A bill designed to help seniors is now heading to the House Floor! I'll break down how this proposal will help our aging population in their golden years.
We are only a few days away from the start of early voting. Please scroll down to see when and where you can cast a ballot in your town ahead of the April 2nd presidential primary.
Utility companies are offering payment plans to some customers with unpaid balances. Look below to learn how their plans work and who to contact if you need assistance.
Here are the sections and topics in this week's email:
- Aging Bill Clears First Hurdle
- Early Voting Takes Place Next Week
- Help with Unpaid Utility Balances
- Women's History Month Spotlight
- Special Award For Derby Police Department
- Free Emergency Training Program in Orange
- Derby-Shelton Bridge Progress
- Bulk Trash Pick-Up In Hamden
- Derby Events Calendar
- Upcoming Events in Hamden
- Orange Events Calendar
- Upcoming Events in Woodbridge
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| Aging Bill Clears First Hurdle |
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The Aging Committee approved House Bill 5001, an omnibus bill providing further support to our seniors. This proposal is a priority for House Democrats, and I am thrilled it is progressing through the legislative process.
Issues impacting seniors are often ignored. Our elderly residents need support and access to recourses that will provide them with the best quality of life possible. HB 5001 does this by:
- Requiring additional oversight of home care workers
- Creating a more efficient process for accessing Medicaid
- Expanding the long-term care ombudsman’s office
Click here to read an article that explores additional details of the bill. |
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Our aging population faces a growing list of challenges such as declining health and affordable housing. These issues will only become more prevalent as our society gets older. House Bill 5001 not only acknowledges these complexities but also paves the way for crucial improvements. This legislation will ensure that our seniors will age gracefully. Next stop, the House Floor!
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| Early Voting Takes Place Next Week |
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Early voting for the April 2 presidential preference primary election will take place on March 26, 27, 28, and 30 from 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. Due to Good Friday and Easter, there will be no early voting Friday, March 29 or Sunday, March 31.
Here is where early voting is taking place in your town:
- Derby: Derby City Hall on Elizabeth Street
- Hamden: Miller Library on Dixwell Avenue
- Orange: Town Hall, Registrar of Voters on the second floor
- Woodbridge: first floor of Town Hall next to the Recreation Office
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Are there deadlines to be aware of?
Monday, March 25 at noon is the deadline to register with a political party to vote in the early voting period for the presidential preference primary.
Monday, April 1 at noon is the deadline for registering in person with your registrar of voters or town clerk to vote on April 2, and for unaffiliated voters to enroll in a party for in-person voting.
If you are not yet registered to vote, file your registration application with your town's registrar of voters by noon on the business day before the day you want to vote, or click here to register.
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| Help with Unpaid Utility Balances |
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Utility companies have started reaching out to residential customers with unpaid balances to sign up for payment plans to avoid interruption in their current services.
Those with financial hardships or medical issues due to a serious illness have not been eligible for termination due to nonpayment since March 2020, which stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, and a longstanding statutory moratorium that annually safeguards Connecticut residents from winter shut-offs from November 1 to May 1.
If you get one of these notices, my office can work with you to help contact utility companies directly to set up a payment plan to avoid service disruption. These plans charge no interest, and all customers qualify at least once for one or more of the plans. Please see the graphics below for contact information for the utility companies and the available payment plan options for eligible customers.
Additionally, Team Inc can also help residents in Derby, Orange, and Woodbridge, so please visit https://teaminc.org or call (203) 736-5420. If you live in Hamden, contact the Community Action Agency of New Haven at https://www.caanh.net/ or (203) 387-7700.
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After connecting with utility companies, customers may additionally contact PURA’s customer affairs unit for specific questions regarding payment arrangements. As a reminder, utility companies will never call threatening to shut off power and demanding immediate payment.
Please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.
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| Women's History Month Spotlight |
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In 2015, Kristen Griest, an Amity Regional High School graduate, was invited to join the Army Ranger School with a select few hundred women. That same year, she became one of two women to earn Ranger tabs and was formally promoted to Captain. After proving that women were capable of the demands of Ranger School, the U.S. Military opened up all combat positions to women in 2015.
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| Special Award For Derby Police Department |
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| The Derby Police Department received an award for its commitment to professionalism. The State Tier I Accreditation award goes to police departments for their continued excellence and efforts to further opportunities to better serve and protect the community. Congratulations to the Derby Police Department for their hard work! |
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| Free Emergency Training Program in Orange |
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| The Town of Orange Fire Marshal's Office is running a free, emergency training program for nine weeks. Instructors will provide participants with basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization skills. |
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| The classes begin on Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00 P.M. If you are interested in joining the class, contact the Orange Fire Marshal's Office on its Facebook Page or call (203) 891-4711. |
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| Derby-Shelton Bridge Progress |
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| Crews have made major progress on the Derby-Shelton Bridge. Crews are installing new parapet walls, sidewalks, cycle tracks, and decorative lighting on the south side. Once that work is done, expect to see black railings inspired by Veterans Memorial Park. These additions will improve safety and add to the bridge’s charm. |
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| Bulk Trash Pick-Up In Hamden |
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Bulk trash pick-up will begin April 1 in Hamden. Residents may put bulk trash curbside in front of their homes anytime between April 1 and April 30. The town's trash hauler will pick up acceptable items throughout the entire month of April. No phone calls or appointments are necessary.
Residents are urged to have bulk at the curb by or before their last regular refuse pick-up day for the month of April. Please remember to place bulk trash away from Town-issued trash and recycling carts and do not place any regular refuse with the bulk trash.
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| Check out the events below, and click the button at the bottom of this section to access the community calendar. |
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| The Suck’r Punch at River Rock concert will take place Friday, March 22 at 8 P.M. |
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The pancake breakfast and egg hunt will take place Saturday, March 23 at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish.
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Join Derby Public Library for "Won't You Be My Neighbor Day" on Saturday, March 23 from 10 A.M. - 1 P.M. The nationwide initiative recognizes the late Fred Rogers' birthday. Participants will draw on the library's sidewalk with chalk.
At 10:30 A.M., join crafting fun with Lisa Lupa of Quirky Bird Crafting. Create a unique ping-pong ball project during this drop-in program. Then, design a bookmark or another project at the DIY Station to share with a friend or neighbor on this day of kindness and caring.
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| Upcoming Events in Hamden |
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| Take a look at the fliers below to learn more about upcoming events. Make sure to click on the button at the bottom of this section. |
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| Make sure to support our students by seeing Hamden High School's spring musical "Once Upon A Mattress." There will be a show tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday at the high school. CLICK HERE to buy tickets! |
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| Check out the flier and community calendar in Orange below. |
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| Which candy is the champion of fruit? Find out at Case Memorial Library's third annual March Madness tournament of candy for teens! Take home a kit with 16 different candies to taste and vote for your favorites in an online elimination tournament. Please note this event is strictly for students in grades 7-12.
The event will take place all day from from now through Thursday, March 28. Kits will not be distributed to adults or students grades 6 or below unless they are picking up for a registered teen. CLICK HERE to register. |
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| Upcoming Events in Woodbridge |
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| Check out the events below, and access the Woodbridge community calendar by clicking on the button at the bottom. |
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| Stop by Woodbridge Town Library on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 P.M. to take part in the graphic novel club. |
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