Shelton bringing Christmas cheer to active duty service personnel

Shelton bringing Christmas cheer to active duty service personnel

The City of Shelton annually remembers Shelton residents away on active military duty during the Christmas season by sending each a small gift.

Those wishing to contribute to Shelton's service personnel can make checks payable to "The Servicemen's Christmas Fund," Finance Office, Shelton City Hall, 54 Hill St., Shelton, CT 06484.

In order for your relative or friend to be included in this mailing, you should write to the Finance Office at City Hall and give the following information: service person's name and rank, address with zip code, your name, address and phone number (in case there is a question). The information should reach the Finance Office before Dec. 13 to ensure that the mailing reaches them during the holiday season. The information can also be emailed to [email protected].

Garden club hosts wreath decorating

The Olde Ripton Garden Club will meet Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Shelton Community Center, 41 Church St. in Huntington Center. The members will be decorating holiday wreaths to be distributed to various community organizations and local schools. A holiday party will follow the decorating.

The Garden Club will break for the January and February meetings and resume in March. Guests and potential members are always welcome. Refreshments will be served at the holiday party, and there will be a $5 fee for guests and visitors.

Safe sitting class on Dec. 3

The Shelton Youth Services Bureau is holding a safe sitter class on Dec. 3 at the Shelton Community Center.

The class, for ages 11 to 14, is designed for a child interested in learning safe skills for babysitting and staying home alone. The class will feature lessons on basic First Aid, safety measures, child care skills, emergency procedures, handling strangers, and life and business tips.

The class is $25 per student. Registration is required. To register, call 203-924-7614.

Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center career fair

Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center will host a career fair at their Shelton location on Long Hill Avenue on Dec. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. The in-person event will offer opportunities for on-the-spot interviews for a variety of positions, including dining aides, cook supervisor, dietetic tech, R.N.s, and C.N.A.s.

The facility, which was recently recognized with U.S. News and World Report's "Best Nursing Homes" designation for 2022-23, is part of the Wesley Village senior living campus.

Those interested in attending can RSVP to Beth DeGroot at [email protected]. Walk-ins are also welcome. Healthcare professionals, local high school and college students pursuing a healthcare or hospitality career, or anyone looking for a fresh start with a new position while working in a caring environment are encouraged to attend. Anyone who is interested but cannot attend can contact Beth via text message at 203-343-1663 for follow-up information.

Griffin Hospital to host AARP Driver Safety Program

Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 8:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to everyone.

The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and make some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time.

The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance company about discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Make checks payable to AARP. To register, call Tammy at 203-732-1523.

Church choir seeking singers for cantata

The Huntington United Methodist Church choir is inviting the public to join in singing its Christmas cantata, JOY! composed by Joel Raney. Rehearsals are every other Thursday at the church, 338 Walnut Tree Hill Road. The cantata will be Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. at the church. For more information, call 203 929-5545.

American Legion welcomes home soldiers

Sutter-Terlizzi American Legion Post 16 of Shelton will be lining streets and driveways with American flags as part of a program to welcome home military personnel.

Mike Kellett, American Legion 3rd District executive committeeman, said the local Post created this program to help families of military personnel in welcoming home their loved ones from deployment, discharge or retiring from the military.

"As veterans still serving America, the Legion recognizes and appreciates the sacrifice of all who serve as well as the sacrifice of their families," Kellett said.

Kellett said Legionaries will work with family members to find just the right location for the flags, and they will be placed the afternoon or evening before a service member comes home and removed the day after.

"Welcome home," Kellett said. "Two simple words that far too many veterans did not get to hear upon their return home. The American Legion is committed to making sure that on our watch, returning soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines get the message loud and clear with the Operation Welcome Home Program."

Families living in Shelton who would like flags placed to welcome home their loved ones should contact American

[email protected]