At around 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, a car rear-ended an Amity High School bound school bus filled with students at the intersection of Route 34 and Orange Center Road.
A passing driver said an Amity Student was driving the car, this has not been verified.
Police, however did say that it was a minor accident with NO injuries and neither vehicle had to be towed from the scene.
There are only a couple of weeks left to the school year, please drive carefully.
Chief Charlie Gagel, Deputy Chief John Knight, Shanon Grasso and Sean Fogarty get together after the graduation ceremony in Woodbridge.
The Orange Volunteer Fire Department welcomed two new firefighters on Wednesday evening.
The Valley Fire Chiefs Regional Training School Firefighter 1 Class of 2013 graduated during a ceremony at the Woodbridge Volunteer Firehouse.
The 23 new firefighters are going to one of 12 area fire departments from Easton to Wallingford and many cities and towns in between.
The Guest Speaker was Chief Peter Struble of the Wallingford Fire Department.
The class Valedictorian was Matthew Struble who received the highest score on the final exam in the training school’s history —99.75. He joins the Wallingford Fire Department.
Orange Fire Chief Charlie Gagel, Deputy Fire Chief John Knight, Asst. Chief Vaughn Dumas and Firefighter Lisa Kaplan attended the graduation and congratulated their new members, Sean Fogarty and Shanon Grasso, whose husband is a OVFD member.
Congratulations to the Class of 2013 on completing the often grueling months of Firefighter 1 training.
James Vincent, director of training at the Valley Fire Chiefs Regional Training School addresses the students.
The graduates take a seat before the ceremony.
Firefighter Sean Fogarty receives his certificate.
Firefighter Shanon Grasso receives her certificate.
The graduates wait in the stairwell for the ceremony to begin.
Dan Hassenmayer’s lighting created the mood for every act in Sweeney Todd.
Four’s a charm for Lighting Designer Dan Hassenmayer.
The Amity Alum has been doing the lighting for Amity Shows for many years.
For the past four he’s been nominated for his Outstanding Lighting Design work for the Ct High School Musical Theater Awards.
On Sunday, Dan told Orange Live he felt like Leonardo DeCaprio, always nominated, but never a winner. That changed Tuesday night, when he won the CHSMT award for his work on Sweeney Todd.
While most of the Amity theater people involved in the production were at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Dan was at Amity High School getting the lighting ready for this weekend’s Pops Concerts.
Director Rob Kennedy accepted the award for him. Video of that acceptance speech can be found on our Facebook page.
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The Town of Orange will be hosting the first summer concert of 2013 featuring Boogie Chillun tonight, Wednesday, June 5 at the Orange Fairgrounds at 7 p.m.
The Band plays funk, jazzy numbers, soul, and a bit of the classics. Always a crowd pleaser, Boogie Chillun will have you groovin’ in your seat or dancing in the grass in no time.
Grab a friend, pack up the kids and come on out to the Orange Fairgrounds tonight for a great show.
Amity Regional High School won Best Musical in CT at the June 4 CT High School Musical Theater Awards.
A lot of hard work goes a long way, no one knows that better than Rob and Andrea Kennedy. Even when a “journalist” penned a fabricated story that made national headlines, and tarnished the high school musical for some potential theater goers, the directors did not blink an eye and went on with business as usual, creating yet another award-winning production for Amity High School.
And award-winning it was, Amity High School’s Spring Musical Sweeney Todd was nominated for a total of 15 Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards (CHSMTA) and in spite of the negativity some individuals threw at it, the theater appreciating public and professional adjudicators loved it.
At Tuesday night’s Awards Gala at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, many high school students blew the audience away with their energy and talent onstage. All performed with the benefit of wearing their costumes during their numbers so the packed house could fully appreciate their productions. Whereas Amity’s cast took the stage in tuxedos and gowns and performed “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. And in her solo performance, Best Actress Nominee Alida Ballou totally sold “Worst Pies In London” even wearing a white goddess gown.
In the end, it was Amity’s night. It wasn’t a sweep, but with 7 awards, Amity was the big winner of the night.
