There's a lot going on in Derby Public Schools, so Superintendent Matthew Conway came on The Valley Indy's podcast to bring the public up-to-speed.
The school/city received $3 million from the state and at least another $3 million from a private donor to reconfigure athletic fields.
Derby is getting a new multi-purpose turf field, a new track, a new field house, a new baseball field, and a new combined facility for softball and little league.
Conway goes over the various projects, then goes over the school budget, academic achievement, and regionalization.
Just click play!
Valley Indy reporter Eugene Driscoll's 7-year-old son, Jack, joins the podcast this week to complain about being sick and stuck at home with his dad all week.
Then reporter Ethan Fry reviews The Valley Indy's most-read stories of the week, and ask the question -- given the recent violence, is it time to end the "Valley New Year" drunkfest?
The reporters then talk about Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan's controversial decision to bring in a new DPW director.
The podcast ends with a summary of the weird stuff Driscoll and Fry watch online.
On this very special episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast," reporters Ethan Fry and Eugene Driscoll quiz Thomas Hennick on the ins and outs of the state's Freedom of Information Act.
Hennick is the public education officer for the state’s Freedom of Information Commission.
The reporters pose real-life open government scenarios to Hennick, concerning everything from executive sessions to grabbing drinks at a bar.
This week’s podcast features Donna DeLuca and her son, Matt, the founders of The CARES Group, a support group for families dealing with addiction.
Click the play button to listen.
CARES stands for “Community Addiction and Recovery Education and Support Group.”
DeLuca’s two sons, including Matt, were addicted to drugs for years.
DeLuca, a Newtown resident and retired school administrator, discovered that talking to other moms and families dealing with addiction helped her situation.
Rick Dunne is the executive director of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.
Jim Gildea is the chairman of the CT Commuter Rail Council, and the new chairman of the Derby Board of Education.
In this very special episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast," the two Derby titans talk transportation, from the Route 34 widening in Derby to a series of public forums that have been happening around the Valley.
Click the play button below to hear the majority of Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan's inauguration speech, which was made at the Derby High School auditorium Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 in front of about 225 people.
This week's guest on 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast' is Fran Pastore, the chief executive officer of the Connecticut Women's Business Council.
The council helps get women-owned businesses get off the ground in a number of ways Pastore details in the podcast.
The group also has an office on Roosevelt Drive in Derby, and has helped a number of Valley businesses get off the ground, including Wildflour Cupcakes & Sweets in downtown Seymour.
Pastore also talks about the flood of sexual harassment accusations that have dominated the news cycle recently, and whether the discussion will change behaviors.
Press play to listen.
Drew Baklik talks with The Valley Indy about the transition to a new mayor in Derby City Hall.
Kurt Miller was elected to his fourth term as Seymour First Selectman Nov. 7.
On Nov. 9 that he has formed an exploratory committee to decide whether he will seek higher state office.
On Nov. 10 he was in The Valley Indy office talking about it.
Click play to listen.
This podcast is sponsored by the Valley Gives Back, a new initiative of The Valley Community Foundation.
It's the Valley Indy post-election podcast!
Former Derby Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Lenart joins Seymour Deputy Fire Marshal Timm Willis to talk fire safety and firefighting myths in this very special episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast."
Both Lenart and Willis have been guests on the podcast several times before, so we must be doing something right.
This week UConn journalism assistant professor Marie K. Shanahan talks about her new book, Journalism, Online Comments, and the Future of Public Discourse.
Shanahan previously worked for The Hartford Courant.
She spent years reading online comments, and her book explores their impact on modern society.
Shanahan also serves on the board of directors of the Connecticut Health Investigative Team, Connecticut Foundation for Open Government and The Connecticut News Project.
You’ve heard us mention “Valley Gives Back” on our podcast, and you may have seen our “Valley Gives Back” sponsored posts on social media.
Now Sharon Closius explains the meaning behind the phrase in the latest episode of “Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast.”
Press play to listen.
