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Dozens of new laws affecting healthcare, seniors, election security, animals, and so much more are now in effect across the state. Please keep scrolling to learn more about this new legislation.
Your child could win up to $20,000 in a competition toward their future education. They can write an essay, create a video, or create artwork to win the grand prize! I'll let you know how they can apply and how much time they have left to submit their work!
You have an opportunity to weigh in on a plan to connect the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail to Curtiss Park. Read below to learn more about the plan and when and where you need to be to make your voice heard.
Volunteer firefighters in Simsbury received a generous gift that will help in the case of an emergency. Find out how new electric vehicle blankets will make our community safer.
Here are the sections in this week's email:
- New Laws Effective October 1
- $20K Competition for Your Child's Education
- Early Voting
- Honoring Our Veterans
- Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Confirmed
- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
- What Bears Are Up to in October
- Proposed Multi-Use Trail
- Volunteer Firefighters Receive EV Blankets
- Apply for the Legislative Internship Program!
- Community Events
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| New Laws Effective October 1 |
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A number of new laws that were passed during the 2024 legislative session went into effect on Tuesday, October 1st.
New laws include:
- increasing safety for home health care aides who are on the front lines of direct contact with clients
- giving the elderly population more options for choosing nursing homes
- preventing discrimination for those under mental health care
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We also passed legislation to increase protections for everyone from thieves, bullies, predators, scam artists, and other criminals on the internet. To protect privacy, online services will be prohibited from collecting personal data without approval from those under 18, and those 13 years of age and younger only with parental consent.
Animal rights were on the radar with the banning of dog races and gifting of live animals at fairs. We also increased penalties for hurting or killing a police dog. And on October 1, the Siberian Husky will officially be the state dog!
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Moving to election security, we extended the time for which violations of state election laws can be referred to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for investigation. This change will help safeguard voter trust and participation in elections.
There are several new laws in addition to the above. Please follow the link below for the full list, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
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| Thank you for your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings. Public input and feedback had a direct influence on these new laws. I encourage you to continue sharing your views and make your voice heard. |
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$20K Competition for
Your Child's Education |
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Your children are encouraged to enter the CHET Dream Big! competition to win up to $20,000 toward their future education. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can submit an essay, artwork, or video based on the following specific grade-level topics:
- K - 4th grade: When you grow up, what would you like to be and why?
- 5th - 8th grade: What is a lesson you've learned and how will it influence your future?
- 9th - 12th grade: Tell us about an experience or person in your life that has impacted you and how this will influence your future goals?
The deadline to enter is Monday, November 4. CLICK HERE to enter the competition! |
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Here is a breakdown of some of the prizes this year:
- 3 Grand Prize winners receive $20,000 (one student from each age group)
- 24 winners receive $5,000 (eight students per age group)
- 239 winners receive $500 (at least 53 students per age group)
- 10 randomly selected participating schools will win $5,000 in tech equipment
I wish everyone good luck in the competition! |
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In-person early voting will be available for the general election for the first time in Simsbury. You can cast a ballot in the Tariffville Room of the Simsbury Public Library (725 Hopmeadow Street) on:
- Monday, October 21 - Sunday, November 3 from 10 A.M. - 6 P.M.
- Tuesday, October 29 & Thursday, October 31 from 8 A.M. - 8 P.M.
Please look at the image below for more information on early voting. |
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If you are not sure you are registered, please visit: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx.
Additionally, the Latimer Lane Elementary School construction project is nearing completion, and voters who live in that polling district will return to Latimer in November for voting. If you live in the Latimer Lane polling district you should be receiving information in the mail from the Registrars of Voters confirming your voting location this week.
Please reach out to the Registrars of Voters via email at ssalina@simsbury-ct.gov (R) and kcortes@simsbury-ct.gov (D) if you have any questions.
