Logan to host coffee hour at Three Brothers Diner in Hamden

Logan, R-Ansonia, represents the 17th District. 

CWV Post 1562 in Derby to host pasta dinner fundraiser

DERBY - Enjoy a family pasta dinner hosted by the Catholic War Veterans' St. Michael's Post 1562 at 6:30 p.m. April 9.

Proceeds are earmarked for Post 1562’s High School Graduate Award Fund. 
Admission is $6.

The Post is at 112 Derby Ave.


This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby to host program on seeds

DERBY - Spring is coming and gardens are being planned.  

Families and adults are invited to a free program, Seed Celebrations, from 10-11:30 a.m. April 20 at Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave. 
Susan Quincy will be the guide for this

exploration.  

We will investigate the science of seeds from their parts through their cycles.  

Seeds are designed to withstand many impacts that weather and natural events throw at them.  
The marvels of their design allow them to travel and spread out over distances to compete for sunlight, water and space, sometimes waiting years to emerge.  

Knowing a bit more about seeds can help you successfully start your seeds to be transplanted outdoors.  
We will provide the materials and a variety of seed starter pots that are environmentally safe that allow easy transfer to your garden or planters.    

The very young and the young at heart will enjoy this relaxed and fun morning. Come and learn the secrets and adaptations of seeds that help ensure their survival.  
Enjoy spring as we take a hike around the fields and pond to look for emerging plants and seed remains.  We will end the program back at the center so you may plant a collection of seeds for small space gardens.  

Please register for this free program by calling 203-734-2513.

The Kellogg Environmental Center, a facility of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

For information or directions contact donna.kingston@ct.gov or call her at 203-734-2513. 

This is a press release from the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Walk Against Hunger in West Haven to benefit Connecticut Food Bank

*Information shared from Facebook:

"Join us at scenic Savin Rock Park in West Haven to rally in support of neighbors in need and get on the move toward a hunger free Connecticut.

Many of our neighbors in cities and towns across Connecticut battle hunger every day. By participating in the Walk Against Hunger, you will bring attention to their challenges and raise funds to provide nutritious food to people in need.

More than 300,000 people in our service area are food insecure; nearly 100,000 children struggle with hunger. Funds raised at the Walk Against Hunger support the vital work of the Connecticut Food Bank providing food to hungry adults and children in six Connecticut counties: Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham. 

Last year, we distributed enough food to provide 20.3 million meals, or more than 55,000 meals every day to people in need.

No need to collect checks or cash - donations are made directly to you through your Walk page. 

Register today and build your team of hunger fighters!

If you have questions regarding the Walk Against Hunger, email walk@ctfoodbank.org."

Ansonia Nature Center to host migratory bird walk

ANSONIA - Warblers, catbirds, and grosbeaks, oh my!
Join Ranger Jess for a migratory bird walk experience at 9 a.m. May 25 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

The Nature Center is home to many migratory birds. See redstarts, common yellow throats, towhees, and more during this birding adventure.
This is a slow-paced walk on uneven terrain.
Dress for the weather and bring your binoculars.
Free; please register at 203-736-1053.

*Photo and text shared from Facebook.

Derby PD to host free car seat clinic Sunday

Derby Police Department photo

DERBY - The Derby Police Department will host a free car seat clinic Sunday to promote child car seat safety. 

Parents and caregivers can come to the Derby PD for an educational inspection and demonstration to ensure that any car seats in their vehicles are properly installed, as well as learn about the laws governing child passengers.

The clinic will be held at the Derby Police Department, 125 Water St., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 7.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

For any questions or to schedule an appointment, contact Officer DeAngelo, 203- 735-7811.

This information is shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Gazy Brothers Farm in Oxford to celebrate spring, hold egg hunt

Annual Healthy Kids Day on tap April 27 at Valley YMCA in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The Valley YMCA, a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, is holding a free community event April 27 to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. 
The annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® is the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.
Sponsored by the Howard Johnsons® by Wyndham hotel brand, Healthy Kids Day is an opportunity to ignite children’s imaginations so they can imagine what they’ll accomplish this summer. 

