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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of December 1.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the play button to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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I hope you all had happy Thanksgivings with good food, family, friends, and some downtime from work and the news that can be overwhelming. In addition to the that list, mine included a lot of laughter, games, puzzles, knitting, and a hot tub. I feel thoroughly grateful.
There is a lot going on this time of year, so I’ll try to draw some broad themes. One of them is the work that nonprofits do in our region. Many of them are having end of year holiday celebrations and fundraisers, and I got to visit with a lot of our nonprofit leaders in medical, mental and dental healthcare, housing, youth services, domestic violence prevention, etc. at an event last night celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Foundation for Community Health (FCH), and nearly 20 years of leadership from its first and only Executive Director, Nancy Heaton. FCH does a lot of work supporting the programs of these organizations, and also a lot of work supporting the people who do that work, and it was a pleasure to see so many in one room. |
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At the state level, much of the conversation this week has surrounded regulations for electric vehicles, or “ZEVs” (zero emissions vehicles). As background, in 2004, CT opted to follow California’s standards for transportation emissions via overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation. Both then and now, CT has only two choices for emissions standards: CA or the federal EPA standards. The CA standards are stricter, and deliver about 42% more emissions reductions. As further background, CT is already “out of attainment” (meaning below federal standards) on ozone levels. Transportation is responsible for about 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, and many adverse (and costly) health outcomes (including premature deaths) can be traced to our poor air quality, particularly in urban parts of the state.
CT has continued to follow the CA standards since 2004, providing continuity and certainty to the market. This year we updated that legislation, and this week the Regulations Review Committee was scheduled to vote on the latest set of regulations to implement and update these standards.
Among the requirements in these new regulations, all new light duty vehicles (cars) sold in 2035 would have to be ZEVs. The standards do not require anyone to buy a ZEV or to get rid of a car or truck they already own. They also do not regulate used vehicles.
The vote did not take place due to concerns raised by several legislators on the committee. Among those concerns were affordability (between market forces and governmental subsidies, are these vehicles accessible in terms of price), infrastructure (have we built out sufficient charging stations to support EVs), and technology (do the regulations reflect technological advances, for example). These concerns are valid, in my view, and I think we can improve these regulations when we revisit them during the upcoming legislative session. For example, CT is not large enough to move the market on EV sales and production, but states joining CT in adopting the CA standards represent over 50% of the national new vehicle market, so together we can have an impact. Several other states have included checkpoints in their enabling legislation, allowing them to take a moment to be sure the private markets and government action have moved in the direction we anticipate, and CT can do the same as we work to keep us on track to reduce emissions and protect the lives and health of all residents. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Access Health CT to Host Free Events to Help CT Residents Enroll in Health Coverage. Click here.
- SNAP Eligibility Update. Click here.
- Annual Holiday Open House at the Governor's Residence. Click here.
- Update on Food Waste Program at Salisbury Transfer Station. Click here.
- Update on Disposable Coffee Cups. Click here.
- Update on Sharon's Broadband Installation. Click here.
- Array Rx Update. Click here.
- Upcoming Events. Click here.
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Access Health CT (AHCT) announced this week that they will host six enrollment fairs in December to help Connecticut residents shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period. Enrollment fairs are one-day events offering customers free, one-on-one help from enrollment specialists. These events will take place in Bristol, Cromwell, Fairfield, Norwalk, Wallingford and West Hartford.
Open Enrollment began Nov. 1, 2023 and runs through Jan. 15, 2024. Customers must enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2023 for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2024. Customers who enroll between Dec. 16, 2023 and Jan. 15, 2024 will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2024.
Connecticut residents who are interested in attending the events can book an appointment online at AccessHealthCT.com/enrollment-events. Walk-in appointments are welcome.
The enrollment fairs will take place at the following locations and times:
- West Hartford: Saturday, Dec. 2 at West Hartford Library, located at 20 South Main Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.
- Cromwell: Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Cromwell Town Hall, located at 41 West Street, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
- Fairfield: Wednesday, Dec. 6 at Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.
- Wallingford: Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Spanish Community of Wallingford, located at 284 Washington Street, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
- Norwalk: Thursday, Dec. 14 at South Norwalk Public Library, located at 10 Washington Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.
- Bristol: Friday, Dec. 15 at Bristol Public Library, located at 5 High Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.
AHCT also provides other options for free help to enroll online, in person and over the phone.
