Jaime Foster

In this newsletter, you'll find:

• Passing the CT Hero Bill Through the House
• Supporting the PURA Chair
• State Funding Available to Support Recycling & Diversion of Solid Waste
• Enhanced Cancer Screenings Available for Firefighters, Effective May 1
• Ellington Historical Society Hosts "Field of Dreams: The History of Ellington Sports"
• Free Walks at Valley Falls Park in May
• Strong Family Farm to Host Civil War Day Camp
• Sign Up for East Windsor Parks & Rec Safe at Home & Safe Sitter Programs in June
• And More!

Last month, the House, followed by the Senate, approved the re-appointment of PURA Chair Marissa Gillett. I proudly supported her nomination, and I'll tell you why.

Chair Gillett is not the reason your bill went up — she’s one of the few reasons it hasn’t gone up more. She has consistently delivered real results for ratepayers and stood up to powerful utility interests. That’s exactly why she’s being targeted.

As PURA Chair, Marissa Gillett has:

• Delivered $262 million in savings for Connecticut ratepayers across five major utility cases;
• Repeatedly won legal challenges to PURA’s decisions under her leadership (thank goodness in SB 7 we disallowed the utilities to recover these frivolous lawsuits in your rates);
• Led with transparency, integrity, and an unwavering focus on the public interest.

I want to highlight SB 1531, a utility reform bill that increases transparency and strengthens oversight, and HB 7017, a bipartisan bill I introduced to reduce grid congestion and save money through Grid Enhancing Technologies. The legislature's non-partisan research staff confirms it will save the CT rate payers MILLIONS of dollars.

We cannot afford to lose one of the most competent and effective public servants in the country. We need to get serious about real utility reform.

Governor Ned Lamont has announced $7.5 million in state funding to increase recycling and diversion and make communities more self-sufficient in their solid waste disposal.

The Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), has opened a request for applications (RFA) for a second round of grants, which are aimed at supporting the development of food scrap collection and unit-based pricing programs, as well as other reduction, recycling, and diversion programs. Many of the strategies that will be funded by these grants were recommended by the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management, a coalition of more than a hundred municipalities across Connecticut working to develop strategies to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling.

The $7.5 million under this second round builds on the program’s first round, which funded pilot programs in fifteen municipalities and three regional entities. These pilot programs provided a wealth of data across a diverse subset of Connecticut’s municipalities and demonstrated that a variety of approaches can be effective in reducing costs and environmental impacts associated with municipal solid waste disposal.

Grants are available for individual and groups of municipalities, as well as regional entities (councils of governments, regional planning agencies, resource recovery authorities, recycling operating committees, and regional waste authorities). Eligible applicants must submit a completed application in conformance with the RFA, which can be found on DEEP’s Municipal and Regional Grants and Technical Assistance webpage. Grant applications must be submitted to DEEP by Friday, June 27, 2025.

Questions about the RFA may be submitted to Michael.Looney@ct.gov.

Every year, Vernon's police officers and dispatchers face unique challenges on almost a daily basis. These can occur both on-duty as well as off-duty. Despite these challenges, they rise to the occasion and take action. Some officers go above and beyond when faced with these challenges and display exemplary strength, courage, determination, compassion, wit, etc. These outstanding actions deserve to be recognized!

On April 23, VPD hosted its annual awards ceremony to recognize those who went above and beyond the call of service. There were a lot of awards given, and here are a few:

• Captain Lucas Gallant was awarded “Officer of the Year.” Since being promoted to the rank of Captain, Captain Gallant has taken on numerous roles and responsibilities. Without his efforts, VPD would not function as well as it does.
• Officer Allison Rand was awarded “Distinguished Service” for her actions during a vehicle crash she witnessed on the highway while off duty. Officer Rand pulled an unresponsive female from her vehicle while sustaining injury to herself in the process.
• Officers Dale Lagace, James Platosh, and James Grzegorek were awarded “Life Saving” awards after rescuing a woman in distress from lower Bolton Lake.
• Sergeant (retired) Chris Hunt, Officers Jon Snyder, Robert Worobel, and Dispatchers Sean O’Sullivan and Amy DePietro were awarded “Life Saving” awards after using GPS to locate a lost hiker on the trails, who was experiencing a medical emergency.

Your dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed! 

VPD would also like to thank Vernon Center Middle School for hosting and the Rockville High School Chorus for their beautiful rendition of the National Anthem!

The Strong Family Farm's Civil War Day Camp is a one-day opportunity for children aged 8 to 13 to be transported to the early 1860s and “learn some cool stuff about life and how to survive during the Civil War.”

This includes:

• Experiencing the living conditions of the time
• How the armies communicated
• How armies marched in formation
• What soldiers cooked
• And more!

Each boy and girl will be given the name of a soldier who fought in the Civil War and will adopt their persona for the day.

This hands-on learning experience is the brainchild of Frank Niederwerfer, a 20-year member of the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Company G Reenactment unit. This is the third year the historical, educational, and fun camp has been held at the farm.

For more information or to register, click HERE, click the graphic below, or use the QR code listed on the flyer.

Access Health CT (AHCT) Small Business will hold its third-annual Connecticut Small Business Summit on Tuesday, May 20, at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Instead of a registration fee, AHCT Small Business is asking attendees to make a donation of any size to Connecticut Foodshare. To register, visit CTSmallBusinessSummit.com.

This one-day event gives Connecticut’s small business owners the opportunity to discuss current business trends and challenges and how to address them. Attendees will have direct access to consultants with expertise on various topics through panel discussions and one-on-one sessions. This event will feature speakers, including Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon.

The summit will include two panel sessions covering effective marketing strategies and tactics for small businesses, and tax credits, grants, and government programs. There will also be a discussion to help attendees understand how health insurance premiums impact their business’s bottom line - and how Access Health CT BusinessPlus may help them manage those costs effectively. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The event will conclude with a speed networking vendor expo.