Participants sought for Ansonia Memorial Day Parade May 24

 

Ansonia seeks groups to participate in Memorial Day Parade

 

'Turnback Tuesday' features historic Derby Green

Turnback Tuesday takes a look at the Derby Green, located between Elizabeth, Minerva, 5th and what used to be 4th Streets. 

This public square became a gathering place, and according to the City of Derby website was designated as a Public Green in April,1845. 

There are 3 churches surrounding the Green (Immanuel St. James, Derby Methodist and 2nd Congregational) plus there is a beautiful, oft-used Gazebo located at the south end.

The Green also houses monuments dedicated to the many who served in past wars and for the attack on 9/11/2001. 

There are two time capsules buried on the upper part of the Green: one buried in 1975 during the Derby Tercentenary to be opened in 2025, and one for Ed Strang Day in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 3, to be opened in 2064.

The "Birmingham Green Historic District" (or Derby Green) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Salvation Army Greater Valley seeks Food Fight for Good participants

 

Back to School event slated Saturday night on Derby Green

 

Community takes part in National Day of Prayer at Veterans Park in Ansonia

 

Capt. Cheryl McCollum of the Salvation Army in Ansonia says a prayer before introducing Assumption School students Dominik Sudol and Jamie Reay who both read Scripture. 

They were taking part in the National Day of Prayer celebration last week at Veterans Memorial Park in Ansonia.

The 10th annual event was organized by Ansonia residents Larry and Pat Boemmels. The couple is to be commended for coordinating this event for the past decade.

Music was provided by the Reclaim Christian Church Worship Team.

About 75 people attended the celebration.

Father Jeffrey Gubbiotti, pastor, Holy Rosary and Assumption Churches in Ansonia, prays for the future of education. 

Ulysses Youngblood, pastor, Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries in Ansonia, prays for business people.

Sarai Aleman sings "My Redeemer Lives."

Other clergy who took part in the event were Pastor Michael Jenkins of First United Methodist Church, Pastor David Barker, River Valley Baptist Church, and Pastor Breandan McTighe of Reclaim Christian Church, all in Ansonia.

Participants sought for Ansonia Memorial Day Parade

 

Moment of silence slated in Ansonia to observe 20th anniversary of terrorist attacks

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti invites residents to Veterans Park next to City Hall this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. for a moment of silence in observance of the 20th year remembrance of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

At 8:46 a.m., the time of plane impact on the World Trade Center north tower in New York City, several local churches will sound their service bells for one minute. Cassetti will deliver remarks after the moment of silence.

Churches participating include Assumption, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph’s, Christ Church, Three Saints, Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries, and Saints Peter and Paul.

In addition, city firemen will be on site at Webster Hose Memorial Park to sound the former fire bell that sat atop Farrel Foundry on Main Street for nearly 100 years.

Cassetti welcomes all city churches to participate.

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Valley Parish Nurses at Griffin Hospital to celebrate 30th anniversary

Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Health will celebrate its 30th anniversary from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 13./  Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Health will host a 30^th Anniversary Celebration from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

Recognized as the longest-running parish nurse ministry in the world, the celebration will feature displays about how the more than 30 active Parish Nurse Programs affiliated with Griffin Health have helped their community over the past three decades. 

Light refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon.

'Whole person health care' 

Started as a vision of the Rev. Fred Erson, former Director of Pastoral Care at Griffin Hospital, to provide “whole person health care,” the Valley Parish Nurse Program began in the fall of 1989 under the direction of Jan Sharkey, RN. 
The program grew from five parishes and six nurses to more than 40 churches and hundreds of active nurses and health cabinet members at parishes in Shelton, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, New Haven, Waterbury, Meriden, Middlebury, Southbury, and Hamden.

Parish nurses serve as a health care resource and referral person to their churches and community. 

Free screenings

The goal of the parish nurse is to keep people healthy through education and preventative medicine practices, including offering free health screenings such as blood pressure, and to connect people to needed resources when appropriate.

In 1999, The Valley Parish Nurse Program expanded its services with the purchase of a Mobile Health Resource Van by Griffin. 
The van allows members of Griffin’s Community Outreach Department and the Valley Parish Nurse Program to conduct health screenings and provide health education practically anywhere. 

In 2006, Griffin purchased a larger, better-equipped van that has increased the frequency and types of health screenings.

“The Valley Parish Nurse Program provides us with a really unique dimension to health care,” said Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel. “Parish nurses are volunteers that live and work with people in their community and they develop a level of trust that allows them to connect, intervene, educate and understand the specific health care needs of their neighborhood.”

For more information about the Valley Parish Nurse Program, visit griffinhealth.org/vpn.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Get involved in neighborhood gardens throughout 5 Valley towns

*Shared from the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank Facebook page.

