Griffin Hospital celebrates 100th birthday of longtime volunteer

Nellie Hapak at her birthday party.

DERBY - Resident Nellie Hapak has volunteered at Griffin Hospital in Derby for more than three decades, logging more than 19,000 hours in a variety of roles. 
She hit the century mark over the weekend and Friday the hospital honored Nellie on her 100th birthday with a gala celebration.

Stay tuned for more about the event in an upcoming Valley Voice newsletter. 

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Learn to plan for health care at Griffin Hospital presentation

Griffin Hospital will offer a free talk April 3 on how to plan for future health care decisions./  Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will offer a free talk on how to plan for future health care and medical decisions April 3 at 6 p.m. April 3. 

Griffin Hospital Advance Care Planning Coordinator Lynn Aiksnoras will present “What if?” an interactive presentation and discussion will focus on the first steps of Advance Care Planning – those “what if” scenarios which can profoundly alter an individual’s life and painfully disrupt even the most stable families.

“Most adults don’t think about creating advance directives for themselves, and often respond with an amused or quizzical look when asked if they have one,” Aiksnoras said. But life can change in an instant. Making the ‘first steps’ of Advance Care Planning a routine part of healthcare can develop the awareness, comfort, trust and skills to build the foundation for more difficult conversations with our loved ones and doctors if/when health takes a serious turn.”

Advance Care Planning is a process of understanding, reflecting on and discussing individual goals, beliefs and values in order to determine a person’s overall wishes, should a time come when he or she cannot make them for him or herself. 

ACP ensures that patients’ healthcare wishes are respected by loved ones and healthcare providers. This process also gives comfort and reassurance to healthcare representatives, enabling them to clearly understand patients’ end-of-life preferences.

This talk is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U Talks, a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

To reserve a spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org/events.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Klarides, Klarides-Ditria take part in 'Women Who Lead' panel in Hartford

State Rep. Themis Klarides, seated at left, and her sister, Nicole Klarides-Ditria, were invited to speak Friday at a Women Who Lead panel in Hartford./ Contributed photo

HARTFORD - State Representatives Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, spoke Friday on the “Women Who Lead” Panel by the Commission on Equity and Opportunity and the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors.

The topic was “The Multigenerational Impact of Women.”

Klarides, Klarides-Ditria and the other panelists spoke to young women about their experiences and how they became leaders.

“The active role that these young women are taking in both their education and community reaffirms my faith in our youth. 
These future leaders will be role models for generations to come as they continue to discover their voices and passions in life and public service. 
It is imperative we have leaders that reflect our communities and everyone has representation.

Thank you to the members and organizers of Women Who Lead, the Commission on Equity and Opportunity and the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors.”

Klarides-Ditria said, "Be yourself, work hard, and don’t let anyone push you around. This is something my mother taught us at an early age and are values we follow today. 
"I never thought I was going to be where I am today but having good women role models in your life and being confident in yourself will help you achieve anything you want in this world.”

Following the statewide elections in 2014, Klarides was unanimously chosen by her colleagues in the House Republican Caucus to be the Caucus Leader - the first woman to hold the position. 

Klarides is also the only female caucus leader in the House and Senate.

In 2016, Rep. Klarides-Ditria ran for state representative in the 105th 
District. She won the election and joined her sister at the state Capitol. Klarides and

Klarides-Ditria became the first sisters to ever serve in the General Assembly.

The other panelists were:

Jestina Gilbert, founder, “I Am Not Afraid”

Cheri Phoenix-Sharpe, General Counsel, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Marsha McCurdy Adell, firefighter, Town of West Hartford

This is a release from Spencer Rubin, press secretary.

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 View from below the Derby Greenway Friday evening.

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