I hope you’ve all had a chance to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the slower pace of summer here in Simsbury. We’ve been lucky to enjoy some truly special moments together — music-filled evenings at Simsbury Meadows, a lively block party in Tariffville, the joyful reopening of the Flower Bridge, and so many other community events that remind us why this is such a wonderful place to call home.
I want to thank so many of you who stopped to say hello and shared your thoughts with me at these events. Those conversations are one of the best parts of being your state representative, and they remind me how engaged and caring our community really is.
Because Connecticut has a part-time legislature, the summer months — when we’re not in session — are actually when I’m busiest at my law practice here in the Farmington Valley. While some of my colleagues can step back during this time, I spend these months shifting into high gear representing clients and balancing both roles.
Now, with fall right around the corner and kids heading back to school, life is about to return to its usual rhythm again. It’s also the perfect moment to remind one another to slow down on the roads — especially for school buses. You’ll find details below on the laws drivers must follow for school bus safety (and fines for ignoring them!).
Also on the horizon, Connecticut is taking a major step toward more affordable and accessible child care. I'll break down how a newly established program will help families enroll in free or reduced-cost early learning programs.
The governor put pen to paper on a significant climate bill that I fully supported in the 2025 session. Please read below for a breakdown on how the new law protects our environment.
One step you can all take right now to positively impact your energy bills is to take advantage of a free energy audit for your home. Keep reading to learn how you can access this benefit!
All that and so much more below!
Here are the sections in this email:
- School Bus Safety as Kids Return to School
- More Affordable & Accessible Child Care
- Environment Bill Signed Into Law
- Free Energy Audit For Your Home
- Driveway Paving Scam
- Flower Bridge Reopening
- Upgrades Coming to Skating Center
- Little League All-Star Champions!
- New Pickleball Courts in Tariffville
- Brothers Donate Minivan to Senior Living Community
- Community Events
| School Bus Safety as Kids Return to School |
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| It's an exciting time of the year for our kids and educators who are preparing to get back in the classroom! There will be new opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with friends and teachers. I wish every student a year full of success, discovery, and memorable experiences in the new school year. |
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| This is also a time to remind drivers that the law requires you to slow down for school buses. The first offense for any driver who fails to stop when a school bus is displaying its flashing red signal lights is $450. Any subsequent offenses are a $500 - $1,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both. |
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| More Affordable & Accessible Child Care |
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| Governor Ned Lamont, legislators, dedicated educators, tireless advocates, and so many others celebrated a historic step forward for families in Connecticut: a $300 million initial investment in the newly created Early Childhood Education Endowment. |
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This transformative program will help expand access to quality, affordable child care for families across the state. The endowment will be used to:
- Expand capacity by adding tens of thousands of new child care slots in Connecticut’s state-funded system, allowing more children to enroll in high-quality early learning programs.
- Provide free early childhood education to families enrolled in Early Start CT earning up to $100,000 annually, and ensure that no participating family pays more than 7% of their income for care.
This is just the beginning. In the years ahead, the Endowment will continue to grow through annual contributions from budget surpluses and strategic investments – ensuring that we build a lasting foundation for Connecticut's children and families.
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| Environment Bill Signed Into Law |
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Governor Lamont signed major climate legislation into law, which:
- commits Connecticut to net-zero emissions by 2050
- expands clean energy incentives
- supports green jobs
- strengthens climate resiliency
- places restrictions on the use of rat poisons and pesticides known as neonicotinoids
I’m proud to stand with colleagues and advocates who fought for a cleaner, fairer future. This is a win for our environment, our economy, and our kids.
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| Free Energy Audit For Your Home |
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You have an opportunity to get a free energy audit of your home for a limited time thanks to an initiative administered by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP). Experts will come to your house and check on your appliances, doors, windows, ductwork, and insulation. Crews will then do work right there and then to improve your energy efficiency, which will lower your energy bills. Act fast because the co-pay is waived until October.
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To learn more, contact Home Energy Solutions at 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873). The co-pay is waived until October.
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| Our Public Works Department is warning the public that imposters are pretending to be vendors with the town and going door-to-door to repave driveways. If someone comes knocking on your door selling anything, they are required to have obtained a vendor permit from the Town Clerk's office. If they don't have a vendor permit, feel free to call the Simsbury Police Department and shut the door. |
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Our community came together to celebrate the reopening of our beautiful Flower Bridge. Crews renovated and restored the bridge to its past glory! We are all so proud of the hard work of so many in town who helped bring it back to life.
The bridge boasts 72 distinctive flower boxes, 32 hanging baskets, and 14 border column baskets. Unique seasonal themes of flower choices assure a new and vibrant look each year. |
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| Upgrades Coming to Skating Center |
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You may have noticed that crews are making some upgrades to the International Skating Center of Connecticut.
The renovation is going to bring major changes to the facility including:
- New locker rooms
- New restrooms
- Fresh landscaping
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| Little League All-Star Champions! |
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Congratulations to a trio of Simsbury Little League All-Stars for amazing seasons. The 10 and Under, 11 and Under, and 12 and Under teams all won their respective District 6 Championships! Additionally, the 11U team won the Section 2 title and finished second in the state championship!
We are proud of all three teams for their effort, teamwork, and determination. Thank you to the families, volunteers, and fans who packed the stands and brought the energy and support during the entire season. |
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| New Pickleball Courts in Tariffville |
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Simsbury opened six new pickleball courts at Tariffville Park in the past week. The new courts offer a fun and healthy way for residents of all ages to stay active.
I would like to thank everyone who was involved in bringing these courts to our community! |
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To reserve a pickleball court, go to: https://simsburyct.myrec.com/info/facilities/default.aspx.
Scroll down until you find Tariffville Park in the Facility column.
Choose the court you want to reserve and click the “Reserve” button on the right side of that row. You do need an account to reserve a court. |
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Brothers Donate Minivan to
Senior Living Community |
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Brothers Peter and John Donahue donated a minivan with a wheelchair ramp to McLean Life Plan Community in honor of the great care their parents received there. The vehicle will enable the senior living community to transport more residents to off-site appointments and activities.
Thank you to Peter and John Donahue for your generosity! |
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| Singer/songwriter Mike DelGuidice and his band return to Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center for an outdoor concert on Saturday, September 6. Gates open at 6 p.m and the show begins an hour later. Mike is known of his renditions of the biggest names in Classic Rock. CLICK HERE for tickets. |
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Build your own scarecrow on the front lawn at the Simsbury Historical Society on Saturday, September 30 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Pick out your scarecrow frame, dress it, stuff it with straw, and make it uniquely yours with our provided materials.
It costs $20 for your first scarecrow and additional scarecrows are $15 each. Rain date is Sunday, September 21. |
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