Scanlon explains new prescription card to seniors as guest of local legislators
Comptroller of the State Sean Scanlon addressed an audience of 35 last week at the Bristol Senior Center, where he was joined by Bristol’s state legislators, Mary Fortier (D-79), Joe Hoxha (R-77) and Cara Pavalock-D’Amato (R-78).
The legislators hosted the event, which was an informational forum on the state’s free digital discount card that helps seniors save on their medications.
ArrayRX is available to all Connecticut, Nevada, Oregon and Washington residents. There is no membership fee, no age or income requirements and discounts apply for all FDA-approved prescriptions. Each user signs up for the card with a unique ID number.
Scanlon provided a presentation on the program and answered questions.
Established as part of Public Act 23-171 and administered by the Office of the Comptroller, the drug discount card program was made available to residents last October. All residents of Connecticut qualify, and there are no membership fees or age restrictions to participate.
For more information, click here.
Local NAACP to hold program celebrating local activities during Black History Month
A Black History Month program, “Honoring Local Activists of Our Time: Come Let’s Celebrate Some of Our Own,” will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Carousel Museum.
Among those being honored are Pastor Daniel R. Collins, Anthony Floyd, Johnie M. Floyd, Barbara Hudson, Jay Maia, Laura S. Minor, Frank Robinson, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Dayna Snell, Pastor Eddie C. Whitehead, Sr., and Gale Williams.
The program is being sponsored by the Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP. Tickets are, for adults, $40; for children 10 and under, $20. Tickets are available until Feb. 18, by contacting Lexie Mangum, (860) 202-9965 or Tim Camerl, (860) 977-5722
State officials warn against potential government imposter scam targeting Connecticut businesses
Connecticut businesses have been the target of an ongoing potential government imposter scam, according to a release from Attorney General William Tong, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Commissioner of Banking Jorge Perez, and Commissioner of Consumer Protection Bryan T. Cafferelli.
In this scheme, a company called CT UCC Statement Service, attempts to get businesses to pay $90 for a copy of a Uniform Commercial Code report. While the solicitation is designed to look like a government notice, this company has no affiliation with the State of Connecticut. In fact, UCC reports may be accessed for free via the Secretary of the State’s website at business.ct.gov.
While the company notes in small print that they are “not affiliated with any state or government agency” and that businesses are not required to use their services, such a disclaimer may not be sufficient.
To report a scam or instance of fraud to the Office of the Attorney General, please file a complaint online here: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint.
Lamont announces launch of new one-stop-shop portal for jobseekers
The launch of Connecticut’s new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week, in a release from the governor’s office. The portal is aimed at assisting Connecticut residents and those seeking to move to the state in the process of finding a job.
It represents the latest development in the Lamont administration’s ongoing journey toward an all-digital state government, according to the release.
Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category to be developed in the new digital, one-stop government ecosystem. Some of the resources available through the jobs portal include:
- Powerful job search tools;
- Job search tips and personal help;
- Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs; and
- Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees.
All of the resources are Connecticut-specific and focus on connecting jobseekers with the variety of employment and workforce development opportunities offered in the state.
Governor announces formation of the Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness
A panel of agency heads within the Lamont administration will be responsible for collaborating on a multi-agency approach that strengthen the state’s homelessness prevention and response efforts, it was announced earlier by Gov. Ned Lamont.
The new agency will be called the Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The governor is tasking the group with focusing its work on three main goals:
- Strengthening current programs
- Improving the effectiveness of the homelessness response system
- Meeting the demands of housing
Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno will serve as the council’s chairperson.
Yard waste barrels available from Public Works
Public Works is accepting applications for yard waste barrels for the 2024 yard-waste season.
New and renewal application for yard waste barrel applications for the 2024-yard waste season are now being accepted by Public Works.
New customers are ones who do not currently have a yard-waste barrel on site, and are required to pay a $90 yard-waste fee, plus a $50 barrel deposit fee per barrel.
Renewal customers are ones who already have a yard-waste barrel on site, even if from a previous owner, and are required to pay the $90 service fee.
The 2024 season will begin Monday, April 1, and will run through Friday, Dec. 6. The online form that must be filled out with all forms of payment may be obtained here: https://bristolct.seamlessdocs.com/f/yardwaste2024.
Acceptable yard waste consists of grass clippings, leaves, woodchips, and small twigs no thicker than 1 inch and no longer than 12 inches. All yard waste must be placed in the provided yard waste container in such a manner that the material will freely exit the container when it is inverted.
For more information on the city’s yard waste program, click here: https://ct-bristol2.civicplus.com/240/Yard-Waste.
Taste of Bristol tickets on sale
Taste of Bristol tickets are now available for sale for the 2024 promotion, it was announced by the West End Association.
Last year’s sales broke a record, according to president Jesse Jablon. The proceeds support the activities of the West End Association, both in its mission to promote and maintain its neighborhood as well funding the annual Rockwell Park Festival.
Purchasers of the tickets, which are $5, get 20 percent off at 42 local restaurants during the months of March and April 2024.
Each ticket includes an entry in a drawing for over $500 in restaurant gift certificates (prizes range from $10 to $25 per winner). The drawing, to be held on or about April 30, will be drawn from all tickets received by April 20.
Winners need not be present and will be notified.
Please see www.westendbristol.org for details and ticket selling locations. Tickets are available through West End Association members and several locations around the city. You can also contact WestEndBristol@gmail.com to get tickets.
New eligibility levels will allow nearly 10,000 additional people to receive SNAP benefits
Connecticut residents now qualify for Connecticut’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if their monthly gross income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (for example, $2,430 for a single person and $5,000 for a four-person household).
Until October 2022, Connecticut’s limit was 185 percent of the federal poverty level ($2,248 for a single person and $4,625 for a four-person household). according to the announcement. The federal government allows monthly gross income limits up to 200 percent and Connecticut is now one of approximately 15 states to take full advantage of that allowance.
SNAP enrollees are issued electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which work like a debit card and are replenished for every month of eligibility. The cards can be used at thousands of participating food markets and grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, and online at many retailers for food items approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
For more information on SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/snap.
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications through May 31. CEAP helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. Applications for CEAP typically take 30-45 minutes. Basic benefits towards heating bills range between $180 and $530. Benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for additional free tank fills.
Connecticut residents that meet the following may be eligible: already receive food stamps (SNAP), SSI, TANF or other benefits from the Department of Social Services and have an annual household income falls at or below 60 percent of the state’s median income.
In Bristol, CEAP applications are available at HRA, 55 South St., (860) 356-2000. Email: energyapp@hranbct.org.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
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Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.