Food Trucks in the Valley on tap Sept. 15 in Shelton

Celebrate Shelton presents the third annual Food Trucks in the Valley from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Shelton Riverwalk off Canal Street. 

It will benefit Spooner House and The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund.

Admission is free. (does not apply to food and beverages). 

The event will feature:

• 25+ food trucks
• Live music
• Craft beer
• Car show
• Kids' activities
• Mascot 
• Live music by The Alpaca Gnomes

Kids' activities will include:

• Bounce house
• Video game truck with Rolling Video Games of New England
• Hula hooping with BringtheHoopla LLC
• Face painting

And more activities to come!

Media sponsor is STAR 99.9 FM.

Parking will be available along the Riverwalk sidewalk, Conti building municipal lot, on the grass like last year, Shelton Post Office, street parking all around the venue, and across the bridge.

If you would like to sponsor Food Trucks in the Valley, please email FoodTrucksintheValley@gmail.com.

Note: This information is shared from a slightly edited Facebook event page.

Event in Shelton combines chocolate, champagne, charity

Ashley Varrone, left, and Katy Williams, employees of Common Bond Market in Shelton, serve samples of chocolate raspberry creme cake, raw chocolate mousse, and peanut butter balls at the fourth annual "In Love and Chocolate" fundraiser Sunday at Courtyard by Marriott in Shelton.

SHELTON - I had a great time again this year at 'In Love and Chocolate' Sunday, an event that benefits two great causes. 
The proceeds will go to Spooner House, a homeless shelter and food bank at 30 Todd Road and The Mary L. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund, to support art education in local schools. 
(Please click link above to read my story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.)

I can say for sure I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the afternoon. The ballroom at Courtyard by Marriott was filled with smiling faces as folks visited vendors and sampled chocolatey concoctions and sipped champagne, if they were so inclined.

Stacia Monahan of Stone Gardens Farm in Shelton.

Stacia Monahan, who owns Stone Gardens Farm with her husband, Fred, offered samples of "Heart Beet" brownies. 
She told me she used two-and-a-half pounds of beets in the recipe. 
Monahan roasted and pureed the root vegetables and added them to the brownie batter. 

If you're not a beet lover, it's a good way to get some nutrition while indulging your sweet tooth. The brownies were delicious, and you can't taste the beets!

Fred Bialek, co-owner with his wife, Michele of Liquid Lunch in Shelton and Milford, served samples of spicy Mole Chili. 

Jim Calkins, executive chef and co-owner, Seasonal Sweets and Catering in Derby,'toasts' marshmallow fluff to create unique s'mores treats. His wife, Michelle, executive baker and co-owner, right, waits on a visitor.  

These gluten-free and nut-free s'mores were a popular item. Michelle Calkins made the marshmallow fluff and the graham crackers. 

Roy W. Tidmarsh, owner, Tidmarsh's Bake Shop in Ansonia, shows off the chocolate he uses to dip strawberries.

Starbucks of Shelton employees Emily Bob, left, and Amber Onidi, serve hot chocolate to Diane Mauriello.

Singer/songwriter Dave Hogan of Stratford entertained.

If you've never been to this fun event, I urge you to put in on your calendar for next February! 

Re-posting: Chocolate is the star at Shelton fundraiser Sunday

SHELTON - This annual event benefits the The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund and Spooner House in Shelton.

More than 20 vendors will be offering samples of their chocolate-oriented food and drinks, and there will be live music and prizes.

Sponsoring the event this year are the Valley Community Foundation, Charter Arms, The Glass Source Stained Glass Studio, Marks of Design, and Star 99.9 WEZN radio.

Spooner House provides temporary housing and food to help the less fortunate to get back on their feet. 
The Turtle Shell Fund is a charity that furthers music and arts education through scholarship and programming for children and young adults.

Tickets are available at Liquid Lunch, 6 Research Drive, Marks of Design, 500 Howe Ave., and Spooner House, 30 Todd Road. 

Tickets may also be purchased on Event Brite using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-love-chocolate-tickets-15310153080?ref=elink 

For questions e-mail Nicole Heriot-Mikula of The Turtle Shell Fund at nicole@soupstockfestival.org or call/e-mail Kate Pipa of Spooner House, 203-225-0453 x102 or kpipa@actspooner.org. 

Additional information may also be found on the Facebook event page.

With each ticket, patrons will be able to sample chocolate creations from the best of Connecticut’s confectioners, sip champagne (for those 21 or older), listen to live music, enter to win door prizes and much more. 

The exhibitors serving up sweet samples this year include restaurants in Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton, Milford and more. Proceeds will be split between Spooner House and the Turtle Shell Fund. 

Vendors include: Taste & See Gourmet Cupcakes, Tidmarsh Home Bake Shop, Common Bond Market, The Pink Cupcake Shack. Stone Gardens Farm, Liquid Lunch, Nikki's Candy Boutique, Royal Bakery, Bricks & Barley Tavern, Rotk'n Chocolates, Wildflour Cupcakes & Sweets, Focaccia's Cafe & Catery, Seasonal Sweets & Catery, Courtyard by Marriott, Starbucks, Tea With Tracy, and 500 Degrees.


This information is taken from a press release from Nicole Heriot-Mikula. 

I can attest that this is a fun fund-raiser to attend! It's a sweet event to support.

Chocolate is the star at fundraiser in Shelton

This annual event benefits the The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund and Spooner House in Shelton.

More than 20 vendors will be offering samples of their chocolate-oriented food and drinks, and there will be live music and prizes.

I can attest that this is a fun fund-raiser to attend!