“Valley Gives Back” is a new initiative from The Valley Community Foundation in Derby. Closius is the foundation’s president and CEO.
Valley residents donate money to charity and nonprofits all the time. Just look at the millions raised locally each year during The Great Give, or major nonprofit fundraisers such as “Men Who Cook.”
But the idea behind “Valley Gives Back” is, in part, to get more people to consider “planned giving“ when it comes to supporting local nonprofits.
For more information, listen to the podcast and visit ValleyGivesBack.
The two candidates on the ballot for Ansonia mayor clashed over city finances, taxes, and their visions for economic development during a debate at the Valley Indy Oct. 9.
The discussion between Republican incumbent David Cassetti and Democratic challenger Tarek Raslan was livestreamed on Facebook.
Click play to listen.
It's a two-for-one special on the latest "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast."
This episode is sponsored by The Valley Gives Back, a new initiative from The Valley Community Foundation.
Mike Canicci talks about new high school sports initiative he and Sean Morse have launched, then the Valley Indy reporters give some important campaign news.
It's a two-for-one special on the latest "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast."
This episode is sponsored by The Valley Gives Back, a new initiative from The Valley Community Foundation.
<b>First,</b> Derby's <i>Mike Cannici</i> talks about doing play-by-play and color commentary with <i>Sean Morse</i>.
Cannici and Morse are working with NFHS.com to broadcast one Valley football game per week online.
Monthly passes for the service starts at $9.95.
Search "Valley Sports HS" on NFHS.com for more information.
Cannici, a Derby High School graduate, and Morse, an Ansonia High School graduate, also produce "Hometown Heroes," a sports interview show on Comcast, and they post classic Valley football games on their YouTube channel.
Cannici also hosts the great "Valley Sports Rewind," a weekly sports talk show produced by The Valley Indy.
<b>-------SPONSORED---------</b>
This episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast" is sponsored by <a href="http://valleygivesback.plannedgiving.org/" title="The Valley Gives Back">The Valley Gives Back</a>, a new initiative from The Valley Community Foundation.
What will you be remembered for?
Adding a charity to your estate plan creates a legacy that tells future generations what causes mattered to you during your life.
Your action inspires others to follow your lead and make a difference.
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And with a planned gift, you have the power to impact your community forever, without affecting your current lifestyle.
For more information, visit <a href="http://valleygivesback.plannedgiving.org/" title="ValleyGivesBack.org">ValleyGivesBack.org</a>.
The Valley Gives Back is an initiative of the Valley Community Foundation, connecting private philanthropy to the long-term public good of the Valley.
Plan now, give later, and impact tomorrow at <a href="http://valleygivesback.plannedgiving.org/" title="ValleyGivesBack.org">ValleyGivesBack.org</a>.
<b>-----------------------------</b>
<b>Big Campaign News!</b>
In the second part of the podcast, Valley Indy reporters Eugene Driscoll and Ethan Fry update the public on some very exciting news coming from the mayoral campaigns in Ansonia and Derby.
The second part of the podcast begins approximately 17 minutes and 43 seconds into the broadcast.
Someone called police to tell them a candidate for mayor was driving in Ansonia in a car with an expired registration.
The Valley Indy reporters Eugene Driscoll and Ethan Fry play NEVER BEFORE HEARD audio clips from the Sept. 12 primary in Derby!
Among the interviews: Kara Rochelle, of the Naugatuck Valley Young Democrats, and Andrew McIndoo, Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto's political mastermind.
Then Seymour resident Chris Bowen calls in to talk about whether Democrats in Derby can unite before Election Day.
John Lotto, Jr. calls in to talk Ansonia politics, and The Valley Indy tries to figure out why Lotto called the reporters "beyond biased."
Click play to listen!
Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto will square off against fellow Democrat Carmen DiCenso in a Democratic primary scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017.
The winner will run on the Democratic line for mayor in the general election scheduled for Nov. 7, 2017.
Retired police officer Richard Dziekan is the Republican candidate.