Congregational Church hosts Lenten series at Seymour, Oxford churches

Along the Road Lenten Series

You are invited to attend the Along the Road Lenten series each Wednesday evening at a variety of Seymour/Oxford Churches. 
Each evening will offer a soup and bread supper at 6 p.m. followed by worship at 7 p.m. 

Our church will host the Ash Wednesday soup supper and worship on February 14 [today]. Plan on spending Valentine’s Day with your church family! 

Congregations will offer:

6:00 pm Simple Soup and Bread Supper

7:00 pm Services

Ash Wednesday, February 14th

Seymour Congregational Church

45 Broad St., Seymour

… … …

February 21st

St Thomas the Apostle

733 Oxford Rd, Oxford Church

… … …

February 28th

Great Hill Methodist Church

225 Great Hill Rd, Seymour

… … …

March 7th

Immanuel Lutheran Church

25 Great Hill Rd, Oxford

… … …

March 14th

Seymour United Methodist Church

92 Pearl St, Seymour

… … …

March 21st

Trinity Episcopal Church

91 Church St, Seymour

… … …

Good Friday, March 30th

Immanuel Lutheran Church

25 Great Hill Rd, Oxford

7 pm worship only

* Information shared from Seymour Congregational Church Facebook page

2 parishes to hold Eucharistic Procession in downtown Derby

Participants in last year's Eucharistic Procession walk across the Derby Green./ Contributed photo

DERBY - On June 18, following the 11:30 a.m. Mass, the parishes of St. Mary and St. Jude invite the community to join them for a Eucharistic Procession through downtown Derby to commemorate the Feast of Corpus Christi.

The procession will leave from St. Mary Church, 212 Elizabeth St. at approximately 12:30 p.m. and make six stops: St. Mary-St. Michael School, Hallock’s Landing, Derby City Hall, Derby Elks Club, Derby Green, before returning to the steps of St. Mary Church for benediction. 

Individuals unable to walk the route are invited to meet the group at each of these places. 
Each stop will allow time for prayer and reflection. 
After the procession, refreshments will be served in St. Mary parish hall.

For more information call St. Mary Church, 203-735-3341.


This is a press release from a parishioner.

Sharing 19th-century etching of Housatonic River

Artwork featured on the Derby Public Library Facebook page

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features an etching of Birmingham circa 1848. It was done by N. Curtiss and was drawn from the perspective of the Huntington side of the Housatonic River. The steeples of the various churches of Birmingham can plainly be seen.

Faithful follow Way of the Cross in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The annual Good Friday Way of the Cross procession was held on Main Street today. It started at Veterans Park next to City Hall at noon, and ended at the Ansonia Armory, 5 State St. 
Participants in the ecumenical service stopped to pray together at seven stations along the way. 

The procession symbolizes the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion by the Romans.

The Rev. Marcia Eveland, at right in red, pastor of First Congregational Church in Ansonia, leads the group in prayer at the steps of the Ansonia Armory. 

The Rev. James Sullivan, left, pastor of Assumption Church in Ansonia, is captured in contemplation as he stood with the faithful in front of the Ansonia Armory.

About 25 people participated in the eighth annual procession. 
It was sponsored by churches in Ansonia and Derby. John Zaleski from Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in Ansonia provided the sound system, as he has in the past.

Local history session at Library to highlight Derby churches

DERBY - The Derby Public Library holds weekly Local History Information Sessions from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays.

During this time Mary Bisaccia, the Library’s Local History Coordinator, offers information on monthly highlighted topics.

April’s topic will be The History of Derby Churches.

Assistance also will be available for research on topics such as genealogy, prominent local figures, major area events, and more.

For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth 

St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.  


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library. 

