Voices - News - Top Stories

Seymour First Selectman Paul Roy visited Bungay Elementary School this week in celebration of Dr. Seuss' Birthday and Read Across America Day on March 2.
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Voters Reject System Upgrade;
Police Chief Promises Perseverance
MIDDLEBURY - Voters at a Tuesday, March 2, referendum rejected a resolution to appropriate $2,729,000 for improvements to a town-wide radio communications system by 83 votes, 727 to 644.

Voter turnout was 27 percent, according to numbers from the registrars of voters office. Of the 5,128 eligible voters, 1,371 people voted.
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Finance Board Discusses Region 12 Facilities;
Mulls Non-Bond Funding
WASHINGTON - The Board of Finance discussed the ongoing work being done by the Region 12 Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committee at a recent meeting, following a report from Jack Field.

Mr. Field told the finance board that work on the three elementary schools is intended to begin when the school year ends in June and will be completed before classes resume at the end of the summer.
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Middlebury Cheers Stevens




	American Idol contestant Katie Stevens of Middlebury clearly has the support of the town’s residents. Middlebury Arts Committee members (from left) Selma Frohn, Lou Orsini and Ron Vitarelli show off the sign proclaiming that support.

MIDDLEBURY - Katie Stevens is through to the next round of American Idol, after singing "Put Your Records On," by Corinne Bailey Rae, on the Wednesday, March 3, episode.

American Idol judges continue to think that the 17-year-old Middlebury resident is singing songs that are too mature.

The voice is not the problem - the judges all say Ms. Stevens has a great, powerful voice. What they are seeking is a more youthful spin to the songs.
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0.70 Percent Increase Region 12 Budget
Proposal Presented


	Photo Gallery

	Region 12 Board of Education members heard presentations from six members of the Shepaug High School Senior Class of 2010 on their Senior Projects at the board’s Monday, February 22, meeting; (front, from left) Al Ciarlo, Senior Project coordinator; Nicole Souza, Megan Woodruff, Aimee Reutzel, Emma Cava, SHS Principal Kim Gallo; (back) Samian Roy and Luis Garcia. (McVey-Camilleri photo)

WASHINGTON - "The fiscal year 2011 budget proposal represents a series of difficult decisions made in response to estimated fiscal challenges," Region 12 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bruce Storm told those attending the Monday, February 22, Region 12 budget presentation.

The proposed 2010-11 budget is $20,709,545, an increase of $143,067 or 0.70 percent over the 2009-10 budget of $20,566,478.
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Town Officials Begin Process of Budget-Making
SOUTHBURY - It's budget time and the livin's not easy.

Nevertheless, the process of developing a financial management plan for fiscal 2010-11 is now well underway according to the ritual prescribed in the Town Charter.

Under this system, the process begins in the fall when department heads prepare their budgets for delivery to the first selectman with a due date of December 1.
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Audit of Oxford Tax Collector's Office
Turned Over to Police
OXFORD - It may be quite a while yet before the public is apprised of any details regarding missing cash in the tax collector's office.

First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said last week that she received a report from auditors Michaud and Accavallo of Ansonia over the weekend of February 20 and turned it over to police.
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Remembering His Past as a Refugee,
Local Vet Gives Back




	Dr. Tara Nanavati, a veterinarian with offices in Seymour and Oxford, is collecting items to send to Haiti. So far, he has packaged dozens of boxes, pictured here in his Seymour office, with medical supplies, clothing, toiletries and other items. The collection will continue through the month of March. (Quirke photo)

OXFORD - In Dr. Tara Nanavati's Seymour veterinary office, sealed cardboard boxes are stacked in the waiting room, the hallways, the staircase and other areas.

The boxes, which are filled with toiletries, clothing, medical supplies and other items are bound for Haiti where thousands of people are continuing to contend with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.
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Michaels Will Close Plaza Shop
SOUTHBURY - After 37 years, Michaels Jewelers will close its Southbury Plaza store on Saturday, March 27.

Making the announcement, Southbury resident John Michaels, fourth-generation scion of the family business founded in 1875, said that in addition to the current state of the economy, the decision is the result of the rising price of gold which has increased threefold.

And, "Gold is the backbone of what we do," he said.
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Woodbury Zoners Approve Permit for Flea Market




	An application currently before the Zoning Commission is for a special permit to renovate and expand the former Milestone Motel, located at 146 South Pomperaug Ave. The next Zoning Commission meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at the Annex Conference Room, 297 Main St. South. (Cura photo)

WOODBURY - Gus Kaloidis' application for the permit renewal of a flea market at 40 Sherman Hill Rd. was approved at the Tuesday, February 23 Zoning Commission meeting.

Chairman Martin Overton addressed some of the topics discussed at the last meeting. He said there was concern that a septic system on the property could potentially be in conflict with the parking.
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At Day-Break in Waterebury,
Valentine's Party Brings Smiles




	Those who attended included (from left) Andrea, Maria, JoAnna Aldarondo, Day-Break at Waterbury's director; Mary, Stacy Strassel (in costume), Day-Break's recreation director, and Herminia. (McVey-Camilleri photo)

WATERBURY - The song "YMCA" from the '70s hit group the Village People got everyone's attention at a Valentine's Party Friday, February 19, at Day-Break at Waterbury, Senior Day Care Services, Adult Day Center at 515 Watertown Rd.

Joanna Aldarondo, Director at Day-Break at Waterbury, asked guests to vote on what type of Valentine's Day party they wanted this year.
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