Pets Helping People

Ansonia Announces Winter Parking & Snow Removal Regulations

ANSONIA - Winter Parking Regulations will be in effect from December 1, 2017 thru March 31, 2018. There shall be in the city a Twenty Four hour (24) a day, seven (7) days a week, parking ban on all city streets and highways. The purpose is to allow snow equipment to remove snow and ice as quickly as possible from all city streets and highways, with the following exceptions:

For this winter season: Motor vehicles shall be allowed to be parked, starting on December 1, 2017, on the odd-numbered side of municipal streets continuing until March 31, 2018.

City streets that display “No Parking Signs” shall be exempt from alternate side parking during the winter parking season in the area designated by the “No Parking Signs.”

These streets include: South Cliff Street, North State Street, Crescent Street (Howard Ave to Day St.), Franklin Street (Jackson to Wakelee Ave), Colony Street, Division Street and North Spring Street (from Hill Street to Jewett Street), High Street (Lester St. to Howard Ave), Doyle Drive, Fourth Street (Gatison Park area), Church St., Holbrook St. (Pork Hollow to Jackson St.) and Pork Hollow.

Parking is only permitted on the even numbered side of the following streets, regardless of the calendar year:

• Fifth Street;
• Jewett St. (North Spring Street to Platt Street);
• Hotchkiss Terrace (the area west of Kathy Lane);
• North Cliff Street ;
• Colony Street, north of Gardner’s Lane;
• Park Place.

Parking is prohibited on the following streets: Stage Coach Road, Remer Street, Union Street, Crowley Street, Pleasant Street, Beaver Street, (North Street to the Seymour Line), Holbrook Court and Father Lar Drive, Lawton Terrace, Crescent Street (Howard Ave to Lester St.), North Fourth Street, Prospect Street, (Moulthrop St. to Viselli Court), Rockwood Ave. Ext., Viselli Court, Walkers Court, Oak Lane and Carver St.

Parking is prohibited on Main Street, West Main Street and East Main Street from 1200 a.m. (midnight) to 6:00 a.m.

Any person receiving a written notice for violating the regulation must either submit payment of $15.00, or file a formal appeal, to the Police Department within ten (10) days. The fine will increase to $30.00 after ten (10) days.

Residents should also be aware of the city regulation that requires the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours from the end of the snowfall. The owner of the land and or the person having care and control of the property shall be responsible for the removal.  Any violation of this may result in an infraction for violation of a town ordinance.

(This is a press release from Ansonia Police) 

Community Health Discussion Dec. 4

DERBY - Griffin Hospital and the Naugatuck Valley Health District invite the community to a free discussion on “Improving Community Health in the Valley” from 5-7 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 4 at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

 

This open discussion will feature an overview of the Valley’s 2016-2018 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which was developed based on community input on health priorities and data from the “Understanding the Valley Region” report published last fall.

 

The CHIP includes the following seven key focus areas for improvement: Creation of a Community CARE Team; Chronic Disease Management & Prevention; Substance Use Prevention; Childhood Obesity Prevention; Lung Cancer Screening/Smoking Cessation; Asthma Prevention & Self-Management; and Healthy Homes.

 

Participants will learn more about the CHIP and will be invited to share their input about improving community health and well-being in the Valley.

 

Please RSVP to 203-732-1511 or register on Griffin’s online calendar at griffinhealth.org.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Mistletoe & Margaritas

                                                                             

 Adam’s House Mistletoe Market

 & Margaritas

 

 

A Holiday Shopping Event in support of Adam’s House, a nonprofit grief education center at 241 Coram Ave. in Shelton

 

Enjoy some festive Holiday "Cheers" with our signature Margaritas, while shopping our wide variety of local vendors. 

 

 

* Psychic Readings * Wine Tastings * Mini Makeovers *

* Artists * Home Decor * Latest Fashions *Handmade Gifts * And More*

 

Giving Tuesday- November 28th from 6-9pm

Exclusive Shopping for Alumni from 6-6:30pm

 

Facebook LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/123861471659316/

CONSTANT CONTACT LINK: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ygg9fz9ab&oeidk=a07eerau7qj152161d2

Boxing Show Nov. 11 at Ansonia Armory

Got Beer? BadSons Has Limited Edition Available

Holiday Book & Bake Sale

Wine Tasting, Shopping Extravaganza on Tap

SEYMOUR- Join Treasured Time for its 5^th Annual

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and its Red, White and Rosé Wine Tasting fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 16 at The Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour.

