12th annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive kicks off in Valley

Pictured from left in 2017: Ross James, Jennifer Sneider, and John Mudgett of J Cuts, Shelton; Amy LaChomia of TEAM, Inc., Derby and Ansonia; and Joy DeMarchis./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Once again, J-Cuts barber shop is opening its doors welcoming stuffed monkeys for children in need of smiles and a new friend to warm their hearts on Valentine’s Day.

During the past 11 years, more than 10,832 plush monkeys have been collected and distributed to children.

This annual community event benefits abused and neglected children, impoverished, adopted and sick children, children involved in domestic police situations, as well as children who may feel a little left out when a younger sibling is born and children treated for cancer or other illnesses at local hospitals.

Jennifer Sneider, owner of J-Cuts barber shop at 505 Howe Ave., organizes the drive every year. She said she is always amazed by the outpouring of kindness from the community.

Donations may be dropped off or mailed to J-Cuts from now through Feb. 10.

“Every year more and more people join in,” Sneider said. “Now that this collection is well established, monkeys find their way to J-Cuts throughout the year. When people see stuffed monkeys for sale, they think of children in need.”

“This is my eighth year being involved,” Sneider said. “We have so much fun. My customers, co-workers and family all love to get involved!  We decorate the barber shop in anticipation of a whole bunch of monkeys moving in for a little while. It is an amazing feeling to know each and every one of these monkeys will find comfort in the arms of a child in need and children will find comfort in these monkeys.”

Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St., Ansonia, is collecting again this year.  

Also collecting is the newly opened Country Cottage gift shop, 710 Derby Ave., which is conveniently located off of route 8 north, exit 20, in Seymour.    

Last year, for a fourth year in a row, the Milford Fire Department dropped off donations along with Bright Horizons child care center, 3 Corporate Drive.

Children benefited by the drive last year are served by the Lower Naugatuck Valley (Shelton) Boys & Girls Club, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital in New Haven, TEAM Inc. in Derby and Ansonia; and BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia.

For more information, call 203-924-4107.

J-Cuts also coordinates an Annual Back-To-School Book Bag & School Supply Drive which begins July 1t.

This is taken from a press release from drive organizers.

My Sister's Place thrift store in Ansonia posts winter schedule

Sharing information from Facebook:

Griffin Hospital in Derby seeks volunteers for MS, insomnia study

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center at Griffin Hospital seek volunteers for a study on Multiple Sclerosis and insomnia./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center, both at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., are seeking volunteers for a study on Multiple Sclerosis and insomnia.

This study will compare mindfulness meditation to sleep hygiene counseling in treating insomnia and improving quality of life in individuals with MS.

“Many people with MS suffer from chronic insomnia, and some of the medications used to treat insomnia can have adverse effects,” said Joseph B. Guarnaccia, MD, Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center director. 
“Therefore, it is desirable to find alternative treatments for insomnia. The potential role of mindfulness - which is focusing full attention on the present moment without judgment - in affecting sleep has not yet been studied in people with MS.”

To participate, volunteers must be adults with a diagnosis of MS who suffer from chronic insomnia. 
They must be willing to come to Griffin Hospital for three assessments throughout the study, and to attend a weekly, two-hour training session for eight weeks and one eight-hour weekend session, and wear a Fitbit activity monitor (provided to volunteers) for several weeks to record their sleep data. 

Volunteers will be randomly assigned to training on either mindfulness or sleep hygiene, which will be offered at either Griffin Hospital or the Yale Stress Center.  
They will receive $200 for their role in the training and assessment, which will be provided free of charge. 
This study is funded by a grant from the state of Connecticut’s Biomedical Research Trust Fund.  

For information, call 203-732-1265, ext. 220 for Sue, or ext. 300 for Rocky.

About The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is committed to research pertaining to the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic disease that is responsive to the priorities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley residents, the residents of Connecticut’s major cities, and other communities throughout the state. 
The center is dedicated to participatory research methods, to a robust research agenda inclusive of developmental/determinant, intervention, and translational research; to community involvement in public health; to the eradication of disparities in health and health care in the communities served; and to the dissemination of effective interventions in support of the national objectives of Healthy People 2010.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Ansonia to hold grand opening of winter playground Sunday

The park is off of Crowley Street. 

Cassetti shares text of Ansonia Code Red Alert message

The following Code Red Alert message will be sent to Ansonia residents from Mayor David S. Cassetti: (see www.cityofansonia.com to register for Code Red Alerts)

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DUE TO SEVERE WINTER WEATHER BEING FORECASTED THERE WILL BE A 24 HOUR CITY-WIDE PARKING BAN BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. ALL CARS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM CITY STREETS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOLAN FIELD, PINE LOT, COLONY PARK, LINETT PARK, CHRIST'S CHURCH AND EAST AND WEST MAIN PARKING LOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL CITY BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4.

FINALLY, THERE WILL BE A TWO DAY DELAY IN TRASH PICK UP DUE TO THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WARM.

David S. Cassetti
Mayor, City of Ansonia
253 Main Street
(203) 736-5900

*Taken from a post on the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Wesley Village to offer virtual dementia tour at event in Trumbull

SHELTON - Are you struggling to understand your loved one’s dementia? 

Are the challenges they are facing a mystery to you? 

Experience the 
Wesley Village Virtual Dementia Tour™ and walk in their shoes. 
The Shelton senior living campus is offering this “simulation tool” Jan. 18 at the Trumbull Marriot, 180 Hawley Lane,Trumbull. 

Experts from the Lifestyle Transitions Specialized Assisted Living and Memory Support Community at Wesley Village will serve as your guides. Sessions will be offered at 4, 5 or 6 p.m. 
To reserve your space or to learn more, contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024 or lbisson@umh.org. Space is limited.

To learn more about Lifestyle Transitions and its expansion opening this Spring, visit Wesley Village for an Open House from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 21, 580 Long Hill Ave. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Recuperation journey: Back to Brooklyn

Happy to report our son, Cameron, who had an accident riding his bike on a beautiful Sunday in October and needed surgery to repair a broken hip, is back to his apartment in Brooklyn. 
Yesterday was the big day. 
I was happy for him but sad for me. I certainly got used to him being here. We celebrated Halloween, his birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with him at home.

I'm grateful he is much, much better after eight weeks of physical therapy at Griffin Hospital in Derby. 
I watched the whole process and the therapists who worked with him were amazing! I want to give a big shout-out to all of them, and thank them for everything. 
They gave him exercises and he followed them at home, which of course also helped hasten his recuperation journey. I hope he continues to do them. 
Cameron went from using a walker, to crutches, to one crutch, to a cane. He didn't need the cane around the house, but will need it for a while when he is out in public. 

The neighborhood where Cameron lives. Photo taken through the windshield by Ralph.