Labor Department offering training, employment workshops

HAMDEN — The Connecticut Department of Labor is offering several free training and employment workshops at American Job Center, 37 Marne St.:

Interviewing Strategies & Techniques, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 29.

Veterans’ Workshop covering basics of developing an effective resume, 1-3 p.m. Nov. 21.

Over 40 and Looking for Work, discussing challenges and employer expectations for older workers and strategies to successfully mitigate possible stereotyping, 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 19.

Successful Job Search Strategies, 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 26.

To register, call 203-859-3200.

Local PR director pens debut book

A book by the director of a local public relations firm recently was named a finalist in the 2018 International Book Awards, the 9th annual awards event sponsored by American Book Fest.

“The Crate: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice,” by Deborah Vadas Levison, was named a finalist inthe True Crime: Non-Fiction category of this year’s competition. Born in Toronto, Levison now lives in Trumbull. The book, drawn from the discovery of a gruesome murder that involved her family of Holocaust survivors, delves into issues such as “refugees and the need for sanctuary, violence, evil, and what can happen in a society when hatred goes unchecked,” Levison says. “At its core, ‘The Crate’ is a universal story about family, love, and loss.”

In addition to the IBA, the book also has been awarded Outstanding First Nonfiction by the Independent Author Network, and both a Gold Medal and 5-Star Award by Readers’ Favorite, according to a release.

Levison has several events scheduled in the coming months, including in Oxford, Norwalk and Trumbull. For information, visit http://debbielevison.com.