Annual Memorial Day Service slated Friday at Derby High School

 

Seymour Congregational Church to hold Field of Flags blessing ceremony

SEYMOUR - Join us for a meaningful and moving ceremony as we honor those who have served.

As part of our Field of Flags tradition, we will gather for a special blessing and plaque dedication ceremony, lifting up the names and stories of veterans from our community.

 Honor a Loved One
Plaques may be purchased for $5 through the church office in honor of someone who served. During the ceremony, plaques will be dedicated and names will be read aloud.

We are honored to be joined by Emil Senger Post 10, who will help lead this time of remembrance and gratitude.

 A sacred moment of reflection
A tribute to service and sacrifice
 A community remembering together

Join us for this very special ceremony as we give thanks, remember, and honor.

The church is at 45 Broad St.

CWV Post 1562 in Derby seeks vendors, sponsors for tag sale fundraiser

DERBY - St. Michael’s Post 1562 is seeking vendors and sponsors for its second annual Tag Sale to benefit the Target CT for T2T fundraiser.

The Tag Sale will be held at the Post Hall, 112 Derby Ave., on Sept. 13 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Proceeds will support The Post’s annual Tunnel to Towers fundraiser (Target CT for T2T) to help veterans and first responders in Connecticut. 

The campaign is a grassroots fundraising project to which your donation will be earmarked specifically for any T2T initiative conducted in  Connecticut for first responders and veterans. 

This campaign was first introduced in August 2024 and kicked-off throughout the Naugatuck Valley towns of Derby, Shelton, Ansonia and Seymour.

Table reservations are $30. Renters keep their proceeds but must remove their unsold items at the end of the event.

You can also support the fundraiser by being an event sponsor for $15. Sponsorships will be displayed on signs at the Tag Sale.

Call or Text 203-671-6502 to reserve your table or sponsorship.

The public is invited to come check out the great deals on items, from toys and antiques to household items and tools, and everything in between.

The event also will collect returnable cans and bottles. A baked goods table will offer fruit pies, cookies, breads and award-winning homemade tomato sauce.

Thank you for your support!

This is shared from the Post's Facebook page.

Homes for the Brave to host comedy night fundraiser in Stratford

Get Ready to Laugh for a Cause!

Comedy Night is back and bigger than ever! Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, all in support of Homes for the Brave and the Veterans we proudly serve.

Don’t wait—grab your tickets now: https://bit.ly/HFTBComedy2025

Let’s come together for a night of fun and make a difference!

Celebrations honor veterans at Wesley Village senior living campus in Shelton

Crosby Commons resident and veteran Ed Nobile admires the World War II display at the Stratford Veterans Museum.

SHELTON - Members of the Wesley Village senior living campus recently recognized veterans with  events at Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The Shelton communities organized celebratory luncheons, patriotic entertainment, and heartfelt tributes to show appreciation for veterans’ sacrifice and service.

Gathering spaces across the campus were decorated in red, white, and blue. Community chefs took great care in preparing special menus and dessert offerings for the day. 

Residents and team members dressed in patriotic attire, and flags were flown with pride. 

Wesley Heights resident Beverly McNichol, left, shares a smile with Lead Resident Services Coordinator Donna Brice. 

Bev is a “Cadet Nurse” who attended nursing school during World War II when there was an incentive for women to assist in the national nursing shortage during wartime. 

At Crosby Commons, residents were honored at a special pinning ceremony, during which veterans were presented with a certificate of thanks and a military pin. 

Christine Thibault and Coast Guard veteran Denise Giattina of Compassus led the ceremony with Crosby resident and Navy veteran Father Steve Krugel, who offered an opening prayer.

Crosby residents also received a personal tour of the Stratford Veterans Museum with volunteer Bill O’Brien. They enjoyed the history, stories, and dedication to preserving the memories of Stratford veterans. Along for the tour was Crosby Commons' own Stratford veteran Dick Millward. The group admired the museum’s display of ceramic red poppies, inspired by a 2014 art installation of over 800,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London. Several symbolic poppies were purchased and gifted to Crosby Commons' veteran residents during the community’s Veterans Day luncheon. 

