No Connecticut Veterans Parade this year

HARTFORD » Organizers of the CT Veterans Parade have announced that they are not planning a November 2017 procession. The Connecticut Veterans Fund, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, which coordinated the annual parade in Hartford, cites the high cost of running this type of event and the increasing difficulty in raising funds to produce it as contributing factors.

“This was a difficult decision for our committee to make because the parade has been a labor of love for all of us,” explained Ray Lilley, president of the Connecticut Veterans Fund, in a written statement. “But the rising costs of producing an event of this magnitude, combined with funding challenges, and the dwindling number of spectators who come out to cheer on a cold November day has brought us to this conclusion.”

Instead, Lilley and the committee encourage all veterans service organizations, military and veterans support groups, and individual veterans to participate in local annual Veterans Day observances this year that take place in almost every Connecticut town and city. They also urge the public to attend those events to express their gratitude for the servicemen and women who dedicated their lives so all Americans can live in freedom.

“We are grateful to the planning committee, comprised of many veteran service organizations (VSOs), the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, and thousands of individual veterans for their participation and support since 2000, the very first year of the parade,” added Lilley. “And we thank the many companies, organizations and individuals for their donations of dollars and services over the years.”

The Connecticut Veterans Parade was created by a grass roots organization over a decade ago to honor the men and women who selflessly have given their service so all Americans can live free.

With as many as 4,000 marchers in some years, New England’s largest salute to veterans also had been one of the biggest in the nation – a powerful, colorful and emotional site to behold.

It was annually recognized by U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Day Committee in Washington, D.C. as one of nation’s official “Veterans Day Regional Sites.”

Valerie Manor congratulates staff

TORRINGTON » The staff at Valerie Manor was recently congratulated for its outstanding annual survey conducted by the Department of Public Health.

Pizza was provided to applaud the hard work of the entire team. Valerie Manor offers a wide range of service such as; Short-Term Rehabilitation, Long-Term Care, Respite Care, Dementia Care as well as a Continuum of Care Offered by Athena Home Health and Hospice.

Valerie Manor is located at 1360 Torringford Street, Torrington, CT and is managed by Athena Health Care Systems. For more information, go to athenanh.com/valeriemanor or call 860-489-1008 to schedule a tour.

Bank’s shredding days a success

LAKEVILLE » Salisbury Bank recently announced that it held two more successful Community Shred Days at its Lakeville, Connecticut branch on Saturday, June 3, and its Canaan, Connecticut branch on Saturday, July 8.

In total 21,920 lbs. of paper was shredded and recycled.

If you missed Shred Days in Lakeville and Canaan, Salisbury Bank is offering three more that will span over the next two months.

Saturday, Aug. 19, Millerton Branch, 87 Main Street, Millerton, N.Y.

Saturday, Sept. 9, Great Barrington Branch, 210 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA

Saturday, Sept. 16, Sharon Branch, 5 Gay Street, Sharon

Each person may bring up to 4 boxes of paper (no binders please) for shredding by Legal Shred personnel to any of the locations listed above from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

This service is brought by Salisbury Bank, as a way of enriching the communities it serves. All shredded paper will be recycled.

For more information on protecting yourself against Identity Theft, visit salisburybank.com/protectid.

Salisbury Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Lakeville, and presently operates full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury, and Sharon, Connecticut; Great Barrington, Sheffield, and South Egremont, Massachusetts; as well as Dover Plains, Fishkill, Millerton, New Paltz, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Red Oaks Mill, New York. The Bank has been serving families and businesses for over 160 years and offers a full range of consumer and business banking products and services as well as trust and investment services.