Klarides-Ditria opposes state budget's increase in taxes

HARTFORD – State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, said today the two-year state budget passed in the House Monday increases taxes by nearly $2 billion and increases spending by $1 billion.

 “Legislative Democrats and the governor did nothing to cut spending, reduce the size of government, or create a sustainable pathway for future Connecticut budgets,” Klarides-Ditria said. “We still have major fiscal problems in this state and their only solution is to tax and spend more. It’s a shame that the new governor is taking the same path as past governors. We can’t continue to go down this same road.”

The budget crafted by legislative Democrats and the governor raises taxes on:

• Digital downloads
• Prepared food from grocery stores and restaurants
• Plastic bags
• Soda & Alcoholic beverages
• Bus fares
• Dry cleaning
• Parking
• Rideshare services
• Safety Apparel

In addition, the budget while eliminating the business entity tax increases business filing fees and changes the pass-through entity tax, which will result in a $50 million tax increase.

Klarides-Ditria said Republicans offered a number of amendments to help improve the state budget but they were all rejected by House Democrats.

The Republican amendments included the following:

• Preserve the property tax credits businesses receive operating as LLCs. The Democrats, just a year removed from implementing the credit, reduced it costing taxpayers $50 million in income taxes;
• Block the re-financing of the teachers’ pension fund that will cost the next generation of taxpayers $27 billion more because the payments will be stretched out for an additional 14 years;
• Block the diversion of $171 million over the next two years in new car sales revenue from the STF to the general fund.

The budget passed 86 to 65 and now awaits action by the Senate.

This is a press release from Klarides-Ditria's office.

Griffin Hospital to hold Men's Health Day at The Sports Center in Shelton

DERBY - Griffin Hospital’s Health Initiative for Men (HiM) will be giving out free game passes and chances to win gift cards to men who take part in free screenings at its Men’s Health Day June 22 from noon - 4 p.m. at The Sports Center of Connecticut, 784 River Road, Shelton.

Held in recognition of Men’s Health Month, the event will feature a series of health information tables and free health screenings, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. 

For each station completed, attendees can earn a free $10 gift card from the Sports Center, which can be used at most of the Center’s attractions such as the driving range, mini golf, and batting cages.

There will also be drawings throughout the day for gift cards to Home Depot and The Sports Center.

About The Health Initiative for Men (HiM)

In an effort to help inspire men to have an annual physical and to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, Griffin Hospital launched the Health Initiative for Men, a community-wide preventive health care effort. The goal of the HiM is to influence men to see their physician annually, and to be screened for various diseases that respond better to treatment if detected early. 

For more information about HiM, visit griffinhealth.org/him.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Ansonia to paint town purple to promote Alzheimer's awareness

Info shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

ANSONIA - Main Street received a symbolic purple stripe Saturday as part of making Ansonia an official supporter of the national Alzheimer's Awareness Month in June. 

Downtown will soon be festooned with purple as most merchants have agreed to support this awareness month with their own individual purple symbolisms such as purple drinks, purple desserts, purple flowers, purple decorations and more. 

Throughout downtown, all antique street light poles will soon display large purple ribbons.

More details to be announced shortly including a purple ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall.

Meanwhile, additional streetscape line striping improvements continue around town as parking lines were added to Tremont Street (adjacent to Spector Furniture), upper Main Street Municipal Parking Lot 1 (upper Main dining district), Abe Stone Park, and relining of the basketball court there. 

The East Main Street Municipal Parking Lot 3 will get lined on Sunday.

Finally in preparation of Holy Rosary Church’s annual Italian Festival in August, a green stripe was added to last year’s red lines to now officially recognize the Italian heritage and flag.

'Turnback Tuesday' features store in downtown Derby

Turnback Tuesday visits another business in downtown Derby: F.M. Kirby Co., 5 & 10 Store at 181 Main St. 
The F.M Kirby Co., a variety store, was in business for only two years, 1910 and 1911. In 1912 it became F.W. Woolworth Co. and stayed at the same location until 1924 when the business moved to 250-252 Main St., Derby.

Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!

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