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To advertise your business or organization in the May member marketplace and get premier placement for your company, contact David Huck at dhuck@waterburychamber.com or call 203-757-0701. Space is limited! $100 per ad (600 pixels wide by 200 pixels high.) | |
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Come out and help your fellow Chamber members come celebrate their special occasion!
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Post University Offering Tuition Reduction for Chamber of Commerce Employees and Families
Tuition Benefit Extends to Chambers in Naugatuck, Watertown and Southbury
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Over 1,000 members of the Waterbury Regional Chamber and its employees, including families living in the household, will be able to receive a tuition reduction as a result of a new partnership established with Post University. This partnership also extends to the three affiliate Chambers in Naugatuck, Southbury, and Watertown Oakville.
“Any chamber member interested in taking a course or pursuing a degree through Post University can receive a tuition reduction through this partnership. This is an opportunity for educating the workforce of the future,” said Waterbury Regional Chamber President & CEO Lynn Ward.
Through the partnership, the employees of businesses who belong to the Chamber, their spouses and their family living in the household are eligible for a 20 percent tuition reduction but they must complete the application process. The tuition reduction is for online undergraduate and graduate programs, including high school family members looking to complete college coursework for general education requirements as well as nurses looking for advanced degrees.
“This tuition reduction program came about through the leadership at the Chamber who were looking to advance education opportunities for members and employees,” said Christopher Gersitz, Post University’s vice president of strategic partnerships.
“We already have partnerships with organizations in the Waterbury community, including Webster Bank, the YMCA and the Waterbury Police Department. With our deep roots as a business school, the opportunity to expand access to the business community, through the Chamber is thrilling. We are so pleased to be able to provide a reason for the Chamber membership and its employees to join the Post University learning community,” Gersitz said.
To learn more about Post University or this Chamber partnership, please visit partners.
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FREE Advertising Campaign Analysis offered to Waterbury Regional Chamber Members from Simonetti Media Consulting | |
Confused with too many advertising options? Wondering what’s working? Are you mired in metrics and dashboards? Simonetti Media Consulting can help. With over 40 years’ experience in the local Connecticut market, Simonetti Media Consulting is your partner in bridging the gap between your ad campaign and sales revenue. I specialize in creating advertising campaigns utilizing traditional and digital media. As a way to ‘give back’ to the local advertising community that has supported me for over 40 years, Simonetti Media Consulting is offering our popular “Review and Recommend Plan” at NO CHARGE (a $499 value including 3 hours of work) to current chamber members. The plan includes: reviewing your current business goals, core customer(s) profile, current marketing strategy, return on investment and recommended revisions or new strategies to your advertising campaign. There are limited monthly slots available. View all the services we offer at www.simonettimedia.com. If interested, contact me at simonettimedia@gmail.com or call Jim Simonetti @ 860-268-6379. | |
April 5: Arts Economic Impact Survey Results | |
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Learn more about the impact of the arts on the Waterbury region and Naugatuck Valley during a conversation on Friday, April 5 ay 9:30 a.m. at Seven Angels Theatre hosted by the Arts & Culture Collaborative, Waterbury Region with Randy Cohen from Americans for the Arts.
Randy will share the results of the recent study and survey "Arts and Economic Prosperity 6" and demonstrate why investing in the arts produces big economic returns for our region and state. The facts and figures may astound you!
Stop by for an inspiring session about how the arts BUILD — the economy, creativity, a 21st century workforce, social cohesion, and community unity!
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April 20: Tribury Rotary Club Pickleball Tournament | From left to right: Steve Bodkin, Bodkin/Creative, Jim Rafferty, former Parks and Rec Executive and Rotary members, Claudia Fox, Club Director, and Suzanne Clerkin, President | THE TRIBURY ROTARY CLUB IS IN ACTION! Over the past few months, the Rotary committees have been meeting to create a fun-filled pickleball tournament at Ballantine Park courts on April 20th (rain date: April 21st) from 9:00am-5:00pm to benefit the Southbury Needy Fund. The Needy Fund helps Southbury seniors, adults, and children who need help throughout the year. Pickle Logo tee-shirts will be given to each participant and some outstanding prizes for the winners. The Rotary has come up with creative pickleball graphics for their flyers and postcards as well as organized some fun prizes for their clever scratch-off raffle. Women, Men and Mixed doubles are invited to play by registering on the Parks and Rec website. Friends and family are invited to watch. There are some exciting benefits for ‘Gherkin’, ‘Bread and Butter’, and ‘Sweet Pickle’ sponsorships. For more info contact: Mary Griffin mgriffin@trpaul.com or Linda 203-304-2910 | Support Acts 4 Ministry in the “Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills” Campaign | |
Acts 4 Ministry is participating in the “Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills” fundraising challenge from 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25.
