Press play to listen to the latest episode of 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast.'

Are you like me, freaking out over the prospect of 'teaching' your kids this week as schools across the state implement 'distance learning' programs?

Did you dig an old computer out of a closet? Have you figured out how to get to Google Classroom?

Have you thought about how you're going to put in eight hours at your day job while your kids attend school near the dirty laundry basket in the dining room in the middle of a global pandemic?

Well, take some comfort from the Derby Board of Education.

Some of them had the same concerns, and they expressed those concerns during a meeting last week.

It was stuff I  needed to hear.

Press play.

Sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org

From the Thursday, March 12 press conference at the Emergency Operations Center in Hartford, CT.

This is an EDITED audio recording. The full press conference is available from CT-N (Connecticut's government channel).

Highlights include remarks from Gov. Ned Lamont, Dr. Matthew Cartter, the state’s epidemiologist, and state Education Commissioner Miguel A. Cardona.

On Feb 18 the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission approved the construction of 203 market-rate apartments in the Derby Downtown Redevelopment.

Click play to listen to comments from public officials made at the meeting regarding the project. Please not the audio from the meeting is low, so either use headphones or get ready to straddle the volume button.

The Derby Redevelopment Zone is mostly vacant land on the south side on Main Street between Main Street and the Housatonic River. The zone stretches roughly from the Derby-Shelton Bridge to the former Lifetouch building near the southbound entrance ramp to Route 8.

The Feb. 18 decision marks the first time since The Valley Indy launched in 2009 that something actually happened in the redevelopment zone, other than the demolition of buildings.

This podcast is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.

Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller returns to the podcast to talk about garbage collection and bond ratings before a surprise guest calls in to promote KONGFRONTATIONS, a double feature March 7 at The Strand Theater on Main Street.

Miller proceeds to spill the beans on a potential -- and the key word is potential -- major development in the idea phase behind Stop & Shop in Seymour.

Sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org! Music courtesy of The Bad Slugs.

A group of eighth graders sneaked into the Derby Community Center after hours Feb. 7.

Click play to learn about what they did once inside.

Also, the future of Factory Street in the Derby downtown redevelopment zone could change after a meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 18) in Derby City Hall.

The episode concludes with audio clips from the Feb. 13 meeting of the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, where there was some disagreement over the appointment of a city Democrat to a charter revision commission.

Music by The Bad Slugs. The podcast is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.

Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan and his chief of staff Andrew Baklik answer about 20 questions posed from Valley Indy readers.

Topics include downtown redevelopment, the Route 34 widening project, taxes, crime, a lawsuit and much more.

Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller returns for his first "Navel Gazing" podcast of 2020.

Miller answers questions posted publicly by Valley Indy readers. Topics include Tri-Town Plaza, the quest for a community center, and road repairs.

Click play to listen, and please visit our sponsor, ValleyGivesBack.org.

Chris Bowen, an elected member of the Seymour Board of Selectmen, joins reporter Eugene Driscoll to comment on the comments generated by stories The Valley Indy posted to Facebook.

Among the Facebook posts discussed:

Ansonia Alderwoman suggests the city use gender-neutral titles for local legislators; an Oxford brewery pays up after a state trooper crashes, and; Driscoll doesn't like aggressive door-to-door salesmen. 

The nominations for the 2019 Academy Awards are scheduled to be announced Monday, Jan. 13. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9.

Every year film critic and former Connecticut Post writer Joe Meyers hosts a series of “Oscar Night” discussions leading up to Oscar night.

This year he'll host the forums at libraries in Derby, Shelton, and Trumbull.

Click play to listen to The Valley Indy's interview with Joe.

In this mini-episode of 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,' readers react to an op-ed in CT News Junkie written by Jonathan L. Wharton, an associate professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Wharton suggests that Hartford and Washington, D.C. could take lessons from the Valley about political matters.

Read the op-ed here:

https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20191211_op-ed_is_naugatuck_valley_secretly_unity_valley/

This podcast is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.