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In this week's eblast, you can read about free summer meals available for children, the Connecticut Education Association's legislator scorecard, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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Please read below for an important message from the Town of Plainville on a storm recovery update and curbside program announcement:
Storm debris curbside pickup will take place the week of Monday, July 20th. Please place all storm-related debris at the curb by Monday morning, as crews will make one pass through each neighborhood.
The Transfer Station has extended hours through Saturday, with FREE drop-off for storm-related branches and brush (proof of Plainville residency required). Below are this week's Transfer Station hours.
Wednesday, July 15th – Friday, July 17th: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, July 18th: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (regular hours)
We'll share another collection update next Wednesday. Thank you for your patience, your cooperation, and for helping Plainville recover together.
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Thank you to Congresswoman Jahana Hayes for joining me in Plainville for our Town Hall, and thank you to everyone who came out to be part of the conversation.
We had a great discussion about the issues that matter most to our community, including energy costs, housing, affordability, Social Security, education, and data centers and artificial intelligence.
I appreciated the opportunity to share updates on the work we’ve been doing at both the state and federal levels and to hear directly from residents about the challenges they’re facing. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it a thoughtful and engaging conversation.
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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.
Click here to watch a video highlighting the announcement event!
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As our youth enjoy these summer months away from school, don't forget that nutritious meals are available at no cost to all children in the state!
As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, any child 18 and under may receive meals at participating locations - no application, proof of income, or identification required.
You can use the U.S. DAG's Summer Meals Site Finder or call 2-1-1 to find participating meal sites throughout the state. Please confirm the location and meal service times before visiting to make sure you don't miss out.
Whether they're in the classroom or enjoying vacation, a healthy meal is critical to a child's physical and mental development. I encourage you and your family to take advantage of this great opportunity!
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I'm so proud to have received an "A+" rating from the Connecticut Education Association's 2026 legislator scorecard. This rating is based on my support for the CEA's priorities - which includes enhancing the teacher profession, protecting benefits, and supporting policy that enhances public education - along with overall support of teachers and public education.
Crafting smart, effective policy that has a direct impact on the next generation of leaders is one of my top priorities as a state legislator, and I'm thrilled to be recognized with this rating. |
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The Connecticut Department of Labor has released its latest resource guide, 2025 Connecticut Career Paths, providing tools, strategies, and insights to help individuals explore career opportunities and make informed decisions.
Published by the Department's Office of Research in partnership with the Connecticut Career Resource Network (CCRN), the guide serves as a valuable resource for students, career explorers, and job seekers across Connecticut.
Designed as a quick-reference resource, the guide includes locations and contact information for American Job Centers, the Department of Labor's job bank, career and educational resources, and key government programs. It also features articles on apprenticeships, student success planning, resume design basics, and other career development topics.
In addition, the guide provides detailed information on more than 360 occupations in Connecticut, including job descriptions, current employment figures, projected annual openings, salary ranges, required education and training, and the essential skills employers are seeking.
Click here to access the guide.
Questions about the guide may be directed to the Office of Research at ccrn@ct.gov.
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Governor Ned Lamont has signed Public Act 26-127, expanding access to affordable solar energy and battery storage for Connecticut homeowners, renters, and businesses while prioritizing relief for customers facing high energy costs. The law extends the state's residential, commercial, and community solar programs through 2027, ensuring continued support for clean energy as electricity demand grows. It also encourages responsible solar development by prioritizing projects on rooftops, brownfields, municipal and state buildings, and other developed commercial properties.
The law also extends and modifies the state's solar energy programs to cost-effectively deploy solar systems that pair solar and battery storage, allow for plug-in solar systems, and reduce red tape and costs related to solar permitting. The law aims to ensure that solar energy benefits both the person who installs it on their roof and all ratepayers by providing more clean energy and reducing the costs associated with the transmission and distribution of electricity.
The law also includes permitting reform and authorizes plug-in solar systems, which are smaller systems that can be bought off the shelf and installed relatively easily without permission from the electric utility. These systems are popular with renters and homeowners in Europe because they cost less and can be placed on a balcony or in a backyard. By creating a legal framework for plug-in solar, the law aims to extend the benefits of clean energy to more residents who have not benefited from it historically.
Additionally, the legislation directs more benefits to customers and communities with higher energy burdens, supports battery storage to improve grid reliability, streamlines residential solar permitting, and requires the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to limit public benefits charges and ensure the law reduces costs for ratepayers overall.
I am proud to have supported this legislation that will continue to move Connecticut forward on affordable, accessible energy.
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It was great to see Connecticut rise five places in CNBC's annual "America's Top States for Business" rankings, placing in the top half of all states at 23rd.