 

The Shopping Extravaganza will be from 5-9 pm. For a $5 donation, visitors can do all their holiday shopping in one place with more than 40 vendors, and a free ticket for raffle prizes.

 

The evening will include a visit from Santa from 5:15-8:15 p.m. DJ Phyllis Kaplan from Lone Wolf Productions will be playing songs to spread the holiday spirit, and there will be a free gift wrapping table.

 

The Wine Tasting will be 6-8:30 p.m. For a $50 donation, participants can take their palate on a journey around the U.S., sampling a variety domestic wines, beers and ciders. Admission also includes hors d'oeuvres, a pasta station and dessert. Combo rates are available with two tickets for $80.

 

The Wine Tasting will also feature unique silent auction items and a “wine pull game” in which $10 purchases a wrapped “mystery” bottle of wine. There will also be live music by Paula Pettinella and homemade cupcakes with a boozy twist by Sugar and Spice Cupcakes.

 

The Wine Tasting is held in partnership with GLENRO Spirit Shoppe in Monroe. Both events are sponsored by the Hampton Inn, Shelton and Jason Oberhand, DDS Family Dentistry, Trumbull.

Tickets for both events can be purchased at treasuredtime.org.

 

For more information about the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza or the Red, White and Rosé Wine Tasting, contact Lindsay at 203-446-1068, lindsay@treasuredtime.org or visit Treasured Time on Facebook.

Register for Dodgeball Tournament

Griffin Hospital Offers Free Prostate Screenings

DERBY – Griffin Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 15 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.

 

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. Men at higher risk, including African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should receive be tested at age 40.

 

“We strongly encourage the men in our community to take advantage of these free screenings,” said Dr. Fred Browne, vice president of Medical Affairs at Griffin Hospital. “As the third-leading cancer killer in men, prostate cancer is a serious disease, but it can be successfully treated if caught at an early stage. This event will be a combination of preventative screening and education, so men know what symptoms to look for and they can share this information with friends, family and neighbors.”

 

The screening will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited, so early registration is encouraged. To register, call 203-732-1280.

 

About Prostate Cancer

Approximately 1 in 7 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Screening is critical because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers sometimes cause symptoms, such as:

• Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
• Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord 

If you have any of these warning signs, do not wait for the free screenings. Contact your physician immediately, or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at (203) 732-2651 or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Pet Photos with Santa

Diabetes Support Group to Discuss Low Vision

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentation about low vision on Tues., Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m. and 6: 30 p.m. at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

 

Leslie Prescott and Fran Harmeyer, occupational therapists from Griffin Hospital Rehabilitation Services and the Lions Low Vision Center at Griffin Hospital, will present “Diabetes and Low Vision Occupational Therapy.”

 

Low vision is a chronic medical condition affecting 1 in 6 adults over 45 years of age usually caused by macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Occupational therapy teaches persons with visual impairment to safely and independently complete the daily living tasks, and the Lions Low Vision Center offers adaptive devices free of charge.

 

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A. There will be free valet parking for the 2:30 p.m. session.

 

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

 

No registration is required. For more information, call Mary Swansiger at 203-732-1137.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Ansonia Board of Education Member Says Facts Being Misrepresented

(The following is a letter from Ansonia Board of Education Member Vinnie Scarlata who is seeking re-election the board , as well as running as a petitioning candidate for the Board of Aldermen, 7th Ward):

It’s unfortunate that an administration desperate to stay in office is irresponsible enough to misrepresent figures to try crediting themselves unduly! Recent articles talk about $40,125 unspent by the BOE, proving that through its benevolence this administration has actually overfunded education and these unspent funds of $40,125 are proof! The person chosen to pitch this notion is running for a seat on the BOE and should have been the one person responsible enough to have at least asked the BOE the one question, “WHY”!!! Instead she became another pawn for Team Cassetti.

I posed this question to our BOE Business Manager and here is the truth of this matter! The following is copied from her email to me:
 

 

I am providing this information with regards to the BOE not expending 100% of the funds allocated during the 2016-17 school year.
 

