History of holiday decorating topic of December sessions at Derby Library

Derby resident Mary Bisaccia talks about the history of holiday decorating Wednesday at Derby Public Library.

I visited Derby Public Library Wednesday to learn about Christmas celebrations through the ages from local history coordinator Mary Bisaccia.

She described a variety of traditions that today range from decorating in an "understated, classical" way with wreaths and candles in windows to colored lights, blow-up characters, and more. Light was always a Christmas symbol, Bisaccia said, and the custom of decorating exteriors of houses became "mainstream" in the mid-1950s, she said.

Valley towns traditionally put up holiday banners, decorate street lights with garlands, and light a community Christmas tree, Bisaccia said. 
She mentioned a generous donation of a live tree to the City of Derby in 2007 from residents Gary and Diane Cirillo. 
The evergreen stands in the center of the Green and it is lit each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Bisaccia said trees that are green throughout the year had a special meaning in ancient times. Decorating with evergreen boughs was thought to keep away "witches, ghosts, and evil spirits," she said.

Today's Christmas tree tradition started in the 16th century in Germany, Bisaccia said. Trees were adorned with apples, nuts, and marzipan candies.
Bisaccia said Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the first to add lighted candles to an evergreen tree. He wanted to replicate the effect of twinkling stars in the night sky, she said.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and you learn that the 
first holiday tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City was put up by construction workers in 1931. Bisaccia
said the tallest tree to date at Rockefeller Center hailed from Killingworth in 1948. 
Modern-day trees at Rockefeller Center feature more than 25,000 colored lights.

The most popular evergreens used for Christmas trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Frazer fir, Balsam white, and pine.

This is just a sample of the large amount of history and interesting tidbits Bisaccia provides. She outlines Yuletide traditions in Britain, Guatemala, Brazil, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, the Philippines, and more.

I urge you to stop by the library to discover the interesting history of our many holiday traditions.

Monthly local history sessions are held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays at the library, 313 Elizabeth St.

Church in Orange to host annual Holiday Fantasy of Trees

Adam's House to hold grand opening in Shelton

Contributed photo

Adam's House, a charming Victorian home at 241 Coram Ave., Shelton has been renovated to offer a warm, comforting setting for families, volunteers and staff. 

A grand opening celebration will be held from 5-7 p.m. today with tours and an opportunity to meet the staff and learn more about specialized grief education programs planned for parents, children, and teens. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers health career training

Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is accepting applications for its winter Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, and Phlebotomy programs./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206 is ready to help train and place individuals in a fulfilling health care career in 2016 with the winter semester of its accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program, and Patient Care Technician and Phlebotomy programs.

Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission. 
Early application is encouraged for all courses, as space is limited.

The school’s five-week, accelerated CNA program starts Jan.18 with classes Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. There will also be five days of clinical training held from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for the final week.

The accelerated CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed schedule. 

Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care. 
After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the State exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut. The course tuition includes the course book, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

The 16-week PCT program starts Jan. 19. Students will attend practical training on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and have the option to take the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes either during the day from 9 a.m.-noon or evenings from 6-9 p.m.

The Patient Care Technician program offers ample hands-on training and opportunities for practical experience in the school's fully equipped mock hospital room. The course tuition includes textbooks, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, a 160 hour clinical internship and the sitting fees for national exams.

The 13-week phlebotomy program starts Jan. 19 with day (9 a.m.-noon) and evening (6-9 p.m.) class options available for its Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule. The course tuition includes a 40-hour internship, national certification, lab coats, CPR certification, malpractice insurance and textbook.

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 at 300 Seymour Ave.

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-7578 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Walnut Hill Community Church in Derby to host Christmas celebration

Mark your calendars for this family-oriented event!

Slideshow features 'Holiday at the Farm' at Osborne Homestead in Derby

Exterior of the Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby decorated for the holidays.


Thanks go to my husband, Ralph, who created a slideshow of photos I took during a tour Saturday at the beautiful Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

Talented members of area garden clubs have decorated the home following the theme of "Holiday at the Farm."
This is the 30th year that the house has been decorated for the public to enjoy.

Please take a moment to watch the slideshow here: https://youtu.be/Y75DnHA6ykY.

The groups include: Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Pomperaug Valley Garden Club of Woodbury, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement of Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.

Holiday tours will run through Dec. 19. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 
 On Fridays, Dec. 4, 11, and 18, the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to show off the ethereal glow of the decorations, 4-6:30 p.m.

I recommend you visit the museum during the holiday season. You won't be disappointed.

Seymour Library to host Celtic Holiday Concert Sunday

*Information shared from the Facebook page of the Office of the First Selectman of Seymour.