Mary Fortier

Exciting news for the 2025-2026 school year!  

All students enrolled in Bristol Public Schools will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge through the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).

While no application is required for meal benefits, schools may distribute alternate income forms to collect household income data. This helps support other programs and services that rely on income information.

If you have any questions, please contact David Foulds, Food Service Director, Bristol Public Schools (860) 584-7984.

Here is a picture of my new sidewalk that got replaced by the City of Bristol's Residential Sidewalk Repair Program. This program provides financial assistance to property owners responsible for sidewalk maintenance by offering grants and low-interest loans to share the cost of repairing or replacing hazardous sidewalks. Property owners must submit a request for inspection, after which a determination is made, and if a safety hazard exists, they can apply for financial assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Click here for more information on the Residential Sidewalk Repair Program.

Please join me and Rep. Gilchrest on Wednesday, October 1 from 4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. for an important conversation on the impacts of federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

Governor Lamont recently announced a 33% increase in funding for Connecticut's Town Aid Road (TAR) grant program, with state support rising from $60 million to $80 million for FY26-27.

The TAR program supports all municipalities across our state with the costs of essential transportation-related needs, including road and bridge repair, snow plowing, tree trimming, traffic signal upgrades, public transit services, and more.

Public transportation and infrastructure are two of the most essential services provided by the government, and I'm excited to see this significant increase in funding.

For more information on the Town Aid Road grant program, and to see how much Bristol has received from the program, click here.

If you're insured through the Access Health CT exchange, you may have recently received a postcard in the mail and it's worth paying attention to.

People who receive tax credits or subsidies for their affordable health care plans could see those benefits change or even disappear. This small piece of mail could be alerting you to major changes coming to your health insurance costs.

It’s important to review your current plan now because what you’re paying this year might not be the same next year. Visit AccessHealthCT.com/get-help to make sure your information is up to date. You can also sign up for text updates or call Access Health CT directly at 1-855-901-2428.

More information will be coming soon, so keep an eye out and stay informed.

The governor has implemented several executive orders to ensure that residents who wish to be vaccinated continue to have access to vaccines and that coverage remains uninterrupted under state-regulated health insurance policies. The actions will:

• Permit pharmacists to order, prescribe, and administer the vaccine.
• Establish statewide guidelines for who is eligible to receive the vaccine - Adults of all ages can receive COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies and medical practices while children between 6 months and 18 years of age can receive vaccinations through pediatric providers participating in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP).

The accessibility of vaccines should not be determined by partisan politics. These changes will ensure that Connecticut residents and doctors alike have all the tools necessary to keep us healthy.

Click here to learn more.

Thanks to sound fiscal management, Connecticut has earned another credit rating boost – this time from Moody's and Fitch. The two agencies attribute our strong budgets, aggressive pension liability payments, steady revenue growth, and long-term planning as key reasons for their decisions. These upgrades mark the seventh and eighth credit rating increases during the Lamont administration, a clear sign Connecticut is on the right track.

Moody’s raised Connecticut by one step to Aa2, and Fitch followed by lifting the state to AA from AA-. Both are the third-highest levels.

These upgrades are more than symbolic because they:

• Lower borrowing costs for the state
• Create immediate and long-term savings for taxpayers
• Make Connecticut bonds even more attractive for investors

This means we can continue paying down pension debt while freeing up resources for critical investments in education, housing, health care, social services, and much more.

At the heart of this success is our state's continued commitment to the fiscal guardrails. These rules, which cap spending and limit borrowing, have provided the discipline needed to keep our budgets balanced while building confidence among taxpayers, businesses, and investors that Connecticut is moving forward on a sustainable fiscal path.

The guardrails ensure the state lives within its means today so future generations are not saddled with the mistakes of the past. As Connecticut continues to grow its economy and invest in its people, staying true to these fiscal guardrails will be key to keeping this positive momentum going.

Shepherd Meadows farm is hosting an Autumn Equinox Crystal Sound Bath for a meditative experience. Limited spots available, click here to register.

The Annual 2025 Mum Festival (70 Memorial Boulevard) runs from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28.

Attractions, music and food vary by day. Enjoy Amusement Rides and Midway Games, Food Trucks, Headliner Bands including Soul Sound Revue, BPD and BFD K9s, a Car Show, Fire Spinners at Dusk, a Kids Zone, Train Rides and so much MORE!

Click here for a full list of events, general information, and the Mum Festival Parade Details and Route.  Mum Festival parking is free.

2025 Mum Festival Dates and Times:

• Friday, September 26th from 5:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
• Saturday, September 27th from 12:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
• Sunday, September 28th from 12:00 P.M.– 6:00 P.M.
• The Parade on Sunday steps off on West Street at 1:30 P.M.