Maria Horn

And October begins. Recent events have had me criss-crossing the state (and reminding me we’re not as small as we look on a map), but I’m hoping to stay anchored in the Northwest Corner as fall begins to take hold with plenty of crisp cool weather ahead this weekend. 
 
The most consequential event in our region took place on Wednesday night, when Nuvance, the parent company of Sharon Hospital, hosted a “Community Forum” at which they outlined a plan for the future of Sharon Hospital.  On the plus side, the plan includes increased investments in primary care and behavioral health, and, on the negative, a planned closure of labor and delivery services.  (For more information on Nuvance’s description of the plan, see the section on it in this newsletter.) 
 
None of these are novel topics to any of us living in the region served by Sharon Hospital, which includes most of the district I serve, and I have discussed them with many of you, particularly in recent weeks.  The loss of primary care physicians in recent years, evidenced most recently by the closure of a practice in Kent, is a critical issue which demands attention and resources. Labor and delivery services, similarly, are a necessary part of women’s healthcare and closely related to our ability to attract and retain young families in our area.  These are momentous changes that will profoundly affect our community, particularly at a time when our demographics are changing.
 
Many, myself included, found the format of the Sharon Hospital meeting frustrating. Approximately 130 people joined the call, and although there was a question time at the end, there was not adequate time for all questions to be addressed.  Questions were read by the moderator, who did not identify who raised the question and where they were from, and condensed some questions, eliminating specifics.  The format did not allow for follow up questions to clarify or re-direct the answer. 
 
On the other hand, it would not have been possible to hold a COVID-safe meeting for that many people in Sharon Town Hall.  It is likely that far fewer could have attended in person in any event.  And a virtual meeting of 130 people brings its own challenges, which the Zoom webinar format helps to address. 
 
Nuvance made clear on that call, and again to me personally this evening, that this was “the beginning of a conversation,” and that they will commit to further public conversation at which we can have better engagement with the community.  I will work with them, and with Sharon First Selectman Brent Colley, to organize that.
 
There will also be a public hearing at some point in the future on some of these changes. In order for Nuvance to close Labor & Delivery services at Sharon Hospital, for example, they will have to apply to amend the “Certificate of Need” (or CON) that was put in place at the time of the merger that created Nuvance. That application will trigger a public hearing, which will be another opportunity for the community to participate.  That will not happen for several months, and I will provide more information on that when I have it. 
 
A reminder that this weekend, on Saturday, October 10, there will be marches and rallies in all 50 states organized through the Women's March movement (Womensmarch.com). We will host two in the Northwest Corner: at 10am in Kent, and at 2pm in Salisbury (White Hart Green).  Each event will last approximately one hour, and provides a great opportunity to make it clear where Connecticut stands on issues of reproductive rights and reproductive justice.  Wear pink if you’ve got it!    

Here’s a list of today’s topics:

• COVID Data. Click here.
• Executive Orders from Governor Lamont. Click here. 
• Sharon Hospital Announces Strategic Transformation. Click here.
• Nuvance Health Updates Visitor Requirements. Click here. 
• Flags to Fly at Half- Staff on Sunday for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Click here. 
• Food Scrap Composting Pilot Program at Salisbury Sharon Transfer Station will be Extended Through October. Click here. 
• Upcoming COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Clinics. Click here. 
• Elder Justice Hotline. Click here. 
• COVID Funding for CT's Dairy and Aquaculture Industries. Click here. 
• Sharon Connect Selects Firm to Provide Cost Estimate for High - Speed Internet Network. Click here.
• NW CT Young Professionals Featured in Video Series. Click here. 
• New Rear Seat Belt Law Going into Effect Today. Click here.
• Region Six Seeking Job Candidates. Click here.
• "Round About Goshen" Studio Tour on October 2 and 3. Click here.
• DOT Update. Click here. 
• Events from NCCC. Click here.
• Small Business Resources for CT Paid Family Leave. Click here. 

COVID Data

Data updates on testing in Connecticut
 
The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.
 

Overall Summary	Total	Change Since Yesterday
COVID-19 Cases (confirmed and probable)	390,345	+165
COVID-19 Tests Reported (molecular and antigen)	11,126,405	+13,098
Daily Test Positivity	--	1.26%
Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19	234	-16
Overall Summary	Total	Change Since Last Thursday
COVID-19 Associated Deaths*	8,629**	+53

 

 
*Data on COVID-19 deaths is updated once per week every Thursday.
 
**Today’s total deaths reflects an increase of 146. This total includes 53 deaths newly reported in the last week, and a reconciliation of 93 deaths that occurred among Connecticut residents who died out-of-state. These out-of-state deaths span the entire course of the pandemic with the majority occurring in 2020.
 
County-by-county breakdown of current COVID-19 hospitalizations:
 

County	Current COVID-19 Hospitalizations
Fairfield County	53
Hartford County	86
Litchfield County	8
Middlesex County	6
New Haven County	48
New London County	28
Tolland County	1
Windham County	4
Total	234

 

 
For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
Data updates on breakthrough cases in Connecticut
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is reporting that as of September 30, 2021, a total of 13,685 cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut have been identified. Of the more than 2.3 million people in Connecticut who have completed their vaccine series, 0.58% have contracted the virus.
 
For more data on breakthrough cases in Connecticut, see pages 6 through 9 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.
 
Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut
 
The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of today:
 

Dose	Total Administered
First dose administered	2,534,453
Fully vaccinated	2,343,943

 

 
As of today, Connecticut residents who have received at least one dose by age group includes:
 

• >95% of those over the age of 65
• 90% of those between 55-64
• 81% of those between 45-54
• 81% of those between 35-44
• 73% of those between 25-34
• 69% of those between 18-24
• 78% of those between 16-17
• 68% of those between 12-15

 
Source: Coverage data is based on what is reported to CT WiZ, except the estimated coverage for 65 years and older, which is taken from the CDC COVID Data Tracker.
 
All Connecticut residents over the age of 12 are currently eligible to receive the vaccines. To locate a vaccination clinic, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
 
Data updates on variants in Connecticut
 
The following data contains the cumulative number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have been identified among Connecticut residents as of today:
 
Variant of concern
 

• B.1.617.2 and all AY sub-lineages (Delta): 4,784 cases

 
For more information on other variants, see page 10 of this week’s extended COVID-19 data report.
 
Bi-weekly update on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes
 
The following documents contain the bi-weekly data regarding each of the nursing homes in Connecticut that have reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their residents. The data is presented as it was reported to the state by each of the facilities. These reports are issued every other Thursday.
 

**Download: Report from September 30, 2021 on COVID-19 in Connecticut nursing homes

 

 
Weekly update of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Alert Map: 57 of 169 municipalities in red zone alert level
 
The Connecticut Department of Public Health today released its weekly COVID-19 Alert Map, which indicates that 57 municipalities are currently in the red zone alert level, the highest of the state’s four alert levels.
 
The COVID-19 Alert Map is updated every Thursday afternoon and can be found within the Data Tracker page of the state’s coronavirus website at ct.gov/coronavirus.
 
Governor Lamont extends duration of previously issued COVID-19 orders
 
Following the legislative approval on Monday to renew the COVID-19 civil preparedness and public health emergency declarations through February 15, 2022, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 14 on Tuesday, authorizing nine previously issued executive orders to remain in effect through the duration of the renewed declarations, and revising and narrowing two previously issued executive orders. Earlier today, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 14A, which made slight corrections to Executive Order No. 14.
 
The governor explained that this new executive order is necessary so that certain previously issued orders can continue beyond September 30, 2021, which is the date that the declarations had previously been scheduled to expire. He informed legislative leaders of his intent to issue this order in a letter delivered to them last week.
 
