Welcome New Members:

3-21 No Kiddin Sober Playground

Aspire Living & Learning, Inc.

The Bevy Co.

Clean Suites, LLC

Connoisseur Media

Deb Cody - Coldwell Banker

Hidden Valley Miniature Golf and Waterfront Grille

The Local Gourmet Kitchen & Market

Ms. Baskets Gourmet

Russell Speeder's Car Wash

Shiloh Marvels LLC

The WorkPlace (Platform to Employment)

Vanir Innovations

*Joined 10/6/23 to 11/2/23

Recent Ribbon Cuttings

October 11: Vincent Dwyer - Connecticut State Marshal's Office

617 Highland Avenue, Waterbury

October 12: Natural Balance Massage celebrates 20 years

250 Main Street South, Southbury

October 13: Maja Diner

1622 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury

November 1: 3-21 No Kiddin' Sober Adult Playground & Bottle Shop

172 Church Street, Naugatuck

Member Recipe of the Month: Pumpkin Apple Oat Pancakes

Provided by Drew Mulvey MS, CDN, CNS, CLT, PNL1, CISN of Redeeming Life Nutrition

It’s Autumn and that means its pumpkin time! Pumpkins are a nutritional powerhouse, rich in fiber, and vitamin A, supporting gut health, athletic performance, and ovarian protection. They also provide vitamin E, rutin, quercetin, potassium, and magnesium for exercise recovery and overall well-being. Additionally, the amino acid tryptophan in pumpkins aids in mood enhancement and immune support during colder months.

Making 2 servings

(Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy, and Nut-Free)

1 cup One Degree Organic Foods gluten-free oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 banana

1/4 cup organic pumpkin purée

1/3 cup coconut milk (2 tbsps full fat coconut milk + 3 tbsps water)

1 tsp organic vanilla extract

2 tsps organic apple cider vinegar

1 organic apple cut into small pieces

~1/2 -1 tbsp coconut oil


Directions:

  1. Add all the dry ingredients to a blend and process until the contents resemble a flour.
  2. Add all the wet ingredients (except the apples) and process until everything is mixed. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. Put an apple through a sliver and dice into small pieces. Fold the pieces into the batter with a spatula.
  4. Heat the coconut oil over medium heat.
  5. Add the batter in 1/4 at a time.
  6. Cook until the top begins to bubble a bit, about
  7. 2-3 minutes, flip and repeat.
  8. Top with yogurt and pure maple syrup.

Best Foods for Athletes: Pumpkin! - Redeeming Life Nutrition

It's Autumn and that means it pumpkin time! These are not only an amazing commodity during this time, but can pack a mean nutrient punch that can help fuel and ignite the female athlete's athletic potential. Check out this post for all the benefits (and a fun recipe!)

Read More

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Hold your next fundraiser at Lakewood Lanes bowling

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Cooperative Advertising

Are you leaving ad dollars on the table?

An average of 30-50% of your advertising campaign could be paid for by your primary vendor/manufacturer/parent company!

 

Cooperative advertising is a process through in which a primary vendor/manufacturer/parent company makes cooperative advertising funds available to local retailers, distributors, real estate/insurance and personal finance agents/consultants, in order to expand awareness of a product/service within the local market.

 

What are the benefits of cooperative advertising?

  • Reduced advertising costs

You and the manufacturer share the cost of producing or placing advertisements, which allows you to run a more expensive campaign than the budget would normally allow. 


  • Quality of ad message

You might have access to the national “creative”. This can give you a more professional appearance, resulting in positioning you as the superior alternative to your local competition. 


  • Media buying

Guidance from experienced staff members who have expertise in the design, creation and placement of advertisements, results in more return from each dollar you spend.


  • Increased public standing

Working with a well-established professional manufacturer, you may increase your own reputation. For the national manufacturer in a cooperative advertising agreement, working with a local retailer can help to establish credibility within the local market.

 

Benefits in working with Simonetti Media Consulting:

 

  • Assistance in researching available coop funds due you from your manufacturers
  • Coordination of the ad message and media schedules
  • Reconcile payment from the manufacturer
  • Over 40+ years of experience in the Connecticut media marketplace, creating local advertising campaigns utilizing traditional and digital media platforms.
  • There is no “gateway” or “minimum ad budget” for us to work together.
  • We can work with your current marketing team or independently.

 

Let’s start a conversation with a free consultation to see how I can help you increase revenue through advertising!