Two Amity grads, John Jorge – Best Actor 2010 and Alli Kramer – Best Actress 2012, not only performed, but presented awards as well.
One of the best moments for the Amity crowd was when Alli Kramer announced the name of the Best Supporting Actor … “and the winner is Peter Charney, Amity High School!” Charney, a senior, played Toby in Sweeney Todd. He’s been performing since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. This was his last opportunity to participate in the CHSMTA.
Two other Amity students, Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) and Nicole Simon (Beggar Woman) were chosen to sing in a chorus with 18 other students from participating high schools in a tribute to the Newtown victims, performing “Seasons of Love.”
Some great moments of the evening were when four time nominated Lighting Designer Dan ["I feel like Leonardo DeCaprio"] Hassenmayer finally won. Rob Kennedy accepted the award on his behalf, explaining that Dan was at the high school setting up lights for this weekend’s Pops Concert.
The Kennedys accepted the Outstanding Director’s award together.
And rounding out the evening, after the best actor and actress winners were announced, it was time for the top prize, “Outstanding High School Musical.” The theater erupted in deafening screams when “Amity Regional High School, Sweeney Todd,” was announced.
The entire Amity entourage took the stage and student Ted McNulty (Pirelli) and Sarah DeFeo (Dream Lucy Barker) made the acceptance speech.
So, to the critics and haters … what can I say? The people who know a thing or two about theater have spoken. Congratulations Amity. And congratulations to ALL the winners at this year’s gala.
Below is a list of all the nominees with the winners denoted in Red.
OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Lydia Pensa
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Kadie Tolderlund
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5 Daniel Koye, Alison Wadsworth
OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Julie Chevan
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Ann Brown
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Jeannine Carr & Molly Cook
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Mary Joan Wright, Merial Cornell, Jeanette Davidson
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Tina Stoddard
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Dan Hassenmayer
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Eric Shutz, Dick Shutz, Nick Santanielle
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Aaron Spivey
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Rich Parsons
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Doug Harry
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Joe Vitti
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Robert Kennedy
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Tom Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Joe Loya & Mary Raymond
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Don Murphy
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Robert & Andrea Kennedy
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Jane Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Mary Raymond
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Joyce Flanagan
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Jessica Spillane
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Ingrid Walsh
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Jane Matson
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Matthew Farina
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Amy Borysewicz
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Frank & Abigail Root
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Emily Frangipane
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Peter Randazzo
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Joyce Flanagan
Trinity Catholic High School – LES MISERABLES Christopher Rich
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Jerold Goldstein
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Ryan Driscoll & Laura Traver
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS John Mobillo
OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Darien High School – GUYS & DOLLS
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Alida Baliou – MRS. LOVETT
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Deanna Lasco – VANESSA
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5 Jonelle Sedgwick- VIOLET NEWSTEAD
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Tara Mazur – EPONINE
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Allie Short – COSETTE
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Jillian Caillouette – JO MARCH
Trinity Catholic High School – LES MISERABLES Julia Capogrossi – EPONINE
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Taylor Vargas – J. PIERPONT FINCH
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Michael Hudak – UNSAVI
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Sam Gravitte – JEAN VALJEAN
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU Matt Johnson – BOBBY CHILD
Westhill High School – CHICAGO Richard Westfahl – BILLY FLYNN
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Shaylen Harger – JOHANNA
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK Emily Young – DARLENE LOVE
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Elizabeth D’Aiuto – MMD. THERNARDIER
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Jean Kenney – MARMEE
Simsbury High School – ANNIE Kerrie Maguire – MISS HANNIGAN
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Alex Cahr – MISS ADELAIDE
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Grace Carver – MEG BROCKIE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Peter Charney – TOBY
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS – Benny Nick Gerbo – BENNY
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL Jared Smith – FRANKLIN M. HART JR.
