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| OUT N' ABOUT IN THE 41ST DISTRICT |
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| Hats off to the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District and the City of Groton for installing the first-ever rain gardens at Birch Plain Creek Wildlife Area, in Groton City along Birch Plain Creek. It was inspiring to see so many enthusiastic volunteers come together to make a positive impact on our community and environment.
The project focused on creating riparian buffers, which are essential for reducing erosion, improving water quality, and providing crucial habitat for local wildlife. It was a fantastic day outdoors, working alongside dedicated individuals who share a commitment to protecting our waterways and enhancing our local ecosystems.
This is personal to me, not just as a member of the Baker Cove Watershed Action Committee but as a kid who grew up with this incredible open space right in my backyard in the City. This neighborhood is an environmental justice community, and we must protect the native flora that sustains so many species and our environmental quality.
These efforts are a vital step towards preserving the natural beauty and ecological health of our region, and I’m proud to have been a part of this initiative. If you’re passionate about environmental conservation, I highly encourage you to join in future projects like this by reaching out to ECCD and Cierra Patrick with the City! |
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| I enjoyed visiting Camp Cove this week, located at the Naik Family Branch Ocean Community YMCA.
It was an inspiring start to the day as we gathered at the amphitheater for the opening ceremonies. The energy was incredible, with songs, games, and the enthusiastic Y spirit shared by the wonderful campers.
I also enjoyed a facility tour to learn about their campus master plan and proposed Camp Cove Shelter. Thank you to the YMCA leadership team for hosting this memorable morning of discovery and fun! |
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| HURRY! SALES TAX-FREE WEEK ENDS SATURDAY |
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| Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week ends this Saturday, August 24. This is a chance to save money, whether taking the kids back to school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones. Retailers throughout the state offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during this time, providing consumers with even more ways to stretch their spending power. |
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| During the tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to in-store purchases, online, mail-order, and over the phone. For a list of exempt and taxable items during Sales Tax-Free Week, please click HERE. Remember to shop smart - and locally - whenever possible to support small businesses. |
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| FIRST PLACE: THE GRAY BY THE MYSTIC CHEESE CO. |
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| I am thrilled that the Gray By The Mystic Cheese Company brought home 1st place at the 2024 American Cheese Society Awards! With their incredible creation, The Gray, took top honors in the American Made/International Style category, showcasing the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of our local dairy producers in Eastern Connecticut.
MCC is one of our most unique companies in the 41st District, operating its business and cheese manufacturing facility at 255 Leonard Drive at the Airport Industrial Park in Groton. They are co-located next to Beer'd Brewing Co., and have become a staple in our region for their fine, international-grade cheeses.
As a member of the town council, I was proud to support ARPA funding for MCC’s installation of a whey pumping, collection and removal system. The captured whey is hauled away and used by local farmers as feed for livestock, composted, or transformed into energy at a bioreactor. As a result, our sanitary sewer system takes in only the discharged waste and wash water, removing certain pollutants from our Long Island Sound.
This is how local governments can support our business community with federal resources. Today, as a State Rep, I’m so proud to support agricultural-based businesses like MCC in our community!
These awards reinforce Connecticut’s growing reputation as the foodie capital of New England. Congratulations to Mystic Cheese and all of Connecticut’s dairy farms and cheesemakers on this well-deserved recognition. Your hard work and dedication continue to make our state proud! |
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that safety improvements will be performed on I-95 southbound in Groton, Stonington, and North Stonington. This project is scheduled to occur on August 18, 2024, and be completed on September 27, 2024.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
There will be right or left lane closures on I-95 southbound 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Sunday nights through Friday nights. There will also be ramp closures on the following on and off-ramps: Exit 89, 90, 91, 92, and 93 for southbound traffic only. Ramp closures will be posted 7 days in advance with an onsite message board. All ramp closures will have a posted detour.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area.
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| REMINDER: AMTRAK WORK SCHEDULED IN MYSTIC |
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| Amtrak will be conducting two 55-hour weekend outages to install new culverts under the tracks south of Stonington Road, between Masons Island Road and Latimer Point Road. Much of the construction activities associated with this project will take place on Amtrak's right of way and tracks.
This project involves installing a new interlocking to increase operational flexibility, capacity, and safety. These improvements are essential to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to ensure safe and efficient intercity travel for the traveling public.
Here's a look at the construction schedule, weather permitting:
• August 16 - 19
• August 23 - 26
• Continuous work from Friday at 8:00 p.m. to Monday at 5:00 a.m.
According to Amtrak, during this period, you can expect:
• An increased presence of Amtrak personnel and vehicles in the area
• Continuous construction activities to fully utilize the 55-hour single-track outages
• Overnight work to minimize disruptions to daytime train operations
• Elevated noise levels in and around the construction site
• Federally regulated audible warnings by trains and watchmen/lookouts when equipment approaches construction zones for safety reasons
• Construction lighting during off-peak hours for employee safety and safe operations of railroad equipment |
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| The first annual SMART Week, a campaign to spread the word about the importance of secure gun storage to prevent gun violence is Monday, August 26th through Friday, August 30th. To read more about the campaign goals, please click the image below. |
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| GROTON PARKS & REC OFFERS FINANCIAL AID DISCOUNTS |
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| Groton Town Department of Parks & Recreation is happy to be able to offer financial aid discounts to make programs more accessible. Financial Aid discounts are only available to Groton residents and do not apply to Thrive55+ programs.
Use the chart below to determine which size discount you qualify for based on income and family size. For questions, call their office at 860-536-5680. You can also find this image on the Town website. |
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| TAKE BLUFF POINT STATE PARK SURVEY |
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Have you ever visited Bluff Point State Park? If so, please consider taking a survey. The Connecticut Reserve, SLR Consulting, and Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) State Parks have received funds from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to conduct a restoration and improvement plan for Bluff Point State Park.
As part of the plan, a Visitor Use survey is being conducted to collect information about how visitors use Bluff Point State Park, what challenges they encounter, and how they feel the Park could be improved. If you visit Bluff Point State Park and would like to take a 16-question survey, please click on the image below. |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES |
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| Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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