CLiCK Celebrates 10 Years & Free College Application

September 26, 2025

A local kitchen in Windham is toasting to a new milestone, and you're invited to the party! Please read below to find out how you can get tickets as the facility celebrates 10 years in our community.

The state is offering an affordable pathway for students to apply to ten local colleges and universities. I'll dip deeper into the eligibility requirements for this free application!

Connecticut has joined a regional health partnership with surrounding states amid fall vaccine season. Keep scrolling for a breakdown on how this deal will protect public health in New England and beyond.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Let's Talk About It: CLiCK's New Milestone
  • Free College Application For Students
  • CT Joins Regional Health Partnership

 
 

Let's Talk About It: CLiCK's New Milestone

A local staple is inviting you to celebrate 10 years of the Commercially Licensed Cooperative Kitchen (CLiCK) this weekend. Kathryn Stahlberg, the Executive Director at CLiCK, joined "Let's Talk About It" to promote the special fundraiser, which fuels local farmers, food education, and a just food system in Eastern CT.
Date: Sunday, September 28
Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Westford Hill Distillers at 196 Chatey Road in Ashford

Tickets are $50 and include farm-to-table food, free music, and dancing. I will join Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt and CLiCK staff to toast to 10 years.

CLiCK works with 36 local farms with a goal of building a locally based, sustainable, and healthy food system that will grow our local economy. The facility's commercial kitchen facilities help farmers grow their businesses without taking on the debt or risk of an entire kitchen all by themselves. Some of CLiCK's services include:

  • Helping with food delivery at 53 local households
  • Composting and food waste reduction
  • Assisting CLiCK members get certified with the Dept. of Health
  • Expanding its local food hub

Stahlberg also talked about her work on the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee for the state of New York, SNAP benefits, and CLiCK's attempt to get federal funding to build out its food hub.

Please click on the video below to listen to the entire show.
Kathryn Stahlberg promotes a fundraiser celebrating 10 years of CLiCK.
 

Free College Application For Students

I encourage local high school students to take advantage of the Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP), which guarantees automatic college admission to students with strong grades.

Seniors with a 3.0 weighted GPA or 2.75 unweighted GPA can apply to 10 participating public and private colleges with just one free application—no essays, fees, or recommendation letters required.

Participating colleges and universities include:

  • Eastern Connecticut State University
  • Central Connecticut State University
  • Southern Connecticut State University
  • Western Connecticut State University
  • University of Hartford
  • Albertus Magnus College
  • Goodwin University
  • University of New Haven
  • University of Bridgeport
  • Mitchell College
 

CT Joins Regional Health Partnership

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York City officially announced the formation of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. This voluntary regional partnership aims to strengthen public health coordination, share expertise, and improve preparedness across state lines.

The Collaborative’s shared purpose is to work together in new ways, optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and re-imagining core services, to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health, and strengthen confidence in vaccines and science-based medicine.