Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Dear Neighbor,

I am sure we are all anticipating snowmageddon this weekend, and I hope you’ll heed the ultimate warnings to stay off the roads.

I happened to speak to the DOT Commissioner shortly after the last storm, to give kudos to our snow plow drivers, and he shared that their plows got stuck in traffic because people did not listen when the Governor asked people to stay off the roads.

For your safety and the safety of the plow drivers, stay home if you are able. 

We will have bitter temps in addition to the snow, so you may want to consider leaving a sink or two in your home with a slight drip to avoid pipes freezing, especially if the pipe is in an outside wall. 

And one last tip: be sure to help out your local fire departments by shoveling out fire hydrants. You never know when you will need it!

You’ll find information below on the warming centers in Avon and Canton. Don’t hesitate to use them if you need them. 

Stay warm and have a great week,

Eleni

Another severe weather protocol goes into effect beginning tomorrow at noon through Wednesday at noon. This frigid period is expected to deliver some of the coldest temperatures we've experienced this winter season, especially during the overnight hours when temperatures will get into the single digits, and wind chills will dip below zero.
 

The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold, which could be life-threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.

Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

Avon warming centers include:

Avon Senior Center
635 West Avon Road
(860) 675-4355
Hours: Friday, 1/23, Monday, 1/26 thru Wednesday, 1/28 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Avon Free Public Library
281 Country Club Road
(860) 673-9712
Hours: Monday, 1/26 thru Wednesday, 1/28 - 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Note: The Library will be closed on Friday, 1/23.

In Canton, the Canton Library and Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., is open during regular library hours on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In case you were wondering, when the severe cold weather protocol is in effect:

• The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security uses its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.

• The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Department of Housing, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically restructures federal student lending by altering borrowing limits, eliminating key loan programs, and accelerating repayment timelines.

Key changes include:

• Stricter limits on federal student borrowing
• Elimination of the Graduate PLUS Student Loan Program
• Phaseout of existing income-driven repayment plans

Beginning July 1, 2026, a substantially narrower set of repayment options for new federal loans

Starting in July, students enrolled in programs designated as "professional degrees" will face an annual borrowing cap of $50,000 per year or $200,000 total. Students in other graduate programs will be limited to $20,500 per year or $100,000 total. Notably, nursing degrees, along with degrees in physical therapy, public health, social work, and education, were excluded from the professional designation, despite requiring extensive training, licensure, and certification.
 
These changes raise serious concerns. It is not possible to strengthen our nursing workforce while simultaneously restricting access to the education required to enter the profession. Limiting federal loan availability threatens the pipeline of trained health care professionals and risks exacerbating existing workforce shortages and barriers to care.
 
In response, my colleagues and I are proposing the creation of a new state-level student loan program and expanded access to the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) during the upcoming legislative session.

CHESLA is a state-created, nonprofit agency providing affordable financing, loans, scholarships, and financial literacy resources to help Connecticut students and families pay for college and manage student debt.
 
Connecticut must step up where Washington has stepped back. By establishing a state-level graduate loan program, we can protect students, strengthen our workforce, and ensure that higher education remains a pathway to opportunity, not a barrier, for the professionals our communities urgently rely upon.