Naugatuck Day Care raised $245.39 for the Naugatuck Ecumenical Food Bank during a coin drive in April. The children, including from left, Anthony, Romulo, Luiza and Emma helped to sort out the coins. –CONTRIBUTED
Former Naugatuck Mayor Joan Taf, pictured with her family, was honored by the Naugatuck Parks and Recreation Commission May 10 by dedicating a field at Linden Park in the Union City section in her honor. Taf was honored for the work she put into enhancing Linden Park. She was Naugatuck’s first female mayor and served two terms from 1999 to 2003. The commission posthumously dedicated the Fawn Meadow Field to former Union City Little League President Paul Bendler Sr. May 3 and will honor the late Robert Paolino, a former mayor, May 17 by dedicating the meadow at Gunntown Passive Park and Nature Preserve to him. –CONTRIBUTED
Beacon Falls First Selectman Christopher Bielik, left, presents a badge to Officer Timothy Wilson on during a swearing-in ceremony May 7 at Town Hall. Wilson, 47, of Naugatuck, is the newest officer of the Beacon Falls Police Department. He will serve as a part-time officer. Wilson brings over 30 years of experience to the department, having retired in May 2013 as a detective from the New Haven Police Department. The ceremony was attended by his Wilson’s wife, Lisa Wilson, and daughter, Malena Wilson.
Kenny Howell, police chief of the Millbury, Mass. Department, and Lt. Angela Augustine-Daye, both of whom served with Wilson in New Haven, also came to the ceremony. ‘Wilson is an honorable man who always did the right thing,’ Howell said.
–LUKE MARSHALL
Members of the Naugatuck Community Choir accompanied by an organ and orchestra rehearse Monday night at St. Hedwig’s Church in Naugatuck for the choir’s upcoming spring concert. The choir, under the guidance of artistic director Mark Silva, will present its 16th annual spring concert, Baroque Choral Masterpieces, Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Hedwig’s, 32 Golden Hill St. Each performance will be followed by a reception, and good will offerings are encouraged. The nonprofit, non-audition choir was founded in 1997 by the Naugatuck Arts Commission. It’s open to anyone throughout the greater Naugatuck region. For more information, visit www.naugatuckcommunitychoir.org.-ELIO GUGLIOTTI
From left, Gary Partridge, Robert Trosan, Jennifer Kruge, Lisa Pettinichi, Joan Doback, Kathy Dravis, Alice Unschuld, Cathy Lungarini, Michele Beck, Robert Hughes and Rolf Anderson pose for a picture following the 33rd Annual Borough Music Festival April 25 at Naugatuck High School. The all-school concert included music ensembles comprising students from the elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools. This year’s concert featured the music of Leroy Anderson, a well-known American composer of short, light concert pieces. The guest conductor was Gary Partridge, conductor of the Capitol Symphonic Winds and the Hartford Symphony Pops. The concert marked the culmination of collaboration between the Leroy Anderson Foundation and the Naugatuck Education Foundation over this school year which was championed by Naugatuck High School Band Director Robert Hughes and coordinated through the music department to all Naugatuck schools. All levels of music classes have learned about the life and work of Anderson and the instrumental students have been exposed to and learned several of his pieces. In April, musicians from the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra provided advanced-level music classes to students of brass and wind instruments. Joan Doback from the NEF said, ‘The Naugatuck Education Foundation is thrilled to have been a part of this initiative, and through it we have touched every child in the Naugatuck public schools.’ –CONTRIBUTED
Naugatuck High School seniors Danielle Eitapence (second from the left) and William Zavodjancik Jr. (third from the left) were honored April 8 at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville during the Connecticut Association of Schools’ 19th annual Arts Recognition Banquet. The banquet recognizes outstanding students in the visual and performing arts. Zavodjancik was recognized for art and Eitapence for music. –CONTRIBUTED
