Road closures listed in Shelton, Derby for Thanksgiving Day 5K race

The course of the 16th annual Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race runs through the historic downtowns of Derby and Shelton. It starts and finishes along the Shelton Riverwalk.

There will be several road closures while the race is taking place. 

The race begins at the Farmer's Market on Canal Street in Shelton at 8 a.m. It also ends there.

During the race, Canal Street will be closed to traffic from Wharf, Hill, and Cornell Streets. There will be one lane of traffic open on Howe Avenue (Route 110) between Cornell Street and Bridge Street. 

The bridge between Derby and Shelton will be closed. ​

​In Derby, Main Street (Route 34) will be closed between Olivia and Elizabeth Streets, with detours during the race. 

Access to Elizabeth Street from Main Street up to the Derby Public Library at Seymour Avenue will also be limited during the race.

Below is a listing of the affected streets:​

Shelton

Canal Street

Cornell Street

Hill Street

Wharf Street

Howe Avenue

Bridge Street

Derby/Shelton Bridge

​Derby

Main Street at Olivia Street/Roosevelt Drive

Elizabeth Street at Main Street

Elizabeth Street at Third Street

Elizabeth Street at Thompson Place

Elizabeth Street at Fifth Street

Elizabeth Street at Cottage Street

Elizabeth Street at Seymour Avenue/Caroline Street
​
It is anticipated all runners will be off the course by 9 a.m., at which time roads will be reopened to traffic.

​Residents along the race course are asked to please use caution and be aware of runners on the course when pulling into or out of your driveways.


To see a map of the course, click here. 

*Information shared from a Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley site. 

Remember that mystery photo? Location revealed

I posted a mystery photo Nov. 10 and I know from my stats that quite a few readers saw it. 
But I only received one response from a reader who wrote on Google Plus, not in the comments, and I thank him. I always appreciate the feedback!

He was certain I snapped this photo in Shelton but wasn't sure where.

This interesting sculpture sits at the entrance to an office building at 1000 Bridgeport Ave. I noticed it when I was at Dr. Bruce Sofferman's 31st annual Thanksgiving food drive to support Spooner House.

I'll try again to get responses as soon as I find another mystery photo!

Derby Neck Library to host cooking demo, movie, Tech Talks

DERBY - The Derby Neck Library, 307 Hawthorne Ave., will host Chocolate Truffles at the Library, a cooking demonstration led by Maria Brandriff, at 6 p.m. Dec. 12.  
Learn how to prepare these elegant, enticing treats for yourself or your holiday guests - or even as unique gifts. 
Learn about the various types of chocolate and how to work with them. Samples and recipes will be given out free.  
This program is limited to 20 attendees; call early to reserve your seat.

Teen Choice Movie Night

The Library hosts Teen Choice Movie Night at 5 p.m. Dec. 18. 
Come with your friends and select the movie we show on blu-ray and a large screen TV.  

Free movie refreshments will be served, including a pizza dinner at intermission.  Registration is required; seating is limited.  

Tech Talks

On Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m., the Library hosts Tech Talks, a monthly presentation on what is new in technology and how to best use it in your daily life.  

For more information and to register for all programs, call the library, 203-734-1492.

This is a press release from Pat Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.

31 get free prostate cancer screenings at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital recently provided 31 free prostate cancer screenings to help encourage men to get checked for the disease and to increase their  health awareness.

This is the first year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community. 

Participating physicians included Dr. Joseph Cardinale of the Center for Cancer Care, and Drs. Grace Biggs and Joseph Camilleri of Griffin Faculty Practice Urology.

As a result of the screenings, two men were referred for further testing.

Screenings recommended

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 receive be tested at age 40.

If you or someone you know is due for a prostate cancer screening, contact your physician, or call Griffin Faculty Physicians at 1-800-382-0903, or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

For more information about men’s health, including a “check-up list” for screenings, visit Griffin Hospital’s Health Initiative for Men website, griffinhealth.org/him.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Elizabeth, Caroline Streets in Derby

Streets were tree-lined before Dutch Elm Disease hit

This week's Turnback Tuesday photo features a southward view of Elizabeth and Caroline Streets in Derby. 
Derby Public Library is partially obscured behind the rows of elm trees that once lined each street. Having tree-lined streets in neighborhoods was once commonplace throughout the Valley. Unfortunately in 1928, Dutch Elm Disease reached the United States and was one of the most destructive shade tree diseases in North America. 
By the mid-1940s, the disease spread to trees in Connecticut. 
The disease itself is not of Dutch origin, but was so named because early work on the disease was performed by Dutch pathologists. The disease is caused by a fungus that is transmitted by beetles. 
Hundreds of thousands of elms across the U.S. have died due to this disease. 
The good news is that resistant tree strains are starting to improve the elm tree situation. Such a tree exists on Academy Hill and is called a Liberty Elm. 

Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history each week!

Community invited to inauguration Dec. 2 in Derby

Richard Dziekan to be sworn in as city's 31st mayor

Celebrate the season at Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby

DERBY - Are you ready to hear some bel canto? Do you have your libretto?  Well put your opera capes on!  

2015 file photo of museum

It’s time to enjoy “A Holiday at the Opera” at the Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave. and learn about some of the world’s famous operas.  

Holiday tours will run from Friday through Dec. 17. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  
On Fridays, Dec. 1, 8, and 15, from 4-7 p.m., the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to display the shimmering glow of the decorations. 

For more than 30 years, volunteers have created the gorgeous holiday decorations at the museum.  
These talented and committed volunteers are Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Jen Plasky of American Institute of Floral Designers, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.  

This year’s holiday theme will pay tribute to Frances Osborne Kellogg’s love of the opera.  She frequently attended the Metropolitan Opera, and her uncle Henry Krehbiel was a famous music and opera critic.  
As president of the Women’s Club, Frances invited many opera singers, such as Caterina Jarbora, John Brownlee, and Marjorie Lawrence, to perform in Derby.  Because of her love of this musical genre, each room will represent operas seen by Frances and her family and friends.  

Holiday Farm Market

Visitors will also get a chance to support local farms and small businesses at the Holiday Farm Market in the Kellogg Environmental Center located behind the museum.  

The Holiday Farm Market will be held Dec.1 from 4-7 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon.  Choose from a wide variety of products, such as Connecticut Grown produce, meat products, beauty and bath products, scented candles, and more.

Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted.  
Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum are operated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.   

To register for group tours and for more information, call 203-734-2513, email donna.kingston@ct.gov, or visit www.ct.gov/deep/Kellogg.

This is a press release from Connecticut DEEP.