High School Renovation Update & Peak Fall Foliage Dates

September 30, 2024

The man overseeing the renovation at Windham High School joined my weekly radio show. Please keep scrolling to find out what still needs to be completed before this massive project is over.
 
The state is urging every driver to slow down and move over if they see a vehicle stopped on the side of the road. I have shared a video below that you don't want to miss detailing why it's so important to follow our move over law.
  
It's officially fall, and our state is about to become a destination for thousands of tourists who want to see the vibrant colors of the season. I have a breakdown of when to expect peak foliage and the best driving routes to see it!

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Let's Talk About It: High School Renovation
  • Tackling Teen Behavioral Health
  • Raising Awareness for Our Move Over Law
  • Peak Fall Foliage Dates
 
Let's Talk About It: High School Renovation

My radio co-host Dennis O’Brien and I spoke with Windham’s chairman of the Windham High School renovation on our weekly show “Let’s Talk About It.” Michael Callahan, who is also the chairman of the town's water department, gave us a breakdown of the renovations at Windham High School and the work the town’s water department undergoes to ensure quality drinking water for our community.
 
Callahan informed us the work at the high school will be complete in December 2024. Here’s a look at the remaining work:

  • tennis court renovation (expected to be done by the end of October)
  • new furniture coming to media center
  • final testing and balancing of all systems (heating, air conditioning, and ventilation)

Callahan recommends the Board of Education should hire at least one full-time certified HVAC technician. The renovated high school is a modern and sophisticated building that requires a professional with knowledge, training, and experience to address potential problems as they come up.
We also talked about the important work the Willimantic Water Department undertakes to make our drinking water the best in the entire state. Callahan was quick to credit his incredible staff for recently earning the award for the best small water department in New England. He also dug deeper in the department’s long term plans to re-evaluate the pump house and possibly install additional turbines.
 
We covered our lead pipe removal program and much more. Please click on the video below to listen to the entire show!
Mike Callahan, Chairman of the Windham Water Commission,
shares information on the high school renovation.
 
Tackling Teen Behavioral Health
I joined a group of legislators from the entire country at a teen behavioral health forum at the State Capitol in Hartford. My colleague, Rep. Kevin Ryan, worked diligently with the Council of State Governments (CSG) to bring this event to Connecticut. Due to his unwavering commitment and passion for helping others, Rep. Ryan was named the 2024 CSG National Chair.
It was a pleasure to come together and discuss ways to tackle adolescent behavior health with fellow legislators who are dedicated to finding solutions. I snapped this picture with Alabama State Representative Ginny Shaver, who provided valuable insights into the topic at hand. Her perspective shed light on the complexities of behavioral health and highlighted the importance of informed dialogue in addressing it.
 
Raising Awareness for Our Move Over Law
Have you seen the new public service announcement raising awareness about the state’s Move Over Law? The "Real Lives" campaign stresses why it’s important to protect anyone that is on the side of the road by following the law. The Connecticut Department of Transportation launched ads on TV, radio, social media, and at gas stations. Take a look below.
Roadside workers share importance of Move Over Law. (CTDOT)

Connecticut’s Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down and move over for any vehicle stopped on the side of highways and side roads. Between 2017 and 2021, 16 people died in roadside crashes in Connecticut with 13 of them happening after dark.
The “Real Lives” campaign aims to educate the public on the following key points of Connecticut's Move Over Law:

  • Move Over: When approaching a stopped vehicle on the roadside, if you are on a highway with two or more lanes in one direction, safely move over one lane.
  • Slow Down: If it is not safe to move over, drivers must slow down to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and proceed with caution.
  • All Vehicles: The law applies to any stopped vehicle on the roadside, not just emergency or service vehicles.
  • Penalties: Violators of the law may face fines, with penalties increasing significantly if a crash results in injury or death.
Click here for more on our Move Over Law
 
Peak Fall Foliage Dates
Fall is officially here, and no one does it better than Connecticut. From stunning foliage to apple orchards and cozy fall festivals, our state is the ultimate autumn destination.

We are less than a month away from peak foliage in Windham! Take a look at the dates below.
CT foliage driving routes