 

Jim Simonetti

Simonetti Media Consulting

www.simonettimedia.com

[email protected]

860-268-6379

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Acts 4 Ministry Seeking Winter Clothing/Accessory Donations

The non-denominational, non-profit Acts 4 Ministry charitable organization serving the greater Waterbury community, is seeking donations of winter clothing and accessories, especially for men, during their “Share the Warmth” Drive.

 

Donations will be welcome through Thursday, February 29 of new or gently worn winter clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, sweatshirts, new socks, thermals, and undergarments, especially for men, but also for women and children. There is a special need for men’s warm shirts, jeans size 28 to 36 waist at any length, and men’s boots and shoes size 10-13.

 

All donations can be brought to Acts 4 Ministry at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, from 9 am to 2 pm. Special arrangements can be made for Saturday drop-offs. Monetary donations payable to Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. can be U.S. Mailed to PO Box 4524, Waterbury, CT 06704. For additional donation needs, call 203-574-2287 or visit acts4.org and click DONATE.

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Research Services 4 Brothers LLC Registered on Sam.gov/State DAS Supplier Diversity Program

Research Services 4 Brothers, LLC, a consumer reporting agency that provides background checks to companies across the country, is now registered on SAM.GOV, allowing the company to accept federal contracts. "Our commitment to excellence continues to grow, and this milestone opens up new opportunities for us to contribute to important projects on a national scale," company officials said recently.


Check out SAM.GOV UEI: CYVMYDY8C723 CAGE: 9MYM5


But that's not all! We're also proud to be listed on the State of Connecticut DAS Supplier Diversity Program.


Explore our State of Connecticut DAS Supplier Diversity Certificate here: https://lnkd.in/gsNe9Had


Thank you to our dedicated team and valued partners who have made these achievements possible. We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead!

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UConn Waterbury's Career Closest Seeking Professional Clothing, Jewelry, Neck Ties, Purses, Bags, Briefcases

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Nov. 2: Breakfast for Veterans at Raymour & Flanigan in Waterbury

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November 7: Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury fundraiser at Amalfi's Restaurant

Come enjoy a great hot meal for only $15.00 AND support Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury this Election Day!

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November 17: Blood Drive at 35 Park Place in Waterbury

Nov. 19: Jane Doe No More/East Coast Training Systems Offering Free Women/Girls Self-Defense Training Classes at Naugatuck YMCA

Jane Doe No More and the professional team at East Coast Training Systems are proud to announce FREE self-defense training classes for women and girls ages 12 and over.


Participants learn awareness and prevention tips, escape strategies, and striking techniques designed to disable assailants and enable escape.


There are no pre-requisites for our classes:

Escape Alive participants work at their own

pace to learn skills and techniques that will

work for them, regardless of age, strength,

size or prior training.


For more information, email

[email protected]


Parent/guardian signature is required during the registration process for all participants under the age of 18.

UPCOMING CLASS


Sponsored

in memory of

Gary Reho

Sunday


November 19, 2023

1:00pm – 5:00pm

Hosted by


Naugatuck YMCA

284 Church Street

Naugatuck, CT 06770


Register at

janedoenomore.org or

call 203-729-0245

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Nov. 30 & Dec. 1: City Youth Theater presents Encore! A Broadway Musical Revue

"Encore" invites audiences to embark on a journey through the heart of Broadway, featuring beloved tunes from classic and contemporary musicals. With a cast of incredibly talented young performers, this production promises to transport you to the magic of the Great White Way right here in Waterbury.

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Winter Exhibitions at the Mattatuck Museum

This winter the Mattatuck Museum will have exhibitions that challenge the idea of consumerism, explore the impact of climate change on the ocean, and highlight the career of a Connecticut-based artist.

 

The season kicks off with Double Take: Familiar Objects in Unexpected Materials, which is on view November 12, 2023 through January 7, 2024.

 

Double Take is an exhibition that presents everyday objects in a unique and interesting manner. This includes cast resin balloons, rotting food made from clay, and typical consumer items, like cigarettes, recreated in intricate beadwork. The work is meant to be fun and playful, but also a searing critique of consumerism and life in America.

 

The inventive and labor-intensive works are created by five New England artists, including one from Connecticut.

 

The Museum will look at women’s labor and all that word entails in (Re)Work It! Women Artists on Women’s Labor, on view January 21 through May 19, 2024.

 

This exhibition explores the many types of labor that women are often expected to manage – from caring for one’s family to participating in the labor force, from managing beauty standards to emotional labor, and more. A reprisal of a smaller exhibition from 2022, this new show delves more deeply into the topic by incorporating a wider range of voices and perspectives. Including artwork from approximately 30 contemporary female-identifying artists, (Re)Work It! thus broadens our definition and understanding of women's labor in 21st century America.

