Tech Time on tap in August at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library offers monthly Tech Time sessions.  
Every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and every third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. a staff member will be on hand to answer all your tech-related questions and concerns.  

Whether you are having trouble downloading e-books, searching databases, completing on-line job applications, 

scanning/sending documents and photos, etc., your problems will be addressed. 

Next sessions will be held Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. No registration is needed.  
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 Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.  

J-Cuts in Shelton launches 11th annual school supply drive

Tina Cadella, Lower Naugatuck Valley-Parent Child Resource Center Child First-Early Childhood Clinician, left, and Karen Martinez, LNV-PCRC, Child First-Care Coordinator prepare supplies for children served by their agency./ Submitted photo 

SHELTON - J Cuts has launched the 11th Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive in the Valley. From now to Aug. 22 book bags and school supplies are being collected around the Valley. Last year, more than 130 book bags, and an abundance of back to school supplies, were collected. 

The main collection location is J Cuts, 505 Howe Ave.

 Supplies include book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders.  Supplies are collected for children from preschool to high school.  Book bags and supplies must be brand new.
“The outpouring of kindness within the community always warms my heart,” Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!”

For the second time last year, Bright Horizons Day Care, 3 Corporate Drive, held its own collection and dropped off donations.  Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St.,     Ansonia, joined the drive last year. Minuteman Press, 427B Howe Ave., again donated collection posters. Other local businesses and organizations are invited and encouraged to join in by holding collections of their own.

 For a third year coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, dental plan for HUSKY Health. They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, and oral health education. 
According to Romaniuk, “The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth for the benefit of a person’s general health. The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855-CT-DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.
More than 200 oral kits were given to students who received back to school donations, as well as the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

Children receiving donations from this community drive last year are served by TEAM, Inc. and Bradley School in Derby, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center all of Shelton; along with BHcare in Ansonia. 
“The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley is forever grateful for receiving backpacks and dental kits to support our families in need,” Jen DeLeon, Unit Director, said. “The smiles on our members' faces are absolutely priceless as they feel so much more confident getting ready for their first day of school!” 

For more information call Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts, 203-924-4107.

This is a press release from J Cuts.

This Middletown roadside attraction will help you start feelin' groovy

My daughter and I stopped out of curiosity Friday at a local landmark - Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center - an antique and collectibles store in Middletown after enjoying afternoon tea at Tea Roses Tea Room in Cromwell with friends. 
We didn't go inside but took a few photos of the interesting outdoor decor.

You can't miss this sign if you're traveling along Newfield Street in Middletown.

'Woodstock Nation'

We plan to return some day and check out the memorabilia store and the rest of the attractions.

Recuperation journey: Yay it's National Ice Cream Day

"In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in the month of July."
I found this interesting info here. 

So, what are your plans for this special day?

I haven't made any yet, but I hope we can celebrate this auspicious occasion after my husband and daughter go to the Shelton Historical Society's annual Vintage Vehicles Antique & Classic Car Show. 

This fun event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road. 
The weather looks like it will be perfect!


Update: It's 1:40 p.m. and I just started celebrating. I made myself a small mint chocolate chip cone!

Chillin' and worry free in the backyard

They're right! Who cares what the neighbors think!   😀

Recuperation journey: 'Prison for junk'

Taking a walk back in time
My mother passed away more than a year ago at age 92, and this afternoon our son Cameron helped us clean out a storage unit that contained her things - a china set, crystal goblets, old vinyl record albums, a brass umbrella stand.

When he and I pulled up to the storage facility, surrounded by locked, wrought-iron fences and all, I said, "I feel like we're visiting a prison." 
We chuckled. Cameron said, "It's like a prison for junk." 

That's pretty accurate, I'd say! I'm sure people put stuff there and pay the bill every month but never get around to returning for it. I'm glad we finally did. 

But I soon learned there was more than junk inside for us. There were treasures, especially the photos!

I had to share this one of my parents' wedding day. It was taken outside the Little Church Around the Corner (Church of the Resurrection) in Manhattan, where they were married in 1951. I've never seen the photo before and I was thrilled to find it.

My maternal grandparents, my parents, and my paternal grandmother, October, 1951. 

Seymour Pink, Derby-Shelton Rotary Club featured in newsletter

Dear readers,

Today's Valley Voice newsletter highlights Seymour Pink and the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club. 
Please click here to read all about it.

Thanks for reading,

Patti