“Our veterans continue to mention how special it was to be recognized for their service during the various Veterans Day events,” said Crosby Commons Activities Director Lauren Donovan. “It is truly a privilege to honor them and an amazing display of community when we all come together for this important occasion.”

Wesley Heights residents and team members gathered for a ceremonial luncheon with a patriotic-themed menu and piano performance by resident Carol Osgood. 

Veterans were honored with a military hat noting their branch of service and along the community’s Veterans Wall of Honor, an inspiring display of photos and details recognizing each veteran. 

Residents and team members led the ceremony with words of gratitude, support, and patriotism.

Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center hosted a Veterans Day ceremony with a presentation by centenarian John Kopchik, who shared poignant memories of serving in the U.S. Navy. 

Bishop Wicke Administrator Debra Samorajczyk led the ceremony, which brought together residents and patients, team members, and families for words of appreciation, patriotic songs, and a celebratory cake. Veterans received military hats that noted their branch of service before retiring the colors.

About Wesley Village: The Wesley Village senior living campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. offers a continuum of care: independent and assisted living, enhanced assisted living, early memory support/memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehab. 

The campus is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization with a 150-year legacy of caring. 

To learn more about the Wesley Village campus communities of Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, Lifestyle Transitions, or Bishop Wicke Health Center, visit our website or contact Megan Guastaferri at 

203-447-5454 or mguastaferri@umh.org. To become part of the Wesley Village team, visit our website at: https://www.umh.org/career-opportunities-at-umh.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes. 

St. Michael's CWV Post 1562 in Derby to host benefit dinner Tuesday

DERBY - St. Michael's CWV Post 1562 monthly pasta dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will benefit the TargetCTforT2T initiative to raise money for CONNECTICUT veterans and first responders. 

The Post is at 112 Derby Ave.

Dinner is just $10 per person, but reservations are needed to ensure we have enough to go around for all! 

Call the Post at 203-734-9748 to get your ticket. Dinner includes bread, salad, pasta in meat sauce, coffee and dessert. 

Bonus of the evening, great time with friends, those you know and those you will make! Join us! 

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Community to celebrate Fourth of July on Derby Green

 

Seymour Culture & Arts slates summer concerts, to collect items for veterans

*We will be collecting for veterans during our Summer Concert Series this season!

Socks, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, bar soap, body wash, t-shirts and men's underwear all sizes.
(All items must be new)

American Legion Post 10 in Seymour to hold Veterans' Service Day

 

8th Annual Homes for the Brave fundraiser slated in Stratford

STRATFORD - Join Homes for the Brave for an unforgettable night at the 8th Annual "For Veterans by Veterans" Comedy Night April 5, hosted at Vazzano’s Four Seasons, 337 Kenyon St.  

Enjoy a delightful dinner, door prize, a 50/50 raffle, and a hilarious lineup of professional comics - all proud U.S. military veterans. 

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the laughter begins at 8 p.m. 

Your support helps fund vital programs for Connecticut’s Veterans facing homelessness, providing them the support needed to rebuild their lives and reach their goals. https://bit.ly/3SPT0Y7

Ansonia Memorial Day Parade organizers seeking participants

"Reaching out to any schools, marching bands, clubs, etc. Join Ansonia for their Annual Memorial Day Parade to Honor those who served this country and paid the ultimate sacrifice."

This is shared from the Ansonia Cultural Commission Facebook page.

Ansonia to hold ceremony Dec. 7 to mark 81st anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor

Please join Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti at  11 a.m. Dec. 7 for "A Day of Remembrance," Pearl Harbor Day. 

The annual ceremony will be held in Veterans Park next to City Hall. 

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Team Rubicon assists with expansion of gardens at Little Free Pantry on Skokorat

Team Rubicon members gather at Little Free Pantry.

Volunteers take a break after assembling garden beds.

