Recuperation journey: Sunday sunset

 
My backyard view at 6:48 p.m.

Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 to hold annual scavenger hunt in Valley

It's time for the return of Beacon Hose's annual scavenger hunt!

The Beacon Hose “Kickin' It Old School” Scavenger Hunt is set for Oct. 24, from 3:15-8:30 p.m. 

The hunt begins and ends at Beacon Hose, and we'll have food (to-go this year, thanks to COVID-19) and prizes at stake. 

Here's the key information, including our modifications to this year's event to keep everyone safe during the pandemic:

-- The entry fee is $20 per player (which goes toward our fundraiser, costs of planning the hunt, food, and prizes).

-- Teams can consist of as many players as you can LEGALLY fit into ONE vehicle. Drivers must obey all rules of the road. You’ll need a team captain and a team name (the name can be chosen now or at day-of registration). If all team members dress up as a team theme, you’ll get extra points. (Remember our overall theme -- make it a throwback!)

-- The scavenger hunt will take teams through the Naugatuck Valley. Towns MAY include Beacon Falls, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, Prospect, Ansonia, and Derby.

-- All the additional rules and your scavenger hunt list will be provided when the competition begins. Please arrive at the firehouse by 3:15 p.m. to register, sign in your entire team, get your to-go food bags, and finally receive your clues. The hunt will begin at 4 p.m. sharp, and all teams must be back at the firehouse by 8 p.m. sharp!

-- Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, we will only allow ONE team captain from each team to enter the firehouse for registration, payment, and check-in. Check-in will be different this year as most submissions will be in photo or video form (except the trinkets you'll pick up at each secret location). 

Teams must exercise social distancing between other teams and all players should have masks when needed.

We ask that team captains pre-register their teams by using the form on our website or by messaging us on Facebook. We will limit the field to the first 24 teams that enter ... so don't wait too long.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

FB memory from this day 5 years ago at West Haven boardwalk

 

We were participating in the West Haven-based Center for Disability Rights' wheel-a-thon fundraiser held each year at Savin Rock.

Facebook memory features 'Turnback Tuesday' in Derby from 3 years ago today

 

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features Derby's early newspapers. 

The Derby Journal was the city's first paper and began publication in 1846 with the office located on 139 Main Street. 

During its time, The Journal underwent several name changes including The Derby Transcript in 1867. The paper again changed its name in 1889 to The Evening Transcript.

Eventually the company was shut down in 1902, leaving The Evening Sentinel as the Valley's only local newspaper until that, too, folded in 1992. This image was taken in the mid to late '60s. 

The building still remains and fortunately, Derby Public Library has most of The Evening Transcript available on microfilm from 1848 - 1890.

This is shared from the Derby Public Library.

Rochelle shares information about winter heating assistance

The days are beginning to cool down and soon the cold months of winter will be approaching. During the current economic conditions, many residents across the state may be questioning how they will pay their heating bills. There are several options for those who may need extra support this season. The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is now open at community action agencies. This program is designed to help offset the winter heating costs of Connecticut's lower income households and is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant. Please click here for additional information. This program is administered by the Department of Social Services, and coordinated by regional Community Action Agencies, in cooperation with municipal and other non-profit human service agencies. For additional information about programs and services provided by CT Community Action Agencies, please click here. Ansonia and Derby residents in need of assistance can apply for the program through TEAM, Inc., here. Operation Fuel, our country's oldest fuel bank, is also a great resource to help residents with their home heating costs and helps families avoid heat, electric, and water shutoffs, year-round through one-time energy assistance and home system repair and replacement grants. To help families affected by the ongoing pandemic, Operation Fuel has increased its grant awards and adjusted eligibility guidelines. Click here to learn more about Operation Fuel or apply for direct assistance. Anyone with questions can email opfuelapplications@operationfuel.org or call 860-243-2345. You may also contact 2-1-1, United Way or the DSS Office of Community Services at 1-800-842-1132 for more information. This is shared from a press release from Rochelle's office.

Rochelle urges residents to respond to census, shares lost wages assistance

 

Friends and Neighbors,

There are 12 days left before data collection for the 2020 Census wraps up, which means there is still time for you to respond to it online, by phone, or by mail.
An incomplete count could affect our community for a decade. 

Residents of Ansonia and Derby would miss out on vital funding for our schools, hospitals, nonprofits, roads and private job growth. 
You can learn more and fill out the Census here.

Lost Wages Assistance

This week, 250,000 unemployed workers in Connecticut became eligible to receive another $300 a week as part of the federal disaster aid program. Existing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants have already self-certified and do not need to do anything to receive the additional benefit. New unemployment claimants and existing state and extended benefits claimants who are required to self-certify will be notified by letter or email that they are eligible and may self-certify when the program is open. To self-certify: Log into your unemployment account - the account main page offers a new option in the menu “Certify for Lost Wages Assistance.” Once you have clicked on the button, a new screen will ask you to certify your unemployment or underemployment is due to COVID-19. You may then then confirm submission and complete the process. Federal eligibility guidelines include: Recipients of at least $100 per week, including the dependency allowance, of any of the following benefits for the week they are seeking unemployment benefits; Claimants receiving unemployment compensation, including state and federal workers and former service members, as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits, or High Extended Benefits;   Claimants who are part of the Shared Work Program; and Workers with a Trade Readjustment Allowance. A total of six weeks of Lost Wages Assistance will be paid in addition to regular unemployment benefits and will be retroactive to the claim week beginning July 26, 2020.  Claimants will receive the supplemental benefit in several payments.  The first payment of $300 will be disbursed to claimants beginning Sept. 17 with the remainder of retroactive payments following in two or three separate payments. The CT Department of Labor will continue to release updates as they become available on the CTDOL Federal Supplements webpage and send them directly to anyone who signs up for “Info to your Inbox” on the agency’s homepage. This is taken from a press release from Rochelle's office.

Klarides-Ditria provides information on Operation Fuel heating assistance

Dear Neighbors,

The days are already getting shorter and colder, and I am sure given our current situation there are folks out there who are concerned about heating their homes this fall and winter. I wanted to let you know that Operation Fuel, the oldest fuel bank in the country, can provide assistance to those in need.

Operation Fuel provides year-round emergency assistance to help families avoid heat, electricity, and water shutoffs. 

They also provide help:

To reach to as many families as possible affected by COVID-19, Operation Fuel increased their grant awards and modified their eligibility guidelines.

• Home System Repair & Replacement to help lower-income homeowners reduce energy bills by repairing or replacing older furnaces, boilers, and water heaters;
• Homelessness Intervention & Prevention helps to prevent and eliminate homelessness that results from unaffordable home energy costsIf you or anyone you know is struggling to pay their heating, electricity, or water bill, or need help with deliverable fuel, please reach out.

They have launched an online portal so clients can apply directly for assistance. 

Learn more and apply today here. If you have any questions, you can contact opfuelapplications@operationfuel.org or call (860) 243-2345.

Please share this information with anyone in need, and feel free to reach out to me with any other concerns.


Sincerely,