Ansonia Memorial Day Parade organizers seeking participants

"Reaching out to any schools, marching bands, clubs, etc. Join Ansonia for their Annual Memorial Day Parade to Honor those who served this country and paid the ultimate sacrifice."

This is shared from the Ansonia Cultural Commission Facebook page.

Rock the Valley 2022 in Ansonia was bittersweet for this writer

Singer/songwriter Riley Johnson entertains  at the start of the festival Saturday afternoon.

ANSONIA - Rock the Valley 2022 returned to Nolan Field Saturday after a two-year absence.

Ansonia Events Coordinator and Cultural Commission member Rich DiCarlo spoke this week about the festival. He said about 2,500 people strolled the venue featuring craft and food vendors and a kids' zone.

"This year we decided to return to the roots of Rock 'n Roll with a musical lineup to match," DiCarlo said. "We premiered our new larger stage which we named the Road Ready stage, after the event's sponsor.

"I'd like to thank Irene Krom-Kirby for taking the reins from our beloved Ralph Villers.

"They were really big shoes to fill but she persevered. I'd also like to extend my thanks to George and Pat and the rest of the Ansonia Cultural Commission and Mayor Dave Cassetti for making Rock the Valley happen.

DiCarlo and Krom-Kirby visit vendors

"We already started negotiating with next year's headliner and promise to have the best show set for next year. Details to be announced soon."

Rich is a good friend and he and my late husband Ralph were the main organizers of Rock the Valley in the past - with much help from city officials, Cultural Commission members and other volunteers.

As someone who observed first-hand the months of planning involved I can attest to how well Rich and Ralph complemented each other in working to make Rock the Valley a success!

Some sights from the day:

Kids enjoying the petting zoo.

Vendors galore.

Friends Laura Willoughby, creator of Gabriella Candles, LLC and her husband Alonza pose  with samples of their products.

Jen Durkin's Steal Your Funk band rocks the crowd Saturday night.

Congratulations to my friends in the Ansonia Cultural Commission for putting on another great Rock the Valley!

Rock the Valley to feature day of music, fun at Nolan Field in Ansonia

 

Derby Public Library offers access to financial ratings database

Protect Your Piggy Bank with Weiss Financial Ratings - Viewable as of 9 a.m. Sept 20

Paige Grillo provides a deep dive into the functionality of the database and how to create an account, set up a watchlist for your bank, insurance company, stocks and mutual funds, how to create research tools (screeners) and run a Medigap report.

Weiss Financial Ratings is the Library's newest online database.

It and other databases accessible on our website at www dot derbypubliclibrary dot org from anywhere free with your Derby Public Library card.

This is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Celebrate Shelton readies first concert of summer season

SHELTON - Join us from 5-9:30 p.m. July 23 and enjoy music by Symphonic Bodega and Spring Heeled Jack at Veterans Memorial Park, 100 Canal St. Suggested donation is $5. 

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

 

Save the date: Fab4 Music Festival slated at Nolan Field in Ansonia

 

Seymour Culture and Arts shares summer concert schedule

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Culture and Arts Commission has announced the bands that will perform in the town's summer concert series.

The concerts will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Great Hill Hose Company, 140 Botsford Road.

June 5 - The Royal Kings

June 19 - The Barons

July 17 - Larry Ace

August 7 - Nashville Drive

August 21 - The Name Droppers

September 4 - The Bernadettes

Hope to see you there!

This is shared from Seymour Culture and Arts Facebook page.

Locapalooza arts fest slated at Three Saints Park in Bethany

BETHANY - Gates will open at 11 a.m. May 19 and music will kick off at noon at Three Saints Park, 112 Miller Road.
There will be a Kids Korner for the little ones and games in the field for all ages, including Cornhole, Giant Jenga, Volleyball, and Basketball. 
BYOB, food vendors will be there.

Tickets are $15 ($20 at the gate) in advance for this full day of music and fun for the whole family. 
Kids 12 and under are free! 
https://locapaloozaiv.bpt.me/

Locapalooza IV lineup: 
Adelaide Punkin Datzuk
Frank Critelli
Gracie Day
Symphonic Bodega
Tracy Jo & The Toads
Fattie Roots
Zillawatt
The Foresters


*This information is shared from a Facebook event page.

Save the date! Valley will rock Aug. 20

Just two months away! 

Ansonia holds 'star spangled' parade Sunday

Hometown pride shines through 

The reviewing stand in front of City Hall with its patriotic decorations. 

Waiting for the parade to begin ...  

The Seymour-based Connecticut Hurricanes led the parade. Here they are performing at the reviewing stand in front of City Hall. At left is Ansonia Middle School Co-Principal Terri Goldson who did a great job emceeing the program.

The Ansonia High School Band stands at attention in front of the reviewing stand. At center among her students is music teacher and band director Maria Tangredi.

Emcee Terri Goldson reads the names of servicemen from Ansonia who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Members of Naugatuck High School's Color Guard perform for the crowd.

Derby Historical Society docents dressed in Colonial costumes. Pictured from left, Jody Bishel, Rosalie Cota, Sandy Mendyk, Allegra Villers (my daughter), and Paula Norton, the Society's deputy director.

Jay Murphy, longtime member of Eagle Hose Hose & Hook & Ladder Company #6 leads the company's unit.

  

This woman exudes an abundance of enthusiasm as she marches with a group from Macedonia Baptist Church of Ansonia.

My husband, Ralph Villers, a member of the parade committee.

Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo, a member of the parade committee, brings up the rear.  

It was a wonderful parade, and worth the wait for the line of march to reach Main Street and the reviewing stand. I know a lot of time and effort went into the planning and my hat's off to the committee.