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WHAT'S OUR REP BEEN UP TO?
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I was proud to show support and attend the Elizabeth Ellenwood Gallery event at The Shipwright's Daughter — where art, science, and great food meet!
The Shipwright’s Daughter and Whaler’s Inn will be hosting a gallery exhibition by local artist Elizabeth Ellenwood through May 3. Please go check it out, friends and neighbors.
Bonus: I got to see Molly from Fishers Island Oyster Farm and Suzie from Stonington Kelp Co. |
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| We welcomed hundreds of students and manufacturers from across the state to the Capitol on Thursday morning for our Manufacturer ConneCTion fair.
One of the benefits of the fair is that it gives companies like General Dynamics Electric Boat and schools like Grasso Tech in Groton great opportunities to meet with their state legislators!
It is so great to see so many schools, manufacturers, and even robotics teams from the 41st District and Eastern Connecticut! Honored to represent communities rooted in advanced manufacturing! |
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It was great to catch up with UCONN President Radenka Maric and UCONN Health interim CEO Bruce Liang after their presentation before the General Obligation Bonding Subcommittee this week. It was great to hear about the many projects underway at our flagship university. Bruce and I were particularly impressed by the president’s blazer. GO HUSKIES!!   |
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| Yesterday's ConnCon Conference showcased all the reasons why Connecticut is an incredible place to visit! With a whopping 67.9 million visits in 2023, tourism is thriving in our state, and I'm proud to represent a district that's at the heart of it all.
We gained insights on the tourism, arts, and cultural sectors from Chief Marketing Officer Anthony Anthony and Director of Tourism (and Southeastern CT’s own!) Rachel Lenda, and heard from esteemed speakers including Office of Governor Ned Lamont, DECD Commissioner Dan O’Keefe, and Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes.
Mystic is leading the charge as the largest cultural and tourist attraction in Connecticut, and the fourth largest in New England. It was great to see representatives from the Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic Aquarium, Thames River Heritage Park, Oyster Club CT and The Port of Call, TreeTrails Adventures Mystic, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, and The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to our vibrant tourism sector!
Let's keep shining, showcasing all that Connecticut has to offer, and don’t forget to Visit Eastern CT! |
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| 1.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RECORDED THIS MORNING |
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| You may have heard loud booms or noticed buildings shaking in the Mystic/Old Mystic area this morning. That's because a rare 1.08 magnitude earthquake occurred around 9:20 a.m. It was recorded in Ledyard about an hour earlier. Local officials are aware and will keep us posted. In the meantime, please click on the image below for more details. |
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| EARLY VOTING - YOU STILL HAVE TIME |
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| If you haven't done so yet, you still have time to vote early for the 2024 presidential preference primary is underway. As a reminder, the regular date for voting in the Presidential Primary is Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Remember, every vote counts! Please take a moment to click on the image below for more details, including polling locations. |
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| MICROTRANSIT SERVICES COMING TO GROTON, STONINGTON |
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STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUMGARDNER WELCOMES NEW MICROTRANSIT SERVICES IN GROTON AND STONINGTON
State Representative Aundré Bumgardner (D – Groton, Stonington) is applauding a new microtransit pilot program coming to Groton and Stonington this spring.
Microtransit services allow a more accessible mode of transportation as customers will be able to use a smartphone app or telephone number to request a ride within designated areas. The service allows greater transit access for seniors and people with disabilities in the community.
"This service is a great addition for Groton and Stonington, which have lacked accessible transit in every neighborhood of this district in the past," Rep. Bumgardner said. "I am thankful for the state's continual support and investment to increase transportation options for our residents."
The new microtransit service will begin in Groton on Friday, April 1st, and in Stonington on Saturday, April 6th. Additional hours will be added to the original Saturday services in Stonington.
Groton and Stonington are two of the nine Connecticut municipalities that were granted funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The pilot program will last two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension based on performance.
