Kids to vote for favorite cookie at Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

Kids Vote Too! Now through Nov. 5

SHELTON - Children visiting the Plumb Memorial Library’s Children’s Department are encouraged to cast their vote at our voting booth for their favorite cookie amongst the 2 flavor choices! One Child, One Vote!

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Plumb’s Children’s Department will announce the winning cookie flavor!

The Library is at 65 Wooster St.

This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Derby mails absentee ballots to registered voters

Sharing message today from Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo:

Applications for Absentee Ballots for the November 2, 2021 General Election were mailed to every registered voter in the City of Derby.  

The State of CT has extended COVID-19 as a legal reason for voting by Absentee Ballot in the November 2, 2021 Election.  

Each voter still has the choice to vote in person or by absentee ballot.  

The applications will be arriving in the coming days and ballots for those who already requested them were mailed out on Friday October 1, 2021.  Applications received by November 1, 2021 will be processed and issued within 48 hours of the request being received in this office.

If a voter wants to vote by Absentee Ballot they should return the completed Application to this Office as soon as possible.  If they want to vote in person at the polls between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm on Tuesday November 2, 2021 then they can just dispose of the application and vote in person.

If you know of anyone who would like to register to vote, they may use the following link - https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do

Any new voters interested in voting by Absentee Ballot can find the application here by using this link -   https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Absentee-Voting

If you know of anyone who would like to check their Voter Registration Status, they may use the following link - https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

Additionally, you may view the sample ballots for the November 2, 2021 Election in Derby by using this link - https://www.derbyct.gov/media/Election%20-%202021%20-%20Sample%20Ballots.pdf

"I wish you a great and safe weekend.  And as this is the beginning of October, please remember to schedule your annual mammogram or encourage some one to do the same during this month of Breast Cancer Awareness."

Deadline for voter registration is Tuesday; Election Day is Nov. 5

Shelton Historical Society to host women's suffrage program

Ansonia house decorating contest voting starts Saturday

Klarides-Ditria achieves 100 percent voting record in General Assembly

HARTFORD - State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, a freshman legislator representing the 105th District, achieved a 100 percent voting record for the completed regular and special sessions in the General Assembly.

Nicole Klarides-Ditria

There were a total of 417 votes cast in the House of Representatives during the legislative regular and special sessions which did not end until Nov. 15. 

Klarides-Ditria participated in all 417 votes.

“This legislative session presented us with a number of obstacles that needed to be tackled,” Klarides-Ditria said. “I was able to use my experiences through my professional background to get right to work to pass legislation that will help our communities and state. We still have a number of obstacles in our way, but I will continue to make sure we are working every day to make Connecticut a better place for all of us to live, work, and retire in.” 

Klarides-Ditria introduced or cosponsored several key bills that were signed into law, including: 

P.A. 17-2, An Act Concerning The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2019. The compromise budget plan passed both the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities Oct. 26. 

Klarides-Ditria highlighted that the budget didn’t include majority party plans to increase sales and income taxes, install a restaurant tax, a tax on secondary homes or a new tax on cell phones. The budget did include a real spending cap, a cap on bonding,  municipal mandate relief, and a phase-in exemption on taxes on Social Security, pensions, and estates. 

P.A. 17-131, An Act Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion and Abuse, which will allow patients to ask that opioids not be prescribed to them and reduces the amount of opioid drugs a minor may be prescribed. It also requires practitioners, when prescribing opioids, to discuss with all patients, rather than only minors, the risks associated with opioid drug use.

P.A. 17-61, An Act Concerning A State-Wide Waiting List For Residential Placement For Persons With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, will help better serve persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by developing a state-wide comprehensive residential waiting list.

P.A. 17-167, An Act Requiring the Registration Of Animal Shelters, will require a person who wants to operate or maintain an animal shelter in Connecticut to register with the Department of Agriculture commissioner and comply with DoAg’s regulations on sanitation, disease, humane treatment of cats and dogs, and public safety protection. In addition, this law authorizes the commissioner, or his agent, to inspect an animal shelter at any time.

