School in Derby hosts Grandparents Day

Kaelyn DiMartino, a second grader at St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby, enjoys lunch with her grandparents, Harvey and Marlene Finkel of Derby. Students invited their grandparents to school Friday to celebrate Grandparents Day. / Contributed photo

Former UCONN Huskies visit Ansonia

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, center, greets former UCONN Women Huskies Tina Charles, left, and Sue Bird when the basketball stars arrived Sunday for a television interview at the Ansonia Armory. / Photo contributed by Sheila O'Malley.

ANSONIA - I was one of three reporters at the Ansonia Armory Sunday afternoon lucky enough to catch a glimpse of several standouts from previous UCONN Husky teams. 

The women all were very accommodating as they posed for photos with residents and signed autographs.

They were brought inside the Armory to be interviewed in the gym for an ESPN2 documentary about the team and playing under Coach Geno Auriemma. 

Festival in Oxford raises money for a good cause

Ken Barnes of West Haven won the Peoples' Choice award for his '64 Pontiac GTO. There were 116 show cars at the event. 

OXFORD - I enjoyed covering the second annual Barefoot Summer Festival and Car Show Sunday on the grounds of Colonial Tavern.
The end of summer event benefited the Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc., a nonprofit based in Seymour.

Meg Tarby is founder and executive director of the organization that assists needy children throughout the state.
She announced on her Facebook page the festival had raised more than the $10,000 goal she had set.
Great news!

Congratulations go out to Derby veteran

Derby's own Erwin "Gus" Williams took third place Saturday in the "Dancing with our Heroes" event to raise funds to build Connecticut's first Fisher House on the VA Healthcare System grounds in West Haven.

The gala event was held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

Williams danced the Foxtrot with Monika Barska, an instructor at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Southport. Barska is a 1996 graduate of Derby High School.

Williams said their scores were 10, 9, 9, 9. What an achievement! Kudos to both of them.
He also said the event raised $125,000 toward construction of the Fisher House.

Williams, a Korean War-era U.S. Army veteran, served stateside from 1953-56. He  has served as commander of the John H. Collins Post 24, American Legion in Derby for more than two decades.

I'm sharing this video from Shelton resident Marc Weissman, creator of "Looking Up: A View from the Valley."

Enjoy!


 

Witch way to Seymour?

SEYMOUR -The town's 49th annual pumpkin fest is fast approaching!

I found this photo on First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page and thought I would share it.

Check out this story by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich to get all the details about this Halloween-y event.

Vendor spaces available for Ansonia Harvest Festival

Vendor spaces are still available for the 11th annual Ansonia Harvest Festival Oct. 4. Rain date is Oct. 11.

The Cultural Commission sponsors the downtown fest. Vendor spaces on Main Street are $50 until Sept.15, $65 after that date.

The city is anticipating a large crowd for this popular event which features ethnic foods, entertainment on two stages, and a "Roaming Railroad" which will travel through Main Street. Rides are $3.

Irish step dancers from Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and Rita Tottenham dance students will perform. Both groups have participated in the festival since its inception. The popular Connecticut Line Dancers featuring Linda Johnston invite you to join in their line dancing routines.

All three groups will perform in front of stage two.

The Valley Community Foundation will sponsor a mobile history of Ansonia's yesteryear which will be displayed at the Cultural Commission booth near City Hall. 

Vendor space numbers will be assigned one week prior to the festival with instructions on how to enter Main Street to get to designated spaces.

Joey Milardo and the Musical Cavaliers are new to the festival this year. They will perform on upper Main Street from noon to 2 p.m. The public is invited to dance to their tunes right on Main Street.

Also new to the festival is Bob's Fault Band featuring Bill Davis from Ansonia. They will perform on Stage 1 along with Mark Lanzieri and his band, a local favorite.

Magician Brian Lizotte, a Valley resident, will be making balloon sculptures and performing fantastic tricks for young and old alike.

Patty Fadden Rimkunis will perform "The National Anthem" and Jim Little, vice chairman of the Cultural Commission, will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Other bands slated to perform are The Sofa Kings, featuring Bill Gibson of Ansonia, The Kate Miz Band and the Bantam Band, a group of strolling musicians.

Two groups, Vision and the Annointed Tabernacle Choir, will sing Christian music on stage one around 11:45. DJs for the event are Tony Castle and Phyllis Kaplan.

There will be a pumpkin coloring contest at Veterans Park next to City Hall. All school children are invited to color pumpkins from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They will be assisted by Ansonia's Unified Arts teaching staff.
A scarecrow contest will be held among the merchants and vendors.

Both contests will be judged by Rich DiCarlo, President of the Valley Arts Council.

Amusement rides will be located in the River Valley Baptist Church parking lot and a car show, sponsored by Jay's Auto Body will take place along Bridge Street.

Trophies will be awarded.

A free "Moon Walk" activity for kids, donated by TEAM, Inc. of Derby, will be available on upper Main Street.

The Cultural Commission is proud to announce the Valley Community Foundation is a sponsor of the festival, along with the Regional Water Authority and the Smith Building Association.

Please visit www.cityof ansonia.com for updates, vendor applications, and more.

For info call Judy, 203-231-3603.

This is from a press release from Judy Nicolari, chairwoman, Ansonia Cultural Commission.

As Nicolari always says, "See You on Main Street."

Party along Riverwalk to mark Ansonia's 125th

Come out and celebrate Ansonia's birthday!