Jaime Foster

Happy August! As we start a new month, thoughts turn to back to school, fair season, and more. The first day of school for each town in the 57th District is as follows:

• East Windsor - Tuesday, August 27
• Ellington - Thursday, August 29
• Vernon - Thursday, August 29

Speaking of school, I just got my report card, and I got an A (read more about that below) and CT's Sales Tax-Free week is coming up, starting August 18 (see more info about that under "resources").

I've included information regarding the July 1 electric bill. I feel your frustration. It's a complicated situation and there's no easy solution. I will continue to work on this issue and do what I can to move the needle in a more favorable direction for ratepayers.

If you're worried about missing National Night Out in East Windsor, the town opted to postpone until September 6, due to weather. More info on that is below. 

I hope you have a great week!

Jaime

• Feeling Your Frustration with Electric Bills 
• Update on Excessive Speeding on Crystal Lake Road
• CEA Report Card: I Got an A!
• Nominations Sought for CT Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2024
• East Windsor's National Night Out Postponed to September 6
• Senior Scams Discussed at East Windsor Senior Center
• Capital View Plays Summer Concert Series in Ellington on August 8
• Vernon Farmers Market is Back on August 8, 15, and 22 at Henry Park
• Living History at Nellie McKnight Museum on August 10
• Rockville Library Seeking Colorful Magazine Pages
• Changes to Vernon Public Schools Breakfast & Lunch at Certain Schools Starting August 29
• North Central District Health Department Community Assessment Survey
• Constituent Spotlight: Rithvik Suren of Ellington is a National Finalist in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge
• East Windsor Townwide Photography Contest
• Connecticut's Annual Sales Tax-Free Week is August 18-24
• And More! 

There are attempts to overly-simplify the problem, which might make it seem like there is one easy solution (or a 5-point strategy that would offer immediate relief). Those plans are false promises that attempt to draw attention away from the real issue. Energy regulation is incredibly complicated at the state and federal levels. The increase to the “public benefits” portion of the energy bill mostly (77% and $605 million) has to do with a policy put into place in 2017 (before my time in the legislature) requiring Eversource to purchase power from Millstone, we are paying 4.99c per KW/H and this rate is significantly higher than the cost of natural gas, we are paying the difference in what we would pay as a stabilization to millstone's cost of business.

The legislators at the time thought that Millstone would not exist without this support, and maybe they were right, but ultimately only CT is subsidizing the whole ISO-NE network benefits. At the time, it was a Republican-led initiative, and it did have bipartisan support. The rate is set to adjust periodically based on the cost to purchase power and the resulting public benefits charge is set by Eversource after a review by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Eversource could have phased in these new charges to reduce the cost to consumers as was suggested by Commissioner Gillett at PURA, but they decided not to do so. This problem, which is the primary driver of the cost change is preventable in the future and I have been actively working to advocate for new PURA co-commissioners so that the chair has support in her efforts. I also supported PA 24-38, formerly SB 385, which some Republican leaders opposed, which would have required the millstone subsidizing through a PPA to include at least one other benefiting state in the ISO-NE network.

The 20% that is the "social programs," includes the arrearages which we have adjusted and prevented from further rapid accrual in stopping the shut-off moratorium for businesses in June 2021, regular residential in September 2021, and the regular financial hardship shut-off protection in October 2023. This means that as of October 2023, the only people eligible for shutoff protection are those with medical hardship. No one else is accruing these debts that happened during COVID. Only 3% is other procurements or statutory clean energy programs.

There is no easy solution to controlling electric utility costs. In 2021, we passed some significant reforms - many of which are just starting to come online. We have strengthened the state’s ability - through PURA - to scrutinize and review rate increases. There's more work to do and we need more leaders like Commissioner Gillett with the will to keep pushing back on Eversource.

I won't take cheap policy shots and offer silver-bullet solutions that won't work. I can tell you:

• I introduced bills that prevent utility companies from recouping their lobbying cost from Connecticut ratepayers
• I prevented utility companies from recouping the cost of their experts as they testified before PURA and the Connecticut Siting Council
• We worked to strengthen the roles of the Connecticut Siting Council and PURA to allow them to hold the utility companies to task. These aren't quick and perfect solutions - they'll take time to take effect and, in some cases, new membership on the deciding boards

We can try to hold Eversource accountable, but with deregulation, we are dealing with a true monopoly.  Membership of the Siting Council and PURA is very important. Perhaps, it's ideal to return to public and/or vertically integrated electric utilities that would be fully re-regulated.

