Gently-Used Children's Book Drive through May 10   

New Opportunities, Inc.(NOI) in collaboration with New Haven Reads, State of CT-DCF and The Conference of Churches, is collecting books appropriate for children up to the age of 10. You can help them reach their goal of 20,000 books by dropping off gently-used (or new) children's books at NOI - Human Service Center, 232 North Elm Street, Waterbury. Pick up is available for donations of 100+ books. For more information contact Kim Stein at 203-575-4273 or kstein@newopportunitiesinc.org

Arts & Culture Collaborative presents Social Media & Marketing for the Arts

Incorporate social media into your marketing plan and learn how to create the right message and get it to the right audience. This workshop will be followed by a "Reality Check" session to allow participants to come back with questions and find out how to tweak their strategy and use of social media. Workshop: May 10: 9 to 11 a.m. at Timexpo Museum, Waterbury (registration 8:30 a.m.)

Reality Check Session: May 30: 9 to 11 a.m. at Timexpo Museum Presenters: Mike Brooks, Social Media Consultant, Nuclear Chowder Marketing, and Kevin O'Driscoll, Business Coach, RIY Business Group, Inc. ACC Members - Free ($10 fee if you register and don't attend) Non-Members-$15 Workshop; $25 Workshop & Reality Check Become an ACC individual member for only $25 and your fee is waived. Register now as seating is limited. For more details or questions call Diane Ploch at 203-757-0701, Ext. 316 or dploch@waterburyregionarts.com

Center for Women's Health will host "Girl Talk" Lecture on May 6

Dr. Joseph Millerick

The sixth "Girl Talk" lecture "Should I or Shouldn't I?", hosted by The Center for Women's Health in collaboration with Naugatuck Valley Radiology Associates, will be held on May 6 at the Middlebury Consignment Shops. Doctors Millerick and Kelly will discuss the latest techniques in health care including robotic surgery, endometrial ablation and medical management of the common but troubling conditions of fibroids, polyps and heavy bleeding. A variety of Connecticut wines and other beverages will be served along with light gourmet fare. To learn about future "Girl Talk" programs contact Barbara Donorfio at The Center for Women's Health at 203-573-1425 ext. 500, or Robin Sills at Naugatuck Valley Radiology at 203-758-7700 ext. 1527, or visit www.womenshealthct.com.

Cornerstone Realty, Inc., a Waterbury based real estate investment and property management company owns and manages over 1.5 million s.f. of industrial/warehouse and office properties. Their latest acquisition is at 400 Captain Neville Drive in Waterbury. This 208,000 s.f. building, in excellent condition, is being sub-divided into 30,000 s.f. blocks of space or larger, boasts a prime location directly off a four way interchange at Exit 25A on I-84, minutes from Rt 8, 691 and I-91 and has rents starting as low as $3.95 per s.f. Cornerstone prides itself on customer satisfaction so give them a call at (203) 597-0400 x329 for a no pressure tour of the property or visit their website! www.criproperties.net

Dress Your Business with Holistic Color Consultations 

Diane Donato, Holistic Image Consultant and Owner of Clothes Encounters, is pleased to now be offering holistic color consultations to help you with Dressing Your Business and improving your Image by using the best colors to communicate the essence of your business in your business cards, websites and other printed materials. Call Diane at 203-753-9901 or email her at: Diane@clothesencounters.org to schedule an appointment. Clothes Encounters, Where Image Reflects the Truth.

Energy Systems Hires First Employee

Energy Systems Sales & Training LLC (ESST), a 'green resource center,' 179 Freight Street, Waterbury, has hired their first employee, Cornel Sampson Jr. of Winsted, as manager of warehouse and distribution. The center was created for green building contractors and Connecticut-area homeowners through IMTI, The Industrial Management & Training Institute, 233 Mill Street, Waterbury (www.IMTI.edu), founded by Marcel Veronneau, co-owner of the Freight Street complex of offices and warehouses in Waterbury's Enterprise Zone. Upon completion of IMTI's 15-week training program, graduates are job-ready for solar electric jobs and have been taught how to install, replace, repair and maintain solar photovoltaic systems, plus the storage and distribution of the energy created. Nearly 80% of IMTI's PV graduates are currently employed in the solar PV industry. "There is no place in Waterbury better suited for jobs and green resources. Our ambition is to increase the number of employees from 5 in 2013 to 60 or 70 within the next 5 years for the distribution, retail sales, and eventually, manufacturing of solar products from our Freight Street location." For more information on Energy Systems Sales & Training LLC, visit www.energysystemsllc.com, for IMTI's technical training programs, visit IMTIUSA.COM or call 203-753-7910 in Waterbury.

