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This week marked the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, including 161 people with ties to Connecticut, the thousands who have died since, due to exposure to toxic chemicals, and the countless lives that were forever changed. May we never forget the people whose lives were stolen from us through this act of terror, and all of the first responders, construction crews, service members, and everyday citizens who saved lives and helped our country rebuild.
Though we move further away from that fateful day each year, we must continue to honor those Americans we lost and never stop the fight against terror and for peace. Remember the camaraderie and true patriotism we had for our fellow man, as we came to grips with the atrocity that occurred on American soil.
I hope you've had a great week with time for reflection,
Jaime
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In this newsletter, you'll find:
- In the News
- Capitol Updates
- Veterans Updates
- Abby's Helping Hand Social Club in East Windsor
- Town of Vernon Fire Department Plans Apparatus Wet Down Ceremony
- Good News from East Windsor Public Schools
- John Watts Honored on Ellington's Wall of Honor
- And More!
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| During the 2025 legislative session, we passed a number of bills that support Connecticut's agriculture. You can read more about it in the September edition of North Central News by clicking HERE or by clicking the graphic below. |
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I recently had an opinion piece published in the CT Mirror's CT VIEWPOINTS section - Slashing SNAP-Ed, WIC, and SNAP isn’t just shortsighted - it’s scientifically indefensible and cruel.
Read more HERE or click the graphic below. |
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| Local veterans! Please join us on Thursday, September 18, for a listening session at Hall Memorial Library in Ellington. Share your thoughts on the most pressing needs for Connecticut veterans. Our panelists and guests include John Carragher of the CT Department of Veterans Affairs, Daniel Reilly, Veteran and Military Affairs Outreach Liaison for Senator Blumenthal; Alison Weir, Executive Director of the CT Veterans Legal Center; Ken Lewis, Department Service Officer for the American Legion Department of Connecticut; and Emily Trudeau, Senior Assistant State's Attorney. |
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| A working lunch with my Senate Co-Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Senator Paul Hoenig. We lunched at Luann's after a tour of the town. We're preparing for our listening sessions ahead of the 2026 session. |
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For the last few years, I have partnered with Dr. Kerri Rassian, and I am happy to share another event.
Join us for "Disarming the Debate: Having Firearm Conversations from Diverse Perspectives" on September 25, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
After the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, TN (3/27/2023), 11 diverse Tennesseans gathered to discuss gun violence solutions in TN. Though they disagree(d) about the solutions, they all want the same thing: less gun violence.
We (in CT and in our nation) have a lot to learn from them about how to have civil conversations in the face of disagreement. We can/ must find common ground in the face of our shared humanity and love for those who die from gunshots.
The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the CT Chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network, UConn ARMS, and the Yale School of Public Health.
Click HERE to RSVP, click the graphic below, or use the QR code on the flyer. |
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Did that bill ever pass somewhere else?
The 2025 OLR Bill Tracking report is now available. This report identifies bills considered during the recent legislative session whose content or concepts were incorporated into other legislation, under different bill numbers, that the legislature then passed.
During this session, the content or concepts originating in at least 201 bills were incorporated into other legislation that was enacted in 51 public acts. Click on the graphic below or click HERE to view this report and track down the bill concepts of interest. |
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Connecticut’s Town Aid Road (TAR) grant program is growing, with state support rising from $60 million under the previous state budget to $80 million in the current budget. This funding boost represents a 33% year-over-year increase that will directly support the cities and towns with the costs of local road paving, maintenance, and safety operations.
It is the program’s largest investment in more than a decade, and helps towns repair roads faster, improve safety, and respond better to severe weather.
I'm excited to see this significant increase in funding, and as a supporter of this year's budget, I'm proud of this increase.
TAR funding for the 57th District:
East Windsor - $265,323.84
Ellington - $340,942.88
Vernon - $411,343.00
For more information on the Town Aid Road program or to use the interactive map, click HERE. |
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Connecticut received notification from Moody’s and Fitch this week that both rating agencies are upgrading the state’s bond ratings.
Moody’s is upgrading Connecticut from Aa3 to Aa2. Fitch is upgrading the state from AA- to AA. These upgrades mark the seventh and eighth credit rating increases during the Lamont administration. Before that, the most recent General Obligation bond rating upgrade the state received was in 2001.
