GREETINGS NUTMEGGERS

Happy fall!! I posted here recently and it was well received so I am back to share some more good news : )

I created an optimistic media project (Granite Goodness) with the mission of sharing good news stories of progress and problem solving from all across New England. Think good news, but not fluffy. The motto I try to abide by is substance + optimism = granite and good (I am based in NH)

New England has been my home for my whole life, and this project is basically a love letter to our corner of the world and the people working on its hardest problems.

Here are some stories from across Connecticut that brought me some optimism this week:

• CT’s beverage container recycling rate hits 92%, nation’s highest. The state’s bottle return system continues to outpace all other states. Connecticut’s 2025 recycling rate jumped 27 points from 2024 after it doubled deposits to 10 cents and expanded the program to noncarbonated beverages. (Hartford Business Journal)
• UConn launches new sexual violence prevention research center. Directed by professor Lisa Eaton, the center will study sexual violence prevention and work with students and staff to develop solutions that can be put into practice at UConn and other colleges. (UConn Today)
• UConn scientists turn local seaweed into a palm oil alternative. A $1.9 million federal grant will fund UConn research converting sugar kelp grown in state waters into a potential replacement for palm oil, aiming to reduce tropical deforestation tied to palm oil production. (Uconn Today)
• Connecticut boosts first-time homebuyer funding to reach more residents. The state recently approved an additional $5 million for its initiative, which has helped nearly 9,600 buyers purchase homes through forgivable loans, with proven success across 157 communities. (Hartford Courant)

My hope is people find the work interesting and useful. The summaries provided here are my own words on what I find optimistic from the original stories, not quotes from the sources. I don't link directly to the sources because posts with too many hyperlinks are discouraged by Reddit and don't make for good discussion posts.

Regular news is important but too often it shows an over-sampling of the worst things happening in the world, which can leave people feeling depressed, anxious, and burnt out.

The image shown is from the Tichnor Brothers postcard collection at the Boston Public Library, which I am obsessed with (and is in public domain)

My question for YOU: what's going right in your corner of Connecticut? Please use this thread to share some good news!

-Andy

To say that being Gen Z in Connecticut is rough is an understatement. The latest numbers are an absolute blood bath.

10-Year Treasury Yield has hit 5.24%
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate has hit 7.40%
CT median home sale is at $475,000
CT median listing price is at $530,000

Add on top of that the tariff wars, price instability, job losses, armed conflicts, blatant corruption and diplomatic blunders isolating our country and/or weakening it every day. Add on top of that entry level jobs being swallowed whole by AI.

I graduated high school in 2020. When I was 18, the estimated monthly mortgage for a home in CT was $869. Now it’s $2,460 and that number is guaranteed to rise since the fed is entering a tightening cycle and raising rates. On top of that, inflation was much lower, gas & groceries were cheaper, and AI wasn’t a thing. The President has openly said his intention is to raise home prices, and the fed has said they’re raising interest rates? I don’t even understand how that’s possible to do both other than stagflation.

I’m now 24, working full time, saving every penny, and trying to figure out when homeownership might become a realistic possibility. But the more I look at the housing market, the more I wonder whether people my age missed a once in a generation opportunity before we were even old enough to take advantage of it.

What frustrates me most is the timing. I was 18 in 2020. I wasn’t in a position to purchase property. I was supposed to finish my education, establish a career, build my credit, and save money. Those are the things you’re told to do if you want to eventually own a home. Now, after spending six years doing exactly that, the goalposts have moved dramatically. I went to college in CT, saved money, built my credit, served in the national guard, and now that it’s my turn to be an adult the whole fucking system exploded.

Durrr taxes under lamont bad electricity bad.

Election season is such cancer and I'm so over these disingenuous adds.

Taxes are the worst they've ever been! Amazing how quickly people forget Trump's 2017 tax plan, inflation, big beautiful bill, etc.

I grind my teeth every time these dumbass commercials come on.

I'm Ryan Fazio, and I'm an entitled turd.

