Medical practice plans move to Oxford

Valley Orthopaedic Specialists is relocating its Ansonia office to Oxford to accommodate growing patient volume.
Effective Sept. 3, the Ansonia office will move from its 111 Wakelee Ave. address to 144 Oxford Road, Oxford.
The office’s phone number, 203-734-7900, will remain the same.
All four Valley Orthopaedic Specialists physicians—Drs. Gerald Cambria, Gary Richo, Ignatius Komninakas, and Scott Waller—will practice at both the new Oxford office as well as the practice’s main office, located at 2 Trap Falls Road, Shelton.
For more information visit www.vosct.com.

The above is taken from a release from Griffin Hospital in Derby.

A new taste in town

Gourmet restaurant opens in Derby

Tanya Skeeter shows off her signature salad. Photo by Patricia Villers

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening of The Gourmet Cafe in downtown Derby.

Not only were the food samples scrumptious, but I met some interesting folks while I was there.


The beautifully-designed restaurant in the Plaza on the Green on Elizabeth Street opened quietly in May, chef/owner Tanya Skeeter of Bridgeport said.


She started her culinary career as a caterer in Bridgeport, where she has been dubbed "The Salad Lady," she said.

Skeeter's signature salad, The Tree of Life, pictured above, is filled with lots of vegetables as well as cranberries and strawberries. She served it with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
You can order it straight up, or topped with chicken, turkey or shrimp, and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.

An appetizer featuring focaccia squares topped with a fresh tomato slice, mozzarella cheese, basil and drizzled with balsamic vinegar was wonderful.

I also sampled spinach and cheese quiche. I haven't eaten quiche in a long time, but this one had the fluffiest filling I had ever eaten.

The atmosphere is relaxing. Quiet music plays in the background. Two large mirrors create a feeling of depth.
The walls are painted a soft green, which designer Joan Andrews of Bethel said she chose because green is fresh, and it evokes all things natural.

Andrews said she wants people to feel at home in the restaurant, and see it as a place to escape from the daily routine.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, a former restaurant owner, has become a regular customer. He said he sees the cafe as "a new wave" in the restaurant industry.

I wish Skeeter and her staff all the best as they cater to residents of the Valley and beyond.

Mayor Anthony Staffieri, third from right, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening. Photo by Patricia Villers

Derby couple's landscaping makeover airs tonight

Jason Cameron, left, host of "America's Most Desperate Landscape" on the DIY Network, poses with homeowners Patty and Casimir Stochmal of Derby. The Stochmals won a front yard makeover worth more than $25,000 in a contest sponsored by the DIY Network. The work was completed in three days in June. The show airs at 9 p.m. today. / Contributed photo

Ansonia concert postponed

ANSONIA - The first summer concert of the season scheduled for tonight has been postponed, Cultural Commission chairwoman Judy Nicolari said.


The Starving Artists will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at Veterans' Park next to City Hall on Main Street.

The Starving Artists is a classic rock band formed in 1992 by Dave McWilliams of Seymour and Rob Henry of Shelton.
George Lesiw, a jazz guitarist from Ansonia and a graduate of Berkley School of Music, and Gary Collins, formerly of the Beatles' tribute band "Apple" provide lead and harmony vocals.

The band focuses on '60s and '70s music, along with classic tunes from the Beatles, Guess Who, Willie Nelson, and more.

Closing the circle is vital, educator says

Helping needy, learning to drive all part of her journey in Kenya


By Lois Knapton

Special Education Director

Derby Public Schools

My new motto this year is Close the Circle, that means whatever I start, I need to assure that it gets finished, checking with everyone involved until the very end.  

So here in Kenya, we met a parent and her child has clubfoot.

She did not know what to do. We referred her to the clinic, we assured she went to her appointment, and now her son is being treated for free. His clubfoot surgery went well.  

Here he is with his casts on: 

They will stay on for two months, then he will wear foot braces. 

Below is a second child we are working with. He is done with his surgery and now in phase II. He will wear these foot braces for two to three years at night.