 

This show features work from exciting artists who are on the rise and gaining notoriety, including Judy Chicago, Simone Leigh, Alison Saar, and Lorna Simpson.

 

The Museum is set to take you on a nautical journey with Sea Change See Change, on view January 21 through May 19, 2024.

 

This show focuses on the sea and the impact that global warming has on it and the animals that reside in and around it. The work ranges from landscapes of the ocean and glaciers to renderings of animals done on maps where these animals can be found.

 

This show will feature work from five different artists, including some from Connecticut.

 

The Museum will recognize the career and work of Connecticut artist Dalia Ramanauskas in the exhibition Dalia Ramanauskas: As We Embark, on view January 14 through March 10, 2024.

 

For over fifty years, artist Dalia Ramanauskas has created intricately detailed, large-scale pen and watercolor drawings of ordinary objects. Her work manages to bring dignity and beauty to shredded boxes and old shirts. Ramanauskas spent her childhood fleeing Nazi-occupied Lithuania during World War II, leaving behind a comfortable life for a journey filled with uncertainty and loss. Since then, her artwork has been filled with carefully rendered piles of objects that elevate everyday things, a crucial reminder of the value each object holds in a world of disposable goods. Her recent work has shifted to oil paintings, bringing a greater degree of color to her oeuvre. In all her work, Ramanauskas maintains a sense of humor and imagination that brings her artwork to life, taking viewers along on her flights of fancy.

 

The Mattatuck Museum also invites you to come see the work of its artist members in the 2024 Mixmaster Juried Members’ Exhibition, on view January 28 through March 3, 2024.

 

This exhibition, which showcases the winners of the Museum’s 9th annual juried competition, seeks to discover and recognize the talents of artists in the New England and tri-state region. Created to encourage contemporary art, this exhibition provides an opportunity for established and emerging artists to debut their latest works. Works are selected by Juror Susan Eley, owner and director of Susan Eley Fine Art in New York City. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to cast a vote for their favorite work in our gallery voting case or online. The Museum will announce the winner of the Visitor’s Selection Prize at the close of the exhibition.

 

The First Prize winner will receive $500 and a solo show at the Museum in September 2024. The Second Prize winner will receive $300, and the Third Prize winner will receive $200. Both the Staff Selection and Visitor’s Award winners will receive an upgraded membership to Director’s Circle level and all associated benefits, a $500 value.

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Nov. 7: "I Wrote That!" Author Talk Series Featuring Emily Dinova at the Palace Theater

On Tuesday, November 7th at 7:00 pm the Palace Theater in Waterbury presents an exciting new voice in the gothic fiction genre, author Emily Dinova. Fans of gothic fiction will love the opportunity to hear Dinova discuss her debut novel, Veil of Seduction. 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.


The atmosphere and setting of Morning Falls Asylum in 1922 help create all the best elements of a gothic novel from mystery and fear to villains and romance:


Many women have been sent there. None have returned. Until now...


Lorelei Alba, a fiercely independent and ambitious woman, is determined to break into the male-dominated world of investigative journalism by doing the unimaginable: infiltrating the gothic hospital to which "troublesome" women are dispatched, never to be seen again. Once there, she meets the darkly handsome and enigmatic Doctor Roman Dreugue, who claims to have found the cure to insanity. But Lorelei's instincts tell her something is very wrong, even as her curiosity pulls her deeper into Roman's intimate and isolated world of intrigue.


Tickets to this event are $20. Tickets may be purchased at the Palace Theater Box Office: 203-346-2000 or palacetheaterct.org. Signed copies of Dinova’s book can be purchased by cash or check.

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Nov. 16: NAMI Waterbury Fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse

Head to Texas Roadhouse at 330 Reidville Drive in Waterbury on Thursday, November 16 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a fundraiser benefitting the Waterbury chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health. Mention NAMI for your to-go order or dine-in meal and 10% ofyour food purchase will be donated to NAMI. For more information, visit www.namiwtby.org

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News from Connecticut's Technical High Schools

Adapting Technical Education in the Age of AI, Electric Vehicles, and Emerging Technologies

By Dr. Ellen Solek, Executive Director, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What doIn an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the need for skilled professionals who can navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and other emerging technologies is more pronounced than ever before. The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), formerly known as the Connecticut Technical High School System, is striving to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in this new era.


AI has begun to revolutionize sectors such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Recognizing its potential, CTECS is revamping policy and curricula to ensure students are gaining an understanding of AI's capabilities and limitations. By imparting AI expertise, CTECS is fostering a generation of professionals who can harness AI's power responsibly and creatively.


