HARTFORD — State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-21st, joined all 14 members of the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus in writing to Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deirdre Gifford to request more information on the department’s recommendation to cancel contact football this fall.
The lawmakers are also questioning what public health metrics the agency believes the state needs to reach in order to be comfortable with a football season moving forward.
“We have seen the administration repeatedly issue guidance with no explanation of what metrics they are using to make their decisions,” Kelly said in a press release. “The Governor’s administration owes it to our young athletes to first provide a clear explanation of what led to their decision and to not give up on working toward a solution.”
“The state also needs to clearly identify what benchmarks need to be reached for the agency to be comfortable with football moving forward,” he added. “The Department of Public Health has an obligation to show a path forward that weighs social risks, health risks, wellness and safety.”
“If it is safe enough for the Governor to stop providing personal protective equipment to home health care workers, why is it not safe for student athletes to continue playing sports that have been underway this summer?” Kelly asked. “The governor and his agencies wield complete power and it’s time they stop keeping the public in the dark. We are asking for the administration to clearly explain their decision-making process, and identify the metrics and benchmarks CT needs to reach to move forward or continue with additional protections.”
To see the Republican caucus letter, click here.
Senate candidate joins effort to save the high school football season
TRUMBULL — Steve Choi, a Republican who is challenging incumbent Democrat, Marilyn Moore for the 22nd State Senatorial District 22, which includes Trumbull, Bridgeport and Monroe, joined a grassroots effort to get the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) to reconsider its decision to cancel the fall football season.
Choi’s son, Mateo, started playing youth football two years ago. He is an incoming Trumbull High School freshman, who has worked hard over the summer to condition and prepare for the fall season, Choi said in a press release.
“His training included instructions from the coach on how to follow the new social distancing recommendations,” Choi said.
He talked about the newly formed Facebook group Let Them Play – Connecticut, where athletes share heartwarming personal stories on the positive effects of playing high school football.
“The primary focus has been given to the dangers of contracting and spreading COVID-19 in school athletic settings, but many parents and former student athletes in the group are talking about the negative consequences of not having after school sports,” Choi said.
Student athletes have started an online petition pleading their case to Gov. Ned Lamont, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the CIAC.
Choi urges residents to ask their state senator, state representative, mayor, first selectman, Board of Education members and superintendent of schools where they stand on allowing all student athletes to compete in fall sports.
“We owe it to our student athletes, our parents, our community to #LetThemPlay,” he said.
Tag & Textile Sale
MONROE — The Monroe Historical Society’s annual Tag & Textile Sale will be held at the Historic Beardsley Homestead, 31 Great Ring Road, this weekend.
The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13.
The sale will offer fabrics, upholstery, patterns, knit/crochet, quilting, sewing, notions, craft supplies, tag items, housewares, tools, holiday gifts, bric a brac and more.
Shoppers are asked to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines and are reminded to bring their reusable bags.
For information, visit the Historical Society’s website or call 203-261-1383.
High Holiday services
TRUMBULL — Congregation Mishkan Israel, 77 Mount Pleasant Drive in Trumbull, invites the community to Jewish High Holiday services celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The services are free, but reservations required. To make a reservation, call 203-268-0740 or send an e-mail [email protected]. All are required to wear masks inside the synagogue and there is an outdoor seating option — all with social distancing.
Rosh Hashanah, celebrating the Jewish New Year (corresponding to 5781 on the Hebrew calendar) starts Friday, Sept. 18 with a service at 7:30 p.m. and continues Shabbos/Saturday, Sept. 19, with morning services at 10 a.m., followed by evening services at 7:30 p.m. and a holiday candle-lighting at 7:36 p.m.
The second day, Sunday, Sept. 20, morning services start at 10 a.m., followed by shofar service at noon and Kiddush at 2 p.m., and then Mincha at 3 p.m., Tashlich services at 3:30 p.m. Havdala at 7:40 p.m.
Yom Kippur starts Sunday, Sept. 27, with candle-lighting and fasting at 6:22 p.m. and Kol Nidre service at 6:30 p.m.
Morning service the following day, Monday, Sept. 28, service start at 10 a.m. followed by Yizkor Memorial service at noon, Mincha afternoon service at 5:15 p.m., Neilah closing service at 6:15 p.m., Havdala end-of-fast at 7:20 p.m. with break-the-fast to go, RSVP required.
Questioning the metrics by which decisions in public policy are made is doing due diligence, and I applaud the senator’s efforts in this regard. Such questions are always legitimate; it may be that the decision is ultimately the governor‘s call, but it would be greatly disappointing to hear that the decision was based on a gut instinct rather than on some identifiable measurement. Keeping the public in the dark might not serve as a cover for abuses, but that possibility remains. Probing questions can make leaders uncomfortable; leaders nevertheless ought to have compelling answers. Let’s see how the governor responds.
I think the 50 page report outlining what happened to the BOE budget causing a serious shortfall that was conducted with taxpayer funds should be released. I think not turning the report from a draft to a final document to keep people from FOIing it is underhanded. A lot of damage was done to some people’s reputations.