During this 36-hour online-only fundraiser, every dollar you donate to Acts 4 will be multiplied with bonus funds provided by event host, the Connecticut Community Foundation, and their ‘Give Local’ sponsors. Your support will position Acts 4 to compete for additional cash prizes, enabling the ministry to continue making an impact in the community.
To contribute, simply visit www.acts4.org between 7 a.m. on April 24 and 7 p.m. on April 25 and click on the Donate button. All donations are tax-deductible.
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April 28: Children's Community School 2nd Annual Designer Purse BINGO | |
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Please join us for a fun Sunday afternoon event celebrating and supporting Children's Community School
The mission of Children’s Community School (CCS) is to lay the foundation for urban students’ educational success by offering a robust curriculum and unique experiences. By developing their individual character, and by cultivating strong family involvement. Since 1969, the school has served low-income families from Waterbury who recognize education as a key driver to breaking the cycle of poverty. In addition to a personalized approach to education, students at CCS benefit from nutritious meals prepared on-site, counseling, and social work services supported by a comprehensive social-emotional learning curriculum, and enriching experiences ranging from arts to athletics and beyond. CCS believes that socioeconomic status should not preclude families from pursuing private education for their children; as such, CCS asks each family to contribute a maximum of $500 per student to attend the school. The remaining funds are raised through grants, donors, and fundraising.
We hope to see you!
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May 9: CMHA 2nd Annual Mini Golf Classic at La Bella Vista | |
Register before April 15 and save $5 with code BIRDIE | |
Upcoming Events at the Mattatuck Museum | |
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Participate in the Mattatuck Museum’s second annual MattaTrek fundraiser on Saturday, April 13. Sign up to be a walker or hiker or become a sponsored hiker and help The MATT raise money to support their exhibitions, adult and family programs, and community events. The day will begin at 8 AM in the upper lot of Reservoir #6 in West Hartford, off Route 44, with a 6 km, approximately 3.75 mi, walk around the reservoir or follow Museum Director, Bob Burns, and sponsored hikers raising money for programs and exhibitions, by racing against the sun and hiking the entire 23.5 miles into Massachusetts. For more information, to donate to the hike, or register to participate please visit mattmuseum.org/calendar/mattatrek-2024/.
Discover the Mattatuck Museum through the perspective of our staff. Join Deputy Director Stephanie Harris as she shares her personal favorites from our collection, including potential gems from the vault, and offering insights into the pieces that resonate with her the most on Wednesday, April 24, from 1 PM to 2 PM.
Professional photographer artist and guest lecturer, Jess Somers, will be presenting an Adult Lecture called “Photographic Storytelling through a Feminist Lens” where she will share how feminism has shaped and impacted her practice over the past two decades on Saturday, April 27 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.
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Pittsburgh Artist in Residency May 6 to 19
The Mattatuck Museum is excited to announce distinguished metal artist, Kim Fox, will be joining us from May 6-19 for an exclusive Artist in Residency program in collaboration with Art Bridges and the (Re)Work It! exhibition currently on view. Throughout her residency, she will be working on a new piece inspired by the rich history and vibrant community of Waterbury.
She will also offer a hands-on Master Class workshop on May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to learn Kim Fox's signature style, which blends images of honeycombs and natural elements with the resilience of metal.
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May 15: FMLA Compliance and Managing Medical Leave Workshop for Employers
Use code WRC2024 for a 15% off Chamber Member Discount
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Please join us for this highly interactive half-day workshop where we will tackle one of today’s most challenging areas for employers – FMLA compliance and managing employee medical leave.
We will discuss numerous real-world scenarios that will provide attendees with an understanding of their obligations under the Connecticut and federal FMLA.
The Connecticut FMLA was amended more than two years ago to cover nearly every employer in Connecticut that has at least one employee. Connecticut also implemented a new paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. Many employers continue to struggle understanding and complying with these new laws and how they interact with each other, and other federal and state leave laws, such as the federal FMLA, ADA, CFEPA, Workers Compensation Act and pregnancy leave laws.
We are limiting attendance for this workshop in order to have small break-out groups that will work collaboratively on addressing these issues. If you attended our FMLA workshop last year, you will benefit from a review of FMLA obligations as well as full details of recent developments.
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Upcoming Events at the Palace Theater
April 16: 2nd Act Series Featuring Dance Educator/Choreographer Donna Bonasera; April 23: Author Nan Rossiter
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On Tuesday, April 16th at 7:00 pm, join the Palace Theater for an inspiring story of beloved Connecticut dance educator and choreographer Donna Bonasera. Following a stroke two years ago, Bonasera regained her mobility, reclaiming her ability to teach and dance. This event is made possible through the ongoing support of Rourke Insurance Agency, Timothy W. & Mary Ellen Rourke, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UConn Waterbury.
Over the course of her illustrious career, Bonasera has trained hundreds of young dancers, some of whom have become renowned professional ballet dancers. With the same discipline she instilled in her students, she refused to be sidelined after suffering a stroke. Today, she continues to teach and share the joy of dance and movement in her popular dance classes for senior-aged students, as well as continuing to train the next generation of young ballet hopefuls.
