Jaime Foster

Hi 57th District! I have to admit, the last two weeks haven't been easy, hearing the news coming out of Israel. As a Jewish American, I'm struggling. But I'm also willing to do what I can to help. One way to help is to locally support our neighbors. On October 21, the Vernon Legislative Delegation will host a food drive in memory of Bryan Flint Sr. at St. Bernard Church in Rockville. If you can't make it on October 21, there are drop boxes at Rockville Library and Vernon Town Hall until October 20. Donations will benefit The Cornerstone Foundation. More information on what is needed can be found below. 

I have a lot of information to share with you, including farmland grants coming to four farms in the district, bond funds approved for a remodeling project at Warehouse Point Library, a documentary movie hosted by Ellington's emergency services (EVFD, CLFD, and Ellington Ambulance), and more. 

We also have a deeply personal story from one of my staff members, whose family has experienced Metastatic Breast Cancer first-hand (October 13 was Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day during Breast Cancer Awareness Month).

I hope you have a peaceful week. 

Jaime 

I've been reeling, processing the news of bloodshed and terrorism in Israel. As a Jewish American, I've struggled with words to describe my shock and horror at what's unfolding.

As a state representative, I don't have oversight over international relations. However, as a leader in the community who is Jewish, I am eager to be helpful.

I share this as I'm still working to figure out what my service will look like as it relates to this tragedy, but I live my life and raise my children to think of Tikkun Olam- תִּיקּוּן עוֹלָם in everything we do. I'll lead with that every day as we move forward.

I want to share the available resources below, passed along from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut to help families in need. Sen. Murphy is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East. He and his staff are in regular communication with the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and other government agencies and we will continue to closely monitor developments in Israel.

There are many of you who know Americans currently in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including those who call Connecticut home, and they need accurate and up-to-date information about how to stay safe and get in contact with the U.S. Embassy. We appreciate Sen. Murphy making this information and resources available, and we encourage you to proactively share these with any family and friends who are traveling in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza or who have questions about the current situation.

• The Department of State has an around-the-clock coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens and assisting them through phone calls and online forms. U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can fill out this online form or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.
• For the latest updates from the Department of State, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel here. 
• The State Department has asked that any U.S. citizens in Israel enroll their contact information in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You can complete enrollment online here. Enrolling in STEP allows you to receive important information about safety conditions and assists the Embassy, family, and friends in contacting you during an emergency. 
• The State Department is continuously updating its international travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Those updates can be found on their website here.

Sen. Murphy's office also has a dedicated constituent services team on standby to assist with any inquiries, including questions about consular services and visas. To submit a request to the casework team, please complete and submit the appropriate form on the website, which can be found here. 

This month's North Central News article, I focused on the big legislative wins we had this session for Connecticut's senior citizens. To read the full article, click HERE or click on the graphic. 

It's been a while since I've done a Facebook Live, but here's a quick update on what I've been up to and what I have planned (this was recorded on 10/12).

Click the graphic below or click HERE. 

Several farms in the 57th District have been awarded grants from the CT Department of Agriculture. Farmland Restoration Flood Response Grants were awarded to 21 entities, totalling more than $312,000, for damage due to excessive rain and flooding in July of this year. 

Awards provide matching funds to Connecticut farmers, nonprofits, and municipalities impacted by the excessive rainfall and flooding to restore lands into active agricultural production, with a focus on restoring and improving the land with prime and important farmland soils.

Applicants were eligible for up to $20,000 for identified project scopes of work including farmland and site reconstruction to repair drainage, riparian buffers, grading and shaping of farmland topography, diversions and waterways, culverts, and stream banks. All projects are done in partnership with a soil scientist and through the development of a farmland restoration plan.

The Farmland Restoration Flood Response funding is provided through the Farmland Restoration Grant, made possible by Connecticut General Statutes 22-6c.

I'm pleased to announce that the State Bonding Commission approved the bond funding for the Library Association of Warehouse Point remodeling project at the Warehouse Point Library. 

There's no denying that ticket prices have become frustratingly high. The Concert Ticket Transparency Law, which went into effect October 1, 2023, saves buyers time and requires hidden fees to be disclosed at the beginning of the ticket-buying process.

On the federal level, Connecticut's own Richard Blumenthal is leading the fight for more ticket transparency.

I am so excited to announce this new website! Health.CT.gov is a hub for all of your health and wellness services.

You'll find all sorts of great, local resources like:

• Programs specifically tailored for your community
• Insurance and financial resources
• Easy directions to apply for the help you need
• Health services for you and your loved ones
• Healthy Living Tools

You can also check your eligibility for assistance with health insurance, utilities, food, and other critical health needs.

Spread the word and check it out today!

This month and all year long, I'm committed to fighting for those affected by breast cancer here in Connecticut. We will never stop working to find cures, address the needs of patients and their families, and make treatments affordable.

