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.

Valley United Way slates financial series in Shelton

SHELTON - Valley United Way will offer a number of programs in its ongoing Financial Education Series sponsored by Pitney Bowes.

United Way is partnering with leading financial experts in the area to offer the programs in an effort to help individuals and families in planning for major financial decisions in life.

With the start of the new school year, the first session is focused on Financial Planning for college. Next to the purchase of a home or planning for retirement, there is probably no financial issue more important for a family to consider. 

The cost of higher education is more expensive than ever and rising much faster than inflation. 

On Sept. 24, John DeLeo of Ion Bank will conduct a seminar on how to plan to deal with financing a college education. 

This informative session as with the others in the series will take place in the Lavietes Conference Room at Valley United Way, 54 Grove St. A light supper will be provided.

In October, the focus will shift to another major life decision – planning for retirement. United Way will be offering three programs during the month designed to help anyone not only to plan ahead for retirement, but also to handle finances once in retirement.

The first session, Get Retirement Ready, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6. The focus will be to help prepare individuals for the decisions they need to make as they approach retirement, including sources of retirement income, employer distribution options, lump sum vs. income stream, IRA rollovers, health insurance options and relocation decisions. 

Experts from Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife will conduct the session, and a light supper will be provided.

That session will be followed up at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20 with Retirement Income Planning being the topic. 

This session will also be presented by experts from the Barnum Financial Group. It will prepare participants for the steps to take to create an income strategy such as setting retirement goals, identifying expenses and reviewing all guaranteed sources of income, as well as learning how to manage retirement risks. 

A light supper will be provided.

The final program in the Retirement Planning Series will be presented by experts from the Social Security Administration. 

Entitled “Understanding Social Security” the session will help individuals to understand the key role played by Social Security in any retirement plan. 

This session will be held at noon Oct. 27, and a light lunch will be provided.

Thanks to the support of Pitney Bowes, the programs are offered free of charge. However,registration is required and can be made by calling 203-926-9478, or registering at www.valleyunitedway.org.

This is a press release from Valley United Way, the leading philanthropic resource for Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. 

United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis. Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.

Vigil in Shelton to honor survivors, remember victims

SHELTON - The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 
Domestic violence affects all ages, races, socioeconomic, educational, religious, and occupational segments of society. 

Every nine seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S. 
One in four women and one in seven men in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

In an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence, BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will hold a vigil to honor and remember survivors and victims of domestic violence.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Gazebo at Huntington Center Green.

A special welcome will be given by Mayor Mark Lauretti and Attorney Paul Garlinghouse will be the keynote speaker. 

The vigil will also include an invocation by Monsignor Robert Weiss, St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, recognition of law enforcement officials, and a survivor testimony.

For more information about the vigil, or about domestic violence services call 203-736-2601, ext. 1381, or visit www.bhcare.org.

This is a press release from The Umbrella, a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, more than 7,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help, and hope. 
Learn more at bhcare.org.

Seymour Pink to open store Saturday

SEYMOUR- The non-profit Seymour Pink organization, a grassroots initiative, is opening a store Saturday at 3 Franklin St. 

Since resident Mary Deming founded Seymour Pink in 2009 the organization has raised more than $500,000 toward fighting breast cancer. The store will sell Seymour Pink merchandise and offer educational material about the disease.

A grand opening celebration will be held 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. 
A discount coupon is available at www.seymourpink.com.

Valley United Way to kick off campaign at party in Shelton

Fair at club in Shelton to promote health, wellness

Annual event for children slated Sept. 21
SHELTON - Free food, fun, and games will be featured at the 13th Annual Children’s Health and Safety Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, One Positive Place.

The family carnival-themed event also will offer a variety of health, wellness, and safety programs and displays.

Sponsored by the Valley Parish Nurses of Griffin Hospital, The Valley Community Foundation, Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley, Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and Griffin Faculty Physicians, the fair will feature carnival games, a moon bounce, and a magic show.

Other activities include health, wellness, and safety interactive displays, a car seat and bike helmet clinic, the Child Identification Program (CHIP), fire engines and rescue vehicles, a safety house to teach about safety features in homes, and much more.

Free bike helmets will be available for the first 400 children and there will be free CPR for Friends and Family Training (must call Cathi at 203-732-1337 to register for the CPR training).

The Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurse program was established in 1990 and is now one of the largest in the country, with nearly 40 participating churches, more than 125 parish nurses, and 350 additional volunteers who support the nurses and who serve on the health cabinets of the individual churches.

The Boys & Girls Club provides, in a safe environment, programs that inspire, educate, guide, and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

Griffin Faculty Physicians Primary Care is a multi-specialty medical group affiliated with Griffin Hospital, offering exceptional, personalized care to residents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding communities at offices in Derby, Oxford, Southbury, Seymour, and Shelton.

For information about the fair, call 203-732-1337.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Scouts to host Ed Strang Day in Derby

Troop 3 marking 100th anniversary

DERBY – Calling all boys and girls of the Valley!
Archery, rope bridge and ice cream making are a few of the free activities to be offered at the Derby Green from noon to 3 p.m.  Sept 27 as part of Housatonic Council Boy Scout Troop 3’s 20th annual Ed Strang Day.  

The event has been held annually since 1994, when the city of Derby welcomed home actor Brian Dennehy to honor Scouting pioneer Edmund D. Strang, Dennehy’s former Cubmaster.  

Additional activities including pinewood Derby racing, obstacle course, scavenger hunt and a fireman’s challenge will be offered to boys and girls to introduce them to the adventures of Scouting. 
A flag retirement ceremony will begin at noon.
The public is invited to bring to the ceremony any flags in a condition no longer fit for displaying.

A time capsule will be buried on the Derby Green to commemorate Troop 3’s 100^th anniversary.

Founded by the Derby Second Congregational Church in 1914, the Troop continues to be sponsored by and meets at the Elizabeth Street church at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Additional 100^th anniversary events include an Alumni Minstrel & Gang Show on Oct. 25 and an celebratory dinner Oct. 26 at the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour.
All alumni and friends of Troop 3 are invited to attend.

Representatives will be on hand to provide information for free membership to Cub Scout Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 will be available to all eligible youths who complete an application with a parent or guardian present.
Assistance is also available for providing Scout uniforms. 
Current Scouts from throughout the Naugatuck Valley are also invited to attend in uniform and participate in the free activities.

The event concludes at the Derby Second Congregational Church at 4 p.m. with the awarding of Eagle Scout Rank to Troop 3 Scouts Anthony Bartholomew and Colby McLiverty.

This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter. For more information contact him at 203-732-0343 or visit www.troop3derby.org. 

Valley Arts Council slates show at restaurant in Derby

Call for Artists - Delicious II - Download the entry form at: http://www.valleyartscouncil.org/gallery_37.htm

Derby Library to host cooking demo, Medicare presentation

DERBY - The Derby Public Library has scheduled a cooking demo at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29. 

The topic will be Fun with Fungi!  

In recognition of National Mushroom Month, Stacey Ference of Savour Catering will show participants how to make tasty dishes using a variety of low-calorie and nutrient-rich mushrooms.

There will be samples of all demonstrated foods. The class is for ages 18 and older.  

Registration is required.  

Medicare Overview

The Library will host a Medicare Overview program at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30. 

Thomas Maercklein, an independent agent/broker with more than 25 years of experience, will explain the ins and outs of Medicare plans and how they work.  

With Medicare enrollment beginning in October, this is the perfect time for seniors to prepare before they have to make decisions. 

This is also a great opportunity for seniors who are already in the Medicare program to come and direct questions to an expert.  

This event is only for educational purposes and no plan-specific benefits and details will be shared. 

 Registration is requested.

For more information on either of the above programs, 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. 

Valley Voice: The Blog

Welcome!

Last week I left my job at the New Haven Register, but I'm still here.

I'm currently in the midst of creating The Valley Voice, a site that will be dedicated to news and views of the Valley. 

However, there is a bit of a learning curve involved.

Until it is up and running, I will be posting on this blog to keep in touch with my Valley friends and neighbors.  

Please send community announcements and photos to: 

pmcv5505@gmail.com, and they just may show up here, and on Facebook.


Patti