Ron Pugliese, CEO of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation and chairman of the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, left, and Courtney Ligi, director of the Naugatuck Chamber, right, present Jean Carr, of Naugatuck, with $5,000 for having the winning duck in the chamber’s annual duck race. -CONTRIBUTED
Elaine Ferretti, of Beacon Falls, recently received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award requires Girl Scouts to spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. Ferretti built a wooden kiosk in front of Matthies Park containing a sustainable map of the landmarks and trails to help make the park more accessible to the public and keeping the park’s natural beauty. The kiosk also included a bulletin area for any town news or upcoming events, and a number of brochures detailing the history of Matthies Park. -CONTRIBUTED
Naugatuck High School sophomore Saumya Shah shadowed Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locks May 26 during NHS Student Government Day. High school students spent the day with government employees. -CONTRIBUTED
Ion Bank Executive Vice President David Rotatori presents a $1,000 donation to Director of Hoops4Life Deneen Fryer surrounded by girls basketball players. The Ion Bank Foundation donated the money to Hoops4Life, a Waterbury-based nonprofit organization that provides athletic and educational programs for youth. -CONTRIBUTED
The Union City Little League Muckdogs won the minor championship recently with an 18-6 win over the Ironbirds. Pictured, front row from left, Odin Anderson, Christian Twigg, Jayden Bachman, Gino Ferrucci, Jason Heyward, Zachary Grant; middle row from left, Ty Gaffney, Vinnie Ferrucci, Adrian Ocampo Aidan Leahy, Kyle Segetti, Preston Bachman; back row from left, coaches Brian Gaffney, Jay Segetti, Jay Leahy and Lou Ferrucci. -CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Elementary School kindergartners River McGeehan, left, and Dustin Guertia play a ring toss game during Field Day at Prospect Elementary School June 9. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck mayor N. Warren ‘Pete’ Hess was the guest speaker at the Naugatuck Woman’s Club luncheon in April. Pictured, from left, President Laura Smith, Chairman of the June Luncheon Virginia Zapatka, Hess and Shelby Lineweber. -CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield shakes hands with Woodland Regional High School student Bianca Poehailos during a breakfast to celebrate the first year of an internship program May 24 at the school in Beacon Falls. The breakfast brought together students and employers. The program, which was piloted during the 2015-16 school year, offers opportunities students for students to intern in a field they are interesting in pursuing as a career. -KATIE MINUTILLO/HAWK HEADLINES
Prospect residents Fred and Leslie Kingston share a dance June 29 on the Prospect Town Green during the town’s summer concert series. The concert series features a new band every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Green through Aug. 24. –LUKE MARSHALL
The CT Rush Central U9 boys soccer team, which includes several Naugatuck players, won the CCSL White Division championship June 12 with a record of 6-0-2. Pictured, kneeling, Jonathan Huntley, Christopher O’Toole, Mason McSwiggan, Ethan Jones, Drew Konik, Owen Martin; standing, Noah Sapack, Tyler Reis, John Salgado, Alex Oliveira, Eli Simoes, Camren DeSousa, Landon Coelho, Nick Higgins, and coach Nick Varholak. -CONTRIBUTED
Boy Scouts from Troop 258 in Prospect backpacked and hiked the tallest peak in the state, 2,316 feet, May 21 at Bear Mountain in Salisbury. After hiking the peak they slept out on the Appalachian Trail for the night. Pictured, front row, Nicholas Santovasi, Aaron McKay, Nathan Bouffard, Joseph DeDominco, Zach Telesca, Nick Christiano, Brian Kieffer; back row, Jeff Varesio, Logan Molinari, Brendon Peach, Hayden Bartlett, Zach Bertrand and Jacob Marks.
