Abundance of Joy Learning Center slated to open in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The Abundance of Joy Learning Center at 195 N. Main St. will open in January, Leslie Youngblood said today in a Facebook post.

"We have infants, toddlers, preschool slots open," she said.

"We offer school-aged hybrid model. If your children's school is closed or operating on two days a week schedule we are here to help."

Youngblood added, "We will set the children up for school 'learning hub' in our annex.

This information is shared from Leslie Youngblood's Facebook page.

Derby Neck Library to host virtual arts and crafts Tuesday for teens

DERBY - Tweens and teens are invited to join us [at Derby Neck Library] at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday over Zoom for arts and crafts like DIY pop sockets, duct tape wallets, jewelry, painting, and more!

Supply packs will be available via curbside pickup - call the library at 203-734-1492 to reserve yours! 

Email kwarrenger at derbynecklibrary.org or send us a message on social media to be added to the mailing list.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Wesley Village in Shelton recognizes health-care workers for excellence

From left: Timothy Herrick, Jake DeLucia, Hermin Gooden-Dawkins (not all award winners are pictured due to social distancing requirements)

Andrea Hyde

Lynda Ovesny

SHELTON - It’s no secret healthcare workers everywhere are being stretched to the limit in light of the many restrictions and regulations put in place by COVID-19, but even with the extra vigilance needed in keeping older adults safe, the team at Wesley Village continues to rise to the occasion.

The award-winning senior living campus has worked diligently day and night to fight off the entrance and spread of COVID-19 within their buildings and has seen team members of every department step up and take on additional roles and responsibilities of all kinds to help keep everyone safe. Whether that means taking temperatures at the front door and delivering meals to resident apartments, to leading virtual activities programs or sanitizing surfaces around the clock, the Wesley Village team has shown amazing commitment and dedication to supporting the health, independence, and dignity of every resident.

To celebrate the accomplishments of their team during these last nine months, the community gathered in October and November for several small group ceremonies to recognize team members for their years of service to Wesley Village and United Methodist Homes (UMH), the senior living provider organization that manages the campus. 

Team members Lori Bauer and Sharon White were honored for reaching milestones of 25 years, while Evelyn Rupsis and David Lawlor were recognized for 20 years of service.

Eleven team members were recognized for 10 and 15-year milestones, and another 21  employees celebrated five years of service with the organization.

In addition, 10 outstanding team members were recognized for the UMH “Values in Action” award, an award presented each year to team members who reflect the organization’s five core values of Respect, Excellence, Spirituality, Collaboration, and Stewardship in an extraordinary way. 

This year’s Values in Action winners were selected for their incredible commitment to the Mission and Values of United Methodist Homes and praised by their supervisors at each event. 

“The Values in Action Award is based on a peer nomination process,” said Marissa Salvesen, Manager of Mission Development for UMH. “This year we had so many employees stand out for their dedication in 2020 that it was very difficult to select our winners. With 150 nominations we decided to expand the award program to honor additional employees in response to such an unprecedented year.”

Award winners for 2020 included: Sreynin Chhoeun, Hermin Gooden-Dawkins, Jake DeLucia, Timothy Herrick, Andrea Hyde, Diana Mulroy, Lynda Ovesny, Maryann Porcadilla, Christopher Sonsini, and Stephen Sullivan. 

United Methodist Homes President and CEO David Lawlor said, “People are at the heart of United Methodist Homes and these individuals are just a few examples of the special culture of care that exists here at Wesley Village. We are so proud of our team for the courage they have displayed throughout this year.”

Wesley Village senior living campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization. 

The Wesley Village campus offers assisted and independent living, memory support, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and outpatient therapy services. 

To learn more, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org.  

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.