News

Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame

Credit: State of CT Department of Veterans Affairs

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the 21st class of honorees were inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. One of the inductees was Southbury’s own U. S. Army Veteran 101st Airborne Division Ken Korsu. The ceremony was held in the Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium at the CT Department of Veterans. For those of us who are unfamiliar with Ken, he is a highly decorated soldier, having been awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor and a Purple Heart among others during the Vietnam War. His continued service to fellow veterans includes being the Commander of the George Newton VFW Post 1607. He and his wife Mary have been active in our community for a number of years. We are honored for not only Ken’s service to our country but also the impact he and Mary have had in our community annually. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor. Thank you for your service and leadership.

More photos from the ceremony is at the State of CT Department of Veterans Affairs' Facebook page.

Southbury Police Department's First Anniversary

The Southbury Police Department celebrated its first anniversary as an Independent Police Department on January 27th. Our officers have accomplished a great deal in their first year as exemplified by achieving the Tier II Accreditation. Our Independent Police Force is an admirable example on law enforcement, building community relations and community trust. One recent example can be found on the Police Facebook page. They went above and beyond the call of duty by coordinating a memorable time for a local family whose son is being treated for cancer. Please take the time to view the post it shows how much our officers care for our citizens.

Upgrade to Southbury Dispatch Center

The Police Department has also rolled a new software program called Viper 7, which is a 911 call-taking software program used in dispatch centers to manage emergency calls, which connects directly to emergency responders.

Public Act 490

Last October the state of Connecticut did revaluation of farm land. The initial land assessment values would have increased local farmers' taxes some 200-300%. On January 15th I met with three Southbury farmers concerned about the proposed increases. The meeting was productive and I assured them at the time our local government would be supportive in reducing the proposed increases. Fortunately, Governor Lamont reconsidered the impact these increases would have had on farming and reinstituted the 2020 land values. There are on-going efforts to cap future increases and provide more representation for farmers in the valuation process. Having worked on the Southbury Training School farm in my youth I understand the importance farming and will continue to support our local farms in the future. It’s a difficult but important livelihood that doesn’t get the support deserved.

Coffee with the First Selectman

Coffee with the First Selectman was held on January 27th at the Senior Center. It was a great opportunity to connect with Senior Center members and listen to everyone who attended. Great engaging conversation and questions. The next Senior Center Coffee with the First Selectman is scheduled for February 17th - seating is limited and registrations are required.

Grant for a New 12 Passenger Bus

Southbury was awarded a 5310 Grant for a new 12 Passenger Bus. Senior Services Director Andrea Corcoran attended a CT DOT meeting regarding transfer of the bus on January 21st. This new bus will be a valuable addition for our seniors to help with transportation reliability.

Gyre9

I was invited to tour the Gyre9 facility here in Southbury. The company is located on Main Street South. They fabricate numerous items for prototypes and produce EV Car Chargers. We are gathering additional information and estimates for possibly installing EV chargers at town buildings. It was a pleasure to meet with the owners and staff; more to come.