The next regular legislative session will convene in February 2018. 

Klarides-Ditria currently serves on the legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding, Public Health, and Regulations Review Committees. 

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

Derby Town/City Clerk issues reminder on voter registration

Sharing this message from Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo:

"Good Sunday Afternoon,

"Just a reminder.

"The 2016 Presidential Preference Primary eligibility deadline to register to vote in person at the Office of the Registrar of Voters at Derby City Hall is 12:00 noon on Monday April 25, 2016 – Here is the link to print out the card - http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671.pdf

"If a person is not already registered to vote or is registered as an Unaffiliated Voter they can register to vote and will be eligible to vote in either the Democratic Primary or the Republican Primary on Tuesday April 26, 2016, if they register with either the Democratic Party or Republican Party, in person, by 12:00 noon at the City Hall where they reside.

"In Person, is the key term, the deadline for online registration or mail in registration has passed for the PPP.

"Also, if a person is already registered with either party, it is too late to change registration to vote in the primaries.

"Derby City Hall will be open at 9:00 am on Monday April 26, 2016.

"Here is a link for Election Information on the City of Derby Website. - http://www.derbyct.gov/Election-Information/."

Presentation at Seymour Historical Society highlights women's suffrage

Shelton Intermediate School Housemaster Carolyn Ivanoff, dressed as a suffragette, presented an informative program Sunday about women's suffrage at Seymour Historical Society headquarters.

Stay tuned for a story in The Valley Voice newsletter.

Seymour Historical Society member to present talk on women's suffrage

SEYMOUR - When the first primary elections were held this year, each of the major American political parties had a woman running for president. 
But just a century ago, women weren’t even permitted to vote. 
The long struggle for women’s suffrage will be the focus of a Seymour Historical Society program at 2 p.m. March 20.

In 1848, the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, N.Y. 
But progress toward electoral equality was slow, as the movement faced opposition from male politicians, the courts and the press. It wasn’t until 1920 that Congress and the states finally adopted the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. 
In this program, presenter Carolyn Ivanoff, a Shelton Intermediate School administrator, will dress in period clothing and offer a lively history of the suffrage movement. She will use vintage photos, political cartoons, and newspaper editorials.

March is Women's History Month.

The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West St. near Trinity Episcopal Church. 
The program is free to Seymour Historical Society members and $5 for non-members. Doors open at 1 p.m. 

For more information, contact psussman@snet.net or call 203-881-2156.


This is a press release from Seymour Historical Society.

Women's suffrage is topic of talk at Seymour Historical Society in March

Election night photos from GOP headquarters in Derby

Sam Pollastro, campaign manager for Richard Dziekan, Republican mayoral challenger, fills in numbers Tuesday night at GOP headquarters on Elizabeth Street. At left is Judy Szewczyk reading the vote totals. 

Democrat Mayor Anita Dugatto defeated Dziekan and was re-elected to a second term. 
Unofficial results had Dugatto with 1,464 votes and Dziekan had 1,352.

Dziekan supporters wait for results Tuesday night at GOP headquarters.


Check out the full story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

It's Election Day

Polls are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. today in the Valley.

DeLauro salutes civil rights marchers on 50th anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday'

NEW HAVEN - U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, released the following statement today marking the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.”

“I salute the extraordinary courage and commitment of those civil rights marchers who, 50 years ago today, marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, demanding their right to vote. All Americans owe them a debt of gratitude for pushing our nation to be a better place.

“A direct line can be drawn from ‘Bloody Sunday’ to the day the landmark Voting Rights Act was signed. That law has been responsible for most of the progress made towards outlawing discriminatory voting practices over the last 50 years. Unfortunately the Voting Rights Act is now under assault and its values are being dishonored. Congress must pass a revised, renewed, and strengthened Voting Rights Act this year to protect the most fundamental right of our democracy.”

