Boy Scouts and leaders from Monroe and Trumbull’s Troop 203 participated in the district camporee, “Beyond the Basics,” at Camp Sequassen from Oct. 12 to 13.
The camporee event included over 12 competitive stations designed to display patrol cohesion and patrol leadership, all while having fun. Stations included: a blindfolded tent set-up station, ladder lashing, axe throwing, a clove hitch challenge, a long board run, first aid and more, a compass game and a fire building station.
Scouts also participated in the evening campfire show, performing in several skits for the enjoyment of the entire camporee attendees. Everyone had a great time and especially enjoyed the wonderful fall weather.
Troop 203 meets Sunday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and is currently accepting new youth members, who are at least 11-years-old or who have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10-years-old.
Those who are interested should call Scoutmaster John Quinlavin at 860-593-6044 or email him at [email protected].
Career Day at Masuk
What will Masuk High School seniors study for in college? What career paths will they take? This year’s annual Career Day will give students a wide range of options to consider, from working in a variety of fields, from being a police officer, engineer, metal worker or an accountant to serving as a public defender.
On Nov. 21 Masuk will host more than 50 career fields, including those that can be entered immediately after high school graduation, as well as careers requiring undergraduate and graduate school education.
Up to 600 Masuk students will attend this program, which allows them to ask the presenters questions regarding education, job outlook, job skills. Below are several career fields that will be represented this year.
Professional Writer, Special Agent, Jewelry Designer, Certified Registered Nurse of Anesthesia, Construction Manager/Project Architect, US Navy Representative,
HR and Insurance Consulting, Law Enforcement, Electrician, Volunteer Coordinator, Engineering Fields ,Manufacturing, Civil Attorney, Vice President Supply Chain, Director of Health, Furniture and Cabinet Refinishing, Mechanical, Design, Biomedical Engineering, Certified Public Accountant, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Pharmacy Technician/ Trainer, Commercial Banking, Marines, Navy Recruiter, U.S. Army/Army Reserve Soldier, Police Officer.
Anyone interested in participating in next year’s Career Day at Masuk High School should email Carmen Mancuso at [email protected].
A holiday pie drive fundraiser
Families can enjoy fresh baked pies from Purdy Hill Bakery and Deli during the holidays, while benefiting Cub Scout Pack 262. The scouts are selling vouchers that can be redeemed for pies at the bakery.
You can purchase the vouchers at the regular retail price of $13. Pie vouchers will be delivered in person twice during the season, on Nov. 18 and Dec. 18.
The Pack also asks residents to consider donating vouchers to the Monroe Food Pantry, which serves close to 250 households each month, so families struggling to make ends meet can enjoy a piece after their holiday dinner.
Vouchers can be ordered online by clicking on this link or by emailing Cubmaster Mike McCormick at [email protected] for details on how to pay by cash or check.
Pack 262, chartered through Monroe Congregational Church, is comprised of 35 Scouts attending either Fawn Hollow Elementary or Monroe Elementary. Its are always looking for ways to help the community. Those involved with a local charity, who have ideas for service projects around town, are encouraged to contact McCormick.
Saturday Morning Conversation
All are welcome to participate in a Saturday morning conversation with First Selectman Ken Kellogg and Superintendent of Schools Jack Zamary at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library from 10 t0 11 a.m.
Veterans Day Ceremony
Veterans from all wars, including peace time service, are invited to join in Veterans Day ceremony on the Stepney Green on Monday at 11 a.m. The event is organized by American Legion posts from Monroe and Easton.
Victor Yanosy, commander of Sippin-Winspur Post 176 in Monroe, will officiate the ceremony. Donald Rodgerson is commander of the Charles L. Ruman Post 160 in Easton.
The Speakers will include Easton First Selectman Adam Dunsby and Monroe First Selectman Ken Kellogg. A presentation of wreaths will be made by a contingent of Post 176 and the Monroe Lions Club.
The public is encouraged to attend and acknowledge the veterans contributions
and sacrifices. Following the ceremony all veterans and their spouses are invited to attend the annual luncheon, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Easton, in the Notre Dame
Church located at 655 Morehouse Road.
The Save Our Stepney Task Force, will place 13 American flags on the green to commemorate its Flags Over Stepney program. The American flags are flown
for each of the nation’s six patriotic events: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, September 11 and Veterans Day.
In addition to the American flags, a flag will be flown for each branch of the United States armed services. Flags Over Stepney is a community spirit project designed to enhance and beautify the green as an expression of patriotism. Individuals and companies who sponsor the flags provide donations to the efforts of the Save Our Stepney Task Force.
Youth Volleyball
Monroe Parks and Recreation is joining CT Sports Network to offer a new volleyball program for youth in grades five through eight. These winter clinics can be an introduction or continuation of volleyball skills for each player in a fun, technically challenging clinic.
