The Valley Voice: 09/15/21

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Ansonia lawn care business adopts spot at corner of Ford, Finney Streets

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti welcomes the City’s newest Adopt A Spot volunteer with Lawlor’s Lawn Care of Ansonia.

Lawlor’s will oversee the rotary at the corner of Ford and Finney Streets on the Hilltop, adjacent to Prendergast School. Yesterday, they added assorted perennials, fresh mulch and decorative hay and pumpkins.

Owner Marty Lawlor has promised the tilting street signs will be straightened too!

Since launching the Adoption program three years ago, the Mayor now has 20 highly visible locations throughout the City maintained by either residents or businesses.

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Derby Neck Library to host Watch Party today via Zoom

Looking for someone to watch your favorite shows with?

Join us [at Derby Neck Library at 4 p.m.] every other Wednesday over Zoom [starting today] and we’ll use the watch party function on streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ to connect with friends new and old!

We’ll check out shows like Raven’s Home, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Adventure Time, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Fuller House, and more!

Every meeting we will vote on what to watch and everyone will be given a chance to choose.

Register for this event and more by signing up for our Youth Services mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSd3wfVS6tu.../viewform...

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Valley Diner in Derby to host Bikers Against Animal Cruelty fundraiser

Derby Public Library offers weekly scavenger hunt fun

Flex those scavenger hunting muscles and join in on the fun! New Scavenger Hunts are posted on Tuesdays. Stay Safe & Good Luck! In this case, it’s okay to be a square. See if you can find 5 things that also share this shape’s four-cornered style!
Shared from a Tuesday post on the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Rochelle urges landlords, tenants to apply for UniteCT rent relief

State Rep. Kara Rochelle

HARTFORD - State Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia/Derby, is encouraging Valley landlords with tenants behind on rent and tenants who are struggling to catch up on rent payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for emergency rent relief through UniteCT.

"Residents across the Lower Naugatuck Valley and Connecticut have struggled to catch up on rent due to the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. I strongly encourage landlords with tenants behind on rent or tenants who are struggling to catch up with their rent to apply for the UniteCT Program. This program is a lifeline and can help tenants reset and move forward past the recession," said Rochelle.

On Aug. 26, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that ended the federal eviction moratorium immediately, leaving few protections for renters at risk of eviction.

The moratorium was scheduled to be lifted on Oct. 3, 2021. Connecticut does have a temporary safeguard, which expires on Sept. 30, 2021, and Connecticut residents and landlords who need rental assistance should apply to the UniteCT program now as it may take some time for their application to process and funds to be distributed.

In June, the governor signed Executive Order No. 12D, which expires on Sept. 30, 2021, to implement some eviction protections including:

• Requires landlords to apply for the UniteCT rental assistance program prior to delivering an eviction notice for nonpayment of rent;

Legislative Office Building ∙ Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Requires landlords to give tenants facing eviction for nonpayment of rent, for lapse of time, or whose right to occupy a unit has terminated at least 30-days’ notice prior to beginning an eviction;
Provides those tenants an opportunity to continue all terms of the lease by paying outstanding rent within the 30-day period;
Requires all eviction notices to be delivered with certain information about the state’s UniteCT program in both English and Spanish; and
Requires a stay in eviction proceedings of up to 30 days if either the landlord or the tenant applies to the UniteCT program.

Connecticut launched the UniteCT Program in March 2021 to disburse Connecticut's $457 million share of federal emergency rent relief. The program provides up to $15,000 in rental assistance directly to landlords on behalf of qualifying tenants who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Households making up to 80 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development area median income (AMI) are eligible for the funds.

Tenants and landlords can check their eligibility and start the online application by visiting https://bit.ly/2VeE6je. The program is only accepting online applications. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Residents can access technology to complete their UniteCT application at the Ansonia Library, 53 S. Cliff St., and Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St.

Since the program's launch, over $81 million has been disbursed to 10,746 tenants and 4,032 landlords through UniteCT, and an additional $40.5 million is processing for distribution now.

"The program is a vital community resource that has proven to be successful. A landlord right here in the 104th qualified for the maximum of $15,000 and avoided evicting a tenant who lost their job in 2020 and was struggling to catch up with rent payments despite securing a new job. The landlord was able to renew their lease and both parties are relieved and happy to move past the struggles over the last year," said Rochelle.

Residents who need assistance, have questions, or need support with the application process can contact Rochelle at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or by calling her office at 860-240-8585. Landlords and tenants can initiate the application process. For a 4-member household in Ansonia and Derby, the AMI is $78,500.