State Rep Roundup with Jaime Foster

First, thanks to the North Central News for hosting this segment. I look forward to using this as one of many ways to keep the residents of Ellington, East Windsor, and Vernon informed on the work their legislator is doing on their behalf in Hartford.

The 2023 session started off as a race. I spent the “off session,” May through January, trying to knock on every door I could get to, to listen and to learn from as many constituent groups as possible and to set an agenda based on what I heard from all of you.

In listening and learning I am going to spend my time, energy, and effort on a few key issues:

1. Prioritizing education funding that works for all three communities with vastly different needs.

I have co-sponsored HB 5003, which aims to reform Educational Cost Sharing and is a net positive impact for Ellington, East Windsor, and Vernon Public Schools. Most importantly, this bill will fund VoAg and technical schools through the state budget instead of municipal budgets which will prevent the push and pull many families are feeling when they consider leaving a district.

The 2023 session started off as a race. I spent the “off session,” May through January, trying to knock on every door I could get to, to listen and to learn from as many constituent groups as possible and to set an agenda based on what I heard from all of you.

2. Protecting those who protect us through public safety bills driven by our local first responders.

I introduced several bills I conceptualized in collaboration with our police, EMS, and firefighters.

3. Fighting for farmers through continued support of grant programs that help our local farms and farm communities thrive and protect farmland and open space.

4. Making the lives of seniors more affordable through the introduction of bills to expand tax cuts on retirees with fixed incomes.

5. Ensuring nursing homes are safer by championing efforts to improve staffing at nursing homes and longterm care facilities, and increase safety and care standards.

6. Working on long-term solutions to address utility costs.

Acknowledging that there is no silver bullet solution but proposals include a prohibition on utilities recouping lobbying and legal costs from ratepayers, paying down arrearages, and increasing home efficiency and green energy initiatives that decrease a household’s utilization.

7. Championing a Food as Medicine bill that helps people address nutrition related disease and emphasizes local produce.

8. Championing a school meals for all bill, requested by many in Ellington, East Windsor, and Vernon.

9. Fighting for funding for local projects that will be transformative in our communities.

As always, I strive to be accessible to everyone in the district. Please call my office at (800) 842-8267 or email me at jaime.foster@cga.ct.gov with any questions, comments, or concerns, and I will work hard to continue to deliver for our community.

ct.gov or call the library at 860870-3160.

College notes

Beginning Feb. 9, Hall

Memorial Library will have a Cursive Club, led by Ellington’s Robin Kline.

This event is planned for Thursdays, Feb. 9-March 31, 44:45 p.m.

Children in grades three to five are encouraged to come learn the basics of cursive writing or just practice your cursive writing skills.

Instruction will follow the Ellington Public School curriculum.

All materials are provided and the program is free.

For more information or to register, go to the library website at: www.library.ellington-

Luke Moffitt , an Ellington student majoring in visual communication design, has been named to the fall 2022 Dean’s Honor List at Cedarville University in Ohio.

Students receive this achievement for obtaining a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082.

Belmont University has announced the list of students recognized on the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester.

Of the approximately 52% of Belmont’s 7,100 undergraduate students who qualified for the Dean’s List, Emma Hall of

Ellington was listed.

Belmont Provost Dr. David Gregory said, “The Dean’s List achievement among a majority of Belmont’s student body exemplifies our campus commitment to exemplary education and the successful matriculation of our students. It is a privilege to recognize the accomplishments of our students in the academic space, and the university looks forward to the continued support, education, and growth of those who have entrusted Belmont to equip them with the necessary tools to thrive at the local, national, and global level.”

Dean’s List eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students.