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.

Valley Shakespeare Festival play features murder, madness

Troupe to stage 'A Christmas Carol' next

Walker Studios photo

SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival presented “Titus Andronicus” to a packed house Oct. 30 at Porky’s Café as the second offering in its “Shakespeare in the Bar” series.

Audience members filtered in to the upper-level bar area of the café to partake of Porky’s pizza, and mingle with cast members before the performance.

Jeremy Funke was a tour de force in the leading role of Titus Andronicus as he took the audience along on his roller coaster ride from celebrated war hero to betrayed patriot and father down into the abyss of murder and madness.

Funke’s nemesis Tamora was played by Lawren Teel Roulier.

Walker Studios photo

As the Queen of the Goths and new wife to Rome’s recently crowned and spoiled brat Emperor Saturninas (played to delicious perfection by VSF’s Executive and Artistic Director Tom Simonetti), Roulier was both powerful and chilling as the devious and vengeful queen who plots the rape and disfiguring of Lavinia, Titus’ innocent young daughter.

Jess Breda played the difficult role of that daughter. 
Lavinia goes from a being young, carefree, recently betrothed girl to outcast and ultimately the victim of a vicious rape, who then has her tongue removed and hands severed to prevent her from revealing the identities of the perpetrators.

Breda was touching as she begged Tamora for mercy and mournful as the maimed, ruined, and mute survivor who received none.

Raphael Massie as Tamora’s true beloved Moor and party responsible for orchestrating all the brutal mayhem, was delightfully evil, his booming voice filling the room as he declared, upon being asked if he was sorry for his deeds, “I, that I had not a thousand more…Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things as willingly as one would kill a fly, and nothing grieves me heartily indeed, but that I cannot do ten thousand more.”

Some audience members found themselves more “immersed” in the action than they may have anticipated as blood spatter, severed heads and body parts made their way into the laps of unsuspecting innocent bystanders in the front rows. (Word of advice to future attendees: don’t sit in the first row unless you’re ready and willing to be drawn into the action.)

They were rewarded, though, for their participation as all who attended received Halloween goody bags and one lucky team won the grand prize of a Halloween-themed “Bucket o’ Booze.”

Adam Kezele, who played Demetrius, one of Tamora’s demented offspring, also served as the production’s fight champion, choreographing all of the fight scenes and designing and creating that completely washable “blood.”

The cast was comprised of both local and out-of-town talent, including Kristen Kingsley of Shelton, Tyler Huntley of Seymour, and Matthew Catalano of Stratford.

Funke and Massie are from New Haven, while Xander Johnson, Max Simone, Travis Robert Czap, Breda, Kezele, Roulier, and Simonetti travelled in from New York for the event.

Valley Shakespeare Festival plans to present another Shakespeare in the Bar performance this coming March, but before then it will reprise its holiday offering, a scripted dramatic reading of the Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.”

The event will be held in association with the Shelton Historical Society and will be presented at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and again at 1 p.m. Dec. 6.

The Shelton Historical Society will host a reception at the Shelton History Center at 70 Ripton Road after the performance, at which audience members may tour the Society’s buildings and mingle with cast members.

The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10.

For more information on this and other upcoming events contact Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446, or visit www.vsfestival.org, and follow on Facebook.


Valley Shakespeare Festival is a fiscally-sponsored, non-profit theater company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.


The play review and release were submitted by Shelton resident Cheryl O'Brien.

Derby Public Library to host presentation by author

Boola, Boola

DERBY - The Derby Public Library welcomes author Rich Marazzi of Ansonia at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 to discuss his latest book, A Bowl Full of Memories, 100 Years of Football at The Yale Bowl.

This coffee table-size book with 377 photos, covers the history and events that occurred in the venerated Yale Bowl, which is 

celebrating its 100th anniversary season.

It also details the storied history of Yale football from 1872 to the present.

The book humanizes the football experience and is filled with personal anecdotes.  

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.  

Marazzi has also authored five baseball books. He is a Major League Rules Consultant, former high school and college umpire, was host of the radio talk show, Inside Baseball for 17 years, and has been leader of the Derby Public Library’s Silver Sluggers for the past nine years.

Registration is requested.    

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.

Griffin Hospital in Derby slates free talk on lung cancer

DERBY - Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer because it is frequently diagnosed when it is too late for effective treatments.

In recognition of The Great American Smokeout and Griffin Hospital’s Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening Program, the hospital will host “Lung Cancer: Know Your Risks, Know Your Options” at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division St.

Presented by Pulmonary Specialist K. Marya Chaisson, MD, Thoracic/Vascular Surgeon Richard P. Salzano, MD, and Smoking Cessation Coach Carrie O’Malley, RN, the talk will discuss the causes of lung cancer, its warning signs, screening options and Griffin Hospital’s free smoking cessation program. 

Attendees will be able to take a free evaluation to see if they are at high risk for lung cancer, and may be eligible to receive a free low-dose CT lung cancer screening.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the earliest stage have an 88 percent chance of living 10 years or longer. 

Unfortunately, lung cancer has little or no symptoms in the early stages, so more than 85 percent of men and women are diagnosed in late stages when there is very little chance for a cure. Research suggests that increased screening of high-risk individuals could prevent up to 12,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

The Great American Smokeout
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 224,210 new cases of lung cancer are expected in 2014, accounting for about 14 percent of cancer diagnoses. Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women. 
An estimated 159,260 deaths, accounting for about 27 percent of all cancer deaths, are expected to occur this year.

The American Cancer Society is encouraging smokers this month to use Nov. 20, the date of The Great American Smokeout, as a day to make a plan to quit smoking. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step that can lead to reducing cancer risk. 
Cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer, a risk that increases with both quantity and duration of smoking. In addition, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the country.

That’s It - Learn to Quit is a free smoking cessation program offered by Griffin Hospital. The goal of the program is to help you learn how to quit. There are different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. If one method didn’t work in the past there are others to try. 

For more information or to sign-up for That’s It - Learn to Quit, call 203-732-1476 or visit griffincancercenter.org.

This talk is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U “Tuesday Talks,” a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics.

All Tuesday Talks are held in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center at 130 Division St. Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve your spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Derby Neck Library to host movie night, writers' workshop, more

Teen Movie Night
DERBY - The Derby Neck Library will host “Teen Movie Night” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 18. 
This month's feature on blu-ray is "Maleficent." Seating is limited; please call ahead to register. 

Free snacks and a dinner are served.
All attending must be present before 5:45 p.m. when the doors close.

Be A Reading Kid
The Library will hold “B.A.R.K.—Be a Reading Kid” from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 featuring the listening dogs Thor and Bailey.
This program offers kids a 15-minute session to read to a gentle dog. Parents are asked to call ahead to register their children.

Writers' Round
From 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 20 the Library will host “Writers’ Round.” This is a workshop for writers of all formats - prose, fiction, poetry, scripts, etc. 
Writing practice is part of the evening; come and be inspired. 

Book club
At 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 the Library will host “Evening Book Club.” This is a monthly session which focuses on novella-length books of fiction, biography, or non-fiction.
All titles selected are award winners and written by authors of worth.

This month we explore “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” by Muriel Sparks. This book was featured on Broadway and also recreated as a movie.
Copies of the book are available at the library and are purchased for us by the Friends’ Club.

For details on any of these programs call 203-734-1492. The library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.


This is a press release from Patricia Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.

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.