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I hope this message finds you and your family well! This Friday, I am holding my Monthly Coffee Hour, and next Wednesday is the annual Lower Valley Jobs Fair. Further down in this email, you can find more information on these upcoming events, read about state funding for the Derby Greenway, learn about the Access Health Special Enrollment Period open through June 30th, and more.
As always, I am here to listen and be a resource for Ansonia and Derby residents, whether it be to discuss a policy item, navigate a state agency, or anything else you may need help with that is under my jurisdiction. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at any time and email me at kara.rochelle@cga.ct.gov. |
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I will hold my monthly in-person “Coffee with Kara” Event on Friday, June 19th, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Valley Diner, 636 New Haven Ave, Derby.
Ansonia and Derby residents are welcome to attend this event. Please feel welcome to come share your thoughts, ask questions, and provide feedback on state policy issues.
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| Lower Valley Jobs Fair: June 24th |
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It's that time of the year again for the annual Lower Valley Job Fair!
There will be more than 50 employers from a multitude of industries offering jobs with a variety of pay scales and work schedules. I'm happy to be partnering with Career Resources of the American Job Center, The Workplace, and the Connecticut Department of Labor to offer this free event to the community.
The Lower Valley Job Fair will take place at the Ansonia High School gym on Wednesday, June 24, and will go from 10 am to 1 pm. This is an all ages event for people at all points in their careers.
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| ArrayRX Discount Program Information Session |
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Join me for an information session on the ArrayRx Discount Card with Comptroller Sean Scanlon on Thursday, July 16th, at noon at the Ansonia Senior Center. Comptroller Scanlon and I will discuss the benefits of the ArrayRx program, which negotiates discounts with pharmacy networks and rebates with drug manufacturers to make many common drugs available at a fraction of the price. ArrayRx is a great tool to bring down the high cost of prescription drugs. The card is free to every Connecticut resident, with no restrictions on age or income. For anyone on high-deductible health plans, the uninsured, and Medicare recipients who use prescriptions not covered, it will make a huge difference.
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| CTDOT Funding for Derby Greenway |
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Teamwork makes the dream work! Big news for Derby! Last week, Governor Ned Lamont awarded $555,385 in state funds to the city of Derby for lighting and safety improvements for the Derby Greenway!
We are one of 17 cities and towns statewide to receive this CTDOT Community Connectivity Grant funding in this most recent grant round.
I want to thank Governor Lamont for his continued strong investment in our community, Mayor Joseph DiMartino and his team for their strong partnership and proactive efforts, and the Derby delegation legislative team for helping bring this home. This is a great step forward for the greenway we all love.
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I am proud to be named a 2026 Council of State Governments Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Fellow. The Council of State Governments selects a group of state officials from across the region for the opportunity to enhance their public service skills. I am thrilled to be selected as a 2026 fellow and for this opportunity to grow as a legislator.
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| Access Health Special Enrollment Deadline: June 30th |
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Access Health CT announced that eligible customers can enroll in a health insurance plan with Temporary Premium Assistance through a Special Enrollment Period that will end on June 30th.
The Temporary Premium Assistance has provided over $1.6 million in savings for 10,580 Connecticut residents to date. At the end of 2025, Governor Lamont announced the Temporary Premium Assistance to help customers who lost financial assistance when the federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits expired. The Special Enrollment Period for Temporary Premium Assistance opened on February 1st, and customers can continue to enroll through June 30th.
Customers who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include:
- Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
- Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
To enroll, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with help available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.
For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
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| United Way of Connecticut Grant Opportunity for Local Food Pantries |
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United Way of Connecticut, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, has launched a grant program for Connecticut food pantries that are not members of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network.
Organizations that operate a food pantry in Connecticut are eligible to apply for funding to provide food to the general public in the communities they serve.
Eligible food pantries must meet the following criteria:
- 501(c)(3) organization in good standing or a municipality that operates a food pantry
- Provided food for human consumption to the general public at no charge for at least twelve (12) months prior to submission
- Not part of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network
If eligible, a pantry can receive additional funding up to 25% of their annual food purchase costs, to a maximum of $50,000.
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The Ansonia Juneteenth Flag Raising will take place on Friday, June 19th, starting at Noon, at Veterans Memorial Park in Ansonia.
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The GIANT Room at the Ansonia Library is a community project to help transform kids' ideas into their own trading cards. Visit the Ansonia Library through June 20th to participate.
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Team Inc. and Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries will host a food giveaway event in partnership with Connecticut Foodshare on Monday, June 22nd, from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m., at Abundant Life Ministries in Ansonia.
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View the Derby Public Library's June program schedule below!
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The Life Coaching Ministries of CT will hold a Watercolor Painting Card Class with Theresa at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15th.
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The Griffin Health AgeWell Program is holding a community discussion series around the Valley on "Are you Hearing Aware?" The program will be held at the Ansonia Senior Center from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 2nd, and at the Derby Neck Library from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23rd.
View the flyer below for additional program dates around the Valley. Free blood pressure screening will be available.
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Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267. Follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates.
All my Best,
Kara Rochelle
State Representative
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