Flore Creates Floral Interpretation at Wadsworth Antheneum

Pictured Left to Right: Christopher Issacson and Lori Friedlander pose in front of Roberto Matta, Chilean, 1911-2002, Prescience, 1939

VIBESAFTERFIVE.COM - Main St Waterbury launches downtown nightlife website

Main Street Waterbury announced that they have launched a new website www.vibesafterfive.com which highlights downtown Waterbury nightlife and showcases the many restaurants and bars in the downtown Waterbury area. The concept was originally suggested by Tony Bonacassio, Promotion Committee volunteer and a downtown bar owner, who, while vacationing in Florida noticed that in one community, every establishment posted all nightlife events taking place in that community, thereby encouraging visitors and residents to 'hop' from place to place. Another committee member, Glen Berthiaume, pitched the concept of creating good 'vibes' for downtown visitors and after a discussion, the Committee agreed on "Vibes After Five." The website features a list of restaurant and nightlife establishments including weekly specials and entertainment options, is compatible with all smart phone platforms, will be updated as needed, and, a click on a restaurant's name will connect you to the website and Facebook page. Main Street Waterbury intends to create printed materials which will help with the branding effort. Main Street Waterbury CEO Carl Rosa stated, "It is our hope that vibesafterfive.com will be everyone's choice to get the latest update on Downtown Waterbury "nightlife".   

Naugatuck Historical Society- New Exhibits for the month of May

Discover the world of aviation (did you know Naugatuck made airplane parts?), War of the Worlds, Poland, Naugatuck Football and more about Naugatuck's history through temporary exhibits featuring artifacts on loan from Society Directors.  Free for members, $2 admission or $5 for a family.

Colette's Crafts - Mother's Day Flowers, May 11, 11am
Children can bring home a special plant for mom or grandma this Mother's Day.
$2 per child, registration recommended.

Naugatuck Valley Genealogy Club, May 11, 1pm

Naugatuck Historical Society- 195 Water Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770
203-729-9039 or naugatuckhistory@sbcglobal.net

Naugatuck Savings Awards $1,500 Grant to Donate Life CT                                    

In photo: Kari Mull, Donate Life Connecticut Director, and Paul T. Murray with Sutherland Insurance, an affiliate of Naugatuck Saving Bank.

The Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation awarded a $1,500 grant to Donate Life Connecticut to support its 2013 Toast to Life Fundraiser to be held on June 5 at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford. "We are pleased to support this organization and its fundraising efforts to help them continue in their important quest to increase the Donor Registry," said Charles J. Boulier III, President and CEO.Donate Life Connecticut, a coalition of transplant professionals, donor family members, transplant recipients and living donors, is dedicated to the purpose of public education and awareness concerning the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation and increasing the number of registered donors. "One donor has the potential to save and improve the lives of over 50 others. With over 1,300 Connecticut men, women and children waiting for a life-saving organ donor, we encourage all Connecticut residents to register as a donor when renewing their driver's license or online by visiting our website", said Kari Mull, Donate Life Connecticut Director. "We appreciate Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation's support for Donate Life."

Nutmeg Financial, MHC, Parent of Naugatuck Savings Bank, Reports 2012 Results

Nutmeg Financial, Mutual Holding Company (MHC), the parent of Naugatuck Savings Bank and John M. Sutherland, Inc., announced 2012 results at the annual meeting of its Board of Corporators held at the Country Club of Waterbury. "Naugatuck Savings Bank had a solid year with a 2.9% increase in total assets during 2012," said Charles J. Boulier III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nutmeg Financial MHC. "We are very pleased with our 2012 results especially given the challenges faced by all community banks in a continuing environment of slow economic growth, low interest rates and more stringent and costly regulations." "We closed over $140 million in residential loans and close to $70 million in commercial loans, of which $5.5 million were SBA loans, helping local small business customers expand," said Boulier. "We increased our households served by 3.8%, opened new branches in Waterbury and Wallingford giving customers greater access to our financial services, and we were the first bank in Connecticut to introduce Personal Teller technology," he added.

Savings Bank of Danbury contributes 35 Buddy Baskets

Employees at Savings Bank of Danbury contributed 35 Buddy Baskets to the Western Connecticut Business Volunteer Council (WCBVC).  The baskets were distributed to preschool children in the Danbury and New Milford Head Start programs as well as other social service agencies.  The bank had an 8% increase vs. last year in donated Buddy Baskets.  Pictured with some of the baskets is Beth Ann Fetzer, Community Development Officer/AVP at  Savings Bank of Danbury.

Michael Giorgio joins Savings Bank of Danbury

Savings Bank of Danbury is proud to announce that Michael Giorgio has joined the bank as Senior Vice President/Information Services. Michael, a graduate of St. Johns University, earned his BA in Computer Science and has spent the last ten years managing information technology in the financial services industry, most recently serving as the Director of IT for Connex Credit Union. In his new role, Mike will manage the technology systems of the Bank, working with all lines of business in support of strategic initiatives. He will also focus on improving the overall technological efficiencies of the Bank. Mike's office is located at 35 West Street and he can be reached directly at 203-796-7675.