Holy Name Mobile Food Pantry

Monday, October 31st from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Please note that there have been changes made to the Holy Name food pantry.
The food pantry will be sponsored by the Connecticut Food Bank, the Stratford Department of Health, and the YMCA.

The Food Bank will now take place on every other Monday, and there is also a time change, it will now be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and they are asking that cars line up on College Street.

You are also asked to bring your own reusable bag. There will be 1 bag per household distributed. Please bring identification if a second household is in the car.

Sports At Sterling House

Sign Up Now For Fall Offerings

Sterling House Community Center

Fall Athletics at Sterling House Community Center

Lacrosse, Hockey, Basketball and More!!!

Sign Up Now

 

Access Health Open Enrollment

State Representative Phil Young (D)
120th Connecticut House District

Renters Rebate – Checks in the Mail!

State Representative Joe Gresko, (D)
121st Connecticut House District

Dear Neighbor,

I’m proud to announce that $224,508 is being distributed this week to Stratford residents who applied for the Connecticut Renters’ Rebate Program. The funding, which was secured through measures passed by the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session, will support 403 applicants from Stratford in maintaining safe, affordable, and independent housing.

Established in 1974, the program provides reimbursement for Connecticut renters who are elderly or have certain disabilities, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits. Rebates can be up to $900 for married couples and $700 for an individual. According to Governor Ned Lamont’s office, the average applicant will receive a rebate of $540 from this recent disbursement.

If a renter missed the designated filing period, they have until November 15, 2022, to submit a request for an extension of time to file to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) with an accompanying doctor’s letter indicating a medical condition that contributed to the renter not applying during the designated filing period.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at the Capitol at 800-842-0363

or email me at Joseph.Gresko@cga.ct.gov.

 

Stratford Housing Debacle

By Dave Mullane

Editor’s Note: On November 7th, 8th and 9th: the Stratford Housing Authority Opens wait list for Senior Housing. The Stratford Housing Authority number is: (203) 375-4483

Let Stratford SHA develop the Ella Grasso complex for local seniors and veterans!

From this month’s SHA (Stratford Housing Authority minutes) “Paul Hoydick reported that the maintenance staff has been busy with inspection work orders and vacant units. He estimated that there may be a total of 65 vacant units this year.”

How can there be 65 vacant units? People are homeless?

Back in 2015 SHA Chairman Malloy brought Paul Hoydick into SHA employment by hiring him has a “construction consultant” and prior to being exposed as fraudulently still serving as SHA chairman in 2017 Malloy made Hoydick the Maintenance Director of Housing how can Hoydick explain there being 65 vacant units in SHA when people need a place to live, and the cold weather is coming now too. WTF?

Now onto the Ella Grasso property. The minutes speak for themselves:

“STRATEGIC PLAN / ITEM #13

Chairman Crudo reported that he spoke to State Representative Gresko about the Ella Grasso property, who expressed to the Chairman that he is also frustrated with the length of time this process is taking. Chairman Crudo was informed that this property is deed restricted for either senior housing or veterans housing.

Commissioner Sonja Devitt asked if we have received an answer to whether or not the Authority will have to compete with private developers if Stratford gets this property.  Chairman Crudo stated that he was told in a previous conversation that it would be a competitive bid process.

Commissioner Devitt stated that several commissioners have been fairly emphatic that they do not want this project railroading ahead with us having to compete with private developers without having a chance to sit down and discuss this with the Mayor. She added that as long as she is on the board, she wants to emphasize that we should be informed if this will definitely be a competitive bid process, and if it is not, we need to request a seat at the table.

Chairman Crudo assured Commissioner Devitt that he will make certain we know ahead of time. Commissioner Beth Daponte asked if we can invite State Representative Gresko to our next board meeting. She believes that one way to avoid the issue of competitive bidding is to ask the state to transfer the deed directly to the Stratford Housing Authority. “This way, we would have a more compelling case than the Town of Stratford, given the state’s emphasis on affordable housing.” Chairman Crudo stated that he will extend the invite to State Representative Gresko. “

 

If Mayor Hoydick really wants to help Stratford Seniors and veterans, she should sit down with SHA and work out a plan instead trying to give the property to a private developer.