But as a minimum, I commit to the following:

• Urging the Governor's office to appoint future PURA and Siting Council members who have engineering infrastructure-estimating experience on large-scale projects (with transferable knowledge to cost-estimating transmission projects) and PURA co-commissioners with expertise in accounting for similar projects
• Strengthening opportunities for municipal purchasing of power to offer the towns the opportunity to shop the open market and pass on better rates to their residents
• Continuing to advocate for DEEPs PPA/IRP process to include inter-state compacts that contribute to better rates for the CT ratepayers; purchasing power that supports the supply we want and need in a fiscally responsible manner

There are a lot of levers that we can offer, but I think it is disingenuous to suggest that these would offer 15-20% savings to the ratepayers in the short term as Senate Republicans suggest. I'd like them to show their math because, to me, it seems unreasonable.

I was interviewed by News Channel 8's Dennis House for the Sunday episode of "This Week in Connecticut," regarding these issues. The show will air on Channel 8 at noon on Sunday.

That's why I reached out to the CT Department of Transportation, as Crystal Lake Road is Route 140 - a state road. I inquired about speed enforcement and if the state had any suggestions. What I was told was that enforcement is local, even on state roads. There are options such as "your speed" signs to encourage people to slow down or the installation of "Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), but encroachment permits would be required for both. The first step for either option is to discuss these projects with the Local Traffic Authority (LTA), which in Ellington, is the Board of Selectmen. I will continue to follow up on this issue. 

My two-year average is 94.3% (95% in 2023 and 93.5% in 2024).

CEA’s Legislator Report Card and Honor Roll designation evaluates voting records, responsiveness, and advocacy efforts to advance CEA priorities over past legislative cycles. In the 2023-2024 legislative sessions, those priorities included play-based learning, improved indoor air quality in schools, addressing teacher shortages, ensuring classroom safety, and more.

“CEA’s Honor Roll provides concrete information regarding legislators who are true public education champions, who support teachers, and who have taken action to improve Connecticut’s public education system,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “These are the legislators who have taken time to meet with us, who listen to us, and who respect us as the professionals we are and for what we do for students across the state. Our educators rely on this information to ensure they know where their legislators stand and how they voted on issues impacting them.”

To read my full report card, click HERE. 

Connecticut Grown, a program of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is celebrating National Farmers Market Week (NFMW) from August 4-10, to highlight the important role of farmers markets in our food system.

We love our farmers and our farmers markets!

Connecticut has more than 100 farmers markets statewide, many of which accept SNAP (formerly food stamps) and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits for eligible participants, including Women, Infants, Children (WIC), Seniors, and disabled individuals. FMNP, which runs from June 1 through November 30 annually, is administered by Connecticut Department of Agriculture with both state and federal funds for the purchase of Connecticut Grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs (state funds only), and honey (Seniors only).

3 Reasons to Visit a Farmers Market

• Stimulate the local economy: studies have shown that farmers who sell products directly to consumers generate twice as much regional impact per dollar of output.
• Support conservation, connection, and education: 72% of consumers know “very little” or “nothing” about farming. Markets serve as education sites and bridge urban and rural communities.
• Increase access to fresh food: Many Connecticut farmers markets accept SNAP, EBT, or FMNP benefits and offer doubling programs that enable shoppers to extend their buying power further.

Download the nomination package HERE. 

Completed nomination packages must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs by September 15, 2024. They should be delivered by email to lindsay.jesshop@ct.gov or mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to:
 
Office of the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
287 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Additional information on eligibility criteria and other requirements can be found in the nomination package.
 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding a total of $450 million dollars to a coalition of states known as the New England Heat Pump Accelerator Coalition. It will work collaboratively to promote the development of heat pump skill sets in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and electrical workforce. The coalition intends to invest about 50% of the benefits in historically overburdened and underserved communities.

The coalition will partner with heat pump manufacturers, distributors, and installers to increase the availability of air-source and ground-source heat pumps while lowering equipment and installation costs for consumers. This partnership will include significant investment in workforce training, ensuring installers will have access to good-paying careers while delivering more efficient heating and cooling solutions.

Now, any high school graduate and legal resident of Connecticut, even those with past college experience, can benefit.

You can learn more HERE.