In addition to enrollment fairs, AHCT offers in-person help at enrollment locations and Navigators that host sessions during regular business hours throughout the week. A list of these locations is available at AccessHealthCT.com/Enrollment-Events.
Residents may also work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find an expert, visit AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.
For online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Live chat is available by clicking the “Live Chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Residents may also contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight on Dec. 15, 2023 and Jan. 15, 2024.
The call center will be closed on Nov. 23, 2023, Dec. 25, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024.
Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
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This past month the state has increased the income eligibility limits for Connecticut’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) effective in October 2022 is allowing an additional 8,959 individuals in 4,980 households to benefit from the program. The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers the program, estimates those individuals will access $19,868,553 in SNAP benefits over the coming year, or an average of $185 per month.
Connecticut’s SNAP program provides more than 229,000 households – including 140,700 children – a monthly allowance for purchasing food. Formerly known as food stamps, the federally-funded service combats food insecurity for eligible working families, other qualified adults, older adults, and persons with disabilities. SNAP enrollees are also automatically eligible for other federally-funded services including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, Head Start, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Under the revised eligibility benefit levels, Connecticut residents qualify for SNAP if their monthly gross income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $2,430 for a single person and $5,000 for a four-person household). Until October 2022, Connecticut’s limit was 185% of the federal poverty level ($2,248 for a single person and $4,625 for a four-person household). The federal government allows monthly gross income limits up to 200% and Connecticut is now one of approximately 15 states to take full advantage of that allowance. |
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Governor Ned Lamont and First Lady Annie Lamont are inviting Connecticut residents to attend the 33rd annual holiday open house at the Governor’s Residence, which will be decorated for the season and open to the public for tours.
The open house will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, and Saturday, December 9, 2023. It is located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford. There is no admittance fee and tickets are not needed, however monetary donations will be accepted on behalf of Operation E.L.F., an annual fundraising campaign of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation.
All of the decorations at the Governor’s Residence, including Christmas trees, wreaths, and seasonal greenery, are donated at no cost to the state. This year, those generous donations come from the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association, the Nurserymen Association, Jones Family Farms, Kathryn Hunt Studios of West Hartford, and students from Lyman Hall Future Farmers of America.
Live music entertainment will be provided on both days. On Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., that entertainment will be provided by vocal performers from VP Vocal Studio, led by vocal coach Vanessa Pare. On Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., singers from Conard High School’s Be S#arp acapella group will perform.
Operation E.L.F. provides support to military families who are enduring the hardship of separation due to deployment, including those whose loved ones are deployed, preparing for deployment, or recently returned from deployment. The goal is to lessen the financial stress these families can face resulting from their call to active duty. Suggested donations include:
- Financial contributions through checks that can be made payable to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. (in the memo field, please write “Operation E.L.F.”)
- Gift cards for grocery stores, department/home goods stores, pharmacies, gas stations, etc.
- Contribution of services such as fuel oil, snow removal, and home maintenance services.
The Governor’s Residence is ADA accessible.
Information about the history of the Governor’s Residence can be found on the governor’s website.
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The number of households separating their food waste and delivering to the Salisbury-Sharon Transfer Station has grown to close to 400. For the towns of Salisbury and Sharon, these efforts have brought the following encouraging rolling-12-month environmental impact statistics. Congratulations!
From October 2022 to October 2023:
- 64,700 lbs of food scraps recovered from the waste stream, which, according to the EPA, is the equivalent of avoiding
- 39,467 lbs of CO2, which is the equivalent of
- 40,264 miles of driving
Currently, two restaurants (The Black Rabbit and Le Gamin) are diverting food waste by relying on volunteers to deliver those scraps to the Transfer Station. Those restaurants have added significantly to the weight of food waste diverted in our two towns. And at least one other restaurants is in conversations to divert food waste as well. If you’re a patron of these restaurants, or others, express your hearty support and/or polite encouragement!
The Transfer Station Manager and the Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee (TRAC) will continue to pursue grant proposals and consider plans that would incentivize more restaurants, schools, facilities, and other food-waste generators to join the food-waste diversion effort by helping to build a local hauling route and use local trucks and a local commercial composting facility. |
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Several towns in the Northwest Corner (including Salisbury and Sharon) now send garbage to a landfill in Pennsylvania. Choosing to not use disposable coffee cups, like separating food waste, can reduce the waste we truck out-of-state. Why not ask for a ceramic mug (or reusable glass for iced summer drinks) at your favorite coffee shop if you are drinking right there. And bring a travel mug or an insulated cup if you don’t intend to sit and sip. REUSABLE beats DISPOSABLE, hands down in environmental impact studies. Most disposable cups have a polyethylene lining -- so the coffee cup doesn’t leak or degrade -- which makes them NOT recyclable. Compostable cups have a plant-based “plastic” lining that only some commercial composting facilities will take. In addition, most compostable cups do not find their way to a compostable-only bin and end up in landfills with our municipal waste.
