Regional hazardous waste collection slated July 18 in Southbury

 

20th annual Monkey Hugs Valentine Drive continues through Feb. 28

Collecting plush monkeys to warm the ’s & put smiles on the faces of children, who need it the most, on Valentine’s Day! 

Plush monkeys can be sent directly to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital through their child life Amazon wish list, or dropped off / mailed to a physical location, Michael’s Jewelers located at 775 South Main St., Southbury Green in Southbury, CT. 06488

Note: This event runs through the end of February.

Shared from a Facebook event page.

Recuperation journey: A visit to Shepaug Dam bald eagle observation area

SOUTHBURY - If you've never been to the bald eagle observation area at Shepaug Dam on the Housatonic River, I recommend a day trip! 

I was there with a friend last weekend and we both thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I call the picture above "beginner's luck" because I captured the photo as soon as we went inside the observation shelter. 

We saw three adults while we were there. It was  thrilling to see them, both through binoculars supplied in the shelter and through a telephoto camera lens. 

I was happy to capture this photo right before we left the viewing area.

Site manager Lucy Walker presented an informative talk and showed us an eagle egg and an example of a band that is put on the birds.

The viewing station at 2225 River Road is open to visitors - by reservation only - Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from mid-December until March 12 this season. Hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

For information, call 1-800-368-8954 or visit https://www.facebook.com/baldeagles.

DOT to apply rubber chip seal on Route 188 in Seymour, Oxford, Southbury

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing the application of asphalt rubber chip seal on Route 188 during the month of August, state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria said in a release today. Similar work will begin on Route 302 starting August 4, 2022, then progress to Route 188 and subsequently Route 179. The project consists of the preservation of the existing bituminous pavement surface. The project scope involves replacing catch basin tops as needed, crack sealing, patching repairs to the existing pavement, the application of Asphalt Rubber Chip Seal over the existing pavement surface, and finally the installation of new pavement markings within the project limits. DOT Project No. 0174-0454 is scheduled to be completed on October 18, 2022. This project is administered by the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Construction, District 4 in Thomaston. LANE CLOSURE INFO: Construction work that may interfere with normal traffic operations will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday and 6 p.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday and Sunday. Alternating one-way traffic is to be expected through each work zone. DOT Wants to Hear from You! Connecticut DOT wants to hear about your transit experience to inform the development of the first ever Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan that will clearly outline future programs, policies, and priority investments to improve your transit trip. Complete the entire survey for a chance to be entered into a drawing for a $75 pre-paid cash gift card! https://cxactionplansurvey.com/#/. Valid email address or phone number required to be entered to win 1 of 3, $75 pre-paid cash gift cards. Drawing will take place on September 15, 2022. Winners will be notified by email or by phone.

Learn more about the CX Action Plan Sincerely,

Residents at Wesley Village in Shelton share holiday love with rescue pups

Christine Parent, left, and Mary Petersell meet rescue pup.

SHELTON - Finding a place to call “home” for the holidays can be a waiting game for rescued pups in line for adoption at Companion Pet Rescue (CPR) in Southbury, so to help make the holidays a little brighter for these furry friends, residents at Crosby Commons Independent and Assisted Living Community decided to reach out by sharing puppy toys this Christmas.  

“We found a great idea for a do-it-yourself doggie toy that residents could make by hand and our Crosby Commons Cares Committee got busy,” said Lisa Bisson, Director of Community Outreach at the senior living campus.  

Bisson helped coordinate the project with Activities Director, Lauren Donovan.

“It was only a plastic water bottle filled with dog food, but we decorated it with holiday socks,” said Donovan. “It was an easy project with a little seasonal touch. We hope the dogs will love it!”

The Crosby Commons Cares Committee was formed earlier this year by a dedicated group of residents who gather regularly to work on community service projects and other meaningful initiatives. 

Residents support area community organizations and other important causes that matter to them. Last month they provided “Hearts of Hope” to the Griffin Hospital Center for Cancer Care for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and September’s project was a “Welcome Back” treat bag for local staff at Long Hill Elementary School. 

In addition to assisting with the project, Donovan knew residents would enjoy delivering the toys to the pups. 

"The residents light up when a family pet visits the community so I knew they would love a trip to CPR to deliver the toys and cuddle the pups," said Donavan. “I don't know who enjoyed it more - the puppies or the residents. The staff at CPR kindly brought the dogs out to our vehicle and the pups made themselves right at home on our residents’ laps. There were smiles all around - and plenty of cuddles and kisses.”

Crosby Commons resident Phyllis Buckley was happy to be part of the project from start to finish. “It was one of the best experiences I’ve had in quite a while. We’ve always had dogs in our family; they’re my favorite. The chance to sit and cuddle with the pups was just wonderful.”

Buckley’s friend and Crosby neighbor, Elsie Valeski, who also helped with the project, agreed. “They put one of the dogs in Phyllis’s arms and it was so calm and relaxed with her; it just snuggled right in.”

In addition to working with residents at Crosby Commons, Donovan also volunteers her time with CPR helping with adoption events and fostering pups waiting for their forever home.  

Both Donovan and Bisson have adopted pups from CPR.

