USA Martial Arts in Naugatuck held a Little Ninja (ages 3 and 4) grading on Nov. 24. Jayden Dechane advanced to Yellow Lion, Adam Kullberg and Donovan Perez to Orange Tiger. The three Little Ninjas were instructed by Nicole Buckley. –CONTRIBUTED
The Naugatuck High School jazz band, led by Band Director Robert Hughes, performed holiday music for residents at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck Dec. 12. This is the first year the jazz band, which always been an extracurricular activity at the high school, is being offered as a regular course, Hughes explained. It’s also the first time the band has performed at Glendale. Hughes said performing at Glendale provided a great opportunity for the band to give back to the community. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
The Naugatuck High School jazz band, led by Band Director Robert Hughes, performed holiday music for residents at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck Dec. 12. This is the first year the jazz band, which always been an extracurricular activity at the high school, is being offered as a regular course, Hughes explained. It’s also the first time the band has performed at Glendale. Hughes said performing at Glendale provided a great opportunity for the band to give back to the community. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
State representatives Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) rang the holiday bell for the Salvation Army outside the Naugatuck Wal-Mart Dec. 9. The legislators raised $5,194.23 in an hour, according to a press release. The contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Wal-Mart for a total of $10,400 that will benefit the Salvation Army. ‘I want to thank everyone who stopped by and donated to the Salvation Army,’ Rebimbas said in the release. ‘It’s an incredible feeling to know all the money raised is going to help local families in need during the holidays. With the present spirit of giving, everyone’s generous donations and Wal-Mart’s matching program, I am happy to know that we are making someone’s holiday a little brighter.’ Labriola said, ‘The Salvation Army is an organization dedicated to helping those who need it most, and I’m happy to have been able to help. With our generous community, and Wal-Mart matching every penny that people donated, it all adds up to make for a very successful day.’ Rebimbas and Labriola have been ringing the bell for the Salvation Army yearly since 2009. –CONTRIBUTED
Evan Deschaine, 4, of Middlebury, takes a close look at a display set up at the Naugatuck Parks and Recreation’s annual Santa’s Village Dec. 18. The village was open at the department on Rubber Avenue for the two weekends leading up to Christmas. Visitors were treated to a visit with Santa, Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. –LUKE MARSHALL
Andres DeLeon, 2, of Naugatuck, waves to Dr. Seuss’ Grinch as his mother, Cindy DeLeon, pushes him through the Santa’s Village. the Naugatuck Parks and Recreation’s annual Santa’s Village Dec. 18. The village was open at the department on Rubber Avenue for the two weekends leading up to Christmas. Visitors were treated to a visit with Santa, Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. –LUKE MARSHALL
Sokol’s Taekwondo in Naugatuck held a rank testing for color belt ranks Dec. 6. Thirty novice students and 20 high rank students tested for their next rank. –CONTRIBUTED
United Way of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls Board of Directors member David Rotatori, right, presented the Van Allen Medal to Joan and Dan Griesenauer Dec. 14 during the annual Naugatuck Pop Warner Football and Cheerleader banquet the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour. The medal is named after the founding members of the United Way, Robert and Anna Lee Van Allen. It was created in 2007 to honor the Van Allens and recognize people for extraordinary service to their community. Joan and Dan Griesenauer have been Pop Warner board members for eight years and were instrumental in bringing it back to Naugatuck. They were also NHS Basketball Booster Club officers for four years, NHS Quarterback Club officers for four years and spent over a decade on the Prospect Street School PSA in various roles. –CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Town Council member Al Delelle, standing on left, Town Council Chairman Tom Galvin, standing on right, and Region 16 Board of Education member Bob Hiscox, kneeling on left, present Mayor Robert Chatfield with donated holiday items. The Prospect Republican Town Committee members recently donated nearly 100 toys and holiday stocking stuffers to Mayor Bob’s holiday toys for children program. The committee is planning a number of future community events, including a Valentine’s Day ‘Open Your Heart’ collection of food and donations for the fuel bank. Advance donations for the ‘Open Your Heart’ program can be sent to Town Hall, 36 Center St., or given to any committee member. –CONTRIBUTED
Sokol’s Taekwondo in Naugatuck held a rank testing for color belt ranks Dec. 6. Thirty novice students and 20 high rank students tested for their next rank. –CONTRIBUTED
Daniel Whitman of Naugatuck, right, donates a complete Thanksgiving dinner to Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury Program Director Melissa Malogutti prior to the holiday. The dinner was for the clients staying at Safe Haven’s domestic violence shelter. Whitman has provided a Thanksgiving dinner to the shelter for the past five years. For more information on Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury or donations needed, call (203) 575-0388. –CONTRIBUTED
Mason Regalado, 10, of Prospect, tells Santa Claus what he wants for Christmas at the Naugatuck Parks and Recreation’s annual Santa’s Village Dec. 18. The village was open at the department on Rubber Avenue for the two weekends leading up to Christmas. Visitors were treated to a visit with Santa, Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. –LUKE MARSHALL
Mark Silva, left, conducts the Naugatuck Community Choir during a rehearsal Jan. 15 at St. Hedwig Church in Naugatuck in preparation for the choir’s performances of the holiday concert, ‘A New England Christmas.’ –LUKE MARSHALL
The Naugatuck High School jazz band, led by Band Director Robert Hughes, performed holiday music for residents at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck Dec. 12. This is the first year the jazz band, which always been an extracurricular activity at the high school, is being offered as a regular course, Hughes explained. It’s also the first time the band has performed at Glendale. Hughes said performing at Glendale provided a great opportunity for the band to give back to the community. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
The Naugatuck High School jazz band, led by Band Director Robert Hughes, performed holiday music for residents at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck Dec. 12. This is the first year the jazz band, which always been an extracurricular activity at the high school, is being offered as a regular course, Hughes explained. It’s also the first time the band has performed at Glendale. Hughes said performing at Glendale provided a great opportunity for the band to give back to the community. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda ties a red ribbon on a vehicle at Richard Chevrolet in Cheshire Dec. 4 as Mothers Against Drunk Driving staffer Johanna Krebs, left, state Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) and Cheshire Town Manager Michael Milone look on. Zupkus has been selected as a ‘legislator of the year’ by the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and she joined representatives from the organization’s statewide chapter as well as law enforcement officials to kick off the 28th annual Tie One On for Safety holiday Red Ribbon awareness campaign. Zupkus was among 81 legislators nationwide who received ‘legislator of the year’ honors for their contribution to eliminate drunken driving, advance the rights of drunken driving victims and preventing underage drinking. –CONTRIBUTED
The Naugatuck High School jazz band, led by Band Director Robert Hughes, performed holiday music for residents at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck Dec. 12. This is the first year the jazz band, which always been an extracurricular activity at the high school, is being offered as a regular course, Hughes explained. It’s also the first time the band has performed at Glendale. Hughes said performing at Glendale provided a great opportunity for the band to give back to the community. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
