It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Waterbury Green gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Waterbury, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company,”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work and truly cares about the people she is in contact with. She is dedicated, diligent, and is devoted to her job assignment. She not only takes care of my Mom, but she goes above and beyond her call of duty. Bessie has a unique ability to connect with every person she meets. No day goes by that my Mom is not pampered. Bessie make sure she's always comfortable. She makes exceptional meals for her 3 times a day, cleans her clothes, gives her showers, washes her hair and makes her look amazing every single day. Bessie is so beneficial to our family we can't imagine our family without her. I myself and my family members could never do what she does for our Mom. She has been with my mom and our family for almost 1 year and we don't know what we would do without her, she truly is a gift from God. She not only takes care of my Mom daily, nightly and weekly, she also takes care of her personal life and whatever life throws at her. She is a devoted caretaker and should be recognized with the utmost respect. Her dedication to improving the health and well-being of my Mom is commendable. You can't find anyone as special as she. Her life commitment has touched our lives through her delivery of exceptional care in a compassionate, respectful, and safe manner on a daily basis. She has become a member of our family and she has shown us the meaning of adaptability. Her strong faith in God, Forgiveness, and Believing in each other makes her the great person that she is. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank you for the extraordinary care and services your company has provided to us. Thank you for all you do”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a few hours a week, they were very thorough in asking about my mother's condition, and what were the needs that were required. It's more like bathing, medication, and companionship. We used them for about a week.”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of Always Best Care for the outstanding service you have provided for our parents. ABC provided professional, first-class support that allowed our parents to remain in their home while relieving of us of concern for their care and is something we will never forget. You can be sure we will happily refer any family member or friend that is seeking care at home to Always Best Care.”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at home assisted by the caregivers from your company Always Best Care of Greater Bristol. This letter is a personal thank you from my father and the entire Ceuch family on how your caregivers treated and attended to my father during this time. The caregivers became part of our extended family who shared in countless family events resulting in beautiful lasting memories. Caregivers Frances Boateng, Jeremy Turner, and Yanice Hernandez were awesome in their care of my father. I want to especially acknowledge Francis as a person who went above and beyond his responsibility and became part of the Ceuch inner circle. It was not uncommon for Francis on his off days to stop by during a family picnic to say hello...he is truly loved by my father. Again, I want to thank you for the loving care your caregivers provided my father. I would highly recommend your company to anyone interested in having a caregiver attend to a loved one. Thanks again”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for my step father, Daryl. It's unbelievable how the progression of his illness happened so quickly, however, Always Best Care was always ready to provide the level of care he needed as it increased. Most importantly, I'd like to thank his aide, Sue Malasics. She was wonderful to Daryl and took great care of his needs. I knew I did not have to worry with Sue there with him. She was always cooking wonderful homemade meals and desserts and I was happy to see how happy she made Daryl. I think she is a wonderful asset to Always Best Care. Should I know of anyone needing help in the future, I would recommend Always Best Care and Sue Malasics.”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure. My mother was also very demanding about her care and who she would allow into her home. After several attempts with various in-home care agencies my mother really responded well to Always Best Care Senior Services of Greater Bristol and we cant thank them enough for the high level of compassionate care they were able to provide during my moms final months.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal care assistant until placement in a quality skilled nursing facility became available. We reached out to home health care agencies in her local area but, by this point, had already worked with several agencies for med reminders for Barbara (and 24/7 care for our Mom in another area of CT) and were a bit skeptical that that we’d find one that could provide consistent quality of care.When I spoke with Rick Downey of Always Best Care Senior Services in Bristol, he conveyed both confidence in his knowledge of health care and empathy in understanding the frustrations that families experience when seeking quality care for their loved ones. We were next contacted by their care coordinator,Heather Kozikowski, who came to our sister’s home to conduct an assessment and further explain the services offered by Always Best Care.A further testament to the exceptional quality of Always Best Care is the service and care we’ve received after Barbara is no longer a client; our thanks to Always Best Care for the excellent care of our sister, and the peace-of-mind it afforded our family knowing that she was in such kind and competent hands!”