Poeta Strong to march in Seymour Christmas Parade this Sunday

 An event by Nina Strong- The Nina Poeta Scholarship Fund and Elizabeth Anderson

We will march to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the establishment of the fund at the Valley Community Foundation and our community’s continued support! 

Through the generosity of family, friends, and even strangers, some who have now become forever friends, we are are getting close to our goal which will make the fund self-supporting and never-ending!

We would love to have Nina’s friends, supporters and scholarship recipients march with us! We will be tossing candy and Nina bracelets!
Please wear your Nina shirt or pink!!

**We will meet at 12:45 p.m. behind the Community Center/ Congregational Church at the end of the fence, at the corner of 43 Derby Ave. and Pine Street. 

Look for the bunch of pink Nina Strong Forever balloons! 

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Newsletter: Memories of popular Seymour teen, living with disability, more

Dear readers, 

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features a cheerleading competition at Seymour Middle School in memory of Nina Poeta, living with a disability, more.

Thanks for reading!

~ Patti and Ralph

Cheerleading competition held in Seymour in memory of Nina Poeta

A TV photographer zooms in Saturday on a collage of photos of Nina Poeta, a Seymour High School cheerleader who died Nov. 1, 2014 at age 17 after battling an inoperable brain tumor. 

Seymour High School Varsity Cheerleaders hosted the 10th annual Wildcat Open - "Bring it on for Nina," at Seymour Middle School. This is the third year the competition was dedicated to Nina's memory. 

Stay tuned for more in the next issue of The Valley Voice newsletter. 

Newsletter features 'Trail of Glitter' fundraiser in Seymour, more

Dear readers,

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features tonight's fundraiser in memory of Nina Poeta at Seymour Land Trust, St. Mary-St. Michael School students performing at the Derby tree lighting Friday, and more.

Thanks for reading,

Patti and Ralph

Seymour Land Trust to host 'A Trail of Glitter' fundraiser today

All are welcome to attend from 6:30-9:30 p.m. today at Seymour Land Trust, 13 Chatfield St., Seymour.

Sip and Paint in Seymour to benefit Nina Poeta scholarship fund

SEYMOUR - Calling all friends who love to make art or who want to learn! 
Lizzie's Corner Consignment and Gifts will host a Sip and Paint at 7 p.m. June 30. It will be a 'plein air' class.


Sharing info from Facebook event page:

"Join us at Lizzie's Corner for this fun event. Kokopelli Music and Arts Studio will be donating a portion of the proceeds to The Nina Poeta Memorial Scholarship Fund. A percentage of the sales at Lizzie's Corner from the evening will also be donated to this special fund. 

"Please share this event with your friends!! Checks for 30.00 payable to: Kokopelli Music and Arts can be dropped off at Lizzie's Corner Wednesday to Saturday 10-5 or Sunday from 12-4."

Seymour teen wins memorial scholarship from family of Nina Poeta

Congratulations go out to Seymour High School senior Emily Wrogg, who was presented with The Nina Poeta Memorial Scholarship. She is pictured with Nina's parents, John and Dorie Poeta, at a recent ceremony at the school.

This information from a Facebook post is being used with permission from Dorie Poeta.
"We are so grateful to be given the opportunity to present this award due to the generosity of our family, friends and this entire community who have all supported The Nina Poeta Memorial Scholarship Fund! Thank you!!!

"Special thanks to the SHS staff, especially Anita Marcheggiani Cardona, Lisa Rubio, and Principal Jim Freund for all your help with this!!

"We would also like to thank Nina's family, friends, and coaches who helped to write the scholarship and The Nina Poeta Memorial Scholarship Committee for choosing our recipient from the wonderful nominees!" 

Emily has been involved with many community activities. She has volunteered for Seymour Pink, Special Olympics, and the Girl Scouts, served as a link crew leader for freshmen, and a mentor for Bungay Elementary school students.

She helped form the high school's first Leo's Club, a teen branch of the Seymour Lions Club and was captain of the Seymour High School Dance Team.

