State Capitol Update for the Week of September 5th

September 9, 2022
Dear Friend,

This is my State Capitol update for the week of September 5th.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the play button to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.

 

The death of a European monarch isn't the kind of thing I usually cover in my weekly newsletters as your state representative, but the passing of Queen Elizabeth II is dominating not only the news coverage, but many local conversations I've had in the last 24 hours. Her 70 years of service to her nation – not by leading armies or wielding political power, but as a symbol of the nation itself – resonates with a lot of people, many of whom have no interest in that or any other monarchy. 
 
What does it mean to serve a "nation"? Is it a flag or an ethnicity? Or is it a set of values and principles that bind us? Among the principles we set out since our founding is democracy itself: rather than inheriting monarchs, we choose our own political leaders in a peaceful, democratic process. The "we" in that sentence has evolved from the white "men" who were all created equal to include the rest of us, who are all entitled to equal protection of the laws and rights to a voice in our elections. Ensuring that equal protection has never been easy, and it remains critically important today. 
 
It's especially topical this weekend of September 11, when 21 years ago, thousands who had just shown up for work were killed in a series of violent attacks. Hundreds of first responders who headed straight for buildings that would soon be piles of rubble lost their lives, or their health. Many others showed up to support those first responders and help evacuate residents who remained nearby. The horrific events brought us together, serving our nation and one another. Service can help us bridge divides, differences and ideologies. It lifts us all. 
 
Last weekend, we were all lifted up by the spectacular Goshen Fair, the historic car parade and races at Lime Rock Park, and even by the rain that came at the end of the weekend, which we desperately needed. 
 
This weekend, we have the Cornwall Ag Fair on Saturday (10 am to 4 pm) to look forward to, a pancake breakfast care of the Sharon Ambulance Squad on Sunday (7 am to 10 am), and a number of 9/11 commemorations on Sunday morning, including in North Canaan, Kent, and Washington. The State of Connecticut's official 9/11 memorial honoring the victims of the attacks is located on a peninsula at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.
 
Finally, if you need a brush-up on how to vote by absentee ballot, and how the rules have changed this year, I'm holding a forum with three town clerks from the district on Monday, September 12 a 6 pm. It will be broadcast via Facebook Live, but I will also record it and try to make it available on other platforms.  

Here is a list of today's topics:
  • COVID-19 Weekly Update. Click here.
  • Updated Covid-19 Booster Doses. Click Here
  • Office of Early Childhood Care 4 Kids Parent Portal named finalist for national award. Click here
  • Forum on the ABCs of Absentee Ballots: Monday, September 12 at 6pm. Click here
  •  Webinar on COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Repayment. Click here
  • Update on expanded pilot food scrap program at Salisbury-Sharon Transfer station. Click here
  • Cornwall Ag Fair and Family Movie Night on Saturday, September 10. Click here
  • Touch a Trade in Kent on October 22. Click here
  • Mountainside offers free trainings in honor of National Recovery Month. Click here
  • Department of Transportation planning to replace fueling facility at North Canaan garage. Click here
  • The Little Guild’s Run & Wag 5k is on October 15. Click here
  • Housatonic Youth Services Bureau and Indian Mountain School Fun Run on October 22. Click here
COVID-19 weekly update
For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
Updated Covid-19 Booster Doses

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines. The bivalent vaccines or “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strains and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant  that is prevalent in the United States now. The updated boosters are already available in Connecticut. 

Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:

  • Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

To find a location near you for the vaccine or booster, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/Vaccine-Knowledge-Base/Articles/How-To-Get-Vaccinated?language=en_US
Office of Early Childhood Care 4 Kids Parent Portal named finalist for national award
 
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has named the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood’s innovative and family-friendly Care 4 Kids Parent Portal as a finalist in its highly competitive 2022 State IT Recognition Awards. The awards showcase the use of information technology by states and territories to connect residents more easily to their government.
 
Located at portal.ct.gov/oec/care4kids, the Parent Portal was created in 2021 to make it easier for families to apply and qualify for the Care 4 Kids program, which is administered by the Office of Early Childhood and provides low and moderate-income families with a subsidy to pay for the costs of child care. The portal includes several digital tools to make the process easier for families, including prescreening for eligibility determination, an online application for the program, and the ability to electronically upload required verifications and other documentation. Families can easily access the Parent Portal through any internet-connected desktop computer or mobile device.
 
In addition to the ease-of-use benefits the portal provides families, it has also improved the ability of the Office of Early Childhood to administer the program by automating several manual processes and reducing paper and printing costs. Since launching the portal, the office has seen a 50% reduction in phone calls, a 52% reduction in incomplete applications, and a 24% reduction in illegible applications.
  
NASCIO is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with the mission of improving information technology practices at all levels of government to better serve the public. The recipients of its 2022 State IT Recognition Awards will be announced at its annual conference in October.
 
