Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer free prostate cancer screenings

Griffin Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 15./ Submitted photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. 

Men at higher risk, including African-American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should be tested at age 40.

“We strongly encourage the men in our community to take advantage of these free screenings,” said Dr. Fred Browne, vice president of Medical Affairs at Griffin Hospital. “As the third-leading cancer killer in men, prostate cancer is a serious disease, but it can be successfully treated if caught at an early stage. 

"This event will be a combination of preventative screening and education, so men know what symptoms to look for and they can share this information with friends, family and neighbors.”

The screening will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the screenings is limited; early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1280.

About Prostate Cancer

Approximately 1 in 7 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Screening is critical because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. 

More advanced prostate cancers sometimes cause symptoms, such as:

• Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night;
• Blood in the urine or semen;
• Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED);
• Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones;
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord.  

If you have any of these warning signs, do not wait for the free screenings. 

Contact your physician immediately, call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at 203-732-2651 or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.  

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Firefighters to visit children at Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

Registration is not required. The Library is at 65 Wooster St., Shelton.

Artists sought for Ansonia's Holiday Marketplace

Seymour Public Library slates fun activities for children

                          

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Public Library, 46 Church St., has scheduled a variety of educational programs for children and young adults.

11/1, 8 – 10:30 a.m. – Lap sit with Baby –stories and developmental play with your 6-24 month old.

11/2, 9 – 10:30 a.m. – Story hour for 2-5 year olds - Stories, games, songs and a craft.

11/2 - 4 p.m. – StoryKids’ Book Club for K-Grade 2.  Book talks, craft and a snack - Child must have some reading ability.

11/7 - 10:30 a.m. – Science Snoopers ‘Turkey Time’ – Natural science, story, and craft for ages 2 and up. Must be able to sit and listen.

11/8 - 4 p.m. Nutmeggers’ YA Book Club for Grades 5-8. Book talk, craft and a snack - features the Intermediate Nutmeg Nominees.

11/9 – 4 p.m. – BookChatters’ Book Club for Grades 2-4. Book talk, craft and a snack - features the Magic Tree House Series 

11/14 – 10:30 a.m.- Lynn Lewis - Music and Movement for ages 0-6. A fun time for everyone!

11/16 – 4 p.m. - ‘The Club’ book club for Grades 8 and up. Teen advisory - Book talk, snacks and more.

11/17 and 18 – All day!  Drop In Craft Table - make a great Thanksgiving craft!

All programs are free! fun! and formative!

Some programs have limited enrollment; registration is required for all.

For information call 203-888-3903, visit us on Facebook or visit us at www.seymourpubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Ann B. Szaley, Head of Children's Services, Seymour Public Library.

Shopping night slated at Chatfield-LoPresti School in Seymour

Klarides-Ditria lauds passage of state budget

Dear Neighbors,

After 117 days, the Connecticut General Assembly has passed another bipartisan budget, this time by a wide 126-23 margin in the House of Representatives and a 33-3 margin in the state Senate. 

I supported this broad, bipartisan agreement, and the large majority of votes from both parties indicates the likelihood of a veto override if the Governor once again vetoes the budget.

We were able to close a massive $3.5 billion deficit with only about 1 percemt of total revenue resulting from tax and fee policy changes. 

Although the SEBAC union agreement approved by the majority party in July deeply constrained our abilities to reduce spending, we were able to reduce non-contractual spending in many areas of the budget while protecting services for those most vulnerable in our community, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, working families, and seniors. 

The budget also reduces overall bond authorizations, helping to control debt service spending for years to come.

Importantly, the budget features a variety of long-lasting spending constraints:

• Finally after 25+ years, it implements an effective constitutional cap on state spending;
• An annual bonding cap of $1.9 billion in borrowing, a half billion less than what Governor Malloy approved to put on the state's credit card last year;
• A revenue cap that prevents the state from spending all the money it expects to take in annually;
• A volatility cap that will automatically send any excess revenue to the Budget Reserve Fund and help fund pension and debt service liabilities.

The budget also provides for tax relief by phasing in tax reductions for Social Security income, pension, and annuity income, and gift and estate taxes for many residents across our state.

Additionally, this budget does not include the large tax increases that were previously proposed by Gov. Malloy and the majority party, including proposed hikes to the income tax, sales tax, and hotel tax or new taxes on cell phone bills, homeowners insurance polices, restaurants, or investment properties. 
It also does not eliminate the car tax as once proposed.

As with any budget, however, it is not perfect. There are minimal revenue increases, reductions to energy efficiency programs, and greater contributions by teachers towards their pensions, which will go to their pensions - Not the General Fund. I do, however, feel that the good achieved by this budget far outweighs the tough decisions made to help balance it.

For more information on the bipartisan budget, visit cthousegop.com/budget.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach me at 860-240-8700 or Nicole-Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov.

Sincerely,

State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria 

Recuperation journey: Rehab starts

On Tuesday Cameron met for the first time with a physical therapist at Griffin Hospital. 

We both thought the initial evaluation was extremely thorough. I'm so pleased he is able to have his rehabilitation from his hip surgery there. 

Small steps - literally - on his journey back to his normal self.