| Senator
William H. Nickerson (R-Greenwich) announced that he has just
received two awards for legislative achievement, one from
the Connecticut Alliance of YMCA’s and one from the
Stamford Center for the Arts.
Nickerson said,
“I am most honored to receive these two awards. Connecticut’s
25 YMCA’s served more than 300,000 adults and children
in 2003 and do a tremendous job in motivating youth and
building strong families. The Greenwich YMCA in particular
is a vital and vibrant place with exciting plans to serve
Greenwich even better in the future.”
“The
Stamford Center for the Arts has just celebrated the reopening
of the Palace Theater.
This fabulous 1,500 seat venue is the centerpiece for the
performing arts in southern Connecticut. Architecturally
it has been magnificently renovated, artistically it is
a great showcase and socially it
will quickly become the centerpiece for the exciting redevelopment
of downtown Stamford.”
Nickerson
received the YMCA award at a dinner held in the Omni Hotel
in New Haven
where the presentation was made by Lieutenant Governor Jodi
Rell. He received the award for his
co-authorship of Public Act 03-270. This bill overturned
the court decision which ruled that housing operated by
a charitable organization is not entitled to the charitable
exemption from real estate tax if
the organization received rent. If applied to YMCA’s
this decision would have been devastating. The bill protects
YMCA’s and is a strong endorsement of the vital contributions
YMCA’s make to their communities.
Nickerson
received the Stamford Center for the Arts award at a ceremony
in the Palace Theater. The presentation was made by Michael
Cacace, Chairman of the Board, who thanked Senator Nickerson
and his co-recipient, Speaker of the House Moira Lyons,
for their work in insuring that the state provide the capital
contribution and operating funds in order to make possible
the renovation of the Palace Theater. This reflects the
Governor’s commitment to promoting the arts as a means
of strengthening downtown communities. |
