Maria Horn

When the legislative pace slows in the summer, it’s a great opportunity to take a longer view, as there aren’t as many immediate fires to put out.  I’ve been able to sit down with local and state policy experts and have longer conversations than are possible during our session. 
 
One such conversation I had this week took place at the Sharon Audubon Center.  We are fortunate to have in Sharon one of four Audubon Connecticut centers in the state, and they do amazing work.  Some of their work is urgent and immediate, including rehabilitation of approximately 1,000 birds brought to them annually from throughout the region.  It’s baby season, so the rehab center was packed with young birds experiencing different kinds of injury, mostly caused by contact with humans (cars and windows being major offenders).  The center specializes in songbirds, although the raptors at the center are very popular, and there is a very charismatic raven who shouldn’t be skipped.   It is astonishing how much work they do in small quarters.  The center, and the National Audubon Society with which they’re affiliated, also works on forest health and climate issues that affect not only birds, but all of us.  Thanks especially to Center Director Eileen Fielding, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Outreach Specialist Sunny Kellner, Policy Director Robert LaFrance, and Board Chair John Brett, for sharing their time and expertise.

I will be taking a long view of a different sort over the next week, traveling to Michigan for a memorial service and some time with my cousins there, followed by our family’s regular summer trip to New Hampshire to spend some time hiking and kayaking with my brothers and their families.  I will keep an eye out for urgent issues, but next week will largely be an off-the-grid week for me.  
 
We are watching the Delta variant of COVID carefully right now, as infection rates tick up across the country, including in some parts of Connecticut.  These infection rates are highly variable depending on the level of vaccination in a particular region, and recommendations for precautions are changing. If you are traveling, either within the state or beyond, it’s worth taking a look at the infection rate at your destination so that you can take appropriate precautions.  Stay healthy and safe. 
 
For those of you looking for downtime without traveling, remember to check out Weekend in Norfolk starting today!
 
Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• COVID Data. Click here. 
• NW CT Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Business Leaders. Click here. 
• Sharon Hospital's Community Update. Click here. 
• National Farmers Market Week: August 1-7. Click here. 
• Assistance for "Long COVID". Click here. 
• National Health Care Center Week. Click here. 
• Nominate a Rural Health Leader as a 2021 Community Star. Click here. 
• Dr. Juthani is named CT Public Health Commissioner. Click here. 
• Scholarship Opportunities from CT State Grange. Click here. 

COVID Data

For  graphs and tables containing COVID data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
 
Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Celebration of Success recognizes 2021 business leaders
 
This week the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce held its Celebration of Success at the Inn at Mount Pleasant in Torrington, honoring regional businesses and leaders.  This year’s recipients include Jacque Williams (Community Leader Award), Five Points Gallery (Business Leader Award), and co-recipients Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Sharon Hospital (Quality of Life Award).  Each of this year’s honorees made a huge contribution to ensuring our communities remained whole, connected, and healthy (both body and soul) during the pandemic. Congratulations to all, and thank you for what you have done for all of us!
 
Sharon Hospital Hosts Virtual Community Update — August 5

Members of the surrounding community are invited to hear from hospital President Dr. Mark Hirko as he discusses the latest hospital developments and updates on the affiliation that created Nuvance Health.

• Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing sharonhospital@nuvancehealth.org or calling (845) 554-1734 with their name and phone number (TTY/Accessibility: (800) 842-9710).
• Instructions on how to join the virtual meeting are posted on the hospital’s website: nuvancehealth.org/CTForums.

Read more about the August 5 event here.

National Farmers Market Week: August 1-7
 
We are so fortunate to have many farmers markets throughout the Northwest Corner, and next week is a particularly good week to get out there and check them out! 

Assistance for "Long COVID"

With more than 600,000 lives lost across America (including over 8,000 here in Connecticut) since the start of the pandemic, we've known for some time how terrible a disease COVID-19 has become. Even for the people who have contracted the disease and survived, a significant number of those are still struggling with long-term effects (including excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, and "brain fog") months after testing positive.

For the many thousands across our state and country who are now dealing with what is known as "Long COVID", help is on the horizon.  

On Monday, the Biden Administration, in commemorating the 31st anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), announced that some individuals who are suffering from the effects of "Long COVID" may be able to claim a disability under the ADA and other federal civil rights laws. The changes announced Monday could potentially help certain workers with "Long COVID" secure job accommodations under the ADA, allow students to take advantage of reasonable services and accommodations in schools, and make it easier for people to access transportation and personal care resources to get around their communities.

Included among the resources in the administration's announcement are: 

• Workers with Long COVID
• Students with Long COVID
• Guidelines for protecting against discrimination against people with Long COVID
• Resources for identifying local assistance services/programs

For more information on this announcement, click here. 

Community Health & Wellness celebrates National Health Center Week on August 11

National Health Center Week (August 8 – 14) is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of our country’s health centers over the past five decades. Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. In moments of triumph, they offer hope and a vision for the future. This year’s theme is appropriately “The Chemistry for Strong Communities.”  
 
Community Health & Wellness Center will hold an event honoring strong communities on Wednesday, August 11^th, on the day that is set aside for Patient Appreciation Day, at their Torrington location at 469 Migeon Avenue, and our Winsted location at 10 Center Street from 10a-2p.  Please come by to say hello and celebrate.
 
 Nominate a rural health leader as a 2021 Community Star
 
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) is accepting nominations for their 2021 Community Star Awards.  If you know of an individual or organization that NOSORH should shine a light on and celebrate this National Rural Health Day, please nominate them by August 2, 2021. It takes just a few moments to complete the online nomination form.
 
For more information about the Community Star program, click here.

Governor Lamont names Dr. Manisha Juthani as Public Health Commissioner
 
Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is nominating Dr. Manisha Juthani to serve as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
 
Dr. Juthani is an infectious diseases physician at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, where she specializes in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of infections in older adults. Her most recent area of interest is at the interface of infectious diseases and palliative care, including the role of antibiotics at the end of life.
 
She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Pennsylvania, attended Cornell University Medical College, completed residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Campus, and was a chief resident at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She arrived at Yale School of Medicine in 2002 for infectious diseases fellowship training and joined the faculty full-time in 2006. She assumed the role of infectious diseases fellowship program director in 2012.
  
In accepting the nomination, Dr. Juthani will succeed Dr. Deidre Gifford as head of the state’s public health agency. For the last 14 months, Dr. Gifford has been serving dual roles within the Lamont administration. Although her primary position is as commissioner of the Department of Social Services, in May 2020 she agreed to also serve as commissioner of the Department of Public Health in an acting capacity while a search was underway to permanently fill the position.
 
 
Scholarship opportunities from the Connecticut State Grange
 
The Connecticut State Grange awards thousands of dollars in scholarships annually: you can find the application here: 

For more info email secretary@ctstategrange.org