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| Dear Neighbor,
Last week, we marked the sad anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook and remember the 26 lives lost on December 14, 2012, in a senseless act of violence. My youngest sibling was in lockdown that day in a neighboring town, and I remember that fear and stress. It's impossible not to think about that fear and stress in every lockdown. I know that's the case for many families who felt that strain in Ellington on December 13 (threats made at Ellington High School and Ellington Middle School. Thankfully, both threats were deemed non-credible).
The pain and heartbreak of the Sandy Hook tragedy is still felt all across our state. I'm sending love and strength to the families who, once again, have an empty seat at the table this holiday season. |
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I have a lot to share with you, including:
- Bond Funding for Tankerhoosen Lake in Vernon
- Solar Arrays Legislation Update
- Ellington Officials Break Ground at Windermere School
- Congratulating Dr. Joseph Macary
- Scam Alert from the CTDOL
- CT State Building Trades Training Institute
Have a safe and happy weekend. Enjoy time with friends and family. Remind them how much you care about them.
Jaime |
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| From my family to yours, I want to take a moment to send my best wishes for the holiday season, and express that it is my sincere honor to represent you and work on issues that matter to our community and Connecticut.
Remember that as we celebrate, we also share many blessings, so in the spirit of the season, please spread joy and make these holidays truly special.
I hope the holidays bring you peace, happiness and good health today, tomorrow, in the New Year, and beyond it. |
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| This month's North Central News submission focuses on reflection on 2023 and ways you can donate your time and resources to various organizations throughout the 57th District. You can read the article HERE or click the graphic above. |
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| A few words on solar arrays - I know the region has an over-saturation. Representative Steinberg and I offered a bill (HB 6764) last session to give towns the ability to say, "Enough is enough." It was voted out of the House, but it didn't get a vote in the Senate. I plan to re-introduce the legislation in the next session.
Below, I've included the bill amendment that would allow for local zoning to have a say. I'm proud to have led the effort to include this in the bill. |
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| I'm excited to partner with Connecticut Scholars Strategy Network (CT-SNN) and UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) to host the first-of-its-kind “Moving Beyond Implications: Research into Policy” (Moving Beyond) conference. The conference will bring together academics, legislators, and other policymakers ahead of the 2024 legislative session.
This conference will create an opportunity for researchers to present their policy-relevant scholarship to policymakers, provide an opportunity for policymakers to respond to their research needs and questions, and generate connections to inform evidence-based policymaking in Connecticut.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 9, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
For more information or to RSVP for the event, click HERE or click the graphic below. |
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I join the entire Vernon delegation in welcoming $300,000 in state bond funds approved by the State Bond Commission on Friday for dam repairs and other various projects at Tankerhoosen Lake in Vernon.
"I'm happy to advocate for my district towns, as 169 separate towns are looking for funding through the state bond agenda. I want to thank the State Bond Commission and Governor Ned Lamont for seeing the need to fund this vital project at the Tankerhoosen in Vernon.
Comments from the Vernon delegation:
"The Tankerhoosen is a valuable gem in Vernon," said Rep. Kevin Brown (D-Vernon). "It has a proud history as a source of natural beauty and recreation dating back generations. DEEP has deemed the dam as a hazard, and it is important that we take measures to remediate this problem. Many residents around the lake have expressed frustration that it has been neglected and this could be the start of improving it for the generations to come."
"The Tankerhoosen Lake dam has been flagged as a 'significant hazard' by DEEP, which makes the repairs made possible by this allocation vital for the neighborhood and Vernon,” said Rep. Tammy Nuccio (R-Tolland-Vernon-Willington), the ranking Republican member of the Appropriations Committee. “This is an issue that needs to be addressed, I’m glad to see progress on the project and I'd like to thank the Commission and Governor Lamont for approving these funds."
“Thank you to the Governor and the Bond Commission for approving this important funding for necessary repairs to this state-owned dam on Tankerhoosen Lake," said Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock). "The dam has been deemed as a ‘significant hazard’ by DEEP, and these repairs will restore the structure’s safety and viability. I continue to support investments in our towns, including for the Vernon community.”
The Tankerhoosen River Valley is one of Connecticut's officially designated greenways selected by the DEEP's Connecticut Greenway Council in 2007. There are marked trails in the area, such as the Rails-To-Trails system, the Blue Blaze Trail, plus the network of trails at Valley Falls and the Belding Wildlife Preserve. Most of the trails are for hiking, but the Rails-To-Trails route from Talcottville to Bolton Notch is also good for biking. The Tankerhoosen Valley is also popular for fishing with a Class A trout stream. |
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| The cold temperatures couldn't take away from the magic of witnessing and taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony at Windermere School in Ellington earlier this month. I'm so proud to have been part of this, as it was one of the first big projects I had the opportunity to work on after being elected as a state representative. I can't wait to see this project come to fruition, and as one of the 4th grade students said, "a clean and shiny" building, and like him, I can't wait to see it. |
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| The application opportunity for low- and moderate-income families suffering from crumbling foundations to apply for additional remediation assistance is now open. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), the Connecticut Foundations Solutions Indemnity Corporation (CFSIC), and the Northeast Connecticut Council of Governments (NECCOG) launched the new Crumbling Foundation Remediation and Restoration program to help low- and moderate-income homeowners access financial assistance to repair damages caused by crumbling foundations.
Funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. |
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| As we ring in the new year, some laws become effective on January 1 that were passed during the 2023 legislative session addressing key issue areas including early voting, health and mental health, and online privacy and data protection.
There will also be an increase in the minimum wage effective January 1 from $15.00 to $15.69 made possible through legislation passed in 2019, which implemented five incremental increases in the minimum wage followed by future adjustments tied to the percentage change in the federal employment cost index.
Although extensive, below I share some highlights, and a link to the complete list. Please feel free to share and reach out to my office if you would like more details on any of the new laws. |
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Establishes a framework for early, in-person voting requiring a 14-day early voting period for general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries.
Includes the creation of a Hospice Hospital at Home pilot program to provide in-home hospice care to patients through in-person visits and telehealth.
Establishes a new license category for freestanding birth centers, an Infant Mortality Relief Program to review medical records and other data on infant deaths and a midwifery working group to study and make recommendations on advancing choices for community birth care.
ONLINE PRIVACY, DATA AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS ( PA 23-56)
Makes various changes to laws on data privacy and related issues, including provisions on consumer health data, minors’ social media accounts and online services, online dating operators, and a task force on internet crimes against children.
RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH AN INTELLECTUALOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY ( PA 23-137)
Among many supportive measures, creates a plan to establish a Transitional Life Skills College program to support certain people with IDD who are transitioning out of high school or to independent living.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR POST-TRAUMATICSTRESS INJURIES ( PA 23-35)
Expands eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries to all employees covered by the workers’ compensation law.
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| Your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings during the legislative session had a direct influence on these new laws. Thank you for your input, and please continue sharing your views and making your voice heard during our legislative process. |
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| 2022 was my first year as a legislator within the Vernon delegation and I was honored to join my fellow legislators in recognizing Superintendent Dr. Joseph Macary, who was recently named "2024 Superintendent of the Year" by the Connecticut Association of Public Schools Superintendents (CAPSS). The delegation recently recognized Dr. Macary with an official state citation. Dr. Macary has been a tremendous partner to me in collaboration with the legislature.
I know I tell the public this often, but we know what we know, and our strength is in knowing what we don't. I'm happy that whenever I need to reach out about education policy, Dr. Macary is quick to respond and always willing to take the time to educate me.
Congratulations also go out to the Vernon Board of Ed for receiving the "Board of Distinction Award" from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE). The award recognizes BOEs that work effectively as teams. This distinction only goes to school boards that are consistently top performers in CABE’s annual review process. Vernon’s BOE has received this award eight times in a row. |
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| Congratulations to Officer Michael Bard on his retirement! Officer Bard served the Town of Ellington as a police officer for the past 38 years. Thank you for your service & commitment to Ellington and for working to protect and serve the community. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement! |
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| While the final result wasn't in Rockville's favor, this team has a lot to be proud of. Rockville took on a very tough Daniel Hand team in the Class M State Football Finals on December 10. Hold your heads high, Rams! What a season!
Photo courtesy: Restore the Rock |
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| Visit the Ellington Farmers Market at Ellington High School this Saturday! You have ONE more opportunity to shop the market before Christmas and for the last time in 2023 (EFM returns January 13)! |
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| The state is offering a new resource allowing some high school seniors to apply for certain local colleges and universities for free through the Connecticut Automatic Admission Program. Graduating Connecticut high schoolers, who meet eligibility guidelines, will be automatically admitted to several participating colleges and universities. All they have to do is fill out one application form!
Graduating seniors in the top 30% of their class, as identified by their individual high school counselors, are eligible. The deadline to apply for high school seniors who are graduating this spring is January 4, 2024. The goal of the program is to simplify the application process and make it easier for families to seek higher education. |
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The colleges and universities currently participating include:
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
- University of New Haven, New Haven
- University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport
- Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
- Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
- Mitchell College, New London
- University of St. Joseph, West Hartford
- Goodwin University, East Hartford
- Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
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| Unfortunately, I have to share another scam warning. If you’re looking for a new job, beware of scammers trying to get your personal information. CTDOL says criminals are asking victims for banking, credit card, and social security information while pretending to work at the state’s job bank, CTHires.
If you are in any of the following scenarios while applying for a job, hang up immediately:
- You’re asked to pay a fee to apply or to be considered
- You’re asked for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card details to complete your application
- You’re told to give up valuable information or you’ll lose a job opportunity
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| Visit the CTDOL fraud watch page if you think you may be a victim of this or other scams. |
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Are you ready to take the next step in your career and join the highly skilled workforce with the Connecticut State Building Trades?
Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of the Connecticut State Building Trades Training Institute's Union Apprenticeship Readiness Program! Designed to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and readiness for a successful apprenticeship, this program is the stepping stone you need to jumpstart your career in the trades!
Secure your spot and take the first step towards a good-paying, stable career in the construction industry. Spaces are limited, sign up now! |
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Sincerely,
Jaime Foster
State Representative |
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