Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. We’d like to share some important updates regarding SNAP benefits. Access Health CT’s Open Enrollment period begins Saturday, November 1. Below, you’ll find all the information you need to sign up for or renew your health coverage.

If you’re in need of energy assistance, the Generation Power CT Emergency Energy Assistance Program will run from November 2–10.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Remember to Vote on November 4!
• SNAP Benefits Update
• Access Health CT Open Enrollment
• Generation Power CT Emergency Energy Assistance Program
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Fall Back
• Community Events

Mid-pandemic, I received a beautifully handwritten letter from George Fouser. I don’t remember the exact topic of his letter, though I still have it carefully filed away in Hartford. I wrote back and hand-delivered my response. While my handwriting was nowhere near as exquisite as his, that exchange left a lasting impression on me.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting George at his home to present him with a legislative citation in honor of his 100th birthday.

It was a privilege to down with him and listen to his stories as he reflected on the Short Beach area and the town over the years. As we stood looking out his window, he pointed toward Page’s Cove and recalled how it was once mud from shore to shore, emphasizing the importance of preserving land on Killam’s Point. He spoke fondly of his wife’s family, early settlers in the area, and shared how deeply he misses her.

George also told me a wonderful story about driving an aging Lucy Hammer around town whenever she needed a ride. Lucy Hammer was a true trailblazer in Connecticut politics, serving three terms as a State Representative and six as a State Senator. In 1967, she became the first woman to serve as Assistant Majority Leader.

These are the moments that make serving the people of Branford so meaningful to me.

I also had the honor of presenting Nathan “Nate” Frolick, a 16-year-old junior at Branford High School, with a legislative citation recognizing his remarkable achievement in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle project, Nate led the planning and construction of two new bocce courts at Hammer Field. These courts opened to the public in May 2025, providing a wonderful new recreational space, especially meaningful for the seniors in our community.

The event was a celebration of a young person setting ambitious goals and seeing them through. There is no doubt that Nate will continue to make a positive impact on our town and beyond.

This week, the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) held a legislative breakfast. As someone who has found my own path to recovery, I was eager to learn more about CCAR, their services, their mission, and how the legislature can best support their work.

I learned that CCAR operates eight Recovery Community Centers across the state. They provide virtual and telephone recovery support, assist youth and families, and offer Recovery Coaching training programs, all free of charge to anyone seeking help. CCAR also partners with the Department of Corrections and works within Emergency Departments throughout Connecticut.

Most inspiring was meeting a passionate and dedicated group of peer coaches, volunteers, and addiction professionals who give their time and expertise to support residents at no cost. If you’d like to learn more about CCAR and the incredible work they do, I encourage you to visit their website. Stay tuned for more on this important resource.

Later in the week, I also visited Southbury Training School (STS), a state-run institution for individuals with developmental disabilities. Located on 1,600 acres in Southbury, Connecticut, the facility opened in 1940 and once housed over 2,300 people. Today, about 90 elderly residents still call Southbury home, many of whom have lived there for more than 40 years.

The site has a complex and controversial history, including documented human rights violations that culminated in a 1986 lawsuit alleging systemic abuse and neglect. Connecticut has spent decades working toward deinstitutionalization, and my father was a leader in that movement. In 1994, the class-action lawsuit Messier v. Southbury Training School was filed, arguing that residents’ rights were being violated by the state’s failure to transition them into less restrictive, community-based living arrangements. Since 2010, many residents have successfully moved into the community, but 90 individuals remain at STS, at significant cost to the state. I wanted to see their living conditions firsthand to better understand the choices before us.

My father devoted his life to closing institutions like STS. He believed that people with disabilities deserve to live IN our communities, not apart from them. During his career, he helped close the Mansfield Training School and other similar facilities across Connecticut. Although he didn’t live to see this final chapter, I wanted to visit the place I had heard so much about around our kitchen table, and to walk, quite literally, in his footsteps.

I approached my visit to Southbury with a willingness to listen and learn. The residents’ voices matter deeply to me in this conversation. My father taught me that disability rights are human rights. STS was built in 1940 with the best intentions of its time, but our understanding of dignity and inclusion has evolved.

During my visit, I asked some tough questions and plan to follow up with the STS Working Group to learn more about the Regional Service Centers currently operating. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to ensure that Connecticut does what is best for all its citizens.

Early voting is still available for municipal elections until Sunday, November 2 and the General Election is Tuesday, November 4.

