Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2025

Warm Thanksgiving wishes to everyone in our district. Whether celebrated with family, friends, or in peaceful reflection, may this day bring comfort, gratitude, and a renewed sense of hope for the season ahead. As your legislator and neighbor, I remain thankful for your insights, your engagement, and your commitment to our community. I hope your holiday is filled with meaningful connection, good food, and moments of joy.


There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

  • Around Town
  • Expanding High-Speed Internet Access
  • Financial Scams Targeting Seniors
  • Food Assistance
  • Community Events

Around Town

Thank you to Connecticut Foodshare for having me tag along at the food drive at Stop & Shop in Branford. Community members were incredibly generous. We collected 40 turkeys, essential groceries, and cash donations.

Thank you to Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) for the invitation to tour another of Branford’s innovative small-business biotechs. It was great to meet the leadership teams from Abbratech and CellsBin, learn about their technology, and hear their ideas for growing talent in our state.

Good things are happening for biotech in this region, and I’m encouraged by the opportunities Connecticut has to support their continued growth.

The Branford Fair Rent Commission will hold its next meeting on Monday, December 15 at 5:00 P.M at the Joe Trapasso Community House (46 Church Street).

Rental complaints can be submitted by completing the Town of Branford Fair Rent Commission Complaint form and submitting the form by one of the three methods below: 

  • Email: Fairrent@branford-ct.gov
  • Mail: Town of Branford Attention: Fair Rent Commission 1019 Main Street Branford, CT 06405
  • Hand delivery: Fair Rent Commission c/o Town Clerk’s Office Attn: Renee Arenas 1019 Main Street Branford, CT 06405

Click here to access the form, and click here for more information on the process.

Expanding High-Speed Internet Access Statewide

The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Connecticut’s proposal for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, awarding $144 million to the state that will be used to expand high-speed internet access statewide. Connecticut is one of 18 states and territories that received federal funds.

Expanding residents’ access to fast, affordable, and reliable high-speed internet will ease essential daily activities, including obtaining medical care, managing bills, seeking employment, and accessing educational opportunities.

Click here to read more on Connecticut’s final proposal for the BEAD program.

Financial Scams Targeting Seniors

Be on the lookout for scams targeting seniors! The Connecticut Intelligence Center, a law enforcement partnership within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), is warning about a dramatic increase in financial scams targeting the elderly in Connecticut and the nation.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints in 2024, with losses reported at $16.6 billion, a 388% increase from 2023. In 2024 “false pretense” scams cost an estimated $31.9 million to Connecticut victims, most of whom were 65 or older, according to the 2024 Crime in Connecticut Report.

What to Watch Out For

  • High pressure, urgent timeline (“you must send money now”)
  • Request to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, prepaid cards, personal checks or cryptocurrency
  • Caller says you must not contact family or police
  • Caller ID spoofing (it may show a local number or government agency but is fake)
  • Unwilling to meet in person or hesitation to identify themselves with official credentials

What to Do if You Believe You Are a Victim

  • Contact the local police to report the incident
  • Do not transfer money and do not give any payment information
  • Do not give any personal information or confirm/repeat social security numbers, birthdates, bank information or account numbers
  • Verify by calling the family member with a known number not one provided by the caller
  • If you have already made a payment contact your bank or the payment service immediately

Where to Go for Help

Food Assistance

Local food pantries across the state are providing essential assistance to those in need and are also seeking donations to help meet the growing demand.

Click here to find food programs and services available through 211 Connecticut. You can also call 2-1-1, or 1-800-203-1234.

Click here to find a Connecticut Foodshare food pantry or mobile food pantry.

For those neighbors who are not struggling, please consider making a monetary donation or even donating your time to Branford food assistance programs. Click the links below for more information.

Branford Food Pantry
Community Dining Room
Feed Branford Kids, Inc.

Don’t forget that families in need can enjoy a free breakfast on Saturday, November 29 at the Branford High School Cafe from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. More information below!

Community Events

On November 29, Small Business Saturday highlights the importance of locally owned businesses. It inspires shoppers to support their communities by choosing to shop small during the busy holiday season.

By participating, you can find unique, personalized gifts while contributing to the local economy by keeping money within your community. Small Business Saturday fosters a sense of connection, strengthening neighborhoods and ensuring that local businesses, which are often the heart of their communities, continue to thrive.

Click here to find out where you can shop small near you.

Adopt a client or family!

Brighten the holidays by providing a gift(s) for adults and children receiving services through BHcare programs. Each wish should cost no more than $50 per item.  

Click here to access the online form to adopt a client or family, or email development@bhcare.org with the number of individuals you would like to support.

Gift drop-off will be Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. at BHcare (28 Branford Road, North Branford). If the dates above don’t work for you, email development@bhcare.org to make alternate arrangements.

You can also make an online donation toward the purchase of gifts, supplies, or food to meet the specific needs of clients during the holiday season. If the goal is exceeded and all needs are met, any additional donations will be used to meet the needs of clients throughout the year. Click here to donate online.