Her love of dance helped her regain her zest for living - this interactive presentation may just get you on your feet and dancing!
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at the Box Office: 203-346-2000 or palacetheaterct.org.
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On Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:00 pm the Palace Theater in Waterbury welcomes book club favorite and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter. Rossiter, a Connecticut resident, will be discussing her most recent novel, A Good Measure, and how she weaves together stories about motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, marriage, and romance. These universal themes and complicated relationships are drawn from her own life experiences, exploring the trials and triumphs faced by all of us. Tickets to this engagement are offered on a first come, first served basis and seating is limited. This event is made possible through the ongoing support of Rourke Insurance Agency, and Timothy W. & Mary Ellen Rourke.
Rossiter is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and began her writing career in the world of children's books. Along with her many contemporary fiction novels, she is the author/illustrator of Rugby & Rosie, winner of Nebraska's Golden Sower Award; The Way Home, Sugar on Snow, and The Fo'c'sle: Henry Beston's Outermost House. Her novel, Summer Dance, was the 2018 winner of the Nancy Pearl Award.
She lives on a quiet country road in Connecticut with her husband and a solemn black lab named Finn, who diligently watches her every move and can be roused from a slumber in a distant room by the sound of a banana being peeled or a cookie crumb hitting the floor. Nan and her husband are the parents of two handsome sons who have struck out on life journeys of their own.
Tickets and more information are available at palacetheaterct.org or 203-346-2000
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June 7: New Opportunities, Inc. Senior Volunteer's Recognition Event | |
Volunteer with the American Red Cross | |
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One of the newest cyber threats are bad actors using malware aka malicious software disguised as PDFs (Portable Document Format) according to Kurt the Cyberguy tech journalist, a tool to steal your information. The cyber attacker will email or text the potential victim encrypted PDFs. When the victim tells them they cannot see the PDF the attacker will send a download link that poses as an encryption tool, but it is really malware.
This standardized file format developed by Adobe enables documents to be independent of hardware, software, and operating systems.
If you receive an email, ask yourself first, was I expecting this before responding or acting upon it.
Golden Technology Services Inc. offers the most comprehensive, scalable Cyber Awareness training available today. We will assist you in reducing your risk while online.
Contact: Justin Golden
justin.golden@gtscloud.com
1(972)679-9738 (m)
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CTDOT Launches New Active Transportation Microgrant Program | |
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced the creation of a new state-funded Active Transportation Microgrant Program. CTDOT has allocated $500,000 in microgrants to be distributed across Connecticut through this new program.
The Active Transportation Microgrant Program is a non-infrastructure initiative to provide eligible organizations with up to $5,000 in funding for resources that advance safe, accessible, sustainable, and equitable walking, biking and rolling in Connecticut, including to and from schools. This program works in conjunction with the CTDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program and will be administered by regional Councils of Governments (COGs).
Schools, school districts, municipalities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible items include:
- Bicycle helmets
- Bicycle locks
- Bicycle fleets, including adaptive bikes
- Safety vests
- Bicycle maintenance training and materials
- League Cycling Instructors training
Organizations are limited to receiving two grants in a 12-month period. Applications will be accepted, and funding distributed by the COGs, on a quarterly basis until all funds in the program are utilized. The first grants are expected to be awarded this spring.
Organizations that receive grants must utilize the funds for eligible items within one calendar year. The funding limits for this solicitation are up to $5,000 for each grant awarded. Organizations must apply through their COG representative.
For more information on the Active Transportation Microgrant Program, including application guidelines and materials, visit ct.gov/SafeRoutes
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Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders at the Naugatuck YMCA! | |
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On March, the Naugatuck YMCA welcomed bright minds from Naugatuck High School for a unique professional development experience. Our incredible volunteers stepped up to the plate to conduct mock interviews with these students. They generously shared their expertise, offering the valuable feedback, advice, and tips to help these students prepare for their future.
At the Y, we believe in nurturing the potential of our youth, and today was a shining example of that commitment! We hope these students left our doors today with a newfound sense of empowerment and confidence.
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More Familiar Names: From the Watertown Foundation | |
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Pictured is the beautiful M’Fingle Inn. The M’Fingle Inn, was host to the original meeting of the Watertown Foundation on October 6. 1925. The foundation records indicate that the meeting was held in “The M’Fingle Bungalow," presumably an out building of the inn. Built in the 1870’s for the Hamilton Family, it later served as “On the Hill Sanitarium," Once abandoned, it re-opened as The M’Fingle Inn, named after the patriotic poem by Watertown’s John Trumbull, poet of the American Revolution. As an inn, it was widely considered one of the finest eating establishments in New England. The property encompassed four acres, bound by Middlebury Road, Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton Lane and Woodbury Road. Demolished in 1952, this majestic inn sat on property that is now Princeton Terrace.
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