May we honor those we have lost, offer strength to those who continue to live with breast cancer, and work to protect the health of future generations.

In addition to October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 13 was Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Awareness Day. My press aide, Jessica, knows about MBC all too well. Her mother Wendy, a former Ellington resident, succumbed to MBC in 2017. Wendy was an active member of the Ellington community for 20 years, as well as a former member of the Ellington Board of Education. She was a Hartford teacher for 35 years. The family started a scholarship in her memory through the Ellington Community Scholarship Association (ECSA).

I'm going to let Jess talk a little bit about her family's experience with MBC.

(Jess) Hi everyone - I just wanted to share a little bit about the type of breast cancer that's not talked about enough. It's the only breast cancer that kills - it's Stage IV metastatic cancer, which spreads to other locations in the body, such as the lungs, liver, brain, lymph nodes, and in Mom's case, her spine. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2000, and went through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments in 2001. In 2014, the cancer returned as Stage IV. Because of where the cancer metastasized, Mom lost the ability to walk, spending the last few years of her life bedbound. She luckily had the chance to meet all of her grandchildren, but she could only really lift two of them. My heart aches knowing she missed seeing her first grandchild graduate from high school in 2022. It was something she looked forward to and something she used as a goal while she endured MBC treatment. She makes her presence known, but we miss her dearly.

Every October 13th is recognized nationally as the official Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, to drive awareness that more research is needed to find a cure. Only about 5% of overall breast cancer research in the U.S. goes to MBC research. Stage IV needs more funding and research. 

Some facts about MBC:

• Approximately 30% of early-stage breast cancer survivors will have a recurrence as metastatic disease, even after completing successful treatment.
• Metastases can occur as early as several months to 25+ years after treatment.
• 685,000 people a year die from metastatic breast cancer globally.
• Only 22% of U.S. MBC patients live longer than 5 years, and only 11% live longer than 10 years.
• Due to a lack of public knowledge about MBC compared with early-stage breast cancer, there are many widespread misperceptions. There is NO CURE for MBC.

Thanks for listening. If you'd like to learn more about MBC or want to do something to help, I encourage you to check out www.metavivor.org. 

- Jess 

Domestic violence is a public health crisis. Here in Connecticut, we are committed to fighting for survivors and victims by enacting critical change through legislation.

For 24/7 support call/text (888) 774-2900 or e-mail CTSafeConnect.org

In May, we tragically lost a true pillar of our greater Vernon community – Bryan Flint Sr.

To honor Bryan's spirit of giving to his community, the Vernon Legislative Delegation will host a Vernon Community Food Drive in his memory to benefit The Cornerstone Foundation where he served as the deputy director. This is a bipartisan effort, including Reps. Kevin Brown & Tammy Nuccio, Sen. Jeff Gordon, and I as we take in donations.

The main food drive will be held on Oct. 21 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at St. Bernard Church at 25 St. Bernard Terrace in Vernon. If you can’t make it on October 21, food donation boxes have been placed at Vernon Town Hall (14 Park Place), Rockville Public Library (52 Union St., Vernon), and St. Bernard Church. The boxes will be in place until Oct. 20.

Here are some of the items that are needed by Cornerstone:

• Tuna
• Canned meats
• Pasta
• Rice
• Pasta sauces
• Peanut butter
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• Other basic toiletries

Ellington Fire Department is joining Crystal Lake Fire Department and Ellington Ambulance to host: Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat, a documentary about being a volunteer first responder. The event takes place at Station 243 (6 Nutmeg Drive) on Saturday, Oct 21, at 7 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided, and fire and ambulance personnel will be happy to answer questions about your volunteer services in town afterward.

Please RSVP to karl.neubecker@ellingtonfire.org.

The Town of Ellington will be participating in the DEA's National RX Takeback Day. Expired or unused prescription medications pose a public safety risk. Safeguard lives and protect the environment by participating in Takeback Day on October 28. The Resident State Troopers' Office at 33 Arbor Way in Ellington is registered as a collection site for this event. No Needles - No Sharps!

It’s Socktober again and LuAnn's is teaming up with Rockville High School sophomore, Tommy Glinski, who is continuing his years-long mission of collecting socks to donate to The Cornerstone Foundation every October.

Tommy, inspired by Kid President, has collected over 8,000 pairs of socks since he was younger, and Luann's would like to help that number grow! Every donation of new, unused socks is of great help to someone in need.

Please consider helping this mission throughout the month of October. Donations can be dropped off at any LuAnn's location.

Hall Memorial Library in Ellington is open again on Sundays! The library hours on Sundays are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Getting a lead test is part of keeping children healthy. Lead in paint is commonly found in older homes and can be harmful to children. The good news is that getting a test is easy. Connecticut protects our state’s kids by requiring lead testing every year for kids 9 months to 35 months. Ask your pediatrician about getting a lead test for a healthy future for your children. www.ct.gov/PreventLead