Recuperation journey: Guest photo shoot

Hi - This isn't really my journey, but it did occur during what I consider my "recuperation period." 
First six months post-transplant is the most crucial...I think! And it has only been 4.5 months.

Daughter Allegra had an eventful walk in our quiet neighborhood this evening. 
She was startled by some local wildlife in a storm drain. 

She said the little guy (or gal) popped out and back in, and hoped he (or she) wasn't stuck.

This pic's a little blurry - I'd imagine the photographer was a bit startled - but you can see two little heads poking out from the drain. They look like twins. Siblings? Husband and wife? Mother and daughter? Who knows.
I'm glad Allegra had her phone with her to capture these fun photos for me to post.  

Recuperation journey: Tonight's sky

Luckily captured this stunning sky. Photo is straight out of the camera.

Here is the sky a few minutes later from a slightly different angle...also straight out of the camera. 
I like the purple glow above the setting sun.

Naugatuck Valley Health District offers flu clinics at senior centers

The Naugatuck Valley Health District will offer influenza vaccine clinics to residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, and Shelton during the months of September, October and November. 

All residents are welcome to any of the clinics listed; appointments are not necessary.

The Naugatuck Valley Health District office is located at 98 Bank St., Seymour, and serves residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, and Shelton.

Clinic schedules are also posted on the NVHD website at www.nvhd.org.


This is a press release from Naugatuck Valley Health District.

7 Ansonia aldermen support bi-partisan state budget

Sharing letter received today:

We write to urge the Governor to sign the bi-partisan budget, which was passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate and House on Sept. 15-16, 2017.  

Under this bi-partisan budget, in FY2018 the City of Ansonia will receive the same funding in education funding as it did in 2017, which was already anticipated by the City.  

However, in FY 2019, Ansonia would receive an additional $2,258,339.00 over 2017 funding.  Ansonia is one of the 30 alliance/priority districts, and yet has been massively underfunded for more than a decade through the current ECS formula, which was found unconstitutional in 2016.  

Under the bi-partisan budget in FY2018, Ansonia will receive approximately an additional $7,488 in municipal aid funding over 2017.  However, in FY2019 Ansonia will receive an additional $2,143,171 over FY2017.  This increased funding to Ansonia is necessary for our community to continue to ensure and support the health, safety, education, and well-being of our community, and our children.  

We wholeheartedly support the steps taken in this bi-partisan budget to restore equity and balance to a broken education funding system.  

No budget is perfect but we are encouraged that this bi-partisan budget is a starting point for the renewal of the financial health of the State of Connecticut and a path to sustainable and consistent funding to municipalities such as Ansonia.  

This bi-partisan budget is good for our community, good for our schools, and good for Ansonia.  

We are asking all the residents of Ansonia to join with us in supporting this budget, and urging our Governor and our elected officials in Hartford to support this budget.  

Together we can continue to recharge Ansonia and keep our city moving in the right direction.  

Respectfully,

Lorie Vaccaro, 2nd Ward Alderman

Martin Dempsey, 4tth Ward Alderman

Joseph A. Jaumann, 5th Ward Alderman

Patrick Henri, 6th Ward Alderman

Joshua Shuart, 6th Ward Alderman

Frank Delibero, 7th Ward Alderman 

David Blackwell, 7th Ward Alderman    

BHcare, agencies to host presentation on gambling at Orange venue

ORANGE - BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness along with Middlesex County Substance Abuse Council, South Central CT Substance Abuse Council, Problem Gambling Services, and DMHAS will host “The Intersection of Youth Gaming and Gambling” Sept. 28 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Grassy Hill Country Club.

This free presentation will explore youth gambling, gaming, and Internet use and how they relate to other risk behaviors. 

Guest speakers include: Marc Potenza, PhD, MD, Professor of Psychiatry in the Child Study Center and of Neuroscience, Director, Center of Excellence in Gambling Research, Yale University School of Medicine; Rayallen Berman, B.S. Program Coordinator, Southeastern Regional Action Council; Jeremy Wampler, LCSW, LADC Program Director DMHAS Problem Gambling Services and Pam Mautte, Director, Alliance for Prevention & Wellness. 

CEUs are available. Register today at: http://bit.ly/youthgambling2017. 

For more information contact Christelle Aube, 475-222-6035/sccsac@aol.com, Pam Mautte, 203-736-8566/pmautte@bhcare.org, or Betsey Chadwick, 860-347-5959/betsey@mcsaac.org.

The Alliance for Wellness and Prevention is a program of BHcare. For more information, visit www.APW-CT.org.

This is a press release from BHcare, a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven, and Shoreline communities.  

For more information, visit www.bhcare.org.

Volunteer singers sought for 'soulful' holiday concert in Valley

My husband and I attended a Shoreline Soul performance in 2010 at the First Congregational Church of Madison. A friend sang in the choir and invited us. 
The concert was fantastic! We really enjoyed it. Angela Clemmons is such a talented professional.

Smoke in the Valley on tap Oct. 7 in Seymour

SEYMOUR - Smoke in the Valley returns Oct. 7 to Katharine Matthies Field. 

Connecticut's largest beer fest, it will feature a Homebrew Competition, beer from more than 30 local, regional, and national breweries, and a VIP ticket tent with early access at noon. 


There will be exclusive beers such as Oud Beersel Lambics (Sour), Durchese De Bourgogne (Sour), De Dolle, Delirium, La Trappe, and more. 

The event is 21 and over and there are unlimited samples. 

In addition there will be food trucks, artisan vendors, and live music from CK3, Fingersleeve, Quicksand Planet, and more.

*Sharing information from a Facebook event page.

Lodge to hold benefit car show at Seymour High School

Annual Shelton Day to feature food, crafts, info booths

   A bird's eye view of a previous Shelton Day. 

SHELTON - The annual Shelton Day street festival is almost here. 
The fair will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 1 along Howe Avenue. 
It features approximately 150 booths featuring food, crafts, interactive activities, and information. 
There also will be multiple stages featuring live entertainment including music and magic.