Ansonia performer wows crowd in Fairfield

Ansonia resident Mark Lanzieri performs his signature Sinatra songs Sunday with the Paul King Orchestra at the Sherman Green gazebo in Fairfield. The Stratford-based orchestra performed a variety of Big Band standards to the delight of all.

Healthy living expos planned in Woodbridge, Fairfield

Siegel to speak May 17 in Fairfield

New England Young at Heart has scheduled two healthy living expos. 

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 3 an expo will be held at Woodbridge Senior Center, 4 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge.
Admission is free.

A free boxed lunch will be available beginning at noon for the first 100 people.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17 an expo is planned at Fairfield Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield.
Author Bernie Siegel, a physician, will be the guest speaker.

For more information on becoming a vendor or presenter at events and workshops that New England Young at Heart offers go to neyoungatheart.com, call Elaine Marcucio, 203-887-5047 or contact her at elainem@youngatheartmagazine.com.


This is taken from a press release from Elaine Marcucio. 

Dietitian, musician team to present program in Fairfield

Talk to highlight lifestyle changes to boost vitality

 

 Registered dietitian and exercise physiologist Samantha Heller and jazz musician Michael Coppola. / Contributed photo

 

DERBY - Griffin Hospital’s Registered Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist Samantha Heller will team up with jazz musician Michael Coppola Nov. 10 for an out-of-the-box presentation about simple life changes that can boost vitality in a big way.

“How to Beat Fatigue, Feel Fabulous & Look Amazing with Simple Lifestyle Changes” is a unique, music-infused event that shows participants how to optimize health, boost energy and feel younger. The creative fusion of science and song promised to leave participants motivated and empowered to change their lives.

The program will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Road.
Heller, a Wilton native, is The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition Coordinator and a nationally known nutrition expert who regularly appears on television and radio programs such as The TODAY Show, the CBS This Morning, Dr. Oz, and Doctor Radio on Sirius XM.

Coppola is a local musician who plays at the Center for Cancer Care and at venues such as Café 9 in New Haven, Fuji of Darien and Ari Bella in Shelton.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Cyclists for CT Challenge in Fairfield offer inspiration, hope

Event held under picture-perfect skies Saturday

A sea of cyclists at opening ceremonies Saturday morning at Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. These dedicated men and women, who pedaled anywhere from 10 to 180 miles to raise funds for cancer survivors, are my heroes. The 180-mile ride was held over two days.

 

Here's another view of these super athletic cyclists before they took off Saturday.

WESTPORT - Yes, I know this isn't a View from the Valley as the name of this blog would suggest..but since I live in the Valley I thought I'd take some liberties today.

And of course there are way too many Valley residents living with cancer and in the midst of undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and other forms of treatment to fight the disease. 

I wrote a story about CT Challenge earlier this month. 

My husband Ralph and I volunteered Saturday at this event; he is working on a YouTube slideshow using our photos. I'll embed that in a future blog post, I guess! He's better at some of this technology than I.

We got involved as volunteers through my participation in a weekly exercise class for breast cancer survivors at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby. The class is led by cancer certified exercise trainer extraordinaire Dan Root, who works at CT Challenge.

Since the class is free for those of us in Griffin Hospital's survivorship program, volunteering at this wonderful event is one small way for me to give back. And it was truly a great day.

Former major league baseball player and manager Bobby Valentine, athletic director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, speaks to fellow cyclists at the opening ceremonies. He was introduced by CT Challenge co-founder and President Jeff Keith of Fairfield, who survived cancer when he was 12. 

Derby school honors alumni, friends

St. Mary-St. Michael School holds ceremony in Fairfield

Honorees pictured from left are: Al Altieri, Sister Helen Catherine Ruane, Elizabeth "Betty" Tiano, Maureen Murphy, and David Dripchak, who filled in for his parents Helen and Steve Dripchak.



FAIRFIELD – Six alumni and friends of St. Mary-St. Michael Elementary School in Derby were honored Saturday at a Recognition Awards Ceremony held on the campus of Sacred Heart University.

