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What's Our Rep Been Up To?
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Area municipal chief elected officials, directors of finance and public works, state legislators, and other key policymakers heard from Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resources Recovery Authority - SCRRRA this week about our state’s solid waste management crisis and how they’re deploying innovative approaches at a regional level to tackle these challenges!
Key takeaways:
- SCRRRA is at the forefront of sustainable waste solutions, exploring cutting-edge technologies and best practices by supporting mitigation strategies such as building an aerobic digestion facility that can handle large-scale composting of organic materials!
- Collaboration across municipalities is crucial to address this shared challenge.
- We need to empower residents and businesses to make more conscious choices about waste reduction and recycling.
Thank you Dave Aldridge for your leadership and kudos to the Towns of Stonington and Groton for participating in this important discussion at Camp Nett!
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| Yesterday, we held a climate, coffee, and conversation at the Ditty Bag Market and Cafe in Mystic to discuss a CT Climate Protection Act for 2024! As you know, I am a member of the Environment Committee and convened the gathering with our incredible Vice Chair State Representative Christine Palm - and we are grateful for her leadership on this!
This bill concept would combine many different environmental and climate justice legislative priorities into ONE! When the Connecticut legislature starts session again on Feb 7th, we want to build strong support for this bill!
A big thank you to Jason Hine and Roger Kuhns for organizing brainstorming sessions each week with youth-led organizations like Sunrise Movement Connecticut and environmentally conscious citizens! Another big thank you to CT League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs for your support and Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, LWV of Southeastern CT, and Groton Resilience & Sustainability Manager Megan Granato for attending this amazing conversation!
Stay tuned… |
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| Plan Ahead: Weather Advisory For Sunday |
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Eversource is closely monitoring a strong, low-pressure system that will approach our area throughout the day on Sunday, bringing chances for widespread moderate to heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Wind gusts will likely approach hazard levels Sunday evening and continue overnight into Monday.
Eversource Electric will activate its Incident Management Team (IMT) on Sunday, December 10, at 6 p.m., and its Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in Hartford, New London, and Newtown will open at 6 a.m. on Monday, December 11.
Please plan, and be safe!
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| Help On The Way for Long Island Sound |
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Bluff Point, Groton
Photo credit: Long Island Sound Study
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| You may have heard Groton is set to receive nearly $700,000 for three projects aimed at improving the health of Long Island Sound. The Eastern CT Conservation District is set to receive $1.3 million for a project to help manage farm waste, which is affecting the Sound as well, at Valley View Farm in North Stonington.
"The Permeable Pavers to Improve Water Quality Phase I" project will comprehensively evaluate opportunities to decrease polluted runoff from hard surfaces into local waterways by installing permeable pavement.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the purchase of a vacuum truck undoubtedly strengthened the proposal for this grant. The town is partnering with the UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) and will do a regional workshop to share lessons learned.
"The Feasibility Study to Enhance Fish Passage at a RoadStream Crossing" project establishes a potential pathway to address flooding in the community and restore miles of fish passage to the Sound. This crossing experienced a lot of damage during the March 2010 flood. The town will integrate climate predictions into the feasibility assessment. The Nature Conservancy is partnering with the town on this project.
A third project in Groton, "Developing a Restoration Plan for Bluff Point State Park" will establish a pathway toward restoring an important coastal habitat of Long Island Sound. The Nature Conservancy is receiving funding to work with the city and CT-NERR is receiving funding for the project at Bluff Point.
The "Reducing Nitrogen in Long Island Sound by Managing Farm Waste at Valley View Farm" project includes c onstructing a roofed facility with scrape alleys and a storage tank to house 240 dairy cows at Valley View Farm. This project will eliminate open-air feed lots and heavy-use areas preventing the flow of 6,532 lbs. of nitrogen and 1,410 lbs. of phosphorus from farm waste into local waterways and the Sound.
