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Monroe parents of children eligible to start kindergarten this fall are invited to attend kindergarten orientation  on Feb. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at Masuk High School. The 90‐minute orientation will include an informal welcome by Superintendent Colleen Palmer, a video tour titled “A Day in the Life of a Kindergartner,” breakout sessions by school where parents can ask questions, and an important packet of take‐home information that parents need to start the registration process.

“Parents and children share our excitement about embarking on the kindergarten adventure that is filled with promise, wonder and growth,” Palmer told a group of educators while planning the orientation. “We must always remember that an engaging kindergarten experience helps set the tone for an entire school career.”
Principals, teachers and support staff will be part of the orientation to acquaint or reacquaint parents with the kindergarten perspective. In the weeks following the orientation, individual appointments will be made at the child’s elementary school to complete the process.
Under state law, to be eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2011 a child must be at least five years old on or before December 31, 2011.
A snow date has been set for Feb. 10. Parents who cannot attend the orientation should contact their elementary school for information packets after Feb. 10.

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So you’re driving around in downtown Bridgeport, looking for a little cavern on the side of the road where your car can take refuge. And look here – a nicely plowed plot plumb for parallel parking!

Don’t even think about it, bub.

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The roads in downtown Bridgeport are a mess, but all is peaceful at Seaside Park.

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State Representative DebraLee Hovey, R-Monroe, who was re-elected to her fifth term in November 2010, donated just under $1,500 yesterday to The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County this morning in their satellite office in the Monroe Town Hall.  The amount donated was more than the original estimate.

Also in attendance was Hovey campaign Treasurer Gary Scrofani, co-campaign manager J.P. Sredzinski, Town Clerk Marsha Motter-Beno, Deputy Registrar of Voters Judy Stripay, Human Resource Director Cathy Lombardi, First Selectman Steven Vavrek and a volunteer for the Center, Lisa Regina.

On behalf of the organization, its President/CEO Debra Greenwood said “The Center for Women and Families is extremely grateful to Representative Hovey’s donation today.  These funds will be used to assist with prevention, counseling and strengthening Monroe families and help prevent abuse in our community.  I am very appreciative to have received this gift on behalf of The Center.”

The Hovey campaign refused the public financing option and instead raised all funds from private donors.  After all expenses had been accounted for, the campaign was left with just under $2,000.  A local charity in Newtown will be receiving the remainder of the funds, and those details will be forthcoming.

“This check is the disbursement of my campaign funds which I am allowed to do because I raised all my money from individuals and didn’t take state money” Rep. Hovey told the group, “So in fact this is a check from everyone who supported me. We want to show our support and appreciation for Monroe’s Center for Women and Families, a truly worthy cause.”

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State Rep. DebraLee Hovey, R-Monroe, introduced legislation that would give new parents extra time to sign their infant on to their health insurance plans.

Current law requires parents put a new baby on their insurance within 31 days. Hovey is proposing extending that time period to 90 days.

“Unfortunately there are instances when a newborn child or the mother is suffering from medical complications from the birth, and 31 days goes by very quickly,” Hovey said in a press release. “When you are fighting for the health or the life of a child, placing the child on your insurance policy isn’t the top priority.”

If parents miss the deadline, they must go through a “time-consuming, complicated, process” of filing forms, without any gauruntee that they will get coverage, Hovey added.

There will a public hearing for the bill on Tuesday.

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The proposed Monroe “Right to Farm” ordinance has gained some international attention on the interwebs.

Sarah Parsons, a woman from Astoria, N.Y., started a petition on change.org, and encouraged people to sign it to “support the local food movement”.

Her goal is to collect 200 signatures, and so far she has gotten 130 from people as far as Croatia and Portugal.

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BRIDGEPORT — A pedestrian was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital after being struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Cinton Avenue Wednesday night.
Police were dispatched to the scene at 9:30 p.m.

Police did not have information on whether any charges were filed against the driver.

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The Monroe Town Council Committee on Planning & Zoning Commission passed a “right to farm” ordinance during a meeting Wednesday. Council members Jeffrey Guttman and Chris Catropa voted in favor of the ordinance, while council member Michele Mount opposed it.

The ordinance next moves to the Town Council Committee for legislative and administrative review.