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Dear Neighbor,
Happy spring! It might not feel like it yet, but we're getting there. And with the turn of the season comes outdoor events, sporting events, concerts, and more. I look forward to getting outside with Aaron, the kiddos, and the pups!
I want to offer a big CONGRATULATIONS to the Ellington Boys' Basketball Team for winning its first state championship since 1972!
Best wishes to our Connecticut colleges in the NCAA Tournament. As a UConn alum, I'm rooting for the Huskies!
CHEER ON OUR CT TEAMS!
Friday, March 21st:
-UCONN Men’s Basketball vs Oklahoma - 9:25 PM (First Round)
Saturday, March 22nd
-UCONN Women’s Basketball vs Arkansas - 1 PM (First Round)
Friday, March 21st:
-UConn Men’s Hockey East Championship vs. Maine - 7:30 PM (Championship game)
Jaime
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In this newsletter, you'll find:
- Bringing State Championships Home to Ellington
- SRS Principal Named CAS Elementary School Principal of the Year
- Op-Ed: "Utilities' Web of Misdirection Unraveled by Court Ruling"
- Solar Farm Fire in Broad Brook
- CIF Funds for East Windsor
- Celebrating Ag Day at the Capitol
- Wrapping Up Committee Work
- Veterans' Events & Info
- Ellington Youth Services Bureau "Safe at Home" Program
- Cornerstone Foundation's 10th Annual Prom Boutique
- Raising Money for T1D & Honoring an RHS Athlete on April 12
- March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
- And More!
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PERFECT SEASON! The Ellington boys' basketball team went 27-0 this season and won the CIAC state basketball championship title for the first time since 1972. The team defeated Wallingford's Sheehan High School in the Division IV title game 55-39 on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Congratulations to the team, coaches, cheerleaders, and the fans on this epic season!
Coach: Robert Freitas
Assistant Coach: Robert Veneziano
TEAM ROSTER:
Reece Nicol
Tetrick Stonar
Lucas K. Ladin
Ty Fieldhouse
Colin McKee
Dylan E. McKee
Jack Curtis
Dylan J. Killoran
Jack Weigand
Abram Moser
Andrew Flickenschild
Photos courtesy of
Score graphic: Ellington Public Schools Athletics
Championship game photos: CIAC |
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EHS swimmer Cody Lonsberry is your CIAC Class LL STATE CHAMPION in BOTH the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle! Congratulations!
Photo: Ellington Public Schools Athletics |
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MR. K. NAMED PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR!
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It's not just sports we have to celebrate in this e-newsletter. Earlier this month, Bryan Kerachsky, Principal of Skinner Road School in Vernon, was named "Connecticut Elementary School Principal of the Year" by the Connecticut Associations of Schools (CAS). Mr. Kerachsky has been at Skinner Road School for the last eight years and has worked hard to build a community of learners and a record of student success. As principal, Mr. Kerachsky works with his staff to create an environment where students know their teachers have high expectations and a commitment for them to succeed.
The Principal of the Year program was established in 1984 and recognizes outstanding school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students and demonstrated excellent leadership, commitment to staff and students, service to their communities, and contributions to educational leadership.
Congratulations to Mr. Kerachsky and the remarkable staff at Skinner Road School. As Mr. K. says, he didn't achieve this honor on his own.
"I am lucky to work in a community of amazing professionals within the Vernon Public Schools and Skinner Road School," he said. "Our focus is always on our students and doing our absolute best to help them grow and achieve. I can’t thank my staff, students, families, Dr. Macary, district leaders, and my family enough for all that they have done to make this possible." |
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| The Connecticut Mirror's CT Viewpoints published an op-ed I submitted on misdirection coming from utility companies and a recent court ruling that unravels that misdirection. You can read the op-ed HERE or click the graphic below. |
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| I am fighting for the 57th District - and the state's ratepayers - when it comes to holding our public utilities such as Eversource and UI accountable. |
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As spring fire season begins and more than a dozen brush fires have sparked around Connecticut in March so far, the East Windsor delegation of lawmakers including State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), State Representative Carol Hall (R-Enfield, East Windsor), myself, First Selectman Jason Bowsza, and members of the East Windsor community are calling for the temporary closure of East Windsor's Nextera solar project until residents' safety is secured.
