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Session is in full swing now, and I’m hoping to hear from you about your questions and priorities. Please stop by on Saturday to meet me in person, drink some coffee, and talk about the ways we can improve our state and our community. Keep scrolling to see where you can join me for a community conversation in town.
It's Women's History Month, and I'm proud to uplift women all over the world! Please look below to learn about Connecticut's female pioneers and what new legislation we are trying to pass to support women.
March also marks the start of early voting in our great state. You don't want to miss the section below where you can learn how this process will play out in Simsbury.
And, you may see more black bears roaming in your neighborhood as we approach spring. You have to look below to see what bears are up to this month.
Here are the sections in this week's email:
- Join Me For Coffee on Saturday
- Celebrating Women's History Month
- A Top Priority: Childhood Nutrition Programs
- Presidential Primary Information
- What Bears Do In March
- Simsbury Teen Photo Challenge
- Community Events
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| Join Me For Coffee on Saturday |
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I hope you can join me for coffee hour to discuss our - and your - goals for the 2024 legislative session. I will provide a session preview, answer your questions, seek your suggestions and concerns, and discuss some of our priorities this year, including continuing to refine the safety of our cannabis regulatory environment, improving childcare, helping seniors, protecting the environment, and championing our small businesses in Connecticut.
The coffee hour will take place on Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 P.M. at The Coffee Spot on Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury
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I relish the opportunity to have conversations with you about improving our community. I look forward to seeing you on March 9th!
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| Celebrating Women's History Month |
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March is Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the vital role women have played in American history. It’s also a time to celebrate their achievements and learn more about their contributions. This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” which recognizes women throughout the country who believe a positive future can only be achieved by eliminating bias and discrimination from our society.
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Connecticut has a long history of female pioneers who brought progress to our state and the rest of the country. Women in Connecticut have consistently risen to positions of leadership within the political landscape, showcasing their outstanding abilities and commitment to public service.
- We are home to the first boarding school for women of color, which opened in 1931 in Canterbury.
- Helen Keller was one of Connecticut's most influential women for her fierce support and advocacy of women's suffrage, legalization of birth control, and benefits for people with disabilities.
- Ella T. Grasso was the first woman elected Floor Leader in the Connecticut General Assembly, first woman to chair the Democratic State Platform Committee, and the first woman in the U.S. to be elected governor
- Antonia "Ann" Uccello was the first woman in Connecticut to be elected mayor of a municipality, and she was the only woman to head a major U.S. city during the Civil Rights era.
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In our quest to honor and protect women in our state, I would like to highlight some of the work we have done and continue to champion in the legislature.
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Our tireless advocacy is far from complete. We have several priorities in the 2024 legislative session that directly impact women on a daily basis. Let's celebrate Women's History and the remarkable women in our own lives each and every day!
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| A Top Priority: Childhood Nutrition Programs |
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I am committed to promoting the health and well-being of our community’s families and children. In response to the vital need for improved childhood nutrition, we are working on crafting comprehensive legislation that ensures mothers and children who are eligible for federal benefits are enrolled in these programs with ease and confidence.
WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children) enrollment in Connecticut is among the lowest in the country at 46%. Not maximizing participation in this program is resulting in worse outcomes for the health and nutrition of young children.
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Child nutrition is important for many reasons including:
- Strengthening the child's immune system
- Providing essential vitamins and minerals
- Enhancing brain development
- Encouraging physical growth
- Setting the stage for healthy eating habits for a lifetime
Healthy nutrition is also tied to preventing chronic disease, improving mental health, and helping build strong bones and teeth.
As this priority bill moves through the legislative process, I urge you to show your support as we move forward. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youngest community members.
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| Presidential Primary Information |
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March marks the first time Connecticut will host early voting, and all registered Democrats and Republicans can cast a ballot in the upcoming presidential preference primary. This new method allows you to vote in person safely and securely before Election Day.
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Here are some key dates regarding the primary timeline:
Tuesday, March 12: Absentee Ballots are available. Applications are being accepted now.
Tuesday, March 27, Wednesday, March 27, Thursday, March 28, Saturday March 30: Early in-person voting available at Simsbury Town Hall in the main meeting room across from the town clerk between 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday, April 2: Voting will take place at four polling places from 6:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
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You may see more bears walking around and foraging this month! According to our friends at Bearwise, March is a month of transition for black bears. Some of them leave their dens and return shortly thereafter. Others wake from their winter slumber for good. Bears emerge thin as well as hungry and soon go looking for food.
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| Simsbury Teen Photo Challenge |
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Do you want your kids to take part in a photo challenge with prizes? The Simsbury Public Library & the Simsbury Camera Club are co-sponsoring this fun contest, which is designed to get kids interested in photography!
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CLICK HERE if you have and further questions about the photo challenge.
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Please stop by the Simsbury Public Library on Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 P.M. as Simsbury High School students Aidan O’Brien and Rangan Kidambi give a presentation on financial literacy aimed at teens. Please bring a smart device for an interactive game.
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Michael and Steve Armentano will take the stage on Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 P.M. in the Friends of the Library Program Room at Simsbury Public Library. They have a repertoire consisting of cover songs from the 1960s through 1990s as well as some TV show theme songs and original material from their debut album, FLY with Rock Solid Alibi. CLICK HERE to register.
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The Simsbury Pollinator Pathway will host its first Home Habitat Series on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00 P.M. at First Church of Christ Simsbury.
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Heather Santanella will once again use a story to inspire kids in science, technology, engineering, and math. The event will be held at the Simsbury Historical Society on Saturday, March 23 at 10 A.M. Tickets are on sale HERE.
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The Human Library is coming to Simsbury Public Library on Saturday, March 23 from 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. The Human Library is a library of people and their experiences with prejudice. Instead of paperback books, actual people are on loan for conversations. You don't want to miss this opportunity!
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