Join me for Coffee @ The Ditty Bag Saturday, Gov., DEEP Commissioner on fires, drought

November 1, 2024

Dear Neighbor,

Happy November! October flew by, and I hope you had a happy and safe Halloween. This month’s newsletter covers my recent participation in UCONN CIRCA’s panel on climate resilience to commemorate their 10 year anniversary, as well as a unique experience aboard a CH-47 Chinook. With the start of the month, I’ll be hosting my coffee hour at the Ditty Bag in Mystic this Saturday morning—I’d love for you to join me!

This newsletter includes responses from Governor Lamont, DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, and myself on the recent fires and droughts affecting our state. Early voting ends this Sunday, and the Access Health CT Open Enrollment period starts today. Also, Monday marks the deadline for the CHET 529 College Savings program’s Dream Big! Competition.

There’s plenty to read this week, with topics including:

Have a great weekend,
Aundré

Out n' About In The 41ST District

I was honored to participate in a panel for UConn CIRCA’s 10th anniversary, joining my legislative colleagues to discuss Connecticut’s progress and priorities for climate resilience.

The event centered on preparing communities for severe weather, strengthening storm preparedness, and supporting local governments in addressing climate-related challenges. It underscored CIRCA’s commitment to collaboration with over 150 towns statewide, highlighting how partnerships between CIRCA, UConn Avery Point, and the State can empower local communities to build tailored, effective solutions for resilience in the face of 20-inch sea level rise by 2050.

CIRCA’s decade of impactful work continues to play a vital role in protecting Connecticut’s future. It was a privilege being part of this important symposium and I continue to be very honored to represent this incredible institute and its students in the legislature!

I’m thrilled to share that Stonington Kelp Co. received a $5,000 state grant for its Stonington Kelp in Stonington Schools project, which will introduce local kelp into Stonington Public Schools, offering students hands-on learning about sustainability and local food systems.

I’m also pleased to highlight funding from USDA and CT Department of Agriculture's CT Grown for the Yellow Farmhouse Education Center to launch the Connecting Connecticut’s Land and Ocean Farms through Enhanced Processing and Storage Infrastructure project.

This funding will allow them to build a shared commercial kitchen and cold-storage facility at Yellow Farmhouse, benefiting both land and sea farmers like Stonington Kelp Co. The project includes the installation of a 40ft shipping container cold storage facility provided by Greenwave and addresses a significant need in local aquaculture.

Additionally, I awarded Yellow Farmhouse a $2,500 state grant through the Youth Violence Prevention Program to fund a multi-visit program for Groton students, who will gain hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and regenerative farming at Stone Acres Farm. Stay tuned on news about this initiative and thank you Jennifer Rothman for your partnership!

Please join me in congratulating Stonington Kelp Company, Yellow Farmhouse Education Center, and Stonington Public Schools for their forward-thinking partnerships that benefit our students, community, and local agriculture. As a member of the Environment Committee, I will continue to advocate for local aquaculture and promote this important industry and food with our young people!

I had the privilege of attending an inspiring event at Project Oceanology, celebrating the launch of the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative! This effort, led by the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities, and KABOOM!, will increase equitable natural access in 100 communities by 2025. I’m proud that Groton was selected as one of the first 19 communities to participate.

The GO (Get Outdoors) Groton team, a partnership between Groton Public Schools, the Town of Groton, and the Groton Open Space Association, will benefit from two years of strategic support and funding to help connect children and families to nature. This initiative supports the core principles of the Outdoor Bill of Rights, ensuring every child has the opportunity to explore, learn, and play outdoors. The project will also focus on improving childhood health, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship.

As a member of the National Council of Environmental Legislators, and through my involvement with their Outdoor Equity Working Group, I learned about this grant opportunity, which I then shared with Megan Grenato, the Manager of Sustainability and Resilience for the Town of Groton. Kudos Megan and the rest of the GO Groton team for seeing this through!

I am excited to see the positive changes this will bring to our community. Stay tuned for updates as we continue this important work!

Join me for Coffee at the Ditty Bag Saturday

Don't forget! Please join me for our monthly coffee hour, this Saturday, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Ditty Bag in Mystic! We will be discussing efforts to push forward the Connecticut Climate Protection Act again! All are welcome!

