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Judith Luella Green
Apr 02, 2025
EAST CANAAN — Judith Luella “Judy” (Blass) Green, 85, of 7 Locust Hill Road, died Tuesday morning, March 25, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer.She was the wife of the late Joseph A. Green.Judy was born in North Canaan, on Nov. 20, 1939, a daughter of the late William Smith and Luella Frances (Cudney) Blass.
She is survived by her son, Joseph W. Green of Colebrook, and her daughter Lisa Allyn of Norfolk; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren with a third on the way, along with many nieces and nephews.She was predeceased by her six siblings; William Blass, Larry Blass, Robert Blass, Eleanor Day, Priscilla Stanton, and John Blass.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Martin of Tours Immaculate Conception Church 4 North St. Norfolk, CT 06058.A collation will be held immediately following the mass in Klauer Hall located in the rear of the church.There are no calling hours.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Barkhamsted Senior Center 109 W River Road, Pleasant Valley, CT 06063.
Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. Canaan, CT 06018.
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Celebration of Life: Ella Clark
Apr 02, 2025
CORNWALL — Please join us to celebrate the life of Ella Clark Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the United Church of Christ located at 8 Bolton Hill Road, Cornwall, Connecticut.
Reception on Town Street to follow.
All are welcome.
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Michael Tyler
Apr 02, 2025
ASHLEY FALLS, Mass. —It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Tyler, 67, at his home in Ashley Falls, on March 6, 2025. Michael sadly lost his battle with severe depression and anxiety.We will remember him with love and compassion, hoping to raise awareness for mental health support.
Michael was born on March 5, 1958, to Douglas William Tyler and Mary Colli Tyler of Canaan, where he grew up and attended Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He graduated in 1976 and briefly worked in the family business, Tyler Carpet, before going on to become a highly skilled carpenter and tile setter who was always known for his perfectionism, integrity, and the high quality of his work.
In his earlier years he built up quite a reputation for being one the best pool players in many circles and was an avid NASCAR fan.He passionately shared many hobbies with his son, Josh, including archery, ping pong, model rockets and remote control airplanes among others.Always a motorcycle enthusiast, Mike was especially proud of his Honda V65 Magna which he bought off the showroom floor in 1983 and lovingly maintained ever since; the fastest motorcycle in production at the time. His first long road trip, among many, was riding it across the country to California and back to the East coast making many friends along the way.
Michael met Ellen Morando in 1996, and the two were married in 1999, sharing many wonderful years together. With him, Michael brought into her life an extraordinary son, Joshua Tyler, his younger sister, Courtney Schutz, who Mike lovingly embraced as his daughter, and their mother, Tina Schutz, who has always been and remains part of this loving family.
Mike and Ellen built a life together in Ashley Falls full of love and support from their family and friends.Their most enjoyable times were spent relaxing on the deck with their beloved dogs and enjoying the beauty of their surroundings, namely the perennial gardens Ellen created over many years.
Michael was predeceased by his parents, Douglas and Mary Tyler, and his brothers, Anthony Tyler and Larry Tyler.
Michael is survived by his wife, Ellen, his son, Joshua and his wife, Amanda, and their beautiful baby girl, Amelia Rose, who will have many pictures and stories of how dearly her grandpa loved her; his daughter Courtney Parker and her husband Shane, a brother Stephen Tyler, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts.
He also leaves behind his very dear friend of over 50 years, Walter Allen, who has been with Mike throughout all of his good times and bad times over the years with his love and support. Also Cynthia, Walter’s wife, who came into Mike and Ellen’s lives with the same love and support which continues to this day and beyond.
The family will have a private service in the future.
In lieu of flowers, his wife Ellen, has asked that any memorial donations be made to Mike’s granddaughter, Amelia Rose Tyler’s 529 college savings plan. He can no longer be part of her present but in this way he can be part of her future.To donate please go to ugift529.com, enter code W39-X1Y, where 100% of any donation will go directly to the account or make checks payable to Joshua Tyler to be deposited into the plan, care of Kenny Funeral Home, PO BOX 12, Sharon, CT 06069.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Why Connecticut’scommunity health centers had to act
Every year, Connecticut’s community health centers provide medical, dental and behavioral care to 440,000 Connecticut residents including over 270,000 who are on HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program. For most of our patients, we are their only source of care. Unfortunately, for decades, Connecticut state government has failed to provide reimbursement rates at levels that allow health centers to provide care for all in need. This failure is intentional.
Connecticut’s refusal to provide adequate funding for community health centers breaks federal Medicaid law, period. By law, states must adhere to all aspects of the Medicaid program including how rates are set for health centers. It cannot pick and choose.
Meanwhile, Connecticut residents are losing access to the health care they need and are required to receive under the Medicaid program. To be clear, one of the wealthiest states in the nation has chosen to underpay its health care providers, causing people across our great state to suffer unnecessarily.
The Department of Social Services is the state agency responsible for setting reimbursement rates for community health centers. A study commissioned last year by the department itself found that Connecticut funds community health centers at a rate that is 20% below the average of peer state funding. That is, Social Services knows and has publicly acknowledged that it is underpaying Connecticut’s health centers.
The Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHC/ACT) negotiated in good faith with the Department of Social Services to increase reimbursement rates and the rate setting process for more than a year and a half. These efforts have unfortunately failed. As a result, member health centers have made the difficult decision to begin reducing staff and services. More will follow.
This reduction of health care services threatens an increasingly fragile health care system and will make people sicker. Our communities will be worse off — all because the state will not meet its legal requirement to fund health centers appropriately. After years of unsuccessful negotiation, we have decided to take legal action to attempt to force corrective action.
This month CHC/ACT filed legal action against the department to try to force compliance with federal laws that govern Medicaid reimbursements. If we are successful, Connecticut will be required to fund community health centers at rates that reflect the actual cost of health care services provided, rather than at rates that balance the state budget on the backs of those most in need. That is what is really at stake here.
Community health centers are successful because they provide quality care close to the patient, in the communities where patients live, usually providing the convenience of multiple types of health care services in one building. On every level, this is public health policy that makes sense. Health centers provide care to all people, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. As a result, they are a large provider in the Medicaid program, serving almost 30% of Connecticut’s one million Medicaid patients.
But our state government seems to think of Medicaid as a cost-driver, instead of a critical health care program, and has specifically short-changed community health centers in a misguided effort to save money in the system. Your government is gambling on your health to balance the state budget.
Taking legal action to resolve this issue is something we have tried to avoid for years, but we now have no choice. Although the state legislature has consistently supported community health centers, the administration has opposed their efforts. We’ve tried utilizing the legislative branch and the executive branch. The health care of our patients now depends on our success with the judicial branch.
We are hopeful that once our argument is heard, a judicial ruling will force the legislative and executive branches of our state government to build a system that provides adequate funding and complies with the federal Medicaid program. We need a rate system that makes sense and follows the law — to ensure that you, your family, your friends, and all Connecticut residents can continue to access the health care they need.
Joanne Borduas is Board Chair of the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut and CEO of the Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington.