Water main failure reported in Ansonia

The following information was posted just after 1:40 p.m. today on Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page:

"Regional Water Authority construction crews are responding to a water main failure at the intersection of Wakelee Avenue and Franklin Street in Ansonia.

"We are attempting to maintain pressure and provide adequate volume of water supply to the areas north of this intersection via two temporary modifications to the distribution system in this immediate area. Please note that there may be reduced pressure and volume in the affected area despite these modifications. Both Ansonia and Seymour Fire Departments have been notified.

"Specific customers impacted are those residing on the following streets; Wakelee Avenue north of Franklin and Great Hill Rd in Ansonia and Great Hill Rd/Fountain Lake Rd, Derby Ave, Bungay Rd, Brookdale Rd and Ansmour Rd in Seymour.

"The time needed to repair the failed main and for full service restoration are unknown at this time as existing conditions are being identified."

We head to Hamden on National Ice Cream Day

HAMDEN - Son Cameron and I headed to Hamden to find a frozen treat on Sunday, which just happened to be National Ice Cream Day.
 

After all we had to celebrate ice cream!

We stopped at Cherry on Top Ice Cream Shop at 1654 Whitney Ave. in the Spring Glen section of town. The friendly server told us the shop opened in June of 2012.

Coincidentally the shop also serves Buck's Ice Cream, which I and my ice cream compadres have now enjoyed at several locations, most recently last week at Dave & Dave's in Shelton.

Cameron ordered a medium-sized sundae with two scoops of cookies 'n cream ice cream and a scoop of peanut butter fudge ice cream, Nutella (hazelnut chocolate spread), walnuts and whipped cream.

His reaction? "It was really good!"

I got a waffle cone with a scoop of birthday cake burst ice cream topped with a scoop of rich chocolate ice cream. I daresay it was a delicious combo.

The ice cream parlor has a few seats inside but since Sunday was not too hot we decided to sit at one of the tables out on the sidewalk to enjoy our treat.
The afternoon was quiet and there didn't even seem to be much traffic on normally busy Whitney Avenue.

Would we go back? Absolutely. I recommend you give it a try!

Seymour church to hold BBQ dinner Aug. 3

SEYMOUR - A Chicken or Ribs Bar-B-Que Dinner will be held from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Road.

The menu will include choice of chicken or  (Rowland Farms) ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, dessert and a beverage. 

The price per dinner for adults is $12 and $6 for children (8 and under). 

Take-out meals will also be available.

            Reservations are  suggested.
            For information and/or reservations contact Bob DeBisschop, 203-888-4159 or 203-906-2958 or Ken Shaw, 203-415-7093.

2 Seymour officers win plaudits for heroism

SEYMOUR - Police Sgt. David Parratt and Officer James Duda are to be commended for saving the life of an infant earlier this week.

Read Register Correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich's compelling account of what unfolded Monday in a harrowing incident on Rimmon Street on the Seymour-Beacon Falls line.

Valley Community Foundation awards 1-year grants to 28 nonprofits

DERBY - Through its $3,000 and under Community Grants process, the Valley Community Foundation has awarded nearly $50,000 in one-year grants to 28 nonprofit and grassroots organizations serving the Valley region. 

"We are so very pleased to have received such wonderful applications to support such a wide variety of projects," said Sharon Closius, President /CEO of The Valley Community Foundation.

 "Our Community Grants Review Committee, comprised of dedicated local citizens throughout our Valley communities and chaired by board member Liz Kennard, did an outstanding job of thoughtfully reviewing each application and making recommendations to our full Board," she said.  "Their comments and input were invaluable as we made the final decisions in our 2013 Community Grantmaking process."  