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| Sharon has earned well deserved kudos throughout the state for its work to make sure that every one of the 250 unserved homes in town have wireline broadband hopefully by end of the year. Though I’m hoping this will change as state broadband support rolls out, so far they have done this in an entirely self-funded endeavor. You can read an update on Comcast’s progress in connecting those unserved homes, and see what a small town can do with engaged citizens, here. |
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| In just one month, more than 12,000 Connecticut residents have signed up for the ArrayRx drug discount program and HUNDREDS of prescriptions have been filled. That means big savings at the pharmacy counter for Connecticut residents.
Each and every Connecticut resident has been affected by the dramatic rise in the cost of prescription drugs, and this program is just one tool available to all 3.6 million of CT residents. Have you signed up for your digital discount card yet?
Apparently, many in the Northwest Corner have, as Salisbury recently topped the charts in terms of the percent of population enrolled in the program.
Top 5 ArrayRx-Enrolled Municipalities by Percent of Population:
- Salisbury
- Barkhamsted
- Prospect
- Bridgewater
- Watertown
Join thousands of Connecticut residents and can get started here: arrayrxcard.com. |
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| December 1 at 7:30pm: Our Pandemic Future in a Rapidly Changing World -- sponsored by the Salisbury Forum. This event will take place at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Dr. James Shepherd, a faculty physician at Yale University, will lead a forum on how the world must confront infectious diseases in the 21st century. Dr. Shepherd has spent the last two decades as an infectious disease specialist, including in Africa and India treating HIV and TB, and managing public health systems and disease outbreaks. He is also a farmer in Sharon, growing hops for local brewers and raising cows and sheep. With his broad experience as a doctor and a farmer, Dr. Shepherd provides a unique perspective on epidemics, the changing environment, and the place of our species among the community of animals, plants, and pathogens. For more information click here. |
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| Sharon luminarias will line Sharon Green on December 2 and 3
The Sharon Green will be edged with 1,500 luminarias this weekend (a record!) on Saturday and Sunday nights, courtesy of “Lights for Love,” the fundraiser for the Sharon Fire Department and Ambulance squad. Each luminaria honors a person or pet, and were sold for $10/each. It’s a great weekend to stroll the Green! |
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Housatonic Youth Service Bureau Holds Award Ceremony December 7
The Housatonic Youth Service Bureau is celebrating the remarkable Stacey Dodge, the recipient of the 2023 Donald T. Warner Community Service Award on December 7 at the White Hart in Salisbury. A true hometown hero, Stacey's roots in the Northwest Corner run deep, having graduated from Salisbury Central School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
With a heart dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and families, Stacey embarked on her journey in 1983 as the aquatics director at the Torrington YMCA. Notably, for over three decades, she has been the driving force behind the success of the Salisbury Town Grove, leaving an indelible mark as its longest-serving and first female director. Stacey's commitment extends beyond the Grove, as she generously volunteers with the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, coaches various sports at the high school, and imparts her passion as a ski instructor at Butternut. Her unwavering dedication has touched the lives of countless individuals, making our community a safer and more joyful place to call home.
Registration closes today - click the image below to reserve your spot.
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The Kent Singers will present a rose in winter on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Church in Kent, CT. Join us for these festive holiday concerts featuring songs of hope in the bleak midwinter. A gentle and beautiful program of music expressing joy, hope and peace. The favorites you love and some new songs, too! The concerts will be conducted by our Music Director James Knox Sutterfield.
