Roadway Safety Tech & Meet Me for a Legislative Conversation

January 29, 2025


The legislative session is gaining momentum as my colleagues and I collaborate across various committees to address the needs of our state. Together, we are dedicated to crafting thoughtful, impactful proposals aimed at enhancing the quality of life for everyone in Connecticut. Our work reflects a shared commitment to advancing initiatives that strengthen our communities and build a brighter future.
The goal with this and future newsletters is to keep you informed and provide valuable insights into my work as your state representative. I aim to share updates, resources, and initiatives that reflect my commitment to serving you and addressing the needs of our community.
 
The state is taking some big steps to improve road safety in and around the 42nd District.  I'll let you know exactly where crews will install wrong-way detection technology and how it will keep drivers safe.
 
I invite you to meet me in person as I hold a legislative conversation with Senator Ceci Maher and listen to your important questions. Please read below to find out when and where that free event will take place.
 
And, I've had the privilege of attending several events in Wilton, New Canaan, and Ridgefield to honor and celebrate several pillars of our community. Keep scrolling to see pictures and learn more about their amazing work!
 
Here are the sections in today's email:
  • Roadway Safety Tech Coming To Route 15
  • Meet Me for a Legislative Conversation
  • Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy
  • Amazing Bookstore Owners Honored
  • Celebrating Father Reggie Norman's Impact on the Community
 
Roadway Safety Tech Coming To Route 15
The state is taking some big steps to improve road safety in and around the 42nd District. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is developing plans to install wrong-way driving detection systems on Route 15 in New Canaan and Norwalk as well as Route 7 in Norwalk. The technology will eventually be located at the following off-ramps:
  • Route 15 North at Exit 36 in New Canaan
  • Route 15 South at Exit 36 in New Canaan
  • Route 15 North at Exit 37 in New Canaan
  • Route 15 South at Exit 37 in New Canaan
  • Route 15 North at Exit 38 in Norwalk
  • Route 15 South at Exit 38 in Norwalk
  • Route 7 South at Exit 1 in Norwalk
The state has determined these off-ramps are at a higher risk for wrong way drivers.
 
Crews will install new equipment including thermal and CCTV cameras, solar panels, cellular modems, internally illuminated signs, and signs with flashers. The detection system will then activate flashing red LED lights located on wrong-way signs alerting drivers that they are traveling in the wrong direction.
Click here to learn more
 
Meet Me for a Legislative Conversation
Please join Senator Ceci Maher and me for a conversation about what we're working on during the ongoing legislative session. We will share our priorities and respective committee assignments at this free event on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Bruebeck Room at Wilton Library.
Please tell us what issues matter to you, provide us with any ideas to improve our state, give us your feedback, and ask us questions.  We do our best work when we have real conversations with constituents. I vow to serve as your voice in Hartford.
 
CLICK HERE to register if you’re interested in attending the event. I look forward to seeing you this weekend!
 
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy
I joined the community in reflecting on the extraordinary legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. whose vision of justice, equality, and nonviolent resistance transformed our nation and inspired the world.
It was an honor to attend a service celebrating Dr. King’s memory with the Interfaith Council of New Canaan as well as at Ridgefield’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration. His unwavering commitment to civil rights reminds us of the power of courage, compassion, and collective action to create meaningful change. 
Let us honor his memory by recommitting ourselves to the pursuit of equity, inclusion, and unity in our communities. Together we can continue to advance the dream Dr. King so eloquently shared - a world where freedom and dignity are the birthright of all people.
 
Amazing Bookstore Owners Honored
I was thrilled to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Ellen Burns and Darwin Ellis, the co-owners of the Books on the Common bookstore, as the inaugural recipients of the Keeler Icon Award. I helped present an official citation from the State of Connecticut to honor Ellen and Darwin's dedication to fostering community engagement in the arts and enriching Ridgefield's cultural landscape.
For years, Ellen and Darwin have championed the power of literature to connect and inspire, creating a beloved local hub that goes far beyond being just a bookstore. As Keeler Icon honorees, they embody the values of community spirit and innovation, setting an inspiring example for all of us. I extended my congratulations and gratitude for Ellen Burns' and Darwin Ellis' indelible mark on Ridgefield.
 
Celebrating Father Reggie Norman's
Impact on the Community

The community of Wilton came together to bid a heartfelt farewell to Father Reggie Norman as he concludes 12 impactful years of service at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Father Reggie has been a steadfast presence through life's most significance moments -- welcoming new life through christenings, celebrating love in weddings, and offering solace during times of loss.

He guided the parish through pivotal challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to issues affecting the Wilton community, and exemplified compassion and leadership in countless ways, including opening the Parish Hall as a FEMA center during last year's devastating floods.
His departure marks a profound loss for Wilton, but his legacy of community service and unwavering dedication will long be remembered. I was honored to join Sen. Ceci Maher in presenting Father Reggie with a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, a small token of appreciation for his extraordinary contributions to the parish and beyond.