Pedal for PCRC slated Sunday in Shelton

Griffin Hospital in Derby awarded top grade for patient safety

DERBY - Griffin Hospital was again ranked among the leading hospitals in Connecticut for providing safe care to its patients.

The Leapfrog Group awarded Griffin Hospital an “A” grade for its Spring 2016 Hospital Safety Score survey. 

This is the hospital’s fifth “A” in three years and Griffin was one of just four hospitals in the state to receive the top score.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized for our commitment to safety. We make it our priority to put patients first and that mission starts with keeping our patients safe,” said Kathleen Martin, Vice President for Patient Safety and Care Improvement. 
“Every single member of the Griffin Hospital family is a caregiver and that means we work together to prevent harm to our patients and provide them with the best hospital experience possible.”

The Leapfrog Group is an independent hospital safety rating organization whose Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety. 
The score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading patient safety experts, rating hospitals on errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. The first and only hospital safety rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety, the Hospital Safety Score is published widely to give consumers information they can use to protect themselves and their families when choosing a hospital stay.

“Griffin Hospital’s A grade is a powerful reminder of its commitment to putting patient safety above all else, and we are pleased to recognize the persistent efforts of your clinicians and staff to protect your patients,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score.

Developed under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single A, B, C, D, or F score, representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. 

More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in October 2015, with Griffin Hospital among only four Connecticut hospitals in the select group of 773 hospitals nationwide receiving an A grade.

The Hospital Safety Score is fully transparent, offering a full analysis of the data and methodology used in determining grades on the website. 
Patients can also review their hospital’s past safety performance alongside its current grade on the Hospital Safety Score site, allowing them to determine which local hospitals have the best track record in patient safety and which have demonstrated consistent improvement.

To see Griffin’s full score, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org or follow The Hospital Safety Score on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Hospital Safety Score mobile app for Apple and Android devices. 

About The Leapfrog Group 

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. 
The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. Hospital Safety Score, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Valley United Way elects chair of board of directors

Jennifer S. Bull

SHELTON - Jennifer S. Bull, an Accounting and Audit Principal of DHL&S in Shelton was elected Chair of the Board of Directors at Valley United Way’s at the 48th Annual meeting April 26. She succeeds Janice Sheehy of Webster Bank who  served two terms as president and will remain on the Board. 

Ms. Bull has served as the Vice Chair of the Board and has also been a member of the Executive, Finance and Audit Committees. 

She has also been a member of the Campaign Task Force. At DHL&S, she also coordinated the very successful United Way employee campaigns.

In her work at DHL&S, she is responsible for the planning, supervision and evaluation of engagements in various industries comprising manufacturing, financial services, charter schools, retail and not-for-profit, including college foundations.

Ms. Bull graduated Cum Laude in 1994 from Sacred Heart University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1997. As part of her annual continuing education, Ms. Bull attends all relevant updates sponsored by the State Board of Accountancy, and is an active participant in the Firm’s training programs for new accounting staff.

She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, and is active in many community activities.

Ms. Bull serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce as their Treasurer and the Vice-Chairwoman, and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

She is actively involved with The Leads Group Women in Networking, sponsored by the Valley Chamber of Commerce, and is a twice past President, during which time she was instrumental in the establishment of the Women in Networking Entrepreneurial Grant with the Valley Community Foundation. 

This grant provides financial assistance to women in the Naugatuck Valley area who own their own businesses or are trying to start their own businesses.

An avid runner, she is also a frequent participant in road races that benefit various charities. Ms. Bull resides in Milford with her husband, Michael Simon, and their two sons, Tyler and Matthew.

In addition to the election of the Chair, Michael Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Ansonia was elected to the Board and Freeman Burr (retired Shelton Superintendent of Schools), John DeGray (Point Energy Solutions), Bill Purcell (Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce), Janice Sheehy (Webster Bank), Dominick Thomas (Cohen & Thomas), Mary Ann Miskowicz (Better Packages) and Joe Pagliaro, Jr. (Riverview & Adzima Funeral Homes) were all re-elected to three year terms.

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.

Wesley Village in Shelton invites caregivers to dementia support group

SHELTON - Do you know or care for someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia? Are you in need of support?
You’re not alone!

Caregivers are invited to Wesley Village May 19 and every third Thursday of the month, from 2-3 p.m. for an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group. 

The group will offer problem-solving techniques and helpful support for families and caregivers, and will be facilitated by Wesley Village staff. 

Your loved one is welcome to participate in activities in a secure environment while you attend the support group. 

