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.

Derby to hold city-wide cleanup tomorrow ahead of Earth Day

 

Derby slates city-wide cleanup

 

Derby Public Works crew cleans around National Humane Alliance fountain

Shared from the Derby Greenway Facebook page:

Another sign of spring on the Greenway [Wednesday morning] as DPW does some cleaning around the historic National Humane Alliance fountain on The Hall of Fame Plaza.

Reminder: Fill public works trucks with food this week in Ansonia, Derby

Annual Food Drive being held during National Public Works Week 

The purpose is to collect food and household provisions for local food banks and raise awareness of Public Work Department operations; including highlighting the things that residents can do to “help” the DPW crews do their jobs (example: the things that create the most problems during plow operations). 

Food and goods donations are especially critical during the early summer months as schools get out.

This info is taken from a press release from the American Public Works Association. 

*Here are links to information for collections in Ansonia and Derby.

Fill public works truck in Derby, support St. Vincent De Paul food pantry

DERBY - The Public Works Department will mark National Public Works Week May 21-25 by collecting donations for St. Vincent De Paul food pantry in Derby.
The drop-off location is 4 Coon Hollow Road.
Residents are asked to donate non-perishable food items between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about the drive, visit
http://newengland.apwa.net/PageDetails/13498.

Derby Public Works employees win plaudits

Sharing from the Derby Mayor's Office Facebook page: 

"We would like to thank our Public Works Department for all the hard work they've put into making Derby a cleaner and safer place to live. Here are a few photos of some of the work they've done throughout our city."

Looks nice!

Derby opens new footbridge at Witek Memorial Park

Lower spillway at Witek Memorial Park was recently repaired. / Contributed photo

DERBY – Just in time for the arrival of the fall hiking season, the new footbridge at Witek Memorial Park is officially opened to the public.

The project was the result of successful collaboration among city staff, Derby aldermen, and community business partners including D’Amico Associates, DiGiovanni & Sons Construction, and A Quick Pick Crane and Rigging Service.

The nine-foot by 22-foot wooden bridge will enable hikers to now safely travel over the spillway and around the lower reservoir without having to traverse the steep hill below the dam and enter Academy Hill Road. 

The bridge includes aprons at either end to allow for wheelchair access.

The footbridge is only one of the projects Derby Public Works recently completed at Witek Memorial Park, a 144-acre park on Derby’s east side. 

The park features two reservoirs, several walking and hiking trails, and two soccer fields.

“Because the bridge was built by DPW employees, labor and materials only cost the city about $8,000,” said DPW Director Anthony DeFala. “If we had outsourced the job, it would have probably cost about $50,000,” DeFala said. Additional improvements recently completed at Witek Park include:

• Replacement of the roof on a small accessory building near the spillway

• Installation of new fencing

• Newly landscaped entry way 

• Repairs to the parking lot and drainage system along Academy Hill Road 

• Improvements to the parking area near the soccer fields

• Repairs to the lower spillway in accordance with mandates by state dam inspector

Mayor Anita Dugatto praised the improvements. “The work done at Witek Park was motivated by a concern for public safety and persistent maintenance needs. By doing as much work as possible in-house, we controlled our costs and were able to maximize our investment in this community asset,” she said.

This is a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office.

Derby installs sidewalks near Ryan Field

New sidewalks along Chatfield Street in Derby. / Submitted photo

  

DERBY – Derby High School and Pop Warner events generate a lot of foot traffic in and around Ryan Field, especially during football and soccer season. 

Thanks to the combined efforts of Derby Public Works and the Derby Board of Aldermen, football fans and other visitors have a safer path to travel.

New sidewalks have been installed on Chatfield Street so pedestrians don’t have to walk on the busy roadway.

“This is just one of the many projects completed by our public works department for the betterment of our community,” said Mayor Anita Dugatto.  

DPW has made improvements at Witek Memorial Park, the Derby Green, Derby Senior Center, Derby Greenway, and the Picnic Grove on Nutmeg Avenue.  Many street islands have also been cleaned up and refreshed with new plantings.  

All of the improvements were completed within DPW’s existing budget.

“These initiatives are not only about improving Derby’s curb appeal.  In many cases, they are in the interest of public safety,” Dugatto said.

Ryan Field visitors will also benefit from a new crosswalk on Hawthorne Avenue.  The crosswalk leads to a “new” sidewalk.  The sidewalk, buried for years under brush and weeds, was uncovered during DPW’s maintenance work and restored to full use.

“I live in this neighborhood, and there is substantial foot traffic in and around the field each day.  The city not only addressed a huge safety concern, but our Department of Public Works really stepped up to the plate and made the area around the field look more attractive,” said Art Gerckens, President of the Board of Aldermen.  

This is a press release from Mayor Anita Dugatto's office.