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Sam Strizver – NATHAN DETROIT
OUTSTANDING CHORUS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Regional Center for the Arts – 9 TO 5
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Suffield Academy – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (?) will double check
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS
OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER
East Lyme High School – LEADER OF THE PACK Mary Scheyder – ANNIE GOLDEN
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES Kent Coleman – ENJOIRAS
Stamford High School – GUYS & DOLLS Bennett Leads – NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Seamus McGinley – HARRY BEATON
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE GROUP
Simsbury High School – ANNIE The Orphans
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS The Secretaries
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU – Follies Girls Beth Murphy, Marisa Noschese, Carley Berlin, Ava Gallo, Katherine Griffin, Kayla Murry, Rakshana Selvarajan, Ya’Monei Teel
Westhill High School – CHICAGO – Cellblock Tango Women Erica Casinelli, Jessica Freedman, Madeline Bria, Zoe DePresta, Lauren Wilson
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
St. Paul’s Catholic High School – LITTLE WOMEN
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY
Immaculate High School – IN THE HEIGHTS Gail Archer, Sue Guidera, Donna Lasco, Mary Stocks
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD Cheri Charney & Tom Lawler
St. Paul’s Catholic – LITTLE WOMEN Mark Mazzarella
New Britain High School – AIDA
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON Tina Stoddard
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
(5 awards presented out of 16 nominees and 8 finalists)
Trumbull High School – CRAZY FOR YOU
Greg St. Germain – Student Lighting Design
Waterbury Arts Magnet School – IN THE HEIGHTS
Claire Gaudette – PSM
Ridgefield High School – LES MISERABLES
Catherine Heller – Scenic Artist
Valley Regional High School – BRIGADOON
Benedict Stephens – Student Percussion
Newtown High School – HOW TO SUCCEED
Sean Watkins – Stage Manager
ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS EDUCATION AWARDS
Plainfield High School – WILLY WONKA
Brian Stevenson & Kevin Marino
OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN
Westhill High School — CHICAGO.
The 4th President’s Award
Cary Dupont — St. Paul’s Catholic HS
The ballots are in, the judges have deliberated and Amity High School is up for 14 categories in the 2013 Ct High School Musical Awards, (The Most Nominations of All Participating Schools) including Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor, Director, Orchestra and more.
I would Love to see Alida Ballou go to New York City for the National High School Musical Awards. And best of luck to Peter Charney, you’re a senior so you just have to win!
Congratulations to all the nominees. You all deserve to win!
The CT High School Musical Awards take place tonight, Tuesday, June 4 in Waterbury.
OUTSTANDING HAIR & MAKE UP ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Julie Chevan
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Dan Hassenmayer
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Robert Kennedy
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Robert & Andrea Kennedy
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Peter Randazzo
OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRA
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Alida Baliou – MRS. LOVETT
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Shaylen Harger – JOHANNA
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Peter Charney – TOBY
OUTSTANDING CHORUS
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
OUTSTANDING LOBBY DISPLAY
Amity Regional High School – SWEENEY TODD
Cheri Charney & Tom Lawler
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
For the visuals that we saw on the background screens during the show.
Alida Ballou has a great chance of winning the Best Actress Award this year.
Shaylen Harger nominated for her portrayal of Johannah
Alida Ballou has a chance of going to the Nationals if she wins the state competition.
Costume design was nominated
Peter Charney, Nominated for his role as Toby
Lighting design and directors nominated
The chorus, orchestra and musical director all nominated
Stock photo by Terri Miles
By PHIL BRODSKY
Orange Live Sports Writer
Consecutive 2-out first inning singles by Mike Kochiss, Charles Mader, and Andy Salveson staked Fairfield Ludlowe to a quick 1-0 lead over Amity in Friday’s CIAC Class LL second round state tournament contest at Janenda Field in Woodbridge. After the Spartans finally retired the Falcons in the top of the first, they came to bat and Ludlowe’s early lead lasted exactly 1 out and 4 batters.
Keith Klebart swatted Pat Gutierrez’s first pitch past third base and down the left field line for a single. Jake Russo followed with a base hit up the middle. One out later, Mike Concato’s singled loaded the bases. Sebastian DeMauro’s fly ball to center field drove home Klebart and erased the Falcon lead. Justin Ashworth followed by ripping a 2-run double into the left center field gap to stake Spartan senior right-hander Sam Nepiarsky to a 3-1 lead.
