In Brief Union to strike at group homes serving 1,500 clients

For ticket information, visit castlecraigplayers.org.

La Leche League

La Leche League of Hamden/North Haven meets the second Wednesday of each month at Grace & St. Peter’s Church, 2927 Dixwell Ave., Hamden.

Attendees from throughout the greater New Haven area are welcome. RSVP to Anne.M@LLLCT.org.

Boxes to Boots

Berlin-based non-profit Boxes to Boots, 28 Chamberlain Highway, sends care packages to members of the U.S. military serving overseas.

To learn more about the organization and its needs, visit boxestoboots.org.

Mentoring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the 119-year-old national youth mentoring organization.

Based in Hartford, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut offers life-changing programs to at-risk children. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting ctbigs.org.

Land Trust

The Cheshire Land Trust is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization committed to conservation. The organization is wholly funded by members. For more information, email CheshireLandTrust@gmail.com.

Alert system

Residents can register to receive emergency notifications from the town. Examples include evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports. Visit cheshirect.org to register.

By Keith M. Phaneuf The Connecticut Mirror

Connecticut’s largest health care workers union plans to strike May 24 against six nonprofit agencies that operate group homes that collectively serve nearly 1,500 developmentally disabled clients.

More than 1,700 members of New England Health Care Employees Union, SEIU 1199NE, are set to strike May 24 against nonprofits hired by the state Department of Developmental Services, the union announced Tuesday.

The move also comes as legislative leaders and Gov. Ned Lamont are in the final stages of negotiating a new state budget for the next two fiscal years. Connecticut primarily contracts with the private sector to deliver the bulk of state-sponsored social services, not only for clients with developmental disabilities but also for children and adults struggling with mental illness and addiction, and also to provide counseling and job training for prison inmates.

The agencies potentially affected by the planned May 24 strike include Oak Hill in Hartford; Mosaic residences in Cromwell; Whole Life, Inc. of New London; Network, Inc. in Manchester; and Caring Community of Connecticut and Alternative Services of Connecticut, both based in Colchester.

Sound Financial Advice in

Obituaries

Michael A. Tropinda

CHESHIRE Michael A. Tripodina,79, passed awaySunday, May7, 2023atBenchmarkSenior LivingatHamden.Hewas thehusband ofRhonda (Vosburgh)Tripodina.

Michael was born July 26,1943inWaterbury,CT, sonof thelate Jamesand Florence(Terzano)Tripodina. He was a lifelong Cheshire resident and graduated from Cheshire HighSchoolin1961.

Michael wasa good friend to alland was very generous whetherit was donating greenhouse spaceandmaterialstothe Garden Club or building batting cagesfor thelocal school. In his younger yearshe wasalso onthe Cheshirevolunteerfiredepartment. Hewas anavid muscle car collector and enthusiast. Hewas the owner of GroWell, Inc., whichmanufacturedcom- mercial greenhousesand wasagroweraswell.

Inaddition tohis wifeof 58 years, Michael leaves behind hisdaughters, Amy (Jeff) Fleck, Wendy Tripodina, his beloved grandson Blake and his brothers, Raymond (Caron)Tripodina,andVincentTripodina. Hewas predeceasedby hissisters,Frances, Flora,Ann, Josephine,andJean. His familywould liketo thankthe caringladies

A Pathway Through Grief

Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes- Sponsor

Bob Havens – Facilitator

Catherine Szerszen – Facilitator

Two Programs Now Being Offered: MORNING & AFTERNOON andnurses ofBenchmark who took such wonderful care of him with kindness andcompassion.

Arrangements Funeralservices willbe heldat the FirstCongregational Church of Cheshireat a date and timeto be announced. Thereare no calling hours and the AldersonFord Funeral Home of Cheshireis assistingwitharrangements. Memorial contributions, in hisname,maybemadeto Constellation (Hospice), 240 Indian River Rd., Orange, CT06477, Clelian CenterAdult DayCare, 261BenhamSt.,Hamden, CT 06514or OneCompanyFund, 201JonesSt., Suite300 West,Waltham, MA02451.

For onlinecondolences, toshareaphotoorastory, please visit www.fordfh.com.

Street sweeping

The Cheshire Public Works Department is in the process of sweeping town roads.

A map of the areas in the order they will be swept is available on the town website. Residents can assist Public Works by sweeping sediment from sidewalks into gutters and moving cars which would interfere with sweeping operations. Sweepers cannot pick up brush, branches or yard waste. Operations are expected to be completed by mid-June, weather permitting.

Municipal office hours

Most Town of Cheshire offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

partment and have their fingerprints taken.

Fingerprinting services are available Mondays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is a $5 fee. Photo identification is required. Applicants are required to pre-enroll with the Connecticut Criminal History Request System (ct.flexcheck.us.idemia.io/ cchrspreenroll). Fingerprints for pistol permit applicants will only be taken when a complete application packet is ready to be turned in.

Art Heals

Pathway Through Grief

Next Morning Session beginning May 25 – July 13

Thursdays – 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Next Afternoon Session beginning May 25 – July 13

Thursdays – 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Location of both sessions – Cheshire Senior Center

240 Maple Avenue, Cheshire, CT

Bob Havens: (860) 480-1655 ~ havensvo67@aol.com

“A Pathway Through Grief” is an eight-week program for those who have lost a loved one or dear friend. This program affords one the opportunity to share and discuss those issues that are of greatest concern at this time. It is intended to help you understand your emotions and problems; support and comfort for those who have shared the same experience and to cope within the mainstream of society. Through our journey together, you will discover that life can be satisfying, rewarding and full of joy.

Monday through Friday, with the following exceptions: the Registrars of Voters office is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; the Human Services office is open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment; the Collector of Revenue office is open for extended hours on tax deadline days.

Counseling

ART HEALS is a free program for Cheshire adult residents who are temporarily or permanently homebound because of medical, emotional or physical difficulty. The confidential program was suspended during the pandemic and is now open. It involves up to six lessons with a professional art teacher from Artsplace in the client’s home. No experience or art ability is necessary. At the conclusion of the program the artwork is framed and returned to the client.

For more information or to enroll in the ART HEALS program, contact Joan Pilarczyk at 203-272-2787, or jpilarczyk@cheshirect.org.

Certification

If you have had a recent or previous loss and are having difficulty coping, please join us. Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc. offers this bereavement support program at no charge to participants.

RSVP ~ BOB HAVENS (860) 480 -1655

A Pathway Through Grief

Youth and Family Counseling is provided at no cost to Cheshire school aged children and their families. Individual, family and group therapy sessions are available. Clients are seen either in the Town Hall or at school. Daytime or evening sessions can be arranged. For more information or to make a referral or an appointment, contact the Youth and Social Services Department at 203-2716690.

Fingerprinting

Cheshire residents and individuals employed by, or seeking employment with, a business in town may come to the Cheshire Police De-

Eversource is partnering with Housatonic Community College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Unions 420 and 457 to prepare the next generation of electrical lineworkers in Connecticut. The Lineworker Certificate Program provides students valuable training in the electric utility industry and the opportunity to progress into Eversource’s paid apprenticeship program. Visit Eversource.com for more information on the certification program and to stay updated on the next available class.

The bill, known as Work, Live, Ride, would push towns to increase residential density near train and bus stations by offering certain money for infrastructure. The goal is to develop walkable communities where people can easily access transportation and local businesses.

Restrictive local zoning has long depressed housing development in Connecticut, particularly multi-family apartments, housing experts say. Multi-family housing tends to be more affordable to people with low incomes.

Legislators are also considering a land use reform proposal known as Fair Share. It would require the state to analyze the housing need by region, then divide that need between municipalities. Towns would be required to plan and zone for a set number of units.

Both proposals have met fierce resistance.

Opponents say they would weaken local control, force a one-size-fits-all approach and are onerous, particularly to smaller communities that may not have many city planning resources.

And opponents fear that the Work, Live, Ride proposal would mean that towns that don’t participate will be deprioritized for infrastructure funding.

But housing advocates have said that towns have had their chance to change their zoning regulations, and widespread resistance to building enough affordable housing means the state needs to step in.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters, Lamont said he wants to see towns create their own plans for increasing affordable housing. A 2017 law requires that Connecticut municipalities create and submit affordable housing plans every five years.

Less than half of towns in Connecticut submitted their plans by the first deadline last summer. In January, more than 30 towns still had not submitted their plans, according to data from the Office of Policy and Management.

In response to questions from presenters, Lamont mentioned Connecticut’s “suburban lifestyle” as a draw for new residents. He said more development in walkable downtowns could mean senior citizens would be able to downsize and stay in the state.

“We’ve got probably the greatest suburban lifestyle in the country, or certainly one of them,” he said. “But also we have up-and-coming cities and some beautiful rural areas.”

To close out his time with the real estate agents, Lamont answered a final question from a presenter: “What is your favorite tune to dance to?”

His answer: “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. He quietly sang the namesake line of the song as he walked away from the microphone.

This story originally appeared on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, ctmirror.org.