They will stay on for two months, then he will wear foot braces.

        Another story: When we met Nicole, she was constantly crying;  her mother said she never stops crying and it has lasted four years.

       The mother continually tries to console her daughter. As I looked at the child, I felt she was having ear problems. 

       We told the mother to bring her child to the clinic. One of the teams was holding a free medical clinic that week at the school. The mother followed through and brought her child to the clinic. The mother was given ear medicine. 

       We told her we would be back to assess after the medication was finished. Ten days later, guess what? Nicole's ears cleared up, she can hear now and she has stopped crying. The mother was amazed and so happy. 

     And the stories go on and on...

    Another success story: I met my sponsor child and her family again this year..."By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." Alma 37:6.
    And another success story: I took up driving in Kenya. Wow, what an experience. 

     The steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the car and you drive on the left hand side of the road. Thankfully, the gas pedal is still on the right and the brake pedal is still on the left. With all the Matatu's and crazy drivers, I really need to concentrate. But I just had to learn. Just to say I did it!!!
     Also, I attended a pre-wedding ceremony on Sunday. It was a fund raiser for someone's wedding. The funny thing was they auctioned off these chickens, and some eggs, and an umbrella. 

    I am definitely in Africa.
           
   Life in the slums is difficult, but they do not know any other way. So you wake up in the morning, and go to work if you have a job, otherwise, you sell your goods on the road, or beg, or steal, and do your laundry, next to the sewer that runs through the slums; hang it out to dry and go find food.  

      I am honored to be here serving for God. "The course of our lives is seldom determined by great, life-altering decisions. Our direction is often set by small, day-to-day choices that chart the track on which we run. This is the substance of our lives - making choices." ( Stand a Little Taller, 2001).  
 

      I will close this circle and leave behind a sustainable special education referral, assessment, and support system for this school and community. 

     I have four more weeks to finish the task.

     I guess I will have to come back to see the fruits of my labor blossom and change lives forever.

     I haven't even left and already I am thinking of coming back. But that is how it goes.       

Editor's note: Knapton is spending three months working in Kenya and is sharing her experiences here each week.   
 

Shelter to hold open house

SHELTON - Spooner House Community Open House will be held 1-5 p.m. July 29 at the shelter, 30 Todd Road.

A presentation to honor Valley first responders will be held at 2 p.m. Come meet the staff, have some refreshments and tour our beautiful facility.

This event is free of charge, but donations of cleaning supplies and paper goods would be greatly appreciated.

For information, call ACT, 203-225-0453 or visit www.act-spooner.org.



The above was provided by Tony Vellucci, Development Director, Spooner House.

Farmers' market is welcome news for downtown Ansonia

By Marc Weissman
Producer/Host
"Looking Up: A View From The Valley"
Community Access TV show


Hats off to Chairman Vinnie Scarlata of Ansonia's Economic Development Commission for an absolutely fabulous job spearheading the city's new Farmers' Market that kicks off at 2 p.m. Thursday.
It will be open 2-6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays each week through the fall. 

Illustration by Rich DiCarlo of Derby

What a great way to attract more patrons to Ansonia's downtown as well as help promote overall business development in the city.

Between the recent success of the second annual Pierre Lallement Bike Festival, and now this follow-up effort -  completed in just three weeks from concept to approval - Scarlata has clearly demonstrated himself as a positive force to be reckoned with in the Valley.

And in case you hadn't heard, in addition to nearby farmers participating in this worthwhile community effort, Vinnie and the EDC have also smartly included Eddy’s Bake Shop and Big Y as vendors. There is even open space allotted for any  local  co-op  growers  from   Ansonia's  own  Nature   Center. 
What this means is that Scarlata and his group have astutely developed a unique and savvy biweekly event that collaborates local agriculture, at least one downtown business and a corporate entity all in one nice, neat, Valley-friendly package.

Good luck, Vinnie, and congratulations to all involved! 
 

Check out www.lookingupvalley.com to learn more about Weissman's community access TV show.