Valley Shakespeare Festival to stage comedy at Shelton restaurant

'The Merry Wives of Windsor' 

SHELTON - Join Valley Shakespeare Festival for the first show of its fifth anniversary season and meet the “Real Housewives of 1597” in the outrageous comedy, “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”  
VSF returns to Caloroso Eatery and Bar, 100 Center St., March 1 and 2 with this, its latest, “Shakespeare in the Bar” production.

The play features one of the Bard’s most beloved characters, Sir John Falstaff, aka “The Fat Knight.”  
Sir John first appears in Shakespeare’s history plays Henry IV, Parts I and II.  
Falstaff, a rowdy, lecherous, hard-drinking, money-swindling, but good-hearted old soul became Queen Elizabeth’s favorite of Shakespeare’s characters. She so enjoyed him that she commanded Shakespeare to write a play focusing on him in which he falls in love.  
And she was so impatient to see him again that she commanded it be completed in two weeks!

The plot revolves around an aging Sir John down on his luck and looking, as always, for an easy way out of his financial difficulties.  
He alights on an idea to woo two well-to-do married women. Sadly for him, the two he chooses are not only faithful to their husbands, but also friends, so that when they reveal his advances to one another, they conspire to turn the tables on him and teach him a lesson he will not easily forget.  Add one jealous husband, one young marriageable daughter and her three suitors to the brew and you get one madcap, fast-moving, boisterous and bawdy concoction of craziness!

This light-hearted look at love and marriage, jealousy and revenge, and class envy will leave you laughing out loud at how some things just never change.

Tickets are on sale now.  
Admission is $20 in advance for Table seats, $15 in advance for Bar seats, and $25 at the door.

Purchase tickets at www.vsfestival.org  or by calling Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446.


This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival.

CT Junior Boxing Olympics slated at Ansonia Armory

Seymour Land Trust to host Sip & Paint fundraiser

*Shared from the Seymour Land Trust Facebook page. 

Lawmakers to meet with constituents at coffee hour in Derby

Learn resume writing, take in a movie at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library offers Resume “Right”-ing Workshops on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

During these sessions, participants are welcome to either start from scratch or bring copies of their existing resumes, cover letters as well, for review and optimizing.  

Often a new resume can be created simply by making a number of subtle tweaks versus a whole new change.

The next class will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 1. 

Registration is not required.  

Movie matinees

DERBY - The Derby Public Library continues its weekly Wednesday Movie Matinees series for ages 18 and over.

Newly released DVDs will be shown every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Light snacks will be provided.  

Registration is requested.  

For a list of featured films or for information on any programs stop by the Library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org. 

      This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Participants, sponsors sought for 29th annual Bowl-2-Benefit in Milford

MILFORD - The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, a program of BHcare, is looking for bowlers and sponsors to participate in the 29^th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit March 11 at AMF Lanes, 1717 Boston Post Road.  

All proceeds benefit UCDVS which provides services to more than 6,000 victims of domestic violence and their children each year throughout the Greater New Haven, Greater Naugatuck Valley, and Shoreline communities.  

UCDVS provides free emergency safe shelter, 24-hour crisis services, counseling, court advocacy, support and other crucial services.

The Bowl-2-Benefit, one of the largest fundraising events of its kind in the state, attracts more than 1,500 community members.  

Bowlers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in teams of four-five, in one of five bowling sessions scheduled for 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.  

Bowlers pay a minimal $5 registration fee and are asked to collect pledges to support their efforts.  Each bowler will receive 90 minutes of bowling, an event T-shirt, shoe rental, soft drink, and a chance to win prizes.  

The event is ideal for clubs, schools, organizations, corporations and families. 

The Bowl-2-Benefit offers sponsorship opportunities for all budgets, with levels starting at just $100. Sponsors reap the benefit of exposure to the more than 1,500 participants as well as additional exposure online.  T-shirt sponsors receive continued exposure with their logo printed on the event tee that is distributed to all bowlers.  T-shirt level sponsorships start at just $500. 

Last year, the Bowl-2-Benefit raised more than $80,000. Event organizers hope to exceed that amount this year and attract an even larger bowling crowd.  

The 29^th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit is sponsored by the Bassett Family Fund. Media partners include Channel 3 Eyewitness News, WPLR 99.1-FM, and Star 99.9-FM.  Anyone interested in receiving more information about, or participating in the Bowl-2-Benefit, should call Joy DeMarchis, 203-736-2601, ext. 1856 or visit www.bhcare.org.  

Deadline for bowler registration is March 1.

BHcare is a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven, and Shoreline communities.  

For more information, visit www.bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Wear red today to promote heart health, raise awareness of disease

Today, Feb. 3, is National Wear Red Day.

February is American Heart Month. 

The American Heart Association urges everyone to wear red today to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and ways to prevent it.