"VCF's grant dollars will fund programs such as "Read and Grow: 1,000 Books before Kindergarten," to support the cost of books, puzzles, games, and book bags for 100 Shelton children to help and encourage their families to read 1,000 books to them before they enter kindergarten.  
"Additional funds will support "Project Family Hope" in Ansonia, which focuses on activities and experiences designed to strengthen family bonds and relationships. 
"And thanks to VCF's Community Grant program, the Seymour Historical Society will now be able to purchase a software program to digitize handwritten archival records that are currently on file cards so that Seymour's valuable history can be preserved and passed down to new generations for years to come," Closius said.

 The Community Grant program is one of several grant programs VCF offers, including:

  *   Revolving Response Grants, which range from $250-$5,000 and meet nonprofit organizations' emergency or urgent needs
  *   Responsive Grants, which generally address an organization's operating, programmatic or capacity building needs at the $5,000 or more level.
VCF plans to distribute $665,000 in grants to community organizations from unrestricted funds this year. 

The Valley Community Foundation was established in 2004 to serve Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.  Since then, it has dedicated itself to making the Naugatuck Valley a better place to live and work, both now and in the future.  

VCF's Community Grants Program (formerly known as Valley Small Grants) is rooted in The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program. It provides funding to assist organizations in carrying out their civic agenda, and to support the development and implementation of worthy projects throughout the Valley.

Thanks to the generosity of Valley donors, hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year are distributed from the Foundation. 
In addition to grant-making, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven toward building a stronger community by: working closely with donors to grow and deepen the impact of their philanthropy; identifying and supporting grassroots leadership; and strengthening nonprofits and promoting philanthropy through technical assistance programs.

To learn more about how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, contact Sharon Closius at <mailto:sclosius@valleyfoundation.org><mailto:sclosius@valleyfoundation.org> or 203-751-9162.  

For a complete list of 2013 community grant recipients or for additional information, visit VCF's website at www.valleyfoundation.org<http://www.valleyfoundation.org>.


This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Festival in Oxford to benefit nonprofit that supports children

OXFORD - Colonial Tavern will host Barefoot: A Summer Festival, on Aug. 11 to benefit Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc. the Valley's first diaper bank.

CTPFC is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting low-income children throughout the state. 

The event will be held from 11a.m. to 4 p.m.; doors open at 10 a.m. 

Colonial Tavern is located at 24 Hawley Road.

The event will feature a classic car show and burn-out pit (cut-off year is 1990), including gift bags and prizes for drivers.

There will also be live music from Gravyhound and Phoenix Connecticut; Fantasy Faces by Ruth for children; a vendor marketplace, featuring handmade items and antiques; and a craft beer and wine tasting tent, featuring Connecticut's own Cavalry Brewing Co., Thomas Hooker Brewery, and more.

Food and beverages also will be available for sale.

General admission is free for children ages 4 and under; ages 5 and up are $5.

The tasting tent entry fee is $20 for 16 tastings (ages 21 and up), and $10 for 10 additional tastings. 

Pre-registration for classic cars is $8, and day-of registration is $10. Vendor space is $40 per booth, indoor or out (space is limited but there is still space available). Antiques and handmade items for vendor booths are needed.

For information, or to purchase tickets, vendor space, or pre-register a classic car, visit www.ctpfc.org or call Colonial Tavern, 203-264-8244.

As this is a charity event, volunteers are needed. To volunteer, contact Meghan Tarby at meghan@ctpfc.org or call 203-881-1804.

This is taken from a press release from Meghan Tarby, founder and executive director, Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc.

Learn about Iceland and its people at Ansonia nature center

ANSONIA - Join Peter and Barbara Rzasa, Linda Tomas, and Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center Director Donna Lindgren at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 as they share their recent adventures in the far north.

Iceland is a very cool and hot (volcanic) place.

In January, Lindgren and Tomas traveled to Iceland to discover the daylong twilight of this island country in all its foggy, windy, and icy glory.
In June, the Rzasas traveled the beautiful Ring Road and found the season of daylight at midnight.

The program is free; please register in advance by calling 203-736-1053.

The center is at 10 Deerfield Road.