Vendor spaces available for Ansonia Harvest Festival

Pumpkins and scarecrows and music, oh my!

ANSONIA - Vendor spaces are still available for the 11th annual Ansonia Harvest Festival Oct. 4.
Rain date is Oct. 11.
The Cultural Commission sponsors the downtown fest. Vendor spaces on Main Street are $50 until Sept.15, $65 after that date.

The city is anticipating a large crowd for this popular event which features ethnic foods, entertainment on two stages, and a "Roaming Railroad" which will travel through Main Street. Rides are $3. 
Irish step dancers from Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and Rita Tottenham dance students will perform. Both groups have participated in the festival since its inception. The popular Connecticut Line Dancers featuring Linda Johnston invite you to join in their line dancing routines.  
All three groups will perform in front of stage two.

The Valley Community Foundation will sponsor a mobile history of Ansonia's yesteryear which will be displayed at the Cultural Commission booth near City Hall. 

Vendor space numbers will be assigned one week prior to the festival with instructions on how to enter Main Street to get to designated spaces.

Joey Milardo and the Musical Cavaliers are new to the festival this year. They will perform on upper Main Street from noon to 2 p.m. The public is invited to dance to their tunes right on Main Street. 
Also new to the festival is Bob's Fault Band featuring Bill Davis from Ansonia. They will perform on Stage 1 along with Mark Lanzieri and his band, a local favorite. 

Magician Brian Lizotte, a Valley resident, will be making balloon sculptures and performing fantastic tricks for young and old alike.  
Patty Fadden Rimkunis will perform "The National Anthem" and Jim Little, vice chairman of the Cultural Commission, will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Other bands slated to perform are The Sofa Kings, featuring Bill Gibson of Ansonia, The Kate Miz Band and the Bantam Band, a group of strolling musicians. 
Two groups, Vision and the Annointed Tabernacle Choir, will sing Christian music on stage one around 11:45. DJs for the event are Tony Castle and Phyllis Kaplan.

There will be a pumpkin coloring contest at Veterans Park next to City Hall. All school children are invited to color pumpkins from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They will be assisted by Ansonia's Unified Arts teaching staff. 
A scarecrow contest will be held among the merchants and vendors.

Both contests will be judged by Rich DiCarlo, President of the Valley Arts Council. 

Amusement rides will be located in the River Valley Baptist Church parking lot and a car show, sponsored by Jay's Auto Body will take place along Bridge Street. 
Trophies will be awarded. 
A free "Moon Walk" activity for kids, donated by TEAM, Inc. of Derby, will be available on upper Main Street.

The Cultural Commission is proud to announce the Valley Community Foundation is a sponsor of the festival, along with the Regional Water Authority and the Smith Building Association.

Please visit www.cityof ansonia.com for updates, vendor applications, and more.

For info call Judy, 203-231-3603.

This post is from a press release from Judy Nicolari, chairwoman, Ansonia Cultural Commission. 

As Nicolari always says, "See You on Main Street."

Donations combat hunger here in the Valley

Please check out today's story by my friend Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, New Haven Register correspondent, about the importance of donating food and money to help needy residents of the Valley.

Spooner House at 30 Todd Road, Shelton is an emergency shelter and food bank operated by the non-profit Area Congregations Together.

Derby Library slates book sale, sports talk, series for women

DERBY - Calling all readers!

The Derby Public Library is planning its Annual Fall Book Sale. 
It will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 4, and from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7.

Shoppers are invited to fill a bag for $5.    

Bags will be provided.  

Adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, magazines, videos, DVDs, and audio materials will be available. 

Talkin' sports

The Library is in its ninth season of hosting the very popular Sports Talk series at 10 a.m. every Thursday. 

These informal sessions meet throughout the baseball season. Rich Marazzi, author and 

Major League Baseball Rules consultant, facilitates. 

Each session includes trivia contests, videos, lively conversation and more.  

