Roland Lemar

To reduce the spread of the flu virus, the state Department of Public Health is working with local health departments to provide free and low cost influenza vaccines across the state on Saturday, Jan. 27. The clinic closest to our area is at East Shore Health District: 688 East Main St. Orchard Research Park, Branford.

For those of you impacted by the changes to the Medicare Savings program, there is good news. The state Department of Social Services has announced that it will delay the scheduled Jan. 1 implementation of income eligibility reductions in the Medicare Savings Programs, as a result of concerns raised by beneficiaries, advocates and legislators.

The Office of Policy and Management has announced that residents enrolled in the state’s Renter’s Rebate program are expected to receive their checks this week.

The cold weather has finally arrived and now is the time to consider applying for heating assistance. If you are eligible for home heating assistance, this program is here to help you and your family stay warm.

Do you and your family have health insurance coverage? Do you know of anyone who needs it? Enrollment in Access Health CT is off to another strong start this year, and you can still sign up until Dec. 22.

Care 4 Kids, the state’s primary child-care support program, has been reopened, and eligible families on the wait list can now begin to enroll.

Several new laws went into effect on Oct. 1, including: Stiffer penalties for hate crimes, protections for pregnant women in the workplace, changes to the age and weight requirements for car seats, the formation of a Small Business Hotline and protections against the Civil Asset Forfeiture law.

Governor Malloy is convening leaders of all four caucuses to move the discussion closer to agreement on a budget for the biennium.