Naugatuck Valley Health District: 6 more COVID-19 associated deaths

Sharing from the NVHD Facebook page Monday evening:

"Since our last update on Saturday, April 18th, 2020, NVHD has received 53 new reports of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases across the Valley, bringing the district’s total to 808 cases.

Sadly, NVHD was notified of the first COVID-19 associated death among a Naugatuck resident, a woman in her 80s.
"Additionally, NVHD was made aware of five COVID-19 associated deaths among nursing home residents in Shelton.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have passed away due to complications from this virus.

"The deaths reported to NVHD today occurred within the last week, not necessarily since the last NVHD report.
"For public health surveillance, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths are defined as patients who tested positive for COVID-19 around the time of death; this is not a determination of the cause of death. 

"The health district does not have any further details including whether or not there may have been underlying health issues. The COVID-19 associated deaths reported by NVHD to-date have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

"NVHD has linked free mental health and wellness resources for individuals, families, and first responders who may be experiencing heightened anxiety, stress, and other emotions during this pandemic on the webpage: www.nvhd.org/coping

"Of the 71 deceased, 64 were residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The COVID-19 associated deaths reported to-date by NVHD have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

"As of 5:00PM on Monday, April 20, 2020, 227 (~28%) of the 808 confirmed cases among Valley residents, are individuals who currently reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home, or other similar setting.

Statewide COVD-19 data is available at https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus and is also linked on the NVHD website www.nvhd.org/covid19-data.

As a reminder, all data reported is preliminary and subject to change. Test results may be reported several days after the result. Patient information may be updated after results have already been reported.
Changes will be reflected in the new daily totals.

Recuperation journey: Patio play

Watching an afternoon shell game through the window. 

Recuperation journey: Today's Facebook memory from 2 years ago

At Pickett's Pond at Osbornedale State Park in Derby.

CT Office of Early Childhood shares information on food resources

This is shared from an Ansonia Public Schools' Facebook page post. 

Valley Shakespeare Festival slates virtual performance of 'Midsummer Night's Dream'

VSF founder Tom Simonetti and Jessica Breda in a scene from the 2015 summer production of Midsummer Night's Dream./ Contributed photo

During this time of social distancing, VSF is meeting its mission of bringing theater to you, in any way possible.

Valley Shakespeare Festival will be doing a virtual live performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream on Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. The audience will be allowed and encouraged to interact with the cast through chat features on YouTube!

Watch live and interact with the show: https://www.youtube.com/user/VSFestival

Founder and Artistic Director Tom Simonetti said, “Like many other regional theaters, our 2020 season was blown apart by this pandemic. We started looking for ways that we could serve our communities that were hit hard: the Lower Naugatuck Valley and arts community. So of course, a comedy about mythic fairies, two sets of lovers, and an eager troupe of performers seemed perfect!”

In case you are not familiar with the play or if you need a refresher, Midsummer is about young lovers Hermia and Lysander, kept apart by strict Athenian law, escape to the woods where tyrannical parents can't find them – but mischief can. 
Elsewhere among the trees, the fairy king and queen are having a marital spat with disastrous consequences for one Nick Bottom. Rediscover your favorite characters in a lively virtual production of midsummer romance and magic.

FREE! with a suggested $10 donation during the Great Give. 
That is right, the virtual performance is happening during the annual Great Give, a 36-hour online giving event hosted by the Valley Community Foundation and Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

“The Great Give is such an important time for nonprofits in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, especially in harder times,” said Simonetti. “The Great Give is where all gifts are matched by the Valley Community Foundation, the Greater New Haven Community Foundation and by local businesses.”

This live virtual performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream will also include live music! Renowned cellist, Natalie Sephar, who has toured the world with Andrea Bocelli, Micheal Buble, and the Transiberian Orchestra, is providing some fun music between scenes and playing everyone’s favorite mischievous fairy, Puck!

He added, “I presented the idea of doing Midsummer online to a few original cast members from our 2015 Free Shakespeare in the Park production, and they were excited for the challenge! 

"We have a few VSF fan favorites involved in the performance: Jessica Breda (who originally played the Fairy Queen Titania for VSF in 2015), Mitchell Kawash (toured in Pericles, and featured in many Shakespeare in the Bar productions), Tara Salese (who originally played Hermia), and Adam Kezel (The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing and Shakespeare in the Bar: Titus Andronicus).”

Schools and parents should take advantage of this rare opportunity to not only participate in live performance, but to see a new interpretation of a text that is very widely read. 

VSF is dedicated to providing access to theater for all. We are currently rearranging our season because of the COVID-19 crisis, and are working with the City of Shelton to move our annual Free Shakespeare in the Park production to early September.

The free production in the park this year is As You Like It, which is about how communities come together after a crisis, and could not be more apropos for the time we are living in.


This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival.

Ansonia mayor to hold Virtual Town Hall Thursday for business owners

Attention Ansonia Business Owners:

Mayor David S. Cassetti has scheduled a second Virtual Town Hall for 7-9 p.m. Thursday, April 23. This time we will be focusing on business relief efforts and an update on development projects in Ansonia.

As before, the event will be held on the ZOOM visual conferencing program. You can access by URL or by telephone. Remember to enter the Member ID and Password when prompted!

By URL (computer or smartphone):
https://zoom.us/j/99203114031…

By Telephone:
1 (929) 205-6099

Meeting ID:
992 0311 4031

Password:
02504


*Information shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Recuperation journey: Good morning

Looking at the sky at 6:50 a.m.