Spooner House in Shelton expresses gratitude for generous donations

SHELTON - Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, provided 649 holiday meals during November and December, according to a release from the organization operated by Area Congregations Together, Inc. The release continues below: During the months of November and December, Spooner House was able to provide 649 households in the lower Naugatuck Valley with a holiday meal, which included a frozen turkey and all the fixings.  We couldn't have done it without the support of the community, through food drives and complete meal basket donations.  Thank you so much to the wonderful organizations listed below and the countless individuals who pitched in this holiday season to help us be able to serve our neighbors in need.   Zion Lutheran Church | St. Joseph High School Junior Varsity Cheerleaders | Lexicon Relocation | THULE | Pitney Bowes | Shelton AARP | Mead Elementary School | St. Rose of Lima Parish Social Concerns Committee | Taylor Made Fitness | Dental Associates of Connecticut | BlumShapiro | Bungay Elementary School | Chatfield-LoPresti Elementary School | Seymour  Middle School | Five Star Products | Circle of the Sacred Well | Tutor Time Shelton | Precision Resource | Turner Construction | Stelray Plastic Products | NovaMed Corp. | First Church of Christ Woodbridge | Creative Minds Academy | St. Joseph Church Shelton | Sila Solutions Group | Solium Transcentive | William Raveis | Unilever | St. Mary - St. Michael School | St. Joseph School | Frontier Communications | UnitedHealthcare | Aquarion | CCL Label | Precision Aerospace Inc. | Derby Middle School | Sylvan Dance Studio | Hubbell Inc. | CDW | HealthPlanOne | Johnson Electric | Webster Bank | Remedy Partners | Aquinas Consulting | BTX Global Logistics | Children's Studio for the Performing Arts | Clancy Relocation & Logistics | St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church Ladies' Society | Shady Knoll Health Center | Panthean Temple | Physician One Urgent Care Derby | PerkinElmer | Girl Scout Troop #60058 | St. Thomas the Apostle Church | Sai Systems International | Oxford Parks and Recreation | Shelton KinderCare | Orchid Orthopedic Design | TD Bank Shelton | Inline Plastics | The Redwing Pond House Preschool | Child's Garden Daycare | Serra and DelVecchio Insurance Group | Anglican Church of the Resurrection | Seymour United Methodist Church | Pumpkin Patch Daycare | Knights of Columbus Newtown | St. Vincent's College 2nd Year Radiography Students | Derby, Milford, and Shelton Adams | Smile Dental Center | Rehabilitation Associates | People's United Bank Drive Up Shelton | Jones Family Farms | St. Mary's Derby Knights of Columbus | L2 Innovate Computers & Technology | ANN INC | Sikorsky Finance Department | Advanced Radiology | Mutual Security Credit Union | Girl Scout Troop #60394 | Huntington Congregational Church | Foundation for Life (MetLife) | American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16 Shelton | Girl Scout Troop #60459 | Girl Scout Troop #64164 | J. Videira's Paving | Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton | Happy Day Preschool | Christ Church Preschool | Wells Fargo Shelton | All-Star Transportation | Shelton High Youth2Youth | Ansonia and Shelton Stop & Shop | St. Vincent's House of Hope Once again, thank you so much for your support in helping us provide our neighbors in need with a holiday meal as well as support from all the volunteers who helped assemble and distribute the meal baskets.  We couldn't have done it without you! (We apologize if we have accidentally omitted anybody from the list.)

And a big thank you to our monthly meal groups!

At Spooner House, we have 22 groups who provide an evening meal for our residents on the same day each and every month.  We want to extend a big thank you to all of our groups for their time, effort, and generosity given each month! Holy Rosary Ansonia | Church of the Good Shepherd Seymour | Christ Episcopal Stratford | Oxford Greens | St. Augustine's Seymour | Huntington Congregational Church | St. Jude's Church Derby | Huntington United Methodist Church | First United Methodist Church | Great Hill United Methodist Church | Trinity Lutheran Church | Seymour Evangelical Baptist Church | Il Palio | Congregation Or Shalom | Seymour Congregational Church | Oxford Congregational Church | Seymour Methodist Church | St. Thomas the Apostle Oxford | St. Mary's Church Derby | Immanuel Lutheran Church Oxford | Assumption Church

Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service planned at Ansonia church

ANSONIA - Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us pretty quickly, or so it seems.

I learned today the always inspiring Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to celebrate our American holiday is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 22.

The worship service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 47 Franklin St.

The celebration will include familiar hymns, readings, and music from several faith traditions and a reading of the President's Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

Everyone is welcome. Donations of non-perishable food items to support area food banks are requested. 

The sponsoring houses of worship are:

Al-Aziz Islamic Center, Bridgeport; Bahai' Group of Oxford; Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia; Clinton AME Zion Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Derby; First United Methodist Church, Ansonia, Phuoc Long Buddhist Temple, Ansonia.

Faithful follow Way of the Cross in Ansonia

Donijah Collier, 17, of New Haven carries the cross Friday from Veterans Park next to Ansonia City Hall up Main Street to the Ansonia Armory at 12 State St.

Close to 25 people followed him for the Good Friday ecumenical service. The eighth annual event was coordinated by the Rev. Marcia Eveland, pastor, First Congregational Church of Ansonia.

Zherah Collier, 14, of New Haven, leads the way behind her brother, Donijah, who carried the cross for the entire procession.

Reminder: Way of the Cross planned Friday in Ansonia

ANSONIA - The seventh annual Good Friday Way of the Cross Procession sponsored by Ansonia and Derby churches will be held at noon Friday.

The walk symbolizes Jesus' journey on his way to his crucifixion.  

Each year clergy members and lay people participate in the solemn walk, which starts at Veterans Park next to City Hall (253 Main St.) and proceeds up Main Street to the Ansonia Armory.

Participating churches are First Congregational Church of Ansonia, First Congregational Church of Derby, Christ Episcopal Church of Ansonia, Clinton AME Zion Church of Ansonia.

John Zaleski, funeral director, Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, participates each year and lends his sound system to the event.


This is a press release from the Rev. Marcia Eveland, pastor, First Congregational Church of Ansonia.