Friday, January 23, 2026
St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby to hold science fair open house
Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 4 for our "Science Fair" Open House from 5-6 p.m. (new prospective families) and 6-7 p.m. (current school families, parishioners and friends).
Tour our school, meet our teachers and explore student led science experiments.
For more information, call the school office, 203-735-6471.
Shared from the school's Facebook page.
Seymour issues 48-hour parking ban beginning 7 p.m. Saturday
Due to the forecasted snow amount of over one foot, a 48-hour parking ban is being issued.
- Ban begins: Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
- Ban ends: Monday evening at 7 p.m.
No parking is allowed on any streets (even or odd).
Residents may park vehicles in school lots or community lots.
Any vehicle left on the street will be towed.
Code Red Statement Below:
This is Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, Due to the forecasted snow amount above a foot, we are issuing a 48-hour parking ban.
The ban will be in place from Saturday evening starting at 7 p.m. and will be in place until Monday evening 7 p.m. There is no parking allowed on the streets even or odd. Residents can park their vehicles in school or community lots.
Any vehicle left on the street will be towed. We understand that there is a possibility of a lot of snow or possibly nothing, but we want to make sure we are prepared.
Following the snow, temperatures will be dropping as well.
We will be keeping everyone updated through the CODE RED System and through the media.
Shared from the Seymour Police Department Facebook page.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Ansonia Police announce full parking ban during storm
The City of Ansonia is anticipating a significant winter storm this weekend into next week.
Right now it is expected that the storm will start early Sunday morning into Monday afternoon. Accumulation estimates vary but our area is expected to get over a foot of snow. The storm track is still fluctuating so these estimates may change as we get closer.
These accumulation totals will make it difficult for emergency vehicles and plows to work on city streets.
In anticipation of this winter storm, there will be a full parking ban on all city streets from Saturday night, January 24 at 7:00 pm until Monday night, January 26 at 11:00 pm.
These times may be adjusted or extended based on the track of the storm.
All residents must remove their vehicles from the street to assist with plowing and emergency services. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed at owner’s expense, beginning Saturday night.
During the storm, all city parking lots including Nolan Field and Board of Education lots will be open for resident parking. Vehicles parked in the school lots should be removed by Monday night as the roads are cleared. Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road. Trash pickup for Monday will be postponed until Tuesday. A decision on school and city building closures will be made before the storm arrives.
Storm forecast delays trash, recycle pickup next week in Ansonia
ANSONIA - With the impending storm anticipated for this weekend, your trash and recycle will not be picked up on Monday, the city announced on Facebook.
It will be delayed for one day the entire week. If there are any changes, we will keep you updated.
Griffin Health in Derby to offer 8-week lifestyle change program
.jpg)
DERBY - Griffin Health is helping individuals make changes for improved wellness in 2026 with its free Highway to Health program this February.
Highway to Health is an 8-week lifestyle change program designed to empower individuals to take ownership of their health with lifestyle medicine knowledge and skills.
Lifestyle Medicine is a unique medical specialty that focuses on using evidence-based approaches in healthy eating, managing stress, enhancing regular physical activity and restorative sleep, and fostering meaningful social connections and support systems.
All of these lifestyle factors help prevent and manage chronic conditions to dramatically improve one’s quality of life.
Topics covered in Highway to Health include the principles of exercise, introduction to culinary medicine, mindfulness and behavior change through yoga, sleep hygiene and understanding stress. he program is led by Exercise Physiologist Bern Fitzsimons C-EP and Griffin Center for Healthy Living Director Michael Desjardins and will include trusted information and instruction from Griffin health experts.
The program will be held Wednesdays Feb. 4, 18 and 25, March 4, 18 and 25, and April 1 and 15 from 5-6 p.m. at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave. Space is limited.
Visit www.griffinhealth.org/highway-to-health to register or call the Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369 to sign up or for more information.
This free wellness program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improve community wellness through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease. Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.
Opened in 2020, the Griffin Center for Healthy Living is a unique facility in which Griffin Health partners with the community in wellness – offering education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and promoting overall well-being.