Connecticut performed best in education, where it ranked fourth in the nation, and quality of life, where it ranked fifth.
Our state also ranked in the top half in technology and innovation (19th), business friendliness (21st), access to capital (23rd), and workforce (25th).
While there is still work to be done, I'm proud to see our state rising in the rankings and being recognized as a business-friendly state. |
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies, is reminding drivers to slow down this summer as speed enforcement efforts increase across Connecticut during July. The statewide effort combines education, awareness, and enforcement to address one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in the state.
In 2024, the last year of verifiable data, Connecticut recorded 126 fatalities due to speeding and reckless driving, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.
As part of this effort, CTDOT has launched its new "Speeding is Killing All of Us" public awareness campaign, designed to encourage drivers to think about the real-life consequences of speeding and make safer choices behind the wheel. Through television, digital, social media, and outdoor advertising, the campaign delivers an urgent message: speeding puts every road user at risk.
Watch the campaign here: Speeding is Killing All of Us
Why slowing down matters:
- A pedestrian struck at higher speeds is significantly less likely to survive.
- Speeding reduces the time drivers must react to unexpected hazards.
- Even familiar roads can become deadly when drivers exceed the speed limit.
- Choosing to slow down protects everyone sharing Connecticut's roads.
For more information about the dangers of speeding, visit nhtsa.gov.
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Please see below for the "Roadwork Corner" section of the eblasts, which will include information on current and upcoming roadwork to stay aware of. Please make sure to check in weekly for the latest updates!
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There will be lane shifts on Route 72 in Plainville/New Britain. The project 0171-0501 consists of rehabilitation measures for four (4) bridges that includes, but are not limited to deck rehabilitation, superstructure rehabilitation or replacement and substructure rehabilitation.
Other major project elements include paving, roadway drainage, guiderail replacement, highway design and construction, traffic engineering and work zone traffic control, illumination and Incident Management Systems (IMS) replacement or preservation, and utility coordination, as well as related design and construction requirements detailed throughout the Technical and General Provisions including Appendices and referenced authoritative sources.
Manafort Brothers Incorporated will implement traffic shifts on various Route 72 structures in Plainville/New Britain beginning on or around June 15 and continuing through early December 2026. Traffic will remain open during construction. Motorists should expect shifted travel lanes, reduced shoulder widths, temporary pavement markings, construction signage, and changing traffic patterns throughout the work zone.
Traffic control devices and signing will be installed to help guide drivers safely through the temporary roadway configuration. Motorists are advised to use caution, reduce speeds, and remain alert for construction vehicles, roadway workers, and temporary lane changes in the area.
Please note that the schedule may be modified or extended due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Additional traffic shifts will occur as needed in the project area into December 2026.
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a Joint and Crack Sealing project will be performed on various state routes within the Greater Hartford region (CTDOT District 1). This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 1, 2026, and be completed on Friday, November 6, 2026. Project DOT01703229CN consists of pavement joint and crack sealing.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
There will be various lane closures on various state routes (see list below) from Monday, June 1, 2026, to Friday November 6, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. The following routes are included in this project:
Andover:
Route 316 between Route 6 and Hebron town line
Berlin:
Route 71 between Route 372 (Farmington Avenue) and SR 571
Bristol:
Route 72 East of Blakeslee Street to Main Street No. 1
East Windsor:
SR 510 between Route 5 by Wagner Lane and Route 5 by King Street
Route 140 between Route191 to Route 286
Manchester:
Route 83 between US 6 & 44 (Center Street) to Route 30
Mansfield:
Route 32 between Route 275 and Route 44
Route 44 between the Coventry town line and Route 195
Route 320 between Route 195 and Route 320
Plainville:
SR 536 between Route 372 (East Main Street) to White Oak Avenue
Wolcott:
Route 322 between Woodtick Road and SR 844
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a tree removal operation will be performed on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 22 and be completed on Friday, August 14, 2026. No work will be carried out around any scheduled holidays.
To ensure the safety of the public, CTDOT is removing dead, diseased, and decaying trees. Additionally, trees and vegetation that have grown into the clear zone, which is the safety space along the side of the roadway, are also being removed. This work helps save lives in the event of a crash or vehicle leaving the roadway. This work is being performed by J&J Brothers LLC.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
There will be ramp and lane closures on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville starting Monday, June 22 to Friday, August 14, 2026, during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday – Thursday. Traffic will be detoured. Traffic control personnel signing patterns and trailer mounted attenuators will guide motorists through the work zone.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.
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You can use the following links for access to town meeting schedules for the three towns in our district:
Plainville Town Meeting Schedule
Farmington Town Meeting Schedule
Southington Town Meeting Schedule
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Sincerely,
Rebecca Martinez
State Representative |
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