Assisted Living Services hits industry trifecta

Assisted Living Services, Inc. in Connecticut has once again earned national recognition from Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in quality assurance for home care.

A family-owned company with offices in Cheshire and Westport, Assisted Living Services, Inc. received three distinguished 2023 Best of Home Care awards: Leader in Excellence, Employer of Choice and Provider of Choice.

The Leader in Excellence Award is the highest distinction and is bestowed only to select home care businesses that consistently place among the top in 10 or more quality metrics.

This ranks Assisted Living Services, Inc. among the top 15 percent of home care providers nationwide participating in the Home Care Pulse Satisfaction Management Program.

This is the third time the agency has received the awards.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected for all three categories and one of only a handful of winners in our state,” said Ron D’Aquila, RN and CEO of Assisted Living Services, Inc., who co-owns the enterprise with his wife Sharon D’Aquila.

Mario and Nick D’Aquila, the couple’s sons, hold executive positions within the company.

Ron D’Aquila said, “Our clients want to live in the comfort of their homes. We are committed not only to making that possible, but also to ensuring that their golden years are truly golden.”

In appreciation of its staff, Assisted Living Services, Inc. implemented a monthly $5,000 Platinum Caregiver Award program in 2019 to recognize employees who have exceeded expectations for quality care. Since its inception, the Platinum Caregiver Award program has distributed more than $180,000 to 100-plus Assisted Living Services, Inc. employees.

Letters to the Editor

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Grange award

The Cheshire Grange will honor its Community Citizen of the Year, Ilona Somogyi, Wednesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., at the Grange Hall on Wallingford Road. Somogyi is being recognized for her extensive efforts and involvement with the Ball & Socket Arts retail center on West Main Street. The April 5 program will include a reception and tea cup auction. The public is invited. For more information, contact Ruel Miller at 203-272-8255.

Street sweeping

The Cheshire Public Works Department plans to begin sweeping town roads Monday, April 3. A map of the ar- eas in the order they will be swept is available on the town website. Residents can assist Public Works by sweeping sediment from sidewalks into gutters and moving cars which would interfere with sweeping operations. Sweepers cannot pick up brush, branches or yard waste. Operations are expected to be completed by midJune, weather permitting.

Art Heals

ART HEALS is a free program for Cheshire adult residents who are temporarily or permanently homebound because of medical, emotional or physical difficulty. The confidential program was suspended during the pandemic and is now open.

It involves up to six lessons with a professional art teacher from Artsplace in the client’s home. No experience or art ability is necessary. At the conclusion of the program the artwork is framed and returned to the client. For more information or to enroll in the ART HEALS program, contact Joan Pilarczyk at 203-2722787, or jpilarczyk@ cheshirect.org.

Certification

Eversource is partnering with Housatonic Community College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Unions 420 and 457 to prepare the next generation of electrical lineworkers in Connecticut. The Lineworker Certificate Program provides students valuable training in the electric utility industry and the opportunity to progress into Eversource’s paid apprenticeship pro- gram. Visit Eversource.com for more information on the certification program and to stay updated on the next available class.

Theater

Castle Craig Players, Meriden is celebrating its 30th season. Shows on sale now: “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On,” May 5 to 20; “Into The Woods,” July 28 to Aug. 12. For ticket information, visit castlecraigplayers.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the 119-year-old national youth mentoring organization. Based in Hartford, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut offers lifechanging programs to at-risk children in all of the state’s

169 municipalities. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting ctbigs.org.

Wellness expo

Exhibitors and speakers are sought for the 10th Bi-Annual Passport to Health & Wellness Expo, which will be held April 23 at The Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton. Also, vendors are sought for expos taking place May 21 and Sept. 17 at the VFW in Plainville. Contact Shirley Bloethe at 860-989-0033 or yourholisticevents@ gmail.com, or visit yourholisticevents.com.

Alert system

Residents can register to receive emergency notifications from the town. Examples include evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports. Visit cheshirect.org to register.

 Competitive Rates

 Fun Place to Work

 Work Outside and with Kids

All Summer

 Great Resume Builder

 Camp June 26–Aug 18 Weekdays

 Busing available

 Meals are included

Various Positions Available: Counselor, Lifeguard, Martial Arts, Wood Working

 Competitive Rates

 Fun Place to Work

 Work Outside

 Great Resume Builder

 Flexible hours and work week

 Weekends Available

 Meals are included

Various Positions Available: Lifeguards, Activities Directors, Catering Staff, Groundskeeping Staff Visit

“It is an immense honor to be selected by my peers to serve as president-elect for the American Society for Engineering Education for 2023-24,” said Crawford, who will become president in 2024-25.

“ASEE has been a significant part of my professional life, and I am thrilled to join the board of directors for my fourth term. Engagement with ASEE perfectly aligns with my three passions: engineering, teaching engineering and serving others.”

Founded in 1893, ASEE is a global society that spans all disciplines of engineering education and includes individual, institutional and corporate members.

“This is an exciting time for

ASEE as the engineering profession continues to engage in the national and global challenges facing humanity,” Crawford said. “In the uncertain financial and divisive political climates of our times, we can never lose sight that the world is ‘filling up. ’ By some estimates, our precious planet will reach its capacity of 10 billion people by 2050. Fulfilling the need for clean water, energy, food, waste disposal, medical care, etc., will require the combined talents and energies of engineers in all disciplines. For most ASEE members, we will not be the ones who solve these ‘grand challenges.’ That will fall to those who are currently sitting in our classrooms.”

Crawford, who joined the School of Computing and Engineering at Quinnipiac University in 2014, has a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas, a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering (aerospace) from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“I am incredibly proud of Grant for being elected as the president-elect to the American Society of Engineering Education,” said Taskin Kocak, dean of the School of Computing and Engineering at Quinnipiac.

“His dedication to advancing engineering education and his expertise in the field make him an outstanding choice for this position,” Kocak added.

“Based on his previous accomplishments, this honor is well deserved, and I have no doubt that he will continue to make significant contributions to the field and lead the society with great success.”

Senior Health

Understanding Lymphedema

The World Health Organization estimates that over 250 million people worldwide live with Lymphedema or chronic swelling.

It is a disease that can cause pain, limit mobility and cause us to be insecure about ourselves.

Friday, March 31, from 11 a.m. to noon, join a Certified Lymphedema Therapist from Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network, to learn more about the causes and effects of swelling, ways to manage it.

Call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/ VirtualClasses.

Call-in support

Looking for a safe space?

Talk to a professional about questions and concerns you have regarding dementia, Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. This call-in support group is facilitated by Kristine Johnson, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.

Call 1-646-876-9923 (Meeting ID 92408181873#).

Dementia caregivers

Are you a caregiver and feeling overburdened? Are you responsible for making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior or even helping a loved one get dressed in the morning? Join this call-in support group Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m.

Facilitated by Michelle Wyman, dementia specialist. Call 1-646-876-9923 (Meeting ID 92408181873#).