Canaan Child Care Center’s Education Consultant Mary Cecchinato (standing left) and CECA’s Exucutive Director Merrill Gay (standing right), along with two students, Riley and Winnie, thanked State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) for her commitment to early education when presenting the Children’s Champion certificate in North Canaan Aug. 29, 2024.
Early childcare professionals in the Northwest Corner applaud the announcement of the passing of a new childcare affordability bill in the state, even if some details remain unclear.
On May 31, Connecticut state legislation passed a first-of-its kind bill that offers free early childcare to families with a total annual income of less than $100,000, and limits childcare costs to just 7% of annual income for families who make more.
“We’ve been on the back burner for a long time,” said Salisbury’s Housatonic Child Care Center Director Tonya Roussis, explaining that the moment feels like a reckoning of sorts for early childhood caregivers. “It’s nice to see that this is coming to the forefront, and we are being recognized.”
The bill, known as Senate Bill 1, has been a top priority for Senate democrats in the 2025 legislative session, which adjourned on June 4. The proposal was strongly backed by Governor Ned Lamont (D), who described it as “an investment in our future by expanding access to affordable pre-school” in a Feb. 2025 press release, explaining that early socialization and education prepares young children to succeed while their parents are able to earn more income.
The bill passed by a large margin, 32-4, in the state Senate on May 30, followed by a House vote the next day that was split on party lines, 101-45.
The core of the bill establishes an endowment fund from annual budget surplus amounting to up to $300 million per year that would subsidize families’ costs beginning in 2028. In a news release celebrating the May 30 Senate vote, State Sen. Doug McCrory (D-2) described the endowment as a “first-in-the-nation” strategy to address mounting early childcare and preschool costs.
The bill met opposition from Republicans who considered using surplus budget funds for off-budget spending irresponsible. A spokesperson for state Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding (R-30), who voted against the bill, stated that the senator was in favor of much of the bill but could not support what he felt was a violation of the state’s fiscal guardrails. He attempted to pass an amendment that would use capital from the state general fund rather than budget surplus for the endowment, but it was voted down.
Speaking at the session, Harding said the bill was “playing budget gimmicks with early childhood.”
Childcare, like in many places, is costly in the Northwest Corner. Roussis said in a region where annual preschool costs average between $14,000 and $17,000, the new legislation is welcome. “For those families making less than $100,000… they need to work, they need to live, they need to survive. And having this one piece off their financial plate is probably going to do so much for them.”
The bill also promises higher pay and better health care benefits to childcare professionals, which Roussis hopes will address underpay for highly qualified educators in the field. She said 90% of HCCC teachers have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in early childhood care and deserve fair compensation.
While Roussis is celebrating the bill’s passing as “amazing progress for the field of early childhood,” she’s aware that funding may be a long way away from a program like HCCC. “Private centers are down the road,” she said, explaining that the funds will primarily be allocated through state programs at first, like the Office of Early Childhood’s “Early Start CT” program. As the endowment grows, she is hopeful that organizations like HCCC will receive their share.
Other local childcare centers are cautious about the uncertainties surrounding how the funds will be directed and dispersed. Fran Chapell, who directs the Canaan Child Care Center, said that the Early Start program will subsume the OEC’s “School Readiness” program that has funded CCCC’s families, and that the details of how the shift will play out are yet unclear.
“It’s hard to know what the future is going to bring until we have more information,” she said.
Until then, Chapell is focusing on community partnerships as means to alleviate some of the cost burdens on young families.
The CCCC recently took over North Canaan’s community garden, Chapell said, and in the first week of June local families came out to help plant tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and other vegetables donated by East Canaan’s Freund’s Farm. When ready for harvest, the produce will be brought to the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, which will help reduce costs on food expenditures for families trying to make ends meet.
Chapell said a number of other partnerships, like a grant from the Salisbury Chapter of the Rotary Club which helps pay for school supplies or another grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation that subsidizes winter clothing expenditures, also help to ease financial pressures on families facing such a variety of essential costs.
Partnerships, and looking to neighbors, she said, are the way to access the wealth or resources that the community offers. “We don’t have everything in the Northwest Corner, but we do have a lot that offers support for our families.”
125 years ago — November 1900
Mark Twain is all the rage at present and we wonder how long it will be before the public finds a new idol. We have had Dewey and Hobson but both “slopped over.” Let us hope that Mark will not do anything foolish to upset his popularity.
A thin coating of ice formed over a large part of Factory Pond Tuesday night for the first time this season.
About 200 tons of ore are being shipped in car loads from Kent Furnace to Copake Iron Works.
LIME ROCK — Last Saturday morning five hoboes left their nest among the warm car-wheel pits in the foundry and went in quest of the usual handout. At one house one of the pilgrims, after gulping a toothsome feed, sent in word to the “old man” requesting a cigar, but adding that there was no compulsion in the matter and no hard feelings would be harbored in case no cigar was handy. All this in a state amply provided with tramp laws. The “Weary Willies” have been too numerous hereabouts this season.
B.F. Hoyt has put in a long distance telephone. His call is 4-15.
Alden Green, who was best known around Litchfield County as the Norfolk “chair man,” having for the past 30 years made and peddled chairs in all parts of northwestern Connecticut, died in his home at Canaan Valley last week Wednesday morning at the age of 70 years. He was a Seven Day Adventist and a strict vegetarian and it is said did not know the taste of liquor or tobacco. For the past 30 years he lived without eating meat or fish of any kind and subsisted wholly on vegetables and fruit. He is survived by a widow who is also prominent in Advent circles.
Miles Roberts ate Turkey at his parents home in Canaan.
E.A. Eldredge has a very artistic and amusing frog show in his front windows. It attracts the attention of all who pass that way.
Following out a custom of years the Holley Manufacturing Co. on Wednesday presented every married man in their employ with a fine plump turkey for the Thanksgiving dinner.
The steam shovel has finished its work at State Line and the rails will soon be down. The railroad company will use the new Y for the switching and turning of trains.
The noon express train on Monday carried twenty five tons of turkeys. The birds were taken in at different points along the western end of the road and shipped east to supply the Thanksgiving trade.
Russell Miller has just equipped his residence with steam heat. The apparatus is one of the new ideas, is attached to the kitchen range instead of a furnace, thus one fire warms the house perfectly without interfering with the work of the range and uses no more coal.
100 years ago — November 1925
H. Roscoe Brinton is driving a new Paige car.
LIME ROCK — Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Metcalf have moved their sawmill to Ancram Lead Mines.
It is reported that out of town parties have bought all the Salisbury Iron Corp. property.
LIME ROCK — Mrs. Gillette received word from Bridgeport that her son, Charles Gillette, fell and broke his leg.
Dick Wilson and his men are giving the Hose House a new coat of paint which greatly improves its appearance.
A.C. Roberts had the misfortune to fall down the cellar stairs at the store on Monday night, receiving a broken thumb on his right hand and a bruise on the head. When starting to go down the stairs he stepped upon one of the store cats, causing him to lose his balance.
50 years ago — November 1975
A snowy owl that migrated to the Northwest Corner from the northern recesses of Canada and was observed by avid bird watchers in the area was reported dead this week. Death of the female snowy owl was attributed to natural causes by Robert Moeller, director of the Sharon Audubon Center. Moeller said the owl only weighed half of what it should have weighed, ruling out the likelihood of foul play in the death of the predatory bird. Moeller said the snowy owl was found lying dead on a woodpile by a farmer.
Work is expected to start soon on a new larger water line from Route 44 in the center of Lakeville up Montgomery Street to the intersection of Wells Hill Road.
NORFOLK — Funny thing about cats. You often hear tales about them showing precognition or extra-sensory perception, and here is a tale that seems to indicate something of the sort. Last September Bart VanWhy, son of Mr. and Mrs. John VanWhy of Greenwoods Road, went off to St. Bonaventure College in Olean, N.Y. Within a week the black and white family cat, Mono, disappeared. Despite an extensive search and food left outdoors, Mono remained among the missing. Bart feared he had been killed. Last Friday Bart was scheduled to return home for Thanksgiving. At 6 p.m., five hours before he arrived, Mono appeared on the premises, sleek and well-fed, but with no explanation of where he had been or why he had returned. Bart could scarcely believe it, and now the VanWhys are wondering what will happen when he goes back to college.
25 years ago — November 2000
SHARON — SBA Inc., at the request of the Planning and Zoning Commission, will fly a demonstration balloon at 477 Route 7 Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather and wind conditions permitting. The balloon is being flown in connection with SBA’s application to construct a 150-foot wireless telecommunications facility at that site.
Following a unanimous vote to name the Rev. Scott Cady moderator of Cornwall’s town meeting Saturday night, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, thinking nationally, asked “Anyone want a recount?”
CANAAN — The Sand Road property which Phoenix Horizon Corp. tried to develop into a cluster housing site appears destined to remain “as is.” Three parcels of land were sold off last week, while a fourth and final piece is under contract. John and Helen Mahoney of Canaan bought the stone house that sits at the bottom of the hillside property, along with an additional 20 acres. Klemm Real Estate agent Michael Conlogue said the Mahoneys closed last week on two of the four subdivisions of the 66-acre property. Their plans are to renovate the home and move there.
The Sunday in the Country Crew, including radio station WQQQ’s Bob Chatfield, “NASCAR” Dave MacMillen, Randy “The Commander” Christensen and “Nitro” Dave Watts, along with many other volunteers, collected $9,000 in cash and donations that will feed at least 1,000 people this Thanksgiving.