Executive Order No. 14 takes the following actions:

1. Extends the duration of nine previously issued executive orders through February 15, 2022. These include:
   • Executive Order No. 7P, Section 1, which concerns the authority to provide non-congregate housing to at-risk populations when housing them in group shelters or other communal settings would put them at greater risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. It is important to note that despite claims by some commenters to the contrary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has explicitly told Connecticut that reimbursement of about $2 million per quarter will not continue without such an order remaining in effect.
   • Executive Order No. 9, Section 1, and Executive Order No. 13A, which provide the authority to require masks in schools, childcare facilities, and certain higher-risk settings, as well as providing municipal authority to require universal masking in certain settings.
   • Executive Order No. 9Q, Section 3, and Executive Order No. 13C, which support the state’s comprehensive and nation-leading vaccination campaign by ensuring coordinating funding and reimbursement for vaccinations and allowing the Department of Public Health to share vaccination information with healthcare providers and local health districts.
   • Executive Order No. 12D, which continues the requirement that before initiating the summary process for eviction, landlords file an application with UniteCT, the state’s nation-leading program to provide fiscal assistance to landlords and renters to prevent evictions that could lead to homelessness and the resulting increased risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
   • Executive Order No. 13E, which implements a streamlined training program for temporary nurse aides.
   • Executive Order No. 13F and Executive Order No. 13G, which require long-term care facility workers, state hospital workers, state employees, preK through 12 school workers, and the staff of childcare facilities to get vaccinated, with test-out options for those not working in long-term care facilities and hospitals.
2. Extends agency or municipal orders that were issued pursuant to any unexpired COVID-19 order.
3. Repeals Executive Order No. 11D, Sections 2 and 3, which concern the emergency procurement of essential goods and services, and renews them with a revised version that restores nearly all statutory contracting procedures and requirements except that, to provide for flexible process for goods and services essential to the COVID-19 response, keeps in place emergency authority for agency heads to use expedited non-competitive procurement processes. The revised order continues to require the department head or agency head to certify in writing that such expedited procurement is necessary to respond to the pandemic.

 
Sharon Hospital announces “strategic transformation”
 
At a community forum Wednesday evening, Sharon Hospital and Nuvance Health announced a plan to meet the evolving needs of patients, families. This strategic direction is the result of a years long planning process by Sharon Hospital and Nuvance Health to analyze how the Sharon community seeks care and chart a sustainable path forward in meeting the long-term needs of patients.

The recorded session and a copy of the digital presentation are accessible on the Nuvance website.

Community members are encouraged to submit follow-up questions and concerns by emailing sharonhospital@nuvancehealth.org or calling (845) 554-1734 with their name and phone number.
As outlined further on the Nuvance website, the plan includes:

• Expanding Primary & Ambulatory Care: Sharon Hospital will pursue opportunities to expand its primary care footprint and ambulatory service offerings to best meet the current and future needs of the Sharon community. Investing in these services will allow Sharon Hospital to prevent, detect, monitor, and treat health issues earlier, improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for more complex care that requires a hospital stay.
• Investing in Behavioral Health: Sharon Hospital will expand their adult behavioral health offerings to fill a gap in care in the surrounding region, and better meet the needs of our growing 65+ population while expanding services to adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the future.
• Consolidating Inpatient Care Services to Capture Efficiencies in Staffing and Care: Sharon Hospital will convene clinical and administrative work groups, including physicians and nurses, to develop a plan to effectively consolidate inpatient care services. These workgroups will ultimately allow for more effectively assigned staff and resources to better serve the needs of our patients, while keeping patients at Sharon Hospital whenever possible.

• Phasing Out Labor & Delivery: Sharon Hospital has seen fewer than 200 annual deliveries for the past four years, an average rate of fewer than one delivery per day, some days passing with no births at all in a fully staffed unit. 

Sharon Hospital plans to close its Labor & Delivery unit, pending regulatory approval, phasing out these services over the course of eight to 12 months to allow all of today’s expectant mothers who planned to deliver at Sharon Hospital to do so. Nuvance Health has indicated their commitment to work with future mothers in the Sharon community to find the right facility for them, while understanding these decisions are ultimately a choice between each woman, her family, and her care team.

• Consolidating Surgical Services to a More Efficient and Productive Model: Sharon Hospital will convene work groups of administrative and clinical staff, including physicians and nurses, to develop an operational plan to evaluate the days and hours of operating room availability to improve the efficiency of the currently practiced surgical schedule. 

The public can review additional details about the transformation here. Sharon Hospital encourages community members to watch the recording of our September 29 community forum, which can be viewed here.
 
 
Nuvance Health (including Sharon Hospital) to require visitors to provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test
 
Effective October 5, visitors to Nuvance Health hospitals and facilities must provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours.
 
This includes inpatients, emergency departments, Nuvance Health Medical Practices and ambulatory services. Special populations and visitors with extenuating circumstances may be asked to provide documentation, but it is not a requirement to visit.
  
“Fully vaccinated” means the visitor had a second Pfizer or Moderna dose or a single-dose J&J vaccine at least two weeks prior to their hospital visit.
 
Acceptable types of documentation include a physical or digital copy or photocopy of the visitor’s vaccine card or documentation from the visitor’s healthcare provider showing dates of vaccination, provider name and World Health Organization approved vaccine administered.
 
Antigen and molecular tests are acceptable forms of COVID-19 testing as is any at home test that is observed and verified (results showing name, date and negative result) by a healthcare provider or licensed COVID-19 testing center. All visitors to health facilities must continue to wear a face mask.
 
Nuvance Health’s Visitation Policy permits one support person per day for patients not suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. Patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will be allowed visitation only for extenuating circumstances and special patient populations.
To read the visitation policy, visit nuvancehealth.org/visitationpolicy.
 
Go to vaccines.gov to find the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine availability at certain providers and pharmacies.
 
 
Flags will fly at half-staff on Sunday for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
 
Governor Lamont has directed U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021, in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, an observance honoring the sacrifices of firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The nationwide recognition occurs annually during Fire Prevention Week.
 
Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags – including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise – should also be lowered during this same duration of time.
 
Food scrap composting pilot program at Salisbury Sharon Transfer Station will be extended through October
 
The pilot program, begun in May, was scheduled to end on September 30, but thanks to strong community support, Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand indicated that the program will be extended through October, and that he will be seeking grants to make it more permanent.
 
I have heard so much enthusiasm from those who participated in this pilot, including many, many accolades for Barbara Bettigole, Brian Bartram, and everyone on the Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee (TRAC) who have made the program a success. 
 
Upcoming COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics in the region

The Town of North Canaan will be hosting a FREE Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, October 2, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Please see the flier below for further information:
North Canaan Vaccination Clinic.pdf 

Also, a reminder that there are also three upcoming FREE Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics being held at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.  Those dates and times are:

Friday, October 1, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 15, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 29, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Clinics will offer all three vaccines - Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as booster vaccinations for eligible populations according to CDC guidelines. Click here for more information - 10012021 Vaccination Clinic.pdf  

Elder Justice Hotline 

The State of Connecticut has created a resource to help older residents navigate state services. Operators will be able to provide assistance for various Elder Justice issues, such as aged based discrimination in the workplace to abuse and neglect.  

The hotline will be staffed by the Attorney General’s Office Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. If you are calling after hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

If you'd like to learn more, click here. You can reach the Elder Justice Hotline by calling 1-860-808-5555.

Nearly $10 million in COVID Relief Funding for Connecticut's Dairy and Aquaculture Industries

Connecticut’s dairy and aquaculture industries, which experienced significant market disruptions during the pandemic, negatively impacting sales, will be receiving nearly $10 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funding and American Recovery Plan Act funding.
 
Additional funds will be used to address food insecurity with funds to purchase CT Grown products for drive-through distributions and extending the availability of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at farmers markets.
  
With these new dollars, the state will have reached a total investment of $10.3 million in these programs. In addition to funding to support the dairy and aquaculture industries, the following programs will be better supported through use of these funds: 
 

• Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program: These funds will be used to increase the value of the check booklets provided to WIC participants facing food insecurity due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year check booklets increased from $15 to $21 to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating Connecticut farmers’ markets and farm stands, thanks to legislation in the 2021 legislative session, eggs will be added as an additional eligible item and vital protein source next season. 
• Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program: These funds will be used to increase the value of the check booklets provided to seniors over the age of 60 and disabled individuals living in congregate housing where nutrition services are provided. Eligible program participants facing increased faced food insecurity due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will receive check booklets that were increased in value from $15 to $21 to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating Connecticut farmers’ markets and farm stands. 
• CT Grown for CT Kids Grant: These funds will be used to provide Connecticut boards of education, regional educational service centers, child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes with funds to administer or assist in the development of a farm-to-school program in areas that have faced an increase in food insecurity due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant will be forthcoming from the Department of Agriculture.
• GusNIP SNAP Doubling: In partnership with End Hunger CT!, funds will enable SNAP participants who have faced an increase in food insecurity due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to double the value of their SNAP benefits to purchase CT Grown farm products at participating Connecticut farmer stands and at farmers’ markets. A list of participating farmers markets can be found here. 
• FullShelves Pantry Project: Funds will be used to provide funding for EndHunger CT!’s Full Shelves Pantry Program which supports food pantries and social service organizations with bulk purchases of food. This program enables organizations to achieve economies of scale through bulk purchase of food, access to a more diverse selection of foods, and the efficient delivery of those foods than can be achieved independently. . This program ultimately assists low to moderate communities with improving accessibly to food to individuals and families that have felt the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In partnership with CT FoodShare, funds will be used to extend the operations of the mass distribution (drive through) events throughout the state into October. FoodShare has committed to purchasing as much CT Grown farm products from Connecticut farmers and distributors as possible to support these distribution events. These distribution sites are in communities that have felt the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A list of upcoming mobile distribution sites can be found here. 

For more information on CT FoodShare, please visit their webpage: 
 
For more information on EndHunger CT!, please visit their webpage: 
 
For a list of farmers markets, please see www.ctgrown.org 
 
Sharon Connect selects firm to provide cost estimate for high-speed internet network

Tuesday evening the Sharon Board of Selectman selected Sertex Broadband Solutions from a field of five bidders to conduct a broadband network engineering analysis. The analysis, once complete, will provide a cost estimate and a timeline for wiring the Town of Sharon with town-owned fiber optic lines to provide access to high-speed internet to all homes and businesses.
 
Sertex, based in Plainfield CT, has worked with multiple towns in Western Massachusetts since 2016 to construct, maintain and handle customer installations for municipally owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, connecting more than 15,000 customers in 17 communities with more than 1,000 miles of fiber optic cable plant.
 
Work will begin after the Town signs a contract with Sertex. The project is expected to take until January, as engineers from Sertex and its partner Pike Telecom collaborate with members of the Sharon Connect Task Force to gather data on Sharon's existing utility infrastructure. You might have already seen volunteer members of the Task Force driving along roads documenting the locations of utility poles and gathering other network information.

Sertex will estimate the capital expense to build a fiber network, the annual costs to maintain and operate it, and analyze various financing options the Town could consider. Sertex will also work with the task force to estimate the monthly costs residents would pay to get their internet service, and perhaps phone service, too, over the new network.
 
Launching this analysis does NOT mean the town has decided to go forward with a fiber-optic network, but it will provide hard numbers so that residents will have a more clear picture of the financial commitment needed to build and maintain a town-owned broadband network.  A final report is due on January 10th so the Town can consider the costs as it prepares its budget for 2022-2023. 
 
Anyone interested is encouraged to sign up for Sharon Connect’s newsletter at
https://sharonconnect.org/subscribe

Northwest Connecticut young professionals featured in video series for jobs campaign

A campaign to promote northwest Connecticut as a region with good jobs for young professionals is being launched on Monday, October 4 by the Discover Litchfield Hills Jobs Hub.  Part of that campaign is a series of twelve video vignettes featuring young professionals living and working in the region in various vocations, from manufacturing to farming, from finance to education, and more. 

The American Mural Project produced the videos, which were directed by Theodore Perotti of Pig Iron Films.
The videos will be introduced one at a time via social media, but can also be viewed at americanmuralproject.org/videos/#nwc.  

The video subjects include Cameron Douglas, an automations engineer at Seitz LLC in Torrington; Amanda Freund of Freund’s Farm in East Canaan; Matt McElhone, a realtor with William Pitt Sotheby’s in Washington; Jamie Lenz, who works at Dymax Corporation in Torrington; Barry Lebendz, and entrepreneur who heads up Kent Falls Brewing Company; Michael Baldwin, education director at Sharon Playhouse; Chelsea Williams, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington; Hollie Schultz who is an electrician with Holmes Electric in Winsted; Lucien Francelliette who works at Becton Dickinson, a manufacturer in North Canaan; Joanna Cyr of New Hartford, who is a professor at Northwestern CT Community College in Winsted; Julia Lazar, a chef who lives and works in West Cornwall; and Christine Dascanio, an elementary school teacher at Lee H Kellogg School in Falls Village.

