Valley United Way to host Harvest House VI in Shelton

This is a wonderful event that provides so much for Valley residents in need.

Hilltop Hose in Ansonia to host memorial tag sale

ANSONIA – The Fall 2015 Jim “Skinny” Evans Memorial Tag Sale, sponsored by Hilltop Hose Company #5, will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 17, rain or shine.

The firehouse is located at 80 Pulaski Highway (Rte. 243). Several Hilltop neighbors will also be sponsoring tag sales on the same day.

A selection of holiday decorations is available for sale, as well as household items.

All proceeds will be donated to the Jim “Skinny” Evans Mack fund, established in 2011 to support the refurbished Mack firetruck and the garage built to house it.

For more information about the sale, leave a message at (203) 410-8403.


This is a press release from Hilltop Hose Company.

Restaurant to hold fundraiser for Seymour Pink 5K team

Seymour Pink to hold 4th annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink at 9 a.m. Oct. 3 in downtown Seymour.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'The Tempest'

SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival is set to present “The Tempest” as the latest entry in its popular “Shakespeare in the Bar” script-in-hand performance series.  

Porky’s Café, 50 Center St., will again host the event Oct. 29 upstairs in its second floor bar venue.    

Doors will open at 6 p.m., and guests are invited to enjoy free pizza, courtesy of Porky’s, at 6:30 p.m. prior to the performance which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  

“The Tempest” is a story about family, and all its complexities: loyalty, rebellion, betrayal, revenge, reconciliation and redemption. It is filled with love, magic, humor and music.  It is the last play that Shakespeare wrote on his own, and many say his most personal, in that the main protagonist, Prospero, represents the Bard himself relinquishing the “magic” of his craft to the next generation. 

Valley Shakespeare Festival traditionally presents two “SIB” offerings each year, one in October and another in March.  
This October’s performance is being dedicated to P.J. Carroll, beloved brother of VSF co-founder and dear friend, Stacey Carroll.

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  Space is limited; advance purchase is recommended.  

For tickets and more information, visit www.vsfestival.org or call 203-513-9446.

This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theater company serving the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

Seymour Historical Society to shine spotlight on state's diners

SEYMOUR - More than 100 classic diners still dot Connecticut’s roadways and Main Streets, filling empty stomachs and serving as community gathering places. 

The inside story of these iconic eateries will be the focus of a Seymour Historical Society program at 2 p.m. Sept. 27.

Featured speaker Garrison Leykam, a public radio host and author, will focus on material drawn from his book, “Classic Diners of Connecticut.” 

He’ll talk about the companies that made the distinctive diner buildings, celebrate mouth-watering recipes, and reveal the colorful lingo used by waitresses and cooks to describe certain dishes. (Perhaps you’ll even learn what a “Noah’s boy” and “frog sticks” are.) 

Best of all, you’ll hear stories about what makes Tony’s Diner in Seymour and other diners featured in the book into important community landmarks. 

The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West St., near the Trinity Episcopal Church. 

The program is free to Seymour Historical Society members; $5 for non-members. Doors open at 1 p.m. 

For more information, call 203-881-2156, contact psussman@snet.net. Or visit www.seymourhistoricalsociety.org. 

This is a press release from the Seymour Historical Society.

Ansonia fest to feature annual pumpkin-decorating contest

Get those creative juices flowing! 

Learn about bees, identify trees, take a hike at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has announced its calendar for October. 

Check out the variety of fun activities offered!

NATURE’S CHILD: Seeds and Pods – Oct. 2, 10 a.m.

We’ll learn that some plants produce thousands of seeds, while other types produce only a few, but all natural plant fruits have them for a very special reason. Find out about plants’ clever “travel plans” too! 
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members and Ansonia residents). 
Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults. 

BITTERSWEET WREATHS –  Oct. 3, 2 p.m.

Bring clippers and gardening gloves for this workshop led by Ranger Dawn. 
When you collect these beautiful orange-berried vines, you’re actually helping the park by removing this invasive plant species. 
Please register in advance. Free.

AUTUMN TREE ID HIKE – Oct. 10, 9:30–11:30 a.m. 

Enjoy the season’s beautiful colors while learning helpful characteristics used to identify trees—leaves, buds, twigs, bark, nuts and overall shape. 
Naturalists Barbara and Peter Rzasa and Viola Waldo will lead hikers along the two-mile Donna Lindgren Tree ID Trail, where over 40 trees have been marked with descriptive signs. This is a family-oriented hike appropriate for school-aged children.  Free.

BEEKEEPING WITH ERAST MARKIW – Oct. 10, 10 a.m.

Erast Markiw, a local beekeeper for over 20 years, emphasizes that honeybees are important to us because they pollinate many of our local crops and native plants. He will show the essential parts of a hive, demonstrate how to shave sealed comb in preparation for honey extraction, and give us Information on how to get started with beekeeping. 
Come enjoy his presentation and have a chance to chew on freshly shaven beeswax with honey.

Please register. Free.

    

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. 13, 1 p.m.

Losing a beloved animal can be tragic and a very emotional time for humans. There are numerous resources to turn to for the loss of a human loved one, but there are limited resources for when we lose an animal. 
Susan Wilson has created this support group for those of us who have lost an animal or have one in the process of moving on. Join us for these free sessions.

FORESTER WEBELOS – Oct. 12 (Columbus Day), 10 a.m.

Calling all Scouts! Join the Nature Center naturalist for an interpretive hike and earn your badge. Call to register. $5 per child.

AUTUMNFEST – Oct. 17, 11 am – 4 p.m.

Celebrate this wonderful season with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center. 
Take a ride over hill and dale in our horse-drawn story hay wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales!  
Learn about bats, spiders and owls! Have some fresh-squeezed apple cider and fresh-made donuts, then visit the Friends Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related gifts. 
You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, and make some creative crafts. 
All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s playground project efforts. Rain or shine. 
No park admission fee. 

SIRIUS COYOTE: Musical Performance –  Oct. 23, 7 p.m.

The duo Sirius Coyote (Giovanni Ciarlo and Kathleen Sartor) focuses on environmental awareness, community building, sustainability, and diversity through music emphasizing the culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. 
The audience will participate in singing, clapping and playing upbeat, fun original songs in Spanish and English. Free.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP –  Oct. 24, 10 a.m.

Join Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo for a watercolor workshop.  Be inspired by nature’s beauty while painting at the Nature Center’s natural environment.  
Taxidermy models, as well as the resident animals, are available to paint. Please call to register for this free event. For ages 7 and up.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY –  Oct. 24, 6 p.m.

Join “Bobcat” Carruthers and members of the New Haven Astronomical Society for another great night. Did you ever wonder why we have four seasons or why the moon goes through different phases?  
Learn why during a good old fashioned slide show and short lecture inside and then venture outside (weather permitting) to view the night sky with the Astronomical Society’s high-tech telescopes. Free. Please pre-register.

FALL FOLIAGE RANGER HIKE – Oct. 25, 1 p.m.

Join the Nature Center naturalist for a stroll through our woodlands, old fields, and wetlands. Enjoy the beauty and the crisp fall air while learning about New England’s flora and fauna.  
Wear appropriate shoes for this moderate hike. Please register in advance. Free.

Call 203-736-1053 for more information on any programs. 

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.