The Connecticut Department of Transportation is beginning a tree and vegetation removal project on I-395 Southbound in Montville and Route 693 (Montville Connector) Northbound & Southbound in Montville and Waterford on Tuesday, October 9th.

Work is scheduled to take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until Friday, October 26th. Please expect lane closures on I-395 Southbound from the Moxley Road underpass to the Junction of State Route 693 in Montville. Lane closures on the Connector will occur between Route 32 and the end of the Connector in Waterford/Montville.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Please maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.

I just received an advisory from Millstone Power Station that I would like to share with you. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Ken Holt, Millstone’s Manager of Communications, at 860-440-0132.

Dear Millstone neighbor,

As a neighbor of Millstone Power Station, you may have noticed increased activity at the station over the past several weeks. These activities are associated with the upcoming regularly scheduled refueling outage on Unit 2. During the course of the outage, we will be using the specialized skills of more than 900 supplemental staff in addition to our full time personnel to perform maintenance and prepare the unit for the next 18 months of operation. The outage is expected to last about a month.

We will be taking Unit 2 off-line later today. As you know, this process requires the venting of steam, which can be noisy. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Please pass this information along to anyone who may be impacted!

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) has officially marked 2018 as the Year of the Woman. As such, they are extending honor and gratitude to women who have made a positive difference in their work to assist survivors of domestic Violence in the state. State Representative Kathleen McCarty (R-38), who was nominated by “Safe Futures,” has been selected as one of these honorees and will receive a 2018 First 100 Plus leadership award for her efforts in the domestic violence awareness movement that is working to improve the lives of survivors.

According to the CCADV, domestic violence shelters in Connecticut are operating at 123% capacity with over 50% of the 1,000 children residing there annually being six years of age or younger.

“Organizations like Safe Futures, which work to save lives by protecting the privacy and safety of domestic violence victims, are indispensable in our community,” said Rep. McCarty, who co-sponsored Public Act 17-31, which, as of October 2017, strengthened domestic violence laws by increasing penalties and broadening definitions of violent acts that cause physical, emotional and mental harm. “As a state representative it is my privilege to support and advocate for legislation that protects individuals from all forms of domestic violence. I will continue to support efforts that work to eliminate domestic violence through crisis intervention, support groups and education programs. Knowing how much of a struggle – and how much suffering – families working to rebuild lives shattered by domestic violence or sexual assault go through, it is critical to enact legislation and support domestic violence programs that seek to eliminate violence in our community.”

Rep. McCarty will receive this recognition at the CCADV’s 8^th Annual First 100 Plus Breakfast & Awards Ceremony on November 9^th at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. All funds raised through the ceremony will be utilized to support comprehensive responses, public awareness efforts and the services necessary to meet the complex needs of survivors and their children.

For the second year, the UConn Department of Women and Philanthropy is hosting a free program for the public called Successful Women Making a Difference. This event consists of a panel discussion and networking opportunities with strong and successful women in the region who will share their stories, contributions, and ideas about success.

When: Friday, September 28, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: UConn Avery Point Auditorium, 1084 Shennecossett Road, Groton

Fran Pastore, CEO of the Women’s Development Council, will serve as the keynote speaker while Susette Tibus, Owner of Simply Majestic Jewelry in Mystic, will be the moderator. Panelists include:

• Kia Baird, Certified Employment Support Professional and President of the New London County Section of the National Council of Negro Women
• Rain Daughterty, Outdoor Program & Outreach Coordinator, L.L. Bean and former director of the Office of Development and Planning for the City of New London
• Maryam Elahi, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
• Lisa Tepper-Bates,Consultant, Fio Partners and recent CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness

Please RSVP by September 21st here. If you require an accommodation to participate or have any dietary needs, please specify this in your RSVP. For questions, please contact Marcy Jarzabek via email or at (860) 486-3905.

Starting Sunday, September 9th, organizations from around the country will be coming together to spread awareness of the risks and signs of suicide, as well as how we can #stopsuicide.

National Suicide Prevention Week takes place between September 9th and September 15th, with World Suicide Prevention Day also falling on Monday, September 10th.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention considers one of the biggest risks for suicide to be social isolation, and there’s scientific evidence for reducing suicide risk by making sure we connect with one another. We can all play a role through the power of connection by having real conversations about mental health with people in everyday moments – whether it’s with those closest to us, or the coffee barista, parking lot attendant, or the grocery store clerk. We don’t always know who is struggling, but we do know that one conversation could save a life.

Please know than an “Out of the Darkness” Community Walk to fight suicide will be taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McCook’s Park in Niantic on Saturday, September 15th. For more information, please click here or contact Michelle Peters at 860-614-72018 or mpeters@afsp.org. Online registration closes at noon on Friday, September 14th. You may also register in person at the walk starting at 11:00 a.m. Registration is free and open to the public. 

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always open for confidential support. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

 Other organizations that are participating in National Suicide Prevention Week includes 1 Word 1 Voice 1 Life, United Way, Connecticut Clearinghouse, the Department of Mental Health & Addication Services, and the American Association of Suicidology.

The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) is hosting their annual “Stand Down” event for veterans on September 21, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs main campus located at 287 West Street in Rocky Hill.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the veterans in our community to receive free employment and job training guidance. More than 30 government agencies and social services organizations will be offering education and recovery based services, as well as information about state and Veterans’ Administration benefits, and legal, motor vehicle and housing matters.

Medical, dental, eye care, hearing and mental health screenings – as well as free clothing – will also be provided. Pre-registration is not required, but the DOL asks that attendees arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. and encourage that you bring documentation verifying your military service/veteran status.

If you are in need of transportation to the event, please know that the Department of Transportation is providing free bus services from a number of locations around the state. Handicap-accessible buses will be leaving from the Covenant Shelter at 42 Jay Street in New London, and The Buckingham House at 307 Main Street in Norwich, at 7:00 a.m.

For more information, please call 860-616-3803. Click here for a state-wide transportation schedule.

Please share this information with those who may benefit!