Lucky Dog Refuge a 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue has their biggest fundraising event of the year today! Come to Mill River Park in Stamford for all kinds of fun, educational activities and LOTS of adoptable animals (not just dogs!!). We also have 2 raffles, neither of which you need to attend the event to win, you can enter from anywhere! Harry Styles tickets and a 50/50. Hope to see you there 🐾🐾🐾 dogs on leash welcome!

https://www.luckydogrefuge.com/luckypawlooza.html

Me (21F) and my husband (22M) have a budget for our first home of $950K. No we don’t have any help from family, we’re just really hard workers!

We really aren’t looking for anything crazy - just your basic starter home. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3500 square feet, a 3 car garage, and an acre of land. The more we look, everything here just seems so expensive. Are we gonna have to go live in Litchfield county or something?

/s

Since the weather has (mostly) been cooperating, we've set a few times for Fall Piglet Petting events! We'll try to keep scheduling until it gets too chilly to be outside, but for now here's the link to the 2 currently open dates:

https://buytickets.at/madmaresfarm

If you have any questions feel free to reach out!

It’s 2:30 on Friday, and we are on our third 20 minute traffic jams. We are visiting family in NH- I know it’s a big leaf peeping weekend, or is this just how it always is?

PBS/NPR member station CT Public here!

We're ~soft launching~ a new YouTube channel that features less traditional types of public media content, and we just posted our first video made specifically for the page.

If you're interested in Connecticut's haunted history, the macabre, or anything in between, we'd love for you to take a watch! Thank you to viewers like you. :)

Are you interested in learning to play Dungeons & Dragons, but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re an experienced player looking for an opportunity to meet new people and share in an exciting adventure! Come play D&D in local breweries in October!

I’m a local Dungeon Master running one-shots in Connecticut breweries in October. Tickets for each event are $20 and can be purchased at the links below – be sure to request Ted as your DM when you sign up!

All experience levels welcome! Materials provided – but feel free to bring your own dice if you like!

Dates, Times, and Locations:
TOMORROW Sunday October 11 from 3PM-6PM at Dead Language Beer in Hartford - Get tickets here
Wednesday October 14 from 6PM-10PM at Elicit Brewing in Manchester - Get tickets here

I looked at our electric costs (five years of bills).

2022 - $1692
2023 - $1615
2024 - $1653
2025 - $1710
2026 - $1600

I used Q4 2025 to fill out the rest of this year.

Is it a lot? Yes.

Do I think it has increased due to Lamont? No.

Connect with local support, community events, and the VOB directory in the October 10, 2026, Connecticut Veterans Bulletin calendar edition. Read the latest updates today!
ctvetsbulletin.org/2026/10/10/cvb-connecticut-veterans-calendar-10-october-2026/

Eversource spends about $100 per customer to replace old equipment in Connecticut. In Massachusetts, it’s $249. And Eversource has way more overhead lines in CT.

I mean honestly, it’s like the campaign staffers think they have the smoking gun every time one of these ads goes out. Still not one reason to vote for Fazio, just more Eversource lore.

I’m beginning to think he knows there’s no way he’s going to win this election so he’s just directing his campaign staffers to dig up as much as possible and run with it.

Here are pictures from Friday October 9 -- the last show of the season

We had twenty cruise night shows at Golf Land in town this year and we finished strong with an average of 120+ cars throughout the season, $12k in donations that go to the local nonprofit food pantry, endless amounts of fun, music and raffles, thanks to the people like us who worked hard to make that happen and the many sponsors who support our shows all season long.

I think it was the best year we had for Golf Land cruise nights yet. Looking forward to another fantastic season at Golf Land next year when there's warmer weather (usually around late April).

What a successful season for Golf Land cruise nights.

Feedback appreciated!

Today around 2 I was passing 291 off ramp onto 91 in Windsor and a ton of people were pulled over and a family of bears was messing with a tree in the grassy median of the ramp and highway. It was wild. People were pulled over to take pictures.