The calls for closure come after a fire broke out at the project on Tuesday, March 11, after reports of sparking wires several days prior at its site. First Selectman Bowsza said this is another public nuisance caused by the project, which has previously gained negative attention in town due to incorrectly installed inverters causing a persistent humming sound that bothers nearby residents.
First Selectman Bowsza and I visited the site and spoke with nearby property owners on March 11.
This is the latest in a saga of problems with this generator. We immediately worked towards action to ensure the state, the legislature, and our towns, have the authority to hold bad actors accountable. This legislation will put safeguards in place to prevent reckless re-powering of malfunctioning generation and distribution sites, prioritizing public safety and community well-being over corporate negligence.
“What we saw at the Nextera site is just the most recent example of that company acting as an absentee landlord,” Bowsza said. “They have dismissed concerns raised for years about noise emitting from the exact spot where the fire broke out, and they have refused to rectify the issue. They were called out over the weekend to address sparking wires, and they failed to fix that issue, as well. They need to be held accountable, and they need to do right by the people who live next to this project. Nextera owns it, and they are responsible for it.”
“My husband and I were sitting in our living room when we heard an explosion, saw a wave of green light, and then a fire almost immediately followed,” said resident Amanda Wright. “I called 911 and within minutes, 40 trees had burned down. Not only has this solar plant been a nuisance for us because of the incessant ringing [noise], but now we’re concerned about the safety of our family, home, and neighbors. The solar company has ignored our complaints for years about the noise, and now we fear they will ignore our safety.”
“It seems we have an absentee landlord that promised us that they were going to take care of all the conditions at this site and now they’ve reneged on those promises and said, ‘we don’t care, we’re doing nothing,’” said resident Dana Van Steenburgh.
The nearest properties abutting the project are just 124 feet away from its development site, making any potential fires threatening to local property and safety.
Bowsza stressed that Nextera has failed to act as a responsible property owner and address safety and nuisance concerns on the property. |
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Last week, the Community Investment Fund 2030 (CIF) approved $250,000 for Park Hill 2 and 3’s planning process. I’m proud to have supported this application.
This forward movement is possible because of multi-year municipal, state, and federal government coordination to layer money and address long-standing water issues in the Park Hill area.
CIF is a five-year fund of up to $875 million. It is designed to foster economic development in historically underserved communities across the state. The CIF will invest in small business, education, and infrastructure projects. It is a statewide program authorized in Section 32-285a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
The funding needs final approval from the State Bond Commission.
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One of the best days at the Capitol happened this week - Ag Day! I was happy to welcome the Rockville High School Bee Club and FFA members. The Bee Club met with legislators to share how they started and maintain their beehives, along with producing and selling honey! This club was created by students, who secured donated beekeeping equipment, and advised by Molly Allard, the Agricultural Mechanics teacher in the ASTE program at RHS. I also ran into some familiar faces, including Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, Representatives Moira Rader, Mary Fortier, and Jane Garibay, UConn Extension folks, and the Corn King!
Ag Day featured more than 40 agricultural organizations showcasing the diverse array of farming activities, nutrition programs, and careers in agriculture. The event drew farmers, legislators, FFA students, 4-H students, and the public.
CT Agriculture Week (March 16-22) recognizes the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. Connecticut is home to 5,000 farm operations, working 370,000 acres from the ground to the Sound, and employing 30,000 people in our state. Most significantly, agriculture generates $4 billion dollars for our state’s economy. |
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My committees - Veterans and Banking - wrapped up last week (3/13) and the Energy and Technology Committee wrapped up on Thursday.
Bills have been "JF'd" (Joint Favorable Reports) to other committees or the House Floor. We have until June 4 to complete our work at the Capitol. |
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| Senator Jeff Gordon and I had the pleasure of welcoming students from Center Road School for a visit to the Capitol today! The students were polite, well-engaged, and asked great questions. I hope they enjoyed their day! |
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| On Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining the Ellington Veterans Coffeehouse at Hall Memorial Library to share an update on veterans' issues in Hartford. Thank you to all who attended, and if you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office. |
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Last week, I jumped on Facebook Live to talk about cuts to the VA workforce. There are 150,000 veterans in the state, and many of them receive their primary care through the VA system. These job cuts - totaling 80,000 jobs nationwide - would have consequences on the quality of care our veterans receive. We do NOT want to see cuts to our VA - it's unacceptable. As a chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, I want you to know we will do everything in our power to make sure our veterans in Connecticut have the resources they need to take care of themselves.
