Jaime Foster

I have a lot to share with you in this e-newsletter, including some of the bills we passed in the 2024 session, a new student loan repayment program that will help address shortages in health care, ways to observe Memorial Day in the 57th District, meeting Vernon's new police chief, welcoming a new slate of officers at Ellington Volunteer Fire Department (and wishing the former chief happy retirement), and many events. 

In this newsletter, you'll find:

• Legislative Updates
• Memorial Day Weekend Observances in the 57th District
• Welcoming Vernon's Police Chief Petruzzi
• New Slate of Officers at EVFD
• Ellington Youth Services Presentation of "Screenagers"
• East Windsor Parks & Recreation & EWHS Boys Baseball Team Baseball Camp
• Ellington Historical Society is Seeking Unique Trucks & Vehicles for Monster Trucks & More
• Vernon Seeking Volunteers for Boards & Commissions
• A New Look for Vernon's Police Cruisers
• East Windsor Public Schools Bring a New Learning Tool to the Classroom
• And More!

I hope you have a great weekend. We will remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country this Memorial Day weekend. 

Jaime 

The last few weeks of the session can be a whirlwind. I want to share some of the bills that passed this session that might be of interest to you.

Among the bills that passed:

PA 24-19 (SB 1) - This was a priority bill in the Senate. It's an omnibus public health bill that passed with bipartisan support in both chambers. The bill's goal is to improve the health and safety of Connecticut residents.

PA 24-39 (HB 5001) - A priority bill in the House, this legislation supports Connecticut seniors and improves nursing home and home-based care. 

PA 24-91 (HB 5002) - A House priority bill focused on early childhood care and education, this bill seeks to establish (1) the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund and advisory commission and specify funding for said fund, (2) a Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program in New London County, and (3) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, a wage supplement and childcare program enhancement grant program.

PA 24-82 (HB 5003) - A House priority bill, HB 5003 seeks to ensure that children and families have increased access to all available nutrition programs in the state. This bill aims to reduce barriers to participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children (WIC). 

PA 24-141 (HB 5046) - The House and Senate both passed this bill which will make nursing home living more humane and comfortable for its residents. 

PA 24-41 (HB 5436) - Simplifies how certain applicants qualify for initial educator certification and reduces the number of teacher certification levels from three to two. It also expands those eligible for the alternate route to certification (ARC) program certification to candidates with a bachelor's degree or advanced degree from an accredited higher education institution after completing an ARC program.  

PA 24-148 (HB 5498) - Modifies procedures for acquiring absentee ballot applications, as well as requires town clerks to track how a ballot is received (by mail, drop box, or in person), and report information to the Secretary of the State. The bill also requires municipalities to make video recordings of absentee drop boxes during elections and release the recordings to the public.  

PA 24-110 (HB 5198) - Makes permanent certain temporary expanded requirements for telehealth service delivery and insurance coverage that was scheduled to sunset under prior law on June 30, 2024. The act expands the list of authorized telehealth providers to include all Connecticut licensed health care providers and pharmacists.

PA 24-31 (HB 5232) Expands and studies solar facility deployment in the state. The study requirements include PURA examining whether the existing tariff program should be extended, for the DEEP commissioner to study the feasibility and potential cost-related impacts of establishing a uniform capacity tax for solar facilities in the state. 

PA 24-144 (HB 5507) Makes changes to the Public Utility Environmental Standards Act (PUESA), which governs the Connecticut Siting Council's authority and procedures and gives it jurisdiction over siting various energy facilities. It adds requirements to the transmission line certificate applications, requires the applicant to consult with state legislators and a municipality's legislative body for certain applications, increases municipal participation account payments, and requires the council to consider additional factors before approving an application for a transmission line or a solar facility.  

My favorite thing I've told people since the 2024 session ended is, "Congratulations, that bill passed, and your advocacy mattered!"

To read more about bills that passed and died this year, you can read this comprehensive article in CT NewsJunkie or this article in CT Insider. You can look for the fate of a bill HERE or click HERE to review the Office of Legislative Research's Major Public Acts Report. 

Ellington is also receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase a vehicle for the senior center. 

The Fallen Officer Fund will:

• Provide $100,000 to the surviving family members or beneficiaries of any Connecticut local or state police officer killed in the line of duty or who sustained injuries that were the direct and proximate cause of the officer's death.
• Allow the surviving family members of police officers killed in the line of duty who were covered by that officer’s health insurance at the time of their death to remain on that coverage for up to five years.

The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program incentivizes eligible health care providers to practice full-time in underserved Connecticut communities for at least two years by offering up to $50,000 in student loan repayments. Part-time options are also available for $12,500 per year over two years, totaling $25,000.

The program offers a unique advantage in that it allows federal and private student loan debt to be repaid, expanding the eligible talent pool that can participate.

• MDs and DOs in Family Practice, General Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN
• APRNs, including Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Psychiatric Nurse Specialists
• Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses
• Dentists and Dental Hygienists
• Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Core Behavioral Health Providers, including Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Substance Use Disorder Counselors
• Pharmacists

This great program will recruit and retain new health care workers, forgive the student loans of these heroes, and reduce health disparities across our state - a major win for all Connecticut residents.
 
The state began accepting applications this week. For more information, click HERE. 

