Sharing update from Valley Independent Sentinel on Commodore Hull Bridge repairs

 

Here is a link to the story from the Valley Independent Sentinel:

https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/2025/09/30/update-on-the-route-8-hull-bridge-repairs/

Seymour Pumpkin Festival fun on tap Sunday at French Memorial Park

Read all about the Seymour Pumpkin Festival in a press release here published in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Cooling centers open in Derby, Seymour, Shelton, Oxford

Note: Sharing a link from the Valley Independent Sentinel about local cooling centers. 

https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cooling_center_locations_throughout_the_valley

I've posted the Ansonia cooling centers but I missed the boat yesterday and didn't see what the other towns are offering to residents. 

My apologies. I'll blame it on the heat. 

Valley Indy posts list of storm-related information

Earlier today Valley Independent Sentinel Editor Eugene Driscoll posted an extensive list of storm-related news about Sunday's flooding and what the public can do to help.

Compiling all of this vital information for the community is a wonderful idea! 

Kudos to Driscoll and his staff for their great coverage of this natural disaster that has affected so many of our Valley neighbors.  

Sharing the link here:

https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/flood_of_2024_recovery_links_ways_to_help_storm_related_updates?

Welander warns public about fake GoFundMe donation site for Derby children

Sharing post from the Valley Independent Sentinel:

https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/state_rep_beware_of_fake_donation_website

This is a link to the real GoFundMe page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/our-5-children

State Rep. Mary Welander represents the 114th District, which includes part of Derby.

Irving School in Derby posts honor roll ~ Congratulations to all!

DERBY - This list from Irving School was posted recently in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Congratulations to all the students on their academic achievement!

Marking Period Quarter 1 – High Honors

5th Grade:

Ariyah Lopez

Deja Jackson

Griffin Beauton

Mya Crespo

Paige Beauton

Marking Period Quarter 1 – Honors

5th Grade:

Ava Carroll

Dolan Boncek

Charlotte Chenery

Davon Johnson

Gia Morales

Lylah Vander Eyk

Mahlia Pouncey

Mayah West

Myla Kapusta

Rylan Goodwin

Sane Jackson

Marking Period Quarter 1 – High Honors

4th Grade:

Jensen Colindres

Taylor Hunter

Marking Period Quarter 1 – Honors

4th Grade:

Alexji Smith

Arianna Perez

Demri Delija

Drilon Sulejmani

Gabriella Yacvielle

Harmony Lopez

Jemma Franko-Velez

Jensen Colindres

Jianna Muniz

Khloe King

Liam Contreras

Taylor Hunter

Victoria Ewen

'Gentleman Joe' wins Fat Tuesday paczki-eating contest at Ansonia Armory

'Gentleman Joe' Menchetti of Cheshire wins the five-minute competition after downing 10 paczkis. 

Ansonia Aldermanic President Josh Shuart takes second place after gobbling six and a half of the traditional extra-plump filled donuts.

Mayor David S. Cassetti congratulates Shuart on his second place win.

Board of Education member Sharon Voroschak chows down paczki number one.

Voroschak, the only female participant, is interviewed by media after the competition.

Read correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich's story in the Valley Independent Sentinel here.

Ansonia community welcomes Zuppardi's Pizza takeout shop

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, at left, chats with Ansonia 3rd Ward Alderman Joe Cassetti Tuesday at the soft opening of Zuppardi's Slice Shop & Takeout Apizza at 58 Beaver St.  The shop is in the 3rd Ward.

ANSONIA - The long-awaited Ansonia branch of Zuppardi's is open. The West Haven-based family business held a soft opening Tuesday.

Here are some photos from the celebration:

  Owner Jimmy Ormrod and Mayor Cassetti.

Read Valley Independent Sentinel correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich's story about the new shop here. 

Derby to distribute COVID-19 testing kits today at high school

Information shared from a Valley Independent Sentinel Facebook post this morning:

ATTN DERBY

ATTENTION:

We just received our COVID-19 testing kits from the state.

Due to the redistribution of the kits assigned by the State of CT, we only received 400 kits for public distribution.

Due to the limited number of kits, we are now asking that only people who are experiencing COVID symptoms or have had close contact with a positive COVID case come to receive a kit today.

We will be distributing the kits from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. today, January 2, 2022 at Derby High School.

We will be limiting the kits to 2 kits per car. Proof of Derby residency is required to receive kits (photo ID or Utility bill).

Any questions please email:

dlenart@derbyct.gov

Ansonia to dedicate sculpture Sunday memorializing John W. Gatison, Jr.

Valley Independent Sentinel photo

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, left, and Deacon Dave Gatison photographed at City Hall with sculpture of John W. Gatison, Jr.