Gov. Lamont, DEEP Commissioner Dykes Respond to Fires, Drought

The recent brush fire in East Lyme and other wildfires across Connecticut highlights the urgent need for integrated fire management in forest conservation, especially in light of climate adaptation. Historically, New England forests experienced regular, controlled burns—practices used by Indigenous communities like the Pequot, Mohegan, and Narragansett tribes to sustain ecological balance, encourage the growth of fire-adapted species, and prevent dangerous buildup of underbrush.

These “prescribed fires” have been essential for maintaining resilient ecosystems, particularly during droughts when forests without managed burns are at greater risk for severe, uncontrolled wildfires.

Today, Connecticut faces one of its worst droughts since 1905, heightening the fire risk across the state. In response, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katherine Dykes issued a burn ban, effective October 26, 2024, prohibiting all outdoor flames within Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas. This order aims to protect residents from the elevated fire threat, a risk further compounded by Governor Ned Lamont’s declaration of a civil preparedness emergency due to the ongoing Hawthorne Fire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin.

The Connecticut National Guard, staging from Bradley International Airport - BDL, has dropped 340,000 gallons of water on this over-120-acre fire on Lamentation Mountain, with costs nearing $8,000 an hour for helicopter operations. This fire alone has required extensive resources, and tragically, Wethersfield Volunteer FD firefighter Robert "Sharkey" Sharkevich Sr. lost his life responding to the blaze.

CT’s Daily Forest Fire Danger Report listed the risk as “VERY HIGH” yesterday, with “EXTREME” levels in four counties. Active fires in Eastern Connecticut include Ayers Mountain in Franklin, now contained; Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, where crews are still locating the main blaze; and several others, such as East Lyme’s Rocky Neck State Park and Vernon’s Tankerhoosen WMA, which remain under watch or are actively managed.

These escalating incidents illustrate the role controlled burns could play in forest conservation by reducing fuel loads and enhancing forest health. Reintroducing controlled burns, combined with proactive fire management, can help protect Connecticut’s forests and communities from severe fire risks, especially as climate change intensifies drought patterns.

This approach requires significant collaboration between state agencies, fire management authorities, local governments, tribal communities, and conservation groups like land trusts. It’s essential to consider these traditional practices within modern conservation and policy frameworks to support forest resilience and public safety.
Read more from

Tina Detelj at WTNH News 8 HERE.

Early Voting Ends Sunday @ 6 P.M.

Early voting in Connecticut is open until 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 3rd for the November 5th election. Please click on the image for more details!

In Groton, the polling location is the Community Center Classroom, Registrar of Voters Office, 61 Fort Hill Road, and for Stonington residents, it's the Police Department, Community Room, 173 South Broad Street, Pawcatuck.

For more information on eligibility, additional considerations, and how to apply, please click HERE.

Access Health CT Open Enrollment Period Begins Today

Access Health CT's Open Enrollment period begins today through January 15, 2025. Connecticut residents can shop, compare, and enroll in health insurance plans or renew their coverage. Customers may also enroll in dental insurance through AHCT.

When you enroll affects when your coverage starts. If customers enroll on or before December 15, coverage will start on January 1, 2025. If they enroll between December 16 and January 15, 2025, coverage will start on February 1, 2025.

AHCT is the only place Connecticut residents can get financial help to pay for their health insurance. Nearly 90% of AHCT customers enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) receive assistance. Some customers might also qualify for the

Covered CT Program. This program provides no-cost insurance for eligible residents.

There are 22 Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) available for customers to choose from this year. Plans are available from three insurance carriers, including Anthem, ConnectiCare Benefits Inc., and ConnectiCare Insurance Company Inc.

People who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program and live in Connecticut can sign up for health and dental insurance through AHCT.

Free help to sign up is available online, in person and over the phone. For a list of enrollment fairs and to register, visit the Enrollment Events webpage on the AHCT website. Information about enrollment locations and Navigator locations are also listed. Customers can also get help from a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. Go to AccessHealthCT.com and click "Get Help" or call 1-855-805-4325. Help is available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator. People can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website.

Connecticut: Everyone Connected

You may remember previous letters sharing the State's draft plan and survey for their digital equity strategy...