Long Island Sound is one of the true treasures of our nation, and we have the privilege of having it in our backyard. We must protect and restore this precious ecosystem that supports marine species so future generations can enjoy it. As a champion for the permeable pavement and fish passage projects, while serving on the Groton Town Council, I want to thank Resilience and Sustainability Manager Megan Granato for her incredible efforts in getting both of these grants over the finish line.
Groton is also included in the list of school systems working with the Connecticut Invention Convention on their project. New London and the Mystic Aquarium are also receiving funding. |
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Your Chance To Learn About State Horizontal Curve Sign Plan
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| Do you want an opportunity to learn more about the state’s plan to set up new horizontal curve signs on local roads before installation is set to begin? The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is hosting several virtual public information meetings this month to answer your questions.
The CTDOT says horizontal curve signs are cost-effective and make our roads safer. The signs will warn drivers about sharp curves ahead and post speed limits. CLICK HERE to see where crews will be installing horizontal curve signs in our district. |
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The CTDOT informational meeting affecting our communities will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 6:00 P.M. You must register if you wish to participate.
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Local DOT Projects Update
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The bridge joint repair project, performed on I-95 northbound on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London Thursday night, has been completed.
This project is included in the CT Department Of Transportation’s Bridge Maintenance Program.
DOT work being completed and finished in our area includes:
- The on-ramp at Exit 91 on I-95 Northbound in Stonington was closed temporarily on Monday for right shoulder reconstruction. The duration of nightly closures, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for the Exit 91 NB On-Ramp is anticipated to be one week.
- A wrong-way detection system at the Exit 3A northbound off-ramp from Route 349 (Clarence B. Sharp Hwy.) in Groton
- Upgrades to traffic signals in Groton at U.S. Route 1 (Fort Hill Road) at Ring Drive & Ella T. Grasso Technical School
- Route 1 at Central Ave & Drive to Bellows Park
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A Legislative Listening Session With Librarians
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| Many thanks to Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Representative Christine Palm who brought together librarians from across the state for a forum in Hartford to discuss book bans, the high cost of e-books to libraries, and other challenges librarians face. More than 70 librarians joined us.
If you would like to get a better idea of one issue, check out "CT librarians looking for lawmaker help as they face harassment tied to book bans" from the Connecticut Post HERE. |
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| First Apprenticeship Program for Home-Based Child Care Jobs |
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| Great news for parents who are struggling to find and pay for high-quality childcare!
Connecticut has created its first home-based childcare apprenticeship program, which will provide a new class of expert instructors. This program will be a guide for those looking for a high-demand job in home-based child care.
The apprenticeship is designed to support everyone including aspiring caregivers and children of different cultures and who speak different languages, especially Spanish. This is vital for our diverse community. The program will also improve the quality of early care and education with coursework in child development. |
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| You can earn while you learn! The workforce training program is federally backed and requires a minimum of 2,000 hours working on the job and hundreds of hours of classroom learning. Once a participant completes the program, that person receives credentials, which in turn raises wages and improves the quality of home-based care. |
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| Beware of Phishing Scheme Aimed At Job Seekers |
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| If you’re looking for a new job, beware of scammers trying to get your personal information! The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) says criminals are asking victims for banking, credit card, and social security information while pretending to work at the state’s job bank, CTHires.
If you are in any of the following scenarios while applying for a job, hang up immediately:
- You’re asked to pay a fee to apply or to be considered
- You’re asked for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card details to complete your application
You’re told to give up valuable information or you’ll lose a job opportunity
Visit the CTDOL fraud watch page if you think you may be a victim of this or other scams. |
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| Mystic Releases Cranberry to Rhode Island |
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| NBCConnecticut.com |
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| Our friend, Cranberry, rescued by Mystic Aquarium earlier this year, has been rehabilitated and was released in Rhode Island this week. To watch a video of the release, please click below. |
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| facebook watch: Cranberry's Release from Mystic Aquarium to Rhode Island |
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| Chag sameach! Wishing you a wonderful eight nights of love, laughter, and light. |
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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. |
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Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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