Newsletter
December 1, 2021The holiday season is in full swing and I hope you all had a restful and easy Thanksgiving. I hit the ground running with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes for Small Business Saturday in Collinsville (details below) and will be joining the Menorah lighting this evening at The Shops at the Farmington Valley. This time of year is my absolute favorite for traditions new and old.
Monday was a successful event at the Avon Senior Center with Attorney General William Tong. I also dropped off some Boy Scout popcorn for the seniors to enjoy over the holidays. Looking ahead, I'll have an Environmental Event online on the evening of December 14th at 6 p.m. with DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, Francis King of Blue Earth Compost, and Sarah Bailey, State Program Coordinator of the Master Gardner Program at UCONN. I hope you'll join us on Facebook.
As a reminder now that we have to turn the heat on, if you or anyone you know is experiencing trouble paying their utility bills, Eversource has resources as well as Operation Fuel. Have a great week!
| Small Business Saturday in Collinsville with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes |
I had a lot of fun with my favorite Congresswoman Rep Jahana Hayes on #smallbusinesssaturday While we didn’t get to every fantastic business in Collinsville, we had an awesome time speaking to the owners of quite a few and put a dent in our collective “lists.”
Here are some thoughts on shopping small:
- I love knowing the owners of the businesses I support. They are our friends and neighbors!
- When we say small businesses are the backbone of our economy, it’s not just because of the dollars exchanged. It’s because time and again, these are the businesses that give back to our communities by sponsoring sports teams, donating gift cards to school auctions, and saving the day for families in need.
- Shopping small and in the case of many items we bought today means supporting Made in the USA. It’s exciting to see the creativity from across the country and supporting these makers has a ripple effect.
Small Business Saturday can and should every Saturday. It’s on us!
| An Informative Elder Justice Discussion with Attorney General William Tong at Avon Senior Center |
It was great to be with Attorney General William Tong on Monday at the Avon Senior Center. We discussed many issues affecting seniors including scams, long-term insurance, and the retired teachers shared their concerns over their health insurance.
AG Tong shared information about his Elder Justice Hotline. If you have been the victim of a scam or have been neglected, exploited or abused, please call the hotline at 1-860-808-5555.
| Today is World AIDS Day |
Some of my early activism as a child was around what was then a new virus, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the retrovirus that causes AIDS. The impact was real at my home because my mom lost many friends, primarily because in the early years, there was no effective treatment.
Over time, treatment became available, though costly, and I think some people think that AIDS is a thing of the past because it’s treatable. As you can see from the numbers below from the World Health Organization (WHO), we still have a long way to go. AIDS affects millions across the globe.
37,700,000estimated number of people living with HIV in 2020 |
680,000people died from HIV-related causes in 2020 |
1,500,000people were newly infected in 2020 |
73% of people living with HIV received lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2020 |
Today on World AIDS day, I hope, like me, you’ll remember the lives we lost and raise awareness of the lack of equity around care. COVID-19 has exacerbated the issue but by continuing to stay informed, we can ensure and advocate for care for all. For more information please click on image below.
| Shine a Light Connecticut, Fighting Hate with Light |
In light of the ongoing uptick in anti-Semitic attacks in our state and across our country, I stand as an ally to our Jewish friends, especially at Hanukkah. This year, Shine A Light CT, is encouraging all of us to light a candle in solidarity. I lit mine last night and hope you will also participate. I shared the video below last night. For more information, visit http://www.shinealightct.org.
| Access Health CT Waives Requirement for Certain Small Businesses |
From now until December 15, small businesses in Connecticut can obtain group health insurance regardless of the number of employees who enroll thanks to Access Health CT's Employee Participation Waiver Period. Any local small business with 50 employees or less that is not currently enrolled through Access Health CT Small Business can participate.
By waiving the minimum number of employees typically required to enroll in a small group health insurance plan, Access Health CT is offering some relief for local small businesses, particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and peace of mind for their employees.
From furloughing employees to laying off non-essential staff, many small businesses in our community were forced to make tough decisions to offset the economic impact of the pandemic and may no longer qualify for the group health insurance plans outside of the waiver period because they don’t have enough employees who elect to participate. The Employment Participation Waiver Period can provide some relief for small businesses that may be struggling to provide healthcare coverage to their employees.
To learn more about how to make health insurance possible for your small business employees, visit AccessHealthCTSmallBiz.com.
| A Reminder: Operation Fuel Can Provide Emergency Energy, Utility Assistance for Those in Need |
I just wanted to remind you that Operation Fuel is a great resource if you are struggling to pay electric, water, or other utilities.
You can apply for help through Operation Fuel or contact utility agencies about payment plans, get coded for Hardship or Winter Protection to protect against winter shutoffs as well as other resources that may be of assistance. Please click the image below for more specific details.
Click here for news from Eversource on how to save energy and keeping costs down this winter.
| Happy Hanukkah! |
I'm wishing all of our Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah!
