Rehab team, patients at Shelton facility mark nursing home week

Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center at Wesley Village staff pose for a photo while celebrating National Nursing Home Week. / Contributed photo

SHELTON - Staff, residents, and patients at Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center celebrated National Nursing Home Week, May 10-16. 

The Bishop Wicke team organized a week’s worth of fun activities and events to inspire staff and residents and acknowledge the difference they make in each other’s lives. 

Festivities were focused around the theme, “Bring on the Fiesta!” and featured a staff appreciation breakfast, a hat day and open mic event, a photo booth, trivia contests, a game day, a pot luck luncheon, a taco day, and a spring renewal event which was coordinated with the entire Wesley Village Campus. 

Staff were encouraged to express their appreciation to their peers and recognize those who exemplify the community’s core values of respect, spirituality, excellence, collaboration, and stewardship. 

Family members and volunteers were also invited to join in for the celebrations, which culminated with a fiesta day at the end of the week.

Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center is located on the Wesley Village Campus at 584 Long Hill Ave. 

For more information about this five-star, award-winning skilled nursing and rehab center, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or call 203-929-5321.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes. 

Valley Arts Council prez pens post that touches many readers

Do unto others ...
DERBY - Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo wrote on Facebook about an experience he had Friday at the Gallery @ 37.

His post and photo reprinted with permission below got many Facebook likes. 

That man way down at the corner is Joe, a widower, veteran, and a gentle soul who strolled into the gallery to admire a cat painting that Johnny had on display in the gallery sidewalk sale.

He told me all about his kitten and the joy it brought into his life and how he now can't wait to get home. He looked at the painting and told me how one of the kittens looks just like his friend ... I told him it was only fifteen dollars... He said he couldn't afford it so he walked away ... He got two doors down ... 

'Hey Joe!' I called. He walked back. I handed him the painting and told him 'you forgot your painting.'
Every once in a while...little things take precedence ... Yeah our lights are out and the arts council needs the money... [but] there are many things in life more important than the money."

I wonder if UI knows that.

Derby poets win plaudits

Students' work to be published

Submitted photo

DERBY - The following Bradley School students from teacher Anna Van Wyck's third grade class wrote poetry that will be published in the 2015 Edition of A Celebration of Poets. 

Only selected student entries throughout the U.S. are chosen for publication. The purpose of this contest in is to inspire young writers in their creative abilities. 

Congratulations to the following students whose Haiku poems were chosen: 
Gabriela Barrios, Sindy Barrios, Sabrina Beck, Christopher Castellini, Margarita Clark, Nyasia Davis, Alexander Lawrence, Xavion Manrique, Connor McKenna, Syna Patel, Eric Pemberton, Lucinda Riberio, Robert Rogucki, Jocelyn Schietinger, Jacqueline Voss, Trevor Worobel, Gabe Wyszkowski. Missing from photo, Eric Pemberton.


This is a press release from Bradley School teacher Anna Van Wyck.

Colonial coins topic of Seymour Historical Society program

Seymour Historical Society (Historicbuildingsct.com photo)

SEYMOUR - Few of us can remember when Lincoln’s portrait wasn’t on the penny or Franklin Roosevelt on the dime.

But coins used in America have evolved dramatically over the centuries, and the changing nature of American metal currency will be the focus of a Seymour Historical Society program at 2 p.m. May 31.

From 1620 to 1776, colonists were forced to rely on numerous European coins and denominations. Nearly all foreign coins were accepted for purchases.

Even after the United States Mint was established in 1792, the Spanish dollar circulated in this country until just before the Civil War.

In this program, Bob Fortin, Natalie Johnson, Kayla Johnson, aided by expert analysis from Ed Zehall, of Valley Coins of Seymour, will display and discuss coins from the 1600s until modern times.

The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West St., near Trinity Episcopal Church.
The program is free to Seymour Historical Society members, $5 for non-members.
Doors open at 1 p.m.

For more information, call 203-881-2156, contact psussman@snet.net, or visit www.seymourhistoricalsociety.org.


This is a press release from Paul Sussman, historical society member.

Seymour Pink planning 4th annual 5K

Valley Community Foundation: Gifts grew 51 percent over '14

DERBY – The Valley Community Foundation announced Friday the number of gifts made by Valley residents and employees during The Great Give® 2015 increased by 51 percent over 2014.

The information was shared during a celebratory Ice Cream Social Thursday at which VCF also announced winners of the VCF Great Give Grand Prizes for attracting the greatest number of donors who live or work in the Valley (Valley Independent Sentinel, $2,000) and attracting the greatest number of new donors who live or work in the Valley (Shelton High School Education Fund, $2,000).

“We couldn’t be more thrilled at the response of Valley residents and workers who came out in strong support of local nonprofits during The Great Give 2015. A 51 percent increase over last year in the number of gifts underscores that the Valley is a philanthropic region and its people know the importance of giving locally in a global world where so many charitable options abound,” said Sharon Closius, President & CEO of the Valley Community Foundation.

Outreach was creative
“Organizations were particularly creative this year in their outreach, which included a 36-hour live webcast hosted by the Valley Independent Sentinel and a collaborative Valley Great Give video that is available on the VCF website.”

Overall, a 43 percent increase in giving from Valley residents and employees, combined with matching grants and prizes, resulted in nearly $230,000 in Valley-related giving.

The Valley nonprofits raising the most dollars were: 
Center Stage Theatre, who also won a second place Grand Prize from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven for attracting the most donors, Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley, BHcare, TEAM, and Griffin Hospital. 
In addition to Center Stage Theatre and TEAM, organizations receiving the most gifts were Valley Independent Sentinel, Seymour Pink and the Shelton High School Robotics Team.

Also announced at the Ice Cream Social were the winners of special prizes awarded by VCF throughout The Great Give® including the Rifkin Family Fund Home Stretch Prize to Boy Scouts of America Housatonic Council, Valley Independent Sentinel and Center Stage Theatre. 
VCF Early Bird Prizes were awarded to Center Stage Theatre and Seymour Pink. A Cinco de Mayo Prize was awarded to the Valley Independent Sentinel and a VCF Golden Ticket to TEAM.

The Great Give® 2015 generated $1,291,096 including matching funds and prizes, for nonprofits working in the 20-town area served by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which includes the VCF’s five-town region.

There were more than 7,000 donors who gave 9,611 gifts. 
To see all participating nonprofits and prize information, visit www.thegreatgive.org.

About the Valley Community Foundation
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grant-making, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

To learn how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, visit www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President & CEO, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162. 
Find VCF on Facebook or follow VCF on Twitter.


This a press release from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. 

Veterans Resource Fair slated Saturday in Shelton