The optics of these minutes makes it look like the SHA already has 65 vacant units so there’s no need to give them the Ella Grasso property to help seniors and veterans stay in Stratford.

For complete minutes click here: https://www.stratfordct.gov/…/SHARegMtgMinutes.10242022…

Clean those Closets

Bunnell High School Post-Prom Fund Raiser
Clothing Drive on Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th
9 a.m. to noon
Bunnell High School Parking Lot

The Bunnell High School Post Prom Committee will be conducting a Clothing Drive fund raising event Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th from 9 a.m. to noon in the Bunnell High School Parking Lot.

The Clothing Drive will be accepting clothing, shoes, and home textiles.  A complete list is available.

Letter to the Editor

Affordability For Seniors

Chris Green
Democratic Candidate for State Senate District 21 in Stratford, Shelton, Seymour and Monroe

We must push for affordability- especially for seniors.

Affordability is an issue impacting everyone — especially seniors on fixed incomes. It’s an issue I’m glad to see our Governor and the Democratic leadership in Hartford taking steps to address.

In particular, this year’s budget expedited a plan to exempt most retirees in CT from state income tax on their pensions, social security and annuities with a similar exemption rolling out for 401ks over the next few years. More information can be found here: bit.ly/ctretireetaxcut. The state also has moved to cap the price of insulin and the Inflation Reduction Act will cap out-of-pocket pharmaceutical costs for those on Medicare.

As a Democrat running to be the next State Senator in District 21, which includes most of Stratford, I believe more needs to be done. Specifically, we need to continue to find ways to increase transparency surrounding healthcare price tags, follow through on our efforts to benchmark costs, and continue to push for screening and preventative care as a way to improve health outcomes while decreasing spending. Beyond health care expenses, we also should consider a property tax break for seniors and find ways to increase the supply of senior housing in the area, as the current waiting lists are unacceptably long.

I will fight to protect our seniors while also continuing to push for a path that looks out for all of our families and our future  Not only did this year’s budget include a tax break for our seniors, it also helped families with children and made historic payments on the state’s pension debt.That payment helped all taxpayers by saving us almost half a billion dollars a year moving forward and increasing in our bond rating, which will make continuing to repay the debt more affordable.

My opponent voted against this budget, calling for more tax cuts now funded entirely by more debt for later. This is a gimmick, not a tax cut. He also opposed CT’s new paid family leave program.  Given the crisis of affordability that is pushing so many families to the brink, reasonable safety nets that ensure workers have something to make ends meet in case of injury, illness, or the birth of a child are more important than ever.

I look forward to working hard for seniors and residents of all ages in this district. You can find more information on my campaign at www.cgreen4senate.com.

 

Stratford’s Bruce Murray Featured in A.R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room” 

Production is Square One Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season

comedy of manners featuring actors from Stratford, North Haven, New Haven,
Woodbridge, Milford and Fairfield.

Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company, which has been closed since March 2020, due to the pandemic, will reopen on Thursday, November 3rd with its production of The Dining Room featuring Stratford’s Bruce Murray.

Murray’s Square One Theatre stage credits include White Guy on the Bus and The Winslow Boy. Other theatre credits include: Moonlight and MagnoliasChapter Two, The Odd Couple (Eastbound Theatre) A Few Good Men (Nutmeg Actors Rep Theatre) A Few Good Men, The Man Who Came to Diner, 12 Angry Men, Requiem for a Heavyweight (Center Stage) Threads (Orange Players) West Side Story, Bye, Bye Birdie, The Fantasticks, Fiddler on the Roof (Youth Connection).

