Dear Neighbor,
The first week of school is always a special time in Southington. As students return to the classroom, there’s a sense of excitement, possibility, and new beginnings. I want to take a moment to wish all of our students, families, and teachers a successful and fulfilling school year ahead.
This week also brought wonderful news for our community: Southington’s own Kim Padroff has been named a 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Semifinalist. This honor reflects her outstanding dedication to her students and profession. I had the opportunity to visit her classroom and see firsthand the hard work and thoughtful preparation she put in to make sure her students were ready for a strong start to the school year. Please join me in congratulating Kim and wishing her the very best as she advances through the next stages of the selection process. We know she will continue to make Southington proud. |
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As the year gets underway, I look forward to seeing all the great things our students and teachers will accomplish together.
Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks as always for taking the time to read them! |
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| I was glad to join the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington’s (ECCS) open house at their new office and education space in downtown Southington. As a Local Governance Partner for the Early Start CT initiative, this space will help them host meetings, trainings, and parent education programs—making resources more accessible for families and childcare providers in our community. Congratulations on this important milestone, which will better enable ECCS to serve families and childcare providers in our community. |
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As our students and educators acclimate to their new classrooms, now is a good time to remind drivers that the law requires you to slow down for school buses in your neighborhood. Here is the breakdown for any driver who fails to stop when a school bus is displaying its flashing red signal lights:
- First offense: $450 fine
- Following offenses: $500 - $1,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both
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| Maternal & Infant Health Laws Signed |
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| Governor Ned Lamont signed two maternal and infant health care bills into law over the summer. When mothers are supported, families and communities benefit. These critical pieces of legislation will support new moms, babies, and fathers as they embark on a new chapter of the lives. |
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House Bill 7102 (Public Act 25-38):
- Develops a strategy to increase birth centers and birthing hospitals in underserved regions of the state with a high percentage of Medicaid recipient
- Increases Medicaid reimbursement for doulas
- Expands the role of fathers in supporting maternal and infant health
House Bill 7214 (Public Act 25-7):
- Establishes a task force to study perinatal health care, which will provide a report card for birth centers and hospitals providing maternity care
- Requires the Commissioner of Public Health to convene an advisory committee to study the pros and cons of doula-friendly practices in hospital and make related legislative recommendations
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We are continuing to lead the way in advancing health equity to make sure every parent, every family, and every baby can thrive here. By investing in the earliest stages of life, we safeguard the physical and emotional well-being of families and strengthen our communities.
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| Language Learning Made Easy |
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| Anytime is the perfect time to start learning a new language! To support you, the Southington Public Library has grammar and instruction books, books on CD, and free access to Transparent Language, an online learning platform available with your library card. These resources can be used for travel, school, or personal enrichment. Southington residents may apply for a new library card or renew an expired one by CLICKING HERE. For questions regarding library cards, contact the Circulation Desk at 860-628-0947 x2. |
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| Recreation Park pool ONLY will remain open through Sunday, September 7 on a modified schedule. See hours below or online at: www.southington.org/pools. |
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| Child Car Seat Safety Check |
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| The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) and the Southington Police Department are teaming up to host a free child car seat safety check at the Calendar House on Saturday, September 6. The Police Department has several certified child passenger safety seat officers who will be on hand to make sure seats are installed correctly and safely. Checks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. See below for more details. |
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| Southington Festival Chorale |
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| The Southington Festival Chorale will begin its new season on September 15th, with a Winter Concert planned for December 7th. The Chorale welcomes singers of all experience levels. Anyone interested is invited to attend the upcoming open rehearsal on September 15 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. to learn more and see what the group is all about. Questions can be directed to the Chorale via Facebook—they would love to hear from you! It promises to be a wonderful season of music. |
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| Happy Labor Day! This weekend we celebrate the hardworking people who keep our community moving forward. I’m grateful for the dedication, resilience, and contributions of working families here in Southington and across our state. Wishing you a safe, restful holiday with family and friends. |
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| As always, if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Chris.Poulos@cga.ct.gov. Don't forget to "LIKE" my Facebook page for news and legislative updates! |
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Sincerely,
Chris Poulos
State Representative |
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