The Children''s Room at The Ansonia Library to host Lego Club

 

The Library is at 53 S. Cliff St., Ansonia. 

Seymour Community Center slates Zumba fitness sessions

 

Seymour Public Library to show comedy/romance Friday morning

SEYMOUR - Seymour Public Library will show the movie, Ticket to Paradise, at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

A divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.

This is a comedy/romance, rated PG13. It runs for 103 minutes. 

Free - no registration required.

The Library is at 46 Church St.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Ansonia Police: Suspects sought in 2 shootings Thursday; no injuries reported

ANSONIA - Police this afternoon said that at approximately 1:47 p.m. Thursday officers responded to the area of Mary and Grove Streets for a report of several shots fired.

Evidence of gunfire was located at the scene. No victims were located and any suspects had fled the scene.

No residences or vehicles were damaged by the gunfire. Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident.

Police also said that at approximately 3:26 p.m. Thursday officers responded to another report of shots being fired on Bridge Street between West Main and Main Streets.

Preliminary investigation indicated that an exchange of gunfire took place involving two people shooting at each other, police aid.

It does not appear that any individuals were struck by gunfire but several rounds went into local businesses and one car was hit. The suspects all fled the location. The scene was closed for several hours during the investigation.

Several searches were conducted in the area and numerous items of evidence were located along with a vehicle that was seized. Several strong leads are being followed on suspects involved in this incident. Detectives continue to investigate the incident, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ansonia Police Department at 203-735-1885 or you can leave an anonymous tip via TIP411 at https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553

NOTE: No video clips are being released by the Ansonia Police Department for this incident. Any video clips that are posted in the comments sections may be fraudulent and contain viruses. We strongly encourage that you do not click on purported video links in the comments section. Police departments have noticed a growing trend of these virus links being added in the comments section.

This is shared from the Ansonia Police Department Facebook page.

Saturday's forecast postpones Shelton fireworks to New Year's Day

Due to the weather, the New Year's Eve Fireworks at Veterans Memorial Park are postponed. They will now be taking place on Sunday January 1st at 7:00 pm.

Thank you and have a safe holiday!!

This is shared from the Shelton Parks & Recreation - Community Center Facebook page.

City of Ansonia posts information on waste reduction pilot program

Are you participating in Ansonia's food scrap pilot program? Have questions?

Learn more about how to properly separate food scraps www.reducethetrashct.com/ansonia/

Thanks for being part of the solution.

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop in Derby to hold sale next week

 From St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank Facebook page:

"We have refreshed, restored, and restocked! Come start your year with our always interesting shopping experience!
See you Tuesday, January 3rd when normal hours resume: Mon to Sat 9:30-2:30! Donations are welcome!
(237 Roosevelt Dr, Derby. 203-734-7577)"

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

... at 7:20 a.m. Have a great Friday!
 

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

 Another beautiful sunset today. Have a peaceful evening. 

Ansonia Nature Center to host full moon hike

 

ANSONIA - Join the Ansonia Nature Center naturalists at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 on a hike by the light of the moon! 

Listen for coyotes howling while we gather around. We will use our night vision and other senses for this after-dark park expedition in the park. 

Wear warm clothes and proper foot gear! Inclement weather or dangerous conditions will cancel the hike. 

Fee: $1 per person; all ages are welcome. Children must be with an adult. This hike is not stroller friendly. 

Please register in advance at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.

Derby Public Library offers resume, technology assistance

 

Cassetti's message Wednesday to Ansonia residents about trash pickup schedule

"Good afternoon residents of the Great City of Ansonia. 

This is Mayor David S. Cassetti calling to let you know that if your scheduled trash pickup was supposed to be Monday or Tuesday this week, but you thought it was a holiday and didn’t put your trash out……..don’t worry. I have you covered. I have instructed Country Carting to come back and pick up everyone who missed trash day. Please put your trash out asap and our vendor will be back to collect your garbage. 

"Thank you and Happy New Year to Everyone!"

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

 ... at 7 a.m. Enjoy the day!

Ansonia police seek suspects in armed robbery in Cumberland Farms parking lot

ANSONIA - Ansonia police responded to a reported armed robbery at approximately 4 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Cumberland Farms on Pershing Drive.

Several suspects operating a stolen vehicle confronted, assaulted, and robbed a female customer who was pumping gas.

Police said at least one suspect was armed with a firearm. The suspects fled in the stolen vehicle after the incident.

The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The stolen vehicle was later located by the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force in Bridgeport. The vehicle was seized by Ansonia detectives and several possible suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ansonia Police Department at 203-735-1885. All information can be kept confidential.

This is shared from the Ansonia Police Department Facebook page.

Derby Public Library posts holiday closinga

"Enjoy the great selection of eBooks, audiobooks, movies and TV shows using our online resources found on our website, Libby, OverDrive and Hoopla. 

