|
|
|
|
|
I hope this message finds you and your family well! In this email, you can read about my visit with Connecticut State Treasurer Russell at Stratford High School, a roundtable discussion with Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Elena Trueworthy and Stratford early childhood education facility directors, educators, and care providers, and state and local resources I hope you find useful. If you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you, please call my office at any time or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov.
|
|
| Connecticut Nurses Association Award Recognition |
|
|
| On Thursday, November 13th, I was humbled and honored to receive the Agnes Ohlson Award for Dedication to Political Action from the Connecticut Nurses Association. I am beyond grateful for this recognition from CNA, and I am proud to serve as one of the few nurses in the Connecticut General Assembly. I have carried my work as a nurse with me during my six years on the Stratford Town Council and in the legislature representing Stratford in the House of Representatives. After being a nurse for over a decade and volunteering for 20 years on healthcare related policy initiatives and community organizing, I have a firsthand understanding of the issues healthcare professionals and patients deal with daily. It is paramount that Nurses are truly empowered to advocate for our patients, our practice, and our profession in their workplaces and all levels of government. I am proud to receive this award from the Connecticut Nurses Association and promise to continue to use my voice to protect and support nurses everywhere so that we can do our jobs and work towards building a more equitable, affordable, and accessible healthcare system here in Connecticut. Thank you! |
|
| UPFFA Legislator of the Year |
|
|
This Monday afternoon, November 17th, I attended the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut's Peter S Carozza 24th Biennial Convention and was humbled to receive the UPFFA of Connecticut Legislator of the Year award for the 2025 Legislative Session.
The awards are given to legislators who exhibit a deep understanding of the challenges firefighters face in the line of duty and advocate for the safety, health, and well-being of Connecticut’s firefighters through legislation that protects first responders and enhances public safety.
I was proud to lead the legislative effort on HB6844 and am immensely grateful to my colleagues in the House, including the Labor Committee Co-Chair Rep. Manny Sanchez and Public Safety & Security member Rep. Michael Quinn, for supporting this legislation. We do none of this work alone, and I am immensely proud of all the first responders, especially our Stratford Professional Firefighters IAFF 998 and Stratford Police Union Local 407, who volunteered to lobby and testify on multiple days throughout the session.
|
|
Our first responders risk their lives every day running towards danger, saving lives, and protecting communities across Connecticut. Those who choose to dedicate their lives to working in the profession deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and support. If they get injured on the job and are forced into early retirement, they shouldn't be subject to punishment of having their pensions reduced, like we saw happening in Stratford.
HB6844 addressed one of the main drivers of poor recruitment and retention: lack of pensions. A municipal assessment, in conjunction with the Comptroller's office, would identify which towns and cities offer their fire and police pensions and which do not. It’s a step needed to get the real time data so that we can create tangible solutions assisting municipalities to meet the public safety needs of their community.
I remain firmly committed to standing up and fighting for our Connecticut firefighters and will advocate for their needs here in Stratford and at the State Capitol. It is an honor to be in this fight with all of you.
With respect and gratitude, thank you to the UPFFA CT and their members for all that they do and for the award and recognition!
|
|
| Connecticut Association of School Nurses Dinner |
|
|
|
I had the honor of being invited to the Association of School Nurses of Connecticut's fall dinner meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, in West Hartford. I was pleased to have the opportunity to join them and address the over 100 school nurses from across the state who attended the event. This was a great opportunity to connect with school nurses and the Board of Directors about their legislative priorities. I look forward to partnering with them and supporting their concerns in this and future legislative sessions.
|
|
Treasurer Russell Visits with
Stratford and Bunnell High School Students |
|
|
|
On Wednesday, November 19th, I was thrilled to welcome our Connecticut State Treasurer, Erick Russell, and Junior Achievement here in Stratford to discuss the importance of financial literacy with about 60 students from both Stratford High School and Bunnell High School. Teaching students about the importance of finances and how to be responsible with their own finances is an essential skill. The purpose of this visit was to expose Stratford students to practical financial literacy concepts to engage them. Treasurer Russell and I led two teams (Bunnell vs Stratford High) in an interactive game of Financial Literacy Jeopardy.
This was a great opportunity for students to connect with our state treasurer directly and ask questions. Treasurer Russell has prioritized financial literacy and worked to ensure that students across our state understand how they can manage their finances effectively. Thank you to Treasurer Russell, Junior Achievement, and Stratford Public Schools for collaborating on this important youth financial literacy event!
|
|
| OEC Commissioner Trueworthy Visit with Stratford Early Childhood Educators and Providers |
|
|
|
On Thursday, November 20th, I welcomed the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Commissioner Elena Trueworthy and local Stratford preschool and early childhood care center program directors at the Sterling Community Center. We have many childcare facilities here in Stratford, and I wanted to connect our early childhood educational leaders and childcare business owners who staff these facilities directly with our OEC Commissioner. The meeting was an opportunity to review and discuss the early childhood education legislation and historic financial investment passed during the 2025 session.
