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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of June 12.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click the image below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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My calendar these days is a sprawling combination of in-person events and meetings throughout the district (and occasionally in Hartford) punctuated by regular zoom calls, which remain a helpful way to gather people from across the district, state, or the country to discuss issues.
My internal calendar is still structured around the school schedule, and many of the in-person events I’m attending are related to the close of various school calendars this month. Between this week and last, it included two banquets, an awards presentation, graduations, a screening of student-made documentary films, and a legislative reception at CT State Community College Northwestern campus in Winsted tomorrow morning. To all the graduates, and the families and teachers who supported you, congratulations on your achievements and good luck with the next chapter!
One ceremony I wanted to highlight took place at the VFW in North Canaan, honoring Korean and Vietnam War. These veterans didn’t always get the heroes’ welcome home they deserved, and the Lieutenant Governor has been organizing ceremonies to honor them in communities across the state. This one included veterans living in North Canaan and Falls Village. This was the second such ceremony I’ve attended in the district (the first was in Kent), and in addition to the opportunity to honor and thank these veterans, we got to hear their stories first hand. These stories are heartwarming, heartbreaking, inspiring, and sometimes funny, as veterans shared how they survived difficult and sometimes brutal situations, and how inter branch rivalries are alive and well.
This weekend includes Father’s Day: I wish you all a happy day honoring all the father figures in your life, and if you are one of those father figures, I hope you get to celebrate with those whose lives you impacted. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Sharon Hospital Update. Click here.
- Nominate a Rural Innovator. Click here.
- Update from the Salisbury-Sharon Food Waste Program. Click here.
- DOT will hold Public Information Meeting re Rehabilitation of Bridge on Route 202 in Washington. Click here.
- Reminder - Milling and Resurfacing Project on Route 109 in Washington. Click here.
- Upcoming Events. Click here.
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OHS notified our office that they received communication from Sharon Hospital stating Labor and Delivery will be temporarily closing services due to circumstances beyond their control, primarily involving the unavailability of obstetric physicians. This closure is scheduled to take place from Saturday June 15th at 8am through Monday June 24th at 8pm, though the hospital stopped accepting new L&D admissions on Monday, June 10th at 8pm. Nuvance Health has indicated that the system is contacting impacted patients individually. Nuvance estimates that there are fewer than 10 patients who will be affected by the temporary suspension planned.
As you may recall, OHS recently denied Sharon Hospital’s request to terminate their labor and delivery services, attached. At the moment, it does not seem that this temporary suspension of services would place Sharon Hospital out of compliance. The CON Decision and Order requires Sharon Hospital to not “terminate” the labor and delivery services. Such a “termination” is defined as closure of the service for a period greater than 180 days, and the suspension is reported to be fewer than 180 days. OHS will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the proper investigation or enforcement process. I am watching this issue closely and will continue to share updates with you all. |
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Through the White House Rural Innovators Initiative, the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to uplift stories of extraordinary rural leaders, who are taking action and ensuring their communities thrive for generations to come.
The Biden-Harris Administration invites nominations from the public for Rural Innovators who are making a positive impact in their rural communities. Nominations of individuals of all ages, including youth leaders, are welcome. Nominated individuals could be engaged in either the public and private sectors, including local, state, Tribal and territory governments; non-profits; businesses; philanthropy; or academia.
The nomination form will close on Friday, June 14 at midnight EST. Selected individuals will be recognized as Rural Innovators later this year.
Nominate a Rural Innovator here.
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The Food Waste Program at the Salisbury-Sharon Transfer Station reported the following year-long data this week:
- 76,500 pounds of food scraps recovered, the equivalent of avoiding:
- 46,665 pounds of CO2;
- Or 53,198 miles of driving
The data also shows that they continue to increase the weight of food waste diverted from the garbage hopper.
