Derby housing authority deemed top performer

DERBY - Six years ago Mayor Anthony Staffieri revamped the Housing Authority Board and Executive Director Steve Nakano was hired.
With an overall score of 100 percent the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development informed the Derby Public Housing Authority that it was designated a High Performer for the sixth year in a row.

The DHA scored 143 points out of a total maximum of 145 points for all 14 indicators combined.
The perfect score is a result of an additional component used to assess the DHA; the Family Self Sufficiency Program which resulted in a Single Family Home Ownership Graduate of the program.

SEMAP which is a management assessment program used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing choice voucher tenant based housing uses 14 indicators to determine performance level of Housing Authorities.
Some of those indicators include timely and annual housing quality inspections, ensuring that all available housing choice vouchers are used and expansion of housing choice opportunities and sound determination of reasonable rent for each unit leased.

The DHA currently manages 278 housing choice vouchers and 106 state elderly housing units. A SEMAP score of 100 percent represents the highest performance level attainable by a Public Housing Authority. The DHA was at 63 percent Standard Performer five years ago.

Staffieri said, “I am proud of the outstanding performance of the Derby Housing Authority and the leadership of our Executive Director, Steve Nakano, our Board Chairman, Joseph R. Romano and the entire volunteer Derby Housing Authority Board. It takes cooperation and dedication to public housing, the likes of which we have not seen in years. Our Housing Authority is a leader in public Housing for the state.”

“We try every year to improve upon our record," Nakano said. "We will continue to work to maintain the high performance level we have achieved so that we can ensure our tenants and our units are maintained at the highest level. I am honored that HUD has seen fit again to reward the work all of us have done here in Derby."


This is a press release from Staffieri's office.

Crisco helps kick off centennial celebration of state parks

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. , D-Woodbridge, took part in an event Thursday evening to kick-off the 100^th anniversary of Connecticut’s state parks – a year-long celebration of the park system’s remarkable history. 

A year-long series of commemorative events is planned including a 169-mile, 10-day-day tour later this month and state park birthday parties in 2014.

Thursday’s event was held at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill;  Crisco joined other officials including Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Daniel C. Esty, and members of the Friends of Connecticut State Parks and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

“We are so fortunate in our part of the state to have such a wide variety of parks and forests nearby and available to residents, including West Rock Ridge State Park, with extraordinary views of New Haven and Long Island Sound, Osborndale and Indian Well State Parks straddling the Housatonic River, and the expansive Naugatuck State Forest in the highlands above the Naugatuck River,” Crisco said. 

“These parcels were set aside and preserved over the past 100 years because of their aesthetic and historic significance and we are the beneficiaries of that foresight to this day.”

“One hundred years ago, a newly formed State Park Commission began acquiring properties that became the successful state park system we have today,” DEEP Commissioner Esty said. 

“With 107 state parks, visited by eight million visitors a year, Connecticut looks forward to a year-long Centennial Celebration showcasing our beautiful landscapes, waterways, and historic and cultural locations that inspire and amaze everyone who sets foot in our parks.”

Crisco said some major upgrades planned for Connecticut’s state parks in the near future include a new nature center at Hammonasset State Park, a renovated pavilion at Sherwood Island State Park, and utility and technology upgrades at many other state parks.

“The positive economic impact of our state parks is said to be more than $1 billion per year, so it behooves us to invest in these extraordinary properties to improve and preserve them so they’ll be enjoyed – and in time cherished – by Connecticut residents for generations to come,” Crisco said.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

A well-spent 50 cents in Ansonia

Young entrepreneurs

Ansonia residents Gianna DiLorenzo, 12, left, and Jada Venson, 11, set up an old-fashioned lemonade stand Friday in the hilltop section of Ansonia. They were offering free refills. You can't beat that!

Health career school in Derby offers courses

DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, will offer its Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician and Phlebotomy programs beginning in September. 

Anyone 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED may apply for admission. Early application is encouraged for all courses, as space is limited.
 

The School of Allied Health Careers has expanded its CNA class offerings a session with classes on Monday and Wednesday nights starting Sept. 16 and a session with daytime classes on Tuesday and Thursday starting Sept. 17. The PCT program begins Sept. 16 and Phlebotomy program begins on Sept. 17.

Clinical rotations

The 13-week CNA course will be held from 5-9 p.m. for the Monday and Wednesday session with clinical rotations from 5-10 p.m. Classes for the Tuesday and Thursday session will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. with clinical rotations from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 

Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care. 

Once a student successfully completes the course and clinical experience, they will be qualified to take the state exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut. 

The $1,250 CNA course tuition fee includes the course book, workbook, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

Hands-on training

The 16-week PCT program holds classes on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Students are able to choose the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday portion of the program either during the day from 9 a.m.-noon or evenings from 6-9 p.m. to accommodate busy schedules. 

The Patient Care Technician program offers ample hands-on training and opportunities for practical experience in the school's fully equipped mock hospital room.

The $3,995 tuition includes four weeks practical training at Griffin Hospital, which is full time from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, textbook, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, and national certification. 

The 13-week phlebotomy program has classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Both day (9 a.m.-noon) and evening (6-9 p.m.) class options are available. 

The $1,995 tuition includes a 40-hour internship, national certification, lab coats, CPR certification, malpractice insurance and textbook.

For information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or 203-732-7578 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.

Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers Phlebotomy and other professional educational programs to provide training, education, and certification in selected health careers. 

Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, located at 300 Seymour Ave.

This information is from a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Food bank in Shelton needs assistance

Spooner House Food Bank levels are low.

Please help us this summer fulfill the needs in our community.

With children home for the summer and not receiving school lunches, families are struggling more than ever to put food on the table.

Spooner House is committed to helping families and individuals in need throughout our community, and we need your help to make sure none of our neighbors go hungry this summer.

Items Most Needed:

Peanut Butter and Jelly
Tuna
Soups
Beans (kidney, pinto, black)
Pasta
Sauce
Crackers

Please consider donating today!

Every dollar counts and goes to support our work in feeding our neighbors in need through Spooner House's food bank!

 

 This is a press release from Spooner House Homeless Shelter, 30 Todd Road, Shelton.

Valley health district launches restaurant rating program

The Naugatuck Valley Health District today announced

that it has instituted a food establishment “Rating” program designed to provide the public with information about the sanitary conditions observed in the establishment.

Ratings (Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor) are provided by the sanitarian to the food service establishment with the inspection report during each inspection and are based on the absence/presence of “Risk Factor and Critical Violations” that are likely to cause food borne illness.

The Ratings apply to most facilities that prepare hot “potentially hazardous” foods.  Ratings are not given to Seasonal and Temporary Food Service establishments, schools, nursing and long term care facilities, or to establishments operated by government or non-profit organizations. 

Ratings posters are given to the owner/operator of the food establishment when the inspection has been completed and must be posted in a prominent location in the establishment. 

The ratings will also be posted on the NVHD website www.nvhd.org and updated regularly. Inspection reports are available for review by the public at the NVHD office 98 Bank St., Seymour during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.

The NVHD serves as the local health department for the towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton.

This information is from a press release.

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers Poker Mondays

DERBY - Poker Mondays is a unique support group experience for men with cancer.
The group meets each Monday from 12-1 p.m. at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, attendees will play poker for coffee and meal tickets.

It's low stakes and low stress, but lots of fun. Some refreshments will be provided.
For information, contact Cormac Levenson at Clevenson@griffinhealth.org or 203-732-1126.

The Center for Cancer Care is at 350 Seymour Ave.

This is a press release.