Friday, January 29, 2021

Recuperation journey: Solitary gull at Osbornedale State Park in Derby

This photo came up in my Facebook memories from January 2020.


 

Derby Public Library to host virtual Teen Advisory Board meetings


DERBY -  Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to a virtual Teen Advisory Board meeting from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and 17.

Attendees are encouraged to voice their ideas for improving and expanding young adult library services and teen programming. 

Focus will include participant input that contributes to the library fulfilling its mission of quality-of-life enhancements in: knowledge; entertainment; and citizenship. 

Zoom access link will be provided via email three days prior to meeting date. 

Sign up at the library’s Events Calendar at www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky


 ... at 5:02 p.m. Friday. Backyard view never disappoints. 

DiBacco: Person at Mead School tests positive for COVID-19, quarantine ordered

 

On Thursday DiBacco announced Ansonia Public School District is going forward with a reopening plan starting Monday, Feb. 1.

DiBacco said in a letter to parents, "From Feb. 1-March 12, the students enrolled in Mead, Prendergast and AMS will be attending classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, while Wednesdays will continue to serve as remote learning days. Starting the week of March 15 - as long as it is safe to do so - we will be in school every day, including Wednesdays."







Watercolor workshop to return to Main Street Gallery in Ansonia


 

Shelton Library System to host Story Explorers via Zoom

 

SHELTON - The Shelton Library System will host Story Explorers at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1.

Kids of all ages can join Miss Jessica for a story via Zoom on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.!

Registration link:
**Zoom links and passwords will be emailed each Monday**
http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=2661&BranchID=827&Branch=Huntington%20Branch%20Library&EventID=428015&PK=690987


This is shared from a Facebook event page.


Klarides-Ditria reminds pet owners to protect them from freezing temps











You don’t want to be stuck outside in these cold temperatures, and neither do your animals. This weekend, temps are expected to dip into the single digits, and wind chills will make it feel even colder.

Some animals, like our state's beloved Husky, enjoy being outside in the cold and snow, but even they have their limits. Leaving animals exposed to extreme weather is cruel, can be deadly for them, and could be against the law.

If you suspect abuse locally, please contact: Derby Animal Control, Woodbridge Regional Animal Control, or Beacon Falls Animal Control, or your local police department.

The ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States offer good information and tips to keep animals safe and healthy.

To make sure your pets are properly protected and cared for, the Humane Society offers the following five tips to protect pets in winter, and guidelines on what to do if you suspect animals are being mistreated.
Keep pets sheltered
Bundle up, wipe down
Remove common poisons
Protect outdoor animals
Speak out


If you suspect an animal is being abused, including being left outside in extreme heat or cold, please:

Report what you see: Take note of the date, time, exact location and the type of animal(s) involved and write down as many details as possible about the situation. Video and photographic documentation of the animal, the location, the surrounding area, etc. (even a cell phone photo) will help bolster your case.
Contact your local animal control agency or county sheriff's office: and present your complaint and evidence. Take detailed notes regarding whom you speak with and when. Respectfully follow up in a few days if the situation has not been remedied.
If you need advice, contact us. Because we aren't a law enforcement agency, we cannot take legal action, but we can provide expert counsel.



Sincerely,


Rochelle applauds expansion of advanced manufacturing at Derby High School

 

State Rep. Kara Rochelle, at right, pictured with students in Derby High School's Advanced Manufacturing Training Program at a May 2019 ribbon-cutting ceremony. / Contributed photo


DERBY - State Rep. Kara Rochelle (D-Ansonia/ Derby) praised the anticipated expansion of Housatonic Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Certificate Program at Derby High School to adult residents interested in careers in Advanced Manufacturing.

 

The program will be housed in Derby High School's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Lab and will be offered nights and weekends, tuition-free to eligible Valley residents. 

Credited- and non-credited certification classes and internship opportunities with local manufacturers will be offered.

 

This program is still in development and leaders are evaluating program interest. 

Valley residents can complete an online survey expressing their desire to learn more and potentially enroll in the program by visiting https://www.derbyct.gov/news/post/11243/. The survey will be used to inform program opening and planning efforts. 

