Valley United Way helps Griffin Hospital in Derby promote good health

The Valley United Way’s Special Needs Grants Program awarded Safe Kids and Griffin Hospital $4,000 to support monthly health education programs./ Contributed photo 

DERBY - The Valley United Way’s Special Needs Grants Program recently awarded Safe Kids and Griffin Hospital $4,000 to support monthly health education programs in area Head Start programs, preschools, public schools, and Boys & Girls Clubs.

The health presentations cover a range of topics including germs, seasonal safety and nutrition. 

The presentations include hands-on activities and every participant receives an activity book and an apple to take home. 
The program serves between 400 and 1,000 children each month.

“The lessons we learn at a young age tend to stick with us throughout life,” said Cathi Kellett, MA, Special Programs Coordinator for Griffin Hospital Community Outreach. 

“This grant will [allow] many children in the Valley [to] have a strong foundation to build a healthy lifestyle.”

The Valley United Way Special Needs Grant program is designed to provide funding for special needs or new programs. 

Funding for the program comes from donors who have expressed an interest in funding areas of importance to them, including health, education and graduation, income, elder care basic needs, youth and recreation, and housing and shelter.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Valley Community Foundation accepting grant applications from nonprofits

The Valley Community Foundation is accepting grant applications from nonprofits that serve its five-town region covering Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton, and Oxford. 

Grant amounts, application deadlines and eligibility requirements vary by grant process; details and applications are available on the VCF website at www.valleyfoundation.org/grants.

Grant seekers are encouraged to attend an informational orientation session about the types of competitive grants available from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 3 at Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., Derby. 

Participants will learn the criteria required for applications and the timelines for submission for VCF’s Community Grants (application due 5 p.m. March 4), Sponsorships (open year-round), Responsive Grants (application due 5 p.m. March 31) and Needs & Opportunities Grants (open year-round) processes. 

A Nuts & Bolts Workshop for Needs & Opportunities and Revolving Response Grants is being scheduled for early February for those who want more, in-depth guidance on completing the application. 

Registration is required for all sessions; for more information and to register, contact Beth Colette at 203-751-9162 or bcolette@valleyfoundation.org.

Thanks to the generosity of Valley donors, hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year are distributed from the Foundation. 

In addition to grant-making, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven toward building a stronger community by: working closely with donors to grow and deepen the impact of their philanthropy; identifying and supporting grassroots leadership; and strengthening nonprofits and promoting philanthropy through technical assistance programs.

To learn more about how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, contact Sharon Closius, President & CEO, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162 or visit VCF’s website at www.valleyfoundation.org or follow VCF on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vcf_ct.

This is a press release from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Plan to combine Ansonia, Seymour services applauded

Regular readers no doubt realize that I stay far away from the political fray.

But I have to say that as an Ansonia resident I am all for the idea being considered by Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti and Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller to combine municipal resources.

Talk of regionalization always faces some opposition in the Valley, but it makes good fiscal sense for neighboring towns to share some services.

You can read all about the plan under consideration in a story written by New Haven Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.

K of C Council donates $400 to Assumption School in Ansonia

*Sharing this from the Facebook page of Assumption School. 

Church in Ansonia to hold service for families with special needs children

Photo from church website

ANSONIA - Rhythms of Grace to Go is a monthly worship service at First United Methodist Church that serves the spiritual needs of families who have children with disabilities.

The next service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, 47 Franklin St.

For information call 203-734-0374, or emailpastorjim@anseyumcs.org. 

The service is supportive, loving, open, and fully inclusive.

The church seeks to actively nurture participants through Gospel teaching, music, play, and activities, all while being mindful of the entire family's spiritual needs.

This is a release from the church.

Club, Master's Table plan breakfast at Assumption Church hall in Ansonia

Dugatto seeks consultant team to develop Derby revitalization plan

DERBY – Mayor Anita Dugatto is continuing her efforts to pave the way for private investment on the south side of Main Street.
The City recently issued a Request for Proposals seeking a multi-disciplinary consultant team to develop and steward a credible, detailed development plan for revitalization of the downtown area referred to as Derby’s Redevelopment Zone.

The State of Connecticut Bond Commission awarded the City a $445,000 grant, at Dugatto’s request, for this planning initiative.
The Redevelopment Zone is a 14-acre area of land on the south side of Main Street (Route 34) adjacent to Route 8 within walking distance of the Derby-Shelton train station. It has been largely void of economic activity after most of the existing buildings were removed several years ago.

“Interest in the Redevelopment Zone has been intermittent over the years, and we’ve had a few missed opportunities,” Dugatto said. 
“We need to know where things went wrong and what we can do to better position ourselves for investment.”
The planning exercise will include a study of existing conditions from environmental considerations to underlying geology, zoning regulations, a market analysis, and an evaluation of the current transportation network that services this area.
Public input will be solicited throughout the planning process to ensure the final development plan reflects the vision of Derby residents.

“We want everyone to be on the same page,” Dugatto said.
Once a final plan is developed, the consultant team will also assist Derby in investment attraction efforts.
“This will be a very comprehensive development approach. We want to iron out as many wrinkles as possible, while paving the way for realistic development prospects,” she said.

For additional information on the Downtown Derby Revitalization Planning RFP, visit www.derbyct.gov. 


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