The BOE has several factors which impacted spending during the 2016-2017 year:
 

- I will start with the resignation of the Business Manager and a permanent placement not being

appointed for several months. This means that budgeted salary and health care cost for a family

were not being incurred.
 

- The district realized significant savings in health care cost by changing to a HDHP. (High

Deductible Health Plan)
 

- The City transferred Excess Cost funds to the BOE to cover the increased cost of Special

Education services. This is significant because in the past the BOE was absorbing these rising cost

within their existing budget.
 

- The City transferred in-kind expenses for LAP insurance to the BOE, this was not budgeted for

by the BOE originally,
 

- The last winter was mild and very warm, this combination resulted in savings for fuel heating and

OT for custodians.
 

The net result of all the above resulted in the BOE not expending 100% of its allocated budgeted. Each of these accounts had a positive balance on June 30th 2017. These balances were used to off-set accounts that had negatives balances, they include tuition, transportation, purchased services, liability insurance and supplies. I did not use numbers above in an effort to keep it simple, but heat energy alone had an unexpended balance of $46,803. 
 

Once the audit is final and adjustments are made I will provide an updated year-end report to all BOE members that show expenditures by object and the final figures expended and unexpended for the 2016-17 year. Currently, I do not have the back up to support the $40,125 figure that was referenced in the VIS, I was told that the number is from the audit (I cannot confirm this number).
 

I have not received any communication from the auditor lately, so I cannot confirm that the figures are final (I have not been given a final figure for BOE). Additionally, I have not been apprised of any changes/adjustments resulting from the audit being completed that would change numbers I currently have.
 

So, Ansonia, there a lot of fluid parts to any BOE. A statement made referencing 3 lines in a budget document represents little if any relevance to the overall budget of education. One thing that is glaring, though, is where did Team Cassetti get its information from in the first place since the BOE has yet to receive its final audit figures?
 

 

Vincent Scarlata

Member Ansonia BOE

Vendors Wanted for Holiday Marketplace

Derby Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan Appeals to Voters

(The following is a letter from Derby Republican Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan)


Now that the dust has settled from the Derby mayoral debate, I’d like to make my final public statement to the voters before next Tuesday’s election.

I first announced my intent to run for Mayor earlier this year on March 22^nd. For the past 7+ months, I have attended meetings, gone to public events, and most importantly, visited almost 3,000 Derby residents at their homes. I have lost almost 30 pounds due to these efforts and the stresses associated with running a campaign. In addition, my team has volunteered countless hours of time to gathering information, meeting with residents, and doing the necessary legwork. 

I’m proud that we have run a fact-based, grass roots campaign with nothing but Derby people at the core of the effort. At the end of the day, I know that Mayor Dugatto and the Democrats have Derby’s best interest in mind as much as the Republicans and I do. She has had four years to improve the quality of life for Derby residents, and now I think it’s my turn to lead us in the right direction.

I want to ensure Derby voters that I have a specific plan for economic development and it is multi-faceted with a lot of moving parts. I can tell you that the first thing I will do is get the city’s residential real estate holdings back onto the tax rolls. As a city, we should not be in the real estate business any more than we should be in the development business.

 

Our job in city hall is to assess and remediate properties so they are as attractive as possible to investors and developers, not to sit on 15+ properties and come up with a specific plan for each one. I understand we made calculated decisions to purchase some properties downtown in preparation for execution of a plan, but it is now time to move forward with not only the downtown project, but also get things moving in other stagnant areas.

I will work with surrounding municipalities, the State of Connecticut, and the federal government to secure all available funds and resources. I will consolidate services and combine efforts with anyone and everyone that will help to alleviate the tax burden for the citizens of Derby.

I will bring in a full-time professional staff and hold them accountable to the city. They will give a championship effort in moving Derby forward and they will bring results, not hypothetical plans and promises. I myself will focus on leading everyone in the city and getting maximum productivity out of each department. Being the Mayor of Derby will be both an honor and a complete lifestyle for me. It will be a 24/7 identity.

I want to be your Mayor and those who have pledged their support to me believe that I’m the right person to lead Derby into the future. I will conclude with a quote:

“Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.”

 

Mayor Dugatto has no doubt had the best of intentions for our city, but unfortunately she has lacked the foresight and ability to make her plans a reality. I hope I can count on your vote on November 7^th.