For roughly 10 months, local governments have been conducting the public’s business without actually being in front of the public — at least not physically.

Because of the gathering restrictions birthed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re now in a “Zoomacracy,” a phrase coined by our pals over at The New Haven Independent.

The guests: professor Jodie Gil is an associate professor of journalism, and Dr. Jonathan Wharton teaches political science. Together they wrote  “Open Budgetary Meetings Amid a Pandemic: Assessing Connecticut’s Various Pathways to Public Engagement During COVID-19,” which was recently published in THE JOURNAL OF CIVIC INFORMATION.

State Sen. Jorge Cabrera drops in to talk about what it was like to take the oath of office in Hartford Jan. 6 — only to have his day eclipsed by the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol later in the day.

Cabrera talks about the Lamont administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, what it will take to bridge the partisan divide, and why he and his fellow legislators plan to stop by Ansonia and Derby next week. Press play to watch.

“Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast” is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.

The guests on this episode of “Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,” include:

• Bill Purcell, the president and CEO of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce

• Valerie Knight-DiGangi, a program officer with The Valley Community Foundation

• David Morgan, the president and CEO of Team, Inc.

• David Kennedy, the interim president and COO of The Valley United Way

Please visit ValleyFoundation.org for more information on the fund.

2020 is over, thankfully.

Here's a look back of the stories that received the most page views on ValleyIndy.org last year.

Just press play!

Ansonia Public Schools Superintendent Joseph DiBacco talks about the decision to move schools online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in general about how the district is faring. Brought to you, in part, by ValleyGivesBack.org

Valerie Knight-DiGangi of The Valley Community Foundation returns to 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast' to talk about how groups can apply for the latest round of funding from the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

Groups can apply online at http://www.ValleyFoundation.org

The deadline is 12 p.m. Dec. 2.

With Connecticut in a second COVID-19 wave and cases increasing every day, Dr. Frederick Browne talks with The Valley Indy about what he's seeing at Griffin Hospital, where he is chief medical officer.

Dr. Browne compares the spring months to what he's seeing now, he talks about the "red alert" COVID-19 status in all lower Valley communities, how the virus is spreading locally, and what we can do to guard against it.

Sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.

An update from Ansonia Public Schools. The district is moving online until Jan. 18, 2021.

The Ansonia Board of Education and its administrators talks with their medical consultant about whether to switch to online classes because of a second COVID-19 wave in the State of Connecticut. Recorded on Nov. 11, 2020.