Griffin Hospital in Derby offers 5-week CNA program

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, is offering two sessions of its Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program this fall to help aspiring healthcare professionals quickly jumpstart their careers.

There will be a daytime session of the five-week CNA Program starting Oct. 5 and an evening session starting Nov. 16. Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission.

The program runs for a total of 104 hours. The first four weeks of the program will be classroom education and skills training and the final week will include clinical experience at an extended care facility and Griffin Hospital for the required 40 hours for CNA certification completion.

The days and hours for the session starting Oct. 5 are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for the first four weeks, and Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for the final week.
The session starting Nov. 16 will be Monday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m. for the first four weeks, and the times for the clinical hours in the final week will be discussed in class.

Tuition includes books, CPR training and malpractice insurance.

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. 

Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, located at 300 Seymour Ave.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Hoptoberfest on tap at Shelton Riverwalk

Proceeds from the event support the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club's scholarship fund and other community programs.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host fall prevention program Friday

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon Friday at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma.

Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Stratford resident creates fundraiser for Seymour-based nonprofit

A spin class being held at Taylor-Made Fitness in Shelton./ Contributed photo


SHELTON - On Oct. 10, Taylor-Made Fitness in Shelton will host the first of three Spin®-Mix classes to benefit the Seymour-based Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc. 

Created by Dana Daconto of Stratford, this class series features Spin®-Circuit (Spin® and strength training) on Oct. 10. Additional classes will be added at a later date. 

The class starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs one hour. Spin®-Circuit is the ultimate workout- 20 minutes of Spinning®, 20 minutes of either kettlebell or TRX, and 20 minutes of either core or weight training.

Funded by the "I Can Make A Difference Grant" from the CT Block Party Foundation in Westport, this series promotes health and wellness among adults, while benefiting Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc., a 501c3 organization that supports low-income children throughout the state.

There are only 17 spaces available for this event.
Entry into each class is a $25 minimum monetary donation to CTPFC, and includes an event T-shirt.
Registration by Sept. 30 guarantees the T-shirt to the participant prior to the event.​
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​Additionally, we offer a pledge sheet at www.ctpfc.org to raise additional funds for the agency.
​There are prizes for participants based on how much is raised in donations.

The $25 registration fee must be paid either by check in the mail, credit card by phone, or on our website to hold a space.
All proceeds from this event go directly to CTPFC.​

​For questions, or to register, call 203-881-1804.



This is a press release from Meg Tarby, founder/executive director, Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc.

Food preservation demo on tap at Derby Historical Society open house

ANSONIA - The Derby Historical Society will host a Harvest Open House from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 18 at the David Humphreys House, 37 Elm St. 

Docents will be demonstrating various methods of 18th Century food preservation. 
While visiting, please stay for a tour of our Historic House.  

Our gift shop will also be open during this event. 
Refreshments will be served.  
Suggested donation is $5 per adult/$3 per senior citizen and children under 12. 

Call 203-735-1908 for information or visit www.derbyhistorical.org

The Derby Historical Society is a regional historical society dedicated to preserving, maintaining and celebrating the rich and varied history of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 
The Derby Historical Society welcomes all visitors and is also available to support researchers, school or other program needs. 
Our staff offices are located at the Sarah Riggs Humphreys House, 37 Elm St.  



This is a press release from Paula Norton, Deputy Director, Derby Historical Society.

Annual Ed Strang Day planned Saturday on Derby Green

For more information contact Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, 203-732-0343 or visit www.troop3derby.org.

Kellogg Center in Derby to host program on vampires

DERBY - Nicholas Bellantoni, Ph.D., Emeritus State Archaeologist, will present an entertaining and informative presentation on the history and mythologies of vampires in Connecticut, with a focus on remains found in the Jewett City area. 

Kellogg Environmental Center

This special seasonal program, sponsored by the Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society and the Kellogg Environmental Center, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave.

Always an engaging and entertaining presenter, Bellantoni will share his knowledge of Connecticut history and cultural activity of long ago.  
Learn how research and study of early colonial activities developed the belief of vampire behavior and the ongoing fear of the undead. 

Specifically related to the study of remains in Connecticut, stories will be told of strong adults wasting away and dying for unexplained reasons. Was it due to departed family members consuming their energy and blood? What else could be possible?  And did these stories help build the image of Bram Stocker’s Dracula?  

Bellantoni spends an evening taking you on a journey into the past to see what the bones, graves and history tell us about the myth and fact of each situation.  
The program is offered free of charge, but donations are requested to help support further educational programs.

Please call to register; space is limited.  

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection operates Kellogg Environmental Center.

For information, directions, or to register call 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.

This is a press release from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.