The meeting created space for attendees to ask questions, clarify misinformation, and foster an open dialogue directly with the commissioner and her staff. Early childhood education facilities and their staff rely on the OEC as one of their main resources for daily operations, funding, and more. It is essential to maintain a line of communication between our local early childhood education facility directors and OEC officials to ensure they have access to the necessary resources.
This was an engaging, productive conversation between local childcare directors, preschool directors, and OEC officials about the status of early childhood education in Stratford. I was happy to help facilitate this discussion and keep our local childcare facilities connected with state resources. Thank you to all the hardworking and dedicated staff who joined us: SUMC Preschool, Honey Bear Learning Center, Helen King Reynolds Preschool, Victoria Soto Preschool, Stratford Parents Place, Stratford YMCA, and the Town of Stratford.
|
|
| Small Business Saturday, November 29th this year, shines a spotlight on locally owned businesses. It encourages folks to shop small and support their communities during the busy holiday shopping season. |
|
|
| By participating, you can find unique, personalized gifts while contributing to the local economy by keeping money within your community. Small Business Saturday fosters a sense of connection, strengthening neighborhoods and ensuring that local businesses, which are often the heart of their communities, continue to thrive. |
|
| The Stratford Chamber of Commerce Shop Small in Stratford will take place from November 29th through December 31st. Be a part of an inspiring community event that celebrates and supports local businesses during this Holiday Season! |
|
| DSS Upgraded Phone System |
|
|
|
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has successfully launched a new streamlined and user-friendly experience for callers with an upgraded phone system.
The Benefits Center phone number has not changed. Customers still contact DSS at 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632).
The new system includes:
- A simplified phone menu designed to help customers reach the right service
- A self-service experience for checking case status and benefit information
Customers who enter their Client ID when calling will benefit from a customized service and be routed to the correct call queue. Additionally, for those who prefer to self-serve, the system now allows them to:
- Check if DSS has received their documents and when they were reviewed
- View their case status and, if active, access benefit details
Customers now have access to call-back options, allowing them to:
- Save their place in line, or
- Schedule a call at a time that works best for them
|
|
| DESPP Warning on Financial Scams |
|
|
|
The Connecticut Intelligence Center, a law enforcement partnership within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, is warning about a dramatic increase in financial scams targeting the elderly in Connecticut and the nation.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints in 2024, with losses reported at $16.6 billion, a 388% increase from 2023. In 2024, “false pretense” scams cost an estimated $31.9 million to Connecticut victims, most of whom were 65 or older, according to the 2024 Crime in Connecticut Report.
What to Watch Out For
- High pressure, urgent timeline (“you must send money now”).
- Request to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, prepaid cards, personal checks, or cryptocurrency.
- Caller says you must not contact family or police.
- Caller ID spoofing (it may show a local number or government agency, but it's fake).
- Unwilling to meet in person or hesitation to identify themselves with official credentials.
|
|
|
What to Do if You Believe You Are a Victim
- Contact the local police to report the incident.
- Do not transfer money and do not give any payment information.
- Do not give any personal information or confirm/repeat social security numbers, birthdates, bank information, or account numbers.
- Verify by calling the family member with a known number, not one provided by the caller.
- If you have already made a payment, contact your bank or the payment service immediately
Where to Go for Help
|
|
| The Stratford Health Department will be holding Flu Clinics throughout December and January. Check out the clinic dates below, as well as what insurance is accepted. |
|
| The EPA has announced a planned clean-up of the Raymark Superfund Site at Morgan Francis Property. The tentative schedule is set to finish in June of 2027. View the clean-up schedule below. |
|
| The Stratford Youth Alliance is looking for local youth interested in taking action in the community. Each week, the group discusses real issues that matter and creates a plan to raise awareness. Click here for more information and to register. |
|
| The Sterling Community Center's The Great Rake will take place from November 21st through November 29th. Volunteers will help rake leaves from pathways and yards at no cost for anyone in Stratford over the age of 65 or those with disabilities who physically can't rake themselves or pay for a service. Click here if you would like to volunteer, and reach out to tgockley@sterlingcc.org if you would like your yard raked. |
|
| The Stratford Holiday Market and Tree Lighting is scheduled for November 28th on the Stratford Town Hall Green. The Holiday Market is from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., and at 6:00 p.m., the tree lighting will take place. |
|
| The Sterling Community Center Holiday Open House will take place from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on November 29th. Purchase your Christmas Tree or Holiday Wreath and enjoy holiday activities at the Sterling Center. |
|
The Stratford Animal Rescue Society will hold its annual Evergreen & Boutique Fundraiser on Saturday, November 29th, and Sunday, November 30th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stratford Animal Control.
Click here to order ahead. |
|
| The United SEPTSA of Stratford is holding a United We Craft event on December 11th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sterling Community Center. Register by emailing unitedSEPTSA@gmail.com. |
|
| Stratford's 12th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest is now taking place until December 14th. Nominate your home or a neighbor's home that you think is worthy of receiving the award. |
|
Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