SEYMOUR - Team Rubicon members arrived Saturday at The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat to assist with expanding the pantry’s community garden footprint. Team Rubicon’s seven volunteers provided the manual labor to lay landscape fabric and mulch,cut, and assemble seven additional 4x8 garden beds, and fill them with almost 14 yards of compost and soil.

Team Rubicon is a national veteran-led humanitarian organization serving global communities before, during, and after disasters. They also offer an opportunity for our veterans to continue to utilize their talents and skills serving both locally and abroad. 

Team Rubicon connected with The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat through local business owner Lauren Cust of Tranquil Hive Honey Co. in Seymour. Cust is a member of TEAM Rubicon and also serves as the pantry’s beekeeping mentor. The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat first opened on July 4, 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.The initial goal of the pantry was to provide an additional community resource for neighbors struggling to put food on the table. 

Its mission now includes organizing, advocacy, education as part of All In For Seymour and the broader All In Movement throughout the Valley. 

All In groups from Ansonia/Derby, Shelton, Oxford, and Milford are working with TEAM, Inc., a national leader in not-for-profit management and program performance in the field of human services, early childhood, family support, and community engagement in Derby. The goal of All in for Seymour and the broader All In Movement is to advocate for everyone to access to a safe and affordable place to live, a place where access to food is secure, and place in the decision-making that affects our lives. 

The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat is run by Seymour native Jenny Rice along with her husband and two children out of their home at 58 Skokorat St. 

The site is open 24/7 and includes the pantry, a little free library, community garden, and off-street parking space. 

This is a press release from The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat.

Annual Derby-Shelton Memorial Day service slated at Shelton Intermediate School

SHELTON - The Derby-Shelton Memorial Day Parade Association in association with Derby and Shelton Veteran Organizations and the Derby and Shelton Police and Fire Departments will host its annual Memorial Day service at 6 p.m. May 26 at Shelton Intermediate School. 

The service is  will commemorate Memorial Day and remember Veterans from Derby and Shelton who passed away since last Memorial Day.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Derby-Shelton Rotary Club to present 2nd annual Flags for Heroes

 

'For Veterans, By Veterans' comedy night slated at Vazzano''s in Stratford

STRATFORD - Homes for the Brave presents a lively and memorable night out at the 7th Annual “For Veterans by Veterans” Comedy Night, hosted on March 31 at Vazzano’s Four Seasons.

The evening features a dinner, door prize, 50/50 raffle, and a hilarious lineup of professional comics, all of whom are U.S. military veterans.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8.

Proceeds from the event will fund programs and services that assist Connecticut’s veterans struggling with homelessness to gain the foundation they need to get back on their feet and achieve their personal goals.

Get your tickets today - visit https://bit.ly/HFTBComedyNight or call 203-338-0669.

CWV Post 1562, Assumption School to sponsor Wreaths Across America in Ansonia

 

Klarides-Ditria: DMV offering new veteran wartime service plates

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering 10 new license plate options for veterans that commemorate specific wartime periods, including the Afghanistan War, Grenada, the Iraq War, the Korean War, Lebanon, Operation Ernest Will, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, the Vietnam War, and World War II. “We owe our freedoms to the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present, especially those who have served in war and conflict zones,” Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas Saadi said. “These new veterans license plates recognize that service and sacrifice by Connecticut veterans in wars and conflict zones from the Second World War II to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  "My thanks to Representative Dorinda Borer for introducing this idea, which is now law, and thanks to the Department of Motor Vehicles leadership and staff for the great collaboration with Department of Veterans Affairs in making these license plates a reality for our veterans.” The new plates are offered in addition to the standard Connecticut license plate for veterans and are available exclusively for veterans who served during these specific periods of war and those who received campaign medals. The license plates are available for passenger, commercial, combination, camper, and camp trailer types, and cost $27.50.  Veterans can request a new veteran plate by completing the Special Plate Application Form on the DMV’s website at portal.ct.gov/DMV-War-Vet-Plate.

Sincerely,