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The state is introducing a new initiative to help healthcare workers pay off as much as $50,000 of their student loans. I'll break down who is eligible and how to apply for this special loan repayment program.
Simsbury is honoring veterans who lost their lives defending our country on Memorial Day. Please keep scrolling to learn where you can attend a parade and pay your respects to make sure their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Expect to see crowds on the Farmington River on Friday for the great Simsbury Duck Race! Please look below to get a sneak peek at some of the coolest rubber duckies that will be going into the water.
The Farmington Valley is celebrating Juneteenth with a big display of Black history, cuisine, beer, and live music. I'll let you know where you can bring the family for a day full of free, fun, and educational events!
Here are the sections in this week's email:
- Forgiving Student Loans for Healthcare Workers
- Memorial Day Parades & Ceremonies
- Ducks: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
- Rhythm & Brews Juneteenth Celebration
- New Bike Racks
- What Bears Do in May
- Community Events
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| Forgiving Student Loans for Healthcare Workers |
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The state is launching a new program to help healthcare workers pay off student loans. The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program will offer up to $50,000 in student loan repayments to eligible healthcare providers. To receive that benefit, a healthcare worker must practice full-time in underserved communities for at least two years. Part-time options are also available for $12,500 per year over two years, totaling $25,000.
This Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program offers a distinct advantage over federal loan repayment programs because it allows for both federal and private student loan debt to be repaid, making it a more comprehensive solution for healthcare providers with diverse educational debt.
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The following healthcare jobs are eligible for this new statewide initiative:
- MDs and DOs in Family Practice, General Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN
- APRNs, including Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Psychiatric Nurse Specialists
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Dentists and Dental Hygienists
- Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Core Behavioral Health Providers, including Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Substance Use Disorder Counselors
- Pharmacists
The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program is a tool to recruit and retain our healthcare heroes. It also represents a step toward reducing health disparities across our state.
The state began accepting applications this week.
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| Memorial Day Parades & Ceremonies |
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The community is invited to come out and remember the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. The Village of Tariffville will host a Memorial Day parade at 9 A.M. on Monday, May 27 on Main Street. Veterans will march along Winthrop Street and finish with a ceremony at St. Bernard’s Cemetery.
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The Simsbury Parade will start at 1:30 P.M. on Owens Brook by Liberty Bank, heading down Hopmeadow Street toward the Simsbury Veterans Memorial by the library, and will conclude at the memorial with a ceremony. I hope to see everyone at these annual events!
Please click on the video below to hear from the American Legion Tomalonis-Hall Post 84 about the meaning of Memorial Day and a wonderful look back at past Memorial celebrations in our town.
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| Ducks: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! |
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The Simsbury Duck Race will take place Friday, May 24th from 4 P.M. -7 P.M. This year’s race will be held at Paine's Boat House due to construction at the Simsbury Flower Bridge. This is a free community event featuring several rubber duck races on the river, carnival and field games, inflatables, a DJ, contests for best decorated ducks, food, vendors, and more. Funds go directly toward resources for local elementary students.
Check out some of the cutest ducks that will be on display!
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| Rhythm & Brews Juneteenth Celebration |
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The Towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury are collaborating on a fun and educational event called the “Rhythm & Brews Juneteenth Celebration.” It promises to bring together the best in Black food, beer, and live music on Saturday, June 15 from 1 P.M. – 5 P.M. at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center.
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Visitors can learn more about the freedom of the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. Federal troops arrived there two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Juneteenth celebration will also feature an onsite history tent with more on black enslavement and freedom in the Farmington Valley.
Kids will get to play on the largest LEGO Black Brick Play Zone and full-sized Lego Black Panther Photo Zone. The adults will have the opportunity to sample beer from Rhythm Brewing Company while getting a brief salsa lesson. The very best Black cuisine will be on full display with food trucks from Southern Bell Soul Food, Soulfully Vegan, and Ice Cream Dream.
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The Town of Simsbury recently received a $2,500 donation to support this event. Simsbury Main Street Partnership and Eversource presented the check last week. Thank you to everyone involved for supporting this cause.
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Fiddler’s Green installed three new bike racks on site to encourage folks to take a break the next time you pedal around there. Make sure to stop by at Grassroots Ice Cream, Blossom Café, or the Coffee Spot the next time you’re biking in that area! Many thanks to Fiddler’s Green for helping us get out of our cars and onto our bikes – our health and our environment benefit when we can leave our cars behind!
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| Courtesy: Bearwise |
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According to Bearwise, mom and cubs stay near the den in May. Cubs follow their moms and start learning and mimicking some behaviors. If you see a cub or two on their own, keep in mind that mom is most likely looking for food and left the cubs in what she perceived to be a safe area. Please walk away and do not touch the cubs.
That being said, I’m seeing plenty of bears near my house in Weatogue, so everyone keep your eyes and ears out and be sure to monitor your pets outside – my dog Boone has a very exaggerated sense of his size when it comes to our bear visitors!
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The UConn Health Half Marathon, 10k & 5k will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 7:00 A.M. at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. The beloved race tradition on Iron Horse features a picturesque two-loop 13.1 mile course along the Farmington River and local farmlands. The post race party is highlighted by delicious fresh food served alongside refreshing craft beer.
All runners will earn a short-sleeve race shirt and a custom finisher medal. Event is rain or shine.
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Ending multiple sclerosis for good will take all of us! Walk MS helps us team up with friends, loved ones and co-workers to change the world for everyone affected by MS. Participants will complete a 1.2 mile or 5K course on Sunday, June 2 at 10:00 A.M. at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. Courses will be confined to Iron Horse bike/walk path. The event is FREE and rain or shine.
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