[Primo_Beans]

My husband would be working in shelton, CT where are some good places to go.? We have 2 kids. We are looking for good libraries, parks, and catholic schools! Where is the best place to look! I like market towns vs. grocery stores. You get the idea. Thanks

[mels]

There are plenty of Catholic Schools around, seems like every town in the area has one or more! Derby, just across the river from Shelton, has a large Italian community and everything from street fairs, to Italian markets and bakeries, to having Italian bands play on the green in the summer.

However, a lot of what is known as "the valley" (Derby, Ansonia, Naugatuck, Shelton) is made up of older industrial buildings. These towns aren't unsafe/crime ridden by any means, but they aren't your typical pretty lush green Connecticut suburbs either. I know they are trying to revitalize the area, so in a few years it may be very desireable to live in the area but when government is involved, it could be a slow process. I know the school systems in Derby and Ansonia don't have the best rep, but if you are opting for private school that won't matter.

Milford is an easy commute with a very walkable downtown but is light on the small markets vs. big grovery chain stores. They have excellent parks and huge public library with a great children's department. Stratford is another option.

[gomet]

Just a thought. Most of us who move to CT. with kids, move here because of the good schools we have. Their are many towns in CT. with good school districts. I believe that once you find a desirable town, you will see that the public schools will be fine for your kids.

If you do a search for rating the towns, Connecticut magazine does an annual ranking of the towns and are grouped by population chunks. They rate them on crime, education, leisure, cost of living and town finance. I find that ranking to be quite good. Check it out for yourself.

Any questions, please let me know.

Good luck to you.

[debct]

I would suggest southington. YOu have a lot of Itailain resturants and italian famlies. THey do have some catholic schools. THey do have several catholic churches. Rocky Hill is anther town witha high italian population. However you may need to go a neighboring town for catholic school. THey do have a catholic church. Both towns have very good schools though.

I re read you post and you mentioned Shetlon. Both places I mentioned would be a long commute. SOrry I could not be more helpfull. Good luck to you.

[mdkkr]

Primo -

I'm Italian and live in Bethel. We have a very nice downtown and privately owned grocery store (Carraluzzi's Market). They are a dying breed these kinds of markets. They don't sell TV's and barbeques like the Big Y's, Stop&Shop, but you can get 99% of what you need there, and me - I don't need to buy a VCR when I'm looking for baccala. And your giving your money to locals - there are no big box anything in downtown Bethel, though we do have a CVS. St.Mary's Church is a very big Catholic church with grammar school attached. A nice group of parishioners, also. We have Varano's bakery, Villarina's Deli, La Zingara's restaurant and a great downtown - arguably one of the best in the state. We have a Metro-North stop down there which gets you to NYC in 1hr 40m mins (approx), or you could drive the 65 miles to Manhattan, or go to Yankee Stadium or the Bronx Zoo with ease. (My house is 47 miles to home plate at Yankee Stadium as the crow flies according to Google Earth).
New Haven is 45 mins.

Southington is more Italian than Bethel and near Waterbury. It's slightly cheaper priced. I've got some friends over there - they have a nice Italian club called UNICO. You gotta have a friend to get in I think. Southington is probably 2hrs 10 mins from both Boston and NY, based on average traffic. That's where the Red Sox country begins, so I wouldn't live there. A lot of nice people over there, too. Probably 40 mins to New Haven. Bethel has a better downtown and better restaurants, but Southington has a great apple festival every year. A nice town also, because they have a golf course - we don't.

Good luck!

[mdkkr]

I forgot to mention - Bethel is a bout a 25-30mintue ride to Shelton. Southington would be about 45-50mins.

PS Regarding Derby - I know I might meet the ire of "Derbians", but I was told by a Derby resident, the disparaging nickname of Derby was "Dirty Derby". No offense, but you don't get nicknames for no reason. It's got some advantages if your husband is working in Shelton, all I'm saying is take a close look before jumping. You might find it OK in Derby. I apologize to all Derbians for saying this, but remember this was told to me by 2 of your residents. Maybe I'm wrong - I'll have to take a ride. I know the town is commited to cleaning up,restoring the broken buildings by the river, and that is a positive thing.

[Hatter58]

I work in Stratford on the Shelton line and I go to many different areas of the state for various reasons. Many of the cities and towns in CT have a fair amoundof Italian influence. You're going to be hard pressed to find an area without Italian businesses. Parochial schools are also near almost every part of the state, more closer to the cities for the most part.

Derby isn't that bad. It's a pretty small town and the downtown was pretty dumpy for a while but it's also going through a revitalization right now.

[fucsia]

se venite ad abitare in connecticut dovete venire a Newtown, se siete italiani qua si sta bene, scuola cattolica, biblioteca x bambini scrivetemi se vi trasferite qui, anche mio marito lavorava a shelton, il commute non e' male. io sono di bergamo e mio marito americano, ciao fucsia

[mdkkr]

Sei corretta Newtown - è un bene per le famiglie italiane.

[momfromct]

Yes, Newtown is good too, I live in Monroe, St. Judes school is here, and Shelton is the next town over.