| This week, Paul Paniccia—the Southington resident who first proposed the I-84 Traffic Safety Corridor—testified before the Public Safety Committee in support of the legislation I introduced to make our highways safer. |
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Since our first meeting, I have worked with legislators from both sides of the aisle, the State Police, and officials from the Departments of Transportation and Emergency Services & Public Protection to develop this initiative. Paul’s testimony provided valuable insights and was well received by the committee.
Next week, HB 7204 will come up for a vote to advance it out of committee. I look forward to seeing this proposal though the legislative process. |
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| Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks as always for taking the time to read them! |
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| I had a great time catching up with friends at the Southington Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours networking event at Smoke & Muddle on Liberty Street. Back in September 2023, I assisted owner Robin Cimino in obtaining her permit and later attended the restaurant’s grand opening. Today, she confirmed that everything is going well—and judging by the size of the crowd, I’d say she’s right! |
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| As your State Representative, I remain committed to supporting Southington’s small businesses. Thank you, Robin, for hosting and for giving me the opportunity to learn more about the needs of our local business community. |
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| SHS Students Day on the Hill |
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| It was a highlight this week to welcome Southington High School students to the State Capitol, along with Superintendent Steven Madancy and Board of Education Chair Colleen Clark. During their “Day on the Hill” we talked about current legislation impacting students. It is a priority for me to listen to education stakeholders and support our schools, and I couldn’t be more impressed with our student representatives to the Board of Education. Thanks for visiting! |
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| Checking in with AARP Friends |
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| I enjoyed checking in with my Southington AARP friends – Laura Schiavone, Janet Ferracci and Lottie Prushinski – earlier this week. Over coffee at the Lions Den, they shared their feedback on the previous legislative session along with their updated priorities for this year. I look forward to ongoing collaboration with them during the upcoming months as we advocate on behalf of Connecticut’s retirees and seniors. |
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| Last Saturday, we enjoyed perfect weather and a fantastic turnout for the 8th annual O’Shenanigans 5K! A huge thank you to the organizers and volunteers, including the team from the Hartford Marathon Foundation, Kinsmen Brewing, and Sauced, for putting together a great community event. Shout out to all the runners for showing up and supporting this tradition! |
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| The next stop on my Legislative Session Listening Tour will be with Southington Teachers on March 26 at 4 p.m. at Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA). This event is hosted by Southington Education Association and all members are invited to attend. As a member of the Education Committee and Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Special Education, I will be sharing relevant legislation and answering questions. |
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Upcoming Tour Stops (more details to follow):
4/2 at 1 p.m. – Spring Lake Village (Tanasi Social Hall) – for members and guests
4/9 at 7 p.m. – Lions Club (Manor Inn) – for members
4/11 at 9:30 a.m. – Veteran Coffee Hour and Resource Discussion (Calendar House) – for Veterans and their families
4/15 at 6 p.m. – Southington Public Library (Community Room) – open to the public
If your organization would like to host a stop on my 2025 Listening Tour, please reply to this email to arrange a date. |
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| Lions Club Charity Auction |
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The Lions Club of Southington is hosting its 32nd annual "Everything Goes" charity auction at the Calendar House on Saturday, March 22.
There will be a preview of the items at 6:15 p.m., followed by the instant auction at 6:45 p.m. and the live auction at 7:15 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person.
Items up for auction include dinner packages, paintings, home furnishings, vacations, gifts, fine wines, sporting goods and more. |
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| Coexisting with Connecticut's Critters |
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Neighborhood owl keeping you up at night? Turkeys digging up your lawn? There's still time to register for "Co-existing with Connecticut’s Critters" presentation by Ginny Apple, Master Wildlife Conservationist with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, at the Southington Library on March 17 at 6 p.m. Click here to register.
Apple will teach you how to cohabitate with the most common (and, perhaps, most annoying) of Connecticut’s backyard critters. |
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Reminder- The Prom Shop, hosted by Southington Community Services, will be open at the Southington Congregational Church, 109 Church St., on March 15, 22 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Patrons are invited to look at a selection of gently used prom dresses, men's suits, jewelry and accessories.
All items are free. |
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Listed below is next week’s public hearings schedule. Get involved in local policy and make change in your community. We want to hear from you!
Register to testify and find more details in this week’s CGA Bulletin.
*You only need to register if you wish to provide testimony. If you want to observe the hearings, you can tune in to watch the proceedings live on the committee’s YouTube channel. |
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| Monday is St. Patrick’s Day. … May your day be filled with good cheer, community spirit, and a touch of Irish luck. 🍀 |
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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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