You can watch my Facebook Live video HERE or click the graphic below. |
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From CT Veterans Affairs:
SAVE THE DATE!
WHAT: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony
WHEN: March 27 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Connecticut Veterans Affairs campus, Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium |
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| Local Vietnam veterans from the 57th District are encouraged to attend this event in Coventry on March 29. |
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In November 2024, Yankee Gas Services Company (d/b/a Eversource Energy) submitted an application requesting the approval of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to amend the existing rate schedule. Specifically, Yankee proposes a revenue increase of $209 million, or approximately 29% of total revenues. The proposed increase would add an average monthly increase of $46.74 to the typical residential gas bill.
The Vernon meeting on Monday was well-attended.
Customers are encouraged to go on the record with comments by attending a public hearing or submitting comments in writing in the proceeding. You can submit comments HERE.
Comments will be accepted from members of the public who have an interest in the outcome of this proceeding, through the date of the final public comment hearing in this matter, April 9. While members of the public can submit written comments after this date, such comments may not be reflected in the PURA's preparations for the subsequent evidentiary hearings.
To read the application, click HERE. |
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With the arrival of spring, there are a number of CT DOT projects happening around the 57th District:
Roadway Reconstruction Improvements on Route 140 in Ellington and Tolland
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has announced that Route 140 in Ellington and Tolland will undergo roadway reconstruction improvements. This project is expected to be completed on November 30, 2027.
Improvements will be made to existing drainage and roadside safety systems, along with the reconstruction of the deteriorated headwall and end wall of a 48-inch RCP culvert conveying Kimball’s Brook under Route 140. The work will also include the replacement of an existing 24-inch RCP carrying an unnamed watercourse below Route 140 with a 36-inch RCP, as well as the installation of outlet protection.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
Route 140 (Crystal Lake Road), Hopkins Road, and Pinnacle Road. Expect construction activities resulting in shoulder closures and alternating one-way traffic between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area.
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Installation/Revision of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
in the Greater Hartford Area
CTDOT is announcing the Installation/Revision of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) in the Greater Hartford area will be starting on April 1, 2025.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing the Installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) on municipally owned and maintained roads in the Greater Hartford area. This project is scheduled to start on April 1 and be completed on November 1, 2025. The project, 0171-0468, consists of the installation of RRFBs at 24 locations on municipally owned and maintained roads in the Greater Hartford area. The RRFB project also includes the upgrade of the existing infrastructure at all locations to the latest standards, such as pedestals, accessible pedestrian signal (APS) push buttons, flashers, signage, and pavement markings. All locations are currently designed with solar power. The project also includes construction/reconstruction of curb ramps, blended transitions, sidewalk extensions, landing areas, detectable warning surfaces, realignment of skewed crosswalk pavement markings and associated revisions to other pavement markings.
The installation locations can be found below:
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CT Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is Developing Plans to Mill & Pave 26 Bridges Along I-91 in Hartford, Windsor, East Windsor, and Enfield.
The (CTDOT) is developing plans to mill and pave 26 bridges along Interstate 91 from Hartford to Enfield. This project will be part of the state-wide bridge preservation program as a follow-up to pavement preservation projects with the purpose of repairing the bridge decks thus extending their service life and keeping the structures in a state of good repair.
The project involves removing the bridge overlay and membrane, the necessary repairs to the bridge deck, and applying new membrane and overlay, as well as replacing the bridge joints.
The present schedule indicates that the design will be completed in August 2025, with construction anticipated to start in the spring of 2026, assuming acceptance of the project, availability of funding, and receipt of any required right-of-way and environmental permits. This project will be undertaken with 100% state funds.
If anyone has any questions or comments on this project, contact Jacob Booth, Supervising Engineer, at 860-594-2862 or by e-mail at Jacob.Booth@ct.gov. Please make reference to State Project No. 0171-0520.
The bridges and their locations can be found below.
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From Ellington Human Services: Boost your job search with the American Job Center!
Get expert guidance on crafting a standout resume, mastering interviews, and building confidence in your job search. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these one-on-one sessions will equip you with the tools to succeed.
First Tuesday of every month
10 a.m. – Noon
Ellington Human Services
Call 860-870-3128 to reserve your appointment! |
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Join Ellington Parks and Recreation for its first 'Knight-Time' Egg Hunt at Tedford Park on March 24!
Wear your favorite glow-in-the-dark or light-up clothes and bring your best basket to collect glowing eggs!
