Shelton restaurant to celebrate grand opening, support local farms

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host Wellness for Life program

Griffin Hospital is offering its 12-week lifestyle change program Wellness for Life starting Jan. 12./Contributed photo

DERBY - Give the gift of good health to a loved one this holiday season or plan to get a jump start on New Year’s resolutions with Griffin Hospital’s Wellness for Life program.

Wellness for Life is a 12-week, evidence-based lifestyle change program that helps prevent and treat many chronic diseases. 

According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 80 percent of chronic diseases, like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, can be prevented with better lifestyle choices in nutrition, activity and emotional health.

Starting Jan. 12 from 6-8:30 p.m., the program offers a custom fitness evaluation, individual nutritional guidance, one-on-one coaching, and small, interactive health seminars so participants can make a commitment to a healthier life. 

Each participant also receives a Fitbit, which helps track participants’ activity, sleep patterns and food intake.

“Making changes for a healthy lifestyle isn’t easy – it requires one-on-one guidance and on-going support,” said Wellness for Life Program Director Eunice Lisk. 

“This program helps people assess their lifestyle, provides them with a personalized plan to increase vitality and gives one-on-one and group support every step of the way to better health.”

Wellness for Life focuses on hands-on learning, featuring an activity monitor, health coaching, and weekly group sessions to establish healthy weight control, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, better sleep and energy, and increased personal strength and resilience.

For the past two years of the program, Wellness for Life participants have seen significant weight loss and reductions in blood pressure, and the program has received high scores from participants in meeting expectations and for presentations by the expert speakers.

Wellness for Life meets from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Hewitt Ambulatory Pavilion in the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

For more information about Wellness for Life, visit griffinhealth.org or call Program Director Eunice Lisk, MS, at 203-732-7107.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby to hold annual holiday drive for military personnel

DERBY - As in years past, Mayor Anita Dugatto is reaching out to the community for monetary contributions in support of Derby veterans and their families this holiday season.

Money collected will be distributed to local men and women serving in the military, at home or abroad, through the Derby Servicemen and Women’s Fund.

The annual holiday drive is generously supported by Derby’s Catholic War Veterans St. Michael’s Post 1562.
“This effort is one small way to express our appreciation as a community for the sacrifices our servicemen and women make year round to protect our freedoms and security,” Dugatto said.

Please send contributions for the Fund to Mayor Anita Dugatto, c/o Servicemen and Women’s Fund, Derby City Hall, 1 Elizabeth St., Derby, CT. 06418. 
Checks should be made payable to Derby Servicemen and Women’s Fund.

If you are aware of a Derby serviceman or woman serving at home or abroad who would benefit from this effort, contact the Mayor’s Office, 203-736-1450 or jdesroches@derbyct.gov. 

This is a press release from Mayor Dugatto's office.

Behavioral health provider in Derby names intake coordinator

Trudi Hewell

DERBY - Trudi Hewell, LMSW, has been named Intake Coordinator for the Child Guidance Clinic and Intensive Outpatient Program at The Parent Child Resource Center, the area’s leading provider of children’s behavioral health, serving children and their families from around the state.

“We are very pleased to have Ms. Hewell as the primary contact for children and families seeking clinical services at PCRC.  She will oversee all requests for service in the Outpatient Clinic and the Intensive Outpatient Program.  She is an experienced professional who will do everything she can to get children and families the help they need,” said Michael Wynne, Chief Executive Officer at PCRC.

Hewell has been a PCRC employee since 2013, most recently as a clinician in the IOP. In that position, she worked closely with clients to address their emotional and behavioral health issues, identifying their needs and providing treatment. 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Prairie View A&M University and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. Her certifications include SIFI, Triple P and CANY.

The Intake Coordinator position performs both administrative and clinical duties that include managing incoming phone calls to determine appropriate services, contacting client parents on a monthly basis, managing referrals from outside providers, and providing comprehensive assessments to children and families. 

She will report to PCRC Director of Clinical Services, Sarah Beard, LCSW, and be based at PCRC’s primary Derby facility. 

Hewell can be reached at 203.954.0543 ext. 136 or at Thewell@LNVPCRC.org.

In her free time, Hewell enjoys baking, writing, going to the gym, mixed martial arts, and camping. She also volunteers her time at local shelters on Thanksgiving.

Her favorite quote, reads: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou.

* * *

The PCRC Child Guidance Clinic provides a multidisciplinary approach to problems associated with behavioral, emotional, psychiatric and learning difficulties of children ages 3 to 18.  Services include diagnostic evaluation, individual, family and group therapy and medication evaluation and management, crisis intervention and consultation to schools and other providers.

The PCRC Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) serves children ages 6 to 18 experiencing difficulty meeting school, family or social expectations due to serious emotional, behavioral and social disturbances.  Children attend daily group sessions emphasizing problem-solving and relaxation skills, emotional expression, learning how emotions and actions work together and how to identify and change behavioral and social disturbances.

This is a press release from the Parent Child Resource Center.

Seymour Public Library to present lecture on Mark Twain

*Shared from the Office of the Seymour First Selectman Facebook page.

Ansonia to host annual Christmas tree lighting, visit from Santa

Seymour to host 44th annual Christmas Parade

SEYMOUR - The town's Christmas Parade tradition will continue thanks to a generous donation from Jimmy Tzepos of Zois Pizza.

The 44th annual parade will be held Nov. 29.

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