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary caregiver for my husbamd/ My husband suffers from dementia and is aphasic. On a Saturday morning in October of 2015, a sudden change in my health required an emergent hospitilization, which late resulted in an extensive rehabilitation stay. Upon my hospitalization, my son reached out to Always Best Care Senior Services of greater Bristol. The Always Best Care team assessed my husband, his needs, and had his care staffed within hours of my son's call. The care provided to my husband has been exceptional. The caregivers as well as the office staff have been attentive to our needs and have met all of our expectations. I would highly recommend Always Best Care to you and anyone who is in need of care for their loved one.”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company, Always Best Care, offered our family and especially the caring, loving attitude that Amber and Natalie displayed to Carol at all times. They were outstanding and you should be proud to place them in any situation with the full expectation they will represent your firm in a most professional manner. Thanks again for all your help.”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of care will be recommended to others. You went above and beyond what was expected.”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Fulton Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Diorio Restaurant Bar or visit Mattatuck Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Waterbury, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Waterbury, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Waterbury, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
WATERBURY — Waterbury may be known as the Brass City for its historical connection to manufacturing with the metal, but the city also has a preponderance of companies that make screws and fasteners.At least a half dozen companies make screws and fasteners in Waterbury. Those businesses are drawing a great deal of attention because of the impact of ...
WATERBURY — Waterbury may be known as the Brass City for its historical connection to manufacturing with the metal, but the city also has a preponderance of companies that make screws and fasteners.
At least a half dozen companies make screws and fasteners in Waterbury. Those businesses are drawing a great deal of attention because of the impact of tariffs that are the key weapon in President Donald Trump's trade war with countries around the world.
And like many other small manufacturers, some screw makers are beginning to see increased costs from the implementation of tariffs on metals imported from nations across the world roil their businesses. The United States imports between $5 billion and $6 billion worth of screws and fasteners each year, according to Fastener World, a trade publication.
Their increased costs, from tariffs on the steel, aluminum and other metals used to make their products, have been passed on to customers. What was once a 10 cent screw has now increased to 17 cents, according to the Wall Street Journal, an increase that when multiplied by products that are fastened by dozens, hundreds or even thousands of screws, can be substantial.
Gene Simpson, president of Illinois-based fastener maker Semblex, told the Journal that U.S. fastener makers simply don't have the necessary production capacity to replace or reduce the amount of imported screws that domestic manufacturers currently use.
“It’s a select group of suppliers," Simpson said.
But not everyone in the screw making business is suffering from the uncertainty associated with Trump's tariffs. Neil Tremaglio Jr., the owner of Waterbury Swiss Automatics, said his company hasn't seen a fall off in orders from customers, although he acknowledged it may still be too soon to judge the long-term impacts on the three quarter of a century old company his father and uncle founded in 1949.
Diversification of the types of industries that Waterbury Swiss serves have a role in that, according to Tremaglio. The company's customers include medical equipment, electronics and lock making sectors.
"It may be different for other businesses," Tremaglio said. "But our business hasn't been hurt at all; if one market is down, the others are up. The ebbs and flows balance each other out."
Waterbury Swiss Automatics has a 12,000-square-foot factory in an industrial park near Austin Road on the east side of Waterbury. The company employs 20 people.
The metal fastening business is split into two predominant groups: Custom-made precision fastening products for a specific project or customer and generic fasteners, which are designed for the broader market. Jeff Astle, Waterbury Swiss' general manager, said that the company's specialty is precision screws, some of which have a diameter 40 times smaller than a human hair.
Waterbury Swiss' business is also structured in such a way that it is protected from the perfect storm that Trump's tariffs have become to many businesses around Connecticut and the country at large. Tremaglio said all of the company's customers are either headquartered here in the United States or are located in territories like Puerto Rico. And the companies that supply the metals that Waterbury Swiss turns into screws and fasteners are also domestically-based.
"The volume of metals we use doesn't warrant going directly to the mills for our supply," Astle said. "So we buy from (domestic) distributors. We don't buy direct."
He said one advantage to the company being based in an area where there are so many screw and fastener manufacturers "is the availability of qualified workers" in the employment candidate pool.
