Michelle L. Cook

Today, Torrington welcomed a total of $80,063 in art grants from the Department of Economic & Community Development’s Office of the Arts.

I am excited to announce that Torrington received a state grant of $1,825,000 to construct a two-mile extension of the existing three-mile Sue Grossman Still River Greenway into downtown Winsted.

I’m happy to announce that the Senate passed the firefighters cancer coverage bill! Here I stand with firefighters from Torrington who came all the way to the Capitol to support the bill’s passage. I am proud to stand by them. This bill will establish a relief fund used for wage replacement of those who are diagnosed with certain conditions of cancer as a result of their service as paid municipal or volunteer firefighters.

I am pleased to announce that the firefighter’s cancer bill I have championed has passed the House of Representatives.

Today, I was awarded with the 2016 Friend of the Family Award by the CT Family Resource Center Alliance. Each year the Alliance honors legislators based on their commitment and support to FRCs statewide.

Rep. Michelle Cook testified Thursday in support of legislation addressing the needs of firefighters who have contracted cancer related to their duties.

Every year, Dr. Matt Blondin of Torrington organizes a Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) trip to Nicaragua. I wrote up two legislative citations for two local residents who assist with him with his operations.

Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe each and every day. They run into burning buildings to ensure that you and your family make it out alive, with no guarantee that they will.

That is why I introduced legislation to make sure firefighters are cared for if they suffer from cancer as a result of their important work.