These ratings upgrades will result in even greater demand for state bonds, creating both immediate and long-term savings for taxpayers, while freeing up resources for Connecticut to make critical investments in programs and people. |
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Governor Lamont has officially launched Fire Safe CT, a new statewide initiative aimed at reducing fire-related tragedies through public education and community support. This coordinated effort brings together state and local agencies, fire service professionals, and health care experts with one shared goal: to protect Connecticut residents and their communities from the dangers of fire.
Core Objectives:
- Public Education: delivering clear, actionable fire prevention tips through multimedia campaigns—highlighting home safety, outdoor fire management, and burn injury prevention
- Community Empowerment: providing local fire departments and municipal fire marshals with enhanced tools, educational materials, and support to boost community-level fire risk reduction efforts
To learn more and get involved, go to ct.gov/firesafe, and for tips on outdoor fire safety, visit DEEP's Forest Fire Prevention Tips to learn how to protect your home, property, and the first responders who serve us.
Together, we can create a safer, more fire-aware Connecticut.
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This week, Governor Lamont issued executive orders to ensure that Connecticut residents have access to COVID-19 vaccines during the upcoming respiratory virus season.
For decades, vaccines have been proven to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death, and patients and their doctors should be able to decide what is the best course of treatment.
- The Department of Public Health recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older
- Pharmacists and providers can keep giving vaccines under the latest CDC guidance
- State law requires most insurance plans to continue covering COVID-19 vaccines
These steps make sure Connecticut residents can stay protected.
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| I recently had the opportunity to speak with veterans at the monthly Manchester Veterans Coffeehouse. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to attend and listen to the concerns of the veteran community. I enjoyed our time together! |
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Nomination packages for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2025, are currently being accepted.
If you know a veteran who has served their country honorably and then continued to serve veterans, veteran families, and their communities at large through advocacy, volunteerism, civic duty, or other forms of charitable work, then consider nominating them for the CT Veterans Hall of Fame.
The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame was established to increase awareness of the lifetime contributions of Veterans after completion of honorable military service. The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is not a military hall of fame; instead, it seeks to recognize veterans for their countless contributions to society after their service.
Nomination packages can be found HERE and are due by September 15. |
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On September 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) will host its annual Stand Down event. This event is a commitment to serving Connecticut’s veterans, military personnel, and their immediate families by providing “one-stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, veterans organizations, and community-based nonprofits at regional sites across the state.
A formal ceremony will be held at the Rocky Hill Stand Down location at 9:30 a.m.; however, you're welcome to attend any of the six Stand Down locations at any time throughout the day.
Stand Down locations are:
- Bridgeport: University of Bridgeport, Wheeler Recreational Center, 400 University Avenue
- Southington: Southington Armory, 600 Woodruff Street
- Danbury: Danbury War Memorial 1 Memorial Drive
- Norwich: Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point, 24 Stott Avenue
- Rocky Hill: Connecticut Veterans Affairs campus, 287 West Street
- Stamford: UConn at Stamford, 1 University Plaza
Click HERE for more information. Transportation information can be found HERE.
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From the Town of Ellington: Scarecrow Contest sign-ups are LIVE and ready to go! While there are still a couple of weeks before set-up, individuals, groups, and businesses are welcome to submit their entry form for this year. A new highlight of this year's Fall Festival, hosted by the Ellington Historical Society at the Nellie McKnight Museum, will be a scarecrow building session on September 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring some old clothing and props, while the Historical Society will provide straw and help with construction.
You can sign up for the contest HERE. |
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| Abby's Helping Hand is bringing back the Social Club for Special Education students of East Windsor and the surrounding areas. This program is free and will take place on Thursday evenings from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the East Windsor Community Center starting September 11 (no social club on October 16). Register through East Windsor Parks and Recreation HERE. |
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A message from Ellington Human Services: Are you prepared for emergencies? Be part of this important conversation!
Monday, September 15
Time: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hall Memorial Library
Join Deputy Fire Marshal Sydney Kern, EdD, Town Administrator Matthew Reed, and John Streiber, Deputy Director from CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), for an Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Workshop.
Learn practical steps to protect yourself, your family, and your community during unexpected events.
Free and open to the public. Call Ellington Human Services at 860-870-3128 to sign up! |
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Join the Town of Vernon Fire Department for a "Wet Down Ceremony” for the department's newest apparatus, ET241!
