Posted on February 5, 2019 by admin
In honor of American Heart Month, CVS Health is offering free heart health screening any Thursday during the month of February at local CVS MinuteClinics. People can visit a local MinuteClinic for a free screening on February 7, 14, 21, or 28, 2019.
Individuals receiving screenings will learn the five key personal health numbers that can help determine risk for heart disease: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index.
The MinuteClinic in North Haven is located at:
162 Washington Avenue
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented. Yet most people, especially women, don’t know their personal health numbers that are critical to determining their risk. Knowing your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke is critical to improving community health.
CVS Health also announced they have extended their support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign with a new, three-year, $15 million commitment to life-saving cardiovascular research and education.
For more information, or to find another location, please go to:
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic.
Sincerely,
State Representative Dave Yaccarino
87th General Assembly District
Posted on February 1, 2019 by admin
Connecticut Democrats have proposed multiple bills to force towns to regionalize school districts.
One bill would force any school district with less than 2,000 students to regionalize (impacting an estimated 84 towns). Another bill would force any town with a population of less than 40,000 to consolidate with other towns to form new school districts matching the state probate court districts shown below (impacting an estimated 144 towns).
While encouraging towns to share services is a laudable goal, forcing towns and cities to regionalize their school districts without considering their unique needs creates a whole host of problems:
Less time in the classroom and more time on the bus, especially in rural areas where proposed districts would be very large geographically.
Wasted taxpayer investments in new and newly renovated schools. If your town just invested in a new school renovation, it may now be all for nothing if the school no longer fits the needs of a regional school district.
Potential new costs to build new schools to meet regional needs.
Dramatic increases in busing expenses for towns and cities. While the state used to pay for busing costs, towns and cities are now solely responsible for those costs.
Raises concerns about how to preserve quality of education.
Loss of teaching positions. If towns are forced to consolidate, this could impact number of teachers and classrooms.
Loss of local control over school decision making. Forcing regionalization leaves little room for towns, cities and local residents to have a say in what happens.
Want to speak out about this proposal? I will let you know once a public hearing is scheduled so you can submit testimony or testify in person at the State Capitol.
To talk to the lawmakers who proposed these bills, contact Senate Democrats at 800-842-1420 and House Democrats at 800- 842-8267.
Always feel free to share your thoughts with my office as well.
State Representative Dave Yaccarino
87th General Assembly District
Posted on January 29, 2019 by admin
State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-87) joined constituents to volunteer for the 2019 Point-In-Time Count on Wednesday, January 16, in order to gather data on how many people are experiencing homelessness in our community and across the state.
Every year, the State of Connecticut conducts an annual census of people who are experiencing homelessness, including a one-night count of adults and families with children and a week-long count of unaccompanied youth. These counts provide two of the sources of data that are used to measure the extent of homelessness in the state, and enables a comparison of how homelessness is trending from year-to-year. Like all states and communities, Connecticut is also required to report this data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who will use it to compile its Annual Assessment of Homelessness Report to Congress.
“The way to end homelessness is by finding people homes. Unfortunately, becoming homeless is something that could happen to anyone. Even though we have safety nets, sadly people fall through the cracks of society,” said Rep. Yaccarino.
“That is why I was happy to join the Point-In-Time Count effort to locate homeless in the New Haven area and help them find housing. While out speaking to homeless people on the streets and warming centers, I came in contact with a homeless veteran, and later put him in contact with a representative from Columbus House in New Haven, which is now working to find him a bed and job counseling,” added Rep. Yaccarino. “I was impressed by how many young adults volunteered. We must do as much as possible to prevent homelessness.”
“The Point-in-Time Count and the Youth Outreach and Count help us to measure how well our coordinated system is working to reduce homelessness in our state and also impacts the amount of funding we receive from the federal government,” explains Richard Cho, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. “We praise our elected leaders for participating in these counts as a way to demonstrate their commitment to the vision that no one in Connecticut should be without a safe and stable home.”
Connecticut has been a national leader in ending homelessness, having reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness by 25 percent since 2007. Connecticut is one of three states that has been recognized for effectively ending homelessness among veterans, and is working with partners across the state to end homelessness among families, youth, and children by 2020. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is a leader in the statewide effort to end homelessness, works closely with homeless service providers to coordinate the delivery of evidence-based services to prevent homelessness whenever possible or when not preventable, to ensure that it is brief and a one-time experience.
Anyone currently experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or in need of housing assistance should contact 2-1-1 where they will speak with a housing specialist who will connect them to the appropriate regional Coordinated Access Network.
To learn more about what the state is doing to end homelessness and to get involved in the solution, visit the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness at www.CCEH.org.
Posted on January 15, 2019 by admin
| In an ongoing effort to keep you aware of the policies of State Government, on occasion I regrettably have to inform you of bad news. As you may have heard or read, electric rate increases affecting United Illuminating and Eversource customers went into effect January 1st.
The rate increases were approved last fall by the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), which operates independent of the legislature and is statutorily charged with providing oversight for the rates and services of Connecticut’s investor owned electricity, natural gas and water and companies. Standard service generation rates for United Illuminating customers will increase by approximately 24% from its current rate of 9.05¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 11.23¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh). The standard service generation rates for Eversource customers will increase from 8.53¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 10.14¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh), an overall increase of 18.9%. On average, the monthly bill for United Illuminating standard service customers will increase by $16.35. Eversource standard service customers that use 750 kilowatt hours/month will see a monthly bill increase of $12.08 per month. I’m writing to remind you that UI and Eversource customers have the option of searching for cheaper standard service generation rates through the Energize Connecticut web portal. Click here to view a full list of suppliers and their rates. As always, customers who are considering an alternative supply should carefully review price, terms, length of contract, enrollment, early termination, and other potential fees when comparing options. I hope this information has been helpful. As always, if you would like to connect with me, please call: 1(800) 842-1423 or email: Dave.Yaccarino@housegop.ct.gov for more information. Sincerely, |
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Posted on January 15, 2019 by admin
I am looking forward to representing the interests of the people of North Haven as your State Representative during the 2019 Legislative Session, I can’t help but be reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s words: “A house divided against itself, cannot stand”. These words of caution could not be more relevant where we find ourselves divided on so many issues.
When working with my legislative colleagues on both sides of the political aisle, I believe that the peoples’ interests are best served when a government is united through compromise. I strive to remember that as a country, united we will prosper, but divided we will surely fail.
The third Monday in January, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, reminds us all to conduct ourselves with kindness, understanding, dignity, and to respect every individual uniquely while doing the most good for the most people. As we honor the 33rd annual observance of that day, we must keep alive Dr. King’s lifetime dream that all individuals have the right of equal opportunity regardless of their gender, background or ethnicity.
It is my hope that as citizens of the United States of America, Connecticut, and North Haven, we stay focused on what unites us and remain civil towards each other even during times of turmoil. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best: “we may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