The production of the videos was sponsored by the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, the Rotary Club of Torrington & Winsted Areas, with support from the Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation Supplemental EDA CARES Act funding.
 
New rear seat belt law going into effect on October 1
 
Beginning today (Friday, October 1, 2021), a new Connecticut law will require all passengers to buckle up, regardless of where they are positioned in the vehicle. The legislation enacting the new law was signed by the governor in July.
  
The new occupant protection law will mandate that all passengers in the back seat buckle up. Pre-existing law only required rear-seat passengers under 16 to buckle up, even though proper restraint use is effective for all ages.
 
Between 2017 and 2020, there were more than 12,589 injuries of rear seat occupants in Connecticut. During this same period, there were 61 fatalities.
 
The new law is subject to secondary enforcement, meaning drivers can’t be pulled over just because there is an unbelted adult in the back seat. However, law enforcement can issue a fine for the unbelted passenger if the driver is pulled over for a primary offense, such as speeding. The fine is $50 if the driver is 18 or older and $75 if the driver is under 18.
 
Region Six seeking job candidates
 
The Litchfield Public Schools and Regional School District No 6. Are seek qualified candidates for thea variety of positions.

• For Litchfield Public Schools, please visit https://www.applitrack.com/litchfieldschools/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?internaltransferform.Url=&all=1 for more information and to apply. 
• For Regional School District Six, please visit https://www.applitrack.com/rsd6/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1 for more information and to apply. 

 
“Round About Goshen” Studio Tour on October 2 and 3
 
The Goshen Business Circle will be hosting a "Round About Goshen" Studio Tour on October 2nd & 3rd, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
 
The inventory of participating Artists can be found by visiting www.GoshenBusinessCircle.com 
 
 
Milling and Resurfacing Project, Route 272 in the town of Norfolk, from Route 44 to Bruey Road beginning Tuesday October 5
 
A milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 272 in the town of Norfolk, from Route 44 to Bruey Road.
    
The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 3.31-mile segment. The milling of this project is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 through Friday, October 8, 2021. The resurfacing of this project is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 through Wednesday, October 20, 2021. 
 
Events sponsored by the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce
 
The Northwest Chamber has many events coming up:

• Join us for a VERY special Business After Hours at Black Bear Music Festival on Thursday, October 7^th from 5-7 pm. The Black Bear Music Festival runs October 8-10 at the Goshen Fairgrounds.  Tickets to the weekend-long festival are $125 and the after-hours event is FREE and includes live music, food, beer and wine.  Register online here.  Chamber members are welcome to bring guests- just make sure to RSVP for them too!  Learn more about the festival here. 

• Leadership Northwest kicks off on October 13^th.  If you or any of your colleagues are interested in being in this year’s class- please complete the application attached and return it ASAP.  

Check their calendar online for a full list of upcoming events.

Small Business Resources for CT Paid Family Leave

In 2019, Connecticut was one of the first states in the nation to pass paid family and medical leave to provide working parents with the support they deserve. As our state begins to roll out these benefits this January, the CT Paid Leave Authority has developed several resources to assist small businesses throughout this transition.  

Beginning January 1^st, there will be significant changes to the CT Family and Medical Leave Act. Income replacement benefits will be available for Connecticut workers who need to take unpaid time away from work to attend to their personal — or a loved one’s — health needs. 

Previously, Connecticut’s Family and Medical Leave Act only applied to workplaces with 50 or more employees, but as of January 1st, the CT FMLA's job-protections will apply to workplaces with one or more employees to ensure all workers in Connecticut receive the assistance they need.
It is equally important that we support both families and small business owners throughout the state. While these benefits begin in January, applicants may begin to file before the start date. In preparation, the CT Paid Leave Authority has put together the following webpage to guide businesses as they navigate this shift.

Additionally, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center will host a series of webinars on the subject. I will continue to provide updates about these resources as they roll out.
If you have any questions about these resources or the CT Family and Medical Leave Act, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. 

Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.