This is great news for CT! Our digital equity plan aims to close the digital divide, particularly among the most disenfranchised groups in the state, including residents at or below 150% of the poverty line, racial and ethnic minorities, the aging, those incarcerated in or in transition out of state correctional facilities, individuals with disabilities or language barriers, those living in rural areas, and veterans. I want to thank the Groton Public Library, Stonington Free Library, and Stonington Public Schools for participating in the survey and any resident in Groton, Mystic, or Stonington who provided public comments on the plan.

The first wave of initiatives funded through the federal Digital Equity Program will support critical projects, including:

“Digital navigation” pilots: Local partners will receive support to work directly with residents to address skill gaps and lack of access to Internet connections and computers.

Digital equity collaboratives: Covering the entire state, six new collaboratives will provide the resources and professional network for educators, policymakers, and community organizations to learn and share best practices that scale and improve efforts to connect and train residents.

Digital equity curriculum: Through the collaboratives, the state will release a set of common assessments and teaching resources freely available to adult education and other local training programs to help meet residents where they are to close the digital skills gap in Connecticut.

Asset map: Residents will be able to conduct online searches and call a telephone hotline to find and use the community-based programs and resources to help them get online and develop the technical skills necessary to thrive in the digital world.

You can learn more about Connecticut: Everyone Connected HERE.

Congratulations to the CT National Guard 103rd Airlift Wing

Congratulations to the Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing for being named the best airlift unit in the Air National Guard by the Airlift/Tanker Association, a prestigious group dedicated to supporting military airlift.

The 103rd Airlift Wing is set to receive the Major General Stanley F.H. Newman Award, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding Air National Guard wing contributing to the Mobility Air Forces mission.

This recognition is a testament to the exceptional dedication and professionalism of our state’s military personnel.

Last year, I had the extraordinary privilege of joining a select group on a unique tour of the Connecticut National Guard, hosted by Major General Francis J. Evon, Jr., the Adjutant General. This experience provided an unforgettable, firsthand glimpse into the dedication and sacrifice of our state’s service members.

Our journey began at Bradley Air National Guard Base, where we received a comprehensive briefing on the Connecticut National Guard’s crucial roles in state and federal missions. We explored the base’s facilities, including the formidable C-130 Hercules aircraft, which plays a vital role in transporting troops and cargo to various mission areas.

The tour's highlight was an exhilarating helicopter flight aboard a CH-47 Chinook. As we soared above Connecticut’s diverse landscape—from bustling cities to serene coastal areas—I marveled at the aircraft’s power and versatility. The flight provided a unique perspective on the state and underscored the vast range of responsibilities that the National Guard fulfills daily.

Our journey continued to Camp Nett in Niantic, where we saw firsthand the rigorous training our service members undergo to maintain their readiness. We engaged with soldiers and airmen, learning about their experiences and the challenges they face, and witnessing their unwavering commitment to Connecticut and the nation.

The ultimate highlight was an unexpected stop at Groton-New London Airport, home to the Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (TASMG). This critical installation supports Army aviation across the region, providing essential maintenance for helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk. As a member of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee’s General Obligation Subcommittee, I had the privilege of supporting a request for $5 million in state matching funds—approved by Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission in June 2024—for TASMG and other military infrastructure needs. This funding is Connecticut’s share of projects totaling $68,640,548, matched by federal contributions of over $63 million.
Specifically, this funding includes:

Construction of an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at the Army air support facility in Windsor Locks, costing $9,386,177.
Renovation and Expansion of TASMG’s Hangar in Groton, a $59,254,371 project that will include a large addition to the existing hangar to support TASMG’s future operations. A design contract has been awarded for this project, which will enhance TASMG’s ability to support vital aviation maintenance missions.

Having grown up nearby Groton-New London Airport in Groton City, and now living along its flight path in Mystic, I’m routinely captivated by the sight of military and civilian aircraft moving in and out, a reminder of the critical role that Groton plays in state and federal missions. The 103rd Airlift Wing’s recognition underscores the exceptional talent and commitment of the men and women serving in the guard, best seen in their wildfire response across our state. I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in supporting these vital operations, ensuring Connecticut’s contributions to national defense remain strong and impactful.

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday Morning

Daylight saving time comes to an end at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Remember to 'Fall Back'! This simple action ensures you’re in sync with the new schedule.

