Derby Mayor Proclaims Monday, September 28 – October 2 Diaper Awareness Week

DERBY – On Monday, September 28, Mayor Anita Dugatto presented David Morgan, TEAM President/CEO a proclamation recognizing the week of September 28 – October 2 as National Diaper Need Awareness Week. 

A signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), Diaper Need Awareness Week features a range of activities focused on diaper need and its prevalence in communities across the country. 

 

“Derby is proud to be home to the TEAM Diaper Bank that recognizes the importance of diapers in helping to  produce economic stability for families and distribute diapers to poor families through various channels”, stated Mayor Dugatto. “I encourage the citizens of Derby to donate generously to the TEAM Diaper Bank and those organizations that distribute diapers to families in need to help alleviate diaper bank need in Derby and the surrounding communities.” 

 

Though diapers are a basic need for every child in their first years and are essential to the health and well-being of the child, safety net programs that provide assistance to low-income families such as SNAP (food stamps) and WIC do not cover the purchase of diapers.

To address the needs of families in the Valley, TEAM Diaper Bank provides monthly diapers and wipes to more than 200 eligible families residing in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.  Since opening in 2013, TEAM has distributed over 300,000 diapers to Valley families.

As part of Diaper Need Awareness Week, TEAM Diaper Bank will be hosting a workshop providing diapering and potty training support for all families with young children in the community. The public is invited to register for the workshop being held on Thursday, October 1 from 5:30-7:30 PM at TEAM Early Education Center, 80 Howard Avenue in Ansonia.

Individuals and organizations can get involved in Diaper Need Awareness Week by donating to the Diaper Bank or hosting a diaper drive. 

For further information about TEAM Diaper Bank or to donate, please contact Ayanna Williams at awilliams@teaminc.org or 203-736-5420 ext. 204.

(This is a press release from TEAM, Inc.)

Career Fair in Seymour Oct. 6

Substance Abuse Action Council Honors Conroy

Theresa Conroy and Pamela Mautte

Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) was recognized by the Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action

 Council at their 2015 Community Champion Awards Ceremony on New Haven.

 

Pamela A. Mautte, Director Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council, “Theresa has worked on several substance abuse prevention and intervention initiatives over the past several years. It was my pleasure working side by side with Theresa this past year on opiate issues, banning powdered alcohol and other prevention issues.”

 

Rep. Conroy has been a strong advocate for many prevention issues. Rep. Conroy was instrumental in the passage of legislation that improves the monitoring and reporting of narcotic prescriptions and increases access to life-saving opioid antagonists. Naloxone, or Narcan, is an opioid antagonist that works to reverse the effects of opioids.

 

Between 2009-2014, there were over 2,000 accidental and unintentional opioid involved deaths that occurred in 150 of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.  

 

“I want to thank the Valley Substance Abuse Action Council for their incredible work and advocacy,” Rep. Conroy said. “They are true champions of prevention.”

(This is a press release from Conroy's office) 

Harvest Festival in Ansonia Returns Oct. 3

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> The 12th annual Harvest Festival is right around the corner, ready to usher in the fall season with pumpkins, crafts, food, live music and more.

The event, staged by the Ansonia Cultural Commission, will take place Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Main Street. Dozens of craft and food vendors will have booths set up between Tremont Street to Kingston Drive. The festival will take place rain or shine and admission is free.

According to Commission Chairman Ralph Villers, the event promises family fun for all.

“This year, we are bringing the Harvest Festival closer to its roots by simplifying the event, making it a bit smaller and more intimate,” Villers said. “We believe by resizing and reducing to just one entertainment stage, the focus returns to the vendors plying their wares and the visitors sampling their wares under a pleasant autumn sky.”
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Joe’s Dogs opens next to Derby train station

Joe Miani of Derby is photographed with his food cart, Joe’s Hot Dog Cafe, next to the train station in Derby on 9/24/2015. (Arnold Gold — New Haven Register)

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

DERBY >> When resident Joe Miani retired from the automotive business after 40 years, instead of relaxing at home, relishing his golden years, he bought a hot dog trailer.

Since July, Miani and his wife, Barbara, have been enjoying retirement by working. They can be found cooking up hot dogs, sausage and peppers, breakfast sandwiches, coffee and more from their silver hot dog trailer perched underneath the Route 8 overpass next to the Derby Train Station on Main Street.

Joe’s Dogs is open Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; hours the Mianis say fit in nicely with their retirement schedule.

Miani, 67, just retired last October, but was already making plans for his future before that. He purchased the trailer six months prior to leaving a four-decade career servicing cars, because it was something he always wanted to do.
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Family of Derby boy recovering from lifesaving surgery provides ‘bags of hope’ to others facing medical crises

Anthony Muoio, 17 months old, visits with the Rev. Bill Maguire, chaplain in the Department of Spiritual Care at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, Wednesday. A year ago, Anthony endured a 9-hour surgery to remove a life-threatening brain tumor. Maguire offered spiritual guidance to Sarah and Robert Muoio, Anthony’s parents. Catherine Avalone — New Haven Register

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

As the one-year anniversary of Derby toddler Anthony Muoio’s lifesaving surgery approaches, his family paid it forward Wednesday to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, which saved the young boy’s life.

Anthony will be 17 months old on Friday, one year after undergoing an intensive, nine-hour surgery to remove a life-threatening brain tumor.

The tumor was resting against an artery, threatening to cut off then 5-month-old Anthony’s blood supply. Doctors successfully removed the tumor, and Anthony has experienced an “amazing recovery.” He will continue with followup care for years, but recently graduated to having MRIs every six months instead of every three, according to his parents.
Read more here.

Seymour Pink’s ‘Pounding the Pavement for Pink’ grows in popularity

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

SEYMOUR >> More than 2,200 runners and walkers from 17 states will soon lace up their sneakers in an effort to kick breast cancer to the curb.

According to Seymour Pink Founder Mary Deming, Seymour Pink’s 4th annual ‘Pounding the Pavement for Pink’ 5k walk/run, sponsored by Haynes Construction, has significantly grown in popularity since the first 5K held in 2012. Last year’s attendance of 1,800 runners and walkers exceeded Deming’s expectations, and this year will be no exception. Deming anticipates upwards of “2,500” people to participate in this year’s event on Oct. 3, plus another 1,000 spectators cheering from the sidelines.

“Once again, this is due to a community’s response to unite against a diagnosis that has touched so many friends and family,” Deming said. “With Connecticut being # 2 in the nation for most breast cancer cases, we have heard those words, ‘You have breast cancer’ way too many times.”
Read more here.