Volume 27, Number 9
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Senator aims to get state ‘back to work’
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“The last thing we need to do as a state is to raise taxes,” said Cicarella, who represents the 34th District, which is comprised of Durham, East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford. “People have bills to pay, they have a budget. When you tax the middle class, any increase in expenses can drastically change your life.” 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 decisions and cut certain expenses. We have to find where there’s wasteful spending
Abrams placed in key post
and be creative to reduce costs, but it can be done if we work hard together.”
By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
Paul Cicarella Jr. is settling in to his new role as a state senator. Sworn into office last month, the Republican’s to-do list includes cutting taxes, supporting small business and bolstering the overall economy.
Friday, February 26, 2021
State Sen. Mary Daugherty Abrams (D-Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (DNew Haven) to serve on the bipartisan ReapporAbrams tionment Committee charged with the responsibility of redrawing Connecticut’s legislative and congressional districts. Abrams joins state Sen. Doug McCrory (DHartford) as one of Looney’s two designees.
Cicarella opposes tax Cicarella hikes on any income bracket, and is against the recently proposed mansion tax, which would impose an annual levy on Connecticut residences worth more than $430,000. “I don’t think it’s a fair assumption to say somebody is wealthy just because they live in a $400,000 home,” said Cicarella. “The family that lives there can be working four jobs just to make ends meet. Do they have to get a tax increase? I know and have met many families in my district that fit that example.” In addition to serving as a state senator, Cicarella is the president and founder of Advanced Investigations, LLC, a private investigations agency with seven ConnectiSee Cicarella, A17
Durham resident Tanner Allen hooked this impressive northern pike at Bantam Lake in Morris. The 9year-old’s catch was 39 inches and weighed in at 17 pounds. Send your winter wonderland photos to news@towntimes.com.
"I am grateful to Sen. Looney for this appointment and eager to serve on this important committee," Abrams said. "Redistricting greatly impacts equity of access in voting and, as we witnessed in 2020, the importance of voting ease and access are integral to our See Abrams, A17
There’s light at the end of high school sports tunnel By Sean Krofssik Record-Journal staff
CHESHIRE — Depending on their sport, many high school athletes received good news following the CIAC Board of Control meeting last week. The CIAC met with representatives from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Gov. Ned Lamont’s office Thursday, Feb. 18 to dis-
cuss how COVID-19 revisions made by the National Federation of State High School Associations may impact interscholastic athletics. The upshot? Restrictions were loosened on some winter sports — indoor track, competitive dance, competitive cheer — and a full season has been set up for spring sports. The CIAC spring season will begin on March 27, with the regular sea-
son running April 10 through May 27, followed by traditional state tournaments from June 1-13. If all that comes to pass, it will mark the full return to state high school sports in Connecticut since the fall of 2019. The CIAC pulled the plug on what remained of the winter tournaments last March as the state shut down in the face of the pandemic. The entire 2020 spring season was canceled and, while an abbreviated 2020 fall
season was played, there were no state tournaments. Ditto for the current winter season. “We should have the opportunity to have a full schedule during the spring season time frame,” CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lungarini said Feb. 18. “That includes league and state tournaments.” See CIAC, A14