Gentile to attend agriculture summit in Canada

Linda Gentile

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, will attend a Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit this weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

As the House Chair of the Environment Committee, Gentile will represent Connecticut at the 12^th annual event. 
The LACS provides a non-partisan educational opportunity on agriculture and rural issues for state and provincial officials at no cost to taxpayers thanks to scholarships from the organization awarded to invited legislators.

“As the Chair of the Environment Committee, it is critically important that I know and understand the issues and policies that impact food production, natural resources management and animal rights. This leadership conference is a perfect opportunity for me to meet and learn from legislative and industry leaders from all over the country,” Gentile said. 

  “Educational opportunities such as this provide a framework for developing sound public and economic policies. Agriculture is a billion dollar business and could provide us the opportunity to create jobs and infuse money into our economy.”

     Features over the weekend include sessions on dairy policy, animal welfare and food production.

     The State Agriculture and Rural Leaders group provides an unparalleled opportunity for elected officials with an interest in agriculture to work together, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships. Visit www.sarl.us.

This post is taken from a press release from Gentile's office.

Derby Middle School leaders applauded

Akshar Patel and Shannon Cayer-McCarthy

Two students from Derby Middle School were awarded the Middle level leaders award Monday at an event at the Aqua Turf in Southington.
This award is a recognition to one boy and one girl from each middle school in Connecticut who have shown great leadership in both school and the community.

Congratulations go out today to outstanding Derby Middle School students Akshar Patel and Shannon Cayer-McCarthy on winning this recognition!


This information was contributed.

Anyone for a screening?

 

DERBY - I had my first colonoscopy Monday. I don't know why it took me so long to undergo the procedure.
I take that back, maybe I do know: Fear and anxiety.


As friends and medical professionals alike had told me over the years, it's a piece of cake - once you get to the hospital, that is.
In my case, as you can see, it was Griffin.

The prep is not easy. I'm not sure which part I liked less - the not being able to eat or the taste of the stuff you have to drink to get "cleansed," shall we say.


But I don't want to scare anyone away from having it done. It's worth a day of just having chicken broth and lemon ice to eat.

As part of my own prep Sunday I watched video of the procedure as it was played out on live TV a few years back.

That's when TV newsman Harry Smith underwent a colonoscopy while the cameras rolled.

He was accompanied in the room by Katie Couric, long an advocate for regular colon screenings. Her husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998.

Also on Sunday I read a great column by humor writer Dave Barry who said he had put off the screening for quite a few years after hitting the half-century mark.

I'd love to share a quote or two here, they're quite hilarious, but that would be violating copyright laws. But I can urge you to look it up for a good laugh.


So the message today is if you're over 50 (or golden as I like to think of it) don't hesitate about getting checked.

As Debbie, the wonderful nurse who took care of me, said when she found out it was my first screening: "You're in for a treat."


I want to thank her, and Tammy, and Barbara and everyone in the Digestive Disorders Center who made the experience as easy as possible.
Sorry to say I can't remember all their names. I was a bit out of it from the dehydration.


And as you can see from the photo, they even give you a sticker when you're ready to leave.

Derby Neck offers programs from tech talk to therapy dogs

Activities slated in June

DERBY - At 6:30 p.m. June 12, join Miss Kathi for Bedtime Music and Movement.
Wear your jammies and bring a favorite stuffed animal to dance and sing with you. 

Women's Forum

The Women’s Forum meets at 12:30 p.m. June 17.
This is a lunch-time discussion group that focuses on ideas, literature, history, and issues related to women. This month we read two short stories by Alice Adams, copies of which are available for free at the library.
Bring a light lunch.  Free coffee and tea available.

Tech Talks

At 10:30 a.m. June 19 join us for Tech Talks.
This month we show search techniques for using our catalog and the Internet.  Also learn about the best free web sites and special databases you may access with  your library card.

Read to therapy dogs

At 6 p.m. June 19 the library will host Thor and Cosmo, two St. Bernard therapy dogs in the program B.A.R.K. (Be a Reading Kid).
Register your child to read to the dogs in a 15-minute session.

