Women's History Month, Road Upgrades Coming, and Help for Hungry Families

March 10, 2023
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month and March 8 is International Women's Day. It’s a day to celebrate women who have inspired change throughout history and to recognize those who continue to fight for the fair and equitable treatment of women and girls around the world. 

I am also thrilled to celebrate the many accomplishments of women in Connecticut and beyond throughout the coming weeks!
I am fortunate to have some strong ladies in my life including my mother and wife. I also love including my sister, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunts/Titis, and mentors!
Let's continue to uplift and be champions for policies that support women’s health, their rights in the workplace, and continuing to advocate for more women in government positions! 

Let's also celebrate the wonderful group of female representative already serving the state of Connecticut!
 
TRAGIC LOSS OF BELOVED CUSTODIAN
The entire Stonington community is sending its thoughts and prayers after a Stonington High School custodian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on Monday night. My heart goes out to Mr. Piver’s family and loved ones. He was a respected man of our community and always exuded kindness.

Gary was a passionate biker and was entitled to both safety and security on a road he shared with pedestrians and drivers. The perpetrator of this horrific crime must be brought to justice. I’m here to continue community conversations about how we combat these inexcusable fatalities. My wife and I send our deepest prayers to the Piver family and loved ones as they mourn this senseless tragedy.
 
HELP WITH GROCERIES FOR THOSE IN NEED
Instacart is partnering with Connecticut Foodshare to help families in need now that emergency SNAP benefits have come to an end. Instacart is using Community Carts to help drive food donations to food banks in 31 states including Connecticut.
 
You can access the community cart for Foodshare by CLICKING RIGHT HERE. If you have the means, please consider donating food that is in high demand from the list provided. Instacart is waiving all service and delivery fees on every donation.
These new measures are intended to help food banks stock their shelves ahead of the expected surge and help families continue to put nutritious food on the table as budgets get tighter.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
MEET ME IN PERSON!
I would like to hear your questions, concerns, and feedback on state policy issues at my next community coffee event. Please stop by Macondo Coffee Shop in Stonington on March 18th to meet me in person!

Connecting with residents and having real conversations about improving our community is one of my favorite parts of this job. 
 
This is what my coffee hour events usually look like! It was great catching up with neighbors last weekend to provide a legislative update at the The Ditty Bag Market and Cafe! Thank you for those that were able to stop in!
 
WHAT'S YOUR REP BEEN UP TO?
I was so proud to stand with Rep. Christine Conley and Rep. Anthony Nolan on Wednesday morning to advocate for more access to high-quality and affordable childcare while raising wages for providers! It is critical to invest in daycares and other providers like Thames Valley Council for Community Action.

 

 
I had a wonderful time at the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation Dinner at the The Velvet Mill on Saturday with Groton Town Council member Portia Bordelon and community leaders from Groton, Mystic, and Stonington. Thank you to Jessica Morrisey for inviting my wife Kayla and I.

A special shout out to the organizers of the 18th Annual Mystic Irish Parade. I’m looking forward to the parade on March 19th!
And here is a bonus: Kayla won the raffle for the Mystic poster! It's a great addition and a little piece from home for my office in the legislature.
 
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES COMING!
The state is taking more steps to keep drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists safe on the road. The Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will be upgrading traffic lights and much more at several intersections including two in Groton and another in Stonington. This is a big win for our communities.

Crews will be installing new traffic signal equipment in Groton on Route 12 at Walker Hill and Toll Gate Roads as well as Route 12 at Crystal Lake Road. You can see from those images that those intersections need some work. The CTDOT will also upgrade or add countdown pedestrian signs, accessible push buttons, and sidewalk ramps.
In Stonington, crews will work on a partial replacement to upgrade pedestrian facilities on Route 1 in front of the Big Y parking lot. The design plans for these projects are expected to be finished in May 2025.
 
STONINGTON SHORT-TERM RENTAL VOTE
There will be a referendum in Stonington on Monday, March 13 to decide whether to adopt an ordinance that would regulate the operation of short-term rentals in town.

Polls will be open from 12 pm-8 pm at the Stonington Fire Station on Main Street and at the former Pawcatuck Middle School on Field Street.

Here's a look at a sample absentee ballot.
My colleagues at the Capitol and I are talking about short-term rentals on the state level. In January, the Planning and Development Committee, of which I am a member, raised a bill concept called an Act Concerning Short Term Rentals. If you are passionate on this issue, please share your thoughts with me via email.
 
FREE TAX FILING SERVICES
Trained volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites offer free tax filing assistance from through mid-April. As long as your annual income is below $60,000, the service is free of charge. You can meet a volunteer at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Pearl Street in Mystic.
CLICK HERE FOR TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU NEED AT YOUR APPOINTMENT
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS