Seymour GOP offers 2 new scholarships

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Republican Town Committee has established two new scholarships in the amount of $500 each to be awarded to two students who are residents of Seymour and who will be graduating from any high school (public or private) in spring/summer 2019 and who will be attending college in fall 2019.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee voted to establish and fund the scholarships at its January 2019 meeting. 

According to Bill Paecht, SRTC Chairperson, the awards were established to recognize the achievements of Seymour residents who will be graduating from high school and entering college in 2019. Brian Koskelowski, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, added that the SRTC decided to make the competition for the scholarships open to graduating seniors from any high school as well as to those registered with any or with no political party.

Applications and information about the scholarships have been provided to the Guidance Offices at all of the high schools in the region. According to Mr. Koskelowski the SRTC Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications submitted and select the winners based on a number of factors including academic achievement and school and community involvement. 
Winners will be announced and recognized at their high schools’ Awards Night ceremonies.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee acts as a vehicle for nominating candidates for town offices, as well as supporting the party’s activities and its elected officials.

For more information visit www.seymourgop.org.


Shared from the Seymour Republican Town Committee Facebook page.

Route 15 tree removal planned in New Haven, area towns this weekend

The Connecticut Department of Transportation Friday announced a tree removal operation will be performed on Route 15 Northbound in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven, beginning Saturday, March 16.

The project consists of cutting dead trees, high limbing, and clearing signs which will be performed on Route 15 Northbound in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven.
This project is scheduled to occur Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17.

Land closure info
Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 15 Northbound between Exit 59 (Route 69, Whalley Avenue) and Exit 63 in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven.

A moveable sign pattern will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. 

The regular work schedule for this project is from 6 a.m. to noon.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. 

Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.

This is a press release from state Sen. George S. Logan. 

Recuperation journey: Having a snack

Lucky capture Thursday of this guy eating a peanut.

Klarides-Ditria, Logan talk tolls, taxes at Beacon Falls Pizza Palace

Contributed photo

BEACON FALLS - State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria and state Sen. George Logan Tuesday held a Pizza & Politics night at Beacon Falls Pizza Palace. 

Residents packed the upstairs of the pizza restaurant to ask questions and to hear from their lawmakers about what is happening at the State Capitol. 

The conversation and questions were mainly focused around tolls and the proposed tax increases by Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative Democrats. 

Klarides-Ditria and Logan told residents that this was one of the largest crowds to attend a meeting in Beacon Falls and thanked everyone for attending and getting involved. 

Klarides-Ditria said, "Stopping tolls and higher taxes is possible but we need the help of every single person in this room. We need residents to get vocal and to contact their state representatives and state senator and the governor to tell them not to pass tolls or more tax increases. 

"I will continue to stay vocal and will share your stories with my colleagues in Hartford." 

Logan added, “This is ‘Crunch Time’ at the State Capitol. This is the time to raise our voices as taxpayers and tell elected officials to keep their hands off our wallets.  

"Call the Senate Democrat Office at 800-842-1420. Call the House Democrat Office at 800-842-1902. 

"Klarides-Ditria and I are fighting for you in Hartford, and we need you to get active today if we are going to stop tolls and a massive tax increase.”

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed 53 tolling gantries to hit his number of raising $1 billion in revenue. In addition, the governor is proposing to expand the sales tax to include items and services such as accounting services and non-prescription drugs. 

The lawmakers mentioned that on March 15, the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee will be having a public hearing on the governor's budget proposal and residents can submit testimony at fintestimony@cga.ct.gov. 

On March 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the lawmakers will also be hosting an informational forum on tolls at Derby City Hall. 

Residents can contact the lawmakers with questions, concerns, or ideas by emailing Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov, George.Logan@cga.ct.gov or calling 860-240-8700 or 860-240-8800.

This is a release from Spencer Rubin, press secretary. 

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Rochelle's manufacturing training bill wins bipartisan support

State Rep. Kara Rochelle’s proposed legislation received unanimous, bipartisan approval Thursday by the Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement. 

H.B. 5833, An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs, will next be voted on by the House this session. 

The bill aims to establish a pilot program to expand advanced manufacturing certificate programs offered by regional community-technical colleges to up to eight public high schools throughout the state. 
Students from the selected school and surrounding high schools will be able to apply and participate in the certificate program, which will be available to students free of cost.  
At Housatonic Community College, this same certificate program costs $8,500. 
Credits earned in Rochelle’s pilot program will count toward both the student’s high school credits and toward the Advanced Manufacturing certificate program. 
The bill also requires night and weekend classes to be available for adults.  
Rochelle, a Democrat, represents Ansonia and Derby.

“I toured the Housatonic Community College Advanced Manufacturing Program a year ago and learned of its efforts to create a first-in-the-state partnership with our own Derby High School. Ever since I have been fiercely dedicated to establishing and expanding access to these certificate programs,” Rochelle said. “I worked tirelessly from the day I was sworn in to author and craft a bill that will give our students and working class residents a real pathway to the training needed to compete for these good paying, middle class jobs in a field with room for advancement.” 

According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there are over 12,000 open jobs in advanced manufacturing in Connecticut and 30,000 are expected to open over the next 10 years due to a retirement wave.  
Manufacturing is also the third largest growing job sector in Connecticut. It is crucial to strategically invest in workforce training to ensure that this industry is supported.

“I would also like to thank my Derby colleagues Minority Leader Themis Klarides and Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria for recently signing on to support my bill, touring the Derby facility, and producing a video to highlight the program. We need to rebuild, reinvest, and reinvent Connecticut. I am excited to introduce my bill in the House this session and collaborate with colleagues to make this important initiative a reality for our residents,” Rochelle said. 


This is a press release from Rochelle's office.