Recuperation journey: Fiery sunset

Since I had been home all day (napping and such) I thought I should get out for a few minutes this evening. 
I was rewarded when I ventured out with this view of an amazing sunset seen from Main Street, Ansonia.

Lodge in Ansonia seeking donations of school supplies for Valley students

Update to July 26 post: James H. Wilkins Lodge #9 member Gregory Gatison said in an email this week: 

"We are running behind on our school supplies drive. Pocket folders and notebooks [are what] we sorely need the most and they seem to be in short supply in the stores."


ANSONIA - Members of the James H. Wilkins Lodge #9 are once again asking the community's help in outfitting Ansonia and Derby students for back to school. 

The organization has been collecting school supplies for needy children since 2005.

Lodge member Gregory Gatison said in an email this week that six schools have sought support for a total of 361 at-risk students. 

The schools include Irving and Bradley elementary schools and Derby Middle School in Derby, and John C. Mead and John G. Prendergast elementary schools and Ansonia Middle in Ansonia.

"We intend to fulfill each school's request," Gatison said. "I am trying to reach out to new donors."

He said binders and binder paper, pencils, and pocket folders are the most important items to collect. 

Donations need to be delivered to the Lodge, 150 Tremont St., before Aug. 20. 
For information contact James Hodge, 203-735-7549 or Gatison, 203-685-0937. 

Checks or money orders should be sent to James H. Wilkins Lodge #9, P.O. Box 36, Ansonia, 06401.

SCHOOL  SUPPLIES  REQUEST  LIST  2017

BINDERS, 3 RING                          75 each

BINDER PAPER                             1,500 sheets

COLORED PENCILS                       72 packs

CONSTRUCTION PAPER                19 packs

CRAYONS                                     105 packs

DRY ERASE MARKERS                    60 packs

GLUE STICKS                                20 packs 

INDEX CARDS                                420 each

MARKERS, BLACK                         600 each

MARKERS, COLORED                     42 packs

NOTEBOOKS                                 650 each

PENCILS                                        2,100 each

PENS                                             350 each 

POCKET FOLDERS                         2,000 each

Drug awareness 5K fundraiser slated Aug. 31 at Shelton Riverwalk

SHELTON - Fight Against Drugs Everywhere will hold its third annual drug awareness 5K run/walk at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Shelton Pavilion & Riverwalk.

Proceeds will benefit BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention and Wellness.

This year’s event is being held on International Overdose Awareness Day.

It will include: a professionally-timed sunset 5K run, kids 1-mile fun run, live music, resource fair, and will conclude with a candlelight remembrance ceremony. 

Names will be read of loved ones lost by overdose. People may submit names the day of the event to be read aloud.

Drug overdose rates have skyrocketed in the United States over the last 15 years. Drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths continue to rise at an alarming rate. 

More than 120 people die every day in the U.S. from an opioid overdose. Both prescription painkillers and heroin are contributing to this phenomenon.  

Last year, Connecticut lost 917 residents from drug overdoses.

FADE 5K run/walk is being held to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and overdoses, acknowledge and support the grief felt by families and friends who have lost a loved one, provide hope to families who have a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder, and to provide local prevention and treatment resources.

FADE founder Julie Markarian said, “The pain of losing a child to opioid use disorder is a feeling that only people who have been through it can understand, but it is a potential reality that everyone should be aware of. I tragically lost my son, Stephen Medeiros, to a drug overdose five years ago and really wanted to keep his memory alive and help other families not feel shameful or alone when having a family member struggle or die from a substance use disorder.”

Participants who register by Aug. 15 can run/walk in memory of a loved one. 

Register at http://bit.ly/faderunwalk17.

The Alliance for Prevention & Wellness, a program of BHcare, is one of Connecticut’s Regional Action Council, whose mission is to foster positive mental health by preventing substance misuse and other health-risk behaviors, and by building resources that promote wellness. 

For more information, please visit www.APW-CT.org.

This is a press release from The Alliance for Prevention and Wellness.

  

Family Fun and Health Day slated at Derby Green Farmer's Market

  Photo from the 2016 Derby Green Farmer's Market. 

Sharing info from a Facebook event page:
DERBY - Derby Green Farmer's Market will host a Family Fun and Health Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. The Green is on Elizabeth Street.

Not only can people purchase healthy food for the week, but they can also listen to music, play fun kids games with face painting, do yoga, get a balloon animal made just for them, and attend story time. 

There will be free blood pressure screenings, and healthy living and nutrition activities. 
The Derby Fire Department will also be there to do a Touch-a-Truck event.