Recuperation journey: Raccoons munch on mulberries

We were about to sit down for a (fashionably) late dinner Tuesday, Fourth of July eve, when daughter Allegra noticed three raccoons in the front yard. 
They climbed up the mulberry tree and started enjoying their dinner - mulberries. I ran for the camera.

They demonstrated good balance as they scampered along the branches. Meanwhile we heard the yelling from the birds who normally feast on the berries. 

I took about a dozen photos but these critters can move fast and hide when they want to do so!

Derby Neck Library to host author, recording artist, more

DERBY - Derby Neck Library will present Dangerous Ground: How Happy Face Killer Will Help Me Identify Jane Doe with M. William Phelps, best-selling author and investigative journalist at 6:30 p.m. July 11.  
Phelps will take audience through the intense experience of working on murder cases involving forensics and human psychology to trace killers.  

Phelps has advised on the TV series DEXTER, among numerous other credits.

Singer to perform

The Library presents vibrant, talented recording artist Sherri Miller in a free concert at 3 p.m. July 12.
Miller offers a singing and guitar-playing history of rock 'n roll, beginning with Elvis and closing with Ed Sheeran. This event is suitable for all ages.  

Women's Forum

At 12:30 p.m. July 16 the Library hosts Women’s Forum, a monthly discussion group that focuses on short stories.  
The July selections, “Ha’ Penny” and  “The Waste Land,” are both written by Alan Paton of South Africa and are available at the front desk.  
Feel free to bring a light lunch, we serve coffee and tea.  

Trivia for teens and tweens

The Library presents a special game event for teens and tweens, Silly and Strange Trivia, at 3 p.m. July 19.  
Compete to see how many weird and wacky facts you get right.  
Prizes of the odd and unique will be awarded and all attendees enjoy free refreshments.  

The Gillettes

The Library presents An Evening with the Gillettes performed by the talented team of Harold and Theodora Niver at 6 p.m. July 23.  

Learn about the actor known as the Sherlock Holmes of his era and the builder of Connecticut’s famed Gillette Castle. 
This promises to be a lively and entertaining look into a bit of our state’s history. 

Teen Movie Night

The Library hosts I-Spy Teen Movie Night at 5 p.m. July 30.  
All teens and tweens are invited to watch an exciting movie and spot the answers to prepared clues. Prizes will be awarded to the top scorers.  
Movie refreshments will be served, including a pizza dinner at intermission.  
Registration is strongly suggested, as seating is limited. Please call or stop in to register.

Evening Book Club

The Derby Neck Library hosts the Evening Book Club at 6:30 p.m. July 30 at the seating area around the fireplace in the Reading Room.  
This month’s selection is “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells, a science fiction novella. 
Copies are available in the front lobby.  
For information or to register call 203-734-1492. The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.


This is a press release from Pat Sweeney, research librarian, Derby Neck Library.

Seymour Rec announces field trip program openings

Ansonia man wins Griffin Hospital's HIM Father's Day drawing

HiM Founder Frank Michaud, right, and his wife Judy, left, present the grand prize iPad 6 to Robert Klein and his children, Ryder, and Cameron, front./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Robert Klein Jr. of Ansonia recently won a brand new iPad 6 in the Griffin Hospital’s Health Initiative for Men (HiM) Father’s Day drawing.

Klein’s daughter, Cameron, gave her dad a HiM Father’s Day card which encourages men to get an annual physical and talk to their physicians about preventative health screenings. 

The card also directed recipients to a short online health survey which entered them into a drawing for the iPad and Home Depot gift cards.

The cards were distributed to elementary students in Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford. 

Cameron attends John C. Mead School in Ansonia.

About The Health Initiative for Men

In an effort to help inspire men to have an annual physical and to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, Griffin Hospital launched the HiM in 2011. 

The goal of this community-wide preventive healthcare effort is to influence men to see their physician annually, and to be screened for various diseases that respond better to treatment if detected early. 

For more information about HiM, visit griffinhealth.org/him.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby Public Schools' registration for 2018-19 is now open

DERBY - The Board of Education is now accepting registration for all grades, from Kindergarten through Grade 12.  

There are also openings in the Little Raiders University Preschool program for students age 4.  

Registration must be initiated online and then an appointment to finalize registration can be made by calling Jennifer, 203-446-3920.  

Appointments are made on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.  

Feel free to call with any questions.

Reminder: Seymour Historical Society to host talk on coyotes Sunday

'Turnback Tuesday' features Vonetes Palace of Sweets in Derby

'Turnback Tuesday' remembers Vonetes Palace of Sweets on Main Street in Derby, which opened in 1905, about a year after its sister shop had opened in Ansonia. 

From 1955 to 1961 Vonetes had a tradition of giving a free banana split to every Derby High School football player who scored a touchdown. In fact, Derby local Bill Pucci received 11 of those free banana splits. 

Bill, who relayed this about Vonetes, was a freelance sports writer for the Evening Sentinel, Valley Drummer and Valley Times.

Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history.

Recuperation journey: Summertime edition

 Throwback Tuesday

I love this photo of our son, Cameron, at age 12. 
He found a long branch to use for toasting marshmallows. That way he was able to stay away from the hot grill.
He always knows how to relax!