The Center is part of Griffin’s mission to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and embodies Griffin’s goal to not only care for individuals when they are not well, but to build a meaningful relationship, guide, and coach them to maximize their quality of life.
Visit griffinhealthyliving.org for more information about the Center's features and upcoming community events.
This is a press release from Griffin Health.
Derby Police arrest 2 after smoke shop compliance checks
 |
| Some of the products seized by police. |
DERBY - Derby Police Department again conducted smoke shop compliance checks after receiving reports of illegal cannabis sales within the city.
As part of the investigation, Derby Police conducted undercover purchases of cannabis products prior to executing search warrants at the following locations:
Zaza, 49 Pershing Drive
High Clouds, 676 New Haven Ave.
Smoke Vibe, 182 Elizabeth St.
As a result of these operations, the following cannabis products were seized:
Zaza: 39.9 lbs of cannabis flower and edibles (picture 1)
Smoke Vibe: 3.2 lbs of cannabis flower and edibles (picture 2)
High Clouds: 5.69 lbs of cannabis flower and edibles (picture 3)
The following individuals were arrested on scene:
El Hadramy Kleib (DOB 6/13/1992) at Zaza and
Mohamed Albrashi (DOB 5/30/1999) at High Clouds
Both individuals were charged with:
CGS 21a-277(c) – Operating a Drug Factory
CGS 21a-278(b) – Possession with Intent to Sell
CGS 21a-279a(e)(1) – Possession of Cannabis Greater Than 5 Ounces
We want the public to be aware that unregulated cannabis sales pose significant public safety concerns, including unknown product strength, contamination, and access by minors.
The Derby Police Department remains committed to protecting the public and preventing illegal and unregulated cannabis sales within our community.
We would like to thank the Consumer Protection Drug Control Agents for assisting with our investigation.
Compliance checks and enforcement actions will continue.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Explore, enjoy culinary adventures at Derby Neck Library sessions
From viral bites to bold new flavors - explore the food and drinks everyone is talking about.
We're kicking off a new culinary adventure for adults at Derby Neck Library!
Our first session on Monday, Feb. 2 at 4:30 p.m. will focus on dirty soda. Registration required! Ages 14+ only, please.
Shared from the Library's Facebook page.
Read book of your choice for Seymour Public Library Evening Book Club
SPL Evening Book Club
January 27 @ 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Pick your own book-
This month read and discuss a book of your own choosing!
The Library is at 46 Church St., Seymour.
Shared from the Library's Facebook page.
Derby Public Library to host talk for seniors on staying safe online
DERBY - Online scams targeting seniors are on the rise and they’re becoming harder to detect. Join us [at Derby Public Library] NEXT TUESDAY Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. for an engaging, hour-long session on how to stay safe online, led by Richard Wilson, CEO of Kyvoo, a Connecticut-based AI company.
Wilson will walk attendees through the latest scam tactics, the technologies behind them, and how to recognize and avoid falling victim.
REGISTER TODAY!: https://derbypubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/15668020
Shared from the Library's Facebook page.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Ansonia Police arrest man on child porn possession charge
 |
| Alexander Beardsley |
ANSONIA - Police arrested Alexander Beardsley, 33, of Prospect Monday on a charge of possession of child pornography.
The investigation into Beardsley began in 2024 when he was a resident of Ansonia, police said in a release.
During the course of the investigation search warrants were conducted where computers, phones, and various electronic storage devices were seized and examined.
The examinations resulted in the discovery of over 100 images of child pornography.
The investigation was led by Det. Mark Clifford with the assistance of the Shelton Police Department, Prospect Police Department, and the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Digital Forensic Unit.
Beardsley was charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, he was held on a $75,000 bond and was to be arraigned today, Jan. 20, at Derby Superior Court.
All arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the police department at 203-735-1885 or anonymous tips can be left at Tip411 at the link below.
https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553
Shared from the Ansonia PD's Facebook page.
Learn about skin care Jan. 31 at Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center
ANSONIA - Learn about balms, scrubs, and salves designed for cold-weather care using soothing, environmentally friendly ingredients at 1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Ansonia Nature Center.
