Seymour students collecting turkeys Saturday for food banks

SEYMOUR - On Saturday Seymour Middle School eighth grade students will hold the 14th annual Turkey Drive to make Thanksgiving brighter for local families.

Students and staff will collect donated frozen turkeys from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road, and at Chatfield-LoPresti School, 51 Skokorat St.

Turkeys will be donated to Seymour school families, the Seymour-Oxford Food Bank, and Spooner House in Shelton.

* I'm sharing this information from a Facebook page.

Kudos to the educators who are involved in this initiative! It's a wonderful way to raise awareness and teach young people the importance of giving back to the community.

Shelton fire department offers safety tips when cooking

SHELTON - The Shelton Fire Department is urging the public to keep safety in mind when preparing meals and using candles this Thanksgiving. 

Statistics form U.S. Fire Administration indicate that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. 
The average number of home fires on Thanksgiving Day is normally double the average number of fires in homes all other days.
Most fires that result during cooking can be avoided by paying attention and being organized. 

To prevent a fire or injury and stay safe when cooking and celebrating Thanksgiving, follow these simple rules:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the home for even a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.
  
• If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly and remain in the home while food is cooking. Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on.
  
• Stay alert. Don’t cook if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.
  
• Make your cooking area safe. Move things that can burn away from the stove. Keep things that burn – pot holders, oven mitts, paper or plastic - off your stovetop.
  
• Turn pot handles toward the back so they can’t be bumped.
  
• Don’t store things that can burn in an oven, microwave, or toaster oven. 

• Clean food and grease off burners, stovetops, and ovens.
  
• Wear clothing with sleeves that are short, close fitting, or tightly rolled up.
  
• Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when you're cooking. If a small grease fire starts
  in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the
  pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool.
  
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from
  burning you and your clothing. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.
  
• Use turkey fryers outdoors, away from the home and deck. Always monitor oil
  temperature. Use caution to not overfill or spill hot oil.
  
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
  Don’t forget about fire dangers posed by lit candles.
  

• Flameless “candles”, such as battery powered are always preferred for safety.
  
• Flame lit candles should be in a safe location that is kept free of combustible surroundings.
  Consider where combustible items might be placed and where candles could be knocked
  over and where they could be forgotten about over time.
  
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.

For additional information on fire safety, visit the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau Web Site under Public Safety at: www.cityofshelton.org. 

This is a press release from Ted Pisciotta, assistant chief, fire prevention. 

Re-posting: Thanksgiving service planned in Ansonia; food donations requested

ANSONIA - The Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday.

The worship service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 47 Franklin St.

The celebration will include familiar hymns, readings, and music from several faith traditions and a reading of the President's Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

Everyone is welcome. Donations of non-perishable food items to support area food banks are requested. 

The sponsoring houses of worship are:

Al-Aziz Islamic Center, Bridgeport; Bahai' Group of Oxford; Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia; Clinton AME Zion Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Derby; First United Methodist Church, Ansonia, Phuoc Long Buddhist Temple, Ansonia.

Food drive at supermarkets Friday to benefit food bank in Shelton

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free talk on sleep wellness

Griffin Hospital’s Community Health Resource Center will offer a free talk on sleep wellness Dec. 3./ Contributed photo

DERBY – Griffin Hospital is offering a free talk to break down the ABCs of Zs at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division St.

Royce York, director of Respiratory Services at Griffin Hospital, will present “Sleep Well, Be Well” a discussion about the medical definition of sleep, sleep disorders and treatments, and tips for proper sleep hygiene.

There will also be information about Griffin Hospital’s Sleep Wellness Center, a comprehensive and state-of-the-art program that provides help for sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.

This program is part of a series of free, educational forums hosted by the Community Health Resource Center in an effort to help improve the health of the community.

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials. 
The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness and play an active role in decisions about their health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby mayor, officials welcome The Hops Company

An official ribbon cutting was held Nov. 10 at The Hops Company in Derby./Submitted photo

DERBY – Mayor Anita Dugatto was among those in attendance on Nov. 10 for the ribbon cutting of one of Derby’s newest businesses, The Hops Company, at 77 Sodom Lane.
The business occupies the former Grassy Hill Lodge, a catering and banquet hall that served the area for many years.
Patrons of The Hops Company will have the opportunity to enjoy food and drinks in a casual beer garden setting that includes a 40-seat bar, couches in front of the building’s two fireplaces, and an outside bar.

Owners Umberto Morale and his wife, Lisa, plan to highlight Connecticut-made beers among some of the 36 beers on tap. 
However, beer will not be the only offering. In addition to a full bar, The Hops Company will feature casual food from in-house vendors including Zuppardi’s Apizza and Ricky D’s Rib Shack.
“We know a lot of communities would have loved to lay claim to this exciting new business. We’re proud that Umberto and Lisa have chosen Derby to be their home. We wish them the best of luck,” Dugatto said.

For more information about The Hops Company visit www.thehopscompany.com.
Additionally, the Valley Chamber Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly networking event “Jingle & Mingle Annual Holiday Gathering” at the The Hops Company Dec. 1 from 5-7 p.m. 
The event is sponsored by People’s United Bank. The event will also collect new, unwrapped toys for TEAM, Inc.'s annual Toys for Kids project. 


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

Scavenger hunt slated at Osbornedale State Park in Derby

DERBY - Take a break from your daily chores and explore the great outdoors by participating in a self-guided scavenger hunt while exploring the trails of Osbornedale State Park with family and friends. 

You will be given a list of fall sightings to look out for while on your walk and when it’s complete, children will receive a small prize to take home. 

Meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 28 at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave.  

The scavenger hunt will last about an hour, but you are welcome to continue exploring the area afterwards or come inside the Center to enjoy a warm beverage. This is a free event for all ages as long as you are willing to bundle up and take a walk outside.  

No registration is required.

The Kellogg Environmental Center is located off Route 34.

Directions can be found on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s website, www.ct.gov/deep/kellogg.  

For more information or cancelation notice due to inclement weather call 203-734-2513.  

This is a press release from DEEP.