Kashia Cave, left, chef, founder and executive director of My City Kitchen in Meriden, receives a $5,000 grant from Lilliana McAuliffe, Naugatuck Savings Bank Meriden branch manager. The Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation awarded the grant to My City Kitchen to support its afterschool and summer programs to help children adopt healthy eating habits, improve self-esteem, and become physically fit. ‘We are grateful for the foundation’s generous grant that will help us reach more children. Our students magnify the effect of our program by taking the lessons they learn home, influencing the lives of their families,’ Cave said. -CONTRIBUTED
Algonquin School third-grader Samantha Ann Strell, 9, of Prospect, center, was honored May 20 at the school by Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield, left, and state Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) for winning the CHET Dream Big Competition for New Haven County. The competition, open to Connecticut students in grades kindergarten through fifth, is a drawing and essay contest in which students tell what they dream of doing after college. Strell was chosen for her drawing entry out of 2,200 applicants and is one of 93 students from across the state selected. Strell was presented with her award May 16 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Winners were each awarded a $300 CHET direct-sold 529 college savings account. -CONTRIBUTED
Woodland Regional High School student Eric Gomez sings ‘Bring Him Home’ from the play ‘Les Miserables’ June 11 during Woodland’s Got Talent. The show was organized by Woodland junior Casey Stevens as part of her senior project. ‘It’s to display and showcase the talents of the students, faculty, and teachers here at Woodland, Stevens said. The show featured 30 acts, including music, acting, magic and a dramatic reading. Stevens, who volunteers at Prospect Youth Services, said that the youth services hosts a talent night for elementary school students. ‘Other than fine arts nights we don’t really have a talent opportunity for students to partake in,’ Steven said. –LUKE MARSHALL
Interactive Educational Theatre Executive Director Magda Skomal shows Hop Brook Elementary School kindergartners a shark stuffed animal that was used in the theatre’s skit about underwater diversity at Hop Brook June 10. The purpose of the skit was to teach students that even though someone doesn’t look the same as them, they can still be friends and help each other out. The theatre performed at multiple elementary schools in Naugatuck this week funded through a grant from Naugatuck Youth and Family Services. –LUKE MARSHALL
Zach Mason, right, a Boy Scout with Troop 138 in Naugatuck, shakes hands with Peter J. Foley Little League President Bob Dibble. Mason is making improvements to the Peter J. Foley baseball field for his Eagle Scout project. Phase one of the project, which included fixing the warning track, building a retaining wall and relocating the flag pole, was completed in June. Phase two, which will include improving the picnic area, will take place in August. Mason is holding a pasta supper June 22 at the Vern Maxwell Family Center located at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Road in Naugatuck to raise money for the project. There are two seatings for the supper, 5 and 6 p.m., and tickets are $10. The supper is free for children 5 years old and younger. For tickets, call Mason at (203) 723-1904. -CONTRIBUTED
The Naugy Hounds, a U12 boys team with Naugatuck Youth Soccer, won the 19th Annual Clinton Invitational Tournament May 18 and May 19 for the second year in a row. Pictured, top row from left, assistant coaches George Martin and Mark Salomoni, coach John Jacobi and player Justin Simoes. Middle row from left, Andrew Mahler, Arthur Tomaz, Christian Jacobi, Alexander Teixeira, Jake Corbo, Logan Martin, Carlos Gonzaga and Michael Salomoni, Bottom row from left, Andres Maldanado, Rami Fayad, Aren Seeger and Thomas Martins. -CONTRIBUTED
Gene Thompson, known as Gene the Amazing, performs a magic trick with Woodland Regional High School security guard Fred Smith June 11 during Woodland’s Got Talent. The show was organized by Woodland student Casey Stevens as part of her senior project. ‘It’s to display and showcase the talents of the students, faculty, and teachers here at Woodland, Stevens said. The show featured 30 acts, including music, acting, magic and a dramatic reading. Stevens, who volunteers at Prospect Youth Services, said that the youth services hosts a talent night for elementary school students. ‘Other than fine arts nights we don’t really have a talent opportunity for students to partake in,’ Steven said. –LUKE MARSHALL
Sue and Carl LaFevre, right, of Thurston Energy in Naugatuck volunteered at a recent Special Olympics Connecticut Northwest Regional swim meet held at Oxford High School. Thurston Energy was a Silver Sponsor of the Regional Games. With the LaFevres is the Special Olympics Waterbury Unified Relay Team. From left, unified partner Robyn Hicock, athletes Travis Marrero and Robert McDermott and unified partner Vincent Marrero. -CONTRIBUTED
Susan Zapatka, MSN, ANP-BC, of Beacon Falls was recently awarded the Connecticut Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society’s APRN of the Year award for her outstanding contributions to the nurse practitioner field. Zapatka is the NP co-Director for the Veterans Affair Connecticut Healthcare System Center of Excellence in Primary Care Education. -CONTRIBUTED
Hop Brook Elementary School kindergarteners and members of the Interactive Educational Theatre perform a skit at the school June 10. The theatre performed at multiple elementary schools in Naugatuck this week funded through a grant from Naugatuck Youth and Family Services. –LUKE MARSHALL
Woodland Regional High School student Casey Stevens addresses the audience before the start of Woodland’s Got Talent June 11. The show was organized by Stevens as part of her senior project. ‘It’s to display and showcase the talents of the students, faculty, and teachers here at Woodland, Stevens said. The show featured 30 acts, including music, acting, magic and a dramatic reading. Stevens, who volunteers at Prospect Youth Services, said that the youth services hosts a talent night for elementary school students. ‘Other than fine arts nights we don’t really have a talent opportunity for students to partake in,’ Steven said. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck High School students contributed towards the Great Strides campaign for the third consecutive year. The Great Strides Walk benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic Fibrosis is life-threatening disease that primarily affects the lungs. This year the Naugy Cares team raised over $1,000. Isaac Brenneman, pictured, has CF and will benefit from research to find a cure. To donate, visit www.cff.org/Great_Strides and search ‘Naugy Cares’ under find a team. -CONTRIBUTED
The Naugy Hounds, a U12 boys team with Naugatuck Youth Soccer, won the 19th Annual Clinton Invitational Tournament May 18 and May 19 for the second year in a row. Pictured, top row from left, assistant coaches George Martin and Mark Salomoni, coach John Jacobi and player Justin Simoes. Middle row from left, Andrew Mahler, Arthur Tomaz, Christian Jacobi, Alexander Teixeira, Jake Corbo, Logan Martin, Carlos Gonzaga and Michael Salomoni, Bottom row from left, Andres Maldanado, Rami Fayad, Aren Seeger and Thomas Martins. -CONTRIBUTED
