November 21, 2023 | Issue 11 | |
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Did you know that Ellington has the sixth-fastest growth rate of all Connecticut towns? It’s a small town with a rich agricultural history and community. Like many of the small towns in our region, it has a beautiful fall landscape. If you haven’t stopped by, we encourage you to visit and enjoy what’s left of the fall foliage.
More fun facts about Ellington
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Ellington’s First Selectman is Lori Spielman, and the Deputy First Selectman is David Stavens. Matthew Reed was recently appointed as Ellington’s first Town Administrator! Here’s the town’s Board of Selectman.
- Ellington is home to one of America’s oldest roadside memorials.
- During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Ellington became the center of a community of Jewish immigrant farmers who were settled there by the philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch's Jewish Colonization Association.
This newsletter is 1652 words and an 8-minute read. Thank you for reading!
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Dear CRCOG community,
As we approach this holiday season, I am conscious of the hardships that other parts of the world are experiencing. Many in our region have family, friends, and other connections that are coping with tragedy firsthand. Especially during these times, I think it is important to remember our blessings and think of how we can help those who are suffering, including our neighbors who are less fortunate.
I have much to be thankful for this year. I am grateful for the contributions of our many board and committee members, who help to lead and guide our organization. I also appreciate the dedication and talent of our staff team, who do the important work of serving our members and residents every day. Collectively we are focused on making our region a great place to live, work, and play. Our future is bright with our continued collaboration.
I wish everyone a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends and peace in the year ahead.
Matt
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Submit to our POCD photo contest | |
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As part of our POCD plan update, CRCOG wants to highlight images from all 38 member cities and towns. CRCOG is looking for photos showcasing the spaces and places where residents and visitors engage with their community.
All entries must be in a member municipality. For details, contest rules, and to submit, use our online form. Here is the form in Spanish. Photo categories are Agriculture and Food Systems, Arts and Culture, Natural Landscape, People, Public Events, Streetscapes & Architecture, and Transportation. The deadline for submitting photos is 11:59 p.m. on December 17, 2023.
Please help share our contest with your residents! Winners will be awarded prizes ranging from $50-$200!
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Textile recycling: Turn your old clothes and textiles into cash and help the environment | |
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Last week, November 15, the United States observed America Recycles Day. We create much waste. Over 25 billion pounds of textiles are thrown away annually in the United States.
In Connecticut, we dispose of over 96,000 tons of textiles (81 lbs. pp/annually) annually in our waste-to-energy facilities, costing municipalities and taxpayers close to $5.7 million in additional disposal and tipping fees – and adding to our greenhouse gas emissions.
With Connecticut already facing a solid waste crisis and traditional waste disposal options limited, alternative, cost-effective, sustainable, and equitable solutions to our waste crisis are more important than ever.
How do we move from a throwaway economy to a circular economy, where we minimize waste, prevent greenhouse gas emissions, and keep usable materials in the economy?
One solution is textile recycling.
What is the Circular Economy?
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CRCOG has partnered with organizations like Bay State Textiles to tailor textile recycling programs to meet your community's needs. Through donation collection bins, school box programs, curbside collection, and collection events, footwear, accessories, clothing, linens, stuffed animals, handbags, and more can be recycled, reused, and turned into money for your municipality. Towns that recycle textiles with Bay State Textiles receive up to $120/ton for collected textiles.
With over 40 years of experience in post-consumer textile waste recycling, Bay State Textiles serves over 180 municipalities in Connecticut and Massachusetts and continues to expand its programs and services.
Collected textiles are sorted into different grades and types of materials, from reusable or resalable goods to recyclable or non-usable goods. According to SMART, almost half (45%) of collected textiles are sold and reused as secondhand apparel, 30% of materials are remade into wiping and polishing cloths, and 20% are reprocessed into fiber materials.
For more information on textile recycling programs available to your municipalities, please contact Robyn Nichols, CRCOG's principal program manager.