Housatonic Community College will follow-up with those who complete the survey to provide more information about the application and enrollment process.

 

"This program will give our residents a meaningful pathway to climb the economic ladder and gain the technical training need to secure not just a good-paying job, but a career path with room for future advancement. This can truly help those who have found themselves unemployed or are underemployed and looking for a path to economic stability," said Rep. Rochelle. "Thank you to Joe Carbone, Rich DuPont, Derby Superintendent Matthew Conway, and my colleagues in the Connecticut General Assembly who have supported initiatives, like this one, to expand manufacturing training throughout the state."

 

During the 2019 legislative session  Rochelle authored and passed legislation to strengthen the manufacturing workforce pipeline by expanding the regional community-technical college Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program to more public high schools across Connecticut, prioritizing expansion of the program to school districts in distressed municipalities and requiring programs to be offered to adults during nights and weekends.

“I want to thank State Representative Kara Rochelle for championing this effort to train workers and create access to good paying jobs.  Manufacturing has a vibrant future in Connecticut, one with enormous potential to expand opportunities and prosperity,” said Joe Carbone, President and CEO, The WorkPlace. “I encourage all jobseekers near the Naugatuck Valley to complete the online survey and provide feedback on the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Certificate Program.”

 

This initiative is an effort between the WorkPlace, Housatonic Community College, and Derby Public Schools, and builds off the existing Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program offered to Derby High School students.

"This is fantastic news for our manufacturers, large and small, whose demand for Advanced Manufacturing Technology skill sets has not diminished in these COVID-19 times.  In fact, that demand has increased given our aging workforce and the volume of business manufactures see now and well into the future. 

This partnership at Derby High School presents the Greater Derby-Ansonia community a solid opportunity to leverage their community and economic development goals and objectives and it aligns itself very well with the Governor's Workforce Council's strategic plans in support of Advanced Manufacturing," said Rich DuPont, President of Resource Development Associates and Director of Community and Campus Relations for the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at HCC.

 

Manufacturing is experiencing a revival in Connecticut and one of its top obstacles to growth is hiring and retaining qualified workers. Currently, one-third of the manufacturing workforce is aged 55 or older and state and industry leaders anticipate a wave of retirements in the coming years.

 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing was the third fastest growing field in Connecticut, employing over 162,000 people. While the sector has not fully recovered, it has rebounded and experienced a 50 percent gain. 

Manufacturers are becoming more interested and involved in high-tech areas, such as computer and software programming and additive manufacturing processes, further increasing demand for highly-skilled employees.

 

Recently, Connecticut received a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a manufacturing and technology training initiative program modeled off existing programs similar to the Valley's and others across the state, to boost in-demand workers in Connecticut.

 

"We are thrilled to partner with The WorkPlace and HCC to offer this life changing opportunity to our families, as we together, work to build an even stronger workforce to meet the growing demands of our business partners and the need for highly skilled individuals in the field of Advanced Manufacturing," said Derby Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Conway.

 

"This is a very exciting opportunity for people to acquire the skills necessary to fill manufacturing jobs in our local communities. I truly hope people take advantage of this unique opportunity," said Joseph DiBacco, Superintendent of Ansonia Public Schools.

 

The entry level annual salary students can expect to earn in Advanced Manufacturing is $35,000 to $40,000. According to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the annual average wage for skilled workers in Advanced Manufacturing is $95,118.



This is a press release from state Rep. Kara Rochelle.

Derby Public Library vestibule services available despite building closure

DERBY - We [at Derby Public Library] are happy to announce all are well and we are open!

See Thursday post:

http://thevalley-voicect.blogspot.com/2021/01/possible-covid-19-exposure-closes-derby.html

While the building will remain closed, Vestibule Services https://bit.ly/2MiJcX4 are available.

Don’t know what to read or watch? Click here for personalized services https://bit.ly/3cn3tFC.

Don’t forget our databases https://bit.ly/3j1mSxo and downloadable catalog https://bit.ly/3iWpJHP are open 24/7.

Questions? Please call 203-736-1482 or email us at dplreference@biblio.org.

Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.


This is shared from the Library's Friday Facebook post.