In this 90-minute podcast recorded at The Valley Indy office in Ansonia, Dugatto and DiCenso spar over management style, and give different reasons as to why the majority of the Democrats on the Derby Board of Aldermen can't seem to get along with Mayor Dugatto, a two-term incumbent.
DiCenso is the president of the Derby Board of Aldermen.
Two-term Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti visited the Valley Indy office Tuesday (Aug. 29) for an interview.
The mayor is trying for his third term. Election Day is Nov. 7.For about an hour, the mayor talked about what brought his Sicilian grandparents to the United States and Ansonia specifically, what it was like growing up in the Valley in the 1960s, dealing with the loss of his father at the age of 7, and how he went on to become an amateur boxing standout, small business owner, and mayor of the place he calls the greatest city in the state.
Press the play button to listen.
Cassetti's opponent, Democratic nominee Tarek Raslan sat down with the Valley Indy for an interview last week.
The Valley Indy was the guest Aug. 25 on "Coffee Chat" on WICC-AM.
Reporter Eugene Driscoll chatted with WICC program director/news director Mike Bellamy about Valley headlines, and reviewed the most stories of the week on ValleyIndy.org.
Press play to listen.
In this episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast," reporters Ethan Fry and Eugene Driscoll interview U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Bad Sons Beer Co. co-owner Bill DaSilva, and Leslie Creane, Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto's chief of staff.
Murphy toured Bad Sons Thursday at 251 Roosevelt Drive in Derby.
Bad Sons -- with its taproom and connected brewery all in one large space -- opened in late July.
In the podcast, DaSilva, born in Shelton, talks about redeveloping the old Manger Die Casting Co. property, and how he was assisted by Derby City Hall and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.
Creane talks about Derby government's hopes for old industrial buildings on Roosevelt Drive -- and talks about efforts to find tenants for the former Walmart property across town.
Finally, Murphy talks about whether President Donald Trump needs a mental health checkup, whether he plans to run for president, whether he reads Breitbart, and whether he thinks Trump will actually shut down the federal government if Congress doesn't pay for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Have you ever read a Sunday newspaper profile of a candidate running for office?
It's an article where the writer doesn't necessarily delve into the politics of a given candidate, but concentrates more on who they are, where they're from, and why they're running.
This is a newspaper profile, but in podcast form.
The Valley Indy sat down with Ansonia's Tarek Raslan for an hour to talk about why he decided to move to the city two years ago, why he decided to withdraw from high school, whether his family's real estate business has considered making investments in Ansonia, and much more.
Please press play to listen!
Bridgeport minor league baseball team is ending its 20-year-run, but the owner still wants to play ball.
Could the City of Ansonia and its 65 acres of former factory space be a good fit?
The Valley Indy speculates wildly while Sheila O'Malley and Hugh Bailey keep the conversation based in reality.
O'Malley is the Ansonia Director of Economic Development, while Bailey is Hearst Connecticut's business editor.
In the second half of the podcast, O'Malley gives an update on various business moves within Ansonia.
Enjoy!
"Navel Gazing" is a weekly podcast from ValleyIndy.org
It also replays every Monday at 12 p.m. on WNHH-LP, 103.5 FM within the City of New Haven.
Why don't politicians in Seymour fight like their counterparts in Ansonia and Derby?
Is the Valley Indy nothing more than fashion photographers for the Ansonia Democratic Party?
Why are the leaders of Shelton and Trumbull smacking each other around?
Who are these young people taking over the Democratic Party in the Valley?
Which elected official will be getting funky at Rock the Valley in Ansonia Aug. 19?
You can find the answers to those questions and many more by clicking play and listening to W. Kurt Miller and Stephan Behuniak talk to Valley Indy reporters Ethan Fry and Eugene Driscoll in the latest episode of "Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast."
Miller, a Republican, is Seymour's First Selectman. He was recently endorsed by the Seymour GOP to run for a fourth, two-year term.
Behuniak, a Democrat, is a member of the Seymour Board of Selectmen. He's also the chairman of the Seymour Democratic Town Committee.
Enjoy!