Ranger Dawn will guide you through creating natural winter skin-care products using soothing, environmentally friendly ingredients.
Each participant will take home a product that Ranger Dawn swears by for dealing with winter dry skin! MATERIALS FEE $20.
Registration required. Limited space for this adult only program. The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Lane.
Click here to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../winter-skin-care-workshop...
Shared from the nature center's Facebook page.
Monday, January 19, 2026
Great Hill United Methodist Church in Seymour to host flea market Saturday
SEYMOUR - Stop by Great Hill UMC from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for our January Flea Market!
Fellowship Hall will be filled with 20+ vendors with treasures and delights! The hall is handicap-accessible, so everyone can enjoy the event.
The church is at 225 Great Hill Road.
Shared from a Facebook event page.
Griffin, Agency on Aging to host heart-health bingo for seniors in February
.jpg)
Griffin Health and the Agency on Aging of South-Central Connecticut will host fun and educational programs on heart health for Valley seniors this February.
Griffin Health Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Richard Le Pera, MPH, CCRP, will lead Boost Your Heart Health, a free discussion of the basics of heart health followed by games of heart-healthy bingo.
Griffin Health caregivers will also offer free blood pressure screenings and consultation.
The presentations are scheduled for Feb. 2 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Seymour Senior Center, Feb. 5 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Ansonia Senior Center, Feb. 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Shelton Senior Center, and Feb. 26 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Derby Neck Library.
These offerings are part of the AgeWell program, which is co-sponsored by Griffin Health and the Agency on Aging of South-Central Connecticut to increase access to care and prevent disease in the Valley senior community through a series of health screenings and healthy living education sessions each month. Periodically, this program provides nutritiously balanced and delicious foods for attendees.
Registration is required to attend the AgeWell events. To sign up, contact the location (Ansonia Senior Center: 203-736-5933; Seymour Senior Center: 203- 888-0406 ext. 1; Shelton Senior Center: 203-924-9324; and Derby Neck Library: 203-734-1492).
This is a press release from Griffin Health.
Derby 350 Plaque of the Week features historic downtown hotel
Our Derby 350 History Plaque of the Week brings us back to a time when Derby still had hotels - it has none today.
However, Elizabeth Street next to the Sterling Opera House was the site of the Hotel Clark and its predecessor Bassett House, which was originally the residence of Sheldon Bassett.
Both hotels were the centers of community and social life in town, and the Hotel Clark was also the place where the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club was started.
We want to thank the Rotary Club and Tom D'Addario and Capwood Associates, current owners of the office building on the Elizabeth Street site for purchasing the plaque.
We also want to thank Derby DPW for installing it.
Recuperation journey 2.0: Looking at the sky (and snow)
Good morning. Beautiful January scenes all around!
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Saturday, January 17, 2026
DiMartino declares snow emergency in Derby beginning at midnight
DERBY - Mayor Joseph DiMartino has declared a snow emergency beginning at 12 midnight on Sunday, Jan. 18.
Parking will be restricted to the even numbered side of all city streets until 36 hours after the storm ends.
The Derby Municipal Parking Garage at 2 Thompson Place will be open for residents of the downtown area to park their cars during the storm at no charge until Monday, January 19, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Derby Public Library seeks donations of Derby history items
Derby Public Library has a new edition to our Sweater Weather display!
A big thank you to Randy Ritter who donated his band uniform from 1982. Keep marching on Derby!
We thank everyone who has supported the library this past year for our 350th anniversary celebrations!
As always, Derby Public Library is "Hunting for History." Please consider donating your Derby history to the Library. Together we can do great things.
Shared from the Library's Facebook page.
From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: History of Derby house
This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the Bennett home. It was built in 1721 by one Y. Perry. Perry sold the house in 1736 to Harthow Bennett, father of Deacon Daniel Bennett.
In 1781, Deacon Bennett served breakfast to Due de Lauzun and a crew of his French officers after the troop of 600 soldiers spent the night on Sentinel Hill.
Daniel Bennett was also the grandfather of Commodore Isaac Hull. The house was destroyed in 1890.
[First posted on this date in 2017.]
Thanks as always to Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)