State Capitol Update for the week of May 16th

May 16, 2022

Dear Friend,

This is my State Capitol update for the week of May 16th.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click here.

 

Today Governor Lamont joined me in North Canaan to view the site where we will be building a new Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), following the recent commitment from the state to provide $3 million in funding.  This project has been a long-time priority of healthcare leaders in our community, including Executive Director Nancy Heaton of the Foundation for Community Health, Executive Director Joanne Borduas of Community Health and Wellness (which will run the FQHC), and has benefited from the support and direction of local elected officials in North Canaan, including First Selectman Charlie Perotti.

The FQHC will include primary health care services, including comprehensive primary care; management of acute and chronic illnesses; health promotion, screenings, and immunization; referrals and coordination of specialty care, mental health and substance abuse treatment;  infectious disease management; behavioral health services for established adolescent and adult primary care patients; and many walk-in non-emergency services, including school and sports physicals, and treatment of minor illness and injury.  Dental health service coordination and referrals are also part of the first phase, with full dental care expected as part of Phase II.




The next couple of weeks contains personal school events for me: a road trip to my Ohio high school this weekend for a reunion, and my daughter Abby’s college graduation next weekend.  And I’m looking forward to local graduations in the weeks to come. So here’s a question for you: What advice would you give a graduate this year?
Here’s a list of today’s topics:
  • COVID-19 Weekly Update. Click Here
  • Vaccination clinic at Cornwall Town Hall on May 19. Click Here
  • Baby Formula Shortage and Available Resources. Click Here
  • What are those tiny caterpillars everywhere? Click Here
  • Legislation codifying 2040 Zero-Carbon Target signed into law. Click Here
  • Connecticut Trails Day on June 4 and 5. Click Here
  • EMS Week. Click Here
  • Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Agriscience Academy at Shepaug Valley School May 20. Click Here
  • Providing information to Connecticut residents. Click Here

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
Vaccine clinic in Cornwall on May 19

                        

Free Vaccination Clinic
Pfizer, Moderna and J&J
 
Cornwall Town Hall
Free Vaccination Clinic
May 19th, 2022
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Ages 12+ and up
Pfizer, Moderna and J&J
First, Second, and Boosters Available
A vaccination clinic will be at 24 Pine Street, Cornwall

FREE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
Open to all area town residents,
walk-ins welcome, no appointment required
Please bring a health insurance card and photo ID if you have them, but it is not necessary
to have health insurance or ID to receive the vaccine. No one will be turned away for lack
of insurance or ID
Baby Formula Shortage and Available Resources
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is utilizing numerous options to assist families across the state access baby formula during the nationwide shortage. 

The formula shortage started last fall due to supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was exacerbated in February when Abbott recalled powdered formula manufactured in its Michigan plant and temporarily shuttered it. 

Abbott is allowing the Connecticut WIC program to offer 80 comparable formulas while the company’s products are not available.  

DPH has been working closely with local agency staff to help families find retailers that have in-stock formula, or even switch the participant's benefits package when needed. DPH also has been working directly with manufacturers to order emergency formula.

 
Other suggestions and resources include: 
  • Check smaller stores or pharmacies for availability. During the formula shortage, it may help to visit stores more frequently and buy formula as it becomes available
  • If you can afford it, buy formula online until store availability improves. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies
  • Use caution when purchasing formula from individual or private sellers. You can report price gouging and scams to the CT Office of the Attorney General, HERE, or to local police
  • Check social media groups that are dedicated to infant feeding and formula. Members may have ideas on where to find formula. Always check with your pediatrician regarding any provided advice
  • It is unsafe to add more water to formula, make homemade infant formula, or use regular cow’s milk, or other milk substitutes to feed infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding infants iron-fortified infant formula during the first year of life when breastmilk is unavailable
  • WIC families can contact their local WIC office with questions. If you are unable to reach your local WIC office by phone you can send an email. Find local WIC office phone numbers and emails by clicking HERE. You can also reach out to ctwic@ct.gov or 1-800-741-2142 for assistance 
  • Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ct.org to locate community organizations that provide emergency formula
  • Connecticut participates with Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast, which sends most of its donated breast milk to neonatal care units across the state. It’s also available for purchase. Please visit milkbankne.org/receive to learn about it
  • The US Department of Health & Human Services has additional resources for families to use. Click HERE for more information

While these resources will not solve the formula shortage, I hope they’ll be helpful during these challenging times.
What are those tiny caterpillars everywhere?
 
We have all been flicking, squishing, and sweeping these quarter-inch long caterpillars off everything in sight for the last week.  They are, sadly, the offspring of the spongy moth (formerly known as the gypsy moth) which decimated many hillsides in Sharon and Salisbury last summer, then laid a lot of egg masses on our trees.  These caterpillars are now hatching, and they are everywhere.  The hairs can be irritating, leaving welts or worse on those most sensitive or allergic. 
 
The recent rains have helped, largely because rain encourages the growth of a fungus that is the best combatant against these pests.  There is little else that can be done to combat them. 
 
For more information, here are a few resources from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection:  
 .

This week Governor Lamont signed into law two bills that further demonstrate Connecticut’s commitment to mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis by decarbonizing our electric sector and expanding existing renewable energy programs.
 
The package of reforms includes two bills:
 

  • Public Act 22-5 (Senate Bill 10), An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation: This bill, which Governor Lamont sponsored, codifies into law the 2024 zero-carbon electric grid goal that Governor Lamont established through an executive order that he issued in 2019 (Executive Order No. 3). Codifying this goal into law will provide state policymakers and the electricity sector with a shared goal of fully transitioning Connecticut’s electric supply away from relying on natural gas and oil to power its electric grid. This law will take effect on July 1, 2022.
 
  • Public Act 22-14 (Senate Bill 176), An Act Concerning Clean Energy Tariff Programs: This bill expands existing programs supporting distributed renewable generation, or small, renewable generation that is located on-site and helps reduce the energy burden of participating customers. The Non-Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (NRES) program is an annual auction for on-site Class I renewables, generally solar and fuel cells, for commercial customers. The Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) program is a separate annual auction for Class I renewables, generally solar and fuel cells, that also provide on-bill credits to subscribers in the same electric distribution service territory, mostly targeting low to moderate-income customers. This law, for the most part, will take effect October 1, 2022.
Connecticut Trails Day on June 4 and 5

              

        

180+ CT TRAILS DAY EVENTS

Reserve your spot today!

 
Register Now

There's an event for everyone!

All CT Trails Day events are free, open to all, and guided by people who are knowledgeable about each site.

 

Events include hiking, biking, horseback riding, running, trail maintenance, kayaking, education walks, bird watching, and much more for people of all ages and interests.

Thank You Trails Day Sponsors

 

CT Trails Day would not be possible without the AMAZING support of our sponsors. Please support them and thank them for their generosity! These sponsors step up to help Trails Day be the best that it can be. Thanks to their financial support, CT Trails Day is here for you! 

Fun Facts

  • CFPA has been coordinating CT Trails Day since 1993.
  • Connecticut regularly leads the nation in the number of Trails Day events offered.
  • More than 50 organizations participate in CT Trails Day.

Nearly every CT town has hosted a CT Trails Day event in the past.
EMS Week
Did you know that only 11 states deem EMS an “essential service,” unlike fire and police. I am proud to say that Connecticut is one of those states. To all EMTs in our state, and particularly those in the Northwest Corner, you are indeed essential.
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Agriscience Academy at Shepaug Valley School May 20

 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.
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.