If you aren't registered to vote, same day registration is also available during the early voting period (through Sunday, November 2) 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

The designated Early Voting and Election Day voting location in Branford is:

• Joe Trapasso Community House (46 Church Street)

**PLEASE NOTE** Due to the current construction at the Branford Police Department Headquarters and their relocation to the Branford Fire Department Headquarters. The 4th District will be voting in the Multipurpose Room at the Joe Trapasso Community House for the November 4 Municipal Election. All future elections will be back at the Fire Department Headquarters.

Governor Ned Lamont has announced $3 million in emergency state funding for Connecticut Foodshare, the state’s largest food bank, to assist residents expected to lose access to federal food assistance due to the shutdown of the federal government.

The Trump administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has stated it will not use its $6 billion contingency fund to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the shutdown, nor will it reimburse states that attempt to cover the cost. As a result:

• No new SNAP benefits will be distributed after November 1.
• If you have a balance from previous months, it is expected that those carryover benefits already on EBT cards will remain accessible after November 1.
• DSS is still accepting and processing SNAP applications. If someone is approved for benefits for October, those benefits will appear on their card when the federal government reopens.

This cut in federal aid will affect an estimated 42 million low-income Americans, including about 360,000 Connecticut residents, many of whom are children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

While the $3 million in state aid will not replace the full scope of lost federal benefits, it reflects Connecticut’s commitment to supporting residents facing food insecurity during the shutdown. The Department of Social Services (DSS) and other state agencies are continuing to monitor the situation and consider additional measures to assist affected households.

Local food pantries across the state are providing essential assistance to those in need and are also seeking donations to help meet the growing demand.

Click here to find food programs and services available through 211 Connecticut. You can also call 2-1-1, or 1-800-203-1234.

Click here to find a Connecticut Foodshare food pantry or mobile food pantry.

For those neighbors who are not struggling, please consider making a monetary donation or even donating your time to Branford food assistance programs. Click the links below for more information.

Branford Food Pantry
Community Dining Room
Feed Branford Kids, Inc.

Open Enrollment for Access Health CT's (AHCT) health and dental insurance remains on track to begin Saturday, Nov. 1 and end Monday, Dec. 15 for plans beginning at the start of next year. Residents can enroll until Thursday, Jan. 15 for plans beginning in February.

You may have received a letter in the mail warning of healthcare premium price increases starting Jan. 1 due to legislation passed in the U.S. Congress this year. Currently, the federal government is shut down as those price increases are debated and negotiated.

As it stands, state officials in Connecticut are encouraging residents to hold off on enrolling in the AHCT plan as the debate continues over those price increases. If you are able, please wait to enroll until the issue is fully resolved.

For those looking to enroll, please have the following information and documents prepared for you and anyone else in your household, even if they don't need coverage:

• Dates of Birth
• Social Security Numbers
• Visa, green card, or immigration documents
• Most recent W2 and/or Form 1040, 1099 
• Pay-stubs, Profit & Loss Statements or other employment information
• Current insurance coverage (policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household)

You can click here to view the enrollment checklist.

Access Health CT's staff remains a valuable resource to guide you through this process and to tell you what to expect during open enrollment. To get in contact, you can :

• Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” for a list of places to get free, in-person help.
• If you do not have a broker, find one on the Access Health CT website. Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” and “Find Certified Broker.” Brokers are free to work with, and they are trained 
  and certified to help you find a plan that works best for you and your family.
• Call at 1-855-805-4325 - help is available in over 100 languages. Customers who deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator. Hours of Operation are Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (Holiday hours may vary, check website for details)
• Live Chat available at AccessHealthCT.com
• Visit one of their Enrollment Locations  

To learn more about the enrollment process and to find the plan that is right for you, visit Access Health CT's website.

The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program opens on Sunday, November 2, and will run through Monday, November 10! This program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses.
 
Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.
 
All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when you are most in need. GPCT has three remaining Energy Assistance Application Cycles for this winter season:

• November 2-10, 2025
• January 2-10, 2026
• March 2-10, 2026

Click here to learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials.

More than 50 million people – 1 out of 3 eligible Americans – do not complete colorectal cancer screening because they find the current options unpleasant or inconvenient.
 
Thankfully, physicians in Connecticut are beginning to prescribe Shield, the first blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer. This offers patients who may delay or avoid traditional screening methods a simpler, less invasive option for screening.

Veterans - The Shield™ blood test is covered as an in-network benefit for patients receiving VA-authorized community care. 
 
October is National Health Literacy Month, which is a great opportunity to emphasize the importance of understanding your health and making informed choices about preventive care, including screening for colon cancer. Knowing your options and discussing them with your doctor can help you select the screening method that’s best for you, including whether the new blood test might be suitable. 
 
Early detection saves lives, and expanding access to screening methods is a positive step toward better health outcomes for everyone.

This weekend, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end, and we turn our clocks back one hour.