A.R. Gurney’s classic comedy, a finalist for the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, takes place in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household. The Dining Room is a remarkable play of days long gone. Some audience members may not even remember the ‘good ol’ days’ when families sat down around a dining room table, talking, reminiscing and getting caught up on family news and events…no cell phones, no television, no internet, no distractions…just conversations around one table in each household.

According to Square One Theatre Artistic Director Tom Holehan, “We’re starting right where we left off two and half years ago when we were closed due to the pandemic. We want all of our subscribers and the general public to see this classic comedy.”

The Dining Room is comprised of a mosaic of interrelated scenes – some funny, some touching, some rueful – but when taken together, the scenes create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants). Overall, it tells a story of the transition into a much more efficient society with less emphasis on tradition and more emphasis on progress.

According to The New York Times “The Dining Room” is “funny and rueful and, by the end, very moving.” The New York Post describes Gurney’s play as “Hilarious and touching…as each comic sketch crazily succeeds another comic sketch a whole pattern of American life emerges.” Variety calls it “A thoughtful and superbly written comedy!”

Audiences and critics agree that “if you have the opportunity, go see six actors play over 30 characters. You’ll be treated to a range of humanity; an exploration of the traumas, joys and tensions of a wide variety of people taking place in ‘a dining room’ that manages to symbolize all of them.”

Directed by Tom Holehan (Stratford), The Dining Room features Bruce Murray (Stratford), Josie Kulp (North Haven), Ryan Hendrickson (New Haven), Lillian Garcia (Woodbridge), Danielle Sultini (Milford) and David Victor (Fairfield).

The first performance and ONLY Thursday performance of The Dining Room is scheduled on November 3rd at 7p.m.  All other performances continue on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, November 20th.

The Dining Room performance schedule:

Thursday, November 3rd at 7p.m. (ONLY)

Friday, November 4th at 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 5th (two performances) at 4 p.m. (twilight matinee) AND 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 6 and 2 p.m.

                                                                                                                       

 

Friday, November 11th  at 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 12th (two performances) at 4 p.m. (twilight matinee AND 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 13th at 2 p.m.

                                                                                                                    

Friday, November 18th at 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 19 (two performances) at 4 p.m. (twilight matinee) AND 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 20th at 2 p.m.

 

Subscribers from 2020 should call the box office to re-schedule their tickets. Lost or misplaced subscription tickets will be checked against theatre data/records and available at the box office when requested.

Single Tickets are:

$22 for each adult single ticket

$20 for each senior citizen & students

$25 for each front row seat (limited availability)

Tickets may be purchased:

By phone: box office at 203.375.8778(24/7)

Online at: squareonetheatre.com

In person: at box office 60 minutes prior to each performance

By mail: self-addressed, stamped envelope & check payable to Square One Theatre sent to Administrative Office; 656 Longbrook Avenue, Stratford, Ct 06614-5117.

 

Stratford Academy is located at 719 Birdseye Street in Stratford, Ample FREE parking is available.

Stratford Academy is wheelchair accessible. Please inform the box office of any special needs when reserving tickets.

For more information, up-to-date news about the theatre, the play and the actors visit squareonetheatre.com

 

Stratford’s Kids Fair Winners Announced

Last Saturday Stratford conducted their Second Annual Kids Fair at Paradise Green.  The fair enabled Stratford kids (our future business people) to display their child entrepreneur “chops”.