Tremaglio said the company's hiring efforts benefit from Waterbury being home to W.F. Kaynor Technical High School as well as the Manufacturers Alliance Serice Corp., an educational foundation focused on the education and training of workers for Connecticut's manufacturing community.
"It gives kids here a head start on what can be a very good career that can allow them to live comfortably," he said. "And we have a couple of people here that started as apprentices while attending Kaynor. And once we get them here, we have an experienced workforce that can help train them."
While Waterbury Swiss isn't being hurt by Trump's tariffs at the moment, other small manufacturers across Connecticut whose products are made with metals are justifiably nervous, according Jamison Scott, president of Air Handling Systems, a Woodbridge-based manufacturer that makes dust and fume handling components.
Scott, who also teaches supply chain management courses at Quinnipiac University, said manufacturers he has talked with are concerned about the uncertainty that comes with the current environment surrounding tariffs.
"There is certainly a lot of concern about this because of what is unknown," Scott said. "Everybody is trying to figure out how they are going to parcel out the increased costs when they come. And it's not hitting us all at the same time."
With his own business, Scott said he has not seen the price of steel increase at all. He said that is due in part to his getting his steel from domestic companies.
"I source domestically because you can never be completely certain of the imported steel," Scott said. "But when prices from foreign manufacturers go up, the domestic companies tend to increase their prices, too."
April 28, 2025
Arjelis Heredia of Waterbury has been teaching for far longer than the 19 years she’s been an educator, if you count the years she used to pretend to be a teacher when she was a kid.“If you speak to any family member, they'll let you know, since [kindergarten], I was the teacher,” Heredia said. “That's all I used to play, line up all my dolls and join my cousins and teach and be the principal and the cook and all the school rules.”That lifelong passion for education has earned her the LifeChanger o...
Arjelis Heredia of Waterbury has been teaching for far longer than the 19 years she’s been an educator, if you count the years she used to pretend to be a teacher when she was a kid.
“If you speak to any family member, they'll let you know, since [kindergarten], I was the teacher,” Heredia said. “That's all I used to play, line up all my dolls and join my cousins and teach and be the principal and the cook and all the school rules.”
That lifelong passion for education has earned her the LifeChanger of the Year award. National Life Group chose her out of 750 nominations from across the country. The financial services company rewards K-12 educators who make a difference in the lives of students through its LifeChanger of the Year program.
Heredia is “being recognized for her success in educating and inspiring at-risk and economically disadvantaged students to achieve greatness in school and at life,” according to Kevin Gould, an award spokesperson.
Ultimately, for Heredia, the key to that success is keeping open communication with students, even after they’ve gone to high school and beyond.
“I like to set the standard of if anything, you can come to me,” Heredia said. “If you're hungry, we'll figure it out. If you need stuff, then let me know and I'll do my best. … I like to try my best to let them know that I'm really here.”
Real-life lessons passed down from Abuela
Heredia is a seventh and eighth grade teacher at Children’s Community School in Waterbury, a non-profit that serves children pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. She has been teaching there for 14 years, starting at the preschool level.
As an educator, Heredia said she likes to ensure her students are prepared for the future by teaching them life skills that she didn’t learn growing up.
“When I left high school, it's like, ‘What? I don't know any of this. What's a job application? What's a resume?’” Heredia said. “I like for [my students] to have those things that I know now that I needed, that I wasn't necessarily taught at school.”
Those life skills include learning how to budget and maintain financial stability. Heredia said she has her students open bank accounts before they graduate. She also teaches them social skills, like how to interview for a job and how to keep eye contact.
Community service and social justice are also priorities for Heredia.
“I feel that this generation is very self absorbed and entitled,” Heredia said, referring to Gen Z. “It's fine to have more than others, but if you're just all about yourself, you're going to be a pretty sucky adult.”
Heredia said she and her students go to local soup kitchens to serve sandwiches and food baskets they make themselves. They also read to the elderly in nursing homes, write to children’s hospitals and make birthday boxes for families in need.
