'Community Heroes' from Shelton win plaudits

 Photo contributed by Chris Jones 

Firefighters from Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company in Shelton were honored Friday by the American Red Cross at the 16th annual 'Community Heroes' breakfast in Stamford.

Pictured from left are: firefighter Chris Costa, Lt. Brian Reynolds, Past Commander Chuck Sutton, firefighter Mike Pellegrino, firefighter Mike Neuendorf, Capt. Mike Plavacan, firefighter Chris Jones.

The firefighters were presented with the Spirit of the Red Cross Hero Award for their dedication and tireless efforts during and after a devastating fire Jan. 5-6, 2014 in a four-story structure at 446 Howe Ave.,Shelton.

Congratulations to all of the firefighters on winning this well-deserved recognition.

Also honored at the breakfast was Shelton resident Alfred Meadows, a U.S Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He received the Military Hero Award.

Meadows founded Operation Gift Cards, an organization that has presented more than 17,000 thank-you kits valued at more than $800,000 to wounded troops and additional military support groups. 
Congratulations to all of the awardees!



*Note: Information for this post was compiled from several Facebook sites, including Echo Hose, Hook & Ladder Company 1, as well as the American Red Cross website and a story about the fire I wrote for the New Haven Register.

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers health career program

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, is helping individuals start a fulfilling career in healthcare even quicker this winter.

The school is offering a new Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program starting Feb. 23. 
The program will run five weeks for a total of 104 hours. The first four weeks of the program will be classroom education and skills training Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
The final week will include clinical experience at an extended care facility and Griffin Hospital Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for the required 40 hours for CNA certification completion.

Tuition is $1,250 and includes books, CPR training, and malpractice insurance.

Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission. 
For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or visit
griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers Phlebotomy and other professional educational programs to provide training, education, and certification in selected health careers. 

The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers recently announced a new Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program that helps students get certified for a fulfilling healthcare career in just five weeks.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Official says Seymour Town Hall to open at noon

Sharing from Office of the First Selectman's Facebook page:


"Town Hall will be open today from noon until 5 p.m. There will be no evening meetings."

Conroy's office hours in Seymour cancelled

Theresa Conroy

SEYMOUR - State Rep. Theresa Conroy’s meeting with constituents scheduled for 7-8 p.m. today at Seymour Town Hall has been cancelled due to the weather.

This is a press release from Conroy's office.

Derby Public Library to host day for kids Saturday

Activities planned for ages 2-11

DERBY - In recognition of the 4th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day, Derby Public Library staff has planned a variety of activities for families from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. 

This statewide initiative by children’s librarians was introduced in 2012 with the intention of encouraging families to visit their local library to become familiar with the resources available and join in an activity which is just a sample of the programs taking place throughout the year.

All programs offered at the Derby Public Library are free; non-residents are always invited to register.

The library is at 313 Elizabeth St.

For information contact Sue Sherman, children's librarian, at 203-736-1482.

This information is taken from an online community calendar sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the New Haven Independent.

Master's Table in Ansonia slates February dinner

Griffin Hospital in Derby to kick off 'Wellness for Life'

DERBY - Griffin Hospital announces a new program to help individuals increase their vitality.

Wellness for Life is a 12-week, evidence-based lifestyle change program that helps prevent and treat many chronic diseases. 

According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 80 percent of chronic diseases, like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, can be prevented with better lifestyle choices in nutrition, activity and emotional health.

The program is set to start Feb. 10 and offers a comprehensive wellness evaluation with a Lifestyle Medicine physician, custom fitness training, individual nutrition guidance, one-on-one coaching, and small, interactive health small seminars so participants can make a commitment to a healthier life.

“Lifestyle practices can exert an incredibly beneficial effect on health and vitality,” said Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and a nationally recognized health expert. 
“I think everyone has the will to be healthy, but few people have the skill set required. This program is a solution to that problem, providing people expert, step by step guidance along the road to better health.”

Wellness for Life focuses on hands-on learning, featuring a Fitbit, a personal health coach, and weekly group sessions to establish healthy weight control, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, better sleep and energy, and increased personal strength and resilience.

A pilot of this program run at Griffin Hospital in 2014 succeeded in significant weight loss and reductions in blood pressure for participants, receiving a 96 percent rating in meeting expectations and an A grade for all of the presentations by the expert speakers.

Wellness for Life meets on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Feb. 10 at the Hewitt Ambulatory Pavilion (located in the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital) at 350 Seymour Ave.

For more information about Wellness for Life, visit griffinhealth.org or call Program Managers Eunice Lisk or Ingrid Edshteyn,  203-732-7107.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.