Gary Turco

In addition to the important budget, housing and energy-cost-reduction work I'm working on with my colleagues, I've proposed legislation to, among other things, provide funding for survivors of homicide victims, fund the design and construction of a train station in Newington and provide consumer protections for long-term care insurance.

A full list of bills I have introduced this session can be found here.

Stop by the Olympia Diner, 3413 Berlin Turnpike in Newington, between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday, Jan. 26, and share your issues with the 9th District legislative team!

I, along with Sen. Matt Lesser and Rep. Kate Farrar, will be there to assist you with anything you'd like to address, as well as sit for a cup of coffee.
 

Ahead of the big day, there's a St Patrick’s Day Parade fundraiser at the Newington Knights of Columbus Hall, 171 Pascone Place, on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 2 to 6 p.m. A $20 donation is requested.

The funds raised will be used to cover expenses for Newington's participation in the parade. 

Irish Music will be provided by Danny Ringrose and there will be a cash bar. The event is open to the public. For more information, call Tom McBride at 860-983-0846. Mr. McBride is also looking for town groups and/or organizations to march in the parade. If your organization is interested in marching, please contact Tom McBride.
 
The link for the Parade website is below.
https://www.irishamericanparade.com/index.html

The protocol had originally been set to expire on the afternoon of Friday, January 24.

While activated, the protocol initiates a series of actions to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold.

Shelters and warming centers are open throughout Connecticut. Anyone in need of a place to stay warm can be directed to nearby locations by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list of available options that has been published online at 211ct.org.

Transportation can be provided to a shelter or warming center if needed.

Using these heaters come with some risks, however, as they are the leading cause of home fires in January and February.

Here are some precautions you should take, according to FEMA, if you use portable heaters:

• Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Keep anything that can burn – i.e. bedding, clothing, mattresses, furniture, paper products -- at least three feet away from portable heaters.
• Plug in portable heaters directly into outlets; do NOT plug them into extension cords or power strips.
• Inspect and replace damaged cords, broken outlets or loose connections.
• Use portable heaters with automatic shutoffs so, if they tip over, they turn off.
• Only use portable heaters approved by a recognized testing lab.

It's extremely important to stay warm, but it's also important to stay fire safe this winter.

Congratulations to Connecticut native Patrick Agyemang, who scored in each of his first two games for the U.S. Men's National Team.

Agyemang, a 24-year-old forward who was born in East Hartford and attended East Hartford High School, scored on his national team debut in a 3-1 victory against Venezuela on Jan. 18.

He followed that up with a 90^th-minute goal against Costa Rica in a 3-0 victory on Jan. 22.

Agyemang was an all-conference soccer player in high school and played club soccer for the Hartford Hellions.

After high school, he played soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University, scoring 30 goals in 39 matches, before transferring to the University of Rhode Island.

Agyemang currently plays professionally for Charlotte FC, which took him 12^th in the first round of the 2022 MLS draft.

Way to go Patrick!

Sincerely,

Gary Turco
State Representative