Power shut off at Valley Arts Council gallery, but shop remains open

Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo, left, and gallery administrator BillieJo Scharfenberg chat Friday afternoon in the council's Gallery@37 in Derby. The gallery has had no electricity since Thursday afternoon when the power was turned off. The nonprofit's board members are appealing to the community for donations. Patricia Villers/Register 

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
DERBY — The lights have gone out — literally — on the arts in the area, Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo says.
“We were operating the gallery this afternoon and everything went black,” he said late Thursday. “We first checked with the landlord, but there was no power interruption.”
The gallery, at 37 Elizabeth St., will be open this afternoon even without the lights.
DiCarlo said the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization has been sending money to United Illuminating as it could afford to do so to keep the lights on.

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