Reminder: Derby Historical Society to meet Sunday

DERBY - The Derby Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church, 137 Derby Ave. 
Snow date is March 22. 

It will begin with a brief business portion to elect new officers and members of the Board of Directors, and an awards presentation.   

Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

There will be a presentation regarding the restoration project of the Gen. David Humphreys House and Museum, located at 37 Elm St., Ansonia.  
Albert Misiewicz, Jr., DHS Building Committee Chair and John Poole, DHS Project Manager will discuss the project and proposed plan of action along with Mason Lord of Hudson Valley Preservation.

Membership renewals will be accepted at the door. Anyone interested in becoming a member is welcome to attend this meeting.

Refreshments will be served. 
For information call 203-735-1908 or info@derbyhistorical.org.

This is a press release from the Derby Historical Society, a regional historical society dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and celebrating the rich and varied history of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 
The Derby Historical Society welcomes all visitors and is also available to support researchers, school or other program needs.  
Staff offices are located at the Sarah Riggs Humphreys House, 37 Elm St., Ansonia. 

For more information, visit www.derbyhistorical.org  

Junior Honor Society inductees at Derby school applauded

St. Mary - St. Michael School in Derby inducted new members into the National Junior Honor Society today in St. Mary Church. The Honor Society members are pictured in the sanctuary with Linda Coppola, principal, the Rev. Janusz Kukulka, pastor, and Matthew Loman, faculty advisor. Newly inducted members are Aryanna Ryan, Michael Rizzitelli, Shannon Cobaugh, Emily Tokash, and Isabella Tufaro. / Contributed photo

School in Ansonia to stage 'Beauty and the Beast'

Save the date!  

'Hamlet: The Bad Quarto' on tap March 12 in Shelton

SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival continues its “Shakespeare in the Bar” series at 7 p.m. March 12 at Porky’s Café, 50 Center St. with “Hamlet: The Bad Quarto.”

Most everyone knows Shakespeare’s iconic story of “Hamlet”, the tragic prince of Denmark, but few know the “Bad Quarto” version, or even what that designation means. Its significance has been debated for centuries, but Tom Simonetti, VSF’s Executive and Artistic Director, explains it this way:

“The ‘Bad Quarto’ may have been Shakespeare’s first draft of the play, or it may have been a pared down version for touring purposes, or it may have even been a pirated version. It is definitely shorter than the one we know and love, and audiences will see some exciting changes in the characters’ famous speeches, their allegiances and even in their names. It will definitely keep them on their toes!”

Despite these noticeable differences, the basic story of the play remains the same.

And although it is categorized as a Shakespearean tragedy, some of the changes have often left audiences laughing out loud. 

Simonetti concludes, “All great tragedy is a comedy in the end.”

Previous VSF “Shakespeare in the Bar” performances include last year’s “Macbeth” in March and their wildly successful Halloween adaptation of “Titus Andronicus” in October.

Tickets and reservations for the performance are on sale at VSF’s website, www.vsfestival.org or by calling 203-513-9446. 

The event will take place in the Café’s intimate upper-level bar venue and will begin at 6:15 p.m. with free pizza, courtesy of Porky’s.  

Admission is $10 per person in advance, $15 at the door and includes performance and pizza. 

Space is limited; advance purchase is recommended.


This is a press release from the Valley Shakespeare Festival, a non-profit theater company, fiscally-sponsored by Fractured Atlas, dedicated to bringing free Shakespeare to the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

Nonprofit in Derby seeks donations of clothing, housewares, toys, more

DERBY - St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands of the Valley Thrift Shop and Food Bank, needs donations.

The shop especially needs bric-a-brac, housewares, toys and domestics, and clothing for adults and kids.

Donations can be dropped off Monday - Saturday between the hours of 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., or clothing items can be placed in the red bin on site.

The shop is at 237 Roosevelt Drive.



This post is taken from a release from Cindy Barbian, thrift shop manager.

New principal named for Derby Middle School

DERBY - The  Board of Education Wednesday voted to appoint William Vitelli, 46, principal of Derby Middle School.

Read the story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Seymour Pink founder to receive award from alma mater

Mary Deming of Seymour

Congratulations go out to Seymour resident Mary Deming, the founder of Seymour Pink, Inc. on being selected for a much-deserved honor.

The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford today announced it will honor Mary McEnerney Deming ‘72 with a 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Deming will be recognized for her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the community at an awards dinner April 17 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Hartford.

A welcome reception will be held from 6-7 p.m., followed by dinner and an award program.

Deming is president of Seymour Pink, a non-profit organization she founded in 2009 in memory of her mother, Theodosia McEnerney, who died from breast cancer.

Deming, a retired Seymour High School biology teacher, organized a town-wide event, Seymour Pink Day, successfully raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for breast cancer awareness.

In September Seymour Pink opened a gift shop, with all proceeds going to the nonprofit organization.

Deming will receive the Business and Entrepreneurial Award for “developing an opportunity into a successful business or organization, and demonstrating the ability to cultivate a positive and successful image.”

Deming said, "The irony of receiving this very humbling award is that if it weren't for the foundation of Christian values and deep sense of service to others that USJ nurtured in me, Seymour Pink, Inc., might not have been founded, and I would not be receiving this award. So this award belongs to the University of Saint Joseph and I will always be indebted to the University."

Deming earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Saint Joseph. She will be among five USJ alumni honored this year for achievements in their professional careers and community service.

To attend the Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner, contact the USJ Alumni Relations Office at alumni@usj.edu or 860-231-5323.



This post is taken from a press release from the University of Saint Joseph.