Watch Ansonia vs. Derby Boys Basketball live today

Shared from Ansonia Public Schools' Facebook page:
 

Klarides-Ditria : 81 percent of poll respondents against proposed mileage tax

Recently I asked a simple question – “Are you in favor of a mileage tax based on the number of miles you drive annually?” – based on Proposed HB 6080 submitted to the legislature this year.

Hundreds of you took the time to respond, and I want to thank each of you for your input and comments. 

The response was overwhelmingly against adding mileage-based taxes to the state. In fact, 80.99% of respondents were firmly against, 1.41% were in favor, 9.15% responded “maybe” and 8.45% were undecided.

A very small sample of your comments follows:

A.S. – Yes: “I think we need a way to fund road improvements and if this is a dedicated way to do that then I am Ok with it. I also support tolls.”

M.N. – Undecided: “I would love to learn more about this. Also, I am very concerned about the so called mansion tax. With the recent rise in property value due to COVID relocations, this is the wrong time for a new property tax.”

R.M. – Undecided: “Somehow we need to improve the state’s infrastructure. Not sure that I trust that any form of new taxes would go for that purpose. “lock boxes” have keys. I believe that additional bounding alone is the way either.”

K.M. – No: “Property Taxes Are High, Fuel Taxes Are High, State Income Taxes, Enough is Enough!”

J.L. – No: “Can y'all just work with what you have and stop taking our money for useless crap? If you keep raising taxes you should at least fix the damn roads.”

J.M. – No: “we taxed too much already we get taxed on what we make taxed to buy gas to get to work taxed for the car we drive taxed to buy the tires taxed to get rid of those tires taxed to buy and replace the parts on car we drive again we are taxed way too much already.”

A.B. – No: “Where do we stop on taxing; what next, taxing for texting/messaging? I never see any questions as to what tax would you like to see reduced/eliminated? Is this how anyone would run their family budget; no common sense!! Spend and tax, spend and tax.”

T.S. – No: “The governor and Hartford need to stop with the frivolous spending and reel in the budget. They treat residents as money trees while pricing working class families out of the state. I live in Seymour and work in Westport and I’m supposed to pay more in taxes because I can’t afford to live in Fairfield county?”

K.R. – No: “I can’t imagine how this will impact the Home Care industry. I am a visiting nurse. I drive an average of 250 miles a week just for work. Who will pay this? The employee? The employer is barely staying afloat as it is with reductions in reimbursement and all the other government fees and regulations. This is a horrible idea. I can’t believe they’re dredging this up again.”

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, represents the 105th District.

Reminder: Seymour Public Library hosts Historic Haunts program today

Shared from the Library's Facebook page:

SPL hosts Jeff Belanger, paranormal investigator and author, and his presentation Historic Haunts on Monday, February 22 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

Free and suitable for adults and those over the age of 15. Registration is not necessary. Find the link on seymourpubliclibrary.org on the Events page.

Call 203-888-3903 or email sgarvey@biblio.org for more information.

Huntington Branch Library to host Origami Afternoon Tuesday via Zoom

SHELTON - Kids of all ages can join Miss Jessica at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and learn how to fold different things out using the Japanese art of origami!

Each week we will try to make 1-3 different origami crafts, depending on time.

To participate, you should be prepared with origami paper (Miss Jessica is using 6x6 inch paper) OR you can make your own origami paper at home using printer paper that has been cut into a SQUARE.

Participants must register with an email address to receive a Zoom link and password.

Register here: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2661...

This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Valley Save Our Youth recognizes work of 2 community leaders

VSOY Black History Month Local Heroes Series

The old saying that “Leaders are born, not made” is only partially true.

Terri Goldson and Diane Stroman might have been born leaders with the certain qualities of leadership, yet they used those traits to develop leaders in the communities they served.

February is Black History Month.

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."

- Audre Lorde

Diane Stroman

Diane Stroman is a lifelong Ansonia resident and recently retired Vice President of the nonprofit TEAM, Inc. in Derby.

TEAM supports the elderly, homeless, youth education, and various community needs.

Through TEAM and her relationship with VSOY, we were able able to use the services of TEAM. Founding members of VSOY and the community was also guided by Diane through her creation of the Valley Youth Council NAACP.

Through the Youth Group we learned about our History, Organizational Structure, Community, and Leadership. In retirement Diane still is involved in community through her work in faith and as an alderman.

Terri and Ronja Goldson

Terri Goldson is also a lifelong resident who starred in football as a youth and continues to be a star in the community still to this day. After graduating from college, Terri started his teaching career.

He gave us a male role model who was and still is lacking in the education system to this day.

This man of faith also passed on his leadership traits to young men and woman by working directly with them as a football and girls basketball coach. Coach Goldson embodies all the classic leadership traits and uses them to grow the youth into future leaders.

We want to recognize these local black heroes who were born leaders and also developed leaders throughout the Valley.

With our love and the community's love we appreciate and are grateful to both Terri and Diane.

This is shared from the Valley Save Our Youth Facebook page.

Valley Save Our Youth recognizes local heroes during Black History Month

VSOY is not a group doing good for profit or clout. It is not a corporate funded tax write-off.

It is not a political movement that a politician can put their name on.

VSOY is a nonprofit service group run by the community to serve the community! We share our love with the longstanding local heroes who served VSOY not only verbally, they served physically!

"Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Courtney Stroman

Dawn Lathrop

Marsha Mills

Fatima Oulabrik

Carolyn Gardner

Jill Duffus

Renee Howard-Pisanelli

Mark Powell

These Day 1’s come out every year and jump in where needed.

They help with food service, donations, raising money, Rally Day activities, each and every year! Throughout the year they stay engaged with ideas to do more for our kids and do their own part to serve in their way.

They and so many other volunteers are VSOY and what we are all about ... community!

This is shared from Valley Save Our Youth organization's Facebook page.

Valley Save Our Youth names lifelong Ansonia resident a local hero

VSOY celebrates Black History

Black History is American History and we want to make sure we fill the void in our education system.

With our Black History series during the month of February we will showcase local heroes, then throughout the year we will highlight American and world heroes.

The African proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child” is a mantra we live by at Valley Save Our Youth.

Our first hero, Sheila Butler, embodies that same African proverb.

Sheila is a lifelong Ansonia resident who has worked as a manager at Griffin Hospital for over 26 years. Her six successful young Kings are college students, grads, and serving the community as a police officer.

In addition to being a loving mother to all boys, she is also the nurturing grandmother to five girls.

A mentor to many including VSOY co-founder Iris Carotenuto on motherhood and community,

Sheila has volunteered with VSOY as well as being a community leader. She has brought in and taken care of neighborhood kids as if they were her own.

Sheila Butler is a hard-working, single mom who embodies the neighborhood mom spirit that her grandma Helen Butler shared with her.

For these and so many reasons we want to give this local hero her flowers now! Thank you Sheila!

This is shared from the Valley Save Our Youth organization's Facebook page.