Chris Poulos

Thank you to the Southington community for coming out last weekend to support our town during the first weekend of the Apple Harvest Festival.

The parade, YMCA road race, fireworks, vendors, bands, and of course the apple fritters, all contributed to the legacy of this great Southington tradition.

Information, including the schedule of events for the upcoming weekend, can be found on the Apple Harvest Festival website at southington.org/ahf.

Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks as always for taking the time to read them!

After the first month of the school year, I was honored to present an official state citation to Megan Evans, Literacy Specialist at Strong Elementary School, for her selection as Southington’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. Megan’s passion for curriculum enhancements, volunteerism, and student success has earned her this well-deserved recognition. Southington residents are extremely proud and appreciative of her, and there couldn’t be a finer representative of our town's extraordinary teachers!

Always a fan of the CyberKnights-Team 195. The STEM FOR ALL event this past weekend was great. I am continually amazed by the talents and energy of our SHS robotics students. A highlight for me was driving one of the robots, picking up a frisbee, and launching it across the field. Awesome job to all involved! 

This week, I had the pleasure of touring Happy’s Indoor Golf, a new virtual golf venue on Center Street. I visited with owner, Dan Sardilli, and learned about this exciting business and its potential to attract visitors to our fine restaurants and other businesses in the downtown area.  My son Andrew, who is an avid golfer, joined me for the tour and gave Happy’s two thumbs up! Be sure to stop by and check out and support this business during the Apple Harvest Festival and upcoming winter months. 

Congratulations to David Derynoski, Southington’s 2023 Distinguished Democrat of the Year. David was recently celebrated amongst family, friends and colleagues at the Manor Inn for his 32 years of service to the Southington Board of Education, including eight terms as Board Chairman. His dedication to seeing Southington graduates succeed, whether they choose college or another path, has become his legacy. Former State Representative Dave Zoni presented an official state citation at the event on my behalf, as I was out of town. Best wishes to David Derynoski for this milestone accomplishment. 

A number of new laws went into effect on October 1 such as wrong-way driving prevention with a test program on 120 highway exit ramps that are determined high risk for wrong-way drivers.

Other new laws include: 

• Energy reimbursements: When power outages last for more than four days after an emergency, electric distribution companies like Eversource must credit residential customers $25 for each day without power and $250 for any food or medication that expires or spoils because of the outage. 
• Increased penalties for street takeovers: It will be illegal for individuals to incite or recruit participation in a dangerous street takeover including through social media and it also expands the definition of a street takeover by including the “intent to cause disorder or create a nuisance.”

Your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings during this year's legislative session had a direct influence on these new laws. Thank you for your input, and please continue sharing your views and making your voice heard during our legislative process. 

A new Low-Income Discount Rate will be available for Eversource financial hardship customers in Connecticut beginning December 1. Depending on their household income, eligible customers will receive 10% or 50% off their electric bills per month. Verified financial hardship customers are eligible for a 10% discount on their total monthly electric bill. Customers with an annual household income at or below 160% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines can qualify for the 50% discount rate. 

Customers can check if their income meets that criteria on Eversource's bill help page, or call (800) 286-2828. To verify eligibility, customers must submit receipt of a public assistance benefit for at least one household member or proof of income for all household members over 18, such as an Unemployment or Social Security benefit letter, current pay stubs or if self-employed, the most recent 1099 Form. 

Eversource customers enrolled in the Low-Income Discount Rate can still take advantage of other assistance programs like the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) or Operation Fuel. 

Eversource also encourages all customers, regardless of income, to take advantage of its other payment options and energy efficiency solutions that can help them manage their year-round energy usage.