Children’s Community School primarily serves children from families who live at or below the federal poverty level. More than 160 students attend the school; nearly 100 of them qualify for free or reduced lunch, according to principal Katherin Sniffin.
Heredia credits her grandmother for shaping her.
“I grew up with my grandma and Abuela was very social. Everyone knew her because she would feed people out of her kitchen window, and if anyone needed, they knew that they could knock on her door,” Heredia said. “I grew up witnessing that, and it made me who I am now.”
Creating lasting impact
Heredia likes to keep in touch with her students after they’ve gone off to high school. She appreciates it when they reach out.
“One student that left three years ago, she calls me every day and before she gets herself into trouble, she's like, ‘Ms. Arjelis, I need you to talk me off the ledge so I don't do anything stupid,’” Heredia said. “I'm happy to be there for them because sometimes they don't have a trusted adult.”
Receiving the LifeChanger of the Year award came as a surprise for Heredia. The school hosted a ceremony for her on April 3 to share the news. After thinking it was an April Fools’ joke, Heredia said she realized it was proof of how her efforts make an impact.
“I always doubt myself,” she said. “It just gave me the validation to keep going [knowing] I am changing someone out there.”
Heredia and the school received a $10,000 prize as part of the award. Heredia said she would like to see the funds go toward revamping the science lab with new equipment.
In May, Heredia will be going to the Bahamas to deliver an acceptance speech at a LifeChanger of the Year celebration.
SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.
SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.
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WATERBURY — The State Bond Commission is poised to approve $5.3 million to support two ongoing redevelopment projects in Waterbury that figure prominently in the city's revitalization plans.The agenda for the upcoming meeting Friday includes $4 million that t...
WATERBURY — The State Bond Commission is poised to approve $5.3 million to support two ongoing redevelopment projects in Waterbury that figure prominently in the city's revitalization plans.
The agenda for the upcoming meeting Friday includes $4 million that the Community Investment Fund Board approved March 12 for funding the third phase on an ongoing project to transform the streetscape along West Main Street. In all, the CIF board approved $77 million for development projects across the state.
The bond commission is also slated to reallocate $1.3 million remaining from previously approved funding for the expansion of electric andwater capacity at Captain Neville Industrial Park to instead support the continued cleanup of the former Anamet brass manufacturing complex abutting the Naugatuck River on South Main Street.
Gov. Ned Lamont chairs the bond commission and his administration selects which allocations to fund, so an item's inclusion on the panel's agenda is generally tantamount to approval.
State legislators representing the city and Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. said the $4 million state grant for West Main Street project represents a crucial step toward revitalizing the downtown district, enhancing infrastructure, spurring business growth and attracting private investment in Waterbury.
“This funding will revitalize the downtown corridor with improvements to sidewalks, lighting, and roadways, creating a safer and more accessible environment for everyone,” said state Rep. Ron Napoli, D-Waterbury, the House chairman of the General Obligation Bonding Subcommittee of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and a CIF board member.
The state funding will enable construction crews to upgrade approximately 4,440 linear feet on the street and underground, including water, sanitary, sewer, and storm drainage.
The city will also be using some of a $23.1 million federal RAISE grant to support this work. The Federal Highway Administration approved the city's grant in 2022. The Waterbury Development Corp. and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments assisted the city in applying for the RAISE grant, including $9.8 million requested for the West Main Street project.
The remainder of the federal funding is supporting the continued development of the Waterbury section of the Naugatuck River Greenway and the installation of three electric vehicle charging stations at the Waterbury train station.
The state and federal funds are being spent to redevelop West Main Street between Riverside Street and the Waterbury Green in the heart of downtown.
In addition to improving the city's appearance, Pernerewski said the West Main Street project will also make Waterbury more accessible, safer, and ready to support future growth.
West Main Street is a short but much-used corridor that connects downtown Waterbury with parts of the city that are on the west side of the Naugatuck River, but its condition and design present challenges for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, according to planning documents.
The biggest component of the project is reducing the number of travel lanes on West Main Street to one through lane of traffic in each direction and making the road a uniform width. Other design features include a bus stop pull-off, a bicycle shared lane from Riverside Street to the railroad bridge, a green strip on the south side of West Main Street between Thomaston Avenue and the railroad bridge.