Derby Second Ward Alderman Art Gerckens, a 1976 graduate of St. Mary’s School, welcomed the crowd.
“We are here tonight to honor men and women who epitomize a lifetime commitment to Catholic education,” Gerckens said.

Linda Coppola, principal of St. Mary-St. Michael School awarded each of the honorees with plaques and official citations from the State of Connecticut General Assembly.  State Rep. Linda M. Gentile was instrumental in securing the proclamations.

The award winners are:

Guardian Angel Award
Given to individuals who have made an impact through service in their community, or for other humanitarian efforts that reflect the mission of St. Mary-St. Michael School.

Elizabeth “Betty” Tiano
Sr. Helen Catherine Ruane

Spirit of St. Mary-St. Michael School Award
Given to alumni who have made a significant positive impact in their field or profession, in the community in which they reside.

Maureen Murphy
Al Altieri

Christian Compassion Award
The Christian Compassion Award is given to individuals who have served the community and the school in countless ways, embodying the spirit of generosity, kindness and goodwill.

Helen and Steve Dripchak

St. Mary-St. Michael School was created in 1988 when St. Mary School (est. 1898) and St. Michael School (est. 1915) merged to form one school.

Elizabeth "Betty" Tiano is congratulated by 2011 honoree, former New York Jet and President of Oxford Industries, Nick DeFelice, an alumnus of St. Mary's School.

This information is from a press release.

Derby students compete in holiday race in Fairfield

Club runs in St. Patrick's Day event

The Derby Middle School running club participated Sunday in the Warren Street St. Patrick's Day four-mile race in Fairfield.

Rachel Fleischer and Kiley Rodriguez placed first in their respective age groups, with Rachel Rizzo and Gabriella Prizio second, and Steven Stanley third.

Steven Stanley - Grade 7

Chris Oliwa, Grade 7

Pictured front to back (in red) are Rachel Fleischer, Grade 7, Gabriella Prizio, Grade 9, and Kiley Rodriguez, Grade 8.


Photos by April Pruzinsky 


Congratulations to all the runners from Derby Middle School who participated!



This information is taken from a press release from Bradley School kindergarten teacher Jenny Ames.

Operation Gift Cards receives $20,000 donation

 

Veteran Angel Cadena, left, accepts a $20,000 donation on behalf of Operation Gift Cards and the Disabled American Veterans from Steve Lobdell, center, and Steve Curry of Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426. / Contributed photo

Operation Gift Cards for wounded troops, a program co-sponsored by 62 Connecticut organizations, has received a $20,000 donation. 

Angel Cadena, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan-two tours) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (one tour) and a member of AMVETS (American Veterans) Post 43 accepted the $20,000 donation July 10 from the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426.

The check was presented by Steve Lobdell and Steve Curry. The Fairfield firefighters raised the money during the annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon and 5K hosted by the Fairfield firefighters' local in June.

Lobdell, creator and President of the fairfieldhalf.org, and Steve Curry, Assistant Chief of the Fairfield Fire Department and an Air Force veteran, have both been among the 199 representatives (from 64 organizations - 62 from Connecticut) who have visited the wounded troops for Operation Gift Cards. 

The AMVETS and the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426 have been the largest two supporters of Operation Gift Cards.

This information was provided by Al Meadows of Shelton.

Tax collector wished well

Derby's tax collector, Cinda Buchter, recently resigned to take the position of tax collector in Fairfield, a town that is nearly five times the size of Derby in population.

This week Buchter will be leaving the job she has held for the past decade.
Buchter, a lifelong Bethany resident, said today she is really going to miss Derby City Hall and her co-workers there.
"The taxpayers have been great to me," she added.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri said today he congratulated Buchter on her new job. "I wish her the best," he said. "While she was here she did a great job. She was very professional."

We also wish Buchter the best in her new venture.