The automotive industry is undergoing an immense shift as electric vehicles (EV) take center stage. CTECS is evolving to meet the demand for skilled technicians and designers capable of developing and maintaining EV infrastructure. Curricula now encompass introduction to EV systems and safety. Collaborations with industry leaders and exposure to EV technologies are giving students a practical edge.


Beyond AI and EVs, an array of emerging and rapidly advancing technologies such as cobots, cybersecurity, and renewable energy are reshaping industries. To prepare students for this dynamic landscape, CTECS is fostering adaptability and innovation. Daily lessons and experiences are designed to instill core employability skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication, enabling students to excel in collaborative work environments and navigate the evolving demands of modern industries.


The rapid pace of technological advancement necessitates a strong collaboration between CTECS and employers. This collaboration ensures that curricula remain relevant and up-to-date with the latest industry trends.


By embracing these advancements in technology, equipping students with the skills to thrive in this ever-changing landscape, and fostering strong employer partnerships CTECS is not only preparing a skilled workforce but also nurturing the innovators who will shape the future.


There are numerous opportunities for employers to get involved in the technical high schools including hosting field trips, participating in job fairs, or joining a Program Advisory Committee. Email [email protected] to get started.

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Connecticut Youth Services Association Honors Waterbury Youth Services with Program of the Year Award

Waterbury Youth Services' Out of School Suspension program has been honored with the Program of the Year award from Connecticut Youth Services Association. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding people and programs that serve children, youth and families in Connecticut with outstanding quality.


In Connecticut, institutions such as Youth Service Bureaus (YSBs) serve as a backbone to our communities. Guided by the General Statue section 10-19m, YSBs collaborate across towns and cities, ensuring a cohesive support system for children, youth, and their families. The core mission is simple yet profound: to guide the younger generation toward growth, enabling them to engage effectively within their communities.


Our Out of School Suspension initiative was born out of a necessity identified in May of 2021. Collaborative discussions with Waterbury Public Schools highlighted a concerning rise in recurring suspensions and truancy. The program's essence is to bridge the gap between suspension and classroom re-entry by offering a combination of academic guidance and behavioral support. Adopting a restorative justice approach, the out of school suspension program has grown from its initial role as a pilot program in one middle school to now being instrumental in four middle schools in Waterbury, assisting 5 to 12 students each day.

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Nov. 20 & 21: Waterbury Youth Services Coat Giveaway

Waterbury Youth Services Annual Coat Distribution!

The chilly season is near, and we're ensuring everyone in our community has a warm coat. Join us on November 20th & 21st, 10am-2pm, at 83 Prospect St. Coats are limited, distributed first come, first serve.

Want to help? We're accepting coat donations. Let's spread warmth throughout Waterbury!

For inquiries, contact Shenquaya Clements at 203-573-0264 or [email protected]. Let's unite for a warmer winter

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Productions for Change documentary films in Waterbury

The groundbreaking documentary series, "No Way to Live: Rummaging Through Connecticut's Homeless Mess for Answers," has recently launched, offering a profound exploration into the lives and narratives of homeless individuals in Connecticut. With an aim to illuminate the human stories behind the issue of homelessness, this series serves as a powerful medium for fostering empathy and understanding within our communities.


Scheduled for October 30 in Waterbury, the production team will be filming additional segments for the docuseries at the Waterbury Interfaith Ministries location (WHIM). This event presents a unique opportunity for news crews to capture the inspiring endeavors of the community in assisting the homeless.


You can view the first four videos at productionsforchange.org.


Having devoted ourselves to this crucial initiative since December last year, we have conducted in-depth interviews with over 24 homeless individuals and collaborated with 17 agencies. The culmination of this effort will be the premiere of the full 90-minute documentary at our nonprofit's fundraising event on March 2, offering the public an immersive understanding of the complexities surrounding homelessness. Furthermore, the docuseries is readily accessible on our YouTube channel and website, productionsforchange.org.


"We believe that 'No Way to Live' has the potential to spark meaningful conversations and drive action on the critical issue of homelessness," remarked Tom Mazzarella, President of Productions for Change. "Through the lens of these personal stories, we hope to foster greater awareness and compassion in addressing the challenges faced by the homeless community in Connecticut.”

For additional information or to delve deeper into the intricate aspects of this project, please do not hesitate to reach out. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you to shed light on this pressing societal concern and foster a deeper understanding within our communities.


For media inquiries or further information, please contact Tom Mazzarella at

[email protected] or 860-940-9838.

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