After the hunt, return your eggs to staff so they can be recycled for future use - and don’t worry, everyone who participates will receive glowsticks & candy! (Candy will not be placed inside the eggs).
Rain/Snow Date is Tuesday, March 25. |
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Ellington Youth Services Bureau is offering the "Safe at Home" program for elementary-middle school students to help build independence and confidence.
This one-day program is designed to prepare students to be safe when they are home alone. Students learn how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers. Students are also introduced to a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.
The cost is $50 and takes place on March 26 (an early dismissal day) from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Just a few spots are left open. Click HERE for more information. |
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Join Broad Brook Opera House for an evening of music that showcases not only the incredible songs but also the joyful spirit of ABBA. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their music, this tribute promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of dancing. Don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary celebration of ABBA from some of New York’s finest!
A second show has been added on Thursday, March 27 because the Friday night show sold out so quickly! Theater doors open at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. Ticket information HERE. |
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| Mark your calendars and get your tickets early for one of the signature events of the school year - the East Windsor High School Panthers vs East Windsor Police Department Charity Basketball Game. Always a great time! |
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| Share and spread the word. The 10th Annual Prom Boutique at The Cornerstone Foundation is open to all! |
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East Windsor Police Department is once again offering its Citizen's Police Academy program. The first class is on March 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 25 School Street in the town Annex. If you are an East Windsor resident and have an interest in learning more about your police force, laws, training, equipment, and state/federal mandates - this is a wonderful opportunity to learn and build relationships with the officers who serve your community.
You can sign up HERE. Registration is open until March 24. Please contact Deputy Chief Ben Murphy at Murphyb@Eastwindsor-ct.gov with any questions. |
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Rockville High School's baseball team will raise money for the fight against Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and to honor the memory of a former Rams baseball player who died unexpectedly. Zach Clapp, 21, died last summer. He graduated RHS Class of 2021 and was an honors student who excelled in athletics, particularly soccer and baseball. While at RHS, he participated in the school's Agricultural Science and Technology Education program.
The inaugural Zach Clapp T1D Benefit game is scheduled for April 12 at 11 a.m. at RHS. Admission to the game is free, but food and drinks will be sold and donations will be accepted, with proceeds going to Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), to advance Type 1 Diabetes research.
You can read more in Vernon Patch HERE. |
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| In just a few weeks, the East Windsor Parks and Recreation Healthy Kids Running Series starts up again! Register HERE. |
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Save the Date for Ellington's Earth Day Celebration!
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ellington Town Green.
Join in for a day of fun, education, and action as we come together to support a cleaner, greener future. Whether you're a resident looking to learn more about eco-friendly living or a local business wanting to engage with the community, there's something for everyone! |
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As March Madness heats up, here's a reminder not to get too carried away.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services for problem gamblers.
This year's theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition.
The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates about 2 million people in the U.S. meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, while another 4 million to 6 million people experience mild or moderate issues. The cost to the country -- $14 billion annually – is incredibly steep. Yet the ability to place a sports-related bet has never been easier – in most cases just a few clicks on a smartphone.
The lower barriers to place bets and the removal of the social stigma on gambling has had devastating consequences for some. Indeed, one of the most vulnerable demographics to problem gambling are youths. The NCPG and Responsible Play CT cite data that shows more than 75% of college students have gambled in the last year.
There are state and national resources for help.
- Responsible Play CT offers information and a toolkit on problem gambling.
- The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling offers trained helpline specialists who connect callers to free, immediate support & treatment options in Connecticut. Its number is 888-789-7777.
- The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (860-344-2244) offers problem gambling services.
- The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
- The NCPG's problem gambling toolkit can be found by clicking here.
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The Tolland Agricultural Center is excited to offer two $750 scholarships to graduating high school students!
Who Can Apply: Eligible students must be a senior in high school who has been accepted to a college, university, or technical school program, or a current college student with plans of study in Agriculture, Technical Education, or Family Studies related fields. Applicants must be a 4-H member, AgEd Student, Technical Education student, or Family Studies student in Tolland County, CT.
How to Apply: Applicants must provide a completed application, 2 letters of recommendation, Transcript of grades, and an essay of no more than 300 words explaining your plans to major in a field related to Agriculture, Technical Education, or Family Studies and what you plan to do with this education after graduation.
The due date is April 1, 2025!
Click HERE for more information. |
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