Ansonia quartet wins Junior Achievement competition

Four Ansonia High School students took first place March 16 in a regional Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut, Inc. competition at Fairfield University. They competed against 15 other high schools from the Valley and Fairfield County. They are from left, junior Darby Caneen, and seniors Daniel Kiley, Volodymyr Jatsiv, and Alex Westine. Business teacher Sara Crooks, far right, accompanied them as their coach.  Patricia Villers/ Register

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
ANSONIA — A team of four Ansonia High School students won first place honors recently at a Junior Achievement competition, surpassing their peers from 15 other schools in the region.
The second annual JAT Titan business challenge was held at Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business.
Last year Ansonia High School took third place, business teacher Sara Crooks said.
Each of the boys on the team received a $1,000 scholarship.
Crooks accompanied the team to the event. She said she couldn’t be happier with their victory.

Read the full story here.

Hope dwindles for missing Housatonic River boater

Family members comfort each other Tuesday at the search site near the Housatonic River. Melanie Stengel/Register
 
By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent
A two-day search for a missing Woodbridge man, whose boat capsized Monday on the Housatonic River, turned into a recovery operation Tuesday, officials said.
The search was suspended about 4:30 p.m. and will resume Wednesday morning, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. DEEP will return along with the state police dive team, canine units and a side-scan sonar from Fairfield Fire Department, DEEP spokesman Dwayne Gardner said.

Read the full story here.

Ansonia man dies in crash on Merritt Parkway in Fairfield

 An Ansonia man died Monday morning after he swerved off of the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield and struck a tree, according to state police.
Kevin Rascoe, 44, of 107 Prindle Ave. in Ansonia, was traveling south on Route 15, south of the Congress Street overpass in Fairfield, when he swerved to the left, sideswiped the cement Jersey barrier and drifted onto the grass shoulder into a tree, police said.
According to police, Rascoe, who was driving a 2006 Acura, was not wearing a seatbelt.

Fairfield drowning victim identified as Shelton man

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Naugatuck Valley Bureau Chief
FAIRFIELD — A Shelton man drowned in Lake Mohegan Thursday morning, according to police and fire officials.
Police identified the victim Thursday as Frank Mazzabufi, 39, of Shelton.

Read the full story here.

Derby woman is hospital's employee of year

Bridgeport Hospital named Darlene Haydu of Derby as its 2010–2011 Employee of the Year and Rosemary McCauley of Fairfield as the recipient of its 2011 George B. and Alice P. Longstreth Humanness Award.
Both awards were presented at the hospital’s annual Employee Recognition Dinner May 18 at The Waterview in Monroe.
A 27-year employee, Haydu is the lead CT scan technician in Radiology and had previously been named June 2010 Employee of the Month.
“Darlene has a sincere, genuine compassion for her patients and she always makes them feel safe and comfortable,” said Haydu’s supervisor, Imaging Services Manager Linda Rossetti. “She puts the needs of her patients first.”
McCauley is a nurse in the MedEase ambulatory medicine unit. She has been with the hospital for 30 years.
“Skilled, compassionate, kind, dedicated, with a good sense of humor,” are some of the words her nominators used to describe Rosemary. One nominator added, “Possibly the best nurse I’ve ever worked with.”
The Employee of the Year and Longstreth Award winner each receive a plaque and a cash prize.
More than 500 employees attended the annual dinner. Most were recognized for achieving service milestones of five to 45 years.
“When people know you treasure them, they respond,” said hospital President and CEO Bill Jennings about the importance of appreciating the contributions of employees.
Hospital Board of Directors Chair Meredith Reuben and medical staff president Robert Folman, MD, also expressed their appreciation to employees.
“Thanks you for your hard work on behalf of the hospital and the community,” added hospital Board of Directors Chair Meredith Reuben.
“We are a team—one big family—with a common goal: providing healing and compassionate care to people in need,” said Medical Staff President Robert Folman, MD. “Nothing is more worthwhile.”
Established in 1878, the 425-bed Bridgeport Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care teaching hospital that serves 20,000 inpatients and receives more than 240,000 outpatient visits each year, including more than 75,000 to its newly expanded and renovated emergency department.