Griffin Health's Valley Soul gospel choir seeks volunteer singers

Griffin Health is seeking volunteer singers of all skill levels to join the Valley Soul community choir.

Griffin Health is once again assembling a gospel choir of volunteer singers to bring some live holiday “soul” to the Naugatuck Valley this winter.

Under the direction of Angela Clemmons, a chart-topping vocalist who has captivated audiences for more than 40 years and director of the acclaimed “Shoreline Soul” performances in Madison, volunteers for the Valley Soul community choir will have six, two-hour workshops, culminating in a concert of traditional and contemporary gospel and holiday music on Dec. 12 at Church of The Good Shepherd in Seymour.

In addition to providing an inspiring and uplifting performance, the Valley Soul choir aims to bring together individuals from churches and organizations throughout the area to help build and strengthen partnerships that will improve the health of the region.

The training workshops will be Wednesdays, Sept. 18, Oct. 2, 16, and 30, Nov. 13, and Dec. 4 from 6:45-8:45 p.m. at Church of The Good Shepherd. Although the workshop is primarily for adults, youth who are able to follow a lyric sheet are welcome to participate.

Space in the choir is limited and early registration is encouraged. 

Sign up online at griffinhealth.org/valley-soul. Registration before Sept. 5 is $20 and $25 if received later. 

“Our weekly sessions are upbeat, fun and very user-friendly,” Clemmons said. “No one needs to know how to read music. All songs are taught by ear and everyone is given vocal guide tracks. It’s amazing how much the choir learns and how confident they become in six short weeks, particularly when many have never sung gospel before.”

Valley Soul is sponsored by the President’s Fund at Griffin Hospital as a thank you to Griffin’s sponsors and the community, and as a celebration of Griffin’s family of employees, medical staff, volunteers, corporators, and trustees for their dedication, compassion and expertise.

For more information about Valley Soul, contact Lisa Nista at 203-732-7384 or Lnista@griffinhealth.org.

About Angela Clemmons

Soul in the Valley Director Angela Clemmons has been a professional singer for over 40 years.  As a background singer, she worked with Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Elton John, among many others. Her voice could be heard on TV and radio jingles for Burger King, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Coke, KFC, Slim Fast and many more. She did two albums for CBS Records, which included the #4 disco hit “Give Me Just a Little More Time”. 

Angela spent 2013 touring with the Rascals (“It’s a Beautiful Morning,” “Groovin’”) as part of the “Rascals: Once Upon a Dream” show, performing on Broadway and theaters all over the US and Canada. TV appearances include The View, The Tony Awards, Saturday Night Live, and others. Angela, mother of two, resides in Westbrook with her husband.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Ansonia Police ask public's assistance in locating teen

Kailey Berrio

 

The Ansonia Police Department is looking for the public's assistance in locating 15 year-old Kailey Berrio, who ran away from home. 

She is 5’ 7”, 150 pounds, with blue eyes and red hair, Berrio was last seen wearing black glasses, a black shirt, and grey shorts. 

If you have seen Berrio or have any information on her whereabouts please contact the Ansonia Police Department at 203-735-1885 or tips can be left anonymously through Tip411 at https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553

This was posted Thursday on the Ansonia Police
Department Facebook page. Hoping she is found soon!

Recuperation journey 2.0: Looking at the sky

 

Two views of Wednesday evening's sky taken four hours apart.

Wildfires in Canada and the western U.S. bring smoky haze and unhealthy air quality but they do create interesting colors in the sky.

Derby Neck Library to celebrate summer today with fun for all ages

Join us today, Aug. 15 from 1-7 p.m. for games, prizes, raffles, pizza, popcorn, ice cream, cotton candy, DIY activities for kids (slime! unpoppable bubbles!) and adults (customized book totes!), and a dunk tank for you to Soak the Staff!

The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Posted on this date in 2015

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Ebenezer Johnson's house.

It was located on New Haven Avenue near Sodom Lane. Johnson was one of the early settlers of Derby, having moved here in 1667.

In 1685, he was made Lieutenant of the Derby Train Band, a military training facility for local citizens to prepare them for "Indian problems." And in 1675 when the United Colonies of New England declared war on the Narragansett Indians, Johnson was a prominent fighter.

He became mostly known, however, for his release of Toby, a Native American slave. Ebenezer Johnson died sometime in the mid 1700s.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

Rochelle to meet with constituents Friday at Valley Diner in Derby

 

Oxford Historical Society to host Peach Festival at Great Hill UMC in Seymour

SEYMOUR - The Oxford Historical Society will host its 17th annual Peach Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Road. 

The festival celebrates the Hale-Coleman Peach Farm, once located on Great Hill and Peach Farm Roads. Raising peaches was once a major enterprise in Seymour and Oxford.

Homemade peach shortcake will be featured with fresh peaches and whipped cream plus Rich Farm’s peach ice cream. The fee for admission and one serving of dessert is $8. Bottled water, tea or coffee will also be available.

This year’s Peach Festival will also highlight Oxford’s Russian Village. Located in the steep-sided valley along Eight-Mile Brook and near the Housatonic River, it is named for the many Russians and Ukrainians who fled to the United States after the Russian Revolution in 1917. 

Settling in New York City, they found second homes in Oxford, first spending their summers in Connecticut and then winterizing their ​“dachas” on Loughlin Road, Hemlock Trail, Little Punkup Road, and Roosevelt Drive and becoming permanent residents. This continued as late as the 1970s.

The birch trees, evergreens and tumbling creeks of Oxford reminded these newcomers of the homes they had left behind. Many were highly intelligent and creative Russian-speaking expatriates such as artist Eugene Agafonoff, who continued his painting in his studio on Little Punkup Road. 

Oxford’s ​“Russian House” known at Oltan, the work of Oleg and Tatiana Novosilzof is on the State Register of Historic Sites and many photos of the architecture and artwork will be featured.

All proceeds support the society’s preservation and opening of the historic Mr. Munn’s one-room schoolhouse. 

For additional information call 203-888‑0230.

This is shared from the Oxford Historical Society Facebook page.