FUTURE FOOD-WASTE DIVERSION GOALS
There are many tons of food waste yet to be recovered from non-residential entities (restaurants, schools, facilities, and institutions) in our two towns. Larger-scale food waste diversion will help the Transfer Station meet its goals to reduce the weight of garbage that is currently trucked to a landfill in Pennsylvania. in reducing the volume and weight of garbage sent to landfills. The Transfer Station Manager recently mailed a letter to food-waste generators to 1) alert them about a new statute that obligates those producing more than 26 tons per year to donate food that is edible or separate food scraps and have it delivered to a commercial composting facility or an anaerobic digester -- to begin on January 1, 2025; and 2) get a sense of interest these entities, so that a collaborative effort might save costs for each -- something the Transfer Station might be able to help coordinate.
MAKE FOOD WASTE SEPARATION A PART OF YOUR EVENTS
If you are hosting an event -- from a small gathering to a big gala -- consider providing separate bins for food waste, recycling, and garbage. You can borrow a sandwich board and sign from the Transfer Station to display at your event, or you can hire Curbside Compost or Blue Earth to provide bins and signs as well as collection.
https://www.curbcompost.org/events.html
https://www.blueearthcompost.com/events
COMPOST STILL AVAILABLE
The compost pile at the Sharon Highway Garage is still big enough for second helpings. You’ll see proof that things love to grow in leaf compost – grass has started climbing the pile. Lesson learned: next year a tarp on top! But still plenty of good stuff.
The compost pile at the Salisbury site near Trotta Field is dwindling, but if you are resourceful you can pull up the four corners to gather what’s left and find enough to fill a bucket or two. If you empty the tarp, please contact Brian Bartram so he can pick it up for next year’s pile. bbartram@salisburyct.us |
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| Connecticut has launch a new "Make It Here" website highlighting makers, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the state. Click here to visit the website. |
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| Members of the public are invited to participate in a virtual public information meeting being convened by the Connecticut Department of Transportation on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 00906 carrying U.S. Route 202 over the Shepaug River in the Town of Washington, and to provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments.
The purpose of the project is to address the bridge deficiencies to ensure the major components are improved to, or remain in, a state of good repair. The project will need to minimize traffic interruptions on U.S. Route 202, address the concrete deck deterioration, install MASH-compliant bridge rail, address the condition of bridge bearings and deterioration of structural steel, and repair existing substructure deteriorations. Right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed project are not anticipated. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027 based on the availability of funding and approval of permit(s). The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $6.76 Million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 80 percent Federal funds and 20 percent State funds.
Please register for the virtual public information meeting at https://portal.ct.gov/DOTWashington150-137. Registration is required to participate. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to access the meeting. Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please direct comments and questions by July 1 to: DOTProject150-137@ct.gov and (860) 594-2020 or Francisco Fadul, Project Manager, at either Francisco.Fadul@ct.gov, or (860) 594-2078).
The meeting will also be live streamed on YouTube, with closed captioning available: https://portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive |
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CTDOT is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 109 in Washington from the New Milford Town Line to Route 47 and Route 109 starting Monday, June 17, 2024.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 109 in Washington from the New Milford Town Line to Route 47 and Route 109. The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 2.58 segment of Route 109 in Washington. The milling of this project is scheduled to begin and end on Monday, June 17, 2024. The resurfacing of this project is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 24 and end on Friday, June 28, 2024.
This project is included in the CTDOT’s 2024 Vendor Resurfacing Program.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
Motorists can expect delays and one lane alternating Traffic. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. The regular work schedule for this project is 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
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| Uniforms and Gear Sale – Buy a Piece of History
Selling all Litchfield and Wamogo band and athletics uniforms, golf bag, athletics chairs, and more!
- Saturday, June 15
- 10:00am-12:00pm
- 2 Locations
- Litchfield High School Gym
- Wamogo Big Gym
- Accepting cash or check only
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| ICMYI - Northwest Corner Events |
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| Salisbury Association Land Trust Exhibit: Imperiled Species in Our Community: The Biodiversity Crisis at Home
An exhibit on view at the Academy Building through the end of July tells the story of a dramatic decline in the biodiversity of local animal species. Click here to learn more. |
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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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