Grants are awarded in three designations and grant amounts:

• Artistic Excellence grants: $5,000
• Artist Fellowship grants: $3,000
• Emerging Recognition grants: $1,000 

The deadline to apply is on or before September 20. Some eligibility restrictions apply, so please review the program webpage before applying HERE or contact the COA program manager by email at tamara.dimitri@ct.gov with any questions.

We talked about crypto investment scams, gift card scams, and other scams that are commonly targeted at seniors.

My takeaways:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it is!
• Don’t buy gift cards for a transaction you would normally use cash or credit cards for
• Watch out for skimmers on credit card machines
• If you need to mail a check, hand it in at the post office counter
• If you’re worried about whether or not you were the victim of a crime, please call your local non-emergency police number

I learned from the audience that a lot of people receive scam attempts and calls and luckily so far, many resist. But a lot of folks are duped. Please don’t send your hard-earned money to scammers.

In 2025, I want to work to protect seniors from these scams that commonly target them. I’ll be working hard, alongside our police, to research what tools I can give our law enforcement so that they can best serve and protect.

Enjoy live music from Capital View, indulge in delicious treats from local food trucks, and get valuable information on addressing the opioid crisis.

Date: August 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 72 Maple St, Ellington

Don't miss out on this fun community event! Bring your friends and family for a night of fun and awareness.

Dates available: August 10, 17, and 24
Reservations are required; call 860-870-7940 to schedule your pick-up.

Highlights of the day include a meticulously recreated Civil War reenactment camp, where attendees can witness authentic camp cooking, participate in camp drills, and observe musket firing demonstrations. These interactive activities are designed to provide an educational yet entertaining experience for history enthusiasts of all ages.

The day includes:

• A walk through a Civil War camp
• Children's Union Army drill sessions
• Musket firing demonstrations
• Children can play in a vintage baseball game

Scan the QR code or click HERE to sign up to play with an 1860s baseball team on August 10 at 70 Main St. in Ellington. The game begins at 1 p.m.

• Old Country Lane
• Settlers Way
• Abbott Road (from Zimmerman Way)
• Zimmerman Way
• Hubbard Lane
• Porter Road
• Foster Drive

These streets will receive a mixture of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregates, water, and additives. The “quick set” preventative maintenance treatment extends the life of the road surface economically, while minimizing the inconvenience to residents and the traveling public.

Why is this work being done?

Preventative road maintenance saves tax dollars. Over the long-term, it is less expensive to maintain the road surface than to reconstruct it when it fails. The average life of an asphalt road surface is 20 to 25 years; however, it starts to show signs of distress and deterioration much earlier. When the road surface has been properly maintained by sealing it every 7 to 10 years, more expensive asphalt repaving can be delayed.

The contractor, Indus, is a private, professional paving contractor selected to do the roadwork, based on a competitive bidding process. Indus will be required to comply with Ellington's specifications and contract requirements. An Ellington inspector will be on-site, to ensure the work is performed in compliance with the contract.

Indus will be starting on August 19 and be finished by August 24; however, the micro-surface must be applied when the weather is dry. This schedule may change due to weather, equipment breakdown, availability of materials, or other conditions.

What can you expect?

• No parking will be allowed on the streets to be treated that day.
• Residents will be asked to park their vehicle(s) off the streets to be treated by 7 a.m. on the day(s) the work is scheduled to occur. Vehicles will be towed if necessary.

On the scheduled day, traffic on each street will be restricted and will be controlled by police details. The micro-surface will be completed over two days. Work will not start before 7 a.m. and will usually be complete by 4 p.m. While the micro-surface is being placed and cured on your side of the street, no vehicle access to or from your driveway will be allowed. Please plan accordingly. Roads will open by the end of work each day.

What do you need to know?

The micro-surface is applied as a liquid and requires 60 minutes or more to solidify before the surface is ready for traffic. During this time, please keep children and pets off the road surface. Prior to drying, the micro-surface is very messy and does not clean up easily. It will stick to shoes, carpets, and cars. Also, please do not allow water to run onto the street starting the night before the micro-surface treatment, including using sprinklers. The surface must be free of standing water.

During the first few weeks after the micro-surface application, it may look like the surface is unfinished, that sealant is everywhere, and that the color is changing. This is all part of the normal process. Vehicles driving over the micro-surface treatment help roll and smooth the surface. While this is happening, some rocks loosen from the mixture and minor rips or tears may appear.

Within a few weeks after the micro-surface treatment is applied, crews will inspect the street, sweep up loose gravel, make necessary surface repairs, and replace pavement markings. Within about six months, the street that was black/brown when first treated eventually ends up the familiar dark gray color.