Writers' Round 

Writers’ Round meets at 6:30 p.m. June 20.
This is a workshop for writers of all genres—poetry, prose, fiction, scripts, etc.  Come share your original works.

Mime to perform

At 6:30 p.m. June 26 mime Robert Rivest performs. Join us for this exciting, free professional program and bring the whole family.

To register for any of the above programs call the library, 203-734-1492. The library is at 30 Hawthorne Ave,

This information is taken from a press release from Pat Sweeney at Derby Neck Library.  

Crisco supports Malloy's UConn initiative

Plan would yield top-tier research university

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, a University of Connecticut alumnus and former trustee, voted Saturday with an overwhelming majority of his Senate colleagues to approve Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Next Generation Connecticut proposal.

The proposal would expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academic and research programs at the state’s flagship university.

Crisco said over the next 10 years the initiative would develop a highly skilled Connecticut workforce, stimulate economic growth in the state, and create jobs.

“This ‘next generation’ proposal will build upon Connecticut’s strengths and successful in-state industries by training a technologically advanced workforce and attracting research funding and private sector investment alike,” Crisco said. “The foresight built into this plan will yield a preeminent, nationally recognized center for 21^st century higher learning.”

The plan authorizes $1.55 billion in new bonding over the next 10 years, positioning the university to hire innovative faculty, build new facilities and enroll thousands of additional talented students. 

Specifics of the plan include:

• Hiring 259 new faculty members (of which 200 will be in STEM).
• Enrolling an additional 6,580 talented undergraduate students.
• Building STEM facilities to house materials science, physics, biology, engineering, cognitive science, genomics and related disciplines.
• Constructing new STEM teaching laboratories.
• Creating a premier STEM Honors program.
• Upgrading aging infrastructure to accommodate new faculty and students.
• Expanding digital media and risk management degree programs in Stamford.
• Relocating the Greater Hartford Campus to downtown Hartford.

Crisco said over the next 10 years, UConn’s expansion and focus on STEM is expected to attract $270 million for research and more than $500 million in business activity to Connecticut. 

The proposal will create an estimated 30,000 construction jobs and support some 4,050 permanent jobs.

SB840, An Act Concerning Next Generation Connecticut, now advances to the House of Representatives for its consideration.


This information is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.

'Tales of Old Shelton' slated Sunday

SHELTON - The Shelton Historical Society will present "Tales of Old Shelton" at 1 p.m. Sunday (June 2) at Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St. 

The presentation will be given by Marty Coughlin, president of the Historical Society and the Long Hill Burying Ground Association.

The talk is based on his research and discoveries about some of the early and noteworthy families whose members are buried in Long Hill Burying Ground, the oldest existing cemetery in town.
Refreshments will be available.

The $5 admission benefits the programs of the Shelton History Center, a complex with six historic structures at 70 Ripton Road.

For further information, visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or call 203-
925-1803.

Tears, smiles seen at playground dedication in Ansonia

ANSONIA - Friday's dedication of the John G. Prendergast School playground in memory of Catherine Violet Hubbard, 6, of Newtown was filled with emotion.

Catherine's brother, Frederick Hubbard, 8, left, hands animal crackers to kids as they enjoyed the slide for the first time.
The cookies were in honor of Catherine's love and concern for animals.

The Hubbard family is building an animal sanctuary in Newtown in her memory.

As I watched the kids I was wishing I could have had a ride down the slide. Looks like fun!

A beautiful garden was created in Catherine's memory. Names of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims are written on the colorful butterflies. The flowers are pink and purple, Catherine's favorite colors. A flowering plum tree stands in the center.

A poem, "The Butterfly," specially written by David Snitzer, was inscribed on a plaque placed in the  garden. 

Signs offer visitors information about the evolution of this outstanding project. 

The big kids (sixth graders) had to wait at the end of the line to get their chance to try out the slide.