New Affordable Housing in Orange & Honoring Our Fallen Officers

May 17, 2024


The governor and top state housing officials traveled to Orange this week to see what new, affordable housing looks like in our community. I'll tell you how those units can be a model for future affordable projects.

The entire country is remembering and honoring fallen police officers this week for National Police Week. Keep scrolling to learn how Connecticut is taking it a step further with a new law supporting the families of those heroes.

A trailblazing firefighter in Hamden received the surprise of a lifetime, and now the entire nation knows her inspiring story. Please read below to learn how Good Morning America is providing a boost to the first Black woman to be named a fire chief in New England. 

We're quickly approaching Memorial Day, and the 114th District will be paying tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I have a breakdown of all the upcoming ceremonies and parades taking place later this month.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • Governor Visits Affordable Housing in Orange
  • Remembering Our Fallen Police Officers 
  • Assistant Fire Chief Gets Major Surprise! 
  • Honoring Our Volunteers in Woodbridge
  • Community Conversation in Derby
  • Town of Woodbridge Budget to be Released
  • Route 34 Construction Update in Derby
  • Memorial Day Parades
  • Derby Events Calendar
  • Upcoming Events in Hamden
  • Orange Events Calendar
  • Upcoming Events in Woodbridge
 
Governor Visits Affordable Housing in Orange
Governor Ned Lamont visited an affordable housing complex in Orange this week to discuss the importance of creating more of these units across Connecticut. Lascana Homes is comprised of 46 new townhomes with rent starting as low as $719 per month. The entire development is affordable and most of the first floor units are ADA compliant. The modern housing complex opened late last year and is now fully occupied.
A private developer built Lascana Homes with $6.6 million provided by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and Department of Housing and even more in federal funding. It is the first development in Orange to receive federal low-income housing tax credits and an award for sustainability.
Watch News 12 Report on Affordable Housing
 
Remembering Our Fallen Police Officers
National Police Week pays special recognition to law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety of others. This week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to our heroes.
Governor Lamont signs Fallen Officer Fund bill into law.
On Wednesday, Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation establishing the Fallen Officer Fund to provide financial assistance to the families of police officers who were killed in the line of duty. The legislation also creates a law allowing surviving family members to retain health insurance coverage of a fallen officer for up to five years after their passing.
Courtesy: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
In Washington D.C., organizers engraved the name of fallen Hartford Police Detective Bobby Garten on a national police monument in Washington, D.C. I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the Garten family and thank all of our police officers in Connecticut for their hard work each day.
 
Assistant Fire Chief Gets Major Surprise!
A firefighter in Hamden received the surprise of a lifetime when Good Morning America (GMA) paid her a visit at work! Hamden Assistant Chief Shelly Carter was selected for GMA’s Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed series. As part of the surprise, Carter’s fire department received an extractor and drier for turnout gear, thermal cameras, and a $10,000 gift card from Stop & Shop.
Courtesy: American Broadcasting Company
Carter also runs the Girls Future Firefighter Camp, which aims to teach young ladies how to be leaders in any field. GMA is providing the camp a boost after announcing that Target is donating $10,000 to that organization.

CLICK HERE to watch the surprise and learn more about Carter’s heartwarming story.
 
Honoring Our Volunteers in Woodbridge
A huge crowd came together on Wednesday for a yearly tradition of honoring our wonderful Woodbridge Human Services volunteers. Thank you to everyone at the Woodbridge Center for recognizing the countless, dedicated volunteers that make Woodbridge the caring place it is today.
It was a privilege to honor Amity junior Sophie Noujaim for her extraordinary work as a youth volunteer in our community. I want to express my gratitude to Senator Jorge Cabrera, First Selectman Mica Cardozo, and Beth-Wood Youth Baseball President Dwight Rowland in recognizing Sophie for her selfless contribution to Woodbridge. 

Sophie won the Woodbridge First Selectman’s Youth Award last month. CLICK HERE to learn more about her impressive story.
 
Community Conversation in Derby
It was a pleasure meeting constituents at my Community Office Hours this week in Derby. We talked about important laws my colleagues and I recently passed in Hartford.

It's an honor to serve as your State Representative, and I always relish the opportunity to host informative discussions with the public. I will let you know the next time I host Community Office Hours!
 
Town of Woodbridge Budget to be Released
The Woodbridge Annual Town Meeting will take place Monday, May 20 at 7:30 P.M. where officials will present the final proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the public. Town of Woodbridge electors and those qualified to vote in a town meeting are encouraged to attend in the cafeteria at the Amity Regional High School.
Click Here to Learn More
 
Route 34 Construction Update in Derby
Crews are making progress on Route 34 in Derby! There will soon be a transformed streetscape with new sidewalks, bump-outs at intersections, lighting, trees, granite curbing, and more. Work continues now on Third, Olivia, Elizabeth, Minerva, and Water Streets. The project is expected to be done in October 2024.
Click Here to Learn More
 
Memorial Day Parades
Several communities are holding Memorial Day ceremonies and parades to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while bravely serving our country.  

Please look below for the timing of your town's respective events.

  • Derby: Friday, May 24. Service at 6:00 P.M. at Shelton Intermediate School where organizers will call out the names of fallen heroes.
  • Orange: Sunday, March 26. Ceremony at 10:30 A.M. at the gazebo at High Plains Community Center followed by parade.
  • Shelton-Derby: Monday, May 27. Derby-Shelton Memorial Day Parade starts at 9:00 A.M. at Wharf Street and How Avenue in Shelton and finishing in Derby. CLICK HERE to learn more.
  • Woodbridge: Monday, May 27. Ceremony at 11:00 A.M. in front of the Center Building at the Veterans of Foreign Wars monument. CLICK HERE to learn more.
 
Derby Events Calendar
Check out the events below, and click the button at the bottom of this section to access the community calendar.
Connecticut Foodshare will be giving free food to the community on Tuesday, May 21 at 3:00 P.M. at St. Mary's Church on Elizabeth Street. Make sure to bring a bag so you can bring the food home.
Improve or create your resume with the help of a professional at Derby Public Library on Thursday, May 23 from 10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. If you cannot attend, there will be more opportunities to get this service on May 30, June 13, and June 27.
Derby Community Calendar
 
Upcoming Events in Hamden
Take a look at the fliers below to learn more about upcoming events. Make sure to click on the button at the bottom of this section.
More Hamden Events
 
Orange Events Calendar
Check out the flier and community calendar in Orange below.
Orange Community Calendar
 
Upcoming Events in Woodbridge
Check out the events below, and access the Woodbridge community calendar by clicking on the button at the bottom.
Check out a vibrant celebration of young talent at ART IN BLOOM: Southern CT Hebrew Academy 5th-8th Grade Girls Art Show in the Hoos Family Gallery!
 
Art On Display through May 29
Hoos Family Art Gallery, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge
Step into the vibrant world of young artists as they unveil their artwork! From classical themes to modern expressions, witness 40 students' incredible journey with gouache and oil paint over six months. Click here to RSVP.
Woodbridge Community Calendar