June 2019 Our Town Center As we head into the summer months there are several pro- ject updates I would like to share with you. First, you may have noticed as you drive through our Town Center area that the Town Green entrance (diagonally across Meetinghouse Lane from Town Hall) has seen some recent enhancements. Arden’s Garden, a public-private partnership, has now been completed with the addition of four handsome park benches and new plantings to supplement the shrubs and trees that established the garden this past autumn. These four benches represent the first dedicated benches laid out in the Town Center Beautification Plan. If you’d like to also donate a bench with a dedication plaque, we have identified locations not only in the Town Center but also at our various ball fields, Pease Place Playground, and the Fitz- gerald Fitness Tract. To learn more, or place an order by fill- ing out an online form, please visit the Town website (or ac- cess the form directly at: bit.ly/2YKVTun). As you may recall, the Beautification Plan is designed to make the Town Center Campus a place that invites residents to linger and interact in our community. The Town Center Tree Donations for the Center and Fitzgerald Tract Campus is the center of official Town business and its ap- The Beautification Plan also calls for replacing three trees pearance is a reflection of our pride and values as a Town. that were removed from the Green. Two replacement trees Arden’s Garden is already making a positive impact on peo- have been purchased and will soon be planted with memorial ple as they visit Town Center – my thanks again to the family plaques. A third location is available for tree donation on the and friends of Arden Clark Gordon for making this garden a Green and another is available in front of the Library. reality. Decorative flowering trees will also be planted on Center Road at the Fitzgerald Tract where trees were recently re- Events in the Town Center Saturday, June 1st moved during United Illuminating’s vegetation management I hope you will join with your neighbors on Saturday, program. New trees have been selected to increase the natural June 1st as we celebrate Rid Litter Day in front of the Library, beauty of the area and for their short stature so that they will as well as the Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale, the remain clear of the wires in the future. If you’re interested in Garden Club’s plant sale and the Dog Park Cooperative’s first purchasing any of these trees, please use the form available at Mutt Strutt – all taking place that day on the Town Center the Town website (or access the form directly at: Campus. Please stop by and say hello! bit.ly/2VObkA2). - First Selectman Beth Heller Mark Your Calendars! June 1: Rid Litter Day, Garden Club’s annual Plant Sale, Friends of Library annual Book Sale and the Dog Park Cooperative’s first Mutt Strutt for canines and humans. Check the Town’s online calendar for time details for each event: woodbridgect.org/calendar.aspx. June is Dog License Renewal Month. Reminders will be mailed to licensed dog owners. Contact the Town Clerk’s Office with questions, 203-389-3424. Woodbridge taxes are due July 1 through August 1. Please expect Tax Bills by the beginning of July. For details, please see the Notice from the Tax Office on page 2 or call the Tax Office with questions, 203-389-3425 PAGE 2 Town News Notice from the Tax Office Woodbridge taxpayers are Friday (closed July 4). For your reminded that real estate, motor convenience, the office will be vehicle and personal property open Saturday, July 27, 9 am - taxes are due July 1, 2019. noon and Thursday, August 1, Real estate and personal proper- 8:30 am - 7 pm. If making pay- ty taxes over $100 are due in two ment in person, bring your entire installments. The first installment bill so it may be stamped as your is due July 1, 2019 and becomes receipt. For mail payments, en- delinquent August 2, 2019. The close your check, the entire bill second installment is due and a self-addressed stamped en- January 1, 2020 and becomes velope for a return receipt. Credit delinquent February 4, 2020. card payments may now be made Taxes $100 or less and all motor online (only) through the Town vehicle taxes are due and payable website at WoodbridgeCT.org. in one single installment on There is a fee charged for this July 1, 2019 and becomes delin- service. Please read the online quent August 2, 2019. For delin- information carefully. quent payment, interest will be Failure