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What's Our Rep Been Up To?
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| The Santa Sightings Convoy was spotted in our neighborhood this evening!! Thanks to Mystic Fire Department for bringing some holiday cheer to our local streets!! |
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| The Town of Groton Parks and Recreation Department is installing 54 solar-powered light poles around the walking path and within the parking lot at Poquonnock Plains Park. The lights are being installed to extend the availability of the walking path for residents to utilize and enhance security and safety. They will be programmed to go off at a specified time. The project was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It is great to see solar lights in our parks and ARPA investments paying off! |
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| A big thank you goes to the Council 4 members at Groton Utilities with AFSCME Locals 818-35, 1303-7, and 1303-135 for their hard work keeping us safe during the storms and getting power back to residents. Show them some love the next time you see them! |
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| Access Health CT Enrollment Fair on January 9th |
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| Access Health CT will be hosting Enrollment Fairs in January to help Connecticut residents shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period.
Enrollment fairs are one-day events offering customers free, in-person help from enrollment specialists.
The Groton Public Library, located at 52 Newtown Road, will host its event on January 9th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. To register, please click on the image below. |
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| Open Enrollment began Nov. 1, 2023, and runs through Jan. 15, 2024. Customers who enroll between Dec. 16, 2023, and Jan. 15, 2024, will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2024.
In addition to enrollment fairs, AHCT offers in-person help at enrollment locations and Navigators that host sessions during regular business hours throughout the week. A list of these locations is available at AccessHealthCT.com/Enrollment-Events.
Residents may also work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find an expert, visit AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.
For online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Live chat is available by clicking the “Live Chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Residents may also contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 15, 2024.
The call center will be closed on Dec. 25, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024.
Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
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Public Meeting Jan. 4: Downtown Mystic Resiliency
and Sustainability Plan Project |
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| The Town of Groton will host the final public meeting for the Downtown Mystic Resiliency and Sustainability Plan project on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Please note that the event will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Pearl Street. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with a presentation at 5:30 p.m.
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| MLK Essay Contest Deadline Fast Approaching |
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| The deadline for Senator Chris Murphy’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest is fast approaching! Elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut can help honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by submitting essays that reflect on Dr. King's dream, their aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them. Winners will be announced on Martin Luther King Day (Jan 15).The deadline to submit entries is January 5, 2024. Essays can be submitted by clicking on the image below. |
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| Photo credit: National Geographic
Critical details to remember include:
Writing Prompt: Students must submit individual essays that reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream and work towards equality. Students should provide their own aspirations and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.
Word Count Guidelines:
Elementary School (K-5): 100-200 words: Elementary School Students may submit essays with drawings or photos.
Middle School (6-8): 300 words
High School (9-12): 500 words
Entries may be handwritten or submitted electronically using the form linked.
To Submit Essays by Mail, send all submissions to:
The Office of Senator Murphy c/o MLK Essay Contest
120 Huyshope Ave. Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106
Submissions must include:
· The student's first and last name
· The name of the student's school (no abbreviations)
· The address of the student's school
· The student's grade and teacher
· A parent's contact information (phone AND email, please)
Good luck! |
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| A Grant for Groton: Nature Everywhere |
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Through a competitive application process, Groton, along with 18 other U.S. communities, has been selected as a Nature Everywhere Community
as part of a new national initiative designed to increase equitable access to Nature Everywhere children live, learn, and play in 100 communities by 2025.
Nature Everywhere Communities will receive two years of strategic planning, technical support, and start-up funding to develop and implement community-driven plans for connecting children and families to nature-based experiences and learning.
Over the next two years, the Groton team will:
● Engage youth and community residents in creating visions for equitable access to nature
● Map community stakeholders, assets and gaps
● Conduct funding and policy scans
● Identify the best nature connection strategies for the Groton community
● Build and deepen regional partnerships
● Develop and begin implementing an outdoor inclusion and access plan
Throughout the process, Groton and other Nature Everywhere community teams will have access to a national peer learning network; technical assistance; case-making research; resources, case studies, and planning tools; seed grants of up to $50,000; and eventually, access to larger catalytic grants for implementation. |
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| Connecticut Automatic Admission Program |
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| The state is offering a new resource allowing some high school seniors to apply for certain local colleges and universities for free through the Connecticut Automatic Admission Program. Graduating Connecticut high schoolers, who meet eligibility guidelines, will be automatically admitted to several participating colleges and universities. All they have to do is fill out one application form!
Graduating seniors in the top 30% of their class, as identified by their high school counselors, are eligible. The deadline to apply for high school seniors who are graduating this spring is January 4, 2024. The goal of the program is to simplify the application process and make it easier for families to seek higher education. |
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The colleges and universities currently participating include: (change the order depending on geography for each rep)
- Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven
- University of New Haven in New Haven
- University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport
- Central Connecticut State University in New Britain
- Western Connecticut State University in Danbury
- Mitchell College in New London
- University of St. Joseph in West Hartford
- Goodwin University in East Hartford
- Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic
To learn more about the program please click on the button below:
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| Trash, Recycling Date Change, Tree Collection Schedule |
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| Trash/Recycling will be picked up on Tuesday, December 26th. |
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City of Groton
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Christmas tree collection begins next Wednesday, December 27th. So that you know, the trees have to be at curbside by 7 am. Please do not place Christmas trees in plastic bags.
Here's a look at the Christmas Tree collection schedule through January 24, 2024:
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023
- Wednesday, January 3, 2024
- Wednesday, January 10, 2024
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024
- Wednesday, January 24, 2024
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| Up and Running: Stonington Winter Boot Collection |
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| The Stonington Human Services Winter Boot Program is looking for sponsors to purchase boots - or make a donation to purchase them. Please email ltheodore@stonington-ct.gov to sign up to sponsor a child in the program or to sign a child up for the program. |
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| From my family to yours, I want to take a moment to send my best wishes for the holiday season, and express that it is my sincere honor to represent you and work on issues that matter to our community and Connecticut.
Remember that as we celebrate, we also share many blessings, so in the spirit of the season, please spread joy and make these holidays truly special. |
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| I hope the holidays bring you peace, happiness and good health today, tomorrow, in the New Year, and beyond it.
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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