Weekly classes will work on a variety of techniques including serving, setting, digging, blocking and spiking. Clinics will be held Wednesday nights, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., at Jockey Hollow, 365 Fan Hill Road.
The first session will be from Dec. 4 thru Jan. 22. Session 2 will be from Feb. 5 to March 11. The fees are $75 residents and $85 for nonresidents. For information and to register visit the Monroe Parks and Recreation website.
Fishing at Great Hollow Lake
The last day of fishing at Great Hollow Lake is Saturday, Nov. 30. The lake was stocked with approximately 3,660 trout throughout the 2019 fishing season, according to Monroe Parks and Recreation.
The last stocking included an added bonus of nine exceptionally large brown and rainbow trout. These fish average 10 pounds a piece in weight. Fishing will resume on the second Saturday of April 11, 2020 in accordance with State Fishing Regulations.
Great Hollow Lake is designated by the state of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection as one of only 11 trout parks in the state and the only one in Fairfield county. Fishing is permitted anywhere on the lake except within 100 feet of the beach in any direction. Boating on the lake is restricted to non-motorized vessels and boats under 16’ in length.
Supporting local charities
State Sen. Kevin C. Kelly says an article in the Connecticut Post highlighting the needs of the Sterling House Community Center in Stratford inspired him to name local charities residents can support.
“The story reminded me of how blessed our community is to have organizations that care so deeply — and how important it is for us to support those organizations in the amazing work they do every day,” Kelly said. “Here are a few examples of organizations that we can all help support.”
Monroe Food Pantry, 980 Monroe Turnpike, is part of the Department of Community and Social Services. It provides food assistance for individuals and families in Monroe.
The Pantry provides a week’s worth of food and other necessary items to more than 200 households per year. Volunteers help sort food, stock shelves, assist clients with “shopping” for their groceries at the Pantry, and deliver food to those who cannot get to the Pantry on their own.
Donations of non-perishable foods are regularly accepted, and monetary donations can be used to purchase perishable goods and other items that are not often donated.
The Pantry is open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and one Saturday per month. Call for Saturday hours.
Monetary donations and grocery store gift cards can be mailed to: Monroe Food Pantry, 7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe CT 06468. For information, call 203-452-2817 or visit either www.monroect.org/Food-Pantry or the Monroe Food Pantry Facebook page.
Sterling House, 2283 Main St. in Stratford, offers a food pantry, athletics, preschool, after school, summer camp, youth and adult programs, and much more.
Donations are welcome, and there are drop-off bins on Sterling House’s first floor, 2283 Main St. Some suggested items: easy-open cans of baked beans, soup, fruit and veggies, ramen noodles, cereal, granola bars, juice boxes. You can also donate through the Sterling House website.
For information on its Thanksgiving Basket Project and other programs, call 203-378-2606 or visit sterlinghousecc.org.
Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton, is operated by Area Congregations Together, Inc. with the mission of providing food, shelter and support services to people in need. Every year, the center provides emergency shelter to over 100 individuals, as well as over 25,000 meals to residents. This is the only homeless shelter in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and one of the few in the state that welcomes families with children as well as individual adults.
Spooner House will soon be launching its annual Operation Holiday initiative to provide holiday meals, consisting of a frozen turkey and all the trimmings, at Thanksgiving and Christmas to approximately 500-600 households, in addition to regular food pantry service, as well as gift cards to shelter residents at the holidays.
For information visit actspooner.org or call 203-225-0453. If you are in need of food bank assistance, call 203-225-0453 extension 100 to make an appointment.
Seymour Oxford Food Bank, 20 Pine Street, Seymour, is in the basement of the Seymour Community Center and allows people to shop for themselves with the assistance of a “shopping pal.”
Office and donation hours are Monday thru Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Client shopping, by appointment is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 11 a.m. and produce shopping (no appointment needed) is on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Residents can contact the food bank to make an appointment for completing paperwork to confirm eligibility.
The Seymour Oxford Food Bank is an all volunteer organization and as such, volunteers are always needed to help stock shelves, shop with clients or pick up donations from local stores.
For information visit seymouroxfordfoodbank.com or call 203-888-7826.
TEAM, Inc. has several locations. Click on this link to find the one nearest you. TEAM’s mission is to strengthen our communities by educating, supporting, and empowering individuals and families.
TEAM offers many services ranging from early childhood & Head Start, basic needs & case management services, elderly services & Meals on Wheels, employment & training supports, housing supports, and more. TEAM’s partnership with the Child and Adult Food Care Program allows TEAM Inc. to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children enrolled within a center based or licensed family childcare option at no cost to enrolled families.
TEAM also runs a “Meals on Wheels” program that provides food and safety checks to support seniors aging in place in Seymour, Shelton and other Valley area towns.
For information on how to help or access services available, visit teaminc.org or call 203-736-5420.
