Recuperation journey: Welcome spring!

In the merry month of May.

Miller emcees taco-eating contest fundraiser in Seymour

Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller emceed Friday's fifth annual Taco Eating Contest at Hot Tamale Mexican Grill and Bar in Seymour to benefit TEAM's Meals on Wheels program. 


*Stay tuned for more photos in an upcoming issue of the Valley Voice newsletter.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti is ready to compete in Friday's fifth annual Cinco de Mayo taco eating contest at Hot Tamale Mexican Grill and Bar in Seymour. 
The event benefits TEAM's Meals on Wheels program that delivers hot meals to hundreds of senior citizens the Valley.


*Stay tuned for more photos from the event in an upcoming Valley Voice newsletter.

Gentile hails House passage of prescription drug pricing bill

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Derby/Ansonia, applauded House approval of legislation that creates transparency requirements for manufacturers of prescription drugs having large price increases.

House Bill #5384, An Act Concerning Prescription Drug Costs, will lead to consumer savings at pharmacies and will require drug companies to justify price increases when the price of a drug jumps by 20 percent in one year or by 50 percent over three years.

“This measure is very important to the constituents we serve and I am extremely pleased to see it becoming a reality,” Gentile said. 

“Healthy individuals may not be aware of the struggle that chronically ill patients or those with serious conditions have to endure in order to get the medications they need. This bill will lead consumers to much needed savings and more pricing transparency.” 

Provisions in the bill include:

1. Information about new drugs in the FDA approval pipeline so we can better plan for new drug spending on the state employee plan and Medicaid. 

2. Insurers must include information on the top 25 highest cost drugs, top 25 with greatest increases and the portion of premium that increased because of drug spending on plan when they file their rates with the state Insurance Department. 

3. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) must disclose rebates they received from drug companies and amount of rebate they passed onto consumers versus the amount they retained. Connecticut would become the first state in the country to require this. 

4. Insurers must either provide consumers with point of sale rebate at pharmacy counter or certify that they are using rebates to lower premiums

The bill now goes to the senate for consideration.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Recuperation journey: Celebrations

Tomorrow, May 5, is a day for celebrations.
There's Cinco de Mayo if you like Mexican food and margaritas, the Kentucky Derby if you're into horse racing and mint juleps, and then there's my first kidneyversary.

The actual surgery date is May 9, but there is another very important celebration I'll be attending that day, so tomorrow it is.

A friend who can't attend a small pizza party I've planned to mark the anniversary of my transplant sent me this lovely surprise today. 

I'm feeling blessed.

Golf tourney to benefit Shelton Gaels Alumni scholarship awards

Logan to host coffee hour Saturday at Acropolis Diner in Hamden

Logan, R-Ansonia, represents the 17th District.