Community Health Center Gets Grant Under Affordable Care Act

Modified from a press release by Congresswoman DeLauro, who represents Middletown in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Rosa DeLauro announced today that the Community Health Center has been awarded a $451,370 grant by the Health and Human Services Department. With the grants, the Community Health Center, Inc. will be better able to provide comprehensive physical and mental health care to students, in schools, where the care is easily accessible.

“These grants will go a long way towards making health services more readily available for children and adolescents. Unfortunately Connecticut needs no reminder of how critical it is to make sure young people can access mental, as well as physical health care services. I am proud the Affordable Care Act created this grant program and that we are continuing to support programs that make our communities healthier. Even in tough fiscal times, we have to put people’s health and safety first.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to award grants to support school-based health centers that provide comprehensive physical and mental health services to children and adolescents. DeLauro announced that Fair Haven Community Health Clinic, in New Haven, and the Griffin Hospital/Griffin Health Services Corporation in Derby also received grants.

Coalition on Community Wellness Kick-off Event

Wednesday, June 13, 7-9pm, 
Community Health Center, 675 Main Street

Note: Community Health Center staff will provide a tour of their new facility beginning in the lobby at 6:30pm.

Please join us for an informal gathering to learn how you can partner with others in Middlesex County to improve the health and well-being of our community. The Coalition on Community Wellness is a partnership among residents, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, elected officials, and community organizations.
The Coalition on Community Wellness is part of a Community Transformation Grant (CTG) awarded to the CT State Department of Public Health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Community Transformation Grants are designed to help fund sustainable health and wellness initiatives where people work, live, learn, and play. The grant has 5 strategic directions:

1. Active living and healthy eating
2. Tobacco-free living
3. Evidence-based quality clinical and preventive services
4. Social and emotional wellness
5. Healthy and safe physical environments

The kick-off is sponsored by the Health Departments of Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, and Cromwell. Contact: Midge Malicki (203)623-1145 or mmalicki3@comcast.net
Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP by June 11.

CHC Launches National Music Video Campaign featuring local Macdonaugh Students

From the CHC Press Release: Recess Rocks Launches National Music Video to Fight Childhood Obesity Recess Rocks has teamed up with Steve Roslonek of PBS Kids’ popular show “SteveSongs” to produce an energetic Recess Rocks theme song and music video, designed to spur kids into action. The music video as well as other Recess Rocks resources, blend a variety of aerobic movements—like kickboxing, African drumming and yoga— with upbeat, energizing music. The sustained-activity programs can be used at school to get kids fit, sharpen young minds, encourage natural “feel-good” energy, build self-esteem and nurture lifelong healthy habits. Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) developed Recess Rocks – a national program to reverse childhood obesity and to redefine and redesign how recess is incorporated into the school day. Recess Rocks is a free, dynamic movement program for elementary school children that can be adapted to any part of the school day. It brings fun, non-competitive aerobic exercise and kinesthetic learning into the classroom and beyond. Download the theme song from iTunes. Visit www.RecessRocks.com to watch the music video and learn more about how to get started with Recess Rocks in your community. Recess Rocks is a program of the Community Health Center, Inc. 635 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 www.chc1.com

Community Health Center Lauds Middnight on Main

From the Community Health Center
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Inaugural Event Puts Middletown on the Map for the Place to Be on New Year’s Eve
Its official – Middletown’s inaugural New Year’s Eve festival - Middnight on Main – was a huge success for the city. The sold out event brought 10,000 people into Downtown Middletown to partake in a variety of activities and performances offered in over a dozen Main Street venues.

The crowds kept growing, as 10,000 people filled Downtown Middletown on Saturday for Middnight on Main. You could hear and feel the joy and amazement. Whether it was the depth and quality of the performances and activities; the comfortable evening weather that was just right for strolling all night

More Scenes from Middnight on Main

Eye Blogger Joseph Getter posted his photos of Middnight on main here. Scroll below for more shots of the evening.

Event organizer & CEO of the Community Health Center Mark Masselli and Middnight Chair Lucy McMillan greet the crowd gathered in front of Holy Trinity Church just before midnight at the first Middnight on Main Celebration. In a Willy Wonka moment ( and I mean that as a complement to his coolness factor) Masselli asked all the children in the crowd come forward. The special surprise was confetti canons fired from an adjacent rooftop at midnight. Kaoru WatanabeTaiko Drummers drummed in the New Year and helped with the final count down outside of Holy Trinity Church.

At Matt's Lab - a storefront at 420 Main Street Mercy High School's robotic's team was on hand to demonstrate a robot. Other volunteers did science experiments with children.

Earlier in the evening sword swallower and master magician Johnny Fox gave two performances packed in the lobby of Citizen's Bank. Johnny brought along his friend a two-headed red slider turtle. The turtle did not swallow swords.
A Balinese dancer, Shoko Yamumura performed for the crowd at Citizen's bank.
2012 ice sculpture showing Middletown's sky line by ice artist Larry Siragusa.
Event coordinators Jennifer Alexander, owner of KidCity, and Rosario Rizzo of Pratt and Whitney, a key sponsor of the evening, strike up a conversation at the hat making station inside Main Street Market. Visitors were welcomed to make their own New Year's fashion top hat, sponsored by KidCity.
Can' t say if I had more fun as a spectator or a volunteer last night. Volunteers donned iconic yellow shirts- soon to be a collectors item of Middletown!

Homeless Vigil to be held by CHC

Contact:
Eliza Cole
Community Health Center, Inc.
(860) 262-2546
eliza@chc1.com

HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM TO HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR NATIONAL HOMELESS PERSONS’ MEMORIAL DAY

Event in Middletown to honor the homeless who passed away in 2011; Service to feature speeches from community leaders and homeless individuals

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (December 19, 2011) – In recognition of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on December 21, Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless (WYA) —a program of Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)— and St. Vincent de Paul Middletown will host a memorial service and candlelight vigil in Middletown, in memory of the areas’ homeless residents who pass away in 2011.

Each year since 1990, on December 21 – not coincidentally, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year – homeless service providers, in more than 150 communities across the country, conduct similar services to recognize the need for political advocacy and efforts to end homelessness. National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Health Care for the Homeless Council and National Consumer Advisory Board.

“Each year, homeless residents in our communities suffer and die needless deaths,” said Agi Erickson, program director for Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless. “Many of these deaths could have been prevented, had these individuals had shelter, food and access to health care. Communities must continue working together and sharing the responsibility to end the preventable tragedy of homelessness.”

WHO: Rev. Margret Minnick, Church of the Holy Trinity; Mayor Daniel Drew, City of Middletown; State Senator Paul Doyle; Carol Walter, CT Coalition to End Homelessness; Azure Smikle, Solo-Amazing Grace; Howard Reid, Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness; Michelle Waldner, New Horizons; Agi Erickson, Program Director for Wherever You Are Health Care for the Homeless; Mark Masselli, President & CEO, Community Health Center, Inc.; Margaret Flinter, Senior Vice President and Clinical Director of Community Health Center, Inc.; community members, business leaders.

WHAT: National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day service and candlelight vigil

WHEN: December 21, 2011, 4:00 pm

WHERE: Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main Street, Middletown, CT

According to the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, last year, Connecticut’s emergency shelters served more than 11,000 people, including over 1,500 children. The number of people in shelters and transitional housing programs increased 3% from 2009 to 2010 and shelters have been operating over 100% capacity for almost two full years. Of the 4,465 total people counted during a one-day snapshot of Connecticut homelessness in 2011, 248 were counted in Middlesex County; more than one-third (36%) were families with children and two-thirds (64%) were adults without children.

The Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless program is highly regarded for providing outstanding primary care to a difficult to reach population. The WYA team is comprised of health care professionals, including nurses, doctors, substance abuse counselors, psychiatric nurses and outreach workers who provide health care for the homeless and near-homeless in clinics at homeless, domestic violence and transitional shelters in New Britain, Meriden, Wallingford and Middletown. The program aims to assess the health needs of every shelter resident, provide prompt treatment, update the individual on necessary preventive care such as immunizations and screenings, and then connect him or her with one of CHC’s 12 facilities for ongoing primary care.

For more information on the memorial services or program, contact Agi Erickson of the Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless program at (860) 224-3642 ext. 5551 or ericksa@chc1.com.

About Community Health Center, Inc.
Since 1972, Community Health Center, Inc. has been one of the leading healthcare providers in the state of Connecticut, building a world-class primary health care system committed to caring for uninsured and underinsured populations. CHC is focused on improving health outcomes for its more than 130,000 patients as well as building healthy communities. Currently, CHC delivers service in 201 locations statewide, offering primary care in medicine, dentistry and behavioral health services. For more information, visit www.chc1.com.

Eye On Emergency Shelter Volunteers

This week, after winter storm Alfred, 96% of Middletown was left without power according to reports from CL&P. Middletown High School was without power until Wednesday of this week, despite this, the school was opened by the City as an emergency shelter Sunday. Tonight, the shelter closed, except to hand out sandwiches for people to take home. Before closing, Health Department officials and emergency personnel who have been on staff in 24 hour shifts since the storm, ensured anyone whom they confirmed did not have power restored as of yet had shelter for the nigh if they so required it. The City is putting families who still do not have power and need shelter up at no cost to the family, in a local motel for the night. Over 1,000 individual meals were served Sunday after the initial storm, and on Monday over 650 people were still using services provided at the shelter. On Monday night 600 people spent the night on cots in the high school's gym. Overflow of people spilled into the surrounding hallways. Middletown had 500 cots, and borrowed 100 extra from Old Saybrook and Wallingford when it was determined more were needed.

Services ranged from showers in the locker rooms, to a place to get warm, to a place to charge cell phones and computers, a place to get warm, as well as a place to seek medical attention and sleep. Many people without power who needed oxygen assistance or other acute medical care came to the high school and were assisted by volunteers and Health Department employees. Dozens of other City employees donated their time this week helping out. Employees worked setting up beds and keeping the school clean as well as other maintenance & janitorial duties to keep order. Volunteers were needed checking people in, calling road crews to send them out clear trees and meet CL&P crews, as well as cook, set up cots, and organize places for belongings. Other volunteers watched pets that had been brought in by families who sought shelter. Cat & dogs in kennels were sectioned off from the human shelter population, however, had round the clock volunteer care provided. One woman reportedly brought her five hairless cats that would not have survived in her home without heat; for her there was no choice not to come to the shelter as some hotels do not accept animal guests. Over 50 Wesleyan students came through out the week despite some still not having power themselves to help out residents. The Community Health Center also sent personnel to help. Volunteer City employees and workers not directly helping residents manned phones and coordinated with the City’s emergency management crews to assess damage and work with electrical crews to make sure that before a family was went home, it could be confirmed whether or not they had power restored.

I spoke with several C.E.R.T. (certified emergency response technician) volunteers at the end of the day today just as operations were winding down and the last few families needing places to stay were being sent to the motels. Resident and retired fireman, now C.E.R.T. volunteer Jim Loewenthal has been a volunteer now for 2 years, commenting after 25 years as a firefighter it seemed like the natural progression for him. “I really got involved when retired Chief George Dunn asked me, then we thought why not get Patti and Laura to volunteer.” Resident Patti Hines has also been a C.E.R.T. volunteer for 2 years, and she and friend Laura Nickolson, who is still in training, experienced their first emergency situation while working at the high school shelter that was set up after hurricane Irene.

“At first I was reluctant… I thought how can I do this? But once you just do it, you get so much out of it. I feel so good afterwards. To see how much people appreciate just the simple things we can do. Especially the elderly, they are the most grateful, just to have a warm place to go and someone to sit and talk too while all this is happening. I would want someone to do the same for me someday.”

Loewenthal expressed how much planning goes into a make shift emergency shelter set up. “There is so much. We have to check people in, and people get up set and ask why, and it’s because once they enter the shelter we are responsible for them, so we have to keep track of people coming in and out of the building for everyone’s safety- suppose there is a fire or another accident. We really are here to take 100% care of people.” Loewenthal went onto explain that other challenges the shelter faced was people with medical conditions arriving without medication or equipment.

“We take care of all of that, staff calls doctors or runs to the pharmacy. We have had local nursing homes lend bariatric chairs and wheel chairs. We have oxygen available.” When asked why he choose to continue in the field of emergency response after retiring from that same field, and about being burned out Loewenthal said,” I had a good life, a good job, I love giving back. It’s my reward. I feel the need to serve my community.”

Emotions often run high at the shelter, another aspect that volunteers must deal with. In the beginning of the storm whole neighborhoods were without power, as that number dwindles, it is hard for residents and emergency personnel alike to get answers from CL&P why there are still streets where all the houses have electricity except perhaps maybe one or two. Middletown as of web reports at this hour on the CL&P website still is showing about 1800 homes in Middletown without power. According to Loewenthal he saw double the families using the shelter after this storm than after Irene, he blames the cold weather.

“That’s hard. Seeing families with children come in who are upset, probably did not get any sleep, and aren’t getting the answers they need right away. I completely understand them being upset, I hope by coming here they can feel better at least for the time being while things get fixed at home.” said Hines. “The best part is when a mother hugs you, we had a mother of five stay here, and she hugged me she was so thankful, that felt wonderful to me.”

“I feel better knowing that even if it’s a hot shower, someone feels better.” Said Nickolson.

Volunteer James William is no stranger to helping others. Williams is a regular volunteer cook at St. Vincent DePaul Soup kitchen. “ I love it, this is a like a family to me now this past week.” Williams reportedly spent the whole week helping at the high school shelter.

I tried to interview a Health Department employee or other Emergency Management personnel, but with things still needed to be done, none had the time to stop and chat, and with good reason- Department employees were easily visible in blue vests and seen running down the corridors and on walk talkies coordinating the effort. Police & fire- both on and off regular duty were at the ready.

Photo above ( Loewenthal, Hines, Nickolson) Second Photo (Jeff Daniels, Mayor Giuliano man phones coordinating with road crews & CL&P)

Community Health Fair on Friday

Community Health Fair

Friday, August 19th,

11am–2pm

At the Community Health Center of Middletown

635 Main Street,

Middletown, CT 06457

Visit health fair service booths offering:

• Immunizations Screenings

• Blood Pressure Screenings

• FREE Dental Screenings for Children

• Husky Program Information

• WIC Program Information

• Early Detection Program

• Housing and Health Department Information

Conversations on Health Care, October 21

On WESU, 88.1 FM, 4:30-5:00 PM.

Conversations on Health Care: Dr. Mark Murray

Today on WESU, 88.1 FM at 4:30 PM. Listen live here.

CHC Receives Grant For Improved Health Access for Children

From the Community Health Center

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) has received a two-year grant of $400,584 from the federal government to help uninsured and underinsured children access Medicaid and the state’s HUSKY program through an electronic enrollment and screening tool.

The grant was announced by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

For CHC, the grant would reduce the number of uninsured children in CHC’s service area by 30 percent, or 16,000 children by Year 2 through new enrollment and increased retention.

The grant would also improve the efficiency and ease of the enrollment process by using a new web-based technology that facilitates eligibility screening and enrollment while providing advanced data management.

“This grant substantiates Connecticut’s urgent need for an innovative outreach strategy to ensure that families in Connecticut who are eligible for insurance receive it and keep it,” said Mark Masselli, president and CEO of CHC. “Too many children are without health insurance, either because they were never enrolled or weren’t retained in the program. This work can change that.”

The Community Health Center, Inc. is Connecticut’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center serving more than 70,000 patients in 12 sites and 180 locations. Since its founding in 1972, CHC has worked to increase its ability to serve low-income families facing barriers to health care..

The agency has been helping clients access Medicaid through its Access to Care
Department for more than 15 years. This proposal to create an electronic enrollment and screening tool, HelpEngen, will transform the way CHC does that work. HelpEngen will make the existing eligibility team more efficient and effective. Its ease of use will allow CHC to dramatically increase our capacity to screen, enroll and assist some of most vulnerable and underserved citizens.

CHC will be able to utilize three times as many staff in eligibility work as now, and increase the number of community enrollment locations from 10 to 170. This technology, paired with enhanced data sharing with the state as well as a new education and outreach program at CHC, will also allow CHC staff to manage renewals and rejections proactively which in turn will increase the retention rate.

CHC Receives Grant to Improve Electronic Health Record

From the Community Health Center

CHC has received one of five grants awarded nationwide for Electronic Health Record Quality Improvement grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The $400,000 grant will build on the pioneering work that CHC has done with Electronic Health Records. The focus of this grant is to build a national model for hypertension control with a focus on minority groups.

(CHC operates the Community Health Center at 635 Main St. in Middletown.)

Included in the work will be a patient’s ability to monitor his or her blood pressure from home, using a new Internet link to his or her health records.

“Broad use of health information technology has the potential to improve health-care quality, prevent medical errors, and increase the efficiency of care provision,” said David Blumenthal, national coordinator for health information technology for HHS. “This program supports the Department’s overall efforts to assist physicians and hospitals in adopting and becoming meaningful users of health information technology.”

The department released a total of $27.8 million to 27 agencies. CHC was one of only five agencies to receive funding in its category of quality improvement based on existing use of electronic health records.

The grant was announced today by Congresswomen Rosa Delauro “The award is an important recognition of CHC’s leadership in the field of electronic health records,” said Mark Masselli, CHC’s president and CEO. “ We are very appreciative of Rosa’s support as she understands the intersection of quality care , chronic disease and electronic health records - with these funds we will be able to engage our patients directly in the use of these records to improve their health and to correct a long-time health disparity in our health-care system – the large proportion of minority group members with high blood pressure.”

Founded in 1972 as a small, free clinic in Middletown, CHC is now one of the largest health centers of its kind in the nation, serving more than 70,000 underserved patients in 12 sites and 180 locations across Connecticut. The agency offers core services of medical care, dentistry and behavioral health care to patients with little or no health insurance.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of illness and death among the population at large, but particularly among members of minority groups. Controlling high blood pressure will reduce the incidents of strokes, heart attacks, and heart and kidney failures. Because of historic disparities in our health-care delivery system,, CHC with this grant will focus on minority groups, particularly African-American patients.

For CHC, the electronic health record in this case will improve provider behavior and practice, and patient engagement through self-
management. For the patient’s part, he or she will be able to do home monitoring of blood pressure readings, and download other blood pressure readings for integration into his or her electronic health record.

In its annual survey of patients, CHC has found a growing trend of Internet access of one kind or another by its patients. That number now stands at 70 percent. (CHC saw 56,000 patients in 2008.) Most of CHC patients desire to use the Internet to contact their providers, request prescription refills, or receive lab results. More than 55 percent said they would use a web link to get that information.

The expanded use of electronic health records by CHC will help improve the outcome of patients with high blood pressure. CHC was one of the early pioneers to embrace electronic health records and now is introducing a new patient link.

##

Eye On the Air, July 31

Eye on the Air, WESU 88.1 FM, Friday 1-2 P.M. Listen live online.

Today's guests:

Mark Masselli, President and CEO of the Community Health Center, who will address the issue of health care reform in Connecticut and the nation.

Brian Burness, host of Saturday morning Bluegrass on WWUH 91.3 FM, who will talk about folk and music festivals in the area including this weekend's Podunk Music Festival and the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival.

Jewelry Making Tonight!

(Click on poster to enlarge it)

Enjoy the pleasure of a summer evening during North End Nights, a free night of for people of all ages.

This weekly series of participatory arts workshops held outdoors the Luis Lopez Herb Garden (corner of Green and Main Streets) continues tonight, Thursday, July 23rd with Jewelry Making, led by Cookie Quinones at 5:30pm.

Afterward, enjoy the music of R & B Band, Shaded Soul in the Luis Lopez Herb Garden or stop by the Buttonwood Tree book sale or the MAC650 Gallery to see The As Yet Un_named Show featuring Tracy Lynch, Andre Rochester, James Day, Melissa Williams, Matt Graham, Dan Rubenbauer, Mark Robinson, Corey Pane, Kasia Gawkoska, Anjre Kerr and Caitlyn Nadolny. You can also stop by the Buttonwood Tree from 5:00 on for the book sale. For more information on North End Nights, visit www.neatmiddletown.org.

Also, click here to download your North End Pass for discounts at North End restaurants and retailers.

This Pass is good at any and all participating businesses on any of the four Thursdays in July. Light refreshments will be served; in the event of rain, the 5:30 workshops will take place indoors at the Green Street Arts Center.

These events are Co-sponsored by the North End Action Team, the Green Street Arts Center, the Community Health Center, the Buttonwood Tree and the MAC 650 Gallery with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

Alexander and Masselli Featured in Press

Community Health Center founder and president Mark Masselli and Jennifer Alexander, founder of Kidcity, will be receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Wesleyan Sunday. They are featured this morning in the Middletown Press.

Council Approves Community Health Center Project

The Common Council voted on Monday to allow the mayor to convey city a city parking lot on Main and Grand streets to the Community Health Center for the construction of a new headquarters and treatment center for CHC.

The plan for the new CHC building garnered support from the downtown business community, including immediate neighbor Phil Ouellette owner of Eli Cannon’s.

“We’re no longer going to be the red-headed stepchild when that building is completed,” Ouellette said.

“This is vital,” said Peter Harding, who owns Liberty Square, a block away. “Especially right now the way the economy is. You’re not going to see another project like this for years.”

When it came to the Council debate on the issue, the support was nearly unanimous. One of the two holdouts, David Bauer, showed concern that the project was not the best financial decision for the taxpayer. He noted that the city would convey valuable downtown property for $1, and the building, as a non-profit would not be on the tax rolls.

Bauer’s fellow council members roundly disagreed with his assessment noting the years of service CHC has provided to Middletown and residents in need

Stimulus Dollars for CHC

From the Community Health Center:

President Obama and his administration announced today that the Community Health Center (CHC) will receive $670,628 in federal stimulus funding.

The funding was announced by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro in her visit to CHC today and by a press release later in the day by U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd. Twelve health centers in the state received funding; however CHC received the single highest amount.

Community Health Center, Inc. will use the funding to expand primary care staff positions and capacity at two CHC primary sites in New Britain and Meriden. The stimulus funds will result in seven new positions and capacity to care for another 2,200 patients annually. In New Britain, the funds will support an expansion, due for completion in August, that will add 20,000 square feet to an existing building. In Meriden, the funding will support a renovation of existing space that has just begun. The funding will equip and furnish eight exam rooms in New Britain and the same in Meriden. The Meriden renovation is expected to be completed in April 2010.

“This funding will allow us to expand and renovate buildings and expand access to care for thousands of underinsured and uninsured patients in New Britain and Meriden,” said Mark Masselli, president and CEO of CHC. “It also provides for much-needed jobs. This would not be possible without the tireless leadership of our Connecticut delegation, who have worked hard to ensure that working families receive access to affordable health care.”

The money is part of a $338 million program that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress a few weeks ago.

Health Care Forum Today

This event is free and open to the public - sorry for the late notice.

Washington, DC - On Friday 27 March at 11 AM, Congresswoman Rosa L.
DeLauro (CT-3) will hold a roundtable discussion on health care reform
with constituents who have contacted her about health care coverage,
health care providers, business leaders and health policy experts who
are pressing for meaningful reform, at the Community Health Center (635
Main Street) in Middletown. This week is the 7th anniversary of Cover
the Uninsured Week, which was launched to foster conversation about
reforming our health care system and making affordable health insurance
available to the 46 million currently uninsured Americans.



Roundtable participants include:


Mary Beth Johnson, Middlefield - Mary Beth lost her job at Aetna in
January and is coping with losing her health insurance.  She is
currently covered by COBRA with Aetna subsidizing coverage for April &
May. However, beginning in June, the cost will be slightly over $900.00
per month for herself and her domestic partner - the cost alone is
nearly double what she receives in unemployment benefits.


Mark Masselli, President/CEO, Community Health Center - The Community
Health Center, Inc. (CHC) is a private nonprofit agency providing
affordable, high-quality primary health care, dental, mental health, and
social services to thousands of area residents from over 100 Connecticut
communities each year. CHC is one of the leading health care providers
in the state of Connecticut, offering services to the insured,
underinsured and uninsured for over 34 years.  CHC has twelve locations
throughout Connecticut.



Dr. Kristen Zarfos, St. Francis Hospital - Dr. Zarfos is a fellow in the
American College of Surgeons.  She is a general surgeon with a focus in
beast cancer care and is an assistant professor of surgery at the
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, as well as Director of the
St. Francis Comprehensive Breast Health Center in Hartford,
Connecticut. Dr. Zarfos has seen the human suffering caused when people
are uninsured or underinsured, including one woman who died of breast
cancer because she did not have insurance to cover the necessary health
care.


Larry McHugh, President of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce - As
president of the chamber, Larry works to ensure the chamber is a
resource for businesses in the community and has seen the effect of
skyrocketing health care costs on businesses.

Sharon Langer, M.Ed., J.D., CT Voices for Children - Senior Policy
Fellow at CT Voices. Her work focuses on health policy and financing
issues, particularly those affecting families and children. Ms. Langer
was recently appointed to the newly created HealthFirst Authority which
is charged with making findings and recommendations to the state
legislature concerning expanding coverage and access to health care in
CT. She currently coordinates the Covering Connecticut's Kids and
Families Coalition, a project of CT Voices, which brings together state
officials, community health providers, advocates, and others who seek to
help families enroll in the state's publicly funded health insurance
program, HUSKY.








WHERE:   Community Health Center

        635 Main StreetMiddletown, CT



WHEN:     Friday 27 March 2009

                 11 AM

Planning and Zoning Approves Community Health Center Exception

Representatives of the Community Health Center hoping to build a new headquarters on the corner of Main and Grand Street won approval to construct the building without retail on the ground floor level.