"Using Hoopla you may borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen – your computer, your phone, your car, even your smart TV!"

This is from the Library's Facebook page.

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

 Today's beautiful sunset.

Recuperation journey: Taking a stroll on Derby Greenway

 

It was a beautiful December 28 morning for a walk with friends.  

Greenway residents on parade.

A frosty winter's night tale

This is a true story. 

It may not be a feel-good Christmas tale but it did happen last week to a good friend.

She had to work late on a bitterly cold night. When she got out to her car, all four doors were frozen shut. She eventually managed to bang the right rear door open and climb in. 

Her next move was to hang over the seat and pound on the driver's-side door until it opened. A Christmas miracle right there, I'd say. 

In a stroke of luck her car started up. But the fun wasn't over. The wipers were frozen to the windshield. What else could go wrong? 

You guessed it. The defroster didn't start working until she had reached her neighborhood and was almost home. Fortunately she doesn't live too far from her job.

Home sweet home? Well, almost. A rod in a gate that opens a fence that surrounds her driveway was frozen shut. She needed to defrost it and fast. She was freezing!

She kicked in the back door until it opened and  was able to get some hot water to pour on the latch. Her hand got wet and froze to the metal! Finally our heroine was able to open the gate.

After she was snug inside, she started wrapping presents. And you guessed it, she ran out of tape. So the wrapping had to wait a day. To quote her text: "You can't make this stuff up."

How did your last few days before Christmas go? Mine were fairly frantic, as usual. 

But definitely not anything like my friend's unfortunate account.

Story Times start in January at The Children's Room at Ansonia Library

 

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

My view at 7:35 a.m. Have a great Wednesday.

Klarides-Ditria outlines new laws effective Jan. 1

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With 2022 coming to an end, I wanted to make you aware of new policies affecting Connecticut taxpayers and businesses taking effect Jan. 1, 2023.

Some of these new laws will take more money out of your pocket, including an expansion and increase to the “bottle bill,” and a new “highway use tax” assessed on delivery trucks carrying goods into and out of our state that will inevitably lead to higher prices when the cost of the tax is passed down to consumers. 

One piece of legislation allows previously convicted individuals to apply to have their criminal records erased, another will automatically erase past criminal convictions for certain misdemeanors including drug possession after seven years, and certain felonies after 10 years. I opposed these measures.

The new laws, and portions of previously enacted legislation that become active, include: AN ACT CONCERNING A HIGHWAY USE FEE. Public Act No. 21-177 imposes a highway use tax (HUT) on every “carrier” for the privilege of operating, or causing to be operated, certain heavy, multi-unit motor vehicles on any highway (i.e., public road) in the state.
AN ACT CONCERNING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. Public Act No. 21-58 (Sec. 1) expands the list of eligible containers and increases the bottle deposit rate from $.05 to $.10.
AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIRED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER SUSCEPTIBILITY SCREENING. Public Act No. 22-90 expands coverage requirements under certain commercial health insurance policies for specified procedures used to treat or prevent breast or ovarian cancer.
AN ACT CONCERNING RESPONSIBLE AND EQUITABLE REGULATION OF ADULT-USE CANNABIS. (Criminal Record Erasure) Public Act No. 21-1 (Sec. 9-10) establishes a process to erase records of certain criminal convictions after a specified period following the person’s most recent conviction. It provides for automatic erasure of convictions within a certain period for possessing less than four ounces of cannabis or any quantity of non-narcotic or non-hallucinogenic drugs. Certain Misdemeanors are subject to erasure seven years after the person’s most recent conviction and certain felonies are subject to erasure 10 years after the most recent conviction. PA 21- 32 excludes from erasure (1) family violence crimes and (2) nonviolent or violent sexual offenses requiring sex offender registration.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HATE CRIMES INVESTIGATIVE UNIT WITHIN THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE AND REQUIRING DEVELOPMENT OF A REPORTING SYSTEM, BEST PRACTICES AND A MODEL INVESTIGATION POLICY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS REGARDING HATE CRIMES. Public Act No. 22-9 (Sec. 4) requires all law enforcement units to use POST’s standardized form or other reporting system to submit a notice and report to the Hate Crimes Investigative Unit within 14 days after receiving a notice, information, or a complaint of certain crimes involving intimidation based on bigotry or bias.
AN ACT REDUCING LEAD POISONING. Public Act No. 22-49 (Sec. 1-4) generally lowers the threshold for blood lead levels in individuals at which the Department of Public Health (DPH) and local health departments must take certain actions.

New legislation effective dates are typically Jan. 1, July 1, and Oct. 1 throughout the calendar year. These new laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I encourage you to take a look at the full list, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Please pass this information along to those who may benefit from knowing what to expect in the New Year.

Sincerely,

Griffin Health offers free 'That's It - Learn to Quit' smoking cessation program

Contributed photo

Griffin Health is helping individuals looking to quit smoking in 2023 with its free smoking cessation program starting Jan. 18 in Shelton.

“That’s It – Learn to Quit” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit smoking over the course of four weekly sessions. 

The program consists of Wednesday meetings at 6 p.m. from Jan. 18-Feb. 8 at the Griffin Health Family Health Center, 110 Commerce Drive, Shelton.

Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habits. Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all four sessions.

To register for “That’s It – Learn to Quit,” call 203-732-1369.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Huntington Branch Library in Shelton to launch book bingo for adults

 

Oxford Public Library to host candle-making craft fun

 

The Library is at 49 Great Oak Road, Oxford.

My Sister's Place Thrift Store in Ansonia posts weekly sales

My Sister's Place Thrift Store is located at 380 Main St., Ansonia.

All profits support BHcare's The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

This is shared from the store's Facebook page.

'Turnback Tuesday' features story of Pork Hollow in present-day Ansonia

Today's Turnback Tuesday story takes place during the Revolutionary War.

Much tension and fear were affecting all the families in the colonies. There was uncertainty over when homes would be burned, livestock taken, and stores of food stolen.

Such is the case with the story of Pork Hollow. British soldiers were roaming around looking for food.

Capt. John Tomlinson from Derby happened to be in New Haven and heard of the plan to take the stores of pork located in Derby. Getting on his horse and riding as fast as he could, he rode to Derby to warn the residents to save the pork!

The residents quickly responded by removing the pork and hiding it in a hollow area. The British arrived to discover there was no pork to be found and left Derby empty handed. The location is in what we now call Ansonia on Wakelee Avenue. A monument was erected there by the Elizabeth Clarke Hull Chapter D.A.R. in 1901.

This postcard shows the monument.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing local history each week.

Naugatuck Valley Relay for Life to hold kickoff at Shelton Community Center

 

Derby Police report hit and run victim succumbs to injuries

*** Hit and Run Victim Update ***

The Derby Police are saddened to report the Division Street hit and run victim from 12/15/22 succumbed to his injuries over the Holiday weekend at Bridgeport Hospital. He was identified as 61 year-old John Jepson.

Police are still investigating the accident and formal charges are expected against the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.

This is shared from the Derby PD Facebook page.

'Smalls & Smiles' to debut at Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

SHELTON - A new program will debut in January at Plumb Memorial Library called "Smalls & Smiles"!

It will be held on Fridays, Jan. 13 and 27 from 10-11 a.m.

Registration is for both January dates.

Children 0-5 years old and their caregivers are welcome to join Miss Maura for a library playdate!

We will share a story together then it's your turn to play with the library provided games and toys and meet some new friends too!

Registration is required for children only and will begin on Facebook Friday, Dec. 30

at 12 p.m. or by calling Plumb.

**If your child or you are sick on the day for program please call to cancel at 203-924-1580 ext. 5108. The Library is at 65 Wooster St.

This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Teens to learn scone-making at Huntington Branch Library class

SHELTON - Teens ages 13 and up can join Miss Jessica Dec. 29 at Huntington Branch Library for Teen Cuisine! 

We will provide the materials and directions for the teens to make vanilla scones. 

This is a COOKING program, the oven will be used. Each teen must register individually.

*We will be using the following ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, heavy cream, vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar. Please understand that we cannot accommodate for any allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients. Keep this in mind when registering.*

Register online: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2661&EventID=478213&PK=
or call 203-926-0111

The Library is at 41 Church St.

This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Irving School in Derby posts honor roll ~ Congratulations to all!

DERBY - This list from Irving School was posted recently in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Congratulations to all the students on their academic achievement!

Marking Period Quarter 1 – High Honors

5th Grade:

Ariyah Lopez

Deja Jackson

Griffin Beauton

Mya Crespo

Paige Beauton

Marking Period Quarter 1 – Honors

5th Grade:

Ava Carroll

Dolan Boncek

Charlotte Chenery

Davon Johnson

Gia Morales

Lylah Vander Eyk

Mahlia Pouncey

Mayah West

Myla Kapusta

Rylan Goodwin

Sane Jackson

Marking Period Quarter 1 – High Honors

4th Grade:

Jensen Colindres

Taylor Hunter

Marking Period Quarter 1 – Honors

4th Grade:

Alexji Smith

Arianna Perez

Demri Delija

Drilon Sulejmani

Gabriella Yacvielle

Harmony Lopez

Jemma Franko-Velez

Jensen Colindres

Jianna Muniz

Khloe King

Liam Contreras

Taylor Hunter

Victoria Ewen