COMMUNITY NEWS

Charity dinner

Stratford Knights of Columbus Council # 2370 hosts its annual St. Valentine’s Charity Dinner Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p. m. at the hall at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 50 College St. in Stratford. There will be a steak dinner, dancing and guests are urged to BYOB. Cost is $ 25 per person or $ 50 per couple. Reservations must be received by Thursday, Feb. 7. Call Chip Krafnick at 203- 581- 2516. No calls after 7 p. m. Attendees asked to bring a canned good or other non- perishable foot item for the Food for Families Drive.

Spring trips

Sikorsky Retirees Friendship Club hosts a trip to see “Queen Esther” in Lancaster, Pa., April 7- 9. This includes two nights at Bird in Hand Inn, two breakfast buffets, three shows and more. The cost is $ 430 per person for a double room and $ 550 for a single room. Call Ruth Pavluvcik at 203- 783- 1173 for trip reservations and more information.

Car donations

Donate your car, truck or van and help raise funds for a local private school. Free, fast tow away — running or not running. Donations can be used for a charitable tax deduction. Call Charter Oak Education, doing business as Sterling Education, at 860643- 1100.

Irish music

The P. V. O’Donnell branch of Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann meets the third Thursday of each month at St. Gabriel’s Church Hall, 26 Broadway in Milford. Call 203- 876- 9973 for information.

Bingo nights

Congregation B'nai Torah, 5700 Main St. in Trumbull, hosts Bingo Mondays. Doors open at 6 p. m. and games begin at 7 p. m. The congregation has a new machine and new tables that help make the process of calling Bingo easier, even electronically verifying when a winner is called. Bingo includes special games, door prizes and a rolling jackpot that increases weekly up to $ 1,000. Visit facebook. com/ BingoTrumbull or call 203268- 6940 for more information.

YA Wednesdays

The Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., offers YA Wednesdays every Wednesday monthly from 6 to 7: 30 p. m. for kids 12 to 17. Sony Play Station Four, Nintendo Wii, board games and Legos will be available. For information, call 203- 736- 1482 or visit derby public library. org.

Boat safety checks

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24- 3 has certified vessel examiners who perform free vessel safety checks of boats at a time of mutual convenience. Call 860- 663- 5505 or email USCGAUX243@ gmail. com.

Baby- sitting class

Pediatric Healthcare Associates, 50 Unquowa Place, Fairfield, offers Baby- sitting Safety Training classes monthly for children 11 and older, featuring infant and child care safety, what to do in case of an emergency, CPR for infants and children, first aid and activity planning. A two- year certification from the American Heart Association will be awarded upon completion. The class is taught by a CPR- certified instructor. Cost is $ 60. For information, visit pha4kids. com.

Bicycle club

The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club maintains an active rides calendar and caters to recreational and dedicated cyclists. The club advocates safe cycling practices in the local community and statewide. For information, go to soundcyclists. com.

Sikorsky Retirees

The Sikorsky Retirees Union 1150 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11 a. m. at Union Hall, 150 Garfield Ave, Stratford. Contact ramonarubin@ yahoo. com.

Knitting Guild

The Soundview Knitting Guild meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ,466 Elm St ., Monroe. Knitters and crocheters are welcome. Go to sound view knitting guild. com for information.

Sikorsky club

The Sikorsky Friendship Retirees Club meets the second Friday of each month at 1 p. m. at St. Joseph’s National Catholic Church, 1300 Stratford Road, Stratford. Coffee, pastry and bingo take place at the end of the meeting, and an updated list of trips will be available. The group seeks new members, including Sikorsky retirees and friends who are retired. Dues are $ 15 annually. For information, call Al Donofrio at 203- 380- 1940.

Chess club

The Fairfield Chess Club meets Wednesdays from 12: 30 to 3: 30 p. m. at the Bigelow Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace. You do not have to be a senior to play. Usually eight to 12 people attend the meetings. For information, call Frank DeStefano at 203- 333- 6857 or the Senior Center at 203256- 3166.