In June 2013, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that invalidated a key section of the Voting Rights Act, significantly weakening it.

The decision struck down the formula used to determine if covered state and local governments are in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.


This is a press release from DeLauro's office. 

Mayor pleased with Ansonia voters' support of budget reform

Mayor Cassetti

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti today announced he is extremely pleased with the results of the referendum on Charter Revision, particularly with the passage of the responsible budget reform initiative. 

"As you know, the Ansonia Republicans have long championed the idea of holding elected officials accountable for setting the annual budget and tax rate," he said. "It's the basic principle of "no taxation without representation."

For decades the city has operated under a system where political appointees have the final say on those important decisions and the Mayor had no role in the process whatsoever.

Ansonia voters showed clear and overwhelming support for the Mayor's budget reform initiative Tuesday:  it passed 3,358 to 1,075.

For the first time in Ansonia's history, elected officials will be responsible for approving the annual budget and the Mayor will have the obligation to submit a "Mayor's Budget" to kick off the yearly budget process.

"This is a tremendous victory for the residents of Ansonia and supporters of accountability in government. It creates a strong system of checks and balances that will promote financial responsibility in the future," Cassetti said. 

"Ansonia voters should be credited with taking a giant-sized step towards modernizing their government and breaking from the ways of back-door politics and behind-the-scenes deals," said City Attorney John Marini.

Two additional Charter Revision measures passed.
The powers and duties of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were clarified to create a stronger system of checks and balances in the area of personnel and employee management. 

Also, the Charter received its first ever general "clean up," which included the removal of provisions that conflict with state and federal law.
For example, the prohibition of campaigning by police officers was eliminated because it conflicts with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

Only one Charter Revision question failed: a proposal to reduce the amount of wards and aldermen in the City. 

That proposal was suggested to the Charter Revision Commission by the bi-partisan registrar of voters Nancy Valentine (R) and Tom Maffeo (D).
It failed by a narrow margin, 2,248 to 2,199, indicating that voters were divided on the issue.  "It suggests that further discussion is needed on this issue," said Second Ward Aldermen Lorie Vaccaro.
"We want our residents to be comfortable with the direction the City is headed in."

"I am glad that voters had the opportunity to have their voices heard on these important changes to City government," Cassetti said.  "The great American tradition of self-governance is alive and well in Ansonia," he said.

"I would also like the congratulate the Charter Revision Commission for all of its hard work and the firm of Berchem, Moses, and Devlin for its expert legal assistance."

~The Results~

Ballot Question #2 (Ward Reduction):  2,199 YES  2,248  NO

Ballot Question #3 (Budget Reform):  3,358 YES  1,075 NO

Ballot Question #4 (Mayoral and Aldermanic Powers):  3,092 YES  1,325 NO

Ballot Question #5 (Clean Up):  3,514 YES    913 NO

This is a press release from Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O'Malley.

Valley voters give thumbs up to Foley

Democrat Gov. Dannel P. Malloy may have won re-election but Republican challenger Thomas Foley proved popular in Valley communities.

Check out reporter Ethan Fry's Valley Independent Sentinel story about the results of Tuesday's election.

Election is over, now back to reality

It was a night for the incumbents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

I congratulate all the winners, including state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, state Rep. Theresa Conroy, and state Rep. Themis Klarides, and remind their challengers "there's always a next time" to vie for a seat in the General Assembly. Two years go by quickly!

No matter who you voted for yesterday, what matters is you took the time to go to the polls and exercise your right to vote.

And those who didn't participate in the process? They really cannot complain about the outcome of the races.

Republican, Democrat, or Independent, liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between, we all live here and are in this together.

Let's hope that our newly-re-elected representatives are ready to tackle the multitude of challenges facing their districts and the state.

Voting 'brisk' today in Valley

The Valley Independent Sentinel reports that poll workers in the Lower Naugatuck Valley have been busy since this morning.

You can check out the Valley Indy's story here.

It's Election Day

Just a reminder that the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.