In the News | Norwich resource fair resonates with vets of all ages

Norwich, CT (Norwich Bulletin, March 22, 2018) —  Andrew Broggins is a 29-year-old Navy veteran looking for a job.

The submariner from Norwich, who is a Pennsylvania native, graduated from Three Rivers Community College in 2012 after studying electric engineering and technology. He is expected to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in May. But he returned to his old stomping ground on Thursday to attend the fifth annual Veterans Resource Fair, and brought along with him a few copies of his resume.

More than 40 organizations ranging from state agencies, employers and health care groups, as well as 13 yellow ribbon colleges were in attendance for the event, offering a variety of resources for veterans of all ages.

“It can be very challenging for veterans to get a job,” Broggins said. “You come out of the service with a lot of skills and experience, and when you go for the interview, people always say thank you for your service. The energy is there, but it’s difficult to get over that hump.”

For fellow retired Navy submariner Jon Pierce, 61, of Oakdale, Broggins story sounds very familiar.

“For older veterans, there is a lot of difficulty when it comes to technology. They aren’t familiar with email, or job search sites. Some of them don’t know how to use a computer, and some don’t want to know,” he said.

At Thursday’s fair, Pierce was making the rounds to collect business cards and pamphlets from local resources, in hopes of passing on the information to other veterans.

“This area has a very heavy population of veterans,” Sharon Lincoln, who works as a student support specialist at the community college and organizes the annual fair, said. “And there is even a high ratio of veterans at this school, too… We don’t just want this to be a fair for our students; we want this to be for the entire community.”

World War II veteran William Robinson, 92, of Preston, attends as many veteran fairs and events as he can. The Marine vet said he was keeping an eye out for a fellow World War II vet, though he always hopes to meet new faces, as well.

“There aren’t many of us left,” he said. “Things like this are so important. If we don’t keep this community active, then we risk being forgotten.”

 — By Stephanie Menders

The original article, as well as additional photos and videos, can be found here: ‘Norwich resource fair resonates with vets of all ages’

In the News | Uncas Health District conducts flu clinic in Norwich

Norwich, Conn (The Day, February 12, 2018) — Joe Angelico of Bozrah said his visit to a flu clinic on Saturday was more out of necessity than it was his own fear of catching the flu.

His wife insisted. “She’s been harassing me. She feels it’s safer and she’s got hers already,” he said.

Angelico was among what were expected to be dozens of others to roll up their sleeves at the Otis Library during a flu clinic hosted by the Uncas Health District. Health department personnel were joined by nursing students from Three Rivers Community College and volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps program.

Mary Tramontozzi, a nurse with the Medical Corps Volunteers, administers the flu shot to Joe Angelico of Bozrah on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at Otis Library. The Connecticut Department of Public Health teamed up with local health departments to provide free or low-cost influenza vaccines at several locations across the state on Saturday for State Flu Vaccination Day. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)

The clinic, funded through the state Department of Public Health, is part of the state’s response to the severity and longevity of the flu season this year. For the week ending Feb. 3, emergency room visits in the state from people complaining of fever or flu-like symptoms were at the highest levels since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, state Department of Public Health statistics show.

A total of 3,895 people had tested positive for influenza in Connecticut as of Feb. 3, with 1,360 requiring hospitalizations. There have been 63 influenza-associated deaths in Connecticut during that time, state Department of Public Health statistics released on Thursday show.

Of the deaths, 52 were people over the age of 65. The number of deaths appear to be on par with last season, when 65 deaths were reported in the state.

Susan Dubb, the public health nurse for the Uncas Health District, said Saturday’s clinic was part of an overall push to help prevent further deaths, hospitalizations and spread of the flu.

Jie Chen, a nursing student at Three Rivers Community College, administers the flu shot to Dan Tenuto of Norwich on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at Otis Library. The Connecticut Department of Public Health teamed up with local health departments to provide free or low-cost influenza vaccines at several locations across the state on Saturday for State Flu Vaccination Day. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)

“This year has been a particularly virulent season,” she said. “And we haven’t really reached the peak of our flu season. Even when we peak, there will be a plateauing after that, even though we may not continue to see increases.”

She said it was an exceptionally early flu season by Connecticut standards.

“We usually don’t see flu cases rolling into New London County until January,” she said. “I saw my first case in November. That’s why we’re being so pushy about people getting their flu shots early in the season.”

There are also reports of pharmacies running out of the flu vaccine. It’s not something unexpected since the demand usually drops by this time of the year but it has led to some frantic calls, she said.Angelico said he had stopped into the pharmacy at his local Stop & Shop grocery store for a flu shot and was told he could sign up on a waiting list.

Steve Flaherty and Emily Wilkinson had driven to Norwich from Niantic on Saturday to get their flu shots because they hadn’t found a place locally with the vaccine in stock.

