The Beacon Falls Garden Club sponsored the butterfly release at Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls. The club purchased caterpillars for each classroom in the school. The students took care of the insects, watching as they spun cocoons and ultimately became butterflies. The butterflies were released into the wild by the students May 23. –LUKE MARSHALL
From left, Dot Evon riding Dotties’ Dream, Mary Ruszczyk riding Smitty, Mary Oliveira riding Mary Mischief, Barbara Dumonski riding Terrible Ted, Dot Smith riding Footloose, Janet Aresta riding Jan’s Juggernut, Anna Bratsis riding Run-A-Way Sue, and Janet Conroy riding This Way Out, pose for picture during the Naugatuck Woman’s Club’s Kentucky Derby luncheon May 6 at the Continental Room in Naugatuck. The luncheon featured mint juleps, a ‘horse’ race, and club members donning hats in honor of the Derby. –CONTRIBUTED
Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield, left, and resident Robert Hiscox show the Town Council a special thank you tribute to all of the silver and gold star donors to the Prospect Flag Fund at the beginning of a special council meeting May 22. The tribute, which was printed by Fisher Signs, recognizes nearly 240 individuals and businesses. It will be permanently displayed in Town Hall and a supplemental display will be added to honor future silver and gold donors to the flag fund. The flag fund was started by Hiscox last year and raises money to mount American flags on utility poles throughout downtown as a way to honor current and past members of the military. Donations can be dropped off or sent to Town Hall, 36 Center St., Prospect, CT 06712. Checks should be made payable to ‘The Prospect Flag Fund.’ –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Beacon Falls resident Dibran Ambari is a member of the Sound School Rowing Team in New Haven that won four first place medals May 18 at the Fort Point Channel Open Race in Boston. Seventeen Sound School rowers in all competed in the race. The Sound Rowing program raced three crews in 4 and half mile sprints. Two of the coxed four entries placed first in their respective categories. The coxed six crew, racing against experienced adults, placed a very close second. The coaches are extremely proud. –CONTRIBUTED
Naugatuck High School senior Austin Wagner is given a mock sobriety test by Naugatuck High School Resource Officer Marc Robinson during a senior assembly hosted by the student council May 24 at the school. The senior prom was the same day and the assembly was held to remind students how quickly life can change in an instant when a bad decision, like driving drunk, is made. ‘It is to encourage all of you to make healthy choices and stay safe,’ Principal Janie Saam told the seniors gathered in the auditorium. Due to rain, a mock crash planned for the day was canceled. So, the council made a video depicting a crash and the consequences from driving drunk to show to their peers. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
The Naugatuck High School Junior ROTC held its annual awards banquet at the Crystal Room May 16. A new chain of command was appointed by Master Sgt. Gary Morrone, left, and Lt. Colonel Valerie Lofland, right. The position of vice core commander will be filled by Josh Bierly, second from left, and the position of core commander will be filled by Kait Barry, second from right. Brendan Barnes, not pictured, is the new director of operations. –CONTRIBUTED
Algonquin School music teacher Fran Grzybowski leads first-graders in a patriotic song May 23 at the school in Prospect during the first grade’s annual ceremony to commemorate Memorial Day. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Executive Director of St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, Inc. Paul Iadarola, left, shakes hands with President and CEO of Naugatuck Savings Bank Charles Boulier III. The Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $10,000 to the St. Vincent DePaul Mission to support its soup kitchen, food pantry and shelter programs. One $5,000 grant was awarded to the mission’s soup kitchen and food pantry program. The soup kitchen prepares and serves over 140,000 cooked meals each year. In addition, the food pantry provides bagged groceries twice week — an equivalent to nearly 200,000 meals annually. Another $5,000 grant was awarded to the mission’s 126-bed shelter. An average of 80 single adults and eight families with children find refuge at the shelter each night. The grant will help provide for staffing the shelter day program for women, women with children, utilities, equipment, supplies, and food. ‘We are grateful for Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation’s generous support for our programs,’ Iadarola said. –CONTRIBUTED
Cross Street Elementary School sixth-graders, from left, Zoey Kennedy, Briana Morganstern, Justin Papp, Tony Lope, and Stephanie Tucci play with their smart phones at the end of the school day May 22. Tucci, who is part of the student council, organized an electronics day to raise money for the Coachman Square at Woodbridge’s team in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September. Tucci’s mother Christine works at Coachman Square and is part of the team taking part in the walk. Students were allowed to bring electronic items to school and play with them at the end of the day if they donated $1. The event raised $171 for the walk. –LUKE MARSHALL
The Beacon Falls Garden Club sponsored the butterfly release at Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls. The club purchased caterpillars for each classroom in the school. The students took care of the insects, watching as they spun cocoons and ultimately became butterflies. The butterflies were released into the wild by the students May 23. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck Woman’s Club President Laura Smith shows off her hat during the club’s Kentucky Derby luncheon May 6 at the Continental Room in Naugatuck. –CONTRIBUTED
The Beacon Falls Garden Club sponsored the butterfly release at Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls. The club purchased caterpillars for each classroom in the school. The students took care of the insects, watching as they spun cocoons and ultimately became butterflies. The butterflies were released into the wild by the students May 23. –LUKE MARSHALL