Garden club

The Milford Garden Club encourages anyone with interest in gardening to join the organization. Participants don’t have to be a master gardener to enjoy the fellowship and programs. For information, call 203- 874- 7470 or goto milford ct garden club. org.

Model Airplane Group

The Milford Model Airplane Group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a. m. to noon in the gym at the Margaret Egan Center, 35 Matthews St. Anyone with an interest in building balsa model airplanes is welcome. There are no dues or fees. Members offer instruction and support. For information, call Michael Theodoseau at 203- 878- 1142 or just show up.

Antique Shop

The Orange Historical Academy Museum and Antique Shop, 605 Orange Center Road, offers a wide variety of antiques, collectibles and gifts on Saturdays from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. For information, call 203 7953106.

Support groups

Monthly support group on the third Wednesday of every month from 1 p. m. to 2 p. m. at Mary Wade, 118 Clinton Ave. in New Haven. No registration fee. Complimentary parking. Call 203- 562- 7222 for more information and to register.

American Lung Association hosts a monthly support club at Mary Wade, 118 Clinton Ave. in New Haven, on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 10 a. m. to 11 a. m. Call 203- 562- 7222 for more information and to register.

Alzheimer’s Association hosts monthly support groups every second Wednesday of every month at Mary Wade, 118 Clinton Ave. in New Haven, from 10 a. m. to 11: 30 a. m. No registration fee. Complimentary parking. Call 203- 562- 7222 for more information and to register.

Families Anonymous hosts a free self- help 12- stop support group for adults concerned about drug, alcohol or related behavioral problems of a friend or relative. The group meets Tuesdays from 7: 30 p. m. to 9 p. m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church Hall, 283 Bridgeport Ave. in Milford. No registration required. For more information contact Judy at 203- 2833867 or JMdel61@ gmail. com or Geralynn at 847- 302- 9729 or MilfordFA@ gmail. com.

Our Lady of Peace Church in Stratford conducts a free, 10- week bereavement program beginning May 29. The group will meet every Wednesday from 6: 30 p. m. to 8 p. m. at the parish center, 10 Ivy St. in Stratford. The program is open to all. Advanced registration is required. If interested call Janet Gillick at 203- 377- 4817 or the center at 203- 377- 4863.

A monthly multiple sclerosis support group meets the second Wednesday of the month from 6: 30 p. m. to 8 p. m. at the Carlton Outpatient Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, 360 Mill Plain Road in Fairfield. Open to anyone with MS, their friends, family and caretakers. Call 203- 367- 2422 for more information.

The Caring Network, a free ongoing support group for adults who have lost a loved one through death, meets on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at Bridges Healthcare, 941 Bridgeport Ave. in Milford from 6 p. m. to 8 p. m. For more information call Cody at 203874- 0268 or Cynthia at 203878- 6365 ext. 344.

A support group for people who have lost loved ones to suicide meets every third Monday each month at Christ & Holy Trinity Church in Westport in the MacKenzie House from 7: 30 p. m. to 9: 30 p. m. Contact Diane at 203380- 0020 or Marilyn at 203- 400- 2453 for more information.

Milford Hospital’s breast cancer support group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 6 p. m. to 7: 30 p. m. in Auditorium A at Milford Hospital, 300 Seaside Avenue in Milford. The meetings are free and open to the public. Call 203- 3011479 for more information.

A bipolar, anxiety and depression support group meets every Thursday from 6 p. m. to 8 p. m. at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Campus at 47 Longs Lots Road in Westport for discussions and to share support. For additional information and questions, contact Alan Rosenthal at 860- 661- 5093 or branforddbsa@ gmail. com.

