BHcare receives $20K to support collaboration with PCRC

BHcare received a $20,000 grant from the SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration to support its affiliation with the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center. 
The funding will be used to cover legal fees, accounting, and IT integration of the organizations. 

Together, the organizations create a comprehensive system of care for children, adolescents, teens and adults who are struggling with mental illness and/or addiction.  
Parents and children can now receive on-site services at the same time and families can find the support they need. PCRC clients aging out of children’s services will remain in the same care system, increasing outcomes and decreasing the likelihood of “falling through the cracks”. Shoreline families will have a local option for treatment, support, and care. 
A full service organization treating clients throughout their lifespan will ensure continual and continued access to the treatment and supports they need to live independently in the community.

The SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration makes grants to encourage and support mergers, acquisitions, joint-ventures, and others types of formal, long-term collaboration between nonprofits.

PCRC provides children's behavioral health services for more than 1,200 children and families across 26 communities. 

This is a press release from BHcare, a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven, and Shoreline communities.  
For more information, visit www.bhcare.org.

Seymour plans 45th annual Christmas Parade

Ho, ho, ho!
SEYMOUR - The 45th annual Seymour Christmas Parade will kick off downtown at 2 p.m. Sunday. 
The rain/snow date is Dec. 4.

Parade association president Robert Lang is seeking new units to take
part in the parade.
As an incentive, trophies and ribbons are awarded each year in four categories.
Marching units vie for the Sponheimer Trophy,
sponsored by Miller-Ward Funeral Home. 

The Mackenstein Trophy, sponsored by the Lions Club, is
given to the best float, and school groups are eligible to
win the LoPresti Trophy, sponsored by Hot Tops.
Best new unit in the parade will receive the President's

Trophy, sponsored by D'Addio’s Route 8 Containers.

For information or to enter a unit in the parade, contact

Bob Lang, 203-888-6268, or rclang27@sbcglobal.net.

Shelton fire company, Santa to team for TEAM Toys 4 Kids drive

SHELTON - White Hills Voluntary Fire Company is getting ready for Santa’s annual tour of White Hills and the White Hills Community Tree Lighting Ceremony in conjunction with the Toys 4 Kids Drive.

Friends and Neighbors in White Hills are invited to the Fire House at 2 School St. for a community tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 3.  

All are welcome to join members of the fire company for a cup of hot chocolate after the tree lighting. The Perry Hill School Choir will perform and Santa will visit.  

Toys will also be accepted  for the Toys 4 Kids Drive. 
Each year through the generosity of Shelton residents, the fire company provides truckloads of new, unwrapped toys for families in need. 

Ansonia Library to host seminar about energy industry

ANSONIA - Residents can learn about Energy Deregulation from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Ansonia Library.

Photo from Library website 

The energy industry is in the process of being deregulated.  
With the advent of deregulation, the consumer now has the ability to choose the electricity supplier amongst a vast array of suppliers and types of energy.  

This seminar is intended to provide basic information and to introduce the attendee to issues posed by deregulation. The program is presented by Joe Paul and Ellis Ratner.

The Library is at 53 S. Cliff St. 

For more information, call the Library, 203-734-6275.

This is a press release from Mary Ann Capone, Director, Ansonia Library.

Ansonia seeks names, addresses of military personnel for Christmas checks

ANSONIA -The mayor's office is currently seeking the names of active duty military personnel from Ansonia, so the city can mail them a Christmas check for the holiday. 

The city needs the name, rank, branch of service, and address of the individual.

If anyone would like to make a donation to the city's military personnel, mail a check to the Mayor's Office, 253 Main St., Ansonia, CT 06401.

Please email the name, rank, branch of service, and address to Rdziekan@ansoniact.org or call the Mayors office, 203-736-5900.


This is a press release from Mayor David S. Cassetti's office.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer smoking cessation program

Griffin Hospital is offering a free, four-week smoking cessation program./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital offers free education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit smoking with its four-week smoking cessation program starting Dec. 7.

“That’s It – Learn to Quit” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit smoking. 

The program consists of Wednesday night meetings from 5:30-7 p.m. scheduled for Dec. 7, 14, 21, and 28 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

“The goal of the program is to help you learn how to quit,” said Carrie O’Malley, RN, a co-coordinator of the program. “There are different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. If one method didn’t work for you in the past we’ll help you understand all your options.”

Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habit. Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are all discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all four sessions.

To register for “That’s It – Learn to Quit,” call 203-732-1476.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby firefighters to brighten holiday for senior citizens in Valley

Sharing a link to a story by my friend Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, New Haven Register correspondent.

Please click here to read about the Derby volunteer firefighters' plan to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving dinners Wednesday for elderly Valley residents.