Chris Poulos

This week, I had the opportunity to welcome some of my students from Joel Barlow High School in Redding to the State Capitol. We started our day by meeting with the House Democrats Policy Director Tim Bergin, and the students had the opportunity ask him questions about the legislative process and how ideas actually become laws. Afterward, at the opening of the session, I brought them into the House Chamber, and I had the privilege of introducing them to my colleagues in the legislature. It was great to combine my passion for teaching with a lesson on civics and public service.

Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks as always for taking the time to read them!

It was great to take a break between votes this week to meet friends from two of Southington’s community organizations.

Tricia Gibney and Lyn Lozano from the Arc of Southington came to Hartford to participate in a rally for nonprofit organizations. While at the Capitol we met with Representatives Geoff Luxenberg and Antonio Felipe to discuss the details of a $20,000 housing grant that we worked to secure for the Arc of Southington this past fall. We also had the opportunity to explore the possibility for additional funding in the coming year. Our conversation was productive and positive.

Later that afternoon Southington YMCA CEO Mark Pooler and his team stopped by to share their organization’s legislative priorities for early childhood education. They also provided an update on the status and timelines for the various projects at Camp Sloper that are being funded by the $1 million dollars of state and federal funding we worked to secure. I was glad that the legislative schedule offered us time for our brief, bit informative visit.

It was great to be part of an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote this week in the House on HB 5381, which would require the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Police Officer Standards and Training Council or any municipal police department to include training on when a police officer shall not pause the recording on their recording equipment. Public safety should not be a partisan issue. The vote was 149-0.

Let's celebrate the heartbeat of our economy as Small Business Week kicks off Sunday! From quaint boutiques to cozy cafes, our state is brimming with entrepreneurial spirit and local charm. Show your support and shop local and uplift the small businesses that make our communities thrive! 

The 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives the community a way to safely and anonymously turn in old, unneeded, or unused medications.
 
Take part by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and heading to the closest drop-off location, which for Southington includes Berlin Town Hall, Wolcott Police Department, Cheshire Police Department and Meriden Police Department.

The Southington Friends of the Library is accepting donations for its bookstore on the lower level of the Southington Public Library.

Gently used books, CDs, DVDs and more are gratefully accepted; please see the graphic below for more details.