Tickets are $20 in advance at https://kentsingers.com/category/tickets/ or at the door, with children under 12 admitted free; further information available at 860-619-8110 or at https://kentsingers.com/. Support has been provided to Kent Singers from CT Humanities, with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts from the Connecticut State Legislature. |
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| December 15 from 5-6pm: Candlelight Vigil to Remember the Victims of Sandy Hook. The event takes place on the green in front of the White Hart. Sophia and Lee deBoer first organized a vigil within days of the Sandy Hook tragedy and have been holding vigils on or near the anniversary in the 11 years since then. The event will include remarks from the Rev. John Nelson and Rep. Maria Horn, as well as some appropriate songs. It will conclude with the ringing of bells to remember those who died at Sandy Hook. Please bring your own candle. |
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Festival of Trees at Gunn Memorial Library on December 2:
Gunn Memorial Library will hold its annual Festival of Trees on Saturday, December 2 from 5-7pm
Held annually in December, this festive, seasonal, community event is popular and well attended as we gather to launch the holiday season. At the event, the Library’s tree will be decked with Treasure Pouches for sale, each containing a slip of paper bestowing a mystery gift. These gifts are items donated by generous local boutiques and businesses, and traditionally include dinners at restaurants, theater tickets, gift certificates, and more. The proceeds help fund the many services that benefit the library’s patrons – community members from surrounding towns as well as Washington.
For questions about the event, contact amaclaren@gunnlibrary.org or development@gunnlibrary.org
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| Noble Horizons Festival of Trees continues through December 3 |
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Regional Holiday Markets
Many of the towns in the Northwest Corner hold holiday markets, and here are a few suggestions:
Salisbury Artisan Group’s Holiday Market
Dec. 16 Location: White Hart Inn, 15 Under Mountain Road, Salisbury
The Salisbury Artisan Group’s Holiday Market will take place at the White Hart on Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. Attendees can expect handmade crafts and artisanal goods.
Institute for American Indian Studies Holiday Market
Dec. 2-3 and 9-10. Location: 38 Curtis Road, Washington
The Institute of American Indian Studies Holiday market celebrates contemporary Native American art and cultures. Guests can purchase items such as gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artworks and flutes, to name a few.
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| December 1 at 7:30pm: Our Pandemic Future in a Rapidly Changing World -- sponsored by the Salisbury Forum. This event will take place at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Dr. James Shepherd, a faculty physician at Yale University, will lead a forum on how the world must confront infectious diseases in the 21st century. Dr. Shepherd has spent the last two decades as an infectious disease specialist, including in Africa and India treating HIV and TB, and managing public health systems and disease outbreaks. He is also a farmer in Sharon, growing hops for local brewers and raising cows and sheep. With his broad experience as a doctor and a farmer, Dr. Shepherd provides a unique perspective on epidemics, the changing environment, and the place of our species among the community of animals, plants, and pathogens. For more information click here. |
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Crescendo presents Carols for the Earth on December 16 and 17
Crescendo is excited to follow up on the success of the 20th anniversary concert with Carols for the Earth on December 16 and 17 at 4pm. The concert will present a mixture of old and new holiday music, from both Christian and Jewish traditions, with an earth-conscious message.
Please visit Crescendo’s website, www.crescendomusic.org, for online ticket purchases, more details, and other season concerts, or call 860.435.4866. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door 45 minutes before each performance.
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Sundays and More at Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss students will make Sunday your favorite day of the week! 3rd-8th graders can begin their Sundays at Hotchkiss' popular Coding Boot Camp from 10-11 am where they'll learn Scratch, Java, Python, explore AI and more.
Children 8-12 years old can then dash to a Basketball clinic on Sunday, November 12 and an Ice Hockey clinic on December 3, 11 am-noon. After the holidays, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and swimming will be offered.
On Sundays from 1-2 pm, Hotchkiss students of color are hosting a mentorship program for local students of color. Together they will enjoy sports, games, and other adventures on the Hotchkis campus.
Finally, for those 16 and older, Hotchkiss students invite you to kick off your holiday season with the greatest gift of all: the gift of life! To celebrate the season of giving please make an appointment to donate at the Red Cross Blood Drive on November 14, from 1:00-5:45 pm. The drive takes place in the school's main building and will feature Deano's and Mizza's pizza, refreshing beverages, and delectable homemade goodies. Blood donations save lives every two seconds; please save a life and donate. Thank you!
For more information about any program, including weekly tutoring and reading sessions for children of all ages, please email clburchf@hotchkiss.org. |
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| Region 20 High School will hold an in-person public vote December 14, 2023 to determine the name for its high school. It is down to two names – Lakeview High School and Western Hills High School. The meeting will convene at 7:00pm at Litchfield Intermediate School – 362-368 Maple St., Litchfield, CT 06759 – and voting is open to all community members in attendance. |
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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