Existing microtransit services in Connecticut include Stonington HOP Service (Southeast Area Transit District), and New London Smart Ride, which will be expanded to include on-demand service in Groton during the week in Mystic and Noank beginning May 6th.
The Microtransit Pilot Program was authorized by Public Act 22-40 and solicitation for projects was released in January 2023 and awardees announced in the fall of 2023.
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A closer look at upcoming microtransit services being offered in our area:
Provider: Southeastern Area Transit District (SEAT)
Program Name: HOP and NL Smart Ride
Start:
Groton HOP (Weekdays): April 1, 2024
Schedule:
Fare: $1.75 one way.
**Same Day Demand Response utilizing free Spare Rider App or by calling SEAT’s MicroTransit Reservation Line (860) 934-5234.**
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| COURT RULING UPHOLDS PRO-CONSUMER OUTCOMES IN PURA’s AQUARION RATE CASE DECISION |
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The Connecticut Superior Court ruled upholding, in all major respects, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) March 2023 decision, in which the Authority disallowed over $40 Million of the Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut’s requested revenue increase.
I applaud the decision.
When the company sought judicial review of PURA’s decision, the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) intervened in April of 2023 in support of the ruling to uphold important consumer protections in rate cases.
The Superior Court decision found the following, which the OCC argued in support of during the appeal:
- PURA correctly reduced the company’s proposed level of Plant in Service increase, via a factual determination based on the lack of supporting evidence presented by Aquarion.
- PURA must apply the entire array of statutory standards to requests for cost recovery -- even for prudently incurred costs -- in order to fulfill its statutory obligation to balance competing regulatory interests.
- An allowed Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.7% was supported by substantial evidence submitted into the record, and meets constitutional muster because it falls within the range of returns earned by entities engaged in similar levels of risk, according to multiple ROE experts.
- The Court explicitly disagreed with the Company’s argument that the combined total effect of PURA’s decision -- a $2 Million reduction in Aquarion’s revenue and an ROE of 8.7% -- would unconstitutionally diminish Aquarion’s financial integrity or deprive it of its ability to attract capital.
In the 12 total counts Aquarion raised on appeal, nine were dismissed by the Court’s decision and three were remanded back to the Authority. The three remanded counts concern minor technical expense recovery issues.
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| PUBLIC HEARINGS APRIL 1-5 |
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| I will always encourage you to get involved. |
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| REMINDER: GET HELP WITH UNPAID UTILITY BALANCES |
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| 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 graphic below for contact information for the utility companies and the available payment plan options for eligible customers. |
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After connecting with utility companies, customers may additionally contact PURA’s customer affairs unit for specific questions regarding payment arrangements.
Also, 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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| GROTON NJROTC DRONE TEAM DOES WELL |
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The Fitch High NJROTC Drone Team competed in its first NJROTC
sponsored event hosted by CDR Matteucci and Chief Hardman at New London High School this past Saturday.
The cadets attending the competition were Cadet LCDR Takach, Cadet LT Wilber, Cadet Ensign Clark, Ensign Skidgel, Senior Chief Petty Officer Johnson, Cadet Seaman Duyan, and Cadet Seaman Mehta. The Fitch NJROTC Drone Team’s results included 1st and 3rd place winners overall. A special thank you to CDRElfie Janacek’s support and guidance. |
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| PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY IS WEDNESDAY |
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| Facebook
National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday in April, which is April 3, 2024, this year. Paraeducators are instrumental in supporting the diverse needs of the students they serve, they take pride in their profession, and they are dedicated to supporting their students, families, and school communities.
Please join me in showing your gratitude and appreciation to Groton and Stonington's Paraeducators for their dedication and service! |
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DEEP is looking to build upon successful partnerships in Connecticut State Parks by inviting businesses, non-profits, and other private sector stakeholders to submit concepts to an RFI. Submissions for all partnership concepts for implementation in 2025 and beyond are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Submissions can be submitted at deep.partnershipsinparks@ct.gov. To learn more please click HERE.
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| FRIDAY IS VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES |
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| Husky pride is in full swing! |
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| Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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