The Caring Network, a free ongoing support group for adults who have lost a loved one through death, meets the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 6 to 8 p. m. on the Bridges campus, 949 Bridgeport Ave., Milford. Registration is not required. The group is facilitated by a counselor and is sponsored by Bridges … A

Community Support System, and Cody- White Funeral Home. For a brochure or details, call the funeral home at 203- 874- 0268 or Cynthia Dodd at 203- 878- 6365, ext. 344.

The Bridgeport Chapter of the Compassionate Friends meets the second Tuesday monthly from 6: 45 to 8: 45 p. m. at the Sterling House Community Center, 2283 Main St., Stratford. Attendees are asked to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item for the food pantry. The group is a nondenominational support group for parents and grandparents grieving the death of a child. For information, visit tcfbridgeport. org or call 475- 8829695.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous has weekly meetings every Monday and Thursday at 7 p. m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 1089 Fairfield Woods Road in Fairfield. FA is a free 12- step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under- eating or bulimia. There are no dues, fees or weigh- ins. For information, call Aimee at 203- 984- 1970.

The Connecticut Epilepsy Advocate offers a Living with Epilepsy Support Group the first Monday monthly from 7 to 8: 30 p. m. at the Milford Government Center, 70 W. River St., second- floor Ansantawe Room. Use the entrance on the left side of the building. Free parking. For information, call 203- 8748731 or go to http:// bit. ly/ 2LLWGEV.

A free SMART Recovery support group for teens 16 to 18 struggling with risky behaviors including substance misuse, depression, anxiety and self- esteem, is offered Fridays from 3: 30 to 5 p. m. at Wakeman Hall at the First Congregational Church, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield. Young adult facilitators from TurningPointCT. org will help teens learn positive ways to cope and effective ways to gain control of their lives. Refreshments served. For information, contact Ally Kernan at akernan@ healthymindsct. org. Monthly social activities will be chosen by the group members and a Family and Friends Group will be offered to support loved ones.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren offers free parenting education, emotional support and recreational activities to grandparents/ relatives raising children at the Child & Family Guidance Center, 180 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport. Meetings are on Tuesdays, from 5: 30 to 7: 30 p. m. Dinner served; child care at night meetings. For information, call 203394- 6529, ext. 3374.

The Community Addiction & Recovery Education & Support Group provides a free, weekly drop- in support group for parents and other concerned family members whose loved ones are using or abusing mind- altering substances. CARES meets Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. George Orthodox Church, 5490 Main St., Trumbull, and on Thursdays at Echo Ambulance Training Center, 286 Howe Ave., Shelton. For additional locations and information, call 855- 4060246 or visit thecaresgroup. org.

George’s Hill is a social engagement group for people with memory problems or dementia and their caregivers. The group meets the second Thursday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Unity Hill United Church of Christ, 364 White Plains Road, Trumbull. Lunch and a fun program are included. To register, call the church office at 203- 3748822 or email unityhillucc@ snet. net.

Precious Blood Parish hosts a Parkinson’s Support Group the third Wednesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. in Father Cronin Hall at St. Mary Church, 72 Gulf St., Milford. Open to anyone with or caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease. Visit precious blood parish milford. org for information.

The Trumbull MS Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Trumbull Library, 33 Quality St. For information, call Amy at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter, at 800- FIGHT MS or visit ctfightsMS. org.

A self- help group for women with alcohol and/ or drug addictions meets at 1895 Post Road, Fairfield ( across from Hemlock Hardware, rear building, enter at Personal Wellness Center). Participants learn and practice the “New Life” program from Women for Sobriety Inc., an international selfhelp recovery program for women. For information and to join, call Joy Herbst at 203- 640- 0530. For a complimentary program packet, send a self- addressed, stamped envelope ( business size) to: WFS, Inc., PO Box 618, Quakertown PA 189510618 or email the organization at Contact@ Womenforsobriety.org.

The Low Vision Support Group meets Thursdays at 11 a.m. at the Joseph Doyle Senior Center, 153 Main St., Ansonia. Call Jim at 203- 8818557 for information.