| Are you looking for a new job? The state just made it easier for anyone who is in the market for new employment. Please keep reading to learn about the new jobs portal and how it works!
Right now children in many public schools have access to free meals in the cafeteria. That funding will run out at the end of this academic year. I'll explain why it's so important to extend the program, and keep scrolling to watch a powerful speech highlighting this issue.
And make sure to check out all the fun events planned in our district this weekend!
Here are the sections and topics in this week's email:
- Connecticut Launches New Portal for Jobseekers
- Calling For Continued Free School Meals
- Continuing the Fight to Protect Reproductive Rights
- Take Your Child to the Library Day
- 30 Years With the Orange Police Department
- Derby Events Calendar
- Upcoming Events in Hamden
- Orange Events Calendar
- Upcoming Events in Woodbridge
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| Connecticut Launches New Portal for Jobseekers |
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| Connecticut has launched its new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov, which is aimed at assisting state residents — and those seeking to move here — in the process of finding a job.
Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category in Connecticut's ongoing journey toward an all-digital state government that streamlines and improves access to services and resources. Some of the resources available through jobs.ct.gov include:
- Powerful job search tools
- Job search tips and personal help
- Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs
- Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees
All the resources are Connecticut-specific and focus on connecting jobseekers with the variety of employment and workforce development opportunities. |
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| The strong and steady statewide economy continues to add jobs, but employers in some industries still face workforce shortages, and jobs.ct.gov will be a valuable resource to them. This portal also provides employers with information to reach greater numbers of skilled jobseekers from diverse backgrounds, which is critical to a more equitable Connecticut economy. |
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| Calling For Continued Free School Meals |
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| I am joining many elected officials in proposing an extension of free school meals after this school year. Last session, the legislature and Governor appropriated $16 million for schools to serve free breakfast to their students and free lunches to students who qualify for reduced-priced meals. 84 organizations signed a letter to Governor Lamont requesting his continued support for the program in the next budget. |
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Children cannot learn when they are hungry. According to “No Kid Hungry,” a national campaign working to solve problem of hunger and poverty, teachers notice the effects of hunger in the classroom:
- 80% observed the negative impact of hunger on concentration
- 76% saw decreased academic performance
- 62% saw behavioral issues increased
- 47% noticed children getting sick more often
Please take a moment to watch this short video of my friend, Rep. Anthony Nolan, breaking down why hunger is a problem in our state and why we need to address the free school meal program immediately. |
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| Children are hungry and angry, and we need give them every opportunity to succeed in our state. |
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| My colleagues are gathering sponsors on a bill to continue funding this program. I look forward to continuing these efforts this legislative session to benefit every child in Connecticut. |
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Continuing the Fight to
Protect Reproductive Rights |
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| On Monday, along with other Connecticut reproductive-rights champions, we commemorated the 51st anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which established a federal constitutional right to abortion. We also marked 18 months since the U.S. Supreme Court suddenly stripped individuals of this fundamental right in its radical Dobbs decision.
Since that ruling, we have been inundated with horrifying stories about its effects on women and families across our nation. In contrast, the state of Connecticut continues to uphold the principles of safe, legal, and protected abortion for its residents and those seeking care within our state. To do so, we have implemented strong, nation-leading legislative measures to protect both healthcare providers and patients. |
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| My colleagues and I will continue to fight to expand and protect access of the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. Every person should have ready, safe, and affordable access to reproductive healthcare, regardless of where they live in our state, their economic circumstances, or whether they want to have a family or not. |
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| Take Your Child to the Library Day |
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| Let's get your kids in our wonderful libraries! Take Your Child to the Library Day will be held on Saturday, February 3. Your local library is an ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends, and have fun. Take Your Child to the Library Day is the perfect time to discover some library magic, and all four communities in the 114th district are taking part!
Derby Neck Library will host different events for each age group from
1:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. There will be games and crafts for the littles in the Children’s Room and video games for the big kids and teens in the Community Room. Every child who attends and checks out a book will be entered into a raffle for a great mystery prize. Complete the library scavenger hunt for an extra ticket! |
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Miller Memorial Library in Hamden will host several events from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. in the Children’s Department including:
- Drop in crafts
- Scavenger hunt
- Guessing how many candy hearts are in the jar
Case Memorial Library in Orange is celebrating Take Your Child to the Library Day with a two-day event where children can win a free book! Kids will take part in a bingo scavenger hunt where they need to find books and objects that match a box. Teens will solve puzzles in a treasure hunt! No registration is required. CLICK HERE and HERE to learn about both events.
Woodbridge Town Library: |
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| 30 Years With the Orange Police Department! |
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| Congratulations to Lt. Dennis Anderson on 30 years with the Orange Police Department! Lt. Anderson has been a supervisor for two decades, commanding all three shifts in patrol and completing multiple rotational assignments in the Investigative Services Unit. He has earned multiple formal commendations including a Lifesaving Award. Thank you for being so dedicated to Orange! |
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| Check out the event below, and click the button at the bottom of this section to access the community calendar. |
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I am happy to support my Derby colleague Rep. Klarides-Ditria's pet food drive on Sunday, January 28. Please stop by the Seymour Stop & Shop as volunteers collect much-needed food and pet supplies to benefit Coco’s Animal Rescue Efforts of Seymour!Every donation is welcome, but organizers could specifically use:
- Purina ONE Kitten dry
- Purina ONE Kitten wet
- Iams sensitive stomach and skin adult dry
- Purina ONE adult wet PATE only
- Fancy Feast adult wet PATE any flavor
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| Upcoming Events in Hamden |
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| Take a look and click on the flier below to learn more about the upcoming events. Make sure to check out the button at the bottom of this section to learn about other events. |
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The Louis Astorino Ice Rink, located at 595 Mix Ave in Hamden, will host public skate nights every Friday in 2024 from 8:15PM to 10PM. The first public skate night will take place this Friday, January 26, 2024 at 8:15PM.
Skating is $10, skate rentals are $10, and the snack bar will be open. Both cash and card will be accepted for admission and skate rentals, and only cash will be accepted for the snack bar. |
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| You can learn about the Traditions of China Acrobatics with Li Liu on Saturday, February 17 from 1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. at Thornton Wilder Hall in the Miller Cultural Complex on Dixwell Avenue.
Tickets are available at the door only, 3 for adults, $2 for children, cash only. |
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| Check out the flier(s) and community calendar in Orange below. |
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| Head to Case Memorial Library from 2:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. to go on adventures, fight monsters, and save the world! Dungeons & Dragons is a cooperative, storytelling tabletop roleplaying game where you and other players take on the roles of different characters within a fantasy story. CLICK HERE to register! |
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| Upcoming Events in Woodbridge |
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| Check out the events below and click the button under that to access the Woodbridge community calendar. |
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| CLICK HERE to register for this event at Woodbridge Town Library. |
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