Scoring in every inning except the sixth, Amity (now 18-4) went on to crush Ludlowe 10-1 and advance to today’s quarter-finals contest at 3rd seeded Greenwich, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Even though Nepiarsky (now 8-0) was scuffed up for 3 hits and a run in the top of the first inning, Amity Coach Sal Coppola insisted that he was not concerned.
He said, “I’ll take the first inning and the 3-1 lead. I made a couple of bone-headed pitch calls that hurt us. I called for 2 change-ups. Looking back, I should not have done that. Starting in the second inning, I had Sam throw mostly fast balls. He had tremendous location today. He kept his pitches in on the hands of the Ludlowe batters, which caused them to keep hitting short pop-ups.”
Gutierrez lasted only 4 batters into the second inning. After picking up 2 quick outs, Gutierrez served up back-to-back base hits to Klebart and Russo and was replaced by Peter Cross. He fared no better as Anthony Capiezzelo and Concato greeted him with consecutive RBI base hits that extended Amity’s lead to 5-1.
Ludlowe’s last hope to battle back came in the top of the third inning. Tom Howell led off with a base hit and raced around to third on Victor D’Asienzo’s single. When Howell swiped second base, the Falcons had 2 runners in scoring position with no one out. Falcon dreams of a big come-back inning quickly evaporated as Nepiarsky found Howell wandering too far down the third base line and picked him off. He then retired the next 2 Ludlowe batters, leaving D’Asienzo stranded at second base.
Cross dug the Falcons into a deeper hole in the bottom of the same inning as he handed out free passes to Chris Cimino and Josh Sabatinsky. At that point, Ludlowe Coach Keith O‘Rourke yanked Cross and brought Steve Zadravic out of the bull pen. After Chris Katz walked, Klebart banged his third hit of the game. His 2-run single past third base drove in Cimino and Sabatinsky to make it 7-1. In the fourth inning, Amity added 2 more scores on run-scoring doubles by Katz and Ashworth.
The winners rang up their final tally in the bottom of the fifth when Russo and Capiezzelo again stroked base hits. Zadravic uncorked a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position and Sebastian DeMauro’s sacrifice fly enabled Russo to trot home.
“Our guys really came to hit today and their bats were smoking,” Coppola said. “Even out outs were well hit. On top of that we played great defense too.”
Led by Klebart and Russo, who had 3 singles apiece, the Spartans recorded 13 hits. Klebart also scored twice, stole a base, and drove in 2 runs. Russo added three runs and an RBI. Capiezzelo chipped in with a pair of singles and an RBI. Concato posted 2 base hits, an RBI, and also scored a run. DeMauro had a base hit, a run, and 2 RBI. Ashworth hammed a pair of 2-baggers and drove in 3 runs. Sabatinsky singled and scored twice.
In recording his eighth consecutive win, the UConn-bound Nepiarsky allowed the 1 first inning tally and served up 5 hits (3 in the first inning). He also walked 1 Falcon, struck out 1, and hit a batter.
The 11th ranked Falcons ended their season with a 15-9 record.
Note: Brodsky filed this story on Saturday. The Spartans went on to win another game on Saturday, further advancing in the tournament. Mike Concato pitched a no-hitter in that game.
Now on the market
Wondering what homes are on the market in Orange, CT?
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This wonderful home in a quiet neighborhood, close to the Boston Post Road is priced at $389,900. Your taxes would be $6,060.
Call 1-888-720-4932 to make an appointment to see this gem.
Some of Emily Prudden’s watercolors now on display at the Academy Building in Orange.
Orange Historical Society President Ginny Reinhard is passionate about Orange history and always looking for ways to share different aspects about the town’s past with residents, and especially children.
So when she opened a box of items donated by Orange resident Susan Chernock from her mother’s estate, Reinhard was thrilled to find a signed print of forget-me-nots by one of the town’s most colorful residents — Emily Prudden.
