Shelton fire company to hold tree lighting

Donations being accepted for toy drive
SHELTON - Friends and neighbors in White Hills are invited to the firehouse at 2 School St. for a community tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

All are welcome to join members of the fire company for a cup of hot chocolate after the tree lighting.

Toys also will be accepted that night for the TEAM Toys 4 Kids Drive. 

Each year through the generosity of Shelton residents, the fire company provides truckloads of new, unwrapped toys for area families in need through programs like TEAM Toys 4 Kids.

Reminder: Seymour Christmas Parade is today

SEYMOUR - The town's annual Christmas Parade will step off at 2 p.m. today at the Community Center, 20 Pine St.

Nina Poeta

The Seymour Christmas Parade Association is holding the event in honor of the family of Nina Poeta, who died Nov. 1 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
The Poetas will serve as grand marshals.

You can check out a story here by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich. 

Church in Ansonia to host 'Journey to Bethlehem'

ANSONIA - High Acres Christian Church, 11 High Acres Road, will host a live, interactive, 30-minute drama called "Journey to Bethlehem" next weekend.
The annual event will run Dec. 5, 6, and 7.

Guests will walk a wooded trail to experience authentic, time-period appropriate scenes, starting in Nazareth and culminating at the Nativity. 


Live animals are part of the performance.

This community event is free, family-friendly, and open to everyone. It is held rain or shine.

Each night the 30-minute outdoor journeys will depart continually between 6-9 p.m.

Information in this post is taken from the church's website.


This sounds like a beautiful event to experience as Christmas draws near! 

Assumption Church in Ansonia to hold Blue Mass

In honor of Valley emergency personnel
ANSONIA - A Blue Mass sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 23 will be held Sunday at Church of the Assumption, 61 N. Cliff St.

It will be an opportunity to honor all of the Valley’s police, fire, and emergency personnel and their families. 

The Rev. Jeffrey Gubbiotti, pastor, will offer a special blessing to invoke God’s protection for all whose jobs in service to the public can put them in harm's way. 

All personnel are invited to march in the procession, in dress uniform, and be seated with their families in the front section of the church. 

The procession will form in the rear of the church at 10:40 a.m., five minutes before the start of the 10:45 a.m. Mass.

All are invited to attend a light reception that will follow the Mass in the church hall.

For information call Father Jeff 203-735-7857, or e-mail trichard@trumbull-ct.gov.


This post is taken from an online community calendar.

Ansonia to hold Christmas tree lighting Dec. 5

AHS band to escort Santa to Veterans Park 

Ansonia's 2013 Christmas Tree

Derby firefighters holding boot drive today

DERBY - Paugassett Hook & Ladder Company 4 is holding a boot drive today outside the firehouse.

Check out the story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

A day to reflect, and give thanks

Today I'm thankful I was able to attend the Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service hosted Sunday by the First Congregational Church in Ansonia.

The annual event was filled with prayers, readings, and seasonal hymns from several faith traditions, including Bahai', Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh.  

Everyone gathered there shared a common bond - that of giving thanks for living in this great country where any and all expressions of faith are allowed.

In addition to several hymns, we sang O Beautiful for Spacious Skies and God Bless America.

I was there with several friends from First Congregational Church of Derby, and our pastor, the Rev. Jim Tudesco. I'd venture to say they enjoyed the service as much as I did.

Prior to the service my husband Ralph and I attended a community Thanksgiving dinner prepared by the wonderful volunteers of the nonprofit Master's Table. 
We dined with two friends, and bumped into a few others there as well. The turkey dinner held in Assumption Church hall in Ansonia was delicious and the company was lovely.

Master's Table volunteers prepare a nutritious dinner once a month that is offered free to everyone in the community. Those who are able make a monetary to help cover expenses.
The meal is usually served at Christ Episcopal Church hall in Ansonia. 

In addition to food, the monthly event offers fellowship to those who might otherwise be alone. 

Today I am thankful for my family and friends, and for everyone who reads my blog.