Thursday, March 28, 2019

Banquet to Honor Derby High School's Hall of Famers


DERBY -  A banquet to honor the Derby High School Athletic Hall of Fame's Class of 2018 will be held at 12:30 p.m. April 28 at Vazzano's Four Seasons, 337 Kenyon St., Stratford.

Doors open at noon.

The cost is $50 per person, payable by cash or check. Checks can be made payable to: Derby Athletic Hall of Fame, and mailed to: Derby High School, 75 Chatfield St., Derby, CT 06418; Attention Jenn Moffat. 

To reserve a table please email Tom Abel at tom.c.abel@lmco.com 

Each table holds 10 people.

Also, anyone who'd like to sponsor an ad in the banquet program can do so for $25 for a quarter page;  $50 for a half page and $100 for a full page.

For more information, email Mike Cannici at neech76@aol.com or by phone 203-305-9442.

A story about the Class of 2018 Hall of Famers can be viewed online at the New Haven Register: https://www.nhregister.com/valley/article/Derby-High-School-inducts-8-more-in-Athletic-Hall-13330703.php

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Free Head, Neck and Oral Cancer Screenings

DERBY –Griffin Hospital will offer free oral, head and neck cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. on Thurs.  April 11 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.

This is the eighth straight year Griffin has offered the free screenings to the community. Held during Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®, the free screenings aim to catch cancers that arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box) at an early, and treatable stage.

“Griffin Hospital urges our community members to participate in our free head and neck screening,” said Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Griffin Hospital. “Individuals will receive a thorough exam and learn more of the symptoms of head and neck cancers, which include a lump or a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious conditions. However, it’s important to get screened right away. For our community members who are tobacco users or who have a higher risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV) due to having multiple partners, we strongly urge each individual to get screened as both are high risk factors for oral, head and neck cancers.”

The screening is painless and takes about 10 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited, so early registration is encouraged. To register, call 203-732-1280.

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance estimates that there will be more than 550,000 new cases of oral, head and neck cancer diagnosed worldwide in 2019, and many individuals will not be aware of their cancer until it has reached an advanced stage. Oral, head and neck cancer is now ranked in the top six cancers worldwide.

Last year, 63 individuals were screened at the Center. As a result of the screenings, four individuals were referred for further evaluation.

About Oral Head and Neck Cancer

Most oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside the cheeks, on the gums or on the roof of the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancers related to HPV are often found in the tonsil or base of tongue. Other head and neck cancers arise from the voice box or throat, or from salivary (spit) glands or the thyroid gland.

Some early signs and symptoms include:
  • A red or white spot in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
  • Sore throat or swollen tonsil
  • Changes in your voice
  • A lump in your neck
  • Earache
  • Difficulty swallowing
Tobacco (including smokeless tobacco) and alcohol use are very high risk factors for oral, head and neck cancers, particularly those of the tongue, mouth, throat and voice box. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has recently emerged as having a connection to oropharyngeal (tonsil and base of tongue) cancer, particularly in non-smokers and younger age groups.

While anyone can develop thyroid cancers, a family history or exposure to radiation is considered a risk factor that may increase the risk. Most salivary gland cancers do not seem to be associated with any particular cause.

If you have any of these warning signs, do not wait for the free screenings. Contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-1280.

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Bad Sons raises money for Pancreatic Cancer


DERBY BAD SONS Beer Co. featured Project Purple as their BAD SONS doing good things charity tap recipient for December 2018 and January 2019!

BAD SONS selected their Light Rider lager as the charity tap for Project Purple, donating $1 of every pint sold in December 2018 and January 2019. BAD SONS also donated their tap area to host a Mullett Unplugged concert on Friday, January 4th. This event was sold out with 65 participants rocking the tap room floor! BAD SONS donated a percentage of the bar sales from the 4th to Project Purple. 

This effort of both donations brought in $1,801 for Project Purple’s mission to raise awareness, support patients and families, and fund research efforts to defeat pancreatic cancer.

The Project Purple team would like to thank BAD SONS and Mullett. They would also like to send a special thank you to Zois Pizza, Antonio’s, and Dew Drop Inn for supporting our mission and the event on January 4th.

For questions about Project Purple or other fundraising events please contact us at (203) 714-6052 or email katie@projectpurple.org.  

About Project Purple

Project Purple is a 501c (3) not for profit organization with a mission of raising awareness and funds toward a cure of Pancreatic Cancer. To learn more about Project Purple visit – www.projectpurple.org


(This is a press release from Project Purple)

Friday, March 15, 2019

Downtown Art Gallery Hosting High School Artists


Seymour GOP Offering Scholarships


Town of Seymour, CT
SEYMOUR - The Seymour Republican Town Committee has established two new scholarships in the amount of $500 each to be awarded to two students who are residents of Seymour and who will be graduating from any high school (public or private) in Spring/Summer 2019 and who will be attending college in Fall 2019.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee (SRTC) voted to establish and fund the scholarships at its January 2019 meeting. According to Bill Paecht, SRTC Chairperson, the awards were established to recognize the achievements of Seymour residents who will be graduating from high school and entering college in 2019. Brian Koskelowski, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, added that the SRTC decided to make the competition for the scholarships open to graduating seniors from any high school as well as to those registered with any or with no political party.

Applications and information about the scholarships have been provided to the Guidance Offices at all of the high schools in the region.  According to Mr. Koskelowski the SRTC Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications submitted and select the winners based on a number of factors including academic achievement and school and community involvement. Winners will be announced and recognized at their high schools’ Awards Night ceremonies.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee acts as a vehicle for nominating candidates for town offices, as well as supporting the party’s activities and its elected officials. For more information visit www.seymourgop.org

(This is a press release from Seymour RTC)

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Fundraiser to Benefit Shelton Intermediate School

Griffin to Host Presentation on Back Pain

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will offer a free presentation on lower back pain at 5:45 p.m. March 12.

Spine Surgeon Chanakya K. Jandhyala, MD, will present “The Lowdown on Low Back Pain,” an interactive discussion on the causes of low back pain, how it is diagnosed, and the conservative, interventional, and surgical treatment techniques and approaches.

Jandhyala will be available at the end of the presentation to answer any questions from attendees.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information or to reserve a spot, call Griffin Hospital Orthopedic Care Specialist Amy Gagne, 203-732-7524.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Valley Community Foundation Awards $170,000 in Scholarships

    Valley Community Foundation Awards $170,000 from Scholarship Funds to Support Educational Pursuits of Local Students   DERBY, CT (Octobe...