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Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast

A weekly talk show from ValleyIndy.org about the news and events of Ansonia, Derby, and Seymour, CT. Hosted by Eugene Driscoll.
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Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast
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Now displaying: 2021
Dec 23, 2021

Police believe Jair Irogoyen — Flores, 24 of West Haven, was driving a neighbor’s Acura MDX when he struck James and Barbara Tamborra, both 81 of Shelton, as they tried to cross Route 67 the evening of Dec. 10.

Dec 20, 2021

DERBY -- The Derby Board of Education voted 6-0 to oppose a plan laid out by Ansonia to merge school districts.

While the vote is symbolic -- the Derby BOE has no formal say in the process -- its chairman is the co-chair of the regionalization committee, and a petition has started online opposing the merger resolution as presented by Ansonia.

This podcast episode contains the audio from the Derby school board's discussion.

Dec 16, 2021

Derby's Mike Cannici, the host of "Hometown Heroes" on Comcast and YouTube, returns to the podcast to update on the latest version of his long-running local talk show.

Cannici talks local sports, interviewing Ralph Mouth from "Happy Days," and explains how the show has changed during the COVID era.

Nov 22, 2021

On this week’s “Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,” a few all-stars from TEAM, Inc. stop by a Zoom room to talk about two important topics:

1. The annual “Toys 4 Kids” campaign, which benefits thousands of area children, and;

2. The volatile Valley rental market, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find apartments.

<b>Press play to listen, and please note the podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://valleygivesback.plannedgiving.org/" title="ValleyGivesBack.org">ValleyGivesBack.org</a>.</b>

Nov 20, 2021

The state DOT announced Friday it is receiving a $12.6 million grant to update the Derby-Shelton train station. This episode features Valley Indy ramblings interspersed with people who know what they're talking about: VCOG Exec Dir Rick Dunne, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti,  and CT DOT Commissioner Joseph J. Giulietti.

Valley Indy story here: https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/12.6_million_grant_will_rehab_and_upgrade_derby-shelton_train_station/

Nov 15, 2021

Mayor David Cassetti’s administration said there are still no formal agreements in place nor contracts signed between the City of Ansonia and The Primrose Companies, the developer that has been eyeing Olson Drive for a recreation facility since 2019.

The topic came up during an Ansonia Board of Aldermen meeting on Nov. 9.

This podcast contains the audio from the discussion.

Read The Valley Indy story here: https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/no_deal_yet_on_olson_drive_development_but/

Nov 14, 2021

John from Pint o Comics is the guest host of this very special episode.

Guest John Marini of Sci-Fi at the Strand (165 Main St. Seymour, CT) is hosting a double feature Nov. 20, 2021: "Masters of the Universe" (1987) and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990).

Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/turtle-power-double-feature-tickets-187768018197

Nov 11, 2021

Episode guide:

First three minutes and fifty seconds: introductions & insults

4 min: Gildea & Miller react to last week's election results.

14 min, 25 seconds: Miller and Gildea react to a recent Hartford Courant story about state Rep. Kara Rochelle consulting for West Haven.

33 min, 46 seconds:  Reaction to Mayor Cassetti's rant against Derby on WICC radio.

<b>This podcast is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.</b>

Nov 10, 2021

A 28-year-old man was charged with murder and risk of injury to a minor after allegedly killing his wife inside 73 Root Ave. Tuesday afternoon in Ansonia.

Kamil Zielinski is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Derby today (Wednesday, Nov. 10). His name and charges were discussed at a press conference at the Ansonia Police Department.

Police identified the victim Wednesday as Grace Zielinska, a mother of three children, ages 5, 3 and four months.

Nov 4, 2021

Will Cassetti be Mayor for Life in Ansonia?

What are the Democrats plan for the Board of Aldermen/women in Derby?

Did the Ansonia GOP hide from the press?

What's the message from voters in Derby?

Can the Ansonia Democrats recover from Tuesday's trouncing?

Those questions are asked -- and so much more -- in The Valley Indy's 2021 Election Post-Election Autopsy!

The guests include:

Kianna DeCiucis, Ansonia Democratic campaign manager

John Marini, Ansonia GOP chairman

Aldermen Rob Hyder, Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan's campaign manager

Aniello Malerba III, Derby Democrat Party chairman

Oct 12, 2021

The Valley Indy is attempting a public service project by giving every candidate for office in Ansonia, Derby & Seymour the opportunity to explain why they're running.

Ansonia Aldermen have been given the additional opportunity to film video interviews about their candidacies -- something that's never been attempted in the lower Naugatuck Valley before.

But -- candidates have to be able to make themselves available.

Oct 9, 2021

Larry Dwyer of Connecticut Cult Classics joins the podcast to talk about a Tromatic double feature happening Oct. 23 in Seymour, Connecticut. Matt Maisto previews the latest episode of 'Mondo Creepy,' set to premiere Saturday, Oct. 9 at 11 p.m. EST on YouTube.

Recorded live while on Valley Indy Facebook.

Sep 29, 2021

Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti, Economic Development Director Sheila O'Malley, and Corporation Counsel John Marini talk about "Ansonia Recharged," a song commissioned as a marketing tool for the city.

Joining the conversation is Richard Demko, the song's writer and composer, and Rafael Klein, who shot a video for the tune.

Sep 17, 2021

A preview of some stuff happening in Derby and Ansonia.

Sep 9, 2021

Press play to listen to a bunch of former Danbury journalists and the former Danbury mayor talk about the former Danbury hockey team, now featured in a Netflix true crime documentary.

Some minor corrections to the record:
 
Guest Brian Koonz says the Trasher's salary cap was $250,000: he emailed me after the interview to say it was actually $275,000. Mayor Boughton mentions a documentary titled "Wild Wild West." It's actually "Wild, Wild Country." I  misstate the year of a News-Times Galante series as 2018. It was 2008.
Aug 23, 2021

Bob Elmore, the stuntman best known for breathing life into Leatherface during the truly distasteful 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II,' talks to The Valley Indy about working with Dennis Hopper, teaming with John Candy -- and taking a punch from the loathsome Steven Seagal.

Elmore is appearing Sept. 18, 2021 at CT Horror Fest at the Naugatuck Events Center in Nagautuck, CT.

For more info visit CTHorror.com

Jul 21, 2021

Members of the city’s planning and zoning commission approved an application on July 20, 2021 to allow 32 market-rate apartments to be constructed within a large building at 33 Main St.

There will be 22 studio apartments and 10 one bedroom apartments. The studio apartments will range from 475 square feet to 689 square feet. The one bedroom apartments will range from 594 square feet to 736 square feet.

The building owner is hoping to set starting rents somewhere between $1,000 and $1,200 a month.

Jul 13, 2021

A state panel keeping a close eye on Derby's troubled financial recording practices likes the fact that the city is hiring qualified personnel to run its finance department.

Outgoing interim finance director David Taylor and Mayor Rich Dziekan's Chief of Staff Andrew Baklik appeared virtually June 30 in front of the Municipal Finance Advisory Commission.

Click play to listen.

Jul 9, 2021

Connecticut’s governor and a cadre of elected officials were in the city July 8 to celebrate the city receiving $1 million from the state to go toward the environmental assessment, demolition, and remediation of the former Farrel Foundry and Machine Co. site at the corner of Main Street and North Main Street in Ansonia, CT.

This episode contains the audio from the press conference, along with info about a weekend concert and a fireworks show over the weekend in Ansonia.

Jun 13, 2021

In this clip from the June 10 meeting of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen, Alderwoman Barbara DeGennaro asks why the city can't get a financial audit completed on deadline.

May 21, 2021

DERBY -- At the May 18 Derby budget vote, tax board member Brian Coppolo said the city's wasn't getting $1.23 million in "distressed municipality" funding from the state.

Press play for a closer look at the issue.

Apr 27, 2021

A Derby police shot an armed man on Division Street Monday morning after the man started shooting at a passing car, police said.

Apr 26, 2021

Audio From Shooting In Derby

Apr 23, 2021

There is a virtual public hearing on the proposed 2021-2022 budget scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. Ansonia Chief Fiscal Officer Kurt Miller talks about the budget with The Valley Indy. Sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org

Apr 20, 2021

The Derby tax board is asking for more time to consider a city budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Seymour has a town meeting on its budget scheduled for April 22, then it heads to a public vote May 4. 

Griffin Hospital has scheduled four four walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Ansonia & Derby residents. 

The Great Give is scheduled for May 4 and May 5.

Podcast sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.

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