Hear ye! Hear ye! Summer in Ansonia to feature market place, music

Eat pizza for a good cause at Seymour restaurant

SEYMOUR - A pizza-eating contest to raise funds for research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer will be held at noon Wednesday at Zois Pizza, 48 Main St.  

The event will also serve to raise awareness about the disease.

Read all about it in the release posted here in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Griffin Hospital in Derby recognizes volunteers, awards scholarships

Griffin Hospital Volunteer Scholarship winners are from left, Hatice Bolat, of Ansonia, David Wojtowiz Jr. and Alec Shackett of Seymour, and Emily Juliano and Brandon Olson of Shelton. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital honored a large gathering of volunteers who selflessly gave their time and talents to the hospital in 2014 at its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at Grassy Hill Lodge.

A total of 450 Griffin Hospital volunteers logged more than 40,000 hours last year while serving as ambassadors, bakers, shuttle drivers, room service, soft touch massage therapists, writers of vital patient stories and many more roles that benefitted hospital patients, visitors and staff.

“Volunteers are truly the lifeblood of Griffin Hospital,” said Diane Betkoski, director of Planetree Services. “They give of themselves freely to help the hospital remain committed to its mission of providing high-quality, safe, and patient-centered care. We cannot thank them enough for their care and concern for their community.”

Students honored

Griffin Hospital also awarded its annual scholarships of $1,500 and $1,000 to high school volunteers going on to college next school year.

This year’s winners are Hatice Bolat, of Ansonia, David Wojtowiz Jr. and Alec Shackett, both of Seymour, and Emily Juliano and Brandon Olson, both of Shelton.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby posts honor roll

DERBY - St. Mary-St. Michael School Principal Linda Coppola has announced the honor roll for the fourth marking period.

Grade 4 – High Honors – Matthew Capiral, Selena Hescock

Grade 4 – Honors – Sibe Doci, Emily Foley, Jenna LaBranche, Anton Rusu, Jacob Weiler

Grade 5 – Honors – Jacob Calderon, Tennyson Delos, Theresa Joseph, Rosa Rizzitelli, Max Shuart, Brandon Sibilia, Brooke Sobolisky, Joseph Wasfi, Emilia Wypasek

Grade 6 – High Honors – Theresa Kardos, Cassidy McNeil

Grade 6 – Honors – Maria Ahmed, Dylan Bellinger, Bridget Calderon, Nico D’Ambrosio, Isabella Hescock, Aryanna Ryan, Daria Wakulczyk

Grade 7 – High Honors – Elizabeth DeCrisanti, Gabriela Soriano, Sofia Soriano, Joanna Wypasek

Grade 7 – Honors – Joshua Celentano,  Kinga Cieslik, Samantha Muncy

Grade 8 – High Honors – Emily Lucke, Alexis Pudimat, Michael Rizzitelli, Alexys Ryan, Emily Tokash, Shirley Torres

Grade 8 – Honors – Genesis Brito, Cristina Carloni, Maja Cuprys, Makayla Naranjo, Igor Poliwoda, Isabella Tufaro


This is a press release from the school.

Congratulations to all the students on their academic achievements!

Derby Public Library to host water color workshops

DERBY - The Derby Public Library will host two Water Color Painting Workshops at 6:30 p.m. Mondays, July 20 and 27.

Ages 18 and over are invited to enjoy these unforgettable workshops with friends, fun, and fabulous art.   
Participants will go home with new friends, great memories, and a newly-created masterpiece that will show off your “inner-artist.”  
No experience?  No problem!  

Local artist Rich DiCarlo, president of the Valley Arts Council, will guide you step-by-step on this creative journey

as you learn the ins and outs of creating your own water color painting.  

No previous artistic experience necessary – great for beginners or seasoned professionals.  
Bring along a friend. Snacks will be provided. 
It is promised to be a surprisingly easy and fun way to spend an evening!

Registration is required.  

For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 or visit

www.derbypubliclibrary.org.    


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

Summer concerts slated at corporate park in Shelton

SHELTON - R.D. Scinto presents the Summer Concert Series with two Happy Hour at the Towers events. 

The first event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the Corporate Park fountain area. The second will be held on July 30, same time/same place. Attendance is open to the public. 

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Six food trucks, including Taco Pacifico, Super Duper Weenie, Fryborg, Tipsy Cone, The Melt Mobile, and Old World pizza truck. There will also be beer and wine served by Il Palio and free live entertainment by Mystic Bowie (June).
Additionally, there is more information coming regarding a large Carnival, with 100 percent proceeds being donated to local charities, to be held on Sept. 26.

Thanks to Bob Scinto and his focus on his tenants, it is events like these that help to build on the special Enterprise Corporate park community that has developed over the years.

For additional information, look for the Facebook event at Facebook.com/RDScintoInc or call the main number, 203-929-6300. 

If you would like to receive the monthly Enterprise Corporate Park Newsletter via email, send your address to Newsletter@Scinto.com.

This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the New Haven Foundation.

Wesley Village in Shelton to debut Music & Memory program

Staff and volunteers from Wesley Village complete training and instruction for Music & Memory, a personalized, therapeutic music program being introduced on the campus this summer./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Beginning this summer, individuals struggling from dementia and other cognitive and physical impairments will now have the opportunity to reconnect with family, friends, and caregivers through Music & Memory, a personalized digital music program to be offered on the Wesley Village Campus.

“Sincere thanks to the Valley Community Foundation for making this new program possible with the help of a $4,700 grant,” says Carlene Rhea, Director of Mission Development. 

“This grant enables our senior care campus to purchase iPods and other technology needed for music collection and storage and costs associated with staff training and instruction.” 

Rooted in extensive neuroscience research, the Music & Memory approach involves training care professionals to set up personalized music playlists, delivered on iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care. These musical favorites can then tap deep memories not lost to dementia, which enable patients and residents to converse, socialize, stay present, and feel like themselves again.

After completing three days of training with staff and volunteers, Wesley Village is the first Music & Memory Certified Care Facility in the Valley and one of only a few in the State of Connecticut. The Music & Memory program will be implemented first at their new Lifestyle Transitions memory care neighborhood on the campus and then in the Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center.  

For more information about Music & Memory and the life-changing benefits of personalized therapeutic music, visit www.musicandmemory.org.

About Wesley Village:

Wesley Village is a campus of senior care communities including Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Assisted and Independent Living Apartments and Cottages, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care at Wesley Heights, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 
The campus is owned and operated by UMH, a local, faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community and is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson, 203-225-5024.

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 grantmaking, 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, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.