Dear Neighbor,
This week, we celebrated Veterans Day, which offered our community many opportunities to honor the men and women who have served our country. I started my day at The Summit, joining residents and staff for a Veterans breakfast. It was a privilege to thank the residents personally for their service and hear their stories of dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation. |
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| From there, I joined members of the American Legion and our community on the Southington Town Green for the annual Veterans Day ceremony. I was honored to speak and reflect on the importance of recognizing the courage and sacrifices of all our veterans, encouraging those in attendance to consider how we might answer President Kennedy’s call to ask ourselves what we can do for our country. It was a pleasure to visit with Veterans in attendance and thank them for their service. |
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| Later in the day, I attended the official state ceremony at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, at which Governor Ned Lamont and other state and local dignitaries spoke. The ceremony was a powerful reminder of the service and sacrifices made by Connecticut veterans throughout our history. |
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| To close out the day, I joined the Southington Elks to help set up their Veterans luminary display in front of their lodge. Afterwards, the members present and I shared stories of service and talked about the importance of continuing to honor and support our veterans — not just on one day, but every day. |
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| Veterans Day is a time to pause and reflect, to thank those who served, and to reaffirm our commitment to supporting them and their families. From our local community to the state level, I am proud to stand alongside those who honor and serve our veterans. |
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Thank you to all who have served, and to those who continue to serve our veterans here at home.
Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks as always for taking the time to read them! |
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| SNAP Update and Food Drive |
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| The federal government has reopened but the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue to face hurdles in parts of the country. Luckily in Connecticut, all SNAP recipients received access to their full November benefits last week on their EBT cards. To check your card balance, visit MyDSS.ct.gov or call 1-888-328-2666. |
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To help ensure that everyone in our community continues to have access to nutritious food as we enter the holiday season, I am hosting a special food drive from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Friday, November 15 at Southington Community Services.
If you have the means, please consider donating non-perishable food items or spreading the word to others who may wish to help. Together, we can make a real difference for our friends and neighbors during this challenging time. |
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| Last weekend, I stopped by the Southington Historical Society’s 60th Anniversary Open House and enjoyed seeing so many residents come together to celebrate our town’s rich history. It was fascinating to see the first-ever photo booth — invented right here in Southington — and an old mechanical voting machine from elections of the past. |
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| I was proud to present an official state citation recognizing this milestone to Town Historian Phillip Wooding alongside alongside Board of Education member, Dawn Anastasio, who presented a proclamation from Governor Ned Lamont. |
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| Thank you to the Historical Society board and all the volunteers for your hard work preserving Southington’s local history for future generations. |
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| Troop Spotlight: Daisies in Democracy |
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| I had the pleasure of speaking with a Southington Girl Scout troop last week as they work on their “Daisies in Democracy” badge. The girls asked thoughtful questions about my role as an elected official and how state and local government work. Their curiosity and excitement about civic engagement were top notch. |
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Hospitals To Remain Open
Under New Ownership |
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This week, I was proud to join my colleagues to convene in a special session to debate several important bills including approving legislation paving the way for the state of Connecticut to purchase Waterbury Hospital, Bristol Hospital, and Day Kimball Hospital.
The University of Connecticut Health Center submitted a $13 million bid to buy Waterbury Hospital, ensuring the facility remains open and avoiding a potentially devastating closure for anyone in the region who relies on that facility for high-quality health care.
The proposal also includes $390 million in state bonding over five years to support capital investments, showcasing the state's commitment to putting people over profits. |
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| Moving Forward with Housing Renovation |
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The state announced that is has signed housing financing agreements setting construction into motion on creating or preserving more than a dozen developments across the state including one in Southington. You may recall, the town received $2 million to rehabilitate the housing units at General Pulaski Terrace. These funds will go toward modernizing the property with much-needed upgrades including:
- comprehensive security system
- new generator for the community building
- new roofing
- seamless aluminum gutters with leaf screens
- heat pump replacements
Statewide, this investment will create or preserve 1,105 housing units, most of which will serve low- and moderate-income renters.
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| The Summit at Plantsville is hosting its annual Holiday Shop, a cherished event that brings joy to residents each year. Donations help provide gifts that residents can choose for their loved ones, making the season brighter for everyone. Those who wish to share the true spirit of Christmas are also invited to volunteer and help make the Holiday Shop a memorable experience. The Summit thanks the community in advance for its generosity and support! |
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The Calvanese family invites veterans and three of their family members to join them for a free Thanksgiving meal. The gathering will take place on Thursday, November 27 at the Aqua Turf Club at 556 Mulberry Street in Plantsville.
Please RSVP by calling Kathy at (475) 689-0219.
Organizers ask that you arrive by 11:30 a.m. because the meal will start at noon. Thank you again to all of our veterans! |
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| As always, if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Chris.Poulos@cga.ct.gov. Don't forget to "LIKE" my Facebook page for news and legislative updates! |
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Sincerely,
Chris Poulos
State Representative |
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