Food bank at church in Ansonia needs volunteers

ANSONIA - The Kathleen C. B. Samela Food Bank located in the basement of Christ Church, 56 S. Cliff St. is seeking additional volunteers.

The pantry was recently renovated and dedicated.

Kathleen C. B. Samela Food Bank

As the need continuously increases to feed families in this area so are the responsibilities of those involved in caring for them, supporters say.

In the past month 130 families received assistance from the food bank.

The hours of the food bank (through March 31) are 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

For information, call the church, 203-734-2715.

Ansonia High School slates talent show, dance

ANSONIA - Ansonia Public Schools' Facebook page lists upcoming events at Ansonia High School:

An annual talent show will be held at 7 p.m. April 1.
Tickets are $5 and go on sale today, March 23.

A Spring Fling dance will be held from 7-10 p.m. April 10.
Tickets cost $5 in advance; $7 at the door. They go on sale March 30.

Wesley Village in Shelton plans open house for memory care program

SHELTON - Wesley Village will host an open house from 1-3 p.m. April 12 to introduce “Lifestyle Transitions,” a new memory care neighborhood in the newly renovated northwest wing of their Wesley Heights community.

“Lifestyle Transitions at Wesley Heights” will offer specialized assisted living in a secure, supportive environment for those living with memory loss. 
This new program is designed to support residents with cognitive impairment by engaging them in life and activities within the larger Wesley Heights community and providing encouragement, friendship, and a feeling of security. 
It will also focus on developing daily routines for successfully managing individualized physical, social, and cognitive challenges.

The “Lifestyle Transitions” program space encompasses existing apartments and newly renovated gathering areas, including a library, family-style kitchen, living room area, laundry nook and enclosed outdoor courtyard. 
Safe and quiet space for reading, relaxation, and dining, and other stimulating activities such as baking, gardening, exercise, art classes, musical entertainment will be available. Colors, textures, lighting, and furniture was chosen with the help of a dementia consultant in order to organize these therapeutic spaces in a way that best meets resident needs.

Unique to Wesley Village, “Lifestyle Transitions” offers a mission-based, relationship-centered approach to care, as well as: affordable pricing, a wander-management system, 24-hour staffing with caregivers trained by the Alzheimer’s Association, on-site physician services, engaging activities, a variety of apartment styles for individuals or couples, education and support services for residents and families, and a specialized design to maximize independence.

Deposits are now being accepted for apartments in this new neighborhood.

For more information or to RSVP for the open house, contact Lisa Kelleher, 203-944-6099.

This is a press release from Wesley Village, located at 580 Long Hill Ave., and is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization.
The campus offers assisted and independent living, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and outpatient therapy and fitness services.
To learn more, visit  www.wesleyvillage-ct.org.

My Sister's Place in Ansonia to hold Easter event

Panel discussion at Griffin Hospital in Derby to focus on breast health

Denise Barajas, M.D.

DERBY - The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital will host free breast health presentations and an expert panel discussion to answer questions about breast cancer screening and prevention April 9 at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

“Breast Health: Controversies and Q&A” will feature experts from the fields of breast surgery, radiology, nutrition, and physical therapy.

The program starts at 5:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Dining Room for registration and refreshments before proceeding to the presentations and discussion at 6:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center.

Denise Barajas, medical director of The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, will lead the presentations and panel discussion. 
Panelists will include Dr. Devika Jajoo, who will speak on breast imaging; Dr. Mark Melendez, who will speak on patient advocacy; Fran Harmeyer, who will speak on physical and lymphedema therapy; and Stacey Leary, who will speak on nutrition.

Registered nurses can earn up to two contact hours by attending this program.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. 
RSVP to 203-732-7233 or on the event calendar at griffinhealth.org.


Located at 350 Seymour Ave. in Derby, The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital combines advanced technology, a team of highly trained physicians, breast and reconstructive surgeons and patient navigators, and a Planetree healing environment to offer our patients a comprehensive range of personalized breast care and wellness services. 

For more information, call 203-732-1300 or visit breast-center.griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Congratulations to Seymour Pink on successful fundraiser

SEYMOUR - The sixth annual wine-tasting event to benefit Seymour Pink held at The 
Waterview in Monroe raised more than $10,000 from just raffles, according to a release in the Valley Independent Sentinel. 

As a breast cancer survivor who has benefitted from the incredible generosity of Seymour Pink's board of directors, I was thrilled to see that the wine tasting drew more than 525 people to support the nonprofit. Events such as these not only raise much-needed funds, but also awareness of a devastating disease.

Kudos to all those volunteers whose tireless efforts made the wine tasting a huge success.

Making art for art's sake at Derby Library

Taking it step-by-step 

DERBY - Since I'm a board member of the Valley Arts Council I decided I needed to get in touch with my "inner artist."
I haven't done any artwork since I was a teen-ager, and we won't go into how long ago that was.

I have taken two watercolor classes offered by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo at Derby Public Library. 
He offers them free to young adult patrons (ages 12-17). This class is made up of five young women (and me).

This is me working on my first attempt:

Photo by Rich DiCarlo

And the finished product:

It's a start.

I've learned about using paper towels to blot the water puddles, and found out that using watercolor paints takes practice. 
You have to get the feel for the different size brushes, and work on getting the right amount of water on a sponge to apply to the paper before you start adding paint.

I need to lose my apprehension about using water colors. 

Here are the other cardinals created that day: