Derby Day features food, crafts, music, more

The Bantam Band entertains Saturday on Elizabeth Street.

An inflatable climbing wall set up on the Derby Green was a hit with the young set. 

As in previous years the Griffin Hospital Mobile Health Resource Van was on hand and Valley parish nurses offered blood pressure screenings and health information.

One of the  many food vendors on Elizabeth Street.

The Roaming Railroad gave folks rides all around the Green.

A large inflatable obstacle course had a long line of children waiting to give it a try. 

 Lots of tie dye!



The talented Dave Mack Band from Bloomfield performed Motown hits, jazz, and reggae at the Gazebo on the Green. 



The annual street festival was presented by the Derby Cultural Commission.

Derby Hall of Fame inducts 3 members

DERBY - Mayor Anita Dugatto has announced three new members of the Derby Hall of Fame just in time for Derby Day 2015. 

Derby Day, an annual street festival presented by the Cultural Commission, runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today on Elizabeth Street and the Green.

The Derby Hall of Fame was established in 2007 and includes Derby natives and residents who have helped to shape the course of history through their achievements at the local, state, national or international level. 

Donald Waldhaus

Each of these individuals selected was either born in Derby or lived here at some point in his/her life. 

The Class of 2015 includes Derby's first permanent European settler, a seven term mayor and Derby’s first (and probably only) Olympian.

Edward Wooster was born in 1622, but he arrived in the area now known as Derby in 1651 when the area was still governed from New Haven. 
George P. Sullivan was a plumber by trade who served seven terms as Mayor of Derby over the course of four different decades. 
Donald Waldhaus is the third member of the Hall with an athletic background, but most will be surprised to find that he was a nationally recognized swordsman and member of the U.S. Olympic Fencing team in the 1924 Paris Olympics. 

George P. Sullivan

Dugatto said, “The additions to the Hall of Fame this year are impressive and show the strength and vision of the Valley forefathers that made it great!”

The Derby Hall of Fame is located by the National Humane Alliance Fountain at the Division Street entrance to the Derby Greenway. 
Each of the members is commemorated with a special brick surrounding the fountain engraved with some details of their achievements. 

A more complete description of their achievements along with the listing of all 41 members can be found at 
http://electronicvalley.org/derby/HallofFame/index.htm.


This is a press release from Derby resident Jack Walsh, President and COO of the Valley United Way.

Volunteers offer helping hands at Wesley Village in Shelton

Prudential Annuities' volunteer group members pose with Crosby Commons resident Don Walkley during a recent day of caring./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Volunteers from Prudential Annuities recently offered helping hands on the Wesley Village Campus as part of a company-wide day of caring. 

Several Prudential employees came from Shelton, and as far away as New Jersey and Philadelphia, to be part of the volunteer efforts. 

The group of 26 volunteers helped with weeding, sweeping, and yard work tasks across the 40-acre campus, as well as facilitating a variety of activities (e.g. bowling, bingo, baking) with residents. 

“The Prudential volunteers were wonderful,” said Barbara Quinn, Director of Volunteer Services at Wesley Village. 

“We look forward to working with them again in the future and can’t thank them enough for their time and effort.”

Wesley Village is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and offers award-winning independent and assisted living, short-term rehab and skilled nursing, outpatient therapy and fitness, and a new memory care neighborhood, Lifestyle Transitions at Wesley Heights. 

For more information about senior living at Wesley Village, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa, 203-225-5024.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Community meal in Ansonia to feature Sister Funk concert

Ansonia to hold town-wide tag sale July 25

Register for the Ansonia Town Wide Tag Sale

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25 * 

(rain date July 26)**

ANSONIA - Stop by the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center now until July 10 to register a tag sale at your home location. 

For $10 your address will be added to our Town-Wide Tag Sale Map, which shoppers from all over the Valley can pick up the week of July 15 for a donation amount of your choice, at the Ansonia Nature Center, 10 Deerfield Road, to use as an easy guide around town. 

Or you can download the map from the website www.ansoniaculturalcommission.com.

For those who are unable to sell all their unwanted goods at the tag sale, My Sister’s Place, a thrift shop at 380 Main St. will accept your goods as donations via drop-off. 

All of its proceeds benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, a program of BHcare. 

Residents wishing to schedule a pickup should email meltorres20@gmail.com.

* Individual Tag Sale hosts have the discretion to open earlier/close later.

** Rain date at discretion of individual Tag Sale hosts.

Either stop by or mail your registration to: 

Ansonia Nature Center, 10 Deerfield Road, Ansonia, 06401.

Ansonia High graduate receives $5,000 scholarship

Students to be honored at annual J.A.T. awards dinner July 12

ANSONIA - The Julian A. Taylor Scholarship Committee announces 2015 Ansonia High School graduate DeQuan Thomas is the recipient of the 2015 $5,000 Julian A. Taylor Scholarship.  

DeQuan Thomas

Thomas will attend Western Connecticut State University, Danbury where he will major in education. He aspires to be a teacher. 

In addition to maintaining his academics Thomas was active in the National Honor Society, Hiking/Biking Club, Art Club, Video Game Club, Spanish Club, Drama Club, The Connecticut ECMC Scholars Program, and participated in talent shows at Ansonia and Oxford High School. 

He also is the recipient of several awards:  ECMC Scholarship, President’s Education Award, CAPT Scholar Award, Yudkin Family Scholarship, The CT Association of Schools Art Award and has been a four time winner of the JAT Scholars award. 

The $5,000 Julian A. Taylor Scholarship Award is presented to the highest ranking African American Senior with an 85 or above average going to a four-year University/College. In addition, 21 African American students in grades 3 to 11 attending Ansonia Public Schools will receive a $100 JAT Scholars award. 

The Julian A. Taylor Scholarship Fund was established in 1982 to honor and continue the ideals of the late Rev. Dr. Julian A. Taylor, former pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church.  

Awards will be presented at the J.A.T. Annual Awards Dinner at 2 p.m. July 12 at Grassy Hill Country Club, Orange.

The event speaker will be Jewelle Taylor Gibbs the daughter of the late Rev. Julian A. Taylor for whom the scholarship is named. Gibbs is a retired professor, author, and activist who holds a degree in social work and psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. 

She is the author of several publications, the latest is Destiny’s Child: Memoirs of a Preacher’s Daughter about her family who survived centuries of racial and social struggles to succeed and achieve upward mobility despite numerous obstacles. 

For ticket information call 203-645-9635. 

This is a press release from Diane Stroman, co-chairperson, Julian A. Taylor Scholarship Committee. 

Kudos to DeQuan Thomas and all of the JAT Scholars Award recipients on their academic achievements!

Reminder: Annual Derby Day festival is Saturday

St. Mary-St. Michael School's Housy Duck Race organizer Grace Torres poses with the race mascot at last year's Derby Day festivities. / Contributed photo 


Please check out my story about the event in the Valley Independent Sentinel. 

See you on Elizabeth Street!