Category: US State of Connecticut

Source: US State of Connecticut

Jose Figueroa, 66, of New Britain is “so grateful” for UConn and its powerful cross-campus collaboration helping improve the health and quality of life of Parkinson’s disease patients just like him.

Figueroa has been battling Parkinson’s disease for 16 years since being diagnosed in 2012 following his visit to the Emergency Department when a provider noticed his legs and arms were continuously shaking. He is a longtime patient at UConn Health and now its Brain and Spine Institute with Dr. Bernardo Rodrigues.

“Dr. Rodrigues is excellent. Anytime there is a new program or resource for Parkinson’s patients he always tells us,” says Figueroa. “It has helped so much.”

His wife also sees a big difference in the last year.

“Jose’s Parkinson’s used to be like an Earthquake,” says his wife, Emily. “But now there has been a big improvement. He no longer needs to use a cane to walk.”

His successful progress is all thanks to a UConn cross-campus collaboration to advance research between the Brain and Spine Institute’s faculty like Rodrigues at UConn School of Medicine with the researchers of UConn Storrs’ Department of Kinesiology and its dedicated Movement for Life Lab.

Just a year ago Figueroa started participating in an initial, three-week nutritional supplement study beginning to test the benefits of consuming a targeted, amino-acid protein shake developed by the Storrs research team led by Dr. Jacob Earp and Dr. C. Colon-Semenza. Their goal was to find a new way to assist PD patients like Figueroa by using a nutritional supplement designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s disease that is intended to be easier to consume than conventional supplements, reduce inflammation, and provide nutrients that support an active lifestyle.

“I felt really good while taking the shake. I definitely had more energy,” reports Figueroa. “A healthy shake can feel better than medicine. I would still take the shake if it was still available to me,” says Figueroa who also has learned the true benefits of not only the shake but adding daily exercise too.

“Last year I started exercising with the Storrs research team every week on Fridays, including over Zoom,” says Figueroa. “And my Parkinson’s disease symptoms started doing better! My shaking slowed and my imbalance is not as bad.  I no longer need my cane to walk,” he exclaims.

Figueroa began going to the gym daily and a year later has lost a significant amount of weight too.  “When I started exercising, I could only walk a quarter of a mile, now I can do 7 miles every day!”

His wife agrees, “He’s definitely healthier. He has more energy and I can see a big difference. He still feels his Parkinson’s, but it is not as bad!”

Figueroa has a strong message to others diagnosed with PD.

“I almost gave up on my Parkinson’s disease. But you can’t ever give up! First, it is hard to start exercising but keep with it and you will see a difference!”

His wife Emily is also so grateful for her husband’s success thanks to UConn researchers collaborating on advancing science and patient programming.

“If you have Parkinson’s disease Jose’s story truly shows you the power of the impact of adding a healthy lifestyle and exercise, and how you can be happy and have energy again, and enjoy your life!” shares his wife.

UConn and UConn School of Medicine researchers have now started a 6-month study of the potential impactful benefits of study participants consumption of its targeted Amino-Acid supplement shake for Parkinson’s patients being cared for at UConn Health.

The shake was designed to work to correct Amino-Acid deficiencies related to PD and provide potential beneficial effects to improve the long-term health of people living with the disease by reducing inflammation, encouraging heathy metabolism, and providing the nutritional building blocks the body needs to ensure proper brain and muscle health.

The study is currently recruiting patients 60-80 years old to enroll during the 6-month period for taking the shake daily, and sharing periodic blood samples, and completing physical function assessments and questionnaires.

“This novel, targeted protein supplement shake may really improve Parkinson disease patient’s function and nutrition,” says Rodrigues about the new UConn-designed supplement, protein powder made out of a select series of amino-acids, which are like the Lego bricks of proteins, which may be too low and need to be higher in PD patients.

The Storrs research team’s work identified what amino-acids are actually low in PD patients to create the unique shake. They successfully applied to the FDA for a new investigational drug application and are now principal investigators for the FDA. Their clinical study is comparing their UConn-made shake with over-the-counter ones.

Initial study results have shown that study participants with PD who took the shake experienced an increase in more amino-acids.

“It’s working! The shake may be just the protein boost our PD patients need,” concludes Rodrigues.

To learn more about the UConn supplement study read the study flyer, and contact Carlos Rehbein: +1 (860)-634-8203, email: movementforlifelab@gmail.com

Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto today announced that the State of Connecticut is providing $16.8 million in state grants to 11 towns and cities to support the reconstruction of 13 bridges on locally owned roads.

Awarded under the latest round of the State Local Bridge Program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), this state-funded program operates as a cost-matching grant that provides municipalities with 50% of the project costs necessary for the reconstruction of municipal bridges. Cities and towns are required to administer all design and construction aspects of their projects, and CTDOT oversees project milestones and provides guidance to the municipalities.

“Whether it’s kids going to school, people heading to work, or traveling to visit friends and family, every community depends on bridges that are safe and built to last,” Governor Lamont said. “This grant program provides significant relief to our towns and cities, helping them tackle costly infrastructure projects they couldn’t take on alone.”

“By partnering with our cities and towns, we are helping move these projects from planning to construction while making travel safer and more reliable for everyone,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “Thank you to Governor Lamont and General Assembly for continuing to provide funding for this important state grant program.”

The grants awarded under this latest round of the program include:

• Burlington: Replace Bridge #020003, Alto Road over unnamed brook ($636,750)
• Fairfield: Replace Bridge #050020, Old Field Road over Pine Creek ($2,985,089)
• Harwinton: Replace Bridge #065005, Gale Road over unnamed stream ($600,750)
• Harwinton: Replace Bridge #065011, Birch Hill Road over Pickett Brook ($600,750)
• New Canaan: Replace Bridge #089025, Lakeview Avenue over unnamed stream ($1,142,750)
• New Milford: Rehabilitate Bridge #05312, Boardman Road over Housatonic River ($2,656,875)
• Southbury: Replace Bridge #130010, New Road over Spruce Brook ($535,000)
• Stamford: Rehabilitate Bridge #04065, West Broad Street over Rippowam River ($3,731,250)
• Stonington: Replace Bridge #137009, Collins Road over Cattle Path ($770,000)
• Suffield: Replace Bridge #139006, Hickory Road over Fourmile Brook ($778,179)
• Suffield: Replace Bridge #139009, Copper Hill Road over unnamed stream ($841,929)
• West Hartford: Replace Bridge #155014, Old Brook Road over Mountain Farms Brook ($978,075)
• Winchester: Replace Bridge #162008, Newfield Road over Fox Brook ($612,500)

The Connecticut General Assembly established the State Local Bridge Program in 1984 under the state’s Infrastructure Renewal Program. Connecticut has about 4,200 local bridges and culverts on municipally maintained roads. Because these structures are the responsibility of the towns and cities that own them, the State Local Bridge Program offers significant financial relief for their construction and upkeep. Since 2016, approximately $180 million in grants have been awarded to Connecticut cities and towns through the program.

For more information about the State Local Bridge Program, visit portal.ct.gov/dot/programs/local-bridge.

Source: US State of Connecticut

Funding Will Assist Residents Affected by Temporary Protected Status Changes

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has submitted a fifth request to utilize Connecticut’s recently created Federal Cuts Response Fund, directing $5 million to support Connecticut residents affected by Trump administration changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), including Haitian, Syrian, and other impacted individuals.

“Many TPS holders have called Connecticut home for years, raising families, building businesses, contributing to our economy, and enriching the fabric of our state,” Governor Lamont said. “It is shameful that the Trump administration has decided to strip these individuals of their legal status and ability to work, knowing full well their countries of origin are still in the grips of violence and economic collapse. The added threat that ICE may target them for deportation shows the Trump immigration policy for what it truly is: cruelty and disruption rather than keeping communities safe. The funding we’re announcing today is one way our state can help provide stability as the affected families face difficult decisions, but these communities need and deserve a solution at the federal level. Under Trump, the United States seems to have abandoned its role as a beacon of hope and refuge, but Connecticut will not turn its back on these communities.”

This $5 million from the Federal Cuts Response Fund will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services and will help eligible individuals access critical services and maintain stability as they navigate the effects of changes in federal immigration policy.

State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) said, “When we asked the governor to stand with the Haitian, Syrian, and other immigrant families who lost their legal status through no fault of their own, he answered, and Connecticut is better for it. This funding will help our neighbors keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and access to the care they need at a moment when the federal government has not only abandoned them but has actively turned against them. I am grateful to Governor Lamont for recognizing that a threat to any of us is a threat to all of us.”

State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) said, “While the Trump regime works to tear families apart, Connecticut is stepping up to hold them together. This money goes directly to the people who need it: immigrants who were working, paying taxes, and building lives here until this administration pulled the rug out from under them. Thank you to Governor Lamont for making clear that these families are welcome in our state, and that America is better than what’s coming out of Washington right now.”

State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D-Bridgeport) said, “In Bridgeport, our Haitian, Syrian, and immigrant neighbors are the families sitting beside us in church pews, working in our neighborhoods, and cheering at our kids’ graduations, woven into the fabric of who we are as a community. Losing Temporary Protected Status through no fault of their own should not mean losing the stability they have built here, and I am grateful to Governor Lamont for answering our call and releasing this funding so these families can stay in their homes and keep their footing. This is what it means to see one another as neighbors first, and I am proud that Connecticut is choosing that over turning away.”

State Representative Derell Wilson (D-Norwich) said, “The need for this funding to assist those affected by the TPS changes hits home here in Norwich. We have many productive residents contributing to Connecticut’s economy through their work at the casinos, in healthcare, and so much more. They have made Connecticut their home due to the natural disasters and unstable conditions that continue to plague their countries. I want to make it clear that these individuals have been here under a legally protected status. I proudly support Governor Lamont for showing his commitment and support for our Haitian community.”

Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund

Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund was established by Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly in 2025 to ensure that the state remains prepared to respond to significant federal policy and funding changes affecting Connecticut residents, businesses, and communities.

As required under the law establishing the fund, Governor Lamont this morning submitted a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly notifying them of his proposal to use this funding. The bipartisan leaders have 24 hours to review the proposal and may vote to reject it.

This proposal represents Governor Lamont’s fifth request to utilize this fund since its creation. All four of his previous proposals have been approved by legislative leaders without objection.

Following today’s proposed use of the fund, approximately $262.5 million will remain available to respond to future needs.

Previous uses of Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund

Governor Lamont’s previous proposals to utilize the Federal Cuts Response Fund were submitted to legislative leaders on:

Today’s fifth proposal continues Governor Lamont’s targeted response providing immediate assistance to Connecticut residents affected by federal policy changes.

Source: US State of Connecticut

A UConn Health clinical trial is exploring a promising new treatment option for people with hypothyroidism. Learn how the study aims to improve symptoms and patients’ overall quality of life.

For more information: https://h.uconn.edu/hypothyroid-study

Source: US State of Connecticut

• Students First: Donors gave $221.27 million to make a UConn education more affordable for more students and to support students’ wellness and holistic development.
  • Funding for students’ emergency needs increased 930% in fiscal year 2026 through the Students First Fund, helping students who face financial hardships like a family illness, car repair, or even the cost of a textbook.
• Academic and Innovation Excellence: Donors gave $352.37 million for faculty, graduate students, and research.
• Health and Wellness of People and Planet: Donors contributed $106.87 million for UConn Health and sustainability initiatives.
• Husky Pride: Donors gave $219.77 million for student-athletes and athletic programs.
  • Community members also participated more than 1 million times in campaign alumni engagement opportunities including giving, events, volunteering, social media, storytelling, and other forms of connection, helping the campaign reach 85% of its engagement goal.

• A $15 million commitment from Robert Skinner ’93 (CLAS) and Stefanie Skinner will support UConn Athletics, including a $10 million planned gift to establish a permanent endowed fund in support of the head coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The gift aligns with the Husky Pride pillar.
• The Elisabeth C. DeLuca Foundation committed $10.45 million to create new pathways to nursing and STEM careers for Waterbury students. This year’s commitment builds on the DeLuca Foundation’s previous $50 million gift to nursing. Their campaign gifts align with the Students First, Academic and Innovation Excellence, and Health and Wellness of People and Planet pillars.

Source: US State of Connecticut

The United States is experiencing a substantial seasonal increase in cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received reports of 1,645 laboratory-confirmed, domestically acquired cases from 34 states. In Connecticut, the Department of Public Health confirmed 56 cases as of July 20, including four hospitalizations. Connecticut officials have not identified a Connecticut-specific food, farm, grower, supplier, restaurant, or retailer as the source.

As summer produce remains a staple at backyard gatherings, farmers markets, and family meals, consumers may be wondering what Cyclospora is, how people become infected, and what they can do to protect themselves. UConn Extension has answers.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic, single-celled parasite that infects the human small intestine. The illness caused by the parasite is called cyclosporiasis. People become infected when they consume food or water contaminated with the infectious form of the parasite. Cyclospora contamination is generally associated with human fecal contamination of food, water, equipment, hands, or the growing and handling environment.

Cyclospora is different from bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli. It does not multiply in food, and routine chemical sanitizers used on food may not reliably destroy it.

What Are the Symptoms?

The most common symptom is frequent, watery diarrhea. Other symptoms may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Unintentional weight loss
• Stomach cramps or abdominal pain
• Bloating and increased gas
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Muscle aches or general flu-like symptoms

Symptoms usually begin approximately one week after exposure, although onset may range from about two days to two weeks or longer. Without treatment, symptoms can last from several days to a month or longer and may recur one or more times.

Anyone experiencing persistent or severe diarrhea, signs of dehydration, substantial fatigue, or recurring symptoms should contact a healthcare provider. Healthcare providers may need to specifically request testing for Cyclospora because routine stool testing may not automatically include or reliably detect it.

Why Is Fresh Produce Frequently Involved?

Cyclospora outbreaks have often been associated with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are eaten raw or receive limited cooking. Foods associated with previous U.S. outbreaks have included bagged salad mixes, leafy greens, cilantro, basil, green onions, raspberries, snow peas, and other fresh produce products.

However, the presence of a food on that list does not mean it is responsible for the current increase in illnesses. Investigators have not yet confirmed a specific food source for the principal multistate outbreak, and Connecticut officials have not identified a Connecticut-specific source.

For that reason, UConn Extension emphasizes that consumers should not stop eating fresh produce.

“Fruits and vegetables provide important nutritional and health benefits and should remain part of a balanced diet,” the publication notes. Consumers should continue to follow public health advisories and recalls from CDC, FDA, Connecticut DPH, and other responsible public health agencies.

What Can Consumers Do?

While no single step can completely eliminate risk, UConn Extension recommends several food safety practices that can help reduce exposure.

Wash Produce Carefully

Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling fresh produce. Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water before eating, cutting, peeling, or cooking. Wash produce even when packaging states that it is pre-washed or ready to eat.

Consumers should not wash produce with soap, dish detergent, bleach, household disinfectants, or non-food-grade chemicals. These substances can leave harmful residues and are not approved for direct use on food.

Prevent Cross-Contamination

Keep washed produce away from raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dirty utensils, and unwashed produce. Clean countertops, cutting boards, knives, and other food-contact surfaces before and after preparation.

Cook When Practical

FDA advises that heating produce to at least 158°F (70°C) is the safest option for destroying Cyclospora when cooking is practical. Cooking is more dependable than washing or routine chemical sanitizing for inactivating the parasite.

Stay Informed

Consumers should monitor CDC, FDA, and Connecticut DPH advisories and follow any recall notices if a specific product, brand, lot, or source is identified.

A Reminder, Not a Reason for Alarm

The current increase in cases is significant, but no Connecticut-specific product or source has been identified. UConn Extension encourages consumers to continue enjoying fruits and vegetables while following basic food safety practices, including handwashing, thorough rinsing of produce, preventing cross-contamination, and staying informed about outbreak investigations and recalls.

Visit the UConn Extension publications page for the full fact sheet.

UConn Extension connects the public with the research and resources of Connecticut’s land-grant university, UConn. UConn Extension is comprised of faculty in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

Source: US State of Connecticut

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has recently recognized a UConn College of Engineering faculty member for her early career contributions in advancing mechanical characterization and multiscale description of biomaterials.

School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering associate professor Anna Tarakanova was selected to receive the Sia Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award.

The award recognizes early career research excellence in the areas of experimental, computational, and theoretical mechanics and materials. Young investigators (within 10 years after their Ph.D. degree) are honored with this award, which also has a special emphasis placed on under-represented groups.

Offered through ASME, the award was established in 2008 by their materials division.

Tarakanova won the award for, “foundational advances in the mechanical characterization and multiscale description of biomaterials, uniting analytical theory, computational methods, and experiments, and for sustained leadership in the mechanics and materials communities.”

“It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition from ASME,” Tarakanova says. “I set out to build computational models that could crack open problems in biological materials people thought were too complex to model, and to have that ambition recognized by the mechanics community is enormously energizing. It tells me the questions we’re chasing are the right ones.”

She received her BS in applied and engineering physics from Cornell University, followed by a MS and Ph.D. in computational mechanics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT (2017–2018), she joined UConn Engineering as an assistant professor in 2018 and was promoted to associate professor in 2025.

Tarakanova leads a research program that develops predictive, physics-based models of complex materials, from proteins and biological systems to synthetic and engineered soft matter, with applications in aging, disease, biomaterials design, and next-generation materials. By integrating analytical theory, multiscale simulation, machine learning, high-performance computing, and experimental collaboration, she creates frameworks that transform highly disordered materials into systems that can be engineered by design. Her work has appeared in Nature, PNAS, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Biomaterials, JMPS, and Nature Computational Materials. She is principal investigator on NIH R01 and NSF CAREER Award grants and has led or co-led multiple federally and internationally funded projects.

Her central contribution is the development of rigorous multiscale frameworks that connect molecular structure, statistical mechanics, and macroscopic behavior across complex materials. She has developed atomistic and coarse-grained models of structural and matrix proteins, high-performance fibers, adaptive polymers, and molecular actuators, including the first fully atomistic model of human tropoelastin, which clarified the relationship between molecular sequence, disorder, and elasticity. More broadly, these methods provide a transferable strategy for predicting how molecular architecture governs material mechanics, bringing previously intractable systems within reach of quantitative design.

In short, Tarakanova has not merely applied existing mechanics to new systems, she has broadened the conceptual foundations of the discipline itself, extending predictive engineering into classes of materials it could not previously reach.

“What fascinates me is the fundamental physics we can capture in biological materials, and how mechanisms emerge across scales,” Tarakanova says. “Learn those principles, and nature becomes a guide—for designing new materials and for treating disease, engineering that borrows biology’s own logic.”

Locally and nationally, her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2024 Eshelby Mechanics Award for Young Faculty, the 2024 ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering Award, the 2024 UConn Excellence in Research and Creativity Early Career Award, and selection as a 2025 Women of Innovation Finalist.

“Professor Tarakanova has established herself as one of the leading early career researchers in computational mechanics,” says Horea Ilies, director of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering. “Her pioneering research, commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, and dedication to mentoring students exemplify the excellence we strive for at UConn. This national recognition is well deserved.”

Tarakanova will receive the award in November at ASME’s annual meeting.

Source: US State of Connecticut

Invasive plants are species that spread aggressively because they lack natural predators or controls in their environment. They often outcompete native plants for light, water, and nutrients, and in some cases release chemicals that inhibit other plant growth.

Managing invasive plants can feel daunting, but local efforts across Connecticut show that consistent action, community partnerships, and education make a real difference. A leading example is the Collinsville Pollinator Trail in Canton, where UConn Extension Master Gardeners and community volunteers have spent a decade reducing invasive plant populations and restoring native habitat.

A Community-Driven Approach

The Collinsville Pollinator Trail is a volunteer-driven effort that began in 2017 as a Master Gardener project grew into a sustained community initiative. Karen Berger and Holly Hambleton, both Extension Master Gardeners from Canton, lead the volunteer effort, with a core team and over 100 volunteers in the past decade. They transformed a dense stand of Japanese knotweed along a 25-by-375-foot corridor, described as a “tunnel,” into a pollinator habitat, and expanded their efforts to stretch along the trail from Dyer Avenue to Maple Avenue.

Japanese knotweed is one of the most difficult species to control in Connecticut; it was originally introduced for ornamental use and erosion control. It spreads through an extensive underground rhizome system, often comprising two-thirds of the plant, and can regrow from small fragments moved by mowing, soil disturbance, or flooding.

The Collinsville team leveraged Master Gardener volunteers, residents, and service organizations to tackle the problem. A key to success has been strong collaboration with local partners, particularly the Canton Department of Public Works (DPW).

Over the past 10 years, hundreds of volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to cutting invasive plants, restoring habitat, watering during droughts, tracking plant data, and engaging with visitors. They’ve also expanded their management area to the hillside and stream, and planted islands of native plants, including a rescue garden of salvaged plants.

Berger and Hambleton’s leadership, and their ability to mentor and welcome new participants, are critical to their success. Recent Master Gardener program graduates now help coordinate volunteers, manage schedules, and expand outreach.

“There’s nothing like having an active trail go through the center of your project,” Berger says. “We want to plant natives to showcase what it would look like in your yard. We have wonderful volunteers year after year and try to make their experience match their interest.”

Practical Strategies for Managing Invasives

The Collinsville project highlights several practical strategies that can be adapted for home landscapes or community spaces. At the core of their approach is persistence.

In the case of UConn Extension’s Master Gardener volunteers, the work began by breaking the site into manageable sections, using the distance between telephone poles as a guide, and committing to repeated action over time. Japanese knotweed was cut multiple times each growing season for several years, with volunteers continuously monitoring regrowth. While there is no single solution to invasive plant management, this steady, consistent effort has proven effective in reducing plant vigor over time.

Equally important is preventing the spread of invasive plants during removal. Japanese knotweed is particularly challenging because even small fragments can regrow. To limit accidental spread, the team adapted their practices over time. Live invasive plant material cannot be transported off-site. Instead, volunteers dry the cut stems before disposal in a brush pile. These adjustments, informed by experience, helped reduce the risk of unintentionally expanding infestations.

Restoration plays a critical role alongside removal. Native plants provide essential food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife, support the insects that form the base of the food web, and typically require less maintenance once established. The Collinsville team prioritized planting and encouraging native species suited to the site, recognizing that long-term success depends on what replaces the invasives. As invasive pressure decreased, native plants, including trillium, wild geranium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and winterberry, were more prevalent.

Rather than attempting to address every invasive species at once, the group focused on priority species that posed the greatest threat. Japanese knotweed remained the primary target, along with other common invasives such as mugwort, garlic mustard, and woody species like bittersweet and honeysuckle. This targeted approach allowed volunteers to use their time and energy effectively while making noticeable progress.

Partnerships and policy have helped scale the impact of their work beyond the trail itself. The group’s efforts contributed to the town adopting a Native Plant Policy in 2022, with ongoing work to strengthen these standards through local regulations. Collaboration with partners, including municipal departments and utility companies, has further supported improved vegetation management practices and reduced reliance on pesticides. Together, these efforts demonstrate how a local, volunteer-driven project can influence broader community practices over time.

Education as a Core Strategy

A defining feature of the Collinsville Pollinator Trail is its role as an outdoor classroom, where education is integrated into everyday stewardship. Volunteers regularly lead school field trips that introduce students to pollinators and plant science, creating hands-on learning experiences just steps from the classroom. Invasive and native plant identification walks are paired with workdays, giving community members the opportunity to learn while actively contributing to land management.

“It’s a public park and has involved the community. People like this section because there is so much variety of plants,” Hambleton says.

Lisa Franklin lives around the corner from the trail and is a member of the core team. She adds, “People are genuinely interested in the work being done on the trail to restore habitat, beauty, and natives. I really enjoy when someone walking or riding on the trail stops to ask a question or interact with us while we’re working. Our team is deeply engaged in bringing as many native plants as possible to the trail and showcasing how beautiful they can be in the landscape. This is where the ‘Homegrown National Park’ takes form.”

Martha Lojzim from Bristol is a fellow 2024 graduate of the Master Gardener program with Franklin and has been instrumental in helping the team with plant data management, gathering insights and information to support various activities and decisions, and sharing her knowledge of native and invasive plants with new Master Gardener interns. The site also supports volunteer service and youth engagement efforts, including scout projects. By connecting people directly with the environment, these educational efforts build awareness and foster long-term stewardship within the community.

Michele Jenks of Simsbury has been the sole caretaker of Shultz Park in downtown Simsbury for 20 years. She did her intern hours in 2020 keeping the Collinsville plants alive by watering from a rain barrel on the back of her truck three times a day twice a week and became the third leg of the team. She designed the native beds that pull people off the trail to get a closer look.

What You Can Do at Home

Meaningful impacts also happen in residential yards. Managing invasive plants at home starts with awareness and small, consistent actions. Begin by identifying invasive species and removing small infestations early, before they have the chance to spread. Take care to avoid moving soil or plant material that may contain roots or seeds, as this can unintentionally introduce invasives to new areas.

Replacing invasive plants with native species suited to the site supports long-term ecological health while reducing maintenance needs. Ongoing monitoring is essential, as many invasive plants require repeated attention to fully control, but control efforts positively benefit the landscape.

Now approaching its 10-year milestone, the Collinsville Pollinator Trail continues to evolve through its dedicated volunteers. The group is planning to expand restoration areas, refine management techniques, and deepen connections with the community.

“Our purpose is showing people that removing invasive plants is possible, and that replacing them with native plants is beneficial,” says Berger.

Have a Question? UConn Extension is here to help with answers you can trust. Whether you’re managing a backyard, farm, or community space, we can provide research-based guidance tailored to Connecticut landscapes.

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Fostering Sustainable Landscapes at the Urban-Rural Interface.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

Source: US State of Connecticut

The UConn Fire Department has bolstered its paramedic service in Storrs through a new program that allows its on-duty firefighters who are licensed at the advanced life support (ALS) paramedic level with current medical control to now perform those duties.

The Supplemental First Responder Mobile Intensive Care-Paramedic Program began July 1.

Previously, these firefighters could perform paramedic duties only when working at the UCFD location at UConn Health in Farmington.

“Students, staff, faculty, and visitors at UConn Storrs have long received the highest-level of fire-based emergency care within seconds of request,” says Fire Chief Chris Renshaw. “Our department can now utilize its firefighters who are paramedics in Storrs to their fullest capacity.”

Currently, Francesco Marotta is the only Storrs-based firefighter who is licensed as a paramedic, but there are other Farmington-based personnel who are paramedic licensed and frequently work Storrs-based shifts. They too will be able to perform ALS duties in Storrs.

“At any given moment, we may have up to three paramedics in Storrs who are available to respond based off of their duties and availability,” says Renshaw.

Paramedics are a part of the Emergency Medical System whose qualifications allow them to provide ALS measures. The first level of that system are emergency medical responders (EMRs), followed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Every member of the UConn Fire Department is certified at the EMT level, at minimum.

“I have always wanted to have the ability to help people, and that’s what drew me into being a paramedic,” says Marotta. “It’s a great feeling to now know that I can provide relief immediately no matter what the situation is.”

Paramedics are often able to perform duties on-site or in the back of an ambulance that elsewise who have to wait until a patient gets to a hospital emergency room.

“If a student suffers a dislocated shoulder in the recreation center and we have a firefighter/paramedic on duty in Storrs, we can now help that patient with care that would have had to wait for an off-campus paramedic or the hospital,” says fire Capt. Robert Babcock.

Paramedic service to Storrs was previously handled exclusively by Windham Hospital, which will remain the primary provider in Storrs.

“Windham Hospital remains a very important and trusted partner for us,” says Renshaw. “They are the closest hospital to UConn Storrs and provide excellent care.”

This new arrangement will not only benefit those on campus but also will bring assurance to parents who are not with their children at the time of an emergency.

“A lot of times the parents are more anxious than the students,” says firefighter Glenn Watts, whose son is a UConn student. “If someone’s child is sick, having a medical issue, or having an emergency, a paramedic can quickly give the parents some peace of mind. Their student might still have to be transported to a hospital, but a parent, who might be four states away, knows their child is getting immediate care and that’s a massive comfort.”

“UConn is a great flagship institution, and we attract the brightest and most talented student population we can,” says paramedic and fire Capt. Anthony Ruggiero. “Why shouldn’t we provide the highest level of prehospital care to protect them? That’s what we are doing.”

Source: US State of Connecticut

Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin received the 2026 Dr. William Montague Cobb Award in the National category from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The award was presented during the Opening Plenary Session of the 117^th NAACP National Convention in Chicago in July 2026 where he addressed the organization.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is one of the nation’s oldest and most prominent civil rights organizations. It works to advance equality and eliminate racial discrimination across areas including health, education, justice, and economic opportunity. The Dr. William Montague Cobb Award honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in health while advancing the social justice legacy of Cobb, a physician, anthropologist, educator, and civil rights leader who served as president of the NAACP from 1976 to 1982.

The National category is presented annually to an outstanding individual for special achievement in health and social justice advocacy, health education and promotion, and research. Laurencin previously received the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal, the organization’s highest honor, “given to the man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years,” for his pioneering of the field of Regenerative Engineering.

Laurencin has dedicated much effort to improving human health and addressing racial and ethnic health disparities. He received the Herbert W. Nickens Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges for his work in promoting social justice and fairness.

At UConn, Laurencin is a core faculty member in Africana Studies. A scholar in the area of Racial Justice and Health Equity, he was rated the number one scientist in America in Health Equity by Scholar GPS over the past 5 years (https://scholargps.com/top-scholars?year=2025&ranking_duration=LAST_5_YEARS&specialty=Health+equity).

Regionally he is the president of the Connecticut National Medical Association Society, a large society affiliate of the National Medical Association. Nationally he is the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, which publishes research examining health inequities affecting racial and ethnic populations in the United States and around the world. Laurencin also co-founded the W. Montague Cobb/National Medical Association Health Institute and served as the founding chair of its board. The Institute and the National Medical Association established the Cato T. Laurencin Lifetime Research Achievement Award presented at the opening ceremonies of the National Medical Association meeting in his honor to recognize sustained research contributions that improve human health. In addition, he is the chair of the annual World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, sponsored in part by Springer Nature.

At the University of Connecticut, Laurencin serves as the University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine. He is professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering. He is the chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, an Institute created and named in his honor.

Laurencin is the first surgeon in history elected to all four major U.S. national academies. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.