Rebecca Martinez

The 2026 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week is Sunday, August 16th, through Saturday, August 22nd. This week provides a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

During this week, sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax.

A new one-time grocery benefit of $300 each is being distributed to low-income Connecticut residents who have been pushed out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to federal changes.

The grocery benefits, through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies and with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA), will be distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards.

You will soon be able to shop, compare plans, and enroll in health and dental coverage through the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Access Health CT’s open enrollment period runs from October 23 through December 23, giving residents an early start this year to explore their options and choose the coverage that best fits their needs.

In Plainville, we had two aging fire trucks that both needed to be replaced.

The Town of Plainville and our residents committed to replacing one truck through the local budget. I was proud to help secure an $800,000 state grant for a second truck, so its cost will not fall on our local property taxpayers.

By replacing both trucks at the same time, the town was able to negotiate a better price, saving even more taxpayer dollars.

Even better, instead of waiting years for a new truck to be built, Plainville secured two showroom trucks that are ready to go. The first is expected to arrive this fall.

This is what good government looks like. When the town and the state work together with one goal, to make sure the Plainville Fire Department has exactly what it needs, our firefighters, our residents, and our taxpayers all benefit.

I know many of you are still dealing with the effects of the storm last weekend, and I want to let you know that the state is here to help.

Below, you can find a list of resources, including mobile food pantries and SNAP benefits, that are available to you in this time of need. Please note that the deadline for SNAP recipients who experienced food loss due to the storm is TOMORROW, JULY 14. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

If you need a place to cool off, Plainville High School will be open from 1-8pm. The building will be air conditioned and available to residents who need relief from the heat. Please enter in the back of the building the Wood Gym Entrance.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July and commemorate America's 250th Anniversary, we honor the courage, vision, and sacrifices of those who established our nation.

This historic milestone invites us to reflect on our shared heritage, celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity that continue to guide our country. On this Independence Day, let us come together in gratitude, patriotism, and a renewed commitment to the ideals that define our nation.