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Thank you to all who joined me for Elmwood Clean Up Day on Saturday. We can all do our part to make a difference in our neighborhoods by beautifying and keeping them clean and green! I much appreciate Joanna and her two kids for organizing this with me and the Elmwood Business Association for the past four years.
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Sunday was a beautiful day to enjoy the 38th Celebrate West Hartford. It's a fun event for the community and an opportunity to support local businesses, non-profit organizations, and show off everything that West Hartford has to offer.
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Conveniently the West Hartford Fire Fighters “dunk tank” was “out of service” by the time I was supposed to participate so I’ll have to wait until next year to get dunked!
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At the end of legislative session the Office of Legislative Research prepares the Major Acts report to review much of the major legislation that was passed in the House and Senate. From state finances to housing to healthcare, you can read all about these major bills. Click on the photo below for the report and please reach out if you have any questions.
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On Thursday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is releasing $18.8 million in state grants that will be used for the assessment and remediation of 227 acres of contaminated land across Connecticut.
The Town of West Hartford is receiving 2 grants for properties located in town:
- the Former A.C. Petersen Ice Cream Production Facility, located at 240 Park Road
The assessment and subsequential cleanup will allow the building’s existing businesses, including the Playhouse on Park, a performing arts theater, to expand into the environmentally affected areas which have been unused or underused for several decades.
- demolition and remediation of 579 New Park Avenue
The remediation activities will enable the construction of a mixed-use/TOD project consisting of 70 residential units.
The grants are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.
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I was excited to join Governor Ned Lamont as well as fellow legislators, educators, parents, and advocates on Tuesday to celebrate the transformative childcare accomplishments we achieved during the 2025 legislative session. The legislation we passed will implement the largest expansion of access to early childhood education in Connecticut history.
House Bill 5003, House Bill 7288, and Senate Bill 1 will enable thousands of additional children to enroll in high-quality, early childhood education services, which have been unattainable for families. In passing this legislation, Connecticut has become a leader and model for early childhood education for our nation.
As the House leader of this legislation, click the image below to listen to my comments.
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This summer I'll be joined by Ruth-Ann for an internship with the LiveGirl SheWorks program. A recent graduate, Ruth-Ann is a doula and a parent member of the Office of Early Childhood Early Childhood Cabinet. I look forward to working with her and providing an opportunity for her to learn more about my role as a legislator.
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Coming up in July the West Hartford and Newington delegations will be hosting End of Session Legislative Town Hall events. We will share information and answer questions about all the important bills passed this session. We hope to see you there and look forward to hearing your feedback!
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| STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES |
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The Condition of Education in Connecticut is the Connecticut State Department of Education's (CSDE) annual report that tracks the status and progress of public education across the state. It includes:
- Student Enrollment and Demographics: The report tracks changes in student population, including diversity and the number of students with disabilities, English learners, and those eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- High School Graduation Rates: The report analyzes four-year cohort graduation rates for all students and specific subgroups, identifying trends and disparities.
- Post-Secondary Education: The report examines college enrollment and graduation rates, as well as the percentage of students meeting college and career readiness benchmarks.
- Student Achievement and Growth: The report includes data on state summative assessments, standardized tests, and other measures of student academic performance.
- Teacher Force: The report provides information on the composition of the teaching force, including diversity and experience levels.
- School Facilities: The report may include data on the condition of school facilities, based on reports submitted by local and regional boards of education.
- Other Key Indicators: The report may also include data on student truancy, homelessness, and other relevant topics.
Recent findings from the 2023-24 report include:
- Graduation Rates: The four-year high school cohort graduation rate decreased slightly from 88.9 percent to 88.4 percent, marking the second consecutive year of decline.
- College-and-Career Readiness: The percentage of 11th and 12th grade students meeting benchmarks on college and career readiness exams or earning dual credits remained stable.
- Student Achievement: Proficiency rates across subjects (ELA, math) were below pre-pandemic averages.
- Student Diversity: Connecticut's student population continues to increase in diversity, with students of color comprising 51.4 percent of the student body.
The 2023-24 Condition of Education Report can be found here.
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On Saturday, June 14 at 11:00 A.M. come out to the 5th annual West Hartford CommUnity Juneteenth Celebration (50 South Main Street, West Hartford).
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Connecticut Open House Day, now in its 21st year, is set to take place on Saturday, June 14. Held annually on the second Saturday of June, this statewide event invites residents to explore Connecticut’s rich array of cultural, historical, and recreational attractions right in their own backyard. The hope is that this event will convert CT residents into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences by enhancing awareness and interest in the state's tourism to other visitors.
By offering free or reduced admission and exclusive access to rarely opened sites, Connecticut hopes that this event will spark something in its residents and convert them into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences to other visitors. There is a lot to offer and Connecticut tourism is open for all to enjoy!
The Governor’s Residence will be open to the public for tours from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. (990 Prospect Avenue, Hartford).
Click here to find the list of businesses taking part.
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Our libraries have a lot of books, and through resource sharing, we have access to even more books! For the first time, the CT State Library is offering a Suggested Summer Reading List for all grade levels.
The Suggested Summer Reading list has been compiled around this year's theme, Level up at Your Library, an all ages summer reading program. The suggested list is just that, suggested! The list has been created with accessibility in mind and it's a guidance that matches the age breakdowns and number of titles as the Department of Education reading challenge lists.
Click here to access the list.
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