East Windsor

Memorial Day services take place on Monday, May 27. The day will begin at 10 a.m. sharp with a parade from the Town Hall Annex, North on Main Street to Bridge Street, to Gardner Street, to Pleasant Street to North Main Street to the Joseph Tracy Veterans Memorial Green, where memorial services and awards will be held. In case of rain, the parade will be canceled.

Ellington

In observance of Memorial Day, all Ellington Town Offices will be closed on Monday, May 27. The Hoffman Road Brush Dump will be closed on Saturday, May 25 for the holiday weekend. There will be a one-day delay in trash collection the week of May 27-31.

This year’s Memorial Day services and parades will be held on Monday, May 27:

Crystal Lake:
At approximately 9 a.m., a parade will begin from the Crystal Lake area, where Green Street intersects Route 140, and end at the Crystal Lake Cemetery, where a brief service will be held.

Ellington Center:
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Ellington High School. After the program, at approximately 11:30, a parade will begin from the high school and proceed to the Ellington Green and then to the Ellington Cemetery for brief memorial tributes at each location.

Vernon 

Memorial Day Parade in Talcottville on Sunday, May 26

The parade forms at 9 a.m. at Talcottville Congregational Church, then proceeds to Talcottville Cemetery for a short ceremony and the reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This is one of the shortest parades you will ever find, and a great community tradition. All are welcome.

Memorial Day Parade in Rockville on Monday, May 27

The town-wide Memorial Day Parade and observance is Monday and is hosted by the Town and the American Legion. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Northeast School and then pauses briefly at Grove Hill Cemetery for an observance at Lugg Field.

The parade then resumes and continues from Hale Street to Grove Street to East Main Street and into downtown Rockville. The ceremony follows the parade in Central Park in front of Town Hall.
A Connecticut Air National Guard C-130 flyover is expected about 11 a.m.

The parade will feature Vernon veterans riding in antique cars, the 100-member Vernon Center Middle School Band, the Rockville High School Band, the 1048th Transportation Co. of the Connecticut Army National Guard, Vernon Police, the Town of Vernon Fire Department and the Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club. Members will march and have two vehicles in the parade.

The parade grand marshal is Edward Sumski, a Vernon resident and World War II veteran who served as an aircraft mechanic with the Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater.

The New England Civil War Museum on the second floor of Town Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. so stop in as you wait for the parade, and after the parade. The Sphinx Motor Patrol will entertain spectators before the parade in downtown Rockville. All are welcome.

I love how amazing the 57th District's police forces are at engaging the community! It was extra special to kick off my day with a little extra baby time too. 

Chief Robert Smith: Car 43
Assistant Chief Karl Neubecker: Car 143
Deputy Chief of Training, Cole Prato: Car 243
Deputy Chief of Logistics Thomas Adams: Car 343
Captain Regan Toomey: Car 443
Captain Peter Hany Jr.: Car 543
Lieutenant Jared Fongemie: Car 643
Lieutenant Katherine Hany: Car 743
Lieutenant Jake Light: Car 843
Secretary: Past Chief Michael Varney
Treasurer: Adam D'Agostino

Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to the department and the people of Ellington!

Past Chief Jack Rich II is retiring from EVFD after 30 years of service. He recently stepped down as Chief, after serving six years in the position and many before that at various other levels of leadership. Best wishes in your retirement, Jack! Thank you for your service to the Town of Ellington.

About Screenagers: An award-winning film that probes the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.

Discussions and refreshments included. To RSVP, click HERE or on the graphic below. 

Contact info@ellingtonhistsoc.org or 860-872-0121 for more information or to participate.

STEM Teacher Danielle Donahue and Assistant Superintendent Darryl Rouillard worked to secure the grant that enabled EWPS to get the Sphero Bolt. Ms. Donahue says the equipment will be used for a variety of activities, including:

• Forces and Motion (Grade 3-PS2-4): Students can program Sphero Bolt to navigate through an obstacle course, exploring concepts of force, speed, and direction. This hands-on activity helps them understand how forces affect motion.
• Engineering Design (Grade 1-2-ETS1-1): By designing and testing mazes or challenges for Sphero Bolt, students apply the engineering design process - defining problems, brainstorming solutions, and testing their ideas.
• Energy Transfer (Grade 4-PS3-4): Using Sphero Bolt to simulate energy transfer, students can experiment with how energy moves through systems. For example, they can program the robot to knock down a series of dominos, observing kinetic energy in action.
• Patterns and Coding (Grade 2-PS1-4): Through basic coding exercises, students learn to recognize and create patterns. Programming Sphero Bolt to follow specific paths reinforces their understanding of sequences and patterns in coding.
• Data Collection and Analysis (Grade 3-5-ETS1-3): Students can use Sphero Bolt’s sensors to collect data on speed, distance, and time. Analyzing this data helps them practice scientific inquiry and develop critical thinking skills as they make predictions and draw conclusions.

Realize when it is causing you a problem. You need to make the connection between feeling tired or ill, with the pressures you are faced with. Don’t ignore physical warnings such as tense muscles, over-tiredness, headaches or migraines.

Identify the causes. Try to identify the underlying causes. Group the possible reasons for your stress into those with a practical solution, those that will get better anyway given time, and those you can’t do anything about. Try to let go of those in the second and third groups – there’s no point in worrying about things you can’t change or things that will sort themselves out.

Review your lifestyle. Are you taking on too much? Are there things you are doing that could be handed over to someone else? Can you do things in a more leisurely way? You may need to prioritize things you are trying to achieve and reorganize your life so that you are not trying to do everything at once.