The ceremony is on September 20 at 11 a.m., at Station 241, 59 Birch Street in Vernon. |
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The cast is set, and tickets go on sale September 20 for the Ellington Historical Society and Ellington Community Theatre, in partnership with the Opening Knight Players and EMS Drama Troupe, "Ellington Epitaphs, Stories in Stone, A Cemetery Walk."
This is an interactive cemetery tour, where the townspeople of the 1700s and 1800s return to share their incredible stories. Expect touching moments, surprising twists, and unforgettable encounters with the characters who shaped Ellington.
The event will take place on October 18, starting at 3 p.m., with five tours planned, lasting about 45 minutes each. The rain date is October 19.
Watch the Ellington Historical Society website and social media for the ticket link! |
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| Head to Warehouse Point Library on September 20 to listen to Kid Governor Keudy Martinez talk about his Speaking Up for Safe & Happy Schools platform. Learn what it’s like to be Kid Governor or a Cabinet Member, and how 5th-grade students can participate in the election for the 2026 Kid Governor this fall! Enjoy a hands-on activity and refreshments. Click HERE to register. |
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| The East Windsor Arts and Culture Committee and Warehouse Point Library want to know: What is your favorite children's book? Suggestions are being sought (preferably in portrait mode) for book covers to paint on bricks leading up to the new Story Walk! You can submit your titles at the WHP Library, or click HERE to share your suggestions on the East Windsor Arts and Culture Committee's Facebook post. |
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Are you an employer looking to hire?
Are you looking for a job or to make a change?
Attend the September 25 North Central Connecticut Job Fair at Vernon Center Middle School. ALL ARE WELCOME.
Details and signup information for job seekers AND employers can be found HERE. |
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| Cornerstone's "Free Halloween Costume Boutique" will take place on October 10, 11, 17, 18, and 25. More information below! |
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Recently, East Windsor Public Schools was honored as one of only four districts statewide invited by CSDE Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to participate in the release of the 2024–25 Connecticut State Assessment and Attendance Results.
Senator Saud Anwar and I joined in Hartford to celebrate the district’s achievements.
Representing East Windsor, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tudryn, Middle School Principal Timothy Field, and Assistant Superintendent Darryl Rouillard, highlighted the progress made under East Windsor's Five-Year Strategic Plan (2021–2026):
- Strengthening literacy instruction
- Expanding supports for teachers and classrooms
- Deepening family engagement, including home visits
The results are clear: higher student engagement, improved attendance, and rising academic achievement across grade levels.
The work continues for every student to thrive.
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The weather forced the event into the Ellington Ambulance Building, but the room was filled with close to 70 people who knew the 2025 Wall of Honor recipient, John Watts, through many aspects of his life, including former colleagues at Ellington High School.
A 35-year educator at Ellington High School, Watts taught American Government and Contemporary Issues, encouraging his students to be actively involved in the community. Students in his introductory class successfully campaigned for the USS Nautilus to be named the official state ship; then-Governor William O’Neill and former Governor John Dempsey attended a ceremonial signing at Ellington High School in 1983.
Watts served as a member of the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps (EVAC), earning Lifetime Membership status, and he was the driving force behind the creation of Ellington Rescue Post 512, improving emergency medical responses in the community and inspiring many high school students to pursue careers in medicine, public safety, service, and volunteerism.
His service doesn't end there. He served as a volunteer Auxiliary State Trooper and was a part of Ellington’s Marine Patrol. He was also a Justice of the Peace, a Deputy Registrar of Voters, and coached track for Ellington High School for over 11 years.
He has received a number of awards, including the William H. Spurgeon Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Mabel B. Avery Community Service Award, recognition from the American Red Cross, and the Ellington Friends of Education Award.
Photo courtesy of the Town of Ellington |
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Windermere School PTO wants you to save the date of September 30, at 6:30 p.m.
Attend an informational meeting on social media and technology. The event is for adults only, but babysitting is being offered by Ellington Youth Services if you want to attend and need childcare! |
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Attention Future Educators in Connecticut!
The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, established by the Connecticut General Assembly and administered by the CT State Department of Education (CSDE), is now open for applications!
This scholarship supports students who:
- Graduated from a public high school in an Alliance District
- Are enrolled - or will soon enroll - in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
- Are in good academic standing
- Meet any additional CSDE eligibility requirements
Up to $10,000 per year is available for eligible students, including:
- High school seniors planning to begin a teacher prep program this fall
- Undergraduate or graduate students already enrolled in an approved program
Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners!
Apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator. Apply HERE.
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