The new CHC will consolidate administrative offices and medical examination rooms from several Middletown buildings into the new headquarters.

Attorney Ralph Wilson, representing CHC, claimed that the Planning and Zoning Board had no authority to rule on parking, since the building is in a B1 zone, where parking does not have to be a part of a development package. Still he, and traffic and parking consulting engineer, Joseph Balskus spent an hour demonstrating how the CHC would be providing a net increase in parking in the North End, though the current lot of 55 spaces would be reduced to 29. Additional parking would be accessed by employees and patrons at a new lot next to the former trolley barn on Kings Avenue, and in the Liberty Square parking lot.

Mark Masselli, CEO of the Community Health Center, arrived to the meeting late as a result of meeting with Connecticut representaties in Washington DC today. Masselli addressed concerns of commission member Deborah Kleckowski who worried that approving an exception for a property which is not yet owned by CHC, and is, in fact, until April 1, out on RFP (Request For Proposal). Masselli explained that in the search for federal economic stimulus dollars, the process of vetting by municipal agencies has been compressed. He apologized for the need for haste, and city planner Bill Warner explained that CHC had accepted all responsibilities for liability if their plans were not approved.

"The building is another star for the North End," Masselli said. "We're hoping to do something our forefathers dreamed of for the North End. But we're in competition with 10,000 other applicants for stimulus dollars."

Eli Cannons owner Phil Ouellette appeared and spoke in favor of the development.

"We were in the North End before anybody wanted to be in the North End," Ouellette said. "And parking is important to our business. If the parking issue is to be solved as it was described, with better lighting, safer, and more aesthetically pleasing then it is now, I support it. This would connect us to the flow of Main Street."

Neighbors living in the homes at 12 and 16 Grand Street which will be demolished to make way for new parking worried about displacement.

"I would hate to see my home destroyed," said Brenda Stassola who lives at 16 Grand. "It would be a good idea if you could find me a place to move."

"I 'm hearing that this is a stimulus project," Patrick Young of 12 Grand Street said. "I'm a laid off construction worker, and I'd love to have a job working on this project."

For his part Masselli was open to helping in the relocation of families, hiring local workers and accepting design modifications for the building, including suggestions that a ground level brick wall on Grand Street include windows.

"We have a responsibility to the community. We have a responsibility regarding housing," Masselli said. "We don't throw people out onto the street. And it's been our mission to employ local people."

The commission also approved plans for a food manufacturing plant for Norpaco Gourmet Foods in the Liberty Commerce commercial park on Bysiewicz Drive.

Design Review Board Approves CHC Headquarters Concept

Middletown's Design Review and Preservation Board approved the design concept for the new proposed Community Health Center to be built on the corner of Grand and Main Street.

The project's architect, Robert Olson of Robert Olson and Associates, explained details of the new building to the board, noting materials to be used, dimensions and design attributes of the building and relationship to neighboring buildings.

Board member Brian Kronenberger raised concerns about the parking lot behind the proposed building, which will be a public lot, and the between-building passageway which will be used by patrons of Eli Cannon's.

"I wouldn't be comfortable to make the walk down that walkway at night," Kronenberger said. "Leaving Eli's your walk is essentially a gauntlet."

Board member Pat Evans agreed, "I wouldn't walk down it at all."

Members suggested that building planners work with the owners of Eli Cannon's to be sure that the walkway is wide enough to be inviting, and well-lit. In addition, one board member suggested that CHC work with Eli Cannon's to create a new back entrance through the area which is used in the summer as a patio.

More than one board member suggested that the building did not fit well with the current historic street scape found on Main Street.

"It's a very attractive building," Ben Shoemaker noted. "But it strikes me that it's too modern and out of place on Main Street. It doesn't include any of the details found at the roof line on the building across the street where the Community Health Center has offices. We need to ask questions about how much of the integrity of Main Street should remain."

Olson admitted that the plans presented didn't convey the detail of the building materials, and that the finished product would indeed match materials, colors and styles of Main Street buildings.

In approving the concept, a step needed for the Planning and Zoning Commission to schedule a public hearing, the Design Review Board asked CHC and the architect to submit more detailed plans as well as views of the proposed building from a perspective North of the building, detailing its relationship to Eli Cannon's.