Griffin Hospital in Derby to host AARP Driver Safety Program

Contributed photo 

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 8:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Oct. 7 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to everyone.

The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and make some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. 

The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance company about discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Make checks payable to “AARP.”

To register, call Tammy at 203-732-1523.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Ansonia Police advise motorists to slow down; extra patrols added

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Police Department is advising motorists to SLOW DOWN on Ansonia streets. 

As part of enforcing this advisory, the Ansonia Police Department has added extra patrols for speed enforcement. 

These extra patrols are funded by State of Connecticut grants to combat speeding on rural and city roads. 

Over the past two days, over 80 vehicles have been stopped for excessive violation of the speed limits on numerous streets including one motorcycle going over 100 mph. 

Tickets and arrests have been a result of the majority of these stops. These extra patrols will continue to be added to help reduce the violations and the accidents that result from the speeding vehicles. 

Please slow down, those extra couple of seconds you may be saving to reach your destination are not worth it.

This is shared from the APD Facebook page.

Derby PD shares winter storm warning tips

From Derby Police Department Facebook page:

Snow is expected tomorrow (WED 07 MAR) starting early in the morning and increasing throughout the day. 

This is expected to be a “heavy” snow (weight-wise) with high wind gusts, which could increase the potential for downed trees/power lines and resulting power outages. Please prepare accordingly. 

If you encounter any power outages please contact your local utility provider, not 911. The UI Co. can be reached at (800) 722-5584. 

The following are some friendly snow-related tips and reminders:

Derby Winter Parking Ban is still in effect – parking is only allowed on the ODD side of the streets. You risk being ticketed and towed if plow vehicles cannot get through and adequately clear the roadway. Per Mayor Dziekan's office, FREE PARKING is available at the parking garage downtown Tuesday into Wednesday for anyone who wants to get their vehicle off the street.

Local ordinance requires that all homeowners/ businesses remove snow and ice from their sidewalks. Please be courteous to those that must travel by foot by making the sidewalks passable. You are also prohibited from throwing/shoveling the snow into the roadway. Both of these actions subject you to a $75 fine.

If you must travel, please exercise caution! Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destinations and always keep extra distance between yourself and other vehicles as stopping distances will be increased due to slippery road surfaces. 

Lastly, please remove ALL snow and ice from your entire vehicle (hood, trunk, and roof) before heading out. Operating an igloo that poses a threat to other drivers is a violation of Connecticut General Statute and is a $120 infraction. 

The fine increases to $200 and above if snow/ice becomes dislodged and causes damage to other vehicles.

Please Drive Safe and Smart If You Must Travel!

Students at Seymour High learn dangers of distracted driving

Seymour High School teachers Nick Aprea, left, and Paul O'Connor with students. / Photo by Rich Kearns

SEYMOUR - The nationally-known teen safe driving program "Save a Life Tour Distracted/Texting Awareness Program" from Grand Rapids, Mich. was invited back to make a stop Monday at Seymour High School.  

Photo courtesy of Rich Kearns

The program travels across the country educating teens in the responsibilities of safe driving focusing on the dangers of distracted/texting while driving.   

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has provided the funding for the "Save A Life Tour Distracted/Texting Awareness Program" at 50 more high schools in Connecticut beginning fall of 2016 at no cost to the hosting schools. 

Seymour was one the lucky schools to be able to capture the experience for its students.

The "Save a Life Tour" is a high impact distracted driving program that demonstrates to students the potential deadly consequences of this dangerous behavior. Utilizing distracted driving simulators, videos, speakers, and surveys students experience first-hand the impacts of distracted driving.

More than 200 students from Seymour High School participated in this life changing experience. The program was coordinated by Director of Security for Seymour Schools Rich Kearns.  

He was joined by Seymour Police Department Community/School Resource Officer Jack Harkins, Physical Education/Health Teachers Nick Aprea, Sarah Swann, and Paul O'Connor who teamed up to help run the program.

