Crisco delivers back-to-school snacks to children at TEAM resource center in Derby

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, hands out back-to-school snacks to a young student Tuesday at the TEAM Family Resource Center in Derby. /Contributed photo

DERBY -Just in time for the new school year, state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, Tuesday delivered $250 worth of back-to-school snacks, drinks, and lunch boxes for children of Derby and Ansonia.

The supplies are part of Crisco’s Back to School Food Drive, and include soft-sided lunch boxes, fruit juice, granola bars, crackers, trail mix, peanut butter, apple sauce, fruit snacks and raisins.

The supplies were delivered to the TEAM Family Resource Center on Elizabeth Street. 

TEAM’S mission is to connect economically disadvantaged individuals and families residing in the Naugatuck-Housatonic Valley region with solutions that lead to well-being and self-sufficiency. 

For parents and children, TEAM offers free play groups, summer fitness programs, summer reading programs, parenting and early childhood workshops, and resource and referral services.

The supplies will benefit more than a dozen families in Derby and Ansonia.

“It’s important for children to get a good start on the opening day of school, because I think that gives them the energy and attitude to carry them throughout the entire school year,” said Crisco, who has six children and 18 grandchildren. 

“I hope that this small donation of drinks and snacks and lunch boxes lets some children in Derby and Ansonia know that they are cared for and that we are here to support them today and throughout the year.”

This is a press release from Crisco's office.  

Working Families Party endorses Conroy in 105th

The Working Families Party has endorsed Theresa Conroy for state representative in the 105th Assembly District which includes the towns of Seymour, Beacon Falls, and Derby.

State Rep. Theresa Conroy

Conroy was one of the first lawmakers to recognize the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis.  

She has been instrumental in limiting prescriptions to opioids and increasing access to lifesaving overdose reversal medications.

“Representative Conroy is a tireless advocate for working families in her district. She's worked hard to protect funding for hospitals, championed innovative healthcare programs to reduce opioid use in the Valley, and has been an integral player in reviving the manufacturing sector,” said WFP State Director Lindsay Farrell. 

“She's tough and she consistently delivered results, and that's exactly the kind of candidate we endorse. We're proud to support her candidacy.” 

This year, Conroy took on Gov. Malloy as he slashed funding to Griffin Hospital, risking jobs and patient care. 

While Republicans all voted "no," Conroy and her Democratic colleagues restored Griffin's money.

“Working families are the heart and soul of Seymour, Beacon Falls, and Derby,” Conroy said. “I will always fight for you in Hartford."

Conroy has been a vocal proponent of training students in advanced manufacturing and has supported upgrades to programs at NVCC and Platt Tech. 

Conroy is a legislator and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She worked for 28 years at the VA Health Center in West Haven.

This is a press release from Conroy's campaign.

Flea Market Flip at thrift store in Ansonia to benefit domestic violence services

Bingo for Boobies fundraiser slated at The Hops Company in Derby

DERBY - Bingo for Boobies to benefit The Valley Goes Pink will be held from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 11 at The Hops Company, 77 Sodom Lane.

Sharing info from an event page on Facebook:

Admission is $20 and includes 10 bingo cards (4 games per card) and pizza. Wine, beer, and cocktails are available for purchase.

There are great prizes in each round. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. 

Call Sue Petrizzo at 203-400-1068. Reservations are essential.

Donations sought for Derby Senior Center tag sale

DERBY- The Derby Senior Center will host its annual tag sale from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Oct. 22.

Members are seeking more treasures to help raise money for senior center activities. 

Please check your basements and at­tics for the following:
knick knacks, jewelry, glass ware, holiday decorations, curtains, and the like. No clothing will be accepted.

Donations can be delivered directly to the Derby Senior Center, 293 Main St., between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Organizers ask that all donations be delivered by 4 p.m. Oct. 14.

For more information, call the Derby Senior Center at 203-736-1484 or email seniorcenter@derbyct.gov.

This is a press release from Derby City/Town Clerk Marc Garofalo.

CT Independent Party endorses Jaumann in 104th

ANSONIA - The Connecticut Independent Party has endorsed Republican Joseph Jaumann for state representative in the 104th District. 

Joseph Jaumann

Jaumann, a political newcomer, is a local attorney and chairman of the Ansonia Planning and Zoning Commission, and his name will now appear on both the Republican and Independent ballot lines on Election Day.

“I’m proud to be endorsed by both the Republican and Independent parties and I look forward to serving the residents of our great community,” Jaumann said. 
“The Independent Party’s goal of non-partisan problem solving is the same approach that I believe in, and it is same the approach that we need in Hartford to move Connecticut in the right direction.”
The Independent Party is the third-largest political party in Connecticut and has endorsed many candidates across the state this year.

It is estimated that Connecticut will face another budget deficit in the 2017 legislative session. In 2011 and 2015, state Rep. Linda M. Gentile sided with Gov. Dannel Malloy, and voted for the two largest taxes in state history.

To that point, Jaumann added, “We need a new start. A leader who will be independent minded and a voice of the people of Ansonia and Derby, and not simply a rubber stamp for the Governor. It is clear that the policy of raising taxes and borrowing to pay for the state’s spending problem isn’t working. We need to have and open and honest discussion about our budget and not wait till the 11th hour to have the conversation. We need to tackle the budget problems in this state head on starting on the first day of the session, so we can start focusing on the future and our children’s futures.” 


This is a press release from the Jaumann campaign.

Sharing historic photo taken in front of home on Derby Hill

This week's “Turnback Tuesday” photo is of Oliver B. Sherwood and his wife, Charlotte (Fowler) Sherwood. Oliver was born in Greenfield Hill, Fairfield County, and moved to Derby with his father in 1817. Charlotte was born in Milford where the two met. They married Sept. 3, 1836 and had four children together. Oliver was a farmer, aka “seed grower,” and distributed his produce all the way up to New York.

The photograph was apparently taken by one of Oliver’s relatives, Elizabeth Sherwood, in front of their home located on Derby Hill. 

It was taken sometime during the late 1880s or early 1890s before Charlotte’s death in 1892. Sentinel Hill Road and Sodom Lane were both listed as cross streets, so the house was located somewhere in that area. 

Oliver and Charlotte are buried in Oak Cliff Cemetery on Hawthorne Avenue in Derby.

*A big thank you to Derby Librarians for sharing this interesting photo on my Facebook timeline.