Local News for Beacon Falls, Connecticut

Beacon Hose Co. No.1: Several neighborhoods here in …

Several neighborhoods here in Beacon Falls have joined the nationwide movement to make some friendly noise outside nightly at 8 p.m. to spread positivity among neighbors — we joined in tonight! Hope y’all are hanging in there. (No, there was not a nuke headed our way.) Read the article on twitter.com READ MORE.

State warns of coronavirus-related scams

By Paul Hughes, Republican-American HARTFORD – State officials are warning consumers about scammers marketing and selling fake at-home testing kits for coronavirus. The Office of Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection reported this week that both are starting to see fake test kits being marketed to the public as ways to test for READ MORE.

State launches loan program for businesses

By Paul Hughes, Republican-American HARTFORD – The Lamont administration is launching a promised emergency loan program to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic. The Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program is offering businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees one-year, interest-free loans of up to $75,000. It is also open to solo practitioners. “What READ MORE.

Students likely not returning to classrooms soon

By Elio Gugliotti and Paul Hughes, Staff The earliest schools will reopen is April 20, but state and local officials are preparing for the possibility that schools will be closed the rest of the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts across the state closed in this month in response to the coronavirus READ MORE.

Beacon Falls officials eye bonding to improve roads, treatment plant

By Andreas Yilma, Staff Writer BEACON FALLS – Town officials are looking to bond $6 million to pay for road repairs and improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. The Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance approved separate resolutions this month to borrow $5 million to pay for road work, including storm water drainage and READ MORE.

COVID-19 cases, deaths surge

By Paul Hughes, Republican-American HARTFORD – The COVID-19 outbreak continued surging Wednesday as nearly 260 more infections and seven more deaths were reported in Connecticut. The running count of laboratory-confirmed cases of 2019 coronavirus disease rose to 875 and the death toll climbed to 19 since the first infection involving a state patient was recorded READ MORE.

Dean’s list

Nazareth College ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Matthew Corona of Naugatuck and Cassandra Dupre, Sarah Dupre and Andrea Gutierrez, all of Prospect, were named to the dean’s list at Nazareth College for the fall 2019 semester. To make the dean’s list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.5 or above. Paul Smith’s College PAUL SMITHS, N.Y. READ MORE.

Mayor announces first confirmed case of coronavirus in borough

By Elio Gugliotti and Paul Hughes, Staff NAUGATUCK – A Naugatuck resident has tested positive for COVID-19 – the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the borough. Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess announced the confirmed case in a message to residents Monday night. Hess, who didn’t provide any information on the resident, said the READ MORE.

Lamont issues stay-at-home order

By Republican-American HARTFORD – Gov. Ned Lamont is ordering all nonessential businesses to close for a month Monday to combat the spread of COVID-19. “Look, this is tough medicine. I think it is the right medicine,” Lamont said. The effected businesses will be closed from 8 p.m. on Monday through April 22 under the sweeping READ MORE.

Beacon Falls resident tests positive for COVID-19

By Elio Gugliotti, Editor BEACON FALLS – A Beacon Falls joined the growing list of towns in the state with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 among its residents. In a letter to the community on Sunday, First Selectman Gerard Smith said the Naugatuck Valley Health District informed him of the confirmed case. He READ MORE.

Unemployment claims skyrocket

By Michael Puffer, Republican-American WATERBURY – Applications for unemployment compensation in Connecticut skyrocketed last week as the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to close and residents to shelter inside their homes. David Lehman, director of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development said claims are running more than 20 times normal volume. “It was 12,000 READ MORE.

Lamont administration plans to roll out loan program for businesses

By Paul Hughes, Republican-American HARTFORD – The Lamont administration is planning to roll out an emergency bridge loan program for Connecticut businesses next week in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Ned Lamont and top officials of the Department of Economic and Community Development outlined the planned recovery loan program in a conference call Thursday READ MORE.

Schools turning to distance learning

By Elio Gugliotti, Editor When students will return to classrooms remains to be seen, and rather than waiting for schools to reopen, educators are bringing the classroom to students. School districts across the state started closing last week due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Naugatuck and Region 16, which is comprised of Beacon Falls and Prospect, READ MORE.

Beacon Falls tax collector resigns, cites rancor with first selectman

Elio Gugliotti, Editor BEACON FALLS – Months after the Board of Selectmen appointed Mary Anne Holloway the town’s first hired tax collector in a divided vote – a move that elicited criticism – she resigned from the position citing what she called a “grudge” held against her by First Selectman Gerard Smith. Holloway, a Democrat, READ MORE.

Officials to decide whether to burn or raze Wolfe Avenue house

Andreas Yilma, Staff Writer BEACON FALLS – Once the home of Tracy Lewis, an industrial leader in the early 20th century, the house at 35 Wolfe Ave. may soon be coming down. The Board of Selectmen is exploring its options when it comes to taking down the home and detached carriage house on the property. READ MORE.

Officials declare states of emergencies, take further precautions

By Andreas Yilma and Elio Gugliotti, Citizen’s News Beacon Falls, Naugatuck and Prospect joined municipalities across the state this week in declaring states of emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The declarations put the towns in position to receive federal and state reimbursements for funds spent related to COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. They also READ MORE.

SEEC investigating complaint on Beacon Falls DTC finance forms

Elio Gugliotti, Editor BEACON FALLS – The State Elections Enforcement Commission has authorized an investigation into a complaint filed by a Beacon Falls resident that raises concerns with reporting on campaign finance forms from the 2019 election filed by the Beacon Falls Democratic Town Committee. Resident Shawn Styfco filed the complaint in January. The matters READ MORE.

Health district confirms case of COVID-19 in Valley

Elio Gugliotti, Editor SEYMOUR – One person in the Naugatuck Valley has tested positive for COVID-19 and health officials presume another resident has, too. The Naugatuck Valley Health District announced in a news release Tuesday that there is at least one laboratory confirmed positive case and a presumed positive case of COVID-19, also known as READ MORE.

Restaurants face weeks with no dine-in service

Martha Shanahan and Paul Hughes, Republican-American NAUGATUCK – In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest dining days of the year, Larry Erickson ordered hundreds of pounds of corned beef. Anticipating that many more than the regular crowd of diners – some of whom come multiple times a week – would be arriving READ MORE.

Schools offering meals while closed

Naugatuck and Region 16 school districts are offering meals to children while schools are closed for at least the next two weeks. School officials in Naugatuck and Region 16, which is comprised of Beacon Falls and Prospect, announced last week that schools will close at least through March 27 in response to the COVID-19 threat. READ MORE.