The last round of state bond funding for the Anamet redevelopment project was approved in 2021, when the bond commission approved an additional $2 million allocation to the Waterbury Development Corp. for completing the demolition of remaining buildings on the former industrial property and further investigating the extent of contamination on the brownfield site.
The WDC is the designated economic and community development agency for the city of Waterbury.
The WDC had received a $2.1 million bond allocation in 2022 to increase the supply of needed electricity and water to Captain Neville Industrial Park, but only spent $800,000 because bids for the project contract were significantly lower than anticipated, said James Nardozzi, the WDC executive director.
"The job has been successfully completed," he said.
The bond commission is expected to approve a request to reallocate the remaining $1.3 million to WDC to support the continued environmental cleanup of the Anamet property, which dates back to 2017.
Nardozzi said the extent of the remediation and the final cost will depend on the ultimate use for the site, and the redevelopment project's timetable, too.
"If it is going to be another industrial use that would cost a lot less than if was going to be a residential use or a school," he said. "It is all dependent on the final use."
How much longer the redevelopment project takes to complete is also contingent on the level and timing of funding, Nardozzi said.
April 9, 2025
Reporter
We all know them. Mean girls. Their nasty comments and malicious gossip make high school a nightmare to plenty of gals outside their radioactive orbit. Leave it to Tina Fey to make us laugh about them.Her 2004 film, "Mean Girls," described by The New York Times as "tart and often charming," became a Broadway musical in 2024 (and is now a ...
We all know them. Mean girls. Their nasty comments and malicious gossip make high school a nightmare to plenty of gals outside their radioactive orbit. Leave it to Tina Fey to make us laugh about them.
Her 2004 film, "Mean Girls," described by The New York Times as "tart and often charming," became a Broadway musical in 2024 (and is now a film again, but no matter). The show will be presented at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on May 8-11.
Here's the setup: Growing up on an African savanna did not prepare Cady Heron for the vicious ways of her strange new home — suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
Fey and her fellow "Saturday Night Live" alum gal pal, Amy Poehler, will be bringing their "Restless Leg Tour" to Mohegan Sun on May 16 at 7 p.m.
That brings us to our first trivia question: Fey was the first female head writer on "Saturday Night Live." Who was SNL's first female host?
Earlier this month, Basic Books released "Rot: A History of the Irish Famine" by Padraic X Scanlan. The book is an account of the Irish Famine, a humanitarian disaster studied at Ireland's Great Hunger Institute in Hamden.
Quinnipiac University used to be the home of Ireland's Great Hunger Museum until the university's board of trustees closed it in 2020. The museum is expected to move to Fairfield next year, although the new home is proving more costly than first expected, according to CT Insider.
If you are still interested in seeing some of the striking art that was on view at the collection's last home, you can do so now through Aug. 16 at Fairfield University's Walsh Gallery. "An Gorta Mor: Selections from Ireland's Great Hunger Museum" includes 38 paintings by late 19th- and early 20th?century artists like James Brenan, Daniel Macdonald, James Arthur O'Connor and Jack B. Yeats, as well as sculptures, paintings and works on paper by contemporary artists. The gallery also will host "Performance: Songs of Ireland and Irish Americans" with the Catfeather Duo on May 8 at 6 p.m.
The book "Rot" is a searing account of how the British government continued to import and hoard grain and other Irish products exported from a country dying of starvation. When the potato crop continued to fail, particularly in "Black '47," Scanlan writes, it was called in Ireland "The End of the World." Scanlan details the way the government dismissed, humiliated and then blamed the "sinful" Irish for their starvation.
The museum is at 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield. The new iteration of the Irish Great Hunger Museum at Fairfield is expected to open in 2026-27 at 636 Old Post Road.
The practice of women starting cottage businesses out of their homes, particularly bakeries, has expanded significantly since Connecticut began offering such cottage licenses in 2018. But women running side gigs out of their homes — whether cooking, weaving or typing — goes back centuries.
