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Dear Neighbor,
Ten years ago today, we lost 26 lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School - and even ten years later, I think we can all agree that the memories of that day remain clearly in our minds.
As we remember the lives lost that day, I invite you to visit MySandyHookFamily.org - an online resource assembled by the family member of the victims to express how they would like their loved ones honored.
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You can also learn more about the lives of the 20 students and 6 educators, by reading the CT Insider article, "Remembering the 26 Sandy Hook shooting victims, 10 years later."
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TONIGHT: "How is my Child's School Doing?" Virtual Learning Session
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A reminder that the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) will be hosting a virtual, interactive learning session to teach parents and guardians about a great resource! Tune in tonight, December 14 from 5PM-6PM to learn how to use CT EdSight to better understand how the schools in our district are performing.
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Rollout of CT's New Workforce System, "CareerConneCT"
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The State has announced the rollout of key components to CareerConneCT, the State of Connecticut’s signature workforce program and a nationally recognized model.
Jobseekers are encouraged to enroll through an online intake portal – portal.ct.gov/careerconnect – that connects them to reskilling, upskilling, or next-skilling opportunities in manufacturing, information technology, health care, infrastructure and clean energy, CDL, and other high-demand sectors.
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Once registered in the portal, participants will complete a brief skills inventory and then receive a Career Coach who will help them access training that meets their skills and interests. Participants also can explore career paths, learning opportunities and available jobs.
The portal features a curated list of available training programs that will continue to grow as programs are scheduled and new programs are developed to meet additional employer demands for skilled talent. Trainings programs ranging from five weeks to ten months have already begun with many more being added in January. Trainings have been designed based on the hiring needs of employers, with a significant number of employers committing to hire graduates.
State on your CareerConneCT path now! For more information, click here.
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DEEP Written Comment Opportunity: CT's Comprehensive Energy Strategy
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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced a written comment opportunity for the state's 2022 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES).
CES examines future energy needs in the state and identifies opportunities to reduce costs for ratepayers, ensure reliable energy availability, and mitigate public health and environmental impacts of Connecticut's energy use, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and emissions of criteria air pollutants.
DEEP is inviting stakeholders and members of the public to submit written comments related to technical sessions 7 (Methane/Natural gas distribution planning and policies) and 8 (Market-based decarbonization programs and low-carbon incentives).
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The specific questions DEEP is seeking public comment on can be found here. However, all comments related to technical sessions 7 and 8 are encouraged. When possible, please indicate the relevant session number(s) and question number(s) in the title or subtitle of a written comment.
The deadline to submit comment is January 6, 2023 at 5PM. Comments may be filed electronically via the Energy Filings web page or submitted directly to DEEP at DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov
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East Windsor Revaluation Process Frequently Asked Questions
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East Windsor residents - I know many of you are closely following the revaluation process and their may be questions. The Town has assembled a fantastic fact-based resource to answer all the frequently asked questions that can be found here.
The above link will be updated from time to time to incorporate any new FAQs raised by taxpayers. If you'd like to lodge a general question, email JSanchez@eastwindsorct.com.
Please know that First Selectman Jason Bowsza, Senator Saud Anwar, Representative Carol Hall, and I have already been in contact for the past few months making sure we're prepared for all options to present to the town.
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Help Members of our Community this Holiday Season
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Ellington, East Windsor and Vernon Human services are all looking for help this holiday season supporting families in our community. If you'd like to help, please reach out to the following:
- Ellington Human Services: call (860) 870-3128 to coordinate dropping off gift cards.
- East Windsor Social Services: Drop off unwrapped, new toys or gift cards at 25 School Street. Call (860) 623-2430 for more information.
- Town of Vernon: Call (860) 870-3661 to coordinate any donations.
Also, please consider helping one of local community organizations, like Crystal Lake Food Pantry, The Cornerstone Foundation, and Hockanum Valley Community Council (HVCC) who will distribute holiday and cold weather gifts and apparel.
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PJ Day for Connecticut Children's
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I had so much fun participating in "PJ Day" for Connecticut Children's! In my jammies, I joined Mrs. Collins' Pre-K class for "Hour Of Code." We played with a Beebot, strung patterns of beads and I pretended to be a robot while the kiddos gave instructions to get a task done!
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Improving Fiscal Outlook for Connecticut
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I am pleased to report that responsible budgeting and major structural changes made to pension and teachers' retirements plans are putting Connecticut on much more solid fiscal ground and saving taxpayers billions in debt payments.
The Office of Policy and Management noted the teachers' retirement unfunded liability has been reduced by a billion dollars in the last year. Combined with other recent deposits, the state will save $9.4 billion over the next 25 years.
Millions of dollars that would have otherwise gone to debt payments can be freed up to continue investments in childcare, mental health, higher education, and workforce training, improving the quality of life for all residents.
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While our fiscal outlook is good, we remain cautious, and remain disciplined in our budgeting.
I will continue working with my colleagues to help make sure we set realistic expectations for our revenue and spending policies to keep our state moving in the right direction.
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Early Intervention Makes a Difference
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Early intervention can make a world of difference for infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities and their families! Connecticut’s Birth to Three System can help families support their little ones in their homes and communities with physical development, communication skills, feeding, dressing, learning, and social-emotional development.
If you have concerns about one or more of these areas, call +1 (800) 505-7000 to learn more about Birth to Three or visit birth23.org. Early intervention supports now have no out-of-pocket costs for families.
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Sincerely,
Jaime Foster
State Representative
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