Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Clean-up

ANSONIA - Mayor Dave Cassetti is seeking volunteers to assist in his third annual Earth Day Cleanup of litter on select streets in the City. 

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon April 27. The meeting place is 9 a.m. at the Ansonia Armory, 5 State St. Reflective vests, pickers, and trash bags will be provided. Over the past two Earth Day events, more than 1,000 lbs of paper/cans/bottles have been collected. All volunteers participating will be treated to a post-cleanup pizza party too! 


Those interested should contact the Mayor’s office. 203-736-5900 or email at: gmartin@ansoniact.org

The rain date is April 28.

Help Clean-Up Mother Earth

Earth Day Clean-up in Ansonia

Celebrate Earth Day in Seymour

Rain moves Earth Day celebration indoors at Ansonia Nature Center

Nature center volunteer James Fourtin shows off a python friend at Saturday's Earth Day celebration.

 

James Tully holds a boa constrictor at the nature center. He said the snake wasn't venomous. Tully also showed visitors what looked like a tarantula but I didn't venture close enough to take a photo. I decided to keep my distance.
  

Celebrate Earth Day, Ansonia 125 at nature center

Seymour's Bungay School students stay busy in April

Talent show, Earth Day planting among activities 

Fifth graders perform in Bungay's talent show. / Contributed photo

SEYMOUR - Bungay Elementary School fourth and fifth graders recently performed a talent show.

Principal Mary Sue Feige and Assistant Principal John Gentile helped to make the show a success by coordinating and hosting the event.

There was a variety of amazing acts such as dancing, singing, karate, magic acts, instruments, gymnastics, and even a hula hooper.
Over 350 parents, friends, and relatives showed up to watch the talents of these young performers. The process started back in January when the Talent Show co-chairs, Caitlin Iannucci and Nicole Francisco held auditions. From then on, students came to school early for rehearsals with the help of an outstanding talent show committee made up of Bungay faculty members.
It ended with a flash mob performed by faculty and staff. The Talent Show was a huge success and a memory that the students will have forever.

Diabetes walk raises $3,301

Bungay Elementary School’s annual Diabetes walk took place April 26 on school grounds.
The entire student body and faculty walked around the baseball field several times, while raising money to help those less fortunate.
The weather was wonderful and the children had loads of fun walking for this very worthwhile cause which raised $3,301 for the American Diabetes Association.

Battle of the Books

On April 10 and April 11 Bungay School hosted its second annual Battle of the Books organized by Carrie Stepeck, Library Media Specialist. 
The competition tested the students’ knowledge of a preselected list of texts including Nutmeg Books. 
All competitors proved themselves remarkably prepared and knowledgeable. We are incredibly proud of all of the students involved in this exciting, educational program and hope their desire to read continues in the future.

At the end of two riveting competitions, champions were established. Mrs. Yoxall’s third grade class and Mrs. Sabatini’s fifth grade class were victorious. All of Bungay School is proud of their accomplishment.

Students take part in tree planting at nature center. / Contributed photo

Annual tree planting

On April 28 more than 30 Bungay students and their families made their way to the Ansonia Nature Center to take part in what has become an annual tree-planting activity.
For the past six years, Michael Milia, a fifth grade teacher, has organized the annual Earth Day event along with Alison Rubelmann, Assistant Director of the Ansonia Nature Center.
This year Kelley Garofalo, also a teacher at Bungay, joined in the ceremony.
The festivities began with a ceremony in which the students played various drums, sang, and even danced.  They were then led to the main building to watch a video documentary of a student community gardening project right here in Connecticut.
After the video, the students and their families planted dozens of White Pine seedlings behind the Redwing Pond House Preschool.
The nature center offered a full day of activities including nature walks, hikes, natural history lectures, music, and craft programs offered to participants. All of the activities were free of charge to the general public. 

This post is taken from a press release from Bungay School.

Birds of prey on display at Earth Day celebration in Ansonia

Todd Secki of Killingworth shows off Autumn, a red-tailed hawk, Saturday at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center's annual Earth Day celebration.  

Secki said red-tailed hawks are the most common hawks found in North America and often live for 25 to 30 years in the wild. 
He and his wife, Christine Cummings-Secki,  are licensed wildlife rehabilitators who run the nonprofit raptor rescue organization, A Place Called Hope. 

Deep River resident Grace Krick and Chestnut, a Great Horned Owl, seem to be having a staring contest Saturday at the nature center. Krick is a volunteer with A Place Called Hope.

Seymour Lions promote green initiative, mark Earth Day

Seymour Lions' clean-up crew members pause to pose at Exit 22 off Route 8. /Contributed photo

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Lions Club recently took part in a Lions Green Team initiative to help the environment by celebrating Earth Day at its Adopt-A-Spot located at the bottom of Exit 22 off Route 8 North.
The club’s efforts resulted in a welcoming entrance into Seymour.

According to Yvonne Lorincz, Seymour Lions Club president, “This Lions Green Team project improved the environment and our community at the same time. It exemplifies our ongoing commitment to provide a healthier and safer place to live, work and play.
"Lions thank everyone who contributed to and supported this important effort. You are truly helping Lions make a difference.”

The Seymour Lions Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen, 557 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia.
In addition to environmental projects, the club also is having a Meet & Greet Book Swap on May 19 and is starting its Summer Cruise Season May 5.
Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs.
For information or to get involved with the Seymour Lions Club, contact Melissa A. Smith Poynton at 203-430- 9356, seymourlions52@att.net or visit “The Seymour Lions Club” on Facebook.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.
For information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

This post is taken from a press release from the Seymour Lions Club.

Ansonia Nature Center to host Earth Day

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, where every day is Earth Day, invites the community to celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27.

The annual event is co-hosted by staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc.


The theme for this daylong celebration is Sustainable Communities.

Visitors are urged to plan to spend all or part of the day at the center, 10 Deerfield Road.
There will be hikes, walks, natural history lectures, music and craft programs offered to participants. Activities are free of charge.

Exhibitors and presenters will share ways to live more sustainable lives.

A special feature will be Meig's Point Nature Center's Reptile Trailer with Russ Miller, featuring a display of reptiles.

"The Farmer's Voice," will present a short film, followed by a demonstration of planting in a raised bed.

Other invited exhibitors include the Naugatuck River Revival, Valley Arts Council, Coon Hollow Farm with a display, Unique Candles, the Massaro Farm, CAA (Community Supported Agriculture), Yale Peabody Museum's "On The Road," the Ansonia Community Organic Gardeners, and Connecticut NOFA (Connecticut MNotrheast Organic Farming Association).

Students in Seymour's Bungay Elementary School will plant trees on park grounds in honor of Earth Day.

Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. will hold a bake sale and food and beverages will be for sale.

There will be activities for children, including face painting and crafts.  


This post is taken from a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. 

Ansonia nature center seeks volunteers

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Join the Friends March 13 and help to plan this year's Earth Day celebration April 27. The theme is "Sustainable Communities."

The help of volunteers is always needed for the center's family programs, special events, wildlife rehabilitation program, nature store, and maintenance of trails and gardens.