MONROE, CT — Members of the Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home in Monroe attended the annual Newtown Giving Circle Breakfast for Regional Hospice at The Waterview on Nov. 7.
Among the guests at their table were First Selectman Terry Rooney and Monroe Community and Social Services Director Kim Cassia.
“Hospice is one of the most transformative and underutilized services,” The Rev. Matthew Crebbin, minister of Newtown Congregational Church, said during the blessing.
“The individuals who choose a career in hospice are simply built different,” Rooney said. “The amount of compassion and patience it takes to navigate a family through the complicated emotional and physical strength needed, while gauging their loved one’s uncertain length of mortality is an arduous task.”
The first selectman called the breakfast “a wonderful tribute to those who make a difference in the lives of families when they need it most.”
For information, visit Regional Hospice’s website.
Dance to Old School 203
NORWALK, CT — The Monroe Lions Club and Coals-Norwalk invite the public to dance to the music of Old School 203, a Norwalk-based rock cover band specializing in classic oldies, on Friday, Nov. 22, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Coals-Norwalk, 9 Wall St.
Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit the Monroe Food Pantry, which provides food assistance for individuals and families facing food insecurity in Monroe.
The event will have a silent auction with prizes from local businesses. All proceeds will go to the town of Monroe’s food pantry.
Those who cannot make it, may want to consider making a donation to the Monroe Food Pantry. For information, send an email to [email protected].
Historical Society Christmas Fair
The Monroe Historical Society will host its annual Christmas Fair at the Methodist Meeting House, 433 Barn Hill Road, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 6, 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
This sale will once again feature a large variety of new and donated ornaments and decorations, baked goods and a sampling of Monroe Historical Society collectibles. Vintage items will also be available. Enjoy a warm cup of cider and a cookie while you browse.
Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags. For information, call 203-261-1383.
Troop 62 Pancake Breakfast
BSA Troop 62 will host a Pancake Breakfast to raise funds for their troop at Stepney Baptist Church, 423 Main St., on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Diners will pay at the door for the event, which will have pancakes, sides and an omelet station.
Admission is $15 per person and $10 with a donation of a nonperishable food item to the Stepney Baptist Church Food Bank. The cost is five dollars for children age 6 to 10 and kids age five and younger eat for free.
MPD Food Drive
The Monroe Police Department is hosting a Community Food Drive, collecting donations of nonperishable food for the Monroe Food Pantry from now until Nov. 25.
Donations may be dropped off in the lobby of the police station, 7 Fan Hill Road.
The main event of the food drive will be held in the Century Plaza parking lot, 535 Monroe Turnpike, on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Banners of Recognition
Jockey Hollow Middle School and Masuk High School earned the prestigious designation of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.
The program spearheaded by Special Olympics focuses on social inclusion by integrating three core components: Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole School Engagement. Through Unified Sports, students of all abilities come together in the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship.
On Nov. 18, Jockey Hollow and Masuk Unified Sports teams were presented with national banners of recognition during a ceremony at Masuk High School. The event included a pizza party, slide show presentation, Pictionary and testimonies from athletes and partners participating in Unified Sports.
“We are so proud of every athlete and partner who have been on our Unified Sports teams at Masuk and Jockey Hollow for the past two-and-a-half years,” said Head Coach Donald Casey Jr. “The students are all responsible for us earning this national recognition by promoting inclusion, working together as a team, being safe, respecting and supporting each other, learning new skills and having fun!”
Binky Patrol
Binky Patrol’s Monroe/Trumbull chapter and Al’s Angels made and collected over 500 blankets, which were driven to Asheville, N.C., last month to comfort the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Now the nonprofit needs donors, quilters, knitters and crocheters to help make children smile this holiday season when it gives over 500 blankets to Al’s Angels for distribution to the tri-state hospitals and about 200 blankets to social service agencies of Trumbull and Monroe for the recipients of their Giving Tree Programs.
The due date for the blankets is the middle of December. Those wishing to help by knitting, crocheting, quilting or making a fleece tie blanket (or 10), are encouraged to do so and bring the blankets to drop off spots:
Edith Wheeler Memorial Library (Monroe), Last Drop Coffee Shop (Monroe), J Bagels & Cafe (Trumbull), Vaughn Family Dentistry (Trumbull), Saugatuck Sweets (Fairfield),
RPM Automotive Repair (Bethany), Vaughn Family Dentistry (Milford), and Seymour
Congregational Church.
Sponsors enabling the chapter to buy the fleece material it needs were Connex
Cares, the Mr. Ballen Foundation, and RPM Automotive Repair.
To become a sponsor, click here. Make a notation that the funds should go to the Monroe/Trumbull chapter.
For information about Binky Patrol, write to the chapter founder and coordinator, Jeanne Malgioglio, at [email protected] or visit the Facebook page.
Selfies with Santa
STRATFORD, CT — The Stratford Animal Rescue Society is hosting Selfies with Santa, a fundraiser benefiting the Stratford Animal Shelter, from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, at the shelter, 225 Beacon Point Road.
Bring your pets or children to take photos with Santa using your own camera. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers. There is a minimum donation of $10.
Holiday Give
ConnexCares’ annual Holiday Give will support Children in Placement, a local New Haven nonprofit advocating for abused and neglected children in the welfare and judicial systems.
New and unwrapped boys’ and girls’ toys, books, clothing, and personal care items will be collected at Connex branches from Nov. 12 through Dec. 10 to support Children in Placement’s programs.
Monroe has a Connecticut Credit Union location at 155 Main St.
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