These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.
Thus far there have been no edicts to the Smithsonian regarding the history, the celebration of Thanksgiving. In 1621, it continues to be widely told, the pilgrims and neighboring indigenous Indians gathered together for a bountiful feast paying tribute to a rich harvest – the product of their mutuality, their cooperation, their joint efforts to stave off starvation. Thanksgiving for 424 years has stood as a national holiday of gratitude and community.
George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving to be celebrated on November 26, 1799. Subsequent presidents issued similar proclamations while designating alternative dates. On October 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November thus commencing our current Thanksgiving holiday. Yet some toying with dates interceded –as in 1939, Franklin Roosevelt shifted Thanksgiving to the second Thursday of November, 16 states for two years refused to make the change. In 1941, Congress passed a resolution making Thanksgiving, from then onward, the fourth Thursday of November.
Annual, long lasting and not without some contention, Thanksgiving along with the Fourth of July units our nation in celebration, festive gatherings, great food, fond family and friends, and abundant goodwill.
Numerous other nations celebrate a thanksgiving holiday or harvest feast – across the globe- but the US and its northern neighbor – Canada- are of the few where Thanksgiving Day is an official holiday – for gratitude and community. Canada’s holiday dates from 1879, is celebrated on the second Monday of October and it is rumored that turkey was initially served at Thanksgiving in Canada.
It pleases me that two of our US’s national holidays are days that informally convene people in family/friend gatherings, are hearty, have traditional foods (I am for turkey and cranberry sauce over hot dogs and burgers), and are of a non-religious nature – are national holidays, fully inclusive.
One doesn’t need to be of the Mayflower, or worship in a particular manner to be fully immersed in this holiday that for a day each year gives thanks, offers gratitude for blessings, acknowledges the power of collaboration, of being helpful to and with others.
For me particularly, 2025 is year of gratitude, thankfulness as I spent a month in hospital while a complex heart issue was ever so slowly diagnosed for treatment – a death defying experience. Daily I would awaken in hospital to a plethora of persons: professionals, aids, service folk who tended my needs, cared for me, kept me alive. Seemingly there were hundreds of these generous, thoughtful health care providers focused on my health and comfort. Not all were entertaining, not each charming but all were seriously in attendance. I am grateful, appreciative of those who serve, for those who serve not with resentment but with pride and dedication. It is important to have these images of fellow citizens in this nation when what is too often displayed is cruelty and what is spoken can be despicable.
My experience is the American experience. Persons of all bents, colors and affluence offer helping hands daily, particularly in emergencies. Media blitz keeps us apprised of the rescues, self-endangering acts of people who happened-to-be-on-the-scene.
These heroes aren’t scripted, aren’t trained, aren’t interested in fame. These are everyday Americans living in a nation where lending a helping hand is a national trait, a norm, a value. These are folks who don’t need to be told to act, aren’t threatened into helping – they are there, there is a crisis, they act.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Be of good cheer, be pleased to be part of your Thanksgiving gathering, be appreciative of living in a nation where it is the norm to be present and helpful, where cruelty, hatred and ridicule are not the norm but startling still.
Kathy Herald-Marlowe lives in Sharon.
While it’s not likely to be widely understood, there may be a profound lesson in this week’s rejection by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of the bid by the South Central Regional Water Authority to acquire Aquarion Water Co.
The lesson is that most people involved with the issue concluded that ordinary government regulation of privately owned utilities is better than government’s direct operation of them.
The water authority is a state government agency providing water to 15 towns in the New Haven area. It was established by state law in 1977 and three years later acquired the New Haven Water Co.
Aquarion is the biggest water utility in Connecticut, serving 60 towns and about 700,000 people, and is a subsidiary of the state’s largest electric utility, Eversource. Like Eversource, Aquarion’s rates and services are regulated by PURA.
The big complaint against the regional water authority’s acquisition of Aquarion was that it might eliminate state government’s control over the water company -- even though the water authority is itself part of state government, with the water authority’s directors appointed by representatives of the municipalities the authority serves.
As long as Aquarion is a privately owned utility, PURA will regulate it. But if a government agency acquires Aquarion, PURA’s regulation would cease and the water authority could set rates for its greatly expanded service area however it wanted.
If a government agency acquired Aquarion, municipal property taxes on the utility -- revenue to the towns the company serves -- would cease as well.
The regional water authority claimed that as a government agency that doesn’t have to make a profit for investors, it could serve customers less expensively than Aquarion can. But critics noted that the authority was going to pay Eversource $2.4 billion for Aquarion and that much of the purchase money would be borrowed and thus incur huge interest costs for the authority, costs the authority almost certainly would recover through higher water charges to customers.
Most people involved with the issue came to think that if the water authority acquired Aquarion, its directors naturally would have more loyalty to the authority itself than to its customers, and that customers would be better protected by PURA. After all, PURA is often in the spotlight and is sensitive to utility customers, but the water authority board is seldom watched by anyone.
Leaders of the Republican minority in the General Assembly applauded rejection of the water authority’s bid for Aquarion.
Governor Lamont seemed to applaud it too, noting that interest expense on the purchase money borrowed by the water authority almost surely would drive up water prices. But last year the governor signed the legislation authorizing the authority to take over Aquarion. How, last year, did the governor think the water authority would repay the borrowed purchase money?
State Attorney General William Tong’s comment on the defeat of the acquisition was strange as well.
“This deal was a costly loser for Connecticut families and PURA was right to reject it,” Tong said. “Eversource desperately wanted to offload Aquarion, and they concocted this maneuver to extract as much cash as possible by guaranteeing the new entity free rein to jack up rates. Eversource is free to find a new buyer but should understand that any new attempt to end public regulatory oversight over water bills for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut families is going to be a non-starter here.”
But Tong is a Democrat and the bill authorizing Eversource’s supposed scheme to “offload” Aquarion on the water authority was abruptly foisted on the General Assembly by his own party’s legislative leaders over Republican opposition during a special session last year. As they often do in special sessions, Democratic leaders forced the bill through without normal review and public hearing, which might have avoided a lot of wasted time.
This high-handedness didn’t seem to bother Tong back then, and this week, like the governor, he conveniently seemed to forget where the enabling act came from.
Chris Powell has written about Connecticut government and politics for many years.
The House and Senate approved a wide-ranging housing bill earlier this month to replace a similar bill that Gov. Ned Lamont vetoed after the regular session.
House Bill 8002 requires towns to create housing growth plans, changes minimum off-street parking requirements, expands fair rent commissions and incentivizes towns to take steps to allow more housing, among other measures.
Its goal is to make it easier to build more housing in Connecticut. Housing costs have gotten more expensive and homelessness has risen over the past several years. Experts say there hasn’t been enough housing built in Connecticut to meet the need, which has made these and other issues worse.
Lamont is expected to sign the new bill, which he helped negotiate with local leadership. Here’s a breakdown of the housing legislation passed in the recent special session.
Why was there a special session?
During the regular session, the legislature passed a sweeping housing bill known as House Bill 5002, but Lamont vetoed the measure after facing opposition from local leaders. He said he wanted to find a way to get them on board with the measure.
After months of working on a new version of the bill, Lamont called the legislature into special session for two days. The House met Wednesday, Nov. 12, and the Senate met the following day. They passed the housing bill in addition to three other bills.
Lamont has touted the new bill because local leaders, who broadly opposed the old bill, have signed on. A bipartisan group of mayors and first selectmen spoke at a press conference in support of the new bill.
Democrats said they wanted to get a bill passed to meet the need for more housing as soon as possible, while Republicans criticized the special session, saying the bill should have been brought in regular session when the public could read it and comment.
What will change in my town’s zoning?
Some of that isn’t clear yet and is up to your town. The bill requires towns to create housing growth plans, with goals on how many units they’ll plan and zone for.
If towns create these plans or take certain steps to add more housing near train and bus stations or in downtowns, they’ll have access to a new state fund and can get more state reimbursement for what they spend on school construction.
The bill also says that towns can’t require developers who build new apartments with fewer than 16 units to add off-street parking, with a couple of exceptions.
Democrats and housing advocates say these measures will help push towns to build more housing because a lot of local zoning makes it hard to build apartments. Republicans fear it will reduce local control.
What else is in the bill?
This is a big bill that deals with a lot of different issues. It expands the number of fair rent commissions, which is a government body that can hear complaints about rent increases and make decisions on whether to change that rental increase number.
It bans “hostile architecture,” or the use of things like armrests in the middle of benches or spikes to make it harder for people experiencing homelessness to lie down.
It also establishes the Connecticut Department of Housing as a statewide housing authority, which means they can work with towns to build more housing and build on state land.
How is this different from the old bill?
This bill has a lot of similarities to the old bill. Many Democrats who worked on the bill said the majority has stayed the same; it’s mostly the zoning portions that have changed.
One difference is the creation of the state fund to encourage towns to participate in the programs to increase housing density near public transit and in downtowns. The former bill had measures that would have prioritized certain existing infrastructure funding for towns that decided to make certain zoning changes.
It also eliminates a process known as “fair share” that assigned each town a specific number of units to plan and zone for. Instead, regional councils of government will figure out how many units each town needs to plan for. Towns can either participate in the plans from the COGs or create their own plans and their own goals.