When a Bear is Not a Bear: Our Mystic River Watershed
Family

Fall is a wonderful time to encounter a Woolly Bear! This unique caterpillar sports an orangy-brown middle with black ends. Though it may look fuzzy, the "hairs" are stiff and serve as protection.

Much like a hedgehog, the Woolly Bear will curl up, displaying its spiny exterior if it feels threatened. This fascinating creature is the larva of the stunning yellow-spotted Isabella Tiger Moth, a champion nighttime pollinator.

Interestingly, the amount of brown on its body reflects the conditions of LAST winter rather than predicting the next one. In Pequot, they're called Moopâw (caterpillar).

CT Transportation News

A tree removal operation will be performed on I-95, north and southbound, in Groton and Stonington. This project is scheduled to occur on Sunday evening, November 3, and be completed on Friday morning, December 6, 2024. Work will end at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, and will resume on Monday evening, December 2, 2024, due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

To ensure the safety of the public, CTDOT is removing dead, diseased, and decaying trees. Additionally, trees and vegetation that have grown into the clear zone, which is the safety space along the side of the roadway, are also being removed. This work helps save lives in the event of a crash or vehicle leaving the roadway.

LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
Motorists can expect left lane and shoulder closures on I-95, north and southbound, in Groton and Stonington from Sunday evening, November 3 to Friday morning, December 6, 2024, during the hours of 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. (Sunday evening – Friday morning). Traffic control signing patterns, crash attenuator vehicles, and one (1) State Trooper will guide motorists through the work zone.

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.

The CTDOT is developing their statewide Active Transportation Plan and recently shared with us that they have a survey open to the public focusing on how we walk, bike, and roll in our communities, with a focus on state roads. Survey participation has been historically low in Southeastern Connecticut so please feel free to share this survey with your networks and take it yourselves. Please click on the image below to take the survey.

CTDOT seeking public comment on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Transportation Plan

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Transition Plan to showcase the agency’s commitment to providing an accessible transportation network for all while meeting federal ADA requirements.

CTDOT will be conducting public outreach both in-person and virtually. These events will offer opportunities for the public to provide input on the ADA Transition Plan. Meeting materials and any updates to outreach locations/dates/times will be updated on the CTDOT ADA Transition Plan website.

For more information, including in-person and virtual events, please click HERE.

The CTDOT is developing a Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP) to help identify climate-related vulnerabilities and prioritize solutions across the agency’s multi-modal transportation network.

The RIP uses federal formula funds allocated for resilience-related planning activities under the

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program created under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).

By developing the RIP and incorporating it into the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, Connecticut will be eligible to reduce its federal/state cost share on transportation projects. The process also prepares the state for the continued operation and rapid recovery of surface transportation systems affected by major weather events, including natural disasters and changing climate conditions.

The plan will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will conduct a risk-based vulnerability assessment that draws on existing and future climate data to rank the vulnerability of state-owned assets. In the second phase, CTDOT will develop an implementation plan identifying potential projects, timelines, and cost estimates.

A survey is open to the public to provide feedback on what types of projects CTDOT should consider to improve resiliency across the state. To complete the survey, please click

HERE.

For additional information, including a video overview of Connecticut’s statewide Resilience Improvement Plan, please click

HERE.

Apply to CT Public Universities for Free Today

High school seniors in Connecticut can apply to our state’s public universities for free on Friday, November 1. This one-day initiative aims to make higher education more accessible, encouraging students who may be deterred by application costs to consider applying to college.

This move is part of a broader push to support college access for all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, as they take a significant step toward higher education.

CHET Dream Big! Competition Deadline is Monday

I just wanted to remind you again about this awesome opportunity for students in grades K through 12 to enter and win up to $20,000 toward their future education! The competition closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 4th!

To enter, students answer a question through artwork, an essay, or a video. Younger students focus on what they want to do when they grow up, and older students are asked to describe a lesson they’ve learned or a person who has impacted their lives.

The competition is open to all Connecticut K-12 students, and every child has the chance to participate. Please take a moment to visit the website to learn more, and then encourage your child to take part. More than 250 students will receive monetary prizes to be deposited into a CHET account. For more details, please click

HERE.