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Volume 16, Number 9
Friday, February 26, 2021
Economic outlook addressed By Lauren Takores Record-Journal staff
The town leaders of Wallingford and North Haven expressed a positive outlook for the economic future of their respective communities during virtual speeches last week. The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual State of the Town event, which is free to chamber members and in the past has taken place at a luncheon. This year’s virtual event took place Thursday, Feb. 18 via Zoom.
North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda speaks during the State of the Town virtual event, held Feb. 18. Photos by Lauren Takores, Record-Journal
North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda and Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. focused their comments on how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the current economic state of their respective towns.
Garrett Sheehan, president of the Quinnipiac and Greater New Haven chambers of commerce.
Still ‘rock solid’ Freda is in his sixth term as North Haven first selectman and made his 12th consecutive State of the Town address. He said that the past 14 months in North Haven have been “a very dramatic story.”
North Haven has remained “rock solid financially,” he said, maintaining a high bond rating status while being battered by the pandemic and a tornado from Tropical Storm Isaias. See State of the Town, A2
Cicarella focused on getting residents ‘back to work’ By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
Paul Cicarella Jr. is settling in to his new role as a state senator.
GSB now has seven full-service banking centers.
There’s a new bank in town With construction now complete, GSB’s newest branch office will officially open in March with an anticipated opening date of March 1, bringing more community banking to North Haven. Located at the intersection of Washington and Blakeslee avenues, this new facility represents not just the expansion into a
new market, but also incorporates new designs and features designed to deliver great experiences through technology, including a customer engagement bar. The customer engagement bar enhances GSB’s customer engagement capabilities through a combination of personal interSee Bank, A3
Rather than raising taxes, the freshman senator believes the state should tighten its financial belt.
“Just like small businesses and households do every day, the state needs to find a way to reduce its spending,” said Cicarella. “Sometimes, to make ends meet, you have to make hard “The last thing we decisions and cut cerneed to do as a state is Cicarella tain expenses. We have to raise taxes,” said Cito find where there’s carella, who represents the 34th District, which is wasteful spending and be creative to reduce costs, but it can comprised of Durham, East Haven, North Haven and Wall- be done if we work hard together.” ingford. “People have bills to pay, they have a budget. When Cicarella opposes tax hikes on you tax the middle class, any any income bracket, and is increase in expenses can drastically change your life.” Sworn into office last month, the Republican’s to-do list includes cutting taxes, supporting small business and bolstering the overall economy.
See Cicarella, A3