Naugatuck resident Allison Carasone, a 2016 graduate of Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, received the Agatha M. Hanley Scholarship, which is given to a graduating senior majoring in business. Carasone, who will attend Fairfield University, also received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, which honors students with remarkable academic achievement and a GPA of 90 or above. Carasone is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Carasone of Naugatuck. -CONTRIBUTED
Waterbury Hospital honored area first responders during an EMS Week Awards Banquet May 18. The honorees included Patrick Ryan, Lynne Scheiferstein, Paul DeCarolis, John Lengyel, and Peter Monti with Beacon Hose Company No. 1 in Beacon Falls, and Dave Orzechowski with the Volunteer Fire Department of Prospect. Orzechowski was honored as the 2016 Top Responder of the Year. Monti was named the 2016 EMT of the Year. Pictured, from left, Beacon Hose EMS Director Joe Chew, Beacon Hose Ambulance Coordinator Ken George, and Beacon Hose Fire Chief Jim Trzaski accept the award on Monti’s behalf. -CONTRIBUTED
Cross Street Intermediate School student Belle Jason was recently honored for being among the winners of the 2nd annual Women’s History Month Essay Contest. All Naugatuck sixth-grade students were invited to participate in writing a 300-word essay on “How a Connecticut Woman Made a Contribution to the State and/or Nation and How it Affects Me.” -CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Elementary kindergartner Siobhan Moore looks to knock down some pins while bowling during Field Day at Prospect Elementary School June 9. –LUKE MARSHALL
Hillside Intermediate School student Alena Rotatori was honored for being among the winners of the 2nd annual Women’s History Month Essay Contest. All Naugatuck sixth-grade students were invited to participate in writing a 300-word essay on “How a Connecticut Woman Made a Contribution to the State and/or Nation and How it Affects Me.” -CONTRIBUTED
The Bulls won the Naugatuck YMCA 4 on 4 spring league championship June 20 over the Lakers. Pictured, players Camden Collette, Tommy Ayash, Alvin Torres, Freddie Longo, Brayden Collettee, Jimmy Ayash, Austin Dickson, Monica Untiet, Joseph Reilly, Lucas McKenny, Akeyra Brooks and coach James Ayash. -CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Elementary School second-grader Alex Donskoy throws a ball to try and dunk Chris McCullen with some coaching from John Butkevicius during Field Day at Prospect Elementary School June 9. –LUKE MARSHALL
Cub Scouts from Pack 102 in Naugatuck participated in the Mattatuck Fishing Derby on May 7. Pictured, from left, Dylan Hornby, who placed first with the biggest Sunny (10 inches), Parker Rosado, and Daniel Himes who placed first with the biggest Large Mouth Bass (18 inches). -CONTRIBUTED
A group of City Hill Middle School students helped veterans replace over 1,700 American flags at the graves of veterans at St. James Cemetery in Naugatuck prior to Memorial Day. -CONTRIBUTED
People gather on the Prospect Town Green June 29 to listen to Joe Neumann and the Big Beat perform during the town’s summer concert series. The concert series features a new band every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Green through Aug. 24. –LUKE MARSHALL
Students from St. Francis-St. Hedwig School in Naugatuck visited Beacon Brook Health Center during National Nursing Home Week in May and entertained residents with a concert. Pictured are the winners of a coloring contest judged by the residents. From left, Chloe Massicotte (first place), Daniel Reilly (second place) and Isabella Siqueira-Beard (third place). -CONTRIBUTED
The Peter J. Foley Little League Rock Hounds defeated the Lugnuts, 7-6, June 17 to win the Minors championship. Pictured, front row from left, Josh Cirillo, Ethan McKeon, Jaxson DeFazio, Nathan Testone, Alex Chirkout; middle row from left, Jack Doxsey, Daniel Testone, James Crilly, Aidan Lyons, Sam Abate, Genieva Pawlowski; back row from left, Sean Lyons, Mike Doxsey, Vijay Chirkout and Ron DeFazio. -CONTRIBUTED
Waterbury Hospital honored area first responders during an EMS Week Awards Banquet May 18. The honorees included Patrick Ryan, Lynne Scheiferstein, Paul DeCarolis, John Lengyel, and Peter Monti with Beacon Hose Company No. 1 in Beacon Falls, and Dave Orzechowski with the Volunteer Fire Department of Prospect. Orzechowski was honored as the 2016 Top Responder of the Year. Monti was named the 2016 EMT of the Year. Pictured, from left, Dr. David Goldwag, medical director of Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department, Debbie Orzechowski, Dave Orzechowski, and PJ Conway, EMS officer with the Volunteer Fire Department of Prospect. -CONTRIBUTED
INBF athlete and team Fulton athlete Dean Lebreiro, of Naugatuck, won first place in the Grandmaster’s men over 50 division and placed third in the over 40 Master’s men division June 11 at the 2016 Fulton Fitness Mr. & Mrs. Natural CT Bodybuilding National Championships in New Haven. -CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Elementary School first-grader Evan Mastropietro shoots a ball while playing the school’s version of Angry Birds during Field Day at Prospect Elementary School June 9. –LUKE MARSHALL
