'Turnback Tuesday' features St. Michael's Church, School, Rectory in E. Derby

Turnback Tuesday is again looking at the corner of Main Street and Derby Avenue in Derby. This time it's St. Michael’s Church, School, and Rectory. The church construction began in 1906. With the due diligence of Rev. Paul Wazko, construction moved right along.

The basement was completed and ready for occupancy so that the congregation was able to hold its first mass celebration on Christmas Day, 1906.

The church building was dedicated July 4, 1907 with the school and rectory added in 1914. Wazko served as pastor from 1906 to 1924.

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

Life Health and Wellness Center in Ansonia to host Youth Support Group via Zoom

 

PCRC in Derby offers program to help teens make good choices

DERBY - Is your teen lonely? Depressed? Anxious? Seem worried or confused? 

PCRC offers an adolescent program that can help you and your teen.
Today’s Choices is an adolescent program that helps youth understand the importance of the choices they make every day, and how those choices result in opportunities as well as consequences. 

Today’s Choices also helps parents learn about adolescent struggles, how parents’ behavior impacts the choices their children make, how to improve communication with their children, and how to help their children make more effective choices.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this service to adolescents in the community who may be struggling with any substance related issues.  
"At PCRC our hope is to bring more light to these issues and be a support for teens, parents and families,” said Sarah Beard, Director of Clinical Services at PCRC.

The program addresses at-risk behaviors, anxiety and depression, substance use, school performance, juvenile justice issues, social/peer problems, family relationships and problematic decision-making. 

Today’s Choices components include:

•  Comprehensive risk assessment

•  Individual youth sessions

•  Group youth sessions

•  Parent sessions

•  Family sessions

•  Psychiatric services

•  Toxicology screens

“Today’s choices focuses on all aspects of adolescent emotional development, helping teens acquire a core set of skills aimed to enhance the way the manage difficult situations,” said Dr. Sandra E. Gomez Luna, Medical Director, BHcare/PCRC. “Through the completion of the program, teens will be more prepared to make effective choices to guide them in their discovery of future successes.” 

A division of BHcare

PCRC, a division of BHcare, provides hope and help for children, adolescents, teens, and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. 

Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Recuperation journey: Throwback Thursday

First day of school in 1997.

My mom would come over on the first day of school when the kids were little to see them off on the bus.  
Wonderful memories! 💞 💞 💞

Recuperation journey: A different time ~ Memory from 1938

I was going through a box of my mother's things Saturday and just happened to find a book with an Independence Day theme.

Today is the perfect day to share my discovery.

My mother was given this book from the town's school district when she graduated from eighth grade on June 17,1938.

In the back are pages titled "Names of My Teachers,"Names of My Classmates," and "My School Chums."
Every person who signed the book used cursive. Sadly that wouldn't happen today, 80 years later.

What a beautiful graduation gift for the students!

Cosmetology/barber training school to open in Ansonia

East Main Street, Ansonia./ Contributed photo

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti announced today in a written release that Ace Cosmetology/Barber Training Center will open its third location at 370 East Main St. 

The business is owned and operated by Gary Olmstead, who owns two other locations in Waterbury and Hartford. 

The new site will be Connecticut’s largest cosmetology and barber training center in the industry. 
Olmstead will lease with an option to buy and hopes to be open for business in April. 

The Ansonia location is the former site of several restaurants and nightclubs, but has been largely vacant for the last two years. 
The school will have six new employees and is targeting 150 students for enrollment. The school will also provide services at a 50 percent reduction to the public and all walk-ins will be welcome. 

“There is already a steady flow of traffic through East Main Street and in our downtown area and with new residential apartments coming on line and an improved parking plan in the works, this will be an ideal location for the school," Cassetti said.

It will be one of several new successful businesses that have opened up on East Main Street in the past two years, including Banko’s House of Music and Rosa Mina Restaurant. They will join the well-established businesses of Fitzpatrick’s Auto Dealership which just recently underwent a $1 million renovation, and Yale Podiatry which has recently renovated the exterior of the building. 

Corporation Counsel John P. Marini said,

“This new business will play a prominent role in recharging our downtown. It will attract students wanting to learn a trade and residents and visitors looking to give new hairstylists and barbers a chance. 

"We are seeing concurrent development on both our Main and East Main Street corridors. It can only add to the enthusiasm and energy already present in our downtown,” Marini said.

Economic Development Director Sheila O'Malley said, “We have worked with the owner, Jim Polari, in the past to help find a suitable tenant, but it has always been challenging because it requires a retail/restaurant tenant that can completely make use of 10,000 square feet. This seems to be a perfect fit.”   

Olmstead said, “We are very excited about this opportunity in Ansonia and look forward to a long and positive partnership with Mayor Cassetti and the residents of Ansonia and the Lower Naugatuck Valley.” 

This is a press release from Mayor Cassetti's office.

Julia Day Nursery in Ansonia to mark 100th anniversary Sunday

ANSONIA - Julia Day Nursery will celebrate its 100th anniversary with an open house from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the school, 76 Central St.

Students, families of students, directors, teachers, staff, members of the Board of Managers past and present, and the public are invited.

History of the school
In 1913, a group of women interested in the welfare of children and known as The Ansonia and Derby Nursery Association began to work for the establishment of a day nursery "for the benefit of mothers who were compelled to work and had no place to take their children while engaged in their daily vocation."
For three years, they raised money by sponsoring teas, dances, cake sales, and the like, until they raised $1,500.

Mrs. Charles (Julia) Brooker offered the use of a home on Factory Street. 
Mrs. Louise M. Clark was engaged as the "Matron" to head the nursery.

The program, which opened its doors in June of 1915, began with five children and by November, the enrollment increased to 27.
For two years, the nursery flourished and seemed to fulfill a long-felt need in the community.

After the death of Mrs. Brooker, the house was sold in the process of settling her estate and the Day Nursery was without a home. The Ansonia Board of Education offered the use of a few rooms in the old high school for the summer.

The Hon. Charles F. Brooker generously offered to give the property at 76 Central St., if $1,500 could be raised for repairs.
After a committee worked hard to raise this amount, Mr. Brooker paid for all the repairs and authorized the committee to use the $1,500 for operating expenses. (According to one source, the house was given as a grant by Mr. Brooker and Mr. Alton Farrel.)

The new building was opened on Nov. 6, 1917. Contrary to popular belief, "Julia Day" was not the founder of the school.

The Julia DAY Nursery is named in honor of Julia Clark Brooker whose generosity and interest made the Nursery possible.

After the Nursery became overcrowded in the small white house, Mr. Brooker offered to build a brick wing containing a playroom, bathroom and locker rooms.

The addition was completed in 1927. In May of 1929, with a bequest from Mr. Brooker's will, a main building was added to complement the brick wing. This is as it stands today.

On Nov. 7, 1917, the incorporators of the Nursery met to adopt its Constitution and By-Laws and to elect its original Board of Managers.

The school continues to serve as a non-profit, tax exempt corporation which, in addition to tuition, donations, and grants has some funding from Valley United Way.

It is NAEYC accredited- a prestigious recognition achieved by approximately 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide.
A volunteer Board of Managers operates Julia Day Nursery.

The program consists of Preschool, Prekindergarten and Before and After School Care. All children are provided with free breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Julia Day Nursery gets some school readiness funding and accepts subsidies such as Care 4 Kids Programs.


This information was provided by the board.