Try your luck, catch a duck today at Ansonia Harvest Festival

 The festival will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Main Street.

New signs in Derby prohibit residents from feeding bread to waterfowl

Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan

Thank you to the concerned citizens who brought this issue to my attention via the Derby Community Forum. New signs to be installed on the Greenway and at Witek Park.


This post is shared from Mayor Dziekan's Facebook page.

DEEP seeks waterfowl artwork for 2018 stamp contest

Wildlife artist Mark Thone won the 2017 stamp art contest with his painting of canvasbacks at the mouth of the Thames River in New London./ DEEP website photo

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is once again inviting artists to enter their waterfowl artwork in Connecticut’s annual Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Art Contest. 

DEEP continues to encourage local artists to submit entries that contain Connecticut specific imagery. 
The winning contest entry will be featured on the 2018 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.

“The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program is a great example of how conservation works – concerned citizens paying into a program that was formed to protect and enhance vital habitat. Being more than just a ‘duck’ stamp, the conservation work it funds provides habitat for a multitude of wildlife species, including herons, egrets, fish, and amphibians,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen.

“By state law, funds generated from the sale of Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamps can only be used for the development, management, preservation, conservation, acquisition, purchase, and maintenance of waterfowl habitat and wetlands, as well as the purchase and acquisition of recreational rights or interests relating to migratory birds,” Whalen added.

Contest Details

• The contest is open to all artists (including Junior Duck Stamp artists), regardless of residence, age, or experience. Artwork may be in any full-color medium, including acrylic, oil, colored pencil, and watercolor. Images that include a Connecticut scene or landmark are preferred. Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, general rendering, and suitability for reproduction.
• Entries must be received in person or postmarked on or before April 15, 2017, to be eligible. Entries should be sent to: CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Attn: Migratory Game Bird Program, 391 Route 32, North Franklin, CT 06254.

Full contest rules, judging criteria, and an official entry certificate are available on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/ctduckstamp or by calling the DEEP Wildlife Division’s Franklin office at 860-418-5952.

History of CT’s Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Program

The Duck Stamp Program was initiated in the early 1990s when concerned sportsmen worked with DEEP to develop legislation that would generate revenue for wetland conservation. Modeled after the federal Duck Stamp Program, the Connecticut program requires the purchase of a state Duck Stamp, along with a hunting license, to legally hunt waterfowl and other migratory birds in the state.

The first Connecticut Duck Stamp debuted in 1993 with a fee of $5. From 1993-2002, the sale of Duck Stamps and prints generated over $1.2 million in revenue. Print sales gradually declined over time and the print program was discontinued with the 2002 Duck Stamp. Hunters and conservationists have consistently expressed strong support for the Duck Stamp Program and associated conservation projects. The sale of stamps alone currently generates approximately $50,000 per year. With the return of full-color artistic Duck Stamps in 2013, art enthusiasts, stamp collectors, and conservationists are encouraged to purchase as many stamps as they wish to provide funds for wetland conservation projects. Full-color prints may also be available at the discretion of the winning artist.

Previous Winners

• The inaugural art contest in 2012 was won by wildlife artist Richard Clifton, whose depiction of three wood ducks appeared on the 2013 Connecticut Duck Stamp. 
• The 2013 contest was won by John Brennan, whose painting of hooded mergansers graced the 2014 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.
• Guy Crittenden won the 2015 stamp with his depiction of northern shovelers. The painting that won the 2015 contest was of three Atlantic brant that was painted by Jeffrey Klinefelter and it was featured on the 2016 Connecticut Duck Stamp. 
• The 2017 stamp is of a pair of canvasbacks at the mouth of the Thames River with the historic New London lighthouse in the background, which was painted by Mark Thone.

Benefits of the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program 

• Funds generated through the Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program have been responsible for restoring and enhancing over 3,545 acres of critical wetlands. Projects have encompassed nearly 50 sites, mostly on state-owned wildlife management areas. This has benefitted many of the approximately 274 species of birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles of the state that rely upon clean, healthy wetlands. In many instances, Duck Stamp funds were the only source of money for these projects.