“We called all the pharmacies all around us. They were all out,” Flaherty said.

Flu shots remain available by appointment at Uncas Health, which serves eight other towns besides Norwich, and Ledge Light Health District, which serves New London and surrounding towns.

Dubb said the flu vaccine available this year protects against four types of flu strains. Despite its well-publicized low effectiveness on one common strain known as H3N2, it still could reduce the length and severity of the illness, especially for the elderly and children.

“Unfortunately, with the focus on the H3N2, people said ‘It’s not effective so I’m not going to get it,’” she said. “That’s not a great message.”

— By Greg Smith, Day staff writer

The original article can be found here: ‘Uncas Health District conducts flu clinic in Norwich’

In the News | TRCC Receives Grant to Help Homeless Students

Three Rivers received a grant and increased resources for homeless students. Both The Day and the Norwich Bulletin covered this news in the articles below.

Three Rivers seeks to help homeless students stay in school

— By Anna Maria Della Costa, Norwich Bulletin staff writer

Norwich, CT (Norwich Bulletin, November 8, 2017) — With recent studies showing that up to half of community college students are housing insecure and many are homeless, Three Rivers Community College is increasing resources for those students.

Three Rivers recently received a $7,000 Melville Charitable Trust grant to help officials provide students with books, educational supplies, transportation, day care, food vouchers and medical assistance to enable them to remain in school.

Marjorie Valentin, the associate dean at Three Rivers, said she also hopes the support will help students obtain sustainable employment and break the cycle of homelessness.

“Three Rivers Community College estimates 20 students per semester are experiencing housing instability, defined as individuals formally homeless, homeless or in danger of homelessness,” Valenin said. ”… This funding will help the college’s most vulnerable population with daily living.”

The grant comes from the Employment and Educational Opportunity Fund, and provides modest, highly flexible support for essential educational expenses of homeless or formerly homeless individuals, according to a press release.

“Given the increase in homelessness,” Mary Ellen Jukoski, Three Rivers president, said, “this is important news for the college and our students.”

Three Rivers will also participate in the 2018 CT Coalition to End Homelessness Youth Count survey. Sharon Lincoln, a student support specialist, will act as the team lead for the survey and be the “point person” for homeless students on campus, officials said.

Lincoln will help connect students with the food pantry, scholarships, off campus resources and more, the release states.

Valentin said it’s the third annual Youth Count, which begins Jan. 24 and runs for a week. It will help identify homeless and unstably housed youth, many of whom never enter homeless shelters.

“TRCC will survey students and gather critical data which will enable the college to identify homeless students in need of basic living and educational supports,” Valentin said.

Where to call: If you are a student at Three Rivers Community College who needs help finding food or shelter, or if you know a student who might, call Sharon Lincoln at (860) 215-9264 to set up a consultation.

The original article can be found here: Three Rivers seeks to help homeless students stay in school

Three Rivers receives grant to serve homeless and at risk students

New London, CT (The Day, January 7, 2018) — Three Rivers Community College has received a $7,000 grant from the Melville Charitable Trust to offer education and employment services to students who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Recent studies show that up to half of community college students nationwide are housing insecure and 14 percent are homeless, Three Rivers officials said in a press release announcing receipt of the grant.

The grant will fund expenses related to the educational and employment goals of homeless students. In addition to the grant funding, Three Rivers is participating in the Youth Count Survey as part of the 2018 Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and has named a point person for homelessness on campus.

“Three Rivers Community College is thankful to receive support from the Melville Charitable Trust to assist our homeless and formally homeless students,” Marjorie Valentin, associate dean of Workforce and Community Education said in the press release. “This funding will help the college’s most vulnerable population with daily living costs such as transportation, day care, food, books and shelter so they can continue their educational pathway and obtain sustainable employment.”

Three Rivers has named Sharon Lincoln, a student support specialist as the point person for homeless students on campus. Lincoln’s role is to ensure that students have access to resources that will help them be successful students. This can include connecting them with the food pantry, scholarships, off campus resources and more. Lincoln will also act as the team lead when Three Rivers participates in the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness 2018 Connecticut Youth Count.

The Youth Count will kick off its third year to help identify homeless and unstably housed youth, many of whom never enter homeless shelters. Three Rivers is collaborating with the coalition to attain a comprehensive count to understand better the scope of the magnitude, needs, and demographics of homeless youth in the state.

Any Three Rivers students needing help finding food or shelter and anyone knowing someone in that situation are asked to call Lincoln at (860) 215-9264 to set up a consultation appointment.

“Given the increase in homelessness, this is important news for the college and our students,” Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski said of the grant.

The original article can be found here: Three Rivers receives grant to serve homeless and at risk students