Reinhard scanned the print and sent it to Pfeiffer University, a school that Prudden had founded. Reinhard said the university confirmed that the print was part of Prudden’s sketchbook.
Emily Prudden
Emily Prudden, 1832-1917, did not have an easy life. As a teenager, she lost her hearing before her 18th birthday, and after her sister’s untimely death, Emily raised her children in town.
When she was 50, Prudden moved down south to North Carolina, living on the trust fund her father, a minister, had set up for her.
Prudden opened several schools, many of them exclusively for black girls. Reinhard said, “She would run the schools for a few years and then deeded them to the American Missionary Association.”
Prudden enjoyed watercolor painting, and her lifelike flowers including roses, iris, dianthus, tulips, pansies and more now adorn the walls of the Academy Museum across from the town green.
Once she was aware of the local connection between the watercolors and the town, Chernock donated 19 additional Emily Prudden prints to the Orange Historical Society.
On Sunday, June 2, Reinhard proudly shared the artist’s story and showed off the framed collection with visitors. 96 years after her death, Emily Prudden’s work is in the public eye where it can be appreciated. Reprints of her botanical prints are available for sale at the Academy Building.
The Academy is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking and admission are free.
96 years after her death, Emily Prudden's watercolors are on display for all to see.
Emily Prudden's watercolors at home in Orange.
Emily's iris watercolor
Ginny Reinhard shows off a storyboard of displaying photos of the schools Emily Prudden founded down south.
Emily Prudden
The schools Emily founded in North Carolina.
Deputy House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-114) discusses the 10% spending increase in the state budget on Sunday morning prior to the 5:15am House vote.
A press release from Hartford:
State Rep. Themis Klarides (R-114) early Sunday voted against a two-year Democrat budget that relies on circumventing the state Constitution, shoddy revenue tricks and hundreds of millions in new debt to accommodate a nearly 10% spending increase, while imposing a 16% gas tax hike and devastating hospital cuts.
In order to skirt the Constitutional Spending Cap – which was designed as a tool to slow future spending and assuage public anger over the enactment of the state income tax in 1991 – the Democrats created an astonishing $6.3 billion exemption for federal Medicaid funding.
“This budget – if you have the nerve to call it that – is dishonest, incoherent. It tells a story of misplaced priorities, out of control spending, and an alarming desecration of the spending cap,” Klarides said. “It demonstrates the Democrats’ typical politician mindset of ‘Well if I don’t want to follow the rules, I’ll just change them’.”
“The spending cap is a rule the Democrats themselves created; they perpetually make their own rules and then break them – that’s how dysfunctional one party control has made our state.”
The budget also relies heavily on desperate revenue grabs, including the launch of a new lottery game called keno, $750 million in borrowing for cash flow, and the delay of nearly $400 million of scheduled debt payments that will cost tens of millions in interest.
“Budgeting is tough, but there’s a difference between making tough choices and making poor choices,” Klarides said. “These quick-fixes and temporary band-aids will only kick the can down the road, setting us up, as the last budget did, for another fiscal crisis in two years. We must address the large-scale structural shortfalls, and stop living from crisis to crisis”.
The package also cuts $10 million in municipal aid, shorts hospitals a half billion dollars and dumps multiple pots of specialized funding into general fund coffers.
Desperate for the numbers to add up, Democrats swept the following specialized funds:
• This year’s entire $220 million projected surplus
• $100 million in transportation-related money
• $25 million from the banking fund
• $15.5 million from the tobacco and health trust fund
The budget also extends a 20% corporate surcharge tax that businesses were told would expire, a move, which Klarides says, perpetuates our unstable business climate, prevents job creators from hiring and discourages businesses from coming to Connecticut.
Klarides, a member of the Appropriations Committee, also added it was an underhanded strategy by House Democrats – who left Republicans out of budget negotiations – to call debate on the budget at midnight, after the press went home and as people slept.
The bill passed on a party line vote of 95-48 at 5:15am. The 2013 session adjourns June 5.
Rep. Klarides represents the 114th District communities of Woodbridge, Orange and Derby
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