Warning Valley residents: Traffic woes ahead

After rush hour April 24 work will begin to replace the railroad crossing on Division Street in Ansonia and Derby.

Please click here to read the story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Seymour Lions Club to present cruise nights

Opinion: Ansonia alderman backs budget plan

Mayor's proposal would offer tax relief 

By Lorie Vaccaro

Second Ward Alderman

City of Ansonia

On Tuesday the Ansonia Board of Aldermen will be holding a vote on the 2015-16 budget. 
It’s a proposal I proudly support as Chairman of the Finance Sub-committee and one that fulfills Mayor Dave Cassetti’s election promise of delivering tax relief to residents and business owners. 

Lorie Vaccaro

I want to take this opportunity to share some of the details with Ansonia residents.  

If the budget is approved, taxpayers will see a one-mill tax cut, the second tax reduction in two years.  What does a one-mill tax reduction mean for Ansonia residents? It represents a 3 percent decrease in property taxes.  
In plain language, a house assessed at $200,000 would see property taxes would decrease by about $210.

Yet this budget is more than a one-trick-pony.  Beyond the tax relief, it provides for capital improvements such as the lease of a street sweeper for public works and a replacement vehicle for the fire department, along with upgrades to the animal shelter and planning costs related to a new safety facility.

The proposal also makes contributions to the City’s underfunded pension plan.  In fact, this marks the first year in over a decade that the budget will address the chronically ignored fund.

This is all a result of responsible and strategic fiscal planning on the part of Mayor Cassetti and his finance team.  Consultation with Ansonia’s outside auditing firm has revealed that the City’s general fund is being maintained at an unacceptably high level.  The proposed budget therefore leverages the overfunded reserves to provide tax relief and move Ansonia forward.  

Specifically, our auditors hold that a city’s reserves should be set at about 8 to 10 percent of the overall budget. However, the 2013-14 budget, as set by the prior administration, resulted in general reserve that represents 19 percent of the overall budget!  Moreover, the reserves have been set at an average of 16 percent of the overall budget over the past six years.  

The budget proposal also includes (for the first time) a forward-looking capital improvement plan and forecast of next year’s surplus.
In other words, it’s a well-researched plan built on solid ground.

Vaccaro is chairman of the Finance Sub-committee of the Board of Aldermen.

Ansonia Library to hold Amnesty Week starting today

ANSONIA - Have any late books hiding under the bed? 
In the car? It's time to bring them back! 

In celebration of National Library Week, the Ansonia Library will be having an Amnesty Week, April 13-18. 
We will waive your fines on Ansonia Library materials only. 
Call the Ansonia Library at 203-734-6275 for more information.

The library is at 53 S. Cliff St.



This information is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the New Haven Independent.

Seymour Historical Society to host talk on Colonial kiln

Peter Rzasa stands next to remnants of Seymour's remaining lime kiln. He and his wife, Barbara, will discuss how farmers made use of the giant outdoor furnaces at a Seymour Historical Society program at 2 p.m. April 26. /Contributed photo


SEYMOUR - If you know where to look in town, you can still see remnants of a giant outdoor furnace that Colonial farmers used to turn marble into lime for their fields. 

Millions of years ago, the state was covered by an ocean that included a coral reef. Over time, the reef metamorphosed into marble. 
Beginning in the late 17th century, farmers used the marble to enhance crop growth by lowering soil acidity. But it first had to be burned in a large outdoor kiln, producing a chalky substance known as “burnt lime.” 

Two local kilns were constructed, and one still remains in Seymour. Peter and Barbara Rzasa will describe the kiln, the marble quarries, and ancient mining roads that still can be found in Little Laurel Lime Park during a program at 2 p.m. April 26. 


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

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


This is a press release from the Seymour Historical Society.

Valley Arts Council seeks members, fresh ideas

From the Valley Arts Council Facebook page:

"We are seeking those who are artists and photographers to step forward and be an active member of the Valley Arts Council. 

"We need creative, open-minded decision makers to assist in the day to day operations (keeping the organization afloat and full of ideas and concepts to keep things fresh and fun).

"It's actually a fun, enriching experience!"

Center Stage in Shelton to present 'Lend Me a Tenor'

SHELTON - Center Stage Theatre, 54 Grove St., will present "Lend Me a Tenor" for 10 performances in April and May.

The show is a hilarious comedy about an Italian opera singer who gets sick and can’t perform.
It is like a combination of Abbott and Costello, I Love Lucy, and the Marx Brothers!
If you love a great comedy, you’ll love this show!
If you’re Italian American, you’ll love this show!
If you’re an opera fan, you’ll love this show!

Featuring Derby Town/City Clerk Marc J. Garofalo as "Il Stupendo" - Italian operatic superstar Tito Merelli.

*Please note revised performance dates due to minor injuries sustained by Michael L’Altrella in a car accident during the dress rehearsal week.

April 17, 2015 - 8 p.m.

April 18, 2015 - 8 p.m.

April 19, 2015 - 2 p.m.

April 23, 2015 - 7 p.m.

April 24, 2015 - 8 p.m.

April 25, 2015 - 8 p.m.

April 26, 2015 - 2 p.m.

May 1, 2015 - 8 p.m.

May 2, 2015 - 8 p.m.

May 3, 2015 - 2 p.m.


Admission: adults - $25 – students - $10

For information call 203-225-6079
or choose your own reserved seating at www.centerstageshelton.org


Starring:

MAX: Michael L'Altrella of Oxford


MAGGIE: Ashley Lord of Shelton


SAUNDERS: Stephen DiRocco of Wilton


JULIA: Leslie Jones of Bridgeport


TITO: Marc Garofalo of Derby


MARIA: Cindy Hartog of Westpor


DIANA: Fiona Bryson of Shelton


BELLHOP: Phil Brown-Wilusz of Bridgeport



This post is taken from a press release from Marc Garofalo.