All ages, rookies through veterans, are invited to join Rich and his group of Silver Sluggers.

No registration is necessary.

Just for Women

The Library continues its program series, Just for Women, at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

The next session will be held Oct. 6.  

These sessions offer women an informal opportunity to come together to learn how to 

enhance the quality of their lifestyle, share challenges and joys with other women, 

provide support to one another, spend time with old friends, and make new ones.

The series is facilitated by Valley resident Joan Joyce. She is a licensed professional

counselor in the State of Connecticut, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a

Certified Senior Advisor.  

Scientific studies show that an integral component of achieving and maintaining optimal

health and well being includes having a strong social support network.

All women, ages 18 and over, are invited to join this new and vital group.  

Registration is requested; walk-ins are also welcome.  

For more information on any programs stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.   


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

Party along Riverwalk to mark Ansonia's 125th

Come out and celebrate Ansonia's birthday!

The Umbrella purchases safe house for Greater New Haven

New shelter expands agency's ability to help 
BHcare's The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services announced the purchase of a new safe house to serve the Greater New Haven area.
This shelter, in addition to the Valley shelter, Antoinette's House, will provide a safe haven for thousands of women and children throughout the Shoreline, Lower Naugatuck Valley, and Greater New Haven communities.

Help is needed to furnish the shelter with new items for the kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms.
Some of the items needed include: table and chair sets, living sets, TVs, dishes, pillows, and sheets.

All donations may be dropped off at My Sister's Place Thrift Store & Donation Center at 380 Main St., Ansonia.
Please let the staff know the item(s) you are donating are for the safe house. Other gently used items will be accepted for sale at the store.

Thank you for your support in fighting against domestic violence and helping thousands of women and children live happy and safe lives.

This post is taken from a press release from BHcare.

Seeing pink, lots of it, at new Seymour Pink store

Seymour Pink founder Mary Deming, third from left, gets ready to cut a pink ribbon at Saturday's grand opening of the organization's store at 3 Franklin St. With her are from left, Natalie Moir, Colleen Garofalo, Christine Vartko, state Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, and Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President William Purcell.

SEYMOUR - The nonprofit Seymour Pink, Inc. opened a store Saturday amid a sea of supporters and volunteers wearing shades of pink.

Resident Mary Deming founded Seymour Pink, A Community's Fight Against Breast Cancer, in 2009 to fund breast cancer research, raise awareness, and offer support to those who are diagnosed with the disease.

An angel graces one of the walls of the shop...

as do several enlarged color photographs of Seymour Pink supporters.

Deming said each cluster of photos features a breast cancer survivor.

The store sells caps, hoodies, T-shirts, pajama pants, mugs and more, all emblazoned with the Seymour Pink logo.

I wish Deming and her Board of Directors all the best as they continue to raise community awareness and fight the disease.

Down by the River fundraiser features fun, food at Shelton Riverwalk

SHELTON - The Riverwalk was the place to be Saturday as the fifth annual Down by the River festival raised funds for Moving with Hope, a non-profit organization that provides physical activity and support to individuals with disabilities and their families.

The event featured a chili contest, information booths, children's activities, and live entertainment. On Saturday morning the nonprofit sponsored Bike for Hope, a charity ride.

My husband Ralph and I went there to visit friends stationed at the Center for Disability Rights' information booth.
CDR is based in West Haven, and Shelton is part of its catchment area. Representatives were on hand to talk about the nonprofit's advocacy work for individuals with disabilities.

 The Bernadettes wow the crowd at the Shelton Riverwalk.

We didn't know ahead of time that the music lineup included The Bernadettes. While we were chatting, a friend said to us "that sounds like The Bernadettes," and sure enough, they were there.

Like many others we are big fans of the music and energy the New Haven-based band brings to any venue.
And their performance in the oppressive humidity Saturday didn't disappoint.
We're looking forward to seeing them again soon.

Felicia Renee March performs Saturday.