Stratford’s Children’s Business Fair Team included Charlie Royster, 7 Years Old, who was not only the Childprenuer Host, but the inspiration for Stratford promoting and hosting the Children’s Business Fair.  Other’s involved in the Fair were: Ivy Royster, Co-host ; Lynnette Lawson, Co-host

For further information on Stratford’s Children’s Business Fair go to:

CTKidsBiz.com, or on Facebook, @StratfordsChildrensBusinessFair

Photos of the winners were by Roger Salls Photography:

Photo #1 – Prize Winners

(Back row left to right)

Shelby of Shelby’s Slime – Best Presentation – Group 10-13 years old

Leo of Earth Prints – Most Business Potential – Group 10-13 years old

(Front left to right:)

Jared of King Playz – Best New Business – General Group

Lucianna of Lucianna’s Drawings & Paintings – winner of the CIA (Charlie’s Inspiration Award)

Ethan of Ethan’s Rocking Art – Best Presentation – Group 6-9 years old

Not photographed: Lucia of Charmful by Lucia – Most Business Potential – Group 6-9 years old

Photo # 2: Group of Childprenuer vendors that took part in the event

Photo # 3: Local Stratford resident Sophia of Sophia’s Crafty Creations, Mayor Hoydick & the Children’s Business Fair Family (Charlie is the one in pink & the reason we started the fair)

 

 

CARES Salutes Veterans

CARES (Citizens Addressing Racial Equity) Meeting

Via Zoom Wednesday, November 2nd
Education Action Team at 6:00 p.m. and CARES at 7:00 p.m.

This month we celebrate our veterans! We thank each and every one of our veterans for their bravery, sacrifice and strength. To you and your family, you do not go unnoticed, and we will always be indebted for all that you have given to the country.

Our guest speakers are Vincent Santilli, CEO/Executive Director, ABRI, Homes for the Brave, and Jeffrey Fletcher, Executive Director, Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum, the history of military men and women of color through an equity lens.

Vincent Santilli is currently the CEO/Executive Director of ABRI/Homes for the Brave, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe housing, vocational services, mental health treatment and life skills coaching to homeless individuals, almost all of whom are Veterans

ABRI/Homes for the Brave’s Bridgeport, CT Programs include a 42 bed men’s transitional house (Homes for the Brave), a 9 bed permanent house (Waldorf Permanent Supportive Housing), the drop-in/walk-in Tony Cinquanta Veterans Service Center, Homes for the Brave Clinical Program, and the Nicholas A. Madaras Home for Female Veterans, Connecticut’s first and only transitional living facility for female veterans experiencing homelessness and their young children (14 beds). In early 2022, ABRI/Homes for the Brave is also opening two houses totaling 14 beds for male Veterans experiencing homelessness (Homes for the Brave-West Haven) in West Haven, CT.

Previously, he held multiple leadership roles in his 30+ years at People’s United Bank, including First Vice President of the Retail and Business Banking Division and Executive Director of the $51 million People’s United Community Foundation.

Active in his community, Santilli is a Founding Member of Senator Chris Murphy’s Veterans Advisory Council, and a member of the Economics and Finance Advisory Committee for Sacred Heart University’s John F. Welch College of Business, after previously serving as Chairman of the Welch College’s Advisory Board. He also serves on the Board of the (Bridgeport) South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone and Bridgeport Re-Entry Collaborative, coaches Special Olympics soccer for SOCT-Fairfield and was the Head Girls Basketball Coach at St. Martin de Porres Academy in New Haven from 2014-2020 before becoming an Assistant Coach on the staff  of the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights Women’s Basketball Team under Head Coach Mike West in 2020.

Santilli is active with the Knights of Columbus and was Connecticut’s Grand Knight of the Year in 1992 and 4th Degree Faithful Navigator of the Year in 1995. He is well-known from his 19 season run as co-host of College Hoops Talk on WICC radio in Bridgeport. In May, 2019, Santilli received the Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Bridgeport Elks Lodge No. 36 and in March, 2020 was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Fairfield.

Santilli holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and public policy from the University of Pennsylvania and also has a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources from Sacred Heart University. He lives in Trumbull with his wife Jeanine and children Joseph, Mara, and Thomas.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87929037875?pwd=bnVPRVEyZGxTODlxUW5pSTVMR0R5dz09

Meeting ID: 879 2903 7875                      Passcode: 519534

Meeting Call in Number: 1-929-205-6099