Seymour seeks military personnel addresses for Christmas gifts

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Town Clerk's Office is reminding residents of Seymour to submit the names of servicemen and women in the military.

Their complete service address should be submitted to the Seymour Town Clerk including their Seymour home address and the name of the person submitting the request.

The Town of Seymour would like all Seymour servicemen and women currently serving in the military to receive a Christmas check from the Richard R. Pearson Memorial Fund.

Please submit names as soon as possible to the following address:

Seymour Town Clerk's Office
1 First St.
Seymour, CT. 06483  

School in Derby to host Christmas Bazaar, Breakfast with Santa

DERBY - A Festival of Trees Christmas Bazaar and Breakfast with Santa will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the All-Purpose room at St. Mary-St. Michael School, 14 Seymour Ave.

The free event is open to the public.
There will be more than 21 unique vendors, as well as a Cookie Walk, decorated Christmas tree raffles, and a Chinese auction as well as Breakfast with Santa! 

Come for breakfast, stay to shop, and then hit the kitchen again for lunch! 
Santa will be staying for pictures, so why brave the lines and the people at the mall when you can get a professional quality 4x6 print for only $5!?



*This information is shared from the school's Facebook page.

Teens invited to decorate baked holiday treats at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen “Baker” Space, a Holiday Treats Decorating program, from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 15.

Participant creativity will be applied to a variety of baked goods. 

All materials will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

For more information, stop by the Library, call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

'A Sparkling Holiday' is planned at Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby

DERBY - Celebrate the holidays at the Osborne Homestead Museum and learn about the legends and origins of gemstones. 

Each room will be brilliantly decorated to the theme “A Sparkling Holiday.” 

The holiday tours will run from Nov. 25 through Dec. 17. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4  p.m. 

On Fridays, December 2, 9, and 16, the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to show off the shimmering glow of the decorations from 4-7 p.m.

For more than 30 years, volunteers have created the gorgeous holiday decorations at the museum. 

These talented and committed volunteers are members of the Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Pomperaug Valley Garden Club of Woodbury, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.

Visitors will also get a chance to support local farms and small businesses at the Connecticut Holiday Market in the Kellogg Environmental Center located behind the museum. The Holiday Market will be held Dec. 2 from 4-7 p.m. and Dec. 3 from 9 a.m.-noon. 

Choose from a wide variety of products, such as Connecticut Grown produce, meat products, beauty and bath products, teas, and much more.

The Osborne Homestead Museum celebrates the life of Frances Osborne Kellogg, the award winning dairy farmer who bred the legendary Holstein bull Ivanhoe. 

In the early to mid–1900s, she and her husband Waldo Kellogg made Osbornedale Farm second to none in New England with their record-breaking, prize-winning Holstein-Friesian cattle. 

Frances held many high ranking positions in several dairy associations, including President of the American Holstein Friesian Association and Director of the New Haven County Farm Bureau. She also left an endowment to the University of Connecticut which established the Kellogg Dairy Center in Storrs. 

Her cow pastures and farm, which she deeded to the State of Connecticut, are now Osbornedale State Park and the Kellogg Estate in Derby.

Make it a “jewel” of a holiday and visit the Osborne Homestead Museum. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. 

The Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum are located at 500 Hawthorne Ave. 

To register for group tours and for more information, call (203) 734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.

This is a press release from DEEP.

Ansonia Nature Center to offer wreath workshop, host annual bird count

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has a variety of fun activities planned in December.

NATURE’S CHILD: A Tree for Wildlife –  Dec. 2, 10 a.m.

Make some simple pinecone bird feeders, then take a short hike to visit our “giving tree.” 
Preschoolers with an adult will learn about our local evergreen trees and how they make great shelter for wildlife in the winter. 
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents). Please register in advance.

WINTER WREATH WORKSHOP – Dec. 3, 10 a.m. 

Celebrate winter and the festive season as you create a wreath from fresh locally grown greens, then decorate your masterpiece with natural trimmings. Enjoy some warm mulled cider and a cookie too! Wreath frames and wire will be provided. Please bring your own hand clippers. Pre-registration required. Materials fee: $15. 

BACK TO BASICS: Needle Felting –  Dec. 3, 1 p.m.

Bring a dose of your own unique creativity for this class based on an ancient craft. Dawn Sotir, needlecraft wizard, will inspire you with her beautiful and practical items made from natural fibers. 
Create a 3D animal of your choice; it’s easier than you might think! Pre-registration only for this popular program. Fee: $10.

117TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT – Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m.

This annual survey provides important data to assess the increase or decline of avian populations worldwide. After an early morning start, the New Haven Bird Club will stop at the Nature Center for their lunch at 12:30. Be ready to join members of the club to look and listen along the park’s trails. For adults. Free.

DRUM IN THE WINTER –  Dec. 17, 5 p.m.

True winter begins on Dec. 21! On that day we’ll have a full 15 hours of darkness! Since June, the days have been getting shorter, but from now on, the reverse will be true. We’ll stoke the fire pit, so bring your drum and other percussion instruments, and warm yourself with good fellowship. Ranger Dawn will lead us. Free, but bring a canned food item for our local homeless shelter.

WINTER NATURE DAYS – Tues.–Thurs., Dec. 27–29, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

For children who love the outdoors and wildlife. These popular educational classes are designed for children 5 to 10 years old. We’ll have a chance to explore the park’s 150 acres and visit a variety of habitats. Come join new and old friends, play games, create beautiful and useful items using natural objects, and even go for a sled ride if we have snow. 
Tuition: $30/day ($90 for all three days) for priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members); $35/day ($105 for all three days) all others. Please come in to register in advance by Dec. 16.

JANUARY 2017

NEW YEAR’S DAY HIKE – Jan. 1, 10 a.m. Bring a healthy start to your new year at the Nature Center. Our ranger will conduct this brisk walk while you learn a little 

natural history trivia along the way. Free, but please register in advance. Inclement weather cancels. 


This is a press release from Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Italian Cabaret slated Saturday in Derby

I saw this posted at the Valley Diner today and thought I'd share the info. Sounds like a fun evening is on tap.

Church in Shelton to hold soup and book sale to benefit missions