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Capitol Region Incident Communications Team (I-COMM) received the Team of the Year Award | |
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The Capitol Region Incident Communications Team (I-COMM) was recently honored at a conference in New York. It was awarded the North Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials' (APCO) "Team of the Year" award.
The Capitol Region Incident Communications Team (I-Comm) comprises dispatch professionals from 41 communities in and around Connecticut's Capitol Region. It is the only one of its kind in Connecticut and was established in 2003. Commander Mike Boucher leads the team, which has 15 core members.
This award is for the I-COMM's team support to the Bristol Police Department in the wake of the tragic line-of-duty deaths of SGT Alex Hamzy and LT Dustin Demonte last October. The I-COMM Team was activated almost immediately and provided relief and coverage for Bristol's Dispatch Center in the days directly following the tragedy, as well as during the wakes and the funeral of the fallen officers. They were on-site at the Bristol Police Department for nine days and could fill over 70 dispatcher shifts and 22 supervisor shifts with dedicated dispatchers from our region beyond.
This was a tough assignment during a tough time, and they handled themselves admirably and professionally, as the only concern was assisting the City of Bristol in the wake of tragedy. Twenty-four agencies and 47 dispatchers aided in this tremendous response. Simply put, these team members were able to make things just a bit easier for the City of Bristol – a city that has never seen this type of tragedy. They worked hard, were selfless, and provided necessary support to manage the day-to-day 911 operations.
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In this photo: I-COMM Team Farmington Dispatcher Simon Censabella, East Hartford Dispatcher Tammy Castagna, CRCOG Public Safety Director Cheryl Assis, Windsor Dispatcher Donna Bolasevich, Farmington Dispatcher Mike Grabulis and Team Commander Michael Boucher | |
Congratulations to the team on this recognition and 20 years of service to the Capitol Region. | |
CRCOG Public Safety presents a Best Practice workshop | |
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As a grant deliverable, CRCOG Public Safety presents a “Best Practice” to the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s (DEMHS) Statewide Regional Collaboration Committee each year.
On October 27, Dr. Jordan Grossman, Chair of the CRCOG PK-12 Emergency Planning Committee and Canton Superintendent of Schools, presented this Committee as a best practice. The PK-12 Emergency Planning Committee membership comprises Region 3 Superintendents, school security personnel, and Emergency Management Directors. The committee was formed more than 10 years ago and meets four times per year to discuss current trends/events, best practices and to hear presentations from experts in the field. Each meeting features a CREPC update, State Training Update, and an update from the CT Center for School Safety and Crisis Prevention.
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CRCOG Funding Opportunities | |
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BIL/IIJA Funding Opportunities
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View our Funding Newsletter for the latest updates. A few highlights:
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FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Programs. Collaboration with the State Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) is required. DEMHS requests information by January 9 in advance of the Federal grant application deadline on February 29, 2024.
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EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (CPRGP) Implementation Grants. Collaboration is underway to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan for our region. Implementation grant applications are due April 1, 2024. Visit CRCOG’s CPRGP webpage to learn more.
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EPA Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program. Applications are due January 31, 2024.
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The 2024 LOTCIP Solicitation is here! Visit the 2024 LOTCIP Solicitation webpage for more information. Applications are due February 21, 2024.
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Contact Elizabeth Sanderson for more information or to provide specific information about a project you are seeking funding for. This helps us bring you the most relevant information.
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Visit CRCOG’s BIL/IIJA Webpage for summaries of many funding opportunities.
MetroHartford Brownfields Program
Application deadline: Ongoing
CRCOG’s Brownfields program uses funding provided by EPA. Our current work performance period will close-out in January 2024. We are currently applying for EPA Brownfields Assessment to continue the assessment work that will help redevelop and remediate brownfield sites in our region.
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Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter. If you made it this far, here's some additional food for thought.
“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” - Douglas Wood
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