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Monday is Memorial Day, a time for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.
Let's take time to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the values we hold dear. We also recognize the families who carry the weight of that sacrifice every day.
As a community, let us come together to remember their service, support one another, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of courage, service, and patriotism that define our country. |
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Memorial Day events in the area:
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Please read below for road closures in Plainville's parade:
This year's Memorial Day Parade will take place at 9:00 AM on Monday, May 25th. As in previous years, several road closures will be in effect along the parade route for approximately one hour until the parade concludes. Some closures could start as early as 8:00 AM. Furthermore, several areas along the parade route will be designated as "No Parking" zones to discourage parking along the route.
This year’s route has will be the same as the past few years. The parade route will be the following:
- Parade starts at the intersection of Broad Street @ Whiting Street and travels west bound on Broad Street towards its intersection with Route 177.
- The parade will then turn north from Broad Street onto Route 177 (Washington Street) towards its intersection with Route 372 (West Main Street).
- The parade will then turn right onto Route 372 (West Main Street) and head east towards the center of town to Whiting Street.
- The parade will then turn right onto Whiting Street and proceed south back to its starting point at the intersection of Whiting Street @ Broad Street.
- Participants of the parade will then disperse in different directions from there to pre-planned designated meeting areas to prevent traffic backup.
- At the conclusion of the parade, there will be a small ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the corner of Maple Street @ Whiting Street.
It is encouraged to plan ahead if you live along the parade route. You may not be able to leave your house between the hours of 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
The members of The Plainville Police Department appreciate your cooperation with this event and hope to see everyone there.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, please contact Lieutenant Mark Connoy at 860-747-1616 ext. 278 or email him at connoy@plainville-ct.gov.
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In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about absentee voting, early childhood business grants, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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A new law provides all eligible voters in Connecticut with the option of casting a vote via absentee ballots.
Public Act 26-42 removes certain restrictions that previously limited absentee ballots to voters who could not appear in person on Election Day for a narrow set of reasons. With this change, any eligible voter who prefers to vote absentee may now do so.
The voters of Connecticut demanded Absentee Voting For All after they overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2024. The new law takes effect immediately.
The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. Expanding access to absentee ballots strengthens participation, increases flexibility, and ensures every voter has a convenient and secure option to make their voice heard.
To vote by absentee ballot, eligible voters must complete an absentee ballot application and submit it to their town clerk. Applications can also be submitted online through the Office of the Secretary of the State’s secure portal. For more information on applying for an absentee ballot, visit myvote.ct.gov.
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On Tuesday, June 2 from 6-7:30pm at the Farmington Senior Center (321 New Britain Ave., Unionville), I hope you'll join me and the rest of the Farmington delegation for a post-session legislative forum.
We will talk about all of the great work we accomplished this session, our priorities moving forward, and most important, the issues that matter most to you. I look forward to seeing you there! |
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It was an honor to join community leaders, residents, and fellow legislators for the ribbon cutting and celebration of Farmington’s beautiful new Town Hall. The restoration of the historic 1928 building is truly incredible and reflects the pride, vision, and dedication of the entire community.
Congratulations to everyone who played a role in bringing this important project to completion — town officials, staff, community advocates, contractors, and residents whose support made this possible. This new Town Hall is more than just a building; it is a symbol of Farmington’s commitment to preserving history while investing in the future.
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I wanted to share the 2026 Legislative Session Major Public Acts document with you. The document, composed by the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) with assistance from the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), briefly describes the most significant, far-reaching, and publicly debated acts adopted by the General Assembly in the 2026 regular session. You can click HERE to read the full OLR report, or click the graphic below.
If you're interested in more information on bills that passed and didn't pass this legislative session, please click HERE.
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The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) and Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) are accepting applications for the OEC-WBDC Program Operations Grants now through Monday, May 25 at 7pm.
OEC and WBDC are offering grants of up to $50,000 to qualified Connecticut early childhood businesses to support operations and preserve child care access. The Operations Grant provides short-term funding to support OEC-licensed early childhood education programs. The grants are designed to help programs maintain their existing early childhood slots.
Grants will be awarded to eligible programs serving high and medium-needs families, as defined by OEC. This funding is intended to support operational expenses, including staffing, materials, facility costs, and other business needs that ensure ongoing services to families and communities.
This is a ONE-TIME funding opportunity. Click here for more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply. |
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As of October 2025, the State of Connecticut allocated $3 million in emergency funding to Connecticut Foodshare to address the loss of federal SNAP benefits. These funds were designed for the nonprofit to purchase food for distribution through its network of partners and mobile pantries following federal funding cuts. [1, 2, 3]
How to Find Allocation Information (As of May 2026):
- Connecticut Foodshare Financials: View their annual reports and 990 forms for official records on funding sources and expenditures.
- OpenCheckbook CT: Search for "CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC" to see state-level expenditures and payments to the organization, which showed roughly $5.44M in 2022.
- CT.gov Press Releases: Check the Governor's official press releases for recent emergency funding announcements, such as the $3 million declared in October 2025.
- Connecticut Public Radio: News outlets like CT Public and WFSB frequently report on changes in state funding for food insecurity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
In addition to state funding, Connecticut Foodshare also utilized $1 million from its own capital reserves for emergency response in October 2025. [1]
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Please see below for the "Roadwork Corner" section of the eblasts, which will include current and upcoming roadwork being done to stay aware of. Please make sure to check in weekly for the latest updates!
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced a milling and resurfacing project on Route 72 in Plainville and Bristol, from Route 372/Forestville Avenue to Blakeslee Street, will take place from May 13 through June 12, 2026. Milling work is scheduled for May 13–21, followed by resurfacing from May 26–June 12.
Motorists can expect nightly lane closures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, with traffic control personnel guiding drivers through the work zone.
Drivers are urged to use caution and be aware that schedules may change due to weather or other conditions.
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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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