• Specialized large equipment was purchased to conduct extensive marsh restoration work, particularly along the coast.
• Connecticut was the first state in the nation to establish a unit dedicated to wetland restoration. The DEEP’s Wetlands Restoration Unit receives no state funds and operates solely off of outside monies and Connecticut Duck Stamp funds.
• A 75-acre addition to the Wangunk Meadows Wildlife Management Area in Portland was purchased.
• Duck Stamp funds have generated additional monies for Connecticut through matching grants from federal conservation initiatives. By combining Duck Stamp funds with these additional monies, over $4 million have been available to complete wildlife conservation projects. Thus, Connecticut has received a 4:1 return on Duck Stamp monies.
• The Duck Stamp Program is a prime example of a user fee program that has greatly benefitted not only wildlife, but also the people of Connecticut by improving the health of our local environments.

Do your part for conservation in Connecticut. Buy a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and contribute to habitat protection and restoration.


This is a press release from DEEP. 

Housy River Duck Race to benefit St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby, nonprofits

Winners of 7th annual Housy Duck Race in Derby announced

List of the lucky duck winners submitted by race organizer Grace Torres. 

School in Derby to host 7th annual Duck Race

DERBY - St. Mary-St. Michael School is inviting area community groups to share in the fundraising profits of the Seventh Annual Housy River Duck Race on June 27.

Non-profit organizations can raise funds for their causes by selling raffle tickets for the popular Valley fundraiser. For every $5 ticket sold, nonprofits will receive $2 back.

“A strong community is built on people and groups helping each other,” said Housy Duck Race Chair Grace Torres. 

Last year's duck drop / Submitted photo

“This is a great opportunity for nonprofits to work together in our common goal of caring for the community by raising much-needed funds for our individual missions.”

Set for 1 p.m. on Derby Day June 27, the Annual Housy River Duck Race has become an anticipated event in which thousands of yellow rubber duckies are dropped into the Housatonic River. 
Each duck is numbered and participants purchase raffle tickets with numbers that correspond to their ducks.

The first 65 ducks to float over the finish line win prizes for their “owners.” This year’s prizes include: $1,000; 48" LED HDTV; a 4 burner gas grill; Apple iPad mini; Beats by Dre Wireless Headphones, and Apple TV.

Similar shared fundraising efforts for duck races in Naugatuck and Milford have raised thousands of dollars for community groups, Torres said.

“The Duck Race is a popular event and we’re happy to invite others to share in its success,” she said. “All the groups need to do is sell the raffle tickets and we’ll do the rest.”

For more information or to receive a pack of raffle tickets, contact Torres at St Mary-St Michael School main office at 203-735-6471 or gtorres@stmarystmichael.org.

To purchase a duck, contact the school at 203-735-6471 or visit http://stmarystmichaelct.eduk12.net for a list of locations where they are on sale.



This is a press release from the school.

Griffin Hospital in Derby sponsors 'Paint-A-Duck' contest

This duck is decorated for the contest. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts’ 5th Annual “Paint-A-Duck” Contest is underway.

This annual art contest invites members of the community to show off their painting skills and help support The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

Participants can purchase a “Paint-A-Duck” kit at Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts, located on the ground floor of Griffin Hospital at 130 Division St. or at the Boutique at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness receives $1 for every paint kit purchased.

Participants can decorate their duck using the eight different color paints included in the kit or improvise with their own. Props and accessories are also allowed.

All entries must be dropped off at Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts by April 24.

Each entry will be displayed inside Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts as they are submitted.

A panel of judges will decide the winning duck in each of the following categories: Most Creative; Best Use of Props; Best Theme; Best Group Effort; Best Senior Entry; Best Children’s Entry (Age 5 & under); Best Children’s Pre-Tween (Age 6-8); Best Tween Entry (Age 9-12); and Best Teen (Age 13-19).

Each winning category will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts. Winners will be announced by May 1.

For more information, call (203) 732-1490 or email gpg@griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.