May Roundup

June 3, 2022

 

Please see below for the May Monthly Happenings:

Community Changemakers
Congratulations to one of my young great friends, Grace Carlos who this week was sworn in to fill a vacancy on the Montville Board of Education. It is amazing to see our young adults closing the gap to fill up and stand up to impact and change our communities.
 
Bike To Work Day
National Bike to Work Day is usually the third Friday in May, but we can bike to work any day! The observance encourages us to bike to work, but it also raises awareness of cyclists as they commute to and from work each day.
 
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests. Order yours today & stay safe this summer. Click HERE.
 
Need help placing an order for your at-⁠home tests?
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
 
Women-Owned Business Grants
The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) just launched their next round of the Equity Match Grant Program! The deadline to apply is July 3, 2022.
 
The grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 are awarded to qualified CT women-owned businesses for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. Please help spread the word about the opportunity to women-owned businesses. Visit ctwbdc.org/equity-match-grant-program for more information.
 
Investing in a Cleaner Environment
Last week, I had the great opportunity to stand with Governor Ned Lamont for the signing of two bills that helps to protect our children's future with clean energy initiatives and upholds a sense of social and economic justice to help people lower their energy costs!

S.B. 10, AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION requires Connecticut to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions produced by the state's electric grid by January 1, 2040. After the transportation sector, our electric grid (essentially, how energy is supplied and consumed) is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the state. This law seeks to change that by giving utility companies and suppliers the necessary push to find cleaner, zero-carbon ways to provide consumers with energy.

S.B. 176, AN ACT CONCERNING CLEAN ENERGY TARIFF PROGRAMS looks to increase commercial reliance on rooftop solar energy by modifying existing energy caps involving shared clean energy facilities and expanding the Non-Residential Energy Solutions (NRES) and the Shared Cleaner Energy Facilities (SCEF) programs.

Standing with the Chair & Vice Chair of the BPRC: State Representative Geraldo Reyes JR & State Representative Bobby Gibson, along with State Representative Brian Smith.
 
Captive Audience Bill
Glad to see Governor Ned Lamont sign the Captive Audience bill that the House of Representatives passed earlier this month.
 
This bill helps protect against intimidation that occasionally happens when management forces workers to attend closed-door meetings they feel they can't leave where they frequently are threatened of business closures, wage cuts, layoffs, and more.
 
Coast Guard Academy Commencement

I had the great opportunity to attend the amazing 141st Commencement Exercise of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.  It was great to see Vice President Kamala Harris offer the commencement address. Congratulations to all the Coast Guard graduates, we are so proud of your success!

 
Baby Formula Shortage
FYI: The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is utilizing numerous options to assist families — especially those in its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) program — during the nationwide infant formula shortage. 

For resources, suggestions, contact info and more, please click here.

 
Juneteenth Virtual Celebration
Come and join the NL NAACP, OIC NL and the Hempsted Houses as we host our 6th annual Juneteenth celebration & highlight the African-American history of the Hempsted House & the surrounding neighborhood.  

Juneteenth commemorates the announcement by Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 that the Civil War had ended & the enslaved people were free.
 
The celebration will feature a return visit by Joseph McGill of The Slave Dwelling Project, and Tammy Denease from the Hidden Woman Series. This free, virtual event will be streamed live on the Hempsted Houses Facebook page.

 
Events Venue Coming to New London
Great to see an awesome project happening in New London. Congratulations Rod Cornish on your new venture in opening a unique events space. Thank you for your continued investment in New London. This will be a great addition to our downtown.

Click HERE to read the article in The Day.

 
New London High School Music Team

Big congratulations to the high school music team for their excellent rating for their performances. They travelled last weekend to their competition. The concert band placed 3rd in their category, and jazz ensemble placed 1st!

 
Buckholt Family Appreciation
While working a little overtime at NLPD last week, I was able to snap this great photo of this beautiful family. They stopped by NLPD with a big surprise of cookies for officers, dispatchers and staff.
 
The Buckholt family and Waterford/New London Girl Scout Troop 63104 donated over 1100 boxes of Girls Scout cookies to numerous public servants, friends and neighbors in New London County.
 
This family has over 40 years of service with the Girls Scouts. I applaud them for the many years of service in our community and surrounding towns. We appreciate you!
 
History Made: First Woman to Lead U.S. Military Service
Admiral Linda Fagan made history last week becoming the first woman to lead any of the U.S. military services as the Senate confirmed her to lead the U.S. Coast Guard after Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz retires.
 
I am so happy to see this come to fruition especially after receiving an award from the now USCG Commandant - Admiral Linda Fagan & the USCG Superintendent Admiral William G. Kelly earlier this year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Read more HERE.
 
CT Ranked Best State To Be A Police Officer
Fox Business reported this month, during National Police Week, that a recent survey by WalletHub found Connecticut is the best state to be a police officer in.
 
Connecticut ranked higher than California, Illinois and the District of Columbia in achieving this title, which was determined by determining the opportunities, competition and salary growth of police; law enforcement training requirements; and job hazards and protections available for police. Read more HERE.