DANIELSON – The RSVP Veterans Coffeehouse will host a legislative update presented by state Sen. Mae Flexer on June 23.  Flexer, chair of the General Assembly’s Veterans Affairs committee, will be joined by Paul Tarbox, clerk of the General Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, to discuss veterans issues addressed by the CGA this past session, especially veteran—related issues that are part of the 2015-2017 state budget.

The Veterans Coffeehouse opens from 9 a.m. to  noon on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month; Sen. Flexer’s presentation will begin at 9:30 on June 23.  She is expected to detail for the veterans and other guests how spending proposals are considered for inclusion in budget discussions and how such proposals are adopted, changed, or why they are sometimes not passed.  Flexer will also explain how bills are introduced, discussed in various committees, and how they ultimately can become state law, with a special focus on veteran-related proposals.

Since opening in March, the Coffeehouse has presented programs on veterans benefits, World War II and the Flying Tigers-American Volunteer Group in China, pre-WWII.  Attendance at all Coffeehouse events has been strong, with 27 veterans attending on April 28, a record 39 veterans on May 12, and another 35 veterans on May 26.  Spouses and community officials have added to the attendance numbers, making the Veterans Coffeehouse “the place to be” in northeast Connecticut.

The RSVP Veterans Coffeehouse is hosted by the volunteers of TVCCA’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at the Killingly Community Center, 185 Broad Street, Danielson.  For more information, please contact Greg Kline, RSVP Coordinator, at 860-774-9286 or via email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“We are very encouraged that so many veterans have attended and are returning to the Coffeehouse,” said RSVP volunteer Tom Pandolfi, a former Army Green Beret who served in Vietnam.  Pandolfi is a Coffeehouse advisory board member, an American Legion representative of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, and active in the statewide coalition of military service veterans.