“I hope we were able to share a little holiday love with these puppies who are waiting to meet their new families,” said Bisson. “They bring so much joy to so many people; we definitely did not want them to feel forgotten.”

 Wesley Village senior living campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization. The Wesley Village campus offers independent and assisted living, enhanced assisted living, early memory support, skilled nursing and short-term rehab. 

To learn more about Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, Lifestyle Transitions, or Bishop Wicke Health Center, visit our website or contact us at 203.225.5024. 

To become part of the Wesley Village team, visit our website at: https://www.umh.org/career-opportunities-at-umh.

About Companion Pet Rescue: CPR’s mission is rescuing and rehoming abandoned and neglected dogs. In addition to rescuing and rehoming dogs, we promote our own spay/neuter outreach program that allows us to assist families that need this service but can’t afford it. We focus our efforts on friendly, social, loving companion pets. 

We rarely assist in placing dogs with special needs or aggression - we simply are not equipped to rescue these dogs, as our dogs are heavily socialized with others (a doggy daycare environment), or in foster homes, almost all of which have children and other pets. 

While we always have more dogs in need than foster homes to help, we focus on the positive and what we can accomplish, this helps us save thousands of dogs in need! 

Please help us spread the word about our rescue and our spay/neuter initiative. 

For more information visit https://cprdogs.com/about/ .

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Southbury to host hazardous waste, paint collection for region Saturday

The Town of Southbury will be hosting the next Hazardous Waste Day, Saturday, July 24, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 

For those wishing to attend, please follow the instructions on the attached flyer. 

The address is: Southbury Town Hall, 501 Main St. South, Southbury.

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Organization offers meal delivery to seniors in Valley, surrounding communities

Griffin Hospital physician receives Planetree Clinician Champion Award

Neil Pearson, MD, of Southbury, was recently honored with the Planetree Clinician Champion Award./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Neil Pearson, MD, of Southbury, was recently honored with the Planetree Clinician Champion Award.

The Clinician Champion Award is part of Planetree’s Annual Spirit of Planetree Awards, which recognize individuals around the world who personalize, humanize, and demystify the health care experience.

Pearson is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Vascular Medicine. He is President of the Griffin Hospital Medical Staff and is highly respected by his colleagues, hospital staff, and patients. 

The award especially recognizes Pearson’s involvement in Griffin’s Congestive Heart Failure Collaborative, which established standard CHF care protocols to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions and improve the quality of life for patients.

“The Spirit of Planetree Award Ceremony is always a highlight of our Annual Conference,” said Planetree President Dr. Susan Frampton. 

“At the heart of the Planetree patient-centered model are the human interactions between patients and caregivers. With the Spirit of Planetree Awards we celebrate individuals like Dr. Pearson who, with their compassion, empathy, and simple human kindness, are improving the patient experience, and that is most definitely worthy of recognition.”

About Planetree

Founded in 1978 by Angelica Thieriot, a San Francisco patient who endured a traumatic health care experience, Planetree is an internationally-recognized not-for-profit organization that partners with health care providers around the globe to advance patient-/resident-centered approaches to care. 

Planetree has been at the forefront of the effort to personalize, humanize, and demystify the health care system for more than 30 years. 

With its model of patient-/resident-centered care being implemented in a diverse range of hospitals, continuing care facilities, outpatient clinics, and consumer health libraries across North America, Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands and Japan, Planetree is demonstrating that patient-centered care is not only an empowering philosophy, but a viable, vital, and cost-effective model of care.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Entrepreneur is featured speaker at 'Take Your Life Back' event in Southbury

SOUTHBURY - Entrepreneur and best-selling author Randy Gage will be the guest speaker at Willow Creek Farm, at 7 p.m. April 14. The farm is at 522 N. Georges Hill Road.

Gage has authored 11 books on success and prosperity, including New York Times bestsellers, and his training programs have inspired entrepreneurs and critical thinkers worldwide.   
He will be the main presenter at the free event. 

Gage's presentation is part of an international "Take Your Life Back" tour.

In his just-released best-selling book, Mad Genius, he challenges the reader to question status quo thinking about “the way things have always been done.”

His unique brand of brilliant empowers personal growth and financial breakthroughs by embracing disruptive, innovative thought processes and business practices.

Gage has overcome addiction, survived a life-threatening gunshot wound, jail time, and the brink of bankruptcy, to become a multi-millionaire who teaches others how to tap into their potential to achieve real, lasting success.

Bring a friend and learn what Gage and other successful entrepreneurs are up to, and how you can be a part of it.

Registration is requested as space is limited.  

For information or to register, please call 

203-627-5393.

This is a press release from Seymour resident Audrey Hescock.

Indian Well in Shelton one of 4 state beaches closed by DEEP

Sharing an e-mail from the DEEP sent late Tuesday afternoon:

Four state park beaches are now closed to swimming as a result of elevated bacteria counts detected by water quality testing.

The four beaches – two shoreline and two inland beaches – are:

Sherwood Island, Westport

Silver Sands, Milford

Indian Well, Shelton

Kettletown, Southbury

New test samples were taken at all four locations today and results are expected tomorrow (Wednesday). If tests show bacteria levels have receded, the beaches can be reopened.


The complete State Park Beach Water Quality Report can be viewed at:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2222&q=320786&deepNav_GID=1654