Bird walk planned at Kellogg Center, Osbornedale State Park in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will host an outdoor Winter Bird Walk from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 28 led by Master Wildlife Conservationist Maria Stockmal.  

An expert at local flora and fauna, Stockmal will guide the group through the property at the Kellogg Environmental Center and then across the street to venture into Osbornedale State Park.
The group will be looking for birds that stay local during the winter months and learning how they adapt to survive the challenges of Connecticut’s winters.
Participants will meet in the parking lot of the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., and the walk will begin from there.

This program is free and open to the public. Participants of all ages are invited to attend.

Please dress according to the weather.

For further information, directions, or to register please phone 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.


This is a press release from DEEP.

Seymour school district named to advanced placement honor roll

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public School District has received national recognition this week as one of 433 school districts in the United States and Canada to be named to the seventh annual Advanced Placement Honor Roll by the College Board. 

The College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity.

The AP District Honor Roll recognizes school districts for increasing AP access to students while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher.

Students who take AP courses have the opportunity to earn college credit which decreases college costs.
They tend to be more successful in college than those students who do not take an AP course.

Students who have taken at least one AP course had higher college course grades, and were more likely to graduate from college within four years.

To qualify for the AP Honor Roll, a district must work to broaden the pool of students taking Advanced Placement classes while also maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.

To be included on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll an examination of three years of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, is done for the following criteria:

• Increased participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts; 
• Increased or maintained the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students who scored 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and 
• Improved performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2016 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2014, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a 3 or higher. 

Seymour High School Principal James Freund said, "I am very proud of the faculty and students who have supported and participated in the AP Program over the last several years. To be nationally recognized is an honor for the Seymour community."


This is a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.

Derby Boy Scouts continue Super Bowl sub sale tradition

Support the Boy Scouts and have a stress-free game day!


*Information shared from Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo.

Learn to be a nursing assistant in accelerated course at Griffin Hospital in Derby

The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is offering its five-week Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, is offering its Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program starting March 20 to help individuals start the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed five-week schedule with classes Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care.

The CNA course tuition fee includes the course book, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

The CNA clinical experience will be at Griffin Hospital and a long-term care facility from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for 40 hours.

After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the State exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut.

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers training, education, and certification for Phlebotomy, Nursing Assistant, and Patient Care Technician health care careers.
Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, located at 300 Seymour Ave.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Teens Teach Tech forum slated at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library will host Teens Teach Tech from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 14.

All young adults ages 12 to 17 are invited to this “teen-led” forum focusing on the technology-driven exchange of expertise, as well as Makerspace interface with 3-D tools. 

Light refreshments will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

For more information stop by the Library, 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.

Newsletter features TEAM offering tax prep in Derby, Milford, movie review, more

Dear readers,

Our latest Valley Voice newsletter is out. 

Please click here to read about the Shelton Historical Society's upcoming annual meeting that will feature a look at Yesterday's Headlines, and a review of the movie Hidden Figures.  

Thanks for reading,

~ Patti and Ralph

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host AARP driver safety refresher course

Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program March 4./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 8:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. March 4 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. 

While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to everyone.

The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and make some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. 

The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. 

As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance company about discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. 

Make checks payable to “AARP.”

To register, call Esther, 203-732-1523.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.