Kevin Brown

The Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund was granted $25 million in funding by the State Bond Commission. As a House chair of the Crumbling Concrete Caucus, I’m proud to deliver these funds which will continue to help those most affected.

This funding will be used by the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company, INC. (CFSIC) to repair crumbling concrete foundations in Vernon and surrounding towns. CFSIC has supported the reconstruction of homes with crumbling foundations for over 1,000 families in the area, and this additional funding will allow them to continue providing support to homes with crumbling foundations. 

Many homes in Vernon and the northeastern part of Connecticut have been impacted by concrete foundations containing pyrrhotite that were poured between 1983 and 2000, and we continue to see the effects to this day. With this new installment of funds from the State Bond Commission, CFSIC can continue providing much-needed support to residents with crumbling foundations.

The State Bond Commission approved the release of $155 million to reduce the public benefit charges on electric bills. This action is a result of bipartisan energy affordability legislation (Senate Bill 4) that we passed during the 2025 legislative session.

Specifically, the funding will reduce costs associated with:

• Hardship protection programs: $125 million will go towards assisting low-income customers who struggle to pay their electric bills
• Electric vehicle charging programs: $30 million will cover costs related to the state's EV charging infrastructure and integration

It's anticipated that this bond funding will lead to an average monthly reduction of around $5 to $10 in the public benefits portion of customers' bills, likely taking effect in September 2025 and continue for several months into 2026. Another round of state bond funding is expected to be released in 2026 that will enable this savings to continue into at least the first several months of 2027.

This shift aims to provide some relief to electricity customers facing high rates in the state. This initiative is one step towards making energy more affordable for everyone, and complements a 25% reduction in public benefits charges approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in May 2025, as well as supply rate reductions for Eversource (13%) and United Illuminating (14%) that took effect on July 1, 2025. 

Sunday, August 10^th is National Connecticut Day, which recognizes our contributions as the fifth state to join the United States of America on January 9, 1788. Our great state has a rich history that you can explore at The Museum of Connecticut History (231 Capitol Ave., Hartford) and The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (One Elizabeth Street, Hartford).

You can delve into Connecticut's vibrant cultural scene and plan your next adventure through the official state tourism website: CTvisit.com.

You can apply now to the Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, which was established by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by the CT State Department of Education (CSDE).

This scholarship supports students who:

• Graduated from a public high school in an Alliance District including Vernon
• Are enrolled—or will soon enroll—in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
• Are in good academic standing
• Meet any additional CSDE eligibility requirements

Up to $10,000 per year is available for eligible students, including:

• High school seniors planning to begin a teacher prep program this fall
• Undergraduate or graduate students already enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners!

Click here to apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator.

Scammers are back at it - IGNORE threatening text messages from CT DMV

Scammers are again sending threatening text messages to people. Ignore and delete the messages. They are a scam.

Connecticut DMV will NEVER contact you by text message.

Visit the agency’s official website if you need DMV information at https://ct.gov/dmv. 

The Connecticut Treasurer’s Office is holding more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds for Connecticut residents. Unclaimed property includes things such as payroll checks, refunds, bank accounts, liquidated securities, and insurance proceeds.

Property is returned at no cost with proper evidence. Be sure to check with the treasurer's office frequently as it gets new unclaimed property every year.

Click here to see if you are eligible and to file a claim.

The Vernon Historical Society is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II by opening an exhibit entitled “Postcards from World War II” on Sunday, August 17th from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (734 Hartford Tpke, Vernon). Over 130 postcards sent by local residents serving in the military to Stephen Von Euw, the editor of the Rockville Journal, will be on display. Von Euw saved letters, postcards, documents, press releases and posters from the war years. The Vou Euw collection contains correspondence and materials from over 700 people who served in the war.

In addition to the postcard exhibit, a special display will honor the wartime service of Rockville native, Army Air Corp. 1st Lieut. Noel Kloter. Kloter’s family recently donated his restored bomber jacket. The donation also included military documents and photographs as well as a telegram announcing his first child’s birth in 1944 while he was stationed in England. This display serves as an example of the experiences of one that reflects the reality of many who fought in the armed forces during the Second World War.

The postcard exhibit and Kloter display are free and open to the public. They will be on display at the Vernon Historical Society during its regular hours of operation: Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and from 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. and on the second and 4th Sundays from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.