From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Derby Post Office

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" is a picture of the Derby Post Office on Olivia Street built in 1932.

The first Derby Post Office was actually on Main Street and was built in 1798. The current Post Office is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

It served as a fall-out shelter during World War II and has changed from this picture since being made ADA compliant in the 1990s.

[First published on this date in 2015.]

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

Newsletter features new playground at Ansonia Nature Center

Dear readers,

Our latest Valley Voice newsletter is out.

We write about the beautiful new playground at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, the ADA additions, and more.

Here is the link:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/329bf6_beb29899cde94bae9a5c548abfa7b438.pdf

Happy Reading!

State commission to host hearing on transit issues in Derby

DERBY - The Connecticut Public Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at City Hall, 1 Elizabeth St. 

This will be the first of four hearings that the Commission holds statewide this fall to gather testimony from the public, transportation providers, public officials and other entities concerning the operation of public transportation services, dial-a-ride and ADA transportation and other issues.  

The Commission seeks public comment on the extent to which existing services are meeting public needs and on improvements or new services to address unmet travel needs.  

Local and regional issues of particular interest include service on the Waterbury Branch of Metro-North, the lack of evening and weekend bus service in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, limited transit options in communities between Derby and Waterbury, the Valley Transit District’s bus service, the Naugatuck River Greenway, and other topics of interest to the public.

The Commission will use the testimony received at this public hearing as well as from other hearings conducted across the state in preparing recommendations for its annual report to the Governor, the Commissioner of Transportation and the Transportation Committee of the General Assembly. 

In addition, the Commission’s other fall public hearings will be Sept. 30 in Old Saybrook at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, Oct. 6 at Windsor Locks Town Hall, and Oct. 13 in Stamford at the Western Connecticut Council of Governments office in the Stamford Government Center, all at 7 p.m. 
The Commission  held three hearings this spring in Norwich, Hamden, and Plainville.



This is a press release from the Connecticut Public Transportation Commission.

25th anniversary of ADA marked at Bodie's Place in Milford

Part of the accessible playground at Eisenhower Park.

MILFORD - Sunday's weather was picture perfect for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The free event was the last of a series of three sponsored by The Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut.

The celebration, which was open to the public, was held at Bodie's Place at Eisenhower Park on North Street. It featured family fun, face painting, live music, a demonstration of wheelchair tennis, pizza, and anniversary cake.

Folk singer Robert Messore performed songs for the younger set.

A view of the play area that is geared toward older children.

Former President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law in 1990.

The landmark legislation prohibits discrimination against the disabled and affords them the same opportunities available to those who are not living with a disability. 

Organizations that collaborated to create the ADA anniversary celebrations included the West Haven-based Center for Disability Rights-CT, West Haven Community House's Community Connections, City of West Haven, City of Milford and Concerned Citizens for People with Disabilities, Inc. Agency on Aging and Bodie's Place of Milford. 

Congratulations to all the organizations on a successful event!