2 Ansonia High School students recognized for community service, leadership

 *CAPPS stands for the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

Abundance of Joy Learning Center in Ansonia schedules summer camp fun

 

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.

Junior Friends of Shelton Libraries to wrap gifts as community service

SHELTON - Do you hate gift wrapping? Good news! 

The Junior Friends of the Shelton Libraries are offering gift wrapping during the month of December as their community service project! 

Patrons can register for a 20-minute gift wrapping time slot with a limit of five items to be wrapped; the library will provide the paper, tags, and bows. 

Register here: http://engagedpatrons.org/Events.cfm?SiteID=2661

This is shared from the Huntington Branch Library Kids and Teens Facebook page.

Troop 3 Boy Scouts collect food for St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Derby

 

DERBY - Kudos to members of BSA Troop 3 of Derby for their support of St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank at 237 Roosevelt Drive. 

The Scouts and their leaders held a food drive Saturday at Onopiak Nature Preserve on Sodom Lane.

*Photos shared from BSA Troop 3 Facebook page.

Volunteers needed for field house cleanup for Seymour Pop Warner

Sharing info from a Facebook event page:

"We need volunteers (kids and adults) to help clean out and organize the field house [May 23] for the upcoming season.
"We are preparing the volunteer schedule in two hour time blocks: 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 1-3 p.m.
"If you are interested in volunteering please send a message with your time block. This is a great opportunity for teens to get their community service hours for National Honor Society and other mandatory service honors. Invite your friends. We need at least 75 volunteers."

Ansonia High School event to benefit Salvation Army food pantry

Seymour, New Fairfield Lions Club members win recognition

Lions Club honorees Lori Ann Beninson, left, and Melissa A. Smith./ Contributed photo


SEYMOUR - Lion Lori-Ann Beninson of New Fairfield and Lion Melissa A. Smith of Seymour have been awarded the International Presidents Certificate award by District Governor Shaukat Khan and Lions Clubs International in recognition of their commitment to community service. 

Beninson is on this year's District Global Leadership Team and Smith is on the Global Membership Team.

Beninson is a member of the New Fairfield Lions Club. She has been a Lion for seven years, and has participated in various club projects including New Fairfield Old Tyme Carnival, senior picnics and boat trip, Kids Sight eye screening, and homeless outreach.

Smith is a member of the Seymour Lions Club. She has been a Lion for nine years, and has participated in various club projects including Kids Sight eye screening, summer cruise nights, annual car show, senior pizza/bingo.
Both women said it was a great honor to be presented the award, which was a surprise.

The New Fairfield Lions Club has 57 members and meets on the second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Biscotti’s Ristorante. 

For more information or to get involved with the New Fairfield Lions Club, contact Beninson at ctlionsserve@gmail.com.

The Seymour Lions Club has 43 members and meets on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Tavern 1757. 

For more information or to get involved with the Seymour Lions Club, contact Smith at 203-430-9356 or email the club at seymourlions52@att.net.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. 

For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

This is a press release from the Seymour Lions Club.

Newsletter: O'Brien students help seniors, 5K in Ansonia raises funds

Dear readers,

Today's Valley Voice newsletter features Emmett O'Brien Tech students' community service project, 5K raises funds for American Cancer Society, more.

Thanks for reading,

Patti and Ralph

Valley Chamber to present Gold Seal Awards at Villa Bianca in Seymour

SEYMOUR - The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its 46th annual Gold Seal Awards Banquet Oct. 25 at The Inn at Villa 
Bianca, 312 Roosevelt Drive.

The event is presented by People’s United Bank, along with Pullman & Comley Attorneys.

The Gold Seal Awards is an initiative of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce to recognize the spirit of selflessness and dedication to our community.

The 2017 Gold Seal Award recipients are: 

Platinum Award 
Diane Stroman

Gold Seal Award 
Tom Haynes
Ray Oppel
Joe Welsh

SIlver Medal Award 
Valley Independent Sentinel

Emcee 
Ramon Peralta, 2016 Gold Seal Recipient

These awards are given annually to individuals and groups who demonstrate outstanding community service through dedicated and effective leadership. 

They are among the most prestigious and time-honored community service awards in the Valley. 

The combined efforts of all recipients have resulted in lasting contributions in the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

Tickets are $65 per person. RSVP by Oct. 20 at 203-925-4981 or  http://bit.ly/Gold46 .

TEAM slates 52nd annual meeting at Race Brook Country Club in Orange