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Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of April 25.
Click the image below to view my video on this week’s events. |
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| Tuesday was Earth Day, and we’re not just celebrating our planet - we’re taking action to protect it. From expanding clean energy to investing in climate resilience, Connecticut is committed to a sustainable future for all. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Bear Report From CT Deep. Click here.
- ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Click here.
- Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Click here.
- Upcoming Session Days. Click here.
- Public Hearing Schedule. Click here.
- Northwest Corner Events. Click here.
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Spring is in full swing, and the warmer weather typically means an increase of black bear activity. In order to protect yourself, CT DEEP and Audubon CT have partnered to let residents know to take down birdfeeders -They attract bears, draw them into neighborhoods, are a major source of human-bear conflicts, and increase the risk of dangerous encounters.
In addition, DEEP has released the State of the Bears Report which analyzes black bear activity, including the number of human-bear conflicts and population growth across Connecticut. The report highlights the important work that DEEP engages in such as education and outreach, media engagement, conflict management strategies, and further research on Connecticut’s bear population.
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Four Northwest Corner towns will benefit from round two funding for the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program, which supports the build-out of high-speed internet infrastructure. Frontier Communications was awarded funds to connect homes in Cornwall, Sharon, and Goshen and Comcast won funds to connect homes in North Canaan. This is good news for those towns.
Unfortunately, the Town of Sharon, which had partnered with Comcast to connect all of its unserved residents before the ConneCTed Communities Grant process was set, was denied reimbursement for the funds it paid for its successful project. I will continue to seek ways for Sharon to be reimbursed, as it was the first town in the state to complete its project that gave all its unserved residents access to high-speed internet.
In first-round funding last year, Comcast was awarded money to wire homes in Salisbury, Norfolk, and Falls Village. All together, the much-needed funds have allowed hundreds of homes in the Northwest Corner to get access to what is now a lifeline service. I heartily thank former President Joe Biden for pushing through the American Rescue Plan Act; its Capital Projects Fund is what is funding these essential upgrades. |
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Saturday, April 26th is Prescription Drug Take Back Day - a national event that provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications… no questions asked.
It’s not just convenient — it keeps our community safe in so many ways:
- Prevents misuse of medications. Unused meds can be dangerous if taken by the wrong person.
- Protects kids and families by reducing accidental poisonings and drug exposure at home.
- Keeps our water and environment clean. Flushing or tossing meds can harm ecosystems.
- Reduces risk of addiction and overdose by limiting access to potentially addictive substances.
- Offers safe and anonymous disposal. Handled by professionals — no judgment, no hassle.
The Northwest Corner Prevention Network (NCPN) will host a collection event at the Troop B barracks in North Canaan on Saturday April 26 from 10am to 2pm.
NCPN has partnered with Greenwoods Counseling to distribute Narcan as well as provide Narcan training.
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Coming up at the Capitol! The House will be back in session next week. Stay tuned for key updates, votes, and what’s on the legislative agenda.
Here are some great ways to stay informed:
- The Connecticut Network (CT-N) provides live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of legislative sessions. You can watch sessions live on Roku, YouTube or their website: https://www.ct-n.com.
- Connecticut General Assembly's official website offers a Schedule of Events: cga.ct.gov/calendarofevents.asp.
- Follow Connecticut House Democrats on social media for legislative updates and policy priorities.
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| Click here or the flyer below for more information. |
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Food Waste Prevention Week was April 7th and 13th. Salisbury and Sharon are using the month of April to present some events and share some links for sources of information.
April 21st at 10:30: The Hotchkiss Library in Sharon will present a children’s program with a worm bin exploration, story time and activity.
April 26th at 2:00: Scoville Library in Salisbury will present a children’s program with worm bin exploration, make-your-own compost jar activity, and story time.
April 26th 10:30 to 12:30 TASTE NOT WASTE, cooking session with creative food-waste prevention tips. Space is limited to 12 people. Join Carol Hawran, former professor at the Culinary Institute, in discovering how to create delicious foods and drinks with questionable items in your refrigerator or pantry. For a fuller view of the flyer, see attachment below. The QR code directs you to my email foodwastepilot@gmail.com. Just leave your name and your interest in attending, and I will get back to you to confirm a spot at the table.
Click here for more information. |
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Sharon Community Roadside Clean Up
Sharon's annual Community Roadside Clean Up will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00am. Volunteers will collect litter on the roadsides of our beautiful town. The Sharon Energy and Environment Commission will provide safety vests, and garbage bags. Please bring your own gloves. This is a fun town event and a great way to do something for your community and the environment while getting fresh air and exercise.
Volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. on the Green in front of the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. There is parking available around the Green and behind Town Hall. At 10 a.m. we will assign routes and distribute gloves, vests, and bags (black for trash, clear for recyclables such as cans).
Check the SEEC page on the Sharon Town Website for updates on a weather-related change of date.
If you would like more information, or if you would like to bring a team of volunteers, please send an email to this address - seecct@gmail.com.
Monthly Schedule for Well Being Seminars |
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| Crescendo's Final Season Concerts – May 10 and 11 |
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Crescendo, a Salisbury based music performance organization, will hold the final concerts of the 2024-2025 season on May 10 and 11. On these dates, Crescendo will present Body & Soul: Cavalieri's Rappresentatione – A Turning Point in Music. This musical drama features a cast of renowned soloists, the award-winning Crescendo Chorus, and Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra, directed by founding artistic director Christine Gevert.
The performances are on Saturday, May 10 at 6:00 PM at Trinity Church, 484 Lime Rock Rd., Lakeville, CT, and on Sunday, May 11 at 4:00 PM at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, MA. Tickets range from $10 to $75, and are available online at www.crescendomusic.org, or on a first-come-first-served basis at the door, 45 minutes prior to the concerts.
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| The 30th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held on July 25-27 at the Thomas Perakos Performing Arts Center in Washington, Connecticut. Click here to purchase tickets. |
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It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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