Valley Towns Close all Parks, Playgrounds, Basketball Courts Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Sharing information from Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan:

Mayor Richard Dziekan

ANSONIA: Attention residents- At this time for public safety, we must close all city basketball courts, city playgrounds and city parks to the public. If you are out for a walk in open space, please practice social distancing by staying six feet apart- Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti

SEYMOUR: Effective tonight (March 23) at 5 pm, we will be closing all parks and playgrounds in Seymour to go along with all of the sports fields on school property. We are doing this in the best interest of public health and safety. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause- Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller

DERBY: As we continue to navigate our new reality amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important that local government officials help set the tone to mitigate the spread of the virus.

In accordance with this idea, Derby will be following the lead of Seymour, Ansonia and Oxford and closing our public parks until further notice.

This includes:

-Payden Park/Ryan/DeFillippo Field (baseball, football/soccer field and track),

-Bradley School court and playground, Irving School court and playground,

-Witek Park Soccer Field,

-the picnic grove and basketball courts

As of right now, the Derby Greenway will remain open, but we strongly encourage you to practice social distancing if you chose to utilize it.

These restrictions will remain in place until further notice- Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan

Mayor David Cassetti

First Selectman Kurt Miller

Be "Mayor" for the Day

Ansonia Aldermen Urge Budget Passage

(The following is a letter from Ansonia aldermen)

We write to urge the Governor to sign the bi-partisan budget, which was passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate and House on September 15-16 2017. 

Under this bi-partisan budget, in FY2018 the City of Ansonia will receive the same funding in education funding as it did in 2017, which was already anticipated by the City.  However, in FY 2019, Ansonia would receive an additional $2,258,339.00 over 2017 funding.  Ansonia is one of the 30 alliance/priority districts, and yet has been massively underfunded for more than a decade through the current ECS formula, which was found unconstitutional in 2016. 

Under the bi-partisan budget in FY2018, Ansonia will receive approximately an additional $7,488.00 in municipal aid funding over 2017.  However, in FY2019 Ansonia will receive an additional $2,143,171.00 over FY2017.  This increased funding to Ansonia is necessary for our community to continue to ensure and support the health, safety, education and well-being of our community, and our children. 

We wholeheartedly support the steps taken in this bi-partisan budget to restore equity and balance to a broken education funding system.  No budget is perfect but we are encouraged that this bi-partisan budget is a starting point for the renewal of the financial health of the State of Connecticut and a path to sustainable and consistent funding to municipalities such as Ansonia. 

This is a bi-partisan budget is good for our community, good for our schools, and good for Ansonia.  We are asking all the residents of Ansonia to join with us in supporting this budget, and urging our Governor and our elected officials in Hartford to support this budget.  Together we can continue to recharge Ansonia and keep our city moving in the right direction. 

Respectfully,

Lori Vaccaro, 2^nd Ward Alderman,  Martin Dempsey, 4^th Ward Alderman, Joseph A. Jaumann, 5^th Ward Alderman, Patrick Henri, 6^th Ward Alderman, Joshua Shuart, 6^th Ward Alderman, Frank Delibero, 7^th Ward Alderman, David Blackwell, 7^th Ward Alderman    

Seymour Lions Club celebrates Arbor Day with students at Bungay and Chatfield-LoPresti schools

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent
SEYMOUR >> More than 190 new trees will sprout up around town this year, thanks to the Seymour Lions Club doing its part to help students celebrate Arbor Day Friday.
Club members, accompanied by furry yellow mascot Seymour the Lion, visited each of the town’s fourth-grade classes at Bungay and Chatfield-LoPresti schools, distributing pine tree saplings for them to plant in their yards.
At Bungay School, Seymour the Lion — club member and past President Yvonne Lorincz — burst through the school’s front doors to the delight of squealing students. Armed with purple tote bags filled with the saplings, Lorincz, along with Club President Melissa A. Smith Poynton and club member Anne Barton, stopped by the school’s three fourth-grade classes to mark Arbor Day.

Read more here. 

Early dismissal in Ansonia slated

From Ansonia Public Schools Facebook page:

 

"Tomorrow, February 21st is a scheduled early dismissal day for Professional Development for all Ansonia Schools."

Seymour schools to open Friday

From Kurt Miller's Facebook page:

Message from the Superintendent: 

Dear Parents and Staff,

There will be school on Friday, February 15.

I wanted to let you know that we have checked on the roof situation at each of our schools. Every roof is fine in regard to snow capacity.

I want to thank you for your patience and understanding over the past week.

Have a nice Valentines Day.

Thank you,

Christine

Seymour schools to be closed Friday

According to information on Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page, Seymour Public Schools will be closed Friday.

Ansonia schools to open Friday

From Superintendent Carol Merlone on the Ansonia Public Schools' website: 

Ansonia Public Schools will be open on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. While there are still some road closures and downed wires and trees, we have been assured that UI’s “Make Safe” crews have completed their review of our city’s damage and are now in full restoration mode. We anticipate holding a full day of classes on Friday.

Please advise your children to exercise extreme caution and to refrain from touching any wires or anything suspicious as they walk to and from their bus stops.

We will be issuing a Connect-Ed automated call later today.

Finally, the Costume Parades at Prendergast and Mead Schools will be held Nov. 2, as well as the Ansonia football game scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nolan Field.
Check the Prendergast and Mead webpages for further information on their parades.

FRIDAY FIVE: A recap of this week in the Valley

So another work week is coming to a close.
Where does the time go? I'm sure many parents were saying that to themselves Thursday evening as they watched their sons and daughters receive their diplomas at Ansonia High School.

I was there to see the pride on the parents' faces and to witness the happy chaos after the ceremony in the gym.

Here are five of the top stories from last week, written by Register reporters Bridget Albert, Phyllis Swebilius, and Patricia Villers and Register Correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich.

They are listed in no particular order.


Buildings to be razed at Riverside Apartments in Ansonia.


Seymour school budget cut.


Derby ed board slashes budget.


Tax incentives keep manufacturer in Seymour.


Ansonia High School holds graduation.