Sharing link below to a story published in the Valley Independent Sentinel about a bust sculpted by Ansonia resident Vasil Rakaj of the late John W. Gatison, Jr. The sculpture will be dedicated Sunday.

https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/Ansonia_To_Honor_The_Memory_Of_John_Gatison_Sr/?fbclid=IwAR29lqvr3okr_W8cyPqdIHsNAUuuKkATmAqErgw8-t7QUX6GmGvBBRQeehA

 

Shelton High's 2014 robot shows its stuff at contest

Shelton High School students demonstrated their 2014 Gaelhawks robot's abilities at the FIRST LEGO League competition Nov. 21 at the school. Here it picked up three plastic containers and moved them across the floor. It was not part of the qualifying tournament that day. 

Kudos to the three Shelton teams that did qualify for the upcoming FIRST LEGO League state championship Saturday! Great job.

Check out the story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Oxford teacher entertains at Seymour Pink party

Photo credit: Peggy Dinan Carvalho

Bobby Wheeler entertains Wednesday at the Seymour Pink Day celebration at Hot Tamale Mexican Grill and Bar in Seymour.

My apologies go out to singer Bobby Wheeler of Oxford, who did a great job performing for Seymour Pink board members and supporters at the party.
I inadvertently left him out of my coverage of the event, which you can read here and here.

As an aside, Wheeler's day job is teaching fifth grade at Oxford Center School! It was nice meeting him. 

I thank Seymour Pink volunteer Peggy Carvalho for providing the photo. 

Harvest House VI in Shelton helps fill Valley food pantries

A variety of donated non-perishable food fills the shelves of Harvest House VI at the Shelton Riverwalk. 
Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Donated supplies help Ansonia students prepare for back to school

John G. Prendergast Elementary School Assistant Principal Sherrod McNeill and Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti give out backpacks Tuesday at the school. Standing at rear from left are Ed DeMarseilles, Chief Operating Officer, Curtiss Ryan Honda in Shelton, and WEBE 108 on-air personality Danny Lyons. 

Ansonia students go back to class on Aug. 27.

Read all about the event in my story posted in the Valley Independent Sentinel. 

And check out a previous photo from the event in a blog post linked here.

Actress enthralls audience at Derby Historical Society fundraiser

Actress Sheryl Faye portrays Helen Keller Monday at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen in Ansonia. The slide is a photo of Keller's mother, Kate Adams Keller.

Sheryl Faye stays in character as she greets audience members after her wonderful performance.


It was the Derby Historical Society's 25th annual Silver Tea.

Please check out my story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Service in Ansonia remembers victims of Charleston, S.C. massacre

The Rev. Jeffrey Gubbiotti, pastor, Assumption Church in Ansonia, leads a prayer at Thursday's Community Prayer Service for the Healing of our Land at Clinton AME Zion Church in Ansonia.


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel. 

Ansonia launches Valley Market Place

The first Valley Market Place was held Wednesday in Veterans Park next to Ansonia City Hall.

Read all about it in my story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel. 

Ansonia Middle School students create permanent art

Ansonia Middle School seventh grader Jere-Mae Pintacasi paints a flower on a picnic table seat. 
The art project was funded by the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation. Designs for the painting were created by seventh and eighth graders.
Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo and Vice President Steve DiRienzo worked with the students on the project. The table will be installed in the school's courtyard.


Please read my story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Derby Middle School student wins Valley-wide cooking contest

Derby Middle School sixth grader Danny O'Hara makes his winning creation,"Pick-A-Pepper Bean Salad," in the kitchen at Griffin Hospital in Derby. 
At right is John G. Prendergast Elementary School, Ansonia sixth grader George Fischer who was busy creating his original recipe, "Fruit Ice Cream Cones." 


The students were competing in the second annual Valley Initiative to Advance Health and Learning in Schools (VITAHLS) cooking contest.

The two other contestants were Seymour Middle School sixth grader Viktoria Biblekaj, who offered Vicky’s Honey Apple Sandwiches, and Perry Hill School, Shelton fifth grader Emily Vasser who entered her “Goodtella Cookies” recipe made with Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread.

Everything looked delicious! It must have been difficult for the judges to pick a winner.

Congratulations go out to all the student/chefs.


Please read my story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

 

The Great Give is here

As a Valley resident I'm torn today with the arrival of The Great Give. 

That's because I support many of the local nonprofits that are seeking donations during this 36-hour online giving event.

If you want to give financial assistance to your favorite organization, this is the time to do it!
Click here to watch the webcast now emanating from the Ansonia offices of the Valley Independent Sentinel, one of the organizations seeking donations.

I wish my friends and colleagues at all Valley nonprofits much success in this fund-raising endeavor.