BLUMENTHAL DEMANDS RELIEF
As we all know, the gulf coast of Texas has been completely ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. Connecticut knows all too well how devastating Mother Nature can be following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. That’s why Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is calling on Congress to approve the necessary federal funding to help rebuild the city of Houston and the surrounding area. Blumemthal made his case during a press conference at Greens Harbor Beach in New London on Monday. He says he wants to make sure the gulf coast has the resources it needs to recover from Harvey, just as the Whaling City did in the aftermath of Sandy. Blumemthal says energy and gas prices will rise dramatically if the gulf coast doesn’t receive federal aid immediately. He says his ultimate goal is to inspire support for a broader national infrastructure investment program.
ROGERS LAKE DRAWDOWN
Rogers Lake in Old Lyme and Lyme will undergo a drawdown starting after Labor Day and the full drawdown of up to 14 inches should occur by mid-September. The lake is lowered in the fall, every leap year, so landowners can perform maintenance at the water’s edge. Because of the drought in 2016, it wasn’t done. The drawdown will be maintained from mid-September to the first of November.
NO LUNCH SHAMING
The Groton Board of Education is considering a new lunch policy to address the problem of parents falling behind on their children’s school lunch accounts without shaming students. A student would be allowed to charge up to $10 in regular meals after his or her account runs out of funds. At that point, an alternate meal will be provided such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
RICHARDSON REPLACEMENT NAMED
A retired Connecticut College administrator and longtime political and community activist Tracee Reiser has agreed to spend the next three months as a city councilor. The New London City Council voted unanimously earlier this month to appoint Reiser to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Erica Richardson. Reiser will serve alongside fellow Democrats until December after a new council is chosen at the municipal election in November. Reiser is not running for a council seat and said it took just a bit of arm-twisting to get her to agree to accept the offer.
REGISTRAR LOTTERY COMING
The Norwich Registrar of Voters office will be holding a lottery drawing to determine the order that candidate names will appear on the Nov. 7th election ballot. The drawing will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13th. The lottery will be held in the registrar’s office at Norwich City Hall and will be open for candidates and the public to observe.