For more information or to RSVP, call 203-225-5024 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. 

The group will be held at Wesley Heights and Lifestyle Transitions at Wesley Village, 580 Long Hill Ave.

To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes. 

Mark CT Trails Day, learn outdoor skills, drumming at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled a variety of activities in June.

NATURE’S CHILD: Creatures of Redwing Pond – June 3, 10 a.m.

Join the Nature Center staff for a fun morning catching frogs and other creatures of Redwing Pond. We’ll start with a small talk on the animals that inhabit the pond. Then we will use our collection equipment to catch, observe, and release these critters. TUITION:  $7 per child ($5.00 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents).  Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults.

CT TRAILS DAY – June 4, 9 a.m.

Join Nature Center director Alison Rubelmann and Ranger Dan Bosques for this morning walk.  Discover the flora and fauna of our typical New England woodland. This moderate hike will also visit the settlement of the Paugasucks. Bring water and snacks, and wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for older children and adults. FREE; call to register.

TREE I.D. HIKE – June 5, 1 p.m.

The towering giants that fill our forests have many uses and many names. Learn all about the trees we have here in CT, what they are used for, where they grow, which ones you can use for food, and which ones are best for lighting fires. You’ll learn not only how to I.D. trees by their leaves, but also by their bark! 

FREE. Please register and wear appropriate shoes.

FANCI ANNUAL MEETING – June 8, 5:30 p.m.

Join the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. to see what new and exciting projects they’ve been working on. Bring your own table setting and a casserole, salad, dessert, or other dish to share. Election of FANCI officers will take place at this meeting. Bring ideas for next year’s programs and projects.  Please register in advance.

PRIMITIVE FIRE SKILLS – June 11, 10 a.m.

Join Tom Nedweden, primitive technologist, in the art of fire making. Two hundred and fifty years ago this skill could have meant life or death. This ability, no longer widely known, will be shared with you. Learn where to find the best firewood when you’re stranded in the wilderness, the types of trees and other plants used to make tinder bundle, and how to create our very own coals to ignite the blaze! FEE: $5 per person.  Please register; all children must be accompanied by an adult.

OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS: Lashing Project III – June 18, 10 a.m.

Join Ranger Dan for the final session of his Lashing Projects. Hike into the forest, find a suitable group of trees, and build a raised platform using what we find in nature! Our goal is to build a tree house using our lashing skills. 

FREE; please register in advance.

SUMMER SOLSTICE DRUMMING WITH CHE CARTAFALSA – June 18, 2 p.m.

Che Cartafalsa is a musician, instrument maker, and educator whose work has ranged from concert halls and orchestras to rock bands and West African street weddings. He has played in the Northeast as a member of Toubabou and the White-Eyed Lizard 

Band, Che passes on to his students what he has learned from African percussion masters, emphasizing instrumental technique, listening skills, and multilayered rhythms in percussion. Authentic instruments will help us learn traditional African rhythms. 
FREE; please register for this family program.

FULL STRAWBERRY MOON HIKE – June 20, 8 p.m.

The Algonquin tribes knew this moon as a time to gather the ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon. Join the Nature Center rangers for this nighttime exploration of the park’s trails as we follow the scents of the summer through the forest and fields. This adventure is geared toward adults and children. Wear sturdy shoes. Enjoy the summer fire too! FEE: $1; please register.

SUMMER NATURE DAYS – Open registration; choose one or more of our week-long sessions, each held Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates: Aug. 1–5, Aug. 8–12, and Aug. 15–19.

For children 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience! 
TUITION PER WEEK: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members); $175 all others.


This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. 

Derby Public Library offers activities, summer club for teens

DERBY - The Derby Public Library hosts YA Wednesdays every month from 6-7:30 p.m. 
All young adults ages 12 to 17 are invited to join the fun each Wednesday in June as Nintendo Wii, board games, and Legos will be available. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Teen Summer Club

The Library invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to join the 2016 Teen Summer Club running from June 20 through Aug. 11. 

This year’s theme is “Get In the Game,” encouraging members to engage in friendly competition and creative outlets while making new friends and exploring resources. 

Club members will meet Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. 
Options available include board games as well as the Nintendo Wii game system, Legos and more! 
Light snacks will be provided. 
Competitors will earn credit for each event attended through the eight-week program and weekly winners will be drawn. 
A grand prize winner will be drawn at the club’s finale pizza party. 
Registration begins on June 1. 

For information on all programs, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

Ansonia Parks & Rec to sponsor free fishing program

*Note: Click on post to enlarge