Derby Aldermen Vote to Move Baseball Field to Chatfield Street

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

DERBY >> It’s a homerun for Derby sports, as the Board of Aldermen Thursday (Feb. 23) voted in favor of relocating the existing high school baseball field not too far from its home base, rather than across town.

The aldermen voted based on the recommendation from the Baseball Field Relocation Committee to relocate the baseball field, located next to the football field at the Leo F. Ryan Athletic Complex, to Chatfield Street, where the softball field currently is located.

The baseball field will remain on the school campus, which is what many people pushed for, rather than two other unpopular options that were on the table, Witek Park and Bradley School.

The baseball field, which is not regulation size, needs to be moved to make way for a major athletic complex makeover, which will include construction of an artificial turf field, multi-purpose field and eight-lane rubberized track at Ryan Field. The state Bond Commission approved $2.9 million in funding for the makeover.
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Crisco, Gentile hail funds to upgrade transportation infrastructure in Valley

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, today reported the imminent release of significant state funding to address transportation infrastructure needs in the Valley.

The lawmakers said funds are available through a new state law creating a Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program.

The matter is included on the agenda for Friday morning’s meeting of the State Bond Commission and is expected to receive final approval at that time.

“An efficient transportation network is the cornerstone of economic vitality and a desirable quality of life – each depends upon the smooth flow and effective delivery of people and products,” Crisco said. “Our state’s new Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program supplants federal funding for eligible projects to keep people, goods, and services moving freely through the region.”

The lawmakers said the Valley Council of Governments will administer the grant and disburse funding for state Department of Transportation-approved projects expected to have a service life of 20 years.
The overall grant is valued at $1.232 million.

“Creating transportation efficiencies is vital to small cities like Ansonia and Derby and desperately needed by taxpayers. I applaud Governor Malloy for his foresight,” Gentile said. “Roosevelt Drive in Derby comes to mind immediately in need of attention by the Valley Council of Governments.”

Lawmakers said this new grant program is meant to build upon the state’s successful and popular Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) for municipalities, through which infrastructure upgrades are underwritten, and for which five-year capital improvement plans are encouraged.


This is a press release from Crisco's office. 

Crisco, Gentile hail imminent funding for TEAM

$170,000 allocation expected from state

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, today welcomed news of imminent state funding for the early care and education center operated by TEAM, Inc. in Ansonia.

State support is to be provided through a provision of state law enacted earlier this year for facility improvements where school readiness and daycare programs operate.

The grant for TEAM, Inc. is included on the agenda for Friday’s meeting of the State Bond Commission and is expected to receive final approval at that time, the lawmakers said.

“For nearly 50 years TEAM has been helping economically disadvantaged families throughout the Naugatuck Valley by providing direct services or by referring them to other sources for help, always with the goal of increasing their clients’ self-sufficiency,” Crisco said. 

“I’m delighted we can bring these state resources to bear to the benefit of TEAM, which in turn provides essential services to more than 5,000 area families each year.”

More specifically, the $170,000 allocation expected on Friday will help underwrite a security system upgrade, playground resurfacing, and improvements to the air regulation and cooling system at TEAM’s Howard Avenue facility in Ansonia, the lawmakers said.

“TEAM provides affordable daycare and Head Start programs for many children from not only Ansonia and Derby, but also from all of our Valley communities,” Gentile said. “I am pleased these funds will be put to good use to provide a safe and healthy learning and play environment for our children. We know that a positive early learning experience is fundamental to educational achievement and success.”

“When we improve early childhood education, we set a foundation for our young people that they will build on their entire lives,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said.

“Early learning programs like these provided in Ansonia will significantly contribute to a child’s overall healthy development, enabling them to learn the skills needed for success that will lead them through the rest of their lives.”

TEAM, Inc. operates more than a dozen separate programs for clients of all ages, ranging from school readiness and daycare for children to Meals on Wheels and home heating assistance for seniors.

 This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Gentile, Crisco welcome bonding for 2 projects

O'Brien upgrades, Rt. 34 bridge rehab slated for funds 

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, and state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. D-Woodbridge, today welcomed the expected passage of a pair of items for Ansonia and Derby when the State Bond Commission meets Friday.  

     Emmett O'Brien Technical High School in Ansonia is set to receive $87,000 for technology upgrades and renovations and improvements to its buildings and grounds, tools and supplies necessary to update curricula.

     “I am thrilled with the funding allocated for Emmett O’Brien,” Gentile said. “These funds will improve the facilities at the technical high school, make learning easier for students and provide the technical education and skills needed to support local businesses and grow our economy.”

     Emmett O’Brien is located at 141 Prindle Ave., Ansonia. 
     The school offers programs in automotive mechanics, carpentry, culinary arts, electronics and machine drafting among others.

     In addition, a separate item on the bonding agenda sets aside $11 million for the rehabilitation of the Route 34 bridge over the Naugatuck River in Derby.  
    The bridge is at the intersection of Route 115 at the off-ramp of Route 8 at Exit 15.   The bridge will be widened slightly to accommodate a sidewalk. 
    Construction is anticipated to start in spring of 2014 and continue until the fall of 2015. 

     "I have long maintained that an investment in our state's vo/tech high school system is a sound investment in our future to yield a well-trained, experienced workforce in Connecticut, so I'm pleased about this funding for the Emmett O'Brien school in Ansonia," Crisco said. 
    "Likewise, I'm pleased about the planned infrastructure upgrades for the Naugatuck River bridge at the interchange of Routes 8, 34, and 115. We must suitably maintain our transportation network to efficiently move people and goods - the building blocks of a thriving economy - and that crossing is among the busiest in my entire district."

     The State Bond Commission is scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

This information was taken from a release from Gentile's office.