The day-long event features activities such as exercise and martial arts demos, corn hole, face painting, parachute play, slime making, safety around water demonstrations, an open swim, healthy snacks, Cooking & Booking; and a lot more to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home throughout the summer months.
Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at more than 1,500 Ys across the country by over one million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long. 
When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. 
Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. 
As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. 
Instead, the Y wants families to focus on helping children imagine what they can accomplish over the summer.
“When a child is healthy, happy, and supported they can make great things happen,” says Josh Royce, District Executive Director at the Valley YMCA. “We believe in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer,” said Royce.
“All of us at Howard Johnson are incredibly proud to be supporting Healthy Kids Day, inspiring families to get active, spend quality time together and create smiles that last a lifetime,” said Clem Bence, Howard Johnson brand leader and vice president of operations. “Giving back to the communities where our hotels operate is fundamental to our values as a brand and we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with local Ys across the country on such a meaningful initiative.”

Howard Johnson has been a proud national partner of the Y for the past two years and three out of every four Howard Johnson hotels are located within just 10 miles of a local Y. In addition to supporting Healthy Kids Day, the brand offers all Y members up to 20% off stays at participating hotels across the country, with 10 percent of every booking benefiting the Y nationally.

Keeping Kids Healthy All Summer Long
In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits this summer that can have a lifetime effect:

•   High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings of fruits and veggies each day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend for healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.
  
•   Read Together – The summer is a great time to enjoy books with summer program participants—and 30 minutes a day goes a long way! Take trips to the local library or create a family reading challenge to see who can log the most minutes of reading. Encourage youth to create their own stories as well.
  
•   Get Moving! – Activities that require movement also help kids flex their mental muscle. Use materials in unique ways: ask youth to build models, manipulate tools or develop their own theatrical scenes.
  

 Play Together – Play may be the best way to prevent childhood obesity. By putting more play into your family’s day, you will soon find yourself getting the activity that will have your family feeling energized and strong.

 Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, and learning.

The Valley YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will be held at the Y, 12 State St., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and features fun, active play, and educational activities.
For more information, contact the Y, 203-736- 9622 or visit www.cccymca.org.

The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA is a charitable, not-for-profit, community service organization dedicated to putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Y strengthens the foundations of communities and families through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility in 24 towns and cities in the Greater Bridgeport and New Haven areas. Additionally, programs and services are offered through YMCA Camp Hi-Rock located in Mount Washington, Mass.


This is a press release from the Valley YMCA.

Men's Club in Ansonia to hold 3rd annual ride to fight cancer

Griffin Hospital welcomes primary care physician to staff

Dr. Swati Srivastava

DERBY - Griffin Faculty Physicians is pleased to welcome Dr. Swati Srivastava to its team of primary care physicians.

Dr. Srivastava comes to Griffin after serving as physician specializing in adult and geriatric medicine at Allegheny Health Network and Allegheny Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania. 

She joins Dr. John Farens at Griffin Faculty Physicians at White Hills, 224 Leavenworth Road, Shelton, which provides highly skilled and person-centered care for patients throughout Naugatuck Valley and surrounding areas.

Dr. Srivastava completed her undergraduate medical education at Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia and her graduate medical education and residency at The WPHAGH

Forbes Regional Hospital in Pennsylvania with a specialization in family medicine.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Srivastava, call 203-926-1206.

Griffin Faculty Practice provides patient-centered, personalized care with primary care locations in Ansonia, Naugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury and Oxford. 

In addition, the practice provides specialized care in urology, cardiology, gastroenterology, cardiothoracic surgery, breast surgery, general surgery, endocrinology, and geriatric medicine. 

For more information, visit www.griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.