Boys & Girls Club to host regional conference in Shelton

SHELTON - The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley will host this year’s Northeast Regional Keystone Conference today through Sunday. 

More than 200 Keystoners from across the Northeast are set to take over the Lavietes Clubhouse. 

The National Keystone Conference provides Keystoners with a positive leadership experience where they can engage and socialize with peers, explore relevant issues, and develop skills to support and enhance efforts in their Boys & Girls Clubs and communities. 

This year’s conference aims to inspire teens from Clubs across the Northeast to express their individuality and become more confident in perusing current and future goals. 

Throughout the weekend keystone members will spend time in both educational and entertaining sessions. 

Guest speakers

They will also hear from guest speakers Shaun Derik -performing artist and motivational speaker, Brooke Grand -Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Northeast Region Youth of the Year, and Richie Contartesi - former professional football player and youth motivational speaker. 

Conference manager and Lavietes Clubhouse Unit Director Jennifer DeLeon and co-advisor Samantha Heins have a fun and exciting weekend lined up for all the attending Keystone members and their advisors. 

“I am beyond excited to welcome teens from across the Northeast for a fun-filled, thought-provoking conference! Being able to provide them with such an opportunity is an honor," DeLeon said. 

More about Keystone: Keystoning is the Boys & Girls Club Movement’s most dynamic teen program. It affords teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. 

The goal of the Keystone program is to provide awareness and impact in the areas of community service, career preparation, and teen outreach. 
Keystone is available for Club members ages 14 to 18.

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley visit www.BGC-LNV.org.

This is a press release from the club.

Derby Cultural Commission to host tree lighting, Santa visit

* Shared from the Derby Cultural Commission Facebook page.

Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'A Christmas Carol' in Shelton

SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival will present its third annual script-in-hand dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, “A Christmas Carol” at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 1 p.m. Dec. 12. The library is at 65 Wooster St.

The production will be held upstairs in the library’s elegant 1895 Romanesque Revival-style Reading Room.  

With its soaring cathedral ceiling, Victorian wing chairs and massive fireplace, there is no better place to experience Dickens’ classic story of the spirit of Christmas and the power of redemption.  

The performance is being presented to the public free of charge with a suggested donation of $10 per person.  

Valley Shakespeare Festival is a federally-certified non-profit theatre company based in Shelton. It is known throughout the Valley as the company which performs free full-length productions of Shakespeare plays in Shelton’s Riverwalk-Veterans Memorial Park each summer in July.  It is also known for its infamous Shakespeare in the Bar series which runs twice yearly at Porky’s Café in Shelton, most recently selling out the venue with its script in hand adaption of The Tempest.  

A Christmas Carol, adapted for the event by VSF’s Executive/Artistic Director Tom Simonetti, will be performed with minimal props and costuming and a cast of local and out-of-state actors, many of whom returning audience members will recognize from previous VSF productions.  

A reception of light refreshments will follow both performances at which time the cast and crew will be available to socialize with audience members.

For more information or to make reservations, please call Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446 or visit www.vsfestival.org.  

Seating is limited; please reserve your place early and begin your holiday season by celebrating the true spirit of Christmas with this classic tale for all ages.

This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theatre company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the lower Naugatuck Valley and beyond.

Seymour VFW holds candlelight vigil for veterans

SEYMOUR - More than 100 people turned out for the 31st annual candlelight vigil Wednesday evening at Broad Street Park to honor veterans on Veterans Day.

The event was sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12084.

Read all about it here in a story by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.


I've attended this vigil in past years. It's always a moving tribute to those who have served or who are currently serving in the military.

Shelton service salutes veterans

 

Thanks go out to Shelton resident Marc Weissman for sharing this video he created Wednesday at Shelton's Veterans Day program.

Weissman is the director of "Looking Up: A View from the Valley," a community access TV show.

Derby-Shelton Rotary Club to deliver sand mixture to seniors, disabled

The Derby-Shelton Rotary Club will once again deliver five-gallon buckets of sand and salt mixture to seniors and disabled individuals residing in Derby and Shelton to spread on walkways and driveways during the winter. Members will deliver the mixture on Dec. 16.

If you are interested in receiving a bucket, please sign up at the Derby or Shelton Senior Centers or contact Rotarian Kim Ryan, Club Service Chair, at Curtiss Ryan Honda at 203-929-15484 X227 or emailkim@curtissryan.com. 

Individuals residing in housing developments that already provide sand are not eligible. 

The Rotary motto is Service Above Self. Rotarians are involved in projects such as curing the world of polio and providing a dictionary to every third grader in Derby and Shelton. 
Visit www.Derby-SheltonRotary.org to learn more.

Sign up deadline is Nov. 30.


This is a press release from the club.

Teens to work with clay at Derby Public Library workshop

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen Maker In Clay, Dec. 3 and 10, from 4-5:30 p.m.
Participants will be molding and painting clay holiday ornaments. 

This two-session workshop will be led by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo.
All materials will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

For more information stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.