Gary Turco

The State Bond Commission will be meeting Tuesday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m. Among the items on the agenda to approve is $500,000 for the New Britain Avenue Business District improvement project.

On Thursday, September 24 at 9 a.m., the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs will kick off the two-day 2020 Veterans Stand Down at the DVA Rocky Hill Campus. The ceremony will be broadcast on social media and will be followed by informational sessions and webinars on programs and services available to veterans.

Beginning next week, 250,000 unemployed workers in Connecticut will be eligible to receive another $300 a week as part of the federal disaster aid program.

Existing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants have already self-certified and do not need to do anything to receive the additional benefit.

While the primary focus of Connecticut families for the past several months has been on health and safety, food insecurity has also been a major concern that cannot be ignored. With many still unemployed due to the pandemic, Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have played a major role in keeping many Connecticut households from going hungry.

In just under two months, we will be casting our ballots in the 2020 general elections, however, due to COVID-19, voting will look different from past years. In July, the Governor signed legislation passed during a special session of the legislature to expand absentee voting so no one has to choose between their health and their fundamental right to vote.

If you were unable to comment on Eversource Energy's recent rate increases and other related issues, you will have another opportunity September 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.when the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) conducts a public comment hearing. 

A resource that offers potential relief to your energy bills is weatherizing your home, and now is the perfect time to check-in on how efficient your homes are to hopefully lower your energy costs.

The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has been life-changing, impacting families across our state and region. If you are able to, please consider joining the Newington Human Services Department Food Bank and me in raising awareness of food insecurity and resources to directly assist those in need.