'Circle of Friends' group at Griffin Hospital in Derby learns to create healing boxes

Woodbridge resident Jon Gorham Thursday discusses 'Healing Boxes,' an organization he started with his wife, Mary, a cancer survivor. 
The couple spoke at the monthly meeting of our Circle of Friends support group at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Circle of Friends is made up of breast cancer survivors.

The Gorhams demonstrated how make to the nesting boxes. It was a lot of fun. Art therapy projects bring out the silliness and creativity in some members!

Here's a photo of the three boxes I made:

Everyone made the same ones, but I was proud nonetheless that I was able to follow along.



Stay tuned for more information about Healing Boxes in an upcoming issue of our newsletter.

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce to host leadership conference in Shelton

SHELTON - Named one of Inc.’s Top 13 Conferences for Entrepreneurs to attend in 2016, Leadercast is the world’s largest one-day leadership conference, broadcast LIVE from Atlanta and simulcast to hundreds of locations around the world May 6. 

It will run from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

This year marks the 16th year of the annual leadership conference and the seventh year that the Greater Valley Chamber will be hosting the event at the R.D. Scinto, Inc., 3 Corporate Drive Auditorium.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Architects of Tomorrow,” focusing on visionary leaders who imagine and build a future that is rich in innovation, collaboration and full of hope - a future where problems are solved,
questions are answered, and confusion gives way to clarity.

The conference will equip attendees to create their own visionary path.  

Key speakers - visionaries in their own fields - will inspire the more than 100,000 people who will attend the event live in Atlanta or at hundreds of simulcast locations in more than 20 countries. 
Among the keynote speakers are:

• Steve Wozniak—Co-founder of Apple, Inc.,
• Kat Cole—Group President, FOCUS Brands, Inc.(including Cinnabon®, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, Auntie Anne’s®, and more)
• James Brown—Network Broadcaster, CBS Sports and News
• Rorke Denver—Navy SEAL Commander and Author
• Henry Cloud—Acclaimed Leadership Expert, Clinical Psychologist, and Best-Selling Author
• Nick Saban—Head Football Coach, The University of Alabama
• Andy Stanley—Leadership Author and Communicator
• Chris Barez-Brown—Author and Creativity Guru
• Tripp Crosby—Host of Leadercast, Comedian and Director

In addition, the Chamber is pleased to also include two additional local speakers sharing their personal stories:

• Paul Blanco, Managing Partner, Barnum Financial Group   
• Brandon Dufour, General Manager, The Next Street

“For years, Leadercast has brought people together and equipped them to become better leaders, managers, community members, and employees,” Chamber President Bill Purcell said. 
“We are thrilled to be able to bring this program to our Valley and the surrounding communities.”

Leadercast is presented locally by the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce with support from R.D. Scinto, Inc., Valley Community Foundation, Sandler Training, Basement Systems, Liberty Bank, Cloud Media Marketing, Star 99.1 FM, 99.1 WPLR FM, and the Fairfield County Business Journal.

For more information and to purchase your ticket or group tickets to the event, visit http://bit.ly/gvcclcast16.


This is a press release from the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

DiMatteo Group in Shelton brightens holiday for homeless in region

Children living in shelters receive Easter baskets          

Four area shelters in Fairfield County recently benefited from the generosity of the DiMatteo Group in Shelton, who delivered nearly 120 Easter baskets to homeless children in the region.

Anthony DiMatteo and Alida Ballou

assembled Easter baskets and delivered 

them to needy children. /Contributed photo 

Since this annual drive was started over 15 years ago, more than 1,600 baskets have brightened the lives of area children.

Kim DiMatteo of Bethany, a partner and vice president of the DiMatteo Group in Shelton, along with two of her children and their friend, spearheaded this community service project.
Each basket was filled with age-appropriate necessities. 

The majority of the funds for the baskets were donated by The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation.

Baskets were delivered to: Norwalk Emergency Shelter and Domestic Violence Crisis Center, both in
Norwalk, and Inspirica, Inc. and Domestic Violence Crisis Center, both in Stamford.

“We spent weeks preparing, shopping and volunteering for this greatly anticipated community service project,” said DiMatteo. “This year my son, Anthony, and my daughter, Jessica, along with their friend Alida Ballou, assembled 80 baskets, while the remainder was donated by generous individuals.

“I am especially proud of this group of dedicated young people who took the time to assemble and deliver the gift baskets. Their act of kindness embodies our company’s mission to give back to the community. Each of the shelters was so appreciative and grateful for the tremendous volunteer effort we put into this worthwhile community project.”

Founded over 55 years ago, DiMatteo Group in Shelton is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in insurance, employee benefits, income tax and financial services.

Visit wwwdimatteogrp.com for more information.

This is a press release from DiMatteo Group.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to hold annual 5K Walk/Run in June

Young participants seen at last year's Griffin Hospital 5K Walk/Run. / Contributed photo  

DERBY - The eighth annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital will hit the streets June 4.

Started as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of the building of the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, the first Walk/Run drew more than 200 participants and raised more than $25,000. 

Now in its eighth year, the 5K has drawn thousands of participants over the years and raised nearly $300,000 to help support local cancer survivors.

This non-competitive, family-friendly event draws walkers and runners from all over the Valley, including participants from Derby, Ansonia, Shelton, Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, and from all over the state.

Proceeds are earmarked for special needs of cancer patients, such as support for transportation, groceries and wig and salon services, as well as patient support programs at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital. 

Area cancer survivors are invited to celebrate the event at a free survivors’ reception that offers food and free massages.

Participants can walk or run individually, or may form a team with their family, friends and co-workers. Participants may also collect pledges or purchase a commemorative sign to honor or memorialize a loved one at the event.

Registration is $25 for adults; $10 for children under 13 years old. The registration fees will increase by $5 after May 17.

Check-in for the event begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Center for Cancer Care parking lot, 350 Seymour Ave. 

The Walk/Run is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged, and the first 500 registered participants will receive T-shirts.

Individuals and teams can register online at griffinhealth.org/5k. 
For more information, call 203-732-7431 or e-mail 5kwalkrun@griffinhealth.org.

Sponsor the Griffin 5K

The 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care still has sponsorship opportunities available, which include signage at the event, logos on the event promotional materials and T-shirts, and opportunities to have a table to distribute products at the event or put items, coupons or promotional material in participant give-away bags.

Sponsors for the 5K include The Ansonia Rod and Gun Club, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Centrix, The EDGE Fitness, Forest Construction Co. LLC, BIC, HAN Network, Star 99.9 FM, and YoCrunch.

For more information about sponsorships, contact Christian Meagher, 203-732-7431 or cmeagher@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Salvation Army in Ansonia distributes food, friendship

As an advisory board member I visited the Greater Valley Salvation Army's food pantry Thursday morning. I witnessed needy community members getting assistance in the form of frozen meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, canned goods, rice, beans, peanut butter, pasta, pastries, and bread. 
In this photo volunteer Brenda Tennyson of Ansonia, left, helps a client select canned goods. 


You can support the Salvation Army's good work here in the Valley by attending our third annual recognition breakfast April 28 at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen, 557 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. 

Tickets for the fundraiser are $35 per person; $200 for a table of eight.

Hope to see you there! 

Derby selects urban planners for downtown revitalization project

DERBY - In January, the City of Derby issued a Request for Proposals (RFP #2015-034) seeking a multi-disciplinary consultant team to develop and steward a credible detailed development plan for the revitalization of the long-dormant south side of Main Street.

“The ultimate goal of this project is to create a clear path for development - one that residents can rally behind - that best positions the City for private investment,” Mayor Anita Dugatto said.

On Wednesday the City announced that DPZ PARTNERS has been selected for the Downtown Derby Revitalization Planning Project.

DPZ is a major leader in urban planning, having designed over 400 new and existing communities in the U.S. and internationally. Among the qualities that distinguish DPZ is their volume of built and implemented work.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Ted Estwan, selection committee member and Derby Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. “The project attracted a tremendous amount of talent.”

Eleven firms from across the United States submitted proposals in response to the City’s request. 
Most proposals were comprised of a team of experts including representatives from transportation, housing, environmental studies, urban planning and design, real estate, and economic/market analysis fields.

To aid in the firm selection process, Dugatto appointed a bi-partisan selection committee. The committee reviewed the proposals, rated them on criteria that reflected the project’s objectives, and interviewed the top six firms to further evaluate their approach.

Carmen DiCenso, selection committee member and Derby Board of Aldermen President pointed to the value of the interview process. “Not only did the interviews allow us to ask important questions of the firms and their team members, but they also provided us with insight which ultimately strengthened our approach to the project.”

Following the interviews, the committee once again rated the firms and selected DPZ PARTNERS. 
The committee concluded that DPZ had the right mix of highly qualified sub-consultants and a unique approach to the project; their implementation record was likewise impressive.

DPZ is partnering with the following firms for the Downtown Derby project: Robert Orr & Associates, Gianni Longo & Associates, CDM Smith, Urban3, The Williams Group Real Estate Advisors, and Good Earth Advisors.

The City of Derby will soon enter contract negations with DPZ PARTNERS for the project, which is being funded by a grant from Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development. 


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

Crisco hails grant for film festival at Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE - State Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Wednesday welcomed a $4,999 grant from Connecticut Humanities for the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven – headquartered in Woodbridge – to host seven films that relate to Jewish and Israeli issues.

State Sen. Joseph Crisco

The 2016 Beckerman Jewish Film Series is a diverse collection of Jewish and Israeli films to be shown in locations that span all of Greater New Haven including Cheshire, Hamden, Woodbridge, Madison, and New Haven. 

The series will run through May 17, and scholar-led discussions exploring of the films’ themes will follow each screening. 

Films to be screened include a variety of comedy, drama, historical and modern themes, both classics and new releases.

Each month, Connecticut Humanities distributes money allocated by the Connecticut state legislature through a highly competitive, merit-based application process. The Jewish film festival grant is one of 10 organizations in eight Connecticut towns that will share more than $210,000 in Connecticut Humanities grant money.

“One of the reasons why Connecticut consistently ranks so high in national quality of life rankings is because we have the ability to balance the business, education and arts investments that make Connecticut such an attractive and vibrant place to live,” Crisco said. “I’m grateful to Connecticut Humanities for recognizing the excellent work that the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven does in seeking to expand the health of each person’s mind, body and spirit.”

“The JCC of Greater New Haven is very fortunate to have received support from Connecticut Humanities for the Beckerman Jewish Film Series,” said Mara Gross Balk, program director for the JCC of Greater New Haven. 
“This grant enables us to bring Jewish arts and culture to seven locations across our catchment area, and the selections offer something for everyone. Our 12 partners in this series are an indication of the strength of film to bring communities together for meaningful, shared experiences.”


This is a press release from Crisco's office.