For more details on the Parent Portal and the process behind its creation, click here.
 

Forum on the ABCs of Absentee Ballots: Monday, September 12 at 6pm
 
Join me for an informative conversation with three experienced Town Clerks on Monday evening, for a refresher on how to vote by absentee ballot, and how the rules for eligibility have changed a bit this year. 
Watch Here
 Webinar on COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Repayment


 

COVID EIDL Informative Webinar - September 29th 

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deferment periods are approaching an end. As such, business owners must start preparing to make payments. The following are key points and resources for all COVID EIDL borrowers. Register to join the Small Business Administration (SBA) for an informative webinar on your COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) servicing requirements.

Thursday, September 29th

12:00 - 1:00pm ET
Get the Zoom Link Here
Learn the following:
  • Where to find your COVID EIDL loan details
  • What does CAFS mean?
  • How to access SBA's digital loan platform and where to download step-by-step instructions on CAFS
  • Where to make payments on your COVID EIDL loan
  • Where to view your COVID EIDL payment due dates and payment history
  • How to identify your COVID EIDL loan servicing center
  • Where to get help and much more!
Register Now
Update on expanded pilot food scrap program at Salisbury-Sharon Transfer station

There are 125 spots left in the expanded food scrap composting pilot program before they reach their cap of 400 households.  The bins are filling up fast! 
Registration is ongoing and can be done by emailing foodwastepilot@gmail.com – also posted on signs throughout Salisbury and Sharon.
 
The next project at the Transfer Station is creating a self-help table for those misunderstood items (recycle or trash?).  If you have skills that might help, email the above and volunteer!
Cornwall Ag Fair and Family Movie Night on Saturday, September 10
 
This Saturday, from 10am to 4pm, is the annual Cornwall Ag Fair on the Cornwall Village Green. 
 
Saturday night, following the fair, Cornwall Park and Recreation will be holding Family Movie Night!  A very special guest is coming from Maple Hill Farm  to watch the movie with everyone, so pack a picnic basket and come on out for this first family movie night on the green. 
Games and Special Guest start at 6:30 pm and Charlotte’s Web will start about 8pm.
 
Cornwall Consolidated School 8th graders will be there at the concession stand to raise funds for their class.

Touch a Trade in Kent on October 22
 
The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association will hold Touch a Trade 2022 on Saturday, October 22 from 10am to 4pm at 31 Kent Cornwall Road in Kent.
 
The goal of the event is to spark interest in working with your hands, and will offer youth and adults the opportunity to safely participate in trades, crafts, and self-sufficiency skills.  Special guest Tom Bodett, founder of HatchSpace, popular NPR storyteller and of Motel 6 fame, will host the event.
 
For more information, check out their website.
Mountainside offers free trainings in honor of National Recovery Month
 

In celebration of National Recovery Month, Mountainside is giving FREE access to one of their trainings on How to Create a Recovery Friendly Work Environment
 

Learn the importance of recovery-friendly policies and how to gain buy-in from your leadership team.

 

Review best practices on becoming a recovery-friendly workplace.



Understand the tools and resources available to support your efforts.
Contact Now

The premier human/dog race in the region, the Run & Wag 5K offers runners, walkers and their canine companions a great day in the Cornwall Valley with food, ice cream, live local music and family fun for all! 

​The Run & Wag is a great way to support the Little Guild in its mission to rescue and find homes for dogs and cats in need. It’s also a must-do for those who want to enjoy the beautiful course through historic Cornwall Village and out along the scenic Cornwall Valley.

With food trucks on hand, it's a fun day for the whole family!
Department of Transportation planning to replace fueling facility at North Canaan garage
 
The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Engineering is developing plans for the replacement of the motor fueling facility on the site of the existing Department’s garage at 21 Main Street in North Canaan. The purpose of this project is to upgrade the storage tanks to comply with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s regulations.
 
This project involves the replacement of the motor fuel underground storage tanks with aboveground storage tanks for diesel, diesel exhaust fluid, and unleaded fuel, replacement of the fuel oil underground storage tank with an aboveground storage tank, and replacement of the oil-water separator. The new aboveground storage tanks will be protected with bollards.  This project will also include the replacement of the motor fuel island with dispensers installed adjacent to the tanks.
 
The present schedule indicates that final design plans will be available this month. The project will be 100 percent state-funded.
 
Anyone interested in receiving information on this project may do so by contacting the Project Engineer, Mr. Jesse A. Benson, at (860) 594-2966 or by e-mail at jesse.benson@ct.gov. Please make reference to the North Canaan Maintenance Facility Tank Replacement Project.
The Little Guild’s Run & Wag 5k is on October 15

October 15, 2022 at 12pm

Regirstatation Deadline: OCTOBER 11, 2022

Please note: There is no day-of registration.
Sign-up Here
Housatonic Youth Services Bureau and Indian Mountain School Fun Run on October 22