Game dedicated to Nina Poeta to benefit Seymour Pink, cancer center

Reminder: Today's the day for celebrating in Seymour

Sharing information from the Poeta Strong page on Facebook:

"Seymour's Angel, Nina Poeta, will be honored throughout downtown Seymour, Connecticut tomorrow [today, Saturday]. The town will be transformed into Bedford Falls with carolers, horse and carriage rides, dinner and a concert. Angel Wings will be available for purchase. A bell will ring in town for Nina for every pair of wings. Please join us for this very special day."

Carolers in Seymour to collect donations for Poeta family

Reminder: Seymour Christmas Parade is today

SEYMOUR - The town's annual Christmas Parade will step off at 2 p.m. today at the Community Center, 20 Pine St.

Nina Poeta

The Seymour Christmas Parade Association is holding the event in honor of the family of Nina Poeta, who died Nov. 1 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
The Poetas will serve as grand marshals.

You can check out a story here by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich. 

Seymour Christmas Parade to honor family of teen

Nina Poeta

SEYMOUR - New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich wrote a story about the town's 43rd annual Christmas Parade.

This year the Nov. 30 event will be dedicated to the family of Nina Poeta, who died Nov. 1 after a courageous year-long battle with an inoperable brain tumor. Her family will serve as grand marshals.

Please follow the link to the story.

Seymour resident asks continued support for Poeta family

Fund-raising events planned
The following was written by Seymour resident Elizabeth Pisano, a friend of the Poeta family whose daughter, Nina, recently lost her battle with an inoperable brain tumor.

Pisano created a gofundme.com account for the family soon after Nina was diagnosed last November at age 17.

Nina Poeta

"As the Poeta family suffers the worst loss imaginable, they need the support of this wonderful, and large, community more than ever.

"Poeta Strong will continue to try to anticipate the needs of our dear friends and help them in any way possible.

"Right now they need us to offer our love and prayers.
"They also need our financial help. The expenses of the past year are great. We can ease this burden somewhat. Benefits are being held to offer assistance over the next few months. Please attend as many as you can.

"These are opportunities to join together and celebrate Nina's life and this wonderful family, while removing some of the added stress of these large expenses.

"On Nov. 21, a Benefit Dinner will be held at La Bella Vista at the Ponte Club, 380 Farmwood Road in Waterbury. Individual tickets, as well as full tables of 10, are available. This will be a very special night for friends and family to gather.

"Please send a message to poetastrong@gmail.com for tickets or call 203-415-4387.

"Thank you all for continuing on this journey with the Poeta family and for being there for them throughout the past year. WE ARE POETA STRONG!!"


A Day of Healing will be held Sunday at Phoenix Yoga & Wellness, 39 New Haven Road, Seymour. The event is a fundraiser for the Poeta family.

Dinner planned to benefit Seymour family

Pink balloons for Nina seen in downtown Ansonia

ANSONIA - Unfortunately this morning's rain has knocked down pink balloons that were placed on Father Salemi Drive in honor of Nina Poeta, the Seymour High School cheerleader who died Saturday after battling an inoperable brain tumor. 

Calling hours for Nina will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Holy Rosary Church on Father Salemi Drive.

Seymour continues to be strong for Nina, family

Walk of Light vigil draws thousands 

The solemn vigil held last night at the Seymour High School field to honor Nina Poeta is the kind of touching event that those who live and work in the Valley have come to know well. It demonstrates once again how the Valley is indeed a caring, close-knit community.


*Read New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich's story about the event honoring the life of Nina Poeta here.

*And view a gallery of 41 beautiful and touching photos by New Haven Register photojournalist Peter Hvizdak here.

Vigil in Seymour to light up night with Nina's spirit

From the Office of First Selectman: 

Nina Poeta Walk of Light Vigil
Seymour High School will be hosting a Walk of Light Vigil for Nina Poeta Wednesday November 5 from 6 pm to 8 pm on the John T. DeBarber football field. 

Nina Poeta

Any and All who would like to participate in this Vigil are welcome to attend. 
Nina will be remembered fondly as a student who has an unquenchable spirit who will be forever with us. 
Nina Poeta Strong Forever

Please bring a flashlight or glow stick with you which we will use to light up the night with her spirit.



This information was posted this morning on the Office of Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page.