Monday, January 25, 2016

Valley United Way seeks humanitarian award nominations

SHELTON - Valley United Way is accepting nominations for the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award. 

The award, the Valley’s oldest and most prestigious award for community service, has been presented annually since 1971 when Alice Russ Cochran of Shelton was named the first winner. 
The award is restricted to living persons whose service has been to the entire Valley community. 
Their service must not be limited to just one town or one organization.

The award is named for the late Mr. Flynn, who was, at the time of his death, editor of The Evening Sentinel and had been one of the founders of the Valley United Fund. 
He had been president of the Ansonia Community Chest. In 1968, he led that organization into a merger with the Derby-Shelton Community Chest and the Seymour United Fund which resulted in the formation of what is now known as the Valley United Way.

A native of Derby, he was an Ansonia resident most of his life and a long time Sentinel employee. He had an abiding interest in the Valley community and served it in myriad ways.  
At the time of his death he was first vice-president of the Valley United Fund; president of Catholic Family Services; president of the Ansonia Board of Assessors; director of the Ansonia Public Library and director of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Chapter, American Red Cross.
Following his death in 1969, this award was established because of his life long dedicated service to the entire Valley. 
Anyone wishing to nominate someone for the Flynn award may do so by submitting a written resume of that person to the Valley United Way, 54 Grove St. or by filling out and submitting an electronic nomination form that can be found at http://www.valleyunitedway.org. 
The award will be presented at United Way's annual dinner meeting in April.


This is a press release from Valley United Way, the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. 
United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis. Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.


Ebenezer Bassett is focus of history sessions at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library holds weekly Local History
Information sessions from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays.  
During this time Mary Bisaccia, the Library’s Local History Coordinator, offers information on monthly highlighted topics.
Ebenezer Bassett

February’s topic will be Ebenezer Bassett, First African American Diplomat. 
President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Bassett to be ambassador to Haiti in 1869. 
Bassett, a Derby native, was an educator and civil rights activist.

Assistance also will be available for research on topics such as genealogy, prominent local figures, major area events, and more.

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. 

Valentine fun planned at Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

SHELTON - Plumb Memorial Library will host a Valentine-themed program for children at 6 p.m. Feb. 3. 

Kids ages 5 and up with their caregivers are invited to join Mrs. Fritsch and Mr. Al for a story, crafts, and refreshments.

Registration is required. 
Call the children's department at  203-924-9461.

The library is at 65 Wooster St.


This information is shared from the library's website.

Kellogg Center in Derby hosts photo exhibit featuring birds of North America


DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection invites you to the Kellogg Environmental Center to discover birds of North America through photographs by Sophie Zyla.  

Stop by during normal operating hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., to see her beautiful work and experience her passion for nature and photography. 
The photographs will be displayed until Feb. 28.

Zyla is an outstanding photographer and birder who has traveled all around the United States to get a glimpse of specific bird species and capture them on film to share the beauty of nature with everyone.  
She has a background in conservation biology, environmental studies and photography. Zyla has studied at New York Institute of Photography, Nikon School of Photography.  

Her images can be found at: www.SophieZylaPhotoSZ.com and are available for purchase from the photographer.

Kellogg Environmental Center is located at 500 Hawthorne Ave.  
For information call 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.


This is a press release from DEEP. 

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Knights to hold holiday dinner at Assumption Church hall in Ansonia

Just got this in my email this afternoon. 
I guess it's good to plan ahead. As we all know, time flies.

Celebrate Shelton slates first handmade market of 2016


SHELTON - Celebrate Shelton creators Nicole Heriot-Mikula, Michael Skrtic and Jimmy Tickey have announced the first Downtown Handmade Market of the year, just in time for Valentine's Day. 

The market will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 6 at 415 Howe Ave. It will feature live music and more than 20 handmade artisan vendors. 
There is free, ample parking and admission is free. 

February handmade artisans include: 
Bead Dangle Design, Beyond Words, Crystal Teal Jewelry, Elm City Kettle Corn, Grateful Pawz, Greystone Bookworks, Hipponotic Candle, Katie's Kreations, Kilbride Creations, KnitBeadRepeat, La La Bliss Artisan Jewelry, Lilla Rose Inc., Liquid Lunch, Lisa's Soaps Naked and Natural LLC, Look & Sea, OmNomNom Jams and Jellies LLC, Origami Owl, Quark Tees, Renn's Recreations, Shimmer and Sugar, Sugar Pop Crochet, The Little Dog Laughed, The Cupcake Chick, LLC, and TJJ Sews.

The Conti Building Shops include: 
The Glass Source, BringtheHoopla, Written Words Bookstore, Periodic Tableware, Shadee Lady, Memories from Aunt Helen's Attic, Nikki's Attic, Three Bridges Coffee Shop.

For the kids: Make-Your-Own-Valentine activity.

Live music will be performed LeeAnn Lovelace and Paul Kramarz.

Celebrate Shelton, a city-wide initiative, was created by small business owners Nicole Heriot-Mikula, Michael Skrtic, and Jimmy Tickey. 

Learn more at www.celebrateshelton.com, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/celebrateshelton), and Twitter (www.twitter.com/celebshelton). 


This is a press release from Celebrate Shelton.