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| I was honored to join Senator Lisa Seminara and participate in the Wartime Service Medal Ceremony at Simsbury High School. It was a privilege to meet and pin our veterans with the medals for their service. Congratulations to Ed DeManual, April Martin, and Phil DiMartino, pictured below, for your well-deserved recognition. I thank you, all veterans, and active duty service members for your service. |
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| Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Confirmed |
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| I was honored to vote with the overwhelming majority of my colleagues in support of Governor Ned Lamont’s nominee for our next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Raheem Mullins. As one of the youngest chief justices, Justice Mullins will have a long-term profound impact on the direction of the Supreme Court and the entire Judicial Branch. |
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| Justice Mullins will serve as interim chief justice until the full legislature can take up his appointment in January. He is the second Black chief justice in Connecticut history. As an attorney who practices daily in our state court system, I’m confident that Justice Mullins has the vision, integrity, and fortitude to lead our judicial system forward. CLICK HERE to learn more how he plans to bring our court system into the 21st century. |
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| Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month |
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| We're celebrating culture this Hispanic Heritage Month in addition to honoring generations of resilience, creativity, and impact. From art to innovation, the Hispanic community continues to shape our world in powerful ways. Let’s uplift, honor, and keep making history together! |
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Your children can be a part of the celebration by playing in a game featuring Aztec and Mayan warriors, set long before any explorers arrived in the Americas. A large tabletop will represent the lush jungle and rain forest conditions, and the game will feature hundreds of hand-painted figures.
The event will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 1 P.M. – 4 P.M. at Simsbury Public Library.
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| What Bears Are Up to in October |
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In October, bears are spending up to 20 hours per day awake and searching for food. This process will continue until there is no food available, in which case bears den-up.
Keep in mind that October is known to have a spike in collisions with animals, including bears. Shorter days make it harder to see, and bears are not shy about crossing the street to forage for their next meal.
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You are invited to learn about a plan to build a new multi-use trail connecting the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail to Curtiss Park. The Town of Simsbury is hosting a public information meeting on Tuesday, October 8 from 6:00 P.M.to 7:00 P.M. in the Tariffville Room of the Simsbury Public Library.
The proposed multi-use trail is planned to be a 10-foot wide path that spans about 3,000 feet. It begins at Tariffville Road and Hopmeadow Street and ends at the existing driveway to Curtiss Park. Crews have completed the preliminary design and hope to begin construction next year.
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| Volunteer Firefighters Receive EV Blankets |
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The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company recently received a generous donation of four electric vehicle blankets from the Hoffman Auto Group. The blankets can be used:
- to protect an object against an electric vehicle fire
- to create a barrier between a fire and other objects
- to reduce the temperature of a fire, and much more
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| The Simsbury Fire Marshal's Office worked closely with Hoffman's to identify potential risks and ways we can mitigate those risks. The community is grateful for this partnership, which will help protecting our neighbors. |
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| Apply for the Legislative Internship Program! |
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| If your college student is interested in getting a hands-on experience with our state government, then please encourage them to apply now for the 2025 Legislative Internship Program! It allows students to get college credit while meeting face-to-face with legislators, learning about how the legislative process works, taking part in a mock session in the House of Representatives, and so much more. |
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Here are some of the requirements:
- 18 years of age or older by start of program
- Enrolled in a Connecticut college or university
- Registered for a campus-based course to receive credit for the internship
- Minimum 20 credits completed by program start
- Minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA
The application deadline is Friday, November 1. CLICK HERE to learn more about the internship program. |
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| You're invited to take part in the Orthopedic Associates of Hartford (OAH) 5k run/walk and 1K kid's fun run on Saturday, October 5 at 9:30 A.M. at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. This event will benefit OAH Strides' mission to empower under-resourced families to live active, healthy lifestyles. CLICK HERE to register and get more information. |
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Simsbury is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, October 19 from 8 A.M. – 1 P.M at the Simsbury Department of Public Works facility at 66 Town Forest Road. Organizers are collecting items that cannot go into the regular trash, keeping hazardous materials from being deposited into landfills.
Anyone who lives in Simsbury, Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Suffield are allowed to take part. Please bring proof of residency and approach Town Forest Road from the Stratton Brook Road side, to keep the line orderly. CLICK HERE for more information including a list of items that will be accepted.
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| Get in the Halloween spirit by joining the International Skating Center of Connecticut on Friday, October 25 at 7 P.M. for the GLOW Public Skate Party. Participants will get free glow sticks and take part in a costume contest. Tickets are $12 and skate rentals are $5. Make sure to wear your costume! |
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Stop by the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 27 from 12 - 5 P.M. for Brewstock Boos & Tunes! You will get to sample local brews, enjoy a costume contest, Halloween games, food trucks, and live music!
General Admission SAMPLING tickets will include a set number of sample tickets, which can be exchanged at any brewery for FREE samples. Those who do not wish to sample beer may purchase the general admission ticket.
Security will check ID for general admission sampling ticket holders upon entry. Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for the day.
CLICK HERE for more information including a list of participating breweries and food vendors.
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