Vigil in Shelton to honor survivors, remember victims

SHELTON - The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence affects all ages, races, socioeconomic, educational, religious, and occupational segments of society.

Every nine seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S.
One in four women and one in seven men in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

In an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence, BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will hold a vigil to honor and remember survivors and victims of domestic violence.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Gazebo at Huntington Center Green.

A special welcome will be given by Mayor Mark Lauretti and Attorney Paul Garlinghouse will be the keynote speaker.

The vigil will also include an invocation by Monsignor Robert Weiss, St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, recognition of law enforcement officials, and a survivor testimony.

For information about the vigil or about domestic violence services call 203-736-2601 ext. 1381, or visitwww.bhcare.org.


This is a press release from The Umbrella, a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, more than 7,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help, and hope.
Learn more at bhcare.org.

Derby Library slates book sale, sports talk, women's series

DERBY - Calling all readers!

The Derby Public Library is planning its Annual Fall Book Sale.
It will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 4, and from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7.

Shoppers are invited to fill a bag for $5.
Bags will be provided.

Adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, magazines, videos, DVDs, and audio materials will be available.

Talkin' sports

The Library is in its ninth season of hosting the very popular Sports Talk series at 10 a.m. every Thursday.

These informal sessions meet throughout the baseball season. Rich Marazzi, author and
Major League Baseball Rules consultant, facilitates.

Each session includes trivia contests, videos, lively conversation and more.
All ages, rookies through veterans, are invited to join Rich and his group of Silver Sluggers.

No registration is necessary.


Just for Women


The Library continues its program series, Just for Women, at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

The next session will be held Oct. 6.

These sessions offer women an informal opportunity to come together to learn how to
enhance the quality of their lifestyle, share challenges and joys with other women,
provide support to one another, spend time with old friends, and make new ones.

The series is facilitated by Valley resident Joan Joyce. She is a licensed professional
counselor in the State of Connecticut, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a
Certified Senior Advisor.

Scientific studies show that an integral component of achieving and maintaining optimal
health and well being includes having a strong social support network.

All women, ages 18 and over, are invited to join this new and vital group.
Registration is requested; walk-ins are also welcome.

For information on any programs stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.


This post is taken from a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Ground broken for O'Brien Tech renovations in Ansonia

Superintendent of Connecticut Technical High School System Nivea Torres Monday addresses the crowd at a ceremonial groundbreaking for additions and renovations to the school in Ansonia. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman is seated at right.


ANSONIA - Emmett O'Brien Technical High School is being transformed.

Construction started in May, and on Monday morning state education officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking to kick off the $94.3-million project.

Murphy to address TEAM annual meeting in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s youngest U.S. Senator, Christopher Murphy, will address the 49th Annual Meeting of TEAM Inc. 

The breakfast event will be held Oct. 10 at Grassy Hill Lodge, 77 Sodom Lane.

Registration is at 7:45  a.m.; the meeting will end at 9:30 a.m.
The public is invited to attend.  Cost is $35. 
Reservations are required by Friday;  RSVP Silvia Paytas at 736-5420, ext. 202 or spaytas@teaminc.org. 

Murphy’s support for programs that help area residents battle the impact of poverty will be recognized with TEAM’s Chairman’s Award. 
Two other award recognitions are planned.  
The Echo Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Shelton will receive the 2014 Partnership Award for its extraordinary coordination of the response to January’s Howe Avenue fire that left 23 households homeless. 
Julie Penry, retiring Director of the Shelton Youth Services Bureau, will receive the Lillian Chrostwoski Award for her extraordinary work developing programs for community teens and youth.

This is TEAM’s 49^th Annual Meeting and 2014 marks the 50^th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s initiation of his Great Society program, a campaign to combat poverty. 
Known also as the beginning of the War on Poverty, the effort created legislation to assist economically vulnerable families. 
Those programs – Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Head Start – form the backbone of today’s federal safety net for families.

The meeting is also the final one for TEAM President & CEO Richard Knoll, who will retire at the end of the year after 34 years of service. 
The new President & CEO will be introduced by the Board of Directors at the meeting. 

      

This is a press release from TEAM Inc., a private, 501c (3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to connect individuals and families with solutions that lead to well-being, self-sufficiency and full participation in the community.  
It aims to achieve its mission by conducting activities that address the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and families including resource mobilization, education, advocacy and service delivery. 
TEAM programs serve the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Shelton, Seymour and Woodbridge. 

Construction now 'official' at O'Brien Tech in Ansonia

Shovels were lined up and ready for a ceremonial groundbreaking held this morning for a $94.3 million construction project at Emmett O'Brien Technical High School in Ansonia. The project includes additions and renovations to the school at 141 Prindle Ave.


Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Art show slated Thursday in Derby

Wheel-A-Thon makes waves in West Haven

WEST HAVEN - It was a beautiful morning Saturday for the Center for Disability Rights' 9th annual Wheel-A-Thon to benefit youth with disabilities. 

CDR's catchment area includes the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 

Wheelchairs were available for able-bodied participants to use to better understand what it's like to be in a wheelchair.

Don't let this lonely-looking yet scenic photo fool you. About 150 enthusiastic supporters walked and rolled a one-mile course along the shoreline. 

Sandy's Steamrollers, led by CDR staffer Sandy Roberts (in wheelchair), show their enthusiasm at the end of the walk. They tied for most spirit with a team of employees from N&D Sports of Hamden, pictured below at the awards ceremony.

N&D sports donated the white CDR T-shirts for the event.

These walkers are nearing the end of the route. Savin Rock is at left.