Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is with state Rep. Maria Horn, D-64, right, and hostess Liz Piel at a meeting of the Democratic Coalition of Northwest Connecticut Saturday in Sharon.
SHARON — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said he’s been compelled to sue President Donald Trump because “he’s declared war on everything we care about.” He’s filed suits 33 times to date.
Tong was speaking Saturday, Sept. 27, at a meeting of the Democratic Coalition of Northwest Connecticut at the home of Liz Piel. He began by explaining the structure of the state’s government and its sovereignty. “We get to live the way we want to live. We’ve formed a government expressly through a state constitution. We’re asserting our sovereignty now and delegate only limited powers to the federal government.”
But, he noted, in the world of Trump, that can be extremely dangerous. He said Connecticut is compliant with federal law, “but we don’t have to be nice about it.”
The need to bring suits, said Tong, is not OK since it involves spending resources and time, but it’s necessary to protect such things as healthcare, children, roads and bridges. He touched on the positions promoted by Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Jr., who want to eliminate teaching young people about sex and healthy human relationships, and the erasure of DEI.
“They want us to deny who we are,” Tong said.
“They’re not making us less diverse,” he said. “You have a Chinese-American A.G., for Christ’s sake,” he said, eliciting laughter from the crowd. “They’re not stopping us from hiring immigrant families. America runs on Dunkin’ Donuts and immigrants. They’re not stopping us from supporting LGBTQ+.”
As the first-born American citizen in his family, Tong has taken the lead on such matters as birthright. “The 14th Amendment of the Constitution says I’m a citizen. We’ve had success in working on that and on tariffs. I feel good about that. We’ve got him pretty boxed in.”
He said the attorneys general throughout the country are in constant communication and he works closely with many of them. “Connecticut is strong and mighty, but it helps to have California and New York at your back,” he said.
Asked by an audience member what gives him hope in these dark times, Tong responded, “It’s about a lot of people being heard and how strong the American people can be. We’re not just the sovereign people of Connecticut. We’re one of 13 who stood up to the original tyrant.”
But he decried, “Where are the young people?” He laments their lack of involvement and attachment to social media, which he labeled “a poison they consume every day.”
Tong’s message to the coalition members was strong. “We have prevailed before and if Donald Trump thinks he can send troops to Connecticut, he’ll have to come through me and others. I’m not afraid of him.”
CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.
CVFD’s Ian Ridgway sat on the truck committee and said Greenwood was not just chosen for the price, but also for the design of each vehicle. He said their models had a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance, as well as extra storage space on board, compared to the next best bid.
After $100,000 in discounts offered by Greenwood, the combined purchase price for both vehicles was shown to be $1,200,408. The delivery time was estimated at 15 months.
CVFD raised $600,000 during its recent fundraising campaign, of which $500,000 will be given to the town to buy the trucks. That figure will be paired with $720,000 in town truck fund reserves. The additional donated funds will be used to outfit the trucks with equipment and tools.
“I want to praise the town of Cornwall,” said CVFD President Dick Sears. “We’re able to buy these beautiful new pieces of equipment courtesy of the tremendous citizenry of this town.”
FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.
She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.
At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.
Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