to receive a bill does not charged on the unpaid installment exempt you from payment of tax balance at the rate of 1.5 % per or penalty, per Conn. Gen. Stat. month from the due date. The 12-130, 12-146. minimum interest charge is $2. Please call Woodbridge Tax The Tax Office is open 8:30 am Collector Pat Crisco with any - 4:30 pm, Monday through questions at 203-389-3425. Paolo Ristorante Opens Paolo and Elena Iannaconne Paolo says that he learned to opened cook Paolo from Ristorante, Elena at 208 who Amity learned Road, in to cook early May. from The cou- her fa- ple spent ther. the last 11 “He years doesn’t working at work in his aunt’s a res- restaurant, First Selectman Beth Heller at the ribbon cutting for taurant Bin 100 in Paolo Ristorante in early May. but he’s Milford. the best “Opening a restaurant has been chef I know,” says Paolo. She his dream forever,” Elena says of plans to run the front of the house Paolo. “Being Italian and having but will also be involved in the lived in Italy for so long food is a kitchen. passion and a lifestyle for me,” “If we can match at the restau- he adds. rant the quality of food that we Paolo was born in Connecticut produce at home, I’ll be very but his family moved back to happy,” Paolo says. Italy when he was 5 years old Visit PaoloRistorante.com for and he spent the next 25 years in menu and hours. Naples. He met Elena there and For more business news, visit they moved to Connecticut short- WoodbridgeCT.org and click on ly after having their first child. “Business.” Library News PAGE 3 Library hours are Mon. through Thu.,10 am - 8 pm and Fri. & Sat., 10 am - 5 pm. Visit the library website 24/7 to access digital resources - woodbridgetownlibrary.org Summer hours begin Monday, July 1. June 29 will be the last Saturday the Library is open until September. New England Legends Transgender 101 with Jeff Belanger with Jillian Celentano What does transgender her victories and hardships as mean? How do I help some- well as her coming out pro- one in my life who is transi- cess, transition process (G- tioning? What does “preferred rated), and acceptance pro- pronouns” mean and which cess. Learn terms and defini- ones do I use? How can I be tions as well as right and inclusive in my workplace, wrong questions to ask other neighborhood, or organiza- transgender people. Jillian tion? Get the answers to these presents her information in an questions and open and honest more on setting; all are June 17 at 7 pm welcome to attend For over 20 years, Jeff sons behind the legends. as the Library and ask questions. Belanger has been exploring Jeff is a New England na- celebrates The event is the unexplained. He seeks tive, author, adventurer, and LGBTQ Pride geared to be safe out history, folklore, ghosts, one of the most visible and Month with and judgement- monsters, and legends all prolific explorers of the un- an informal, free. over the world and in back- known out there today. comfortable In addition yards. Come enjoy New Since 1997, the journalist presentation to her public England Legends on Tues- has interviewed thousands with Jillian speaking work, day, June 11, at 7 pm which of eyewitnesses to unusual Celentano on Jillian is a Gay- offers a tour of haunts, mon- occurrences. He is the au- what it means to be Straight Alliance instructor at sters, aliens, and weird his- thor of more than a dozen transgender. a New Haven high school, has tory from around New Eng- books on the paranormal, Jillian is a 58 year old organized a transgender youth land. Based on Jeff’s popu- including four best sellers. transgender woman who tran- support group and is a mem- lar weekly podcast and his Additionally, Jeff has writ- sitioned three years ago. As an ber of Stonewall Speakers. television series on PBS and ten for newspapers like The advocate for the transgender She has returned to college to Amazon Prime, the program Boston Globe and is the community, she speaks obtain her Master's degree in presents highlights from his series writer and researcher throughout the Northeast at psychology to become a coun- own adventures, his work, for Ghost Adventures on the venues including conferences, selor for primarily trans youth plus a look at the investiga- Travel Channel. medical centers/hospitals and and adults. She is currently tion process. Jeff’s presenta- Register online or at the libraries. Learn from Jillian’s interning at the Yale Gender tion will delve into the rea- Library. Space is limited. personal journey, including Program in New Haven.