Chris Poulos

Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, a resident of Southington, was tragically killed Thursday afternoon while on duty when he was struck by a motor vehicle during a traffic stop on I-84 in Southington.

This is a sobering reminder that law enforcement officer face mortal danger every day when they leave their homes and go to work. 

My prayers are with the Pelletier family, friends, and fellow troopers.

This week, I stopped by Southington High School and made a surprise classroom visit during which I presented the Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Essayist with official state citations for their academic achievement. I was joined by Superintendent Steven Madancy, Principal Michael Crocco, Board of Education Chair Colleen Clark, and other school administrators and staff. I was honored and proud to recognize Southington’s top trio for their academic and community accomplishments.

While their academic and extracurricular accomplishments are quite impressive, I am most impressed with the personal qualities that each has exhibited as students and members of our community:
 
Valedictorian Uptej Singh emulates kindness and generosity in all he does as a student leader, which will serve him well at Carnegie Mellon next year.
 
Salutatorian Mat Siwek has demonstrated persistence and determination as a scholar athlete, which he will bring with him to Northeastern University in the fall.
 
Essayist Victoria Dabrowski has modeled a commitment to community service and to helping people, which will contribute to her success as she pursues her degree in Medicine at UConn.
 
Congratulations to all graduates and thank you to all teachers for their commitment to our students and making their success possible.

It was a special privilege to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the American Legion Kiltonic Post 72 Memorial Day Ceremony last Monday.

I also had the opportunity to congratulate Carson Cook for his Eagle Scout project, which maps Veteran graves at St. Thomas Cemetery. During the ceremony we recognized his leadership and coordination of volunteers in plotting Veteran graves for easy location, maintenance, and honoring of their sacrifice.

And lastly, thank you to resident, Dave Brennan, for sharing his story of service as a Combat Sentry Dog Handler in Vietnam during 1966-67. His partner was Tammy 621f, whose actions during that time, saved his life twice. She is and forever will be his hero.
 

Please join me at Calendar House on Wednesday at 4 p.m. to welcome $99,700 in funding for capital improvements from the final allocations of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which we passed as part of the spending stabilization bill during the 2024 Legislative Session. The Calendar House plans to add to its recreational offerings and make interior building improvements with the funding. Improvements include an outdoor pickleball court, a retractable awning for the outdoor patio, an outdoor garage/shed for additional storage, a new fitness rowing machine for the exercise room, and automatic restroom door openers.

The public is invited to attend and learn more about these improvements. Refreshments will be served.

I'm honored to announce that this year's food drive in honor of Miss Cheryl Jankura will also pay tribute to a group of beloved Southington High School and community leaders we lost in 2022 and 2023. The combined history and years of service is staggering. Teachers, coaches, veterans and civic, business and political legends. All unforgettable men and women.

I am privileged to play a small role in leading the way in helping collect items for the Bread for Life Summer Lunch Program by serving as an Honorary Alumni Ambassador alongside with my good friend Dawn Derynoski Anastasio. I invite you to stop down and make a donation on June 15 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bread for Life. Hope to see you there!

Governor Ned Lamont also signed Public Act 24-46 into law recently, which creates a state law that exempts from property taxes the primary residence or motor vehicle of former members of the United States Armed Forces who have a permanent and total disability rating resulting from their active-duty service.

The exemption applies to a home that is owned by an eligible service member and is their primary residence. If an eligible service member does not own a home, the exemption will apply to one motor vehicle owned by the service member.

To qualify, the former service member must have served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, or Space Force; have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; reside in Connecticut; and file for the exemption with the town assessor.

As a member of the Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee, I worked hard to bring this legislation to fruition, and I am glad that it was signed into law. 

Whether you're hiking scenic trails, lounging on beautiful beaches, or enjoying local festivals, there's no shortage of activities to make your summer in Connecticut unforgettable. Get out and explore all that our state has to offer! 

• ️110 state parks
• 32 state forests
• ️100+ miles of shoreline
• 3,000+ lakes, ponds and reservoirs

Don’t forget, through the Passport to the Parks program, drivers who have a Connecticut-registered vehicle do not have to pay a fee to park at any state park and forest. Learn more at ctparks.com.