Joan Corsino, right, shows off her derby hat to Sgt. Korean Treadwell of the U.S. Army’s Waterbury recruiting office during the Naugatuck Senior Center’s third annual Kentucky Derby Day May 2. Aside from the ‘horse race’ the day featured a Kentucky Derby Dinner, informational vendors, and plenty of decorative hats. –LUKE MARSHALL
Rhya Szymansky, lead teacher on the Parent Engagement Committee, and her team organized an Earth Day celebration for students and parents at Andrew Avenue School in Naugatuck April 22. Each grade level was designated an area around the school to clean up. Students also used the school’s outdoor classroom to plant seeds, which were put into the greenhouse. The plants will eventually be planted in the school’s plant beds in late May. Naugatuck Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Sheila Baummer taught students about what, how and why we recycle. Mayor Robert Mezzo also visited the school and read stories to students about what they can do to help out. The day concluded with students decorating paper hands, which they wrote their name on and hung on trees to symbolize a pledge to keep the Earth a beautiful place to live. -CONTRIBUTED
About 1,500 Naugatuck High School students, faculty and staff wear purple and form a human ribbon on the 50-yard line of the football field May 1 to support world languages teacher Rebecca Cruz. Cruz, a veteran teacher who is in her late 40s, has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment. She has taken a leave of absence due to her illness. -DAVID HUGHES
Rhya Szymansky, lead teacher on the Parent Engagement Committee, and her team organized an Earth Day celebration for students and parents at Andrew Avenue School in Naugatuck April 22. Each grade level was designated an area around the school to clean up. Students also used the school’s outdoor classroom to plant seeds, which were put into the greenhouse. The plants will eventually be planted in the school’s plant beds in late May. Naugatuck Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Sheila Baummer taught students about what, how and why we recycle. Mayor Robert Mezzo also visited the school and read stories to students about what they can do to help out. The day concluded with students decorating paper hands, which they wrote their name on and hung on trees to symbolize a pledge to keep the Earth a beautiful place to live. -CONTRIBUTED
Stephen Osowiecki of Beacon Falls was recently promoted to first vice president, risk officer at Newtown Savings Bank. In the position, Osowiecki is responsible for developing and monitoring the bank’s risk management systems. He joined the bank in 2005 and chairs the bank’s loan risk committee. -CONTRIBUTED
Rhya Szymansky, lead teacher on the Parent Engagement Committee, and her team organized an Earth Day celebration for students and parents at Andrew Avenue School in Naugatuck April 22. Each grade level was designated an area around the school to clean up. Students also used the school’s outdoor classroom to plant seeds, which were put into the greenhouse. The plants will eventually be planted in the school’s plant beds in late May. Naugatuck Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Sheila Baummer taught students about what, how and why we recycle. Mayor Robert Mezzo also visited the school and read stories to students about what they can do to help out. The day concluded with students decorating paper hands, which they wrote their name on and hung on trees to symbolize a pledge to keep the Earth a beautiful place to live. -CONTRIBUTED
Boy Scouts from Troop 109 in Naugatuck take a break after the troop’s annual Good Friday yard cleanup at the Naugatuck Elks Lodge April 18. -CONTRIBUTED
Boy Scouts from Troop 102 in Naugatuck, from left, (front row) CJ Werner, Jessie Bronko, Javon Brady (middle) Nick Hanks, Jonathan Lauer, Ethan Maxwell (back) Russell Andrew and Justin Wagner participated in a camping trip in the backcountry at Camp Mattatuck during a snow storm Dec. 14-15. Scouts experienced the storm in a rustic cabin to sharpen their outdoor skills. For more information, visit www.troop102ct.com. -CONTRIBUTED
Elaine ‘Buzzy’ Bloderick, right, purchases a raffle ticket for a ‘horse race’ from Naugatuck Mayoral Aid Ed Carter and Registrar of Voters Louise Sheedy during the Naugatuck Senior Center’s third annual Kentucky Derby Day May 2. Aside from the ‘horse race’ the day featured a Kentucky Derby Dinner, informational vendors, and plenty of decorative hats. –LUKE MARSHALL
Members of USA Martial Arts in Naugatuck won 29 trophies including 12 first place awards at a Cheezic Tang Soo Do Karate Tournament held at the Waterbury Athletic Center on April 13. Some of the participants and winners included Jacob Myers, Sean Sayer, Kylie Ramponi, Anna DeMagistris, Andrew Hopkinson and Kathleen Robinson. -CONTRIBUTED
Rhya Szymansky, lead teacher on the Parent Engagement Committee, and her team organized an Earth Day celebration for students and parents at Andrew Avenue School in Naugatuck April 22. Each grade level was designated an area around the school to clean up. Students also used the school’s outdoor classroom to plant seeds, which were put into the greenhouse. The plants will eventually be planted in the school’s plant beds in late May. Naugatuck Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Sheila Baummer taught students about what, how and why we recycle. Mayor Robert Mezzo also visited the school and read stories to students about what they can do to help out. The day concluded with students decorating paper hands, which they wrote their name on and hung on trees to symbolize a pledge to keep the Earth a beautiful place to live. -CONTRIBUTED
Air Force Airman Andrew M. Cullen graduated recently from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Cullen completed an eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Cullen, a 2012 graduate of Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls, is the son of Donna and Michael Cullen of Prospect. -CONTRIBUTED
The Friends of Beacon Falls Library recently purchased and installed a sign in front of Town Hall on the corner of Maple Avenue and Burton Road to clearly mark the location of the Beacon Falls Library. The Friends raised funds for this sign and other items on the Library Wish List through fundraisers such as a used book sales. -CONTRIBUTED
From left, Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield, Region 16 interim Superintendent of Schools Gail Gilmore, Region 16 Board of Education member Robert Hiscox, chair of the board’s facilities committee, and School Building Committee Co-Chair Bob Spear toured the construction site of the new Prospect Elementary School May 2 for an inspection. -CONTRIBUTED
