State Sen. Needleman: Education Update, New Developments with Connecticut Travel Advisory

By State Senator, Norm Needleman.

Please take a few moments to read about an upcoming Middlesex Habitat for Humanity information meeting for military individuals and families, an education update, and health and weather preparation tips as we enter Fall. If I may be of assistance to you please email Needleman@senatedems.ct.gov.

Middlesex Habitat for Humanity to Hold Application Information Meeting For Military Individuals/Families

The Middlesex Habitat for Humanity will hold an application information meeting Monday, October 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cromwell ReStore, located at 34 Shunpike Road in Cromwell. This meeting will provide attendees with more information about applying to potentially own a home, which Middlesex Habitat for Humanity plans to construct in Middlefield in the near future. Middlesex Habitat will distribute applications for the Military Build program. Individuals or families meeting the following requirements can apply: they must be veterans or military service members, must have a DD Form 214 or current military ID, must have a need for simple, decent housing, must meet the income requirements for a house, and must be able to pay a low-interest mortgage for the house if selected. Any eligible military individual or family is highly encouraged to apply. The event will follow COVID-19 precautions – for more information or to RSVP, please call 860-398-6483 or email mlopez@habitatmiddlesex.org.

14-Day Quarantine Lifted Under New Condition, Six States Removed from Travel Advisory

Governor Lamont has loosened travel restrictions from those who travel to Connecticut from high-risk areas. Travelers no longer have to quarantine if they’re coming in from a high-risk state if they have a negative test. If a person does not present a negative COVID-19 test, then they will have to quarantine for 14 days. Anyone traveling from the list of locations must fill out a health questionnaire and quarantine for 14 days. People who fail to comply with the requirements could pay a $1,000 fine. Six states have been removed from the list including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Ohio. The current list is Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Education Update

State Electronic Learning Device Delivery Ahead of Schedule

Roughly 20,000 of 81,000 learning devices purchased for students across the state are scheduled to arrive ahead of schedule, state officials said. The “Everybody Learns” initiative, set up by the governor’s office, is slated to provide hundreds of thousands of laptops and learning devices to students across the state as disruptions to education including remote and hybrid learning schedules continue to be necessary amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to 141,000 devices slated to be delivered to schools, the state is also providing 60,000 internet connections, with more than a fifth of those connections successfully installed. Just over 20,000 Windows laptops will be delivered through the end of September, with another 60,000+ Chromebooks to be delivered in October, on top of 60,000 laptops already distributed in May through the Partnership for Connecticut.

U.S. News and World Report Highlights 16 Connecticut Colleges and Universities

The annual U.S. News and World Report ranking of colleges and universities, released this week, found 16 Connecticut schools ranking highly and gaining attention for academic success. This reminder of Connecticut’s strong educational roots includes the following schools receiving accolades:

• UConn was named the 23^rd best public university in the country and the 63^rd best overall university
• Yale ranked 4^th nationally, placing top-10 in writing, learning communities, undergraduate research, senior capstones and first-year experiences
• Trinity College ranked 44^th in national liberal arts colleges and ranked in the top 50 for value
• Wesleyan ranked 20^th in national liberal arts colleges and ranked in the top 25 for value
• The University of Hartford, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University and the University of St. Joseph all ranked in the top 250 national colleges and universities nationwide

 DEEP Warning Bear Sightings Will Increase this Winter

There have been 42 reports of black bears entering homes this year and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has issued a warning that the unusually high number will increase this fall when bears seek out easy-to-find food as they prepare for winter. Officials are asking Connecticut residents to be extra cautions going into the fall and observe the state’s rules for limiting encounters with bears. If you encounter a bear in your yard or while hiking, it is suggested to yell or make other loud noises. If the bear becomes aggressive, contact DEEP at 860-424-3333. For more information and helpful tips you can click here.

Tips and Advice as We Enter Autumn

It may be hard to believe, but next week brings the start of autumn. On Tuesday, September 22, the seasons will begin changing, though there’s been a nip in the air after dusk for a few days now. Though it won’t be a typical fall, here’s some tips and preparations you can make now to avoid problems in the months to come.

• Staying Healthy – With hybrid and remote learning, mask use and COVID-19 complicating daily life, staying healthy this autumn will be a difficult prospect. With this in mind, one of the most important things we can all do is get a flu shot. While there is hope that widespread mask use could lead to a light flu season this year – the Southern Hemisphere reported its lowest-ever transmission rates of flu this year due to frequent mask-wearing, among other changes in place to protect against COVID-19 – getting a flu shot will help prevent the risk of two viruses circulating at the same time. Additionally, this is a time of year where fewer people go outside due to colder temperatures and muddy weather. Taking a Vitamin D supplement can help support your mood and immune system, as can eating nutritious foods, staying hydrated and following proper hygiene.
• Staying Prepared – Though we hope they don’t happen, autumn storms can pack a powerful punch. Especially after recovery from Tropical Storm Isaias, it’s a great idea to check your flashlight batteries and other resources necessary in a power outage. As temperatures cool, snow can creep into the forecast as well. It’s smart to check your shovel and snow-blower, as well as your heating, now instead of later. That could save you trouble down the line.
• Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1 this year at 2 a.m., and with changing clocks, it’s also a great idea to check your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms to make sure they’re operational.