In fact, the first woman to receive a patent in the United States, Mary Dixon Kies, did so by taking advantage of the 1790 Patent Act. The South Killingly woman received a patent in 1809 for a new way to braid straw with silk and other threads to create women’s bonnets.
It was an invention made out of necessity. President Thomas Jefferson put an embargo on imported British and French goods during the Napoleonic Wars in response to Britain's restrictions on trade. Without imported fashion, American women were forced to innovate. The braided straw hat was one of those innovations and soon became a must-have fashion item. Even Dolley Madison, the first lady of the fourth U.S. president, praised them.
Kies, who was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, received one of only 20 patents issued to a woman before 1840.
Today, more than 12% of all patent applications include a woman inventor, according to Lemelson-MIT.
The first woman to host "Saturday Night Live" was Candice Bergen in 1975. She starred in both the fourth and eighth episodes that year, and hosted a total of five times, her last appearance in 1990.
Contact Tracey O'Shaughnessy at [email protected].
NAUGATUCK — The shelves are stocked at local food banks but managers are worried that might not last after federal cuts to Connecticut Foodshare and with more people seeking help.The U.S. Department of Agri...
NAUGATUCK — The shelves are stocked at local food banks but managers are worried that might not last after federal cuts to Connecticut Foodshare and with more people seeking help.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in March cut $2.7 million in federal funds for two programs under Connecticut Foodshare — $1 million from Local Food Purchase Assistance and $1.7 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Connecticut Foodshare partners with 650 food banks, food pantries, mobile food trucks and soup kitchens across the state including the Ecumenical Food Bank in Naugatuck and St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, said Connecticut Foodshare spokeswoman Ayah Galal.
St. Vincent DePaul Mission Director of Operations Edwin Rodriguez said the shelter hasn’t felt the impact because of the federal cuts but they don’t know what to expect.
“How it’s going impact us at this point, it’s a wait-and-see situation,” Rodriguez said. St. Vincent DePaul receives food from Connecticut Foodshare for both its food pantry and soup kitchen.
Rodrriguez said if there is a reduction of food from Connecticut Foodshare "what we will do at St. Vincent DePaul, is we’ll ask our generous donors to have private food drives for us, which we do on a regular basis.”
Rodriguez said there’s been a significant increase in people using the food pantry over last year with the majority of those served being families.
“It’s probably 15% to 20% more people coming to the food pantry compared to last year,” Rodriguez said. “For the month of March, we served a total of 901 individuals that equates 4,505 bags of food. So we’re serving 358 families throughout the whole month. For the month of February, it was 832."
Connecticut Foodshare said in late March that 34 trailer loads of food for the Emergency Food Assistance Program were canceled.
Ecumenical Food Bank Vice President Gerhard Roland said they have already seen less food at its shelter through the Local Food Purchase Assistance, which was a COVID-era food program.
“It impacts us on what we get for free that we can give out for the clients," Roland said. "It doesn’t impact us for what we still purchase and give to the clients. So we’re going to be spending more money from our budget and not getting that much from the government.”
Naugatuck Ecumenical Food Bank President Marty-Lee Fenton said the Naugatuck food bank gets about 2,500 to 3,000 pounds weekly from Connecticut Foodshare including produce and meat.
“We just give what we get as the best we can and hope everybody understands,” Fenton said.
The Naugatuck food bank feeds about 800 people every month on average with the majority of recipients being families, Fenton said. The borough food bank has seen a steady if not higher amount of people it has served since last year as there was six new families in the last full week of April.
"Whatever we give out, people are very thankful for either a lot or very little," she said. “People were out here waiting hours today in the heat. Last week, waiting out here hours in the cold,” Fenton said. “So we’re kind of like the weather, changes day to day.”
The latest data from Feeding America, a national network of food banks, shows Connecticut has a food insecurity rate state average of 12.9% for 2022 which equates to roughly 470,000 people.
Naugatuck has a food insecurity rate of 11.7% or about 3,690 people while Waterbury has a rate of 20.3% or about 23,270 people for 2022, the Feeding America data showed.
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