WORK ZONES CAN BE DANGEROUS. BE ATTENTIVE AND USE CAUTION AROUND THE WORK ZONE. WATCH FOR AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE POLICE DETAILS.

Please email pubworkhelp@ellington-ct.gov or call: 860-870-3140 for more information or any questions/ concerns. To learn more about micro-surfacing or other road treatments and the benefits of pavement preservation, please go to RoadResource.org.

In this presentation, he will share with you the impact Italian pirates had on history, the United States, and the world from antiquity to the 1800s. Also discussed are pirate weapons and tactics, politics, and lifestyle during the "Golden Age¨"of piracy. There will be a Q&A following this presentation.

Luca is from Cranston, R.I., and is a teacher, world traveler, and Eagle Scout. He is also a graduate of Cranston West, URI, and Western Governors University where he earned his M.A. in ESL. He is currently in his 7th year teaching 6th grade Social Studies at Jenks Middle School in Pawtucket, R.I.

Registration is open to those 13 and older.

Please register in advance at tinyurl.com/HMLCAL.

You can drop off donations at the office or have them delivered to 31 Arbor Way in Ellington.

For gift card ideas, click HERE. 

East Windsor is ready for National Night Out! This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen police/community partnerships and make neighborhoods more caring and secure.

September 6
East Windsor Park, 27 Reservoir Ave, Broad Brook
5-8 p.m.

The East Windsor Police Department, Broad Brook Fire Department, Warehouse Point Fire Department, East Windsor Ambulance, East Windsor Public Works, East Windsor Parks & Rec, and North Central Health Department will all be there!

As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

This year’s finalists, 10 students between the ages of 13 and 15, identified an everyday problem in their community or the world and submitted a one-to-two-minute video communicating the science behind their proposed solution.

Rithvik, an 8th-grader at the Academy of Aerospace & Engineering, proposed to create a method to predict earthquakes using AI technology and identify sequences that will better forecast events in the future.

In 2024, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge offered innovative ways for students to engage in science through new entry categories, including robotics, home improvement, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology. Judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country, evaluated entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness. The competition’s culminating event, where America’s Top Young Scientist will be named, is October 14-15, at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

To watch Rithvik's video & learn more about him, click HERE.

East Windsor Police Department is incredibly proud of the participants for their hard work and dedication throughout the program. The commitment and enthusiasm were apparent, and EWPD wishes you nothing but success in all your future endeavors!

A heartfelt thanks to all the amazing volunteers who made this program successful. It couldn’t have been done without you.

Jayson Rhoades (Class of 2026, Biomedical Engineering) first author/presented on "Quantifying the Reactivity of a Novel Metal Oxide Catalyst".

Samuel Hillman (Class of 2024, RAMP: Research & Mentoring for Post-Baccalaureate Program; CLAS) first author/presented on "Sensitive Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Liquid Biopsy for Improved Diagnosis & Treatment."

Auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 3, by appointment. Singers of all voice parts are invited to audition.

Visit vernonchorale.org/auditions/ for more information. 

During this tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.

Shop smart – and locally whenever possible to support small businesses – to save during Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week!

Food safety
Your refrigerator will keep food cool for about four hours without power if it is unopened. To be safe, remember, "When in doubt, throw it out." Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

Medicine storage
Be sure all medications are properly stored, and, if possible, make sure you have enough supply to last several days.

Carbon monoxide and fire alarms
Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and fire alarms every year.

Portable generators
Never use a generator inside your home, basement, shed or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and at least 10 feet away from windows, doors, and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner’s manual and follow the instructions.

Clean-up and repair scams
Scammers often offer clean-up or repair services at a low price and without a contract. By law, home improvement projects must have a contract. Be sure to research potential contractors before deciding, and ask for their license or registration information, identification, and proof of insurance. Make sure there is a written signed contract detailing the work that will be done. You can also verify credentials by visiting elicense.ct.gov/.

Electrical and gas safety
Stay away from any downed wires, including cable TV feeds. Avoid standing in water where flooding occurs. Electrical components, including circuit breakers, wiring in the walls, and outlets that have been underwater should not be turned on.

Contact Information for the Department of Consumer Protection:

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901 Hartford, CT 06103-1840
Main Line: (860) 713-6100 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Consumer Complaint Center
(860) 713-6300
Toll Free: (800) 842-2649
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Email: DCP.complaints@ct.gov

CT.GOV/DCP