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This weekend we take time to reflect and honor the brave men and women who heroically fought for our freedom. Please come out to support and remember our military personnel.
On Saturday May 24, the Newington Memorial Day Parade will commence at 10:30 A.M. After a moment of silent reflection, the parade will step off from the corner of East Robbins Avenue and Main Street turning left on Garfield Street and dispersing at Mill Pond Park.
On Monday, May 26, the West Hartford Memorial Day Parade will commence promptly at 10:00 A.M. from the corner of Woodrow Street and Farmington Avenue and ends at West Hartford Town Hall (50 S. Main St).
The parade features a military flyover, veterans from all military branches, the American Legion Post 96, town officials, police and fire color guards, high school and middle school marching bands, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, sports teams, and civic organizations.
Immediately following the parade, a brief Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial (corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue) to bring special meaning to the holiday.
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This week at the Capitol, we acted swiftly to strengthen health coverage for nearly one million elderly, disabled, and low-income children who rely on Medicaid. While in Washington, Congress is cutting health insurance access, here in Connecticut we stepped up to make sure the funds are there to pay providers and ensure patients get care through the end of the fiscal year on June 30th.
The Governor made a Declaration of the Existence of Extraordinary Circumstances for us to pay the $284 million to protect Medicaid with surplus dollars and create greater flexibility in our spending cap to make this important payment.
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HB 6863 also included a provision to help mitigate the financial effect following a state Supreme Court ruling that would have resulted in a 265% increase in workers’ compensation claims. This measure had become a top legislative priority for employers and municipal leaders across the state, who warned that inaction would have had far-reaching economic consequences.
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Everyone deserves to feel safe in the place they call home.
Connecticut has one of the strongest TRUST Act’s in the country - it was approved unanimously in 2013 - and we added to it on Wednesday. The Trust Act ensures that Connecticut’s resources are used for state priorities, and not on federal immigration enforcement. Local law enforcement can continue their important work to keep CT safe and must follow any warrant seeking custody of an immigrant or hold them for ICE if they are arrested on serious charges.
This week's bill specifies that if a municipality violates the Trust Act there are consequences—any aggrieved person can seek an injunction against a municipality or its agents, including police and school employees.
Connecticut's immigrants contribute significantly to our communities and our economy. As the Trump Administration continues to ignore the rule of law and incite fear, this bill reinforces that hate has no home in our state.
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Amidst the many bills we signed this week, I continued to connect with constituents and rallied for the funding our communities desperately need at the Capitol. We advocated for nonprofit agencies supporting the homeless, mental health issues, people with disabilities, and much more.
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I also had the chance to connect with our West Hartford Town Clerk Leon Davidoff, AARP volunteers from Newington, and our Family Resource Center staff from Charter Oak School in West Hartford.
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Medical debt relief is coming to more than 100,000 Connecticut residents!
I’m proud to share that the second round of medical debt relief is on the way — funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and made possible through our partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.
What to expect:
Keep an eye out for an official letter from Undue Medical Debt. THIS IS NOT JUNK MAIL! There is no application process, no catch, just relief.
Who qualifies?
- Individuals earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level
- Those whose medical debt equals 5% or more of annual income
This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to health equity, financial relief, and a more compassionate healthcare system for all Connecticut residents. Click here to view a sample of what this letter looks like.
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Another year, another Elmwood Clean-Up! On Saturday, June 7th at 9:00 A.M. meet me in the parking lot of the Faxon Library (1073 New Britain Ave, West Hartford) with residents of all ages to help make a difference in beautifying our neighborhood. All supplies provided, just bring yourself and a friend!
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| STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Learning to identify the signs is an important step when seeking help or when trying to help others. Here are some common signs to be aware of:
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
- Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
- Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
- You think about hurting yourself or feel like life isn't worth living
Taking small steps to support your mental health can make a big difference:
- Take breaks from social media
- Go outside and relax or be active
- Connect with others
- Take care of your body by getting at least 7 hours of sleep, staying physically active, and eating healthy
- Reduce your alcohol intake and avoid smoking
Click here for local resources for mental health assistance.
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The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Business Engagement and Rapid Response Units is leading a statewide job fair on June 12th from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Central CT State University (1615 Stanley Street, Alumni Hall, New Britain).
Below is a list of over fifty employers who will attend, offering mid-to-high-level positions. Participants are asked to dress in interview attire and come prepared with resumes.
If you have any questions, email kathleen.marioni@ct.gov
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20,000+ certified EMS personnel
450,000 emergency calls annually
75 volunteer ambulance services providing EMS support
58 volunteer fire departments providing EMS support
