut needs to focus on creating job opportunities through education and training and this bill will work to provide the necessary services that will help Connecticut be competitive and prosperous.”

Senate Bill #5590 will: 

• Allow the commissioner to establish a working group to review business support services in the state. The working group would review the services offered by such agencies and consider ways to better coordinate such services that will benefit businesses in the state. 
• Require the labor commissioner to develop and implement a universal intake form that each person entering any American Job Center or regional workforce development board facility must complete.
• Create the Connecticut Early College Opportunity program (CT-ECO), which is defined as collaboration between a school district's high schools, a local community college, and a company or business entity where a student may earn an industry-recognized, two-year post-secondary degree in addition to a high school diploma.

The bill now heads to the governor's desk to be signed into law.     

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Birthday bash in Derby to benefit fund at Valley Community Foundation

A message from Marc J. Garofalo: 

Dear Family and Friends, 

Thirty years ago this August, my father took me to Italy for the first time. 
The trip was one of the significant experiences of my life. We didn’t go to Rome, Naples, Florence or Venice. We stayed in the hometown of our ancestors and it was life changing. When you experience the everyday culture of a place, your eyes are opened to sights you never imagined. 

As I walked the same streets as so many generations of my family, I wanted everyone to share this type of cultural experience at least once in their lives. 
I was very lucky growing up that my parents exposed us to diverse experiences - live theater, music, the World Series, good food, bus trips, professional football, European adventures, and other priceless memories that we carry with us today. 

As the first half century of my life comes to a close, I want to celebrate it forward for future generations by establishing a charitable fund at the Valley Community Foundation. 
The Marc J. Garofalo Cultural Experience Fund will help young people of Derby and vicinity enjoy a unique experience that they might not choose or could not afford. It is not a scholarship, but a vehicle to open the minds and hearts of the next generation by sponsoring a cultural experience that will inspire a lifetime of passion and learning. 

My hope is that the opportunity of a new or diverse adventure may change someone’s world or simply create a great memory to cherish forever. 
This is the inspiration of the Fund and the spirit with which I offer it to the next generation. What better way to get the ball rolling than to host a night of experiences with you! We will have a cabaret stage show with live music and singers, some great stories, some bad jokes, a DJ for dancing, raffles, a silent and live auction, and other surprises. I do not want any gifts. 
The event is a BYO food and drinks. We will be serving special desserts and coffee for your enjoyment. I hope you share my passion and will share generously to make this dream a reality. 

I look forward to seeing you on June 16, 2017 for a cultural experience 50 years in the making. 

Sincerely, 
Marc J. Garofalo

Annual Bike Night at Valley Diner in Derby to benefit West Haven child

Eva Grace Kelly of West Haven suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disorder. 

Sharing from the Facebook page of Missy Lombardo Kelly, Eva's mom:

"Now that Eva's handicap van is FINALLY paid off, we need to move on to bigger things. Our next goal is to raise money towards the out of pocket cost to have Eva's ceiling lift put in our home to safely move her from her bed into the tub.

"Although insurance covers most of it, there is a cap on what they will pay leaving us with a balance of $3,800. After that expense is covered, we're looking into expanding Eva's bedroom to allow for extra room for equipment and supplies."