Seymour High School students also have the opportunity throughout the school year to utilize full cab virtual interactive driving simulators that are available to them to use in the Seymour High School Wildcat Teen Driving Center.  

Kearns takes students through various scenarios utilizing the simulators to reinforce the dangers of distracted driving and driving while under the influence.

This is a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour schools.

Seymour High students take part in virtual simulated driving program

Students James Harnish, left, and Joe Pasterella participate in a safe driving initiative this week at Seymour High School./Contributed photo 

SEYMOUR - Teen drivers at Seymour High School had a special opportunity this week to utilize the school's virtual interactive full-cab driving simulators which are part of the "Wildcat Teen Driving Center" at the school.  

Seymour is the only school in Connecticut with Virtual Interactive Full-Cab Driving Simulators available to its students. 
This was all part of a teen safe driving initiative held at the school. 
It was coordinated by Rich Kearns, Seymour Public Schools Director of Security.  

From left: Lucas Brown, Jaylin Kelly, Tamar Coverson-Epps.

Teens who signed-up for a special event appointment to use the Center were put through hands-on driving experiences showing the dangers of texting while driving. 

Students who participated were given certificates of safe driving to present to their insurance companies for potential safe driving discounts as well as gift cards for participating.   

To cap off the week the nationally-known teen safe driving program "Save a Life Tour Distracted/Texting Awareness  Program" from Grand Rapids, Mich. was invited back to make a stop at Seymour High School.  

Ashley Bercier, left, and Kayla Christansen

The program travels across the country educating teens in the responsibilities of safe driving focusing on the dangers of distracted/texting while driving. 

The Connecticut Department of Transportation provided the funding for the "Save A Life Tour Distracted/Texting Awareness Program" at 60 more high schools in Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2015 at no cost to the hosting schools. 
Seymour was one of the lucky schools to be able to capture the experience for its students. 

The "Save A Life Tour" is a high impact distracted driving program that demonstrates to students the potential deadly consequences of this dangerous behavior. Utilizing distracted driving simulators, videos, speakers, and surveys; students experience first-hand the impacts of distracted driving.

More than 200 students from Seymour High School participated in this life changing experience. 

Kearns was joined by School Resource Officer Corey Tomasella, and Physical Education/Health Teachers Nick Aprea and Paul O'Connor who teamed up to help run the program.


This is a press release from Richard Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host AARP driver program

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 6 in the hospital’s dining room meeting rooms.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. 

While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to all interested persons.
The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. 

The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. 

As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance agent to learn whether their company provides auto insurance discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Make checks payable to AARP. 

Call Esther 203-732-1523 to register.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host prom safety awareness night

Panel to address underage drinking, distracted driving 
DERBY - Juniors and seniors at Valley high schools and their parents are invited to the fifth annual Prom Safety Awareness Night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 7 at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

“Underage drinking and distracted driving increases during prom season and the most powerful tool against these risk factors is parents,” said Cathleen Kellett of Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurse Program. 


The free event features a panel of emergency medical technicians, police officers, a physician from Griffin Hospital's Emergency Department, and a local teen drunk driving survivor. 

The panel will discuss various aspects of their job in relation to teen drunk and distracted driving in the Valley. There also will be a question and answer session.

Griffin Hospital will provide refreshments and participating students will receive free gift cards for Dunkin' Donuts and be entered into a grand prize drawing for prom ticket bids.
This event is free, but seating is limited. RSVP by March 28 to Dee, 203-924-7614 or kopecs@att.net.
Please provide your name, phone number, town, and number of guests.

The event is sponsored by The Valley Community Foundation, Shelton Youth Service Bureau, Ansonia Youth Service Bureau, Valley Parish Nurse Program, and Griffin Hospital.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Seymour Ambulance warns of icy conditions

Use caution! Roads are a sheet of ice. Rain freezing on contact. @ValleyGazette @ValleyIndy @CTNotify @NBCConnecticut @rep_am @nhregister

* Sharing this after seeing several Facebook posts by Valley residents also warning of treacherous road conditions.