Mary Welander

Connecticut Summer at the Museum is happening now through Monday, September 4th. Below is a list of museums that are participating nearby:

• Palestine Museum US, Woodbridge
• The Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden
• Ward-Heitmann House Museum, West Haven
• Milford Historical Society, Milford

The full list of participating organizations and institutions can be found here.

Our local farmers are getting a major boost from the feds! Connecticut will receive a federal agricultural disaster declaration due to the impact of the abnormal, sub-freezing weather event that occurred on May 18.

This declaration means that Connecticut farmers can apply for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency, such as emergency loans, to cover production losses they experienced, provided that certain eligibility requirements are met.

Farmers will have eight months from the date of this secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. The Farm Service Agency considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, considering the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator. Farmers interested in applying for assistance must contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

To find our FSA for support and/or assistance in applying, CLICK HERE.

Great news for first-time homeowners! An additional $20 million has been added to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's (CHFA) Time To Own Program. 

Funding for the program, which offers down payment assistance to low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut, now stands at $80 million, with more than $21.5 million currently available for loan reservations.

• Meeting financial need specifications
• Qualifying for and receiving a CHFA first mortgage
• Being a current resident of Connecticut
• Demonstrating residency for the most recent three years

This program will have short and long-term effects benefiting our state. Not only will there be a new generation of homeowners, but these residents will begin the process of building inter-generational wealth to pass on to the next generation.

Other benefits of the program include:

• 0% interest rate with no monthly payment required
• 10% of the loan balance forgiven annually until it is fully forgiven on the tenth anniversary
• Financing for up to 20% of a down payment and 5% of closing costs

If you’re planning to go fishing or spending time outside this summer, be sure to check out the brand new state-of-the-art, ADA accessible fishing pier at O’Sullivan’s Island Recreation Park! I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, and it is a wonderful addition to the region.

The platform is 80 feet long, 16 feet wide, and extends 30 feet into the river. It contains newly built benches, a lowered railing for ADA-accessible casting, a bait cutting station with flowing water to keep it clean, and a collection station for discarded fishing lines. It is adjacent to Scoot & Paddle, a new business in Derby offering kayak and paddle board rentals!

Please join me and Sen. James Maroney on Monday, July 24 to talk about what the Connecticut General Assembly accomplished in the legislative session. We will provide a session overview and discuss some of the laws we passed this year including historic tax cuts, historic investments in education, and updating gun violence statutes.

The 2023 Legislative Recap will take place on Monday, July 24th at 6 P.M. at the pavilion at the High Plains Community Center on Orange Center Road in Orange.

More individuals and families are traveling and keeping up with busy schedules over the summer, but please make sure to visit one of our local libraries. They are great resources, offering a wide range of benefits and opportunities for children and adults. You can take advantage of new books, reading programs, or resources for research.

Our libraries are a safe space for the entire community where you can beat the heat in peace. Click on the links below to see which programs are available in the 114th district:

Woodbridge Town Library

Case Memorial Library

Derby Public Library

Hamden Public Library

Sincerely,

Mary Welander
State Representative