Home Care In New Haven, CT

The figure in the image had six fingers on one hand. The words on the figure’s hat and vest were indecipherable gibberish. What appeared to be a turkey was wearing an orange hunting vest.

The image shared Friday by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on the agency's Facebook and Instagram pages was mocked online as obviously generated by AI.

By Tuesday, the image had been removed and replaced with something more traditional, a photo that included a flesh-and-blood human being, with the requisite number of fingers.

“An earlier version of this post contained an AI-generated image,” the post said. “It is not common practice for DEEP communications to use AI-generated images. DEEP communications typically uses real photos obtained in the field, or stock images, for our social media posts wherever possible.”

The state wants its employees to use generative AI whenever possible, within a predefined framework and with appropriate guardrails. But the DEEP post is an example of how pervasive AI has become, and how difficult it is to monitor its use across the state’s many agencies and 46,000 employees.

“Employees are encouraged to use generative AI, with vigorous human oversight, to help offload menial tasks and assist with productivity,” state Department of Administrative Services spokesman Leigh Appleby said.

Experts say while the quickly evolving AI technology offers opportunities to make government more efficient, it can also create vulnerabilities in systems that maintain a state’s worth of personal data.

“I do think that we will be forced to reckon with how we build the next generation of critical thought, perhaps without all of the hands-on learning,” said Mark Raymond, chief information officer for the state of Connecticut. “There are concerns that blind reliance on the technology without addressing that other part, how we keep people learning those skills, would be problematic.”

AI, Raymond said, is “creeping in, in ways that are harder to detect and harder to raise awareness of.”

AI currently in use

Two years ago, the state legislature passed a law creating a board, or working group, to keep an eye on how AI is and how it might be used. That law also required the administrative services department to create an annual inventory of how artificial intelligence is used in state agencies, and a framework that state employees are required to follow when using it.

The image shared by DEEP, as spokesman Will Healey confirmed, was created using an online service called Canva, which didn’t always have AI functionality. That’s why it’s not on the most recent inventory.

“While Canva was not included in last year's AI inventory, several agencies do have professional licenses, and I would expect it to be included in the 2025 inventory,” Appleby said. “It is a challenge to track and manage vendors adding AI to products that are already in use.”

When it first came in, “Canva didn't have those AI capabilities,” Raymond said. “We did approve the AI use for a different agency, so it's not like we weren't aware of the product or the use. But it also clearly is something that we need to be watching.”

Many agencies are actively using AI. The Department of Insurance, for example, uses a tool called Kira, which “reviews statutory or regulatory language against forms filed by industry to ensure compliance with those statutes and regulations,” according to the 2024 inventory.

Multiple agencies use a service called Abnormal Security, which “leverages AI and machine learning to provide real-time detection and response capabilities for email-based threats.” CrowdStrike, also used by multiple agencies, “uses AI and machine learning to provide real-time detection and response to a wide range of cyber threats, such as visualizing potential attacks in real-time.”

Another service, Pyrra, “uses AI to identify potential misinformation related to CT election laws and administration on social media sites.”

The administrative services' Bureau of Information Technology Solutions is “currently evaluating several AI use cases, including pilot programs for ChatGPT and the full Copilot program,” Appleby said. “All CT.gov email users now have access to Copilot chat — that's the version that's not integrated across all Microsoft applications but provides helpful assistance in an environment that protects user information.”

Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams also have AI functionality, so they’re on the inventory, too, as are commonly used services such as WordPress and Zoom. Five pages long now, that inventory is expected to grow considerably.

“We have hundreds and thousands of products in use in a variety of different places, and they're getting AI features introduced into them,” Raymond said. “It's not like the AI was out there when we started using them, but we cross another month and someone introduces a new feature, and now all of a sudden AI is a part of what you're doing.”

‘Vulnerabilities'

The rapidly shifting AI landscape presents some challenges, said Vahid Behzadan, who studies and teaches about AI policy at the University of New Haven.

“Figuring out the new threats that emanate from integration of AI in different tools and technologies is still in its early days,” he said. “There are guidelines on making certain types of AI systems more secure. Of course, security is never 100% guaranteed.”

Digital tools that were relatively secure are less so after they are integrated with artificial intelligence, Behzadan said: “AI systems are cyber systems, and similar to all other cyber systems, they come with their own vulnerabilities.”

Valuable information must be better protected as AI use grows, Raymond said. The AI framework, by which all state employees are required to abide, asks questions such as: How do we use this data, and where is our data going?, he said.

Everyone is in “full alignment” to say, “We as a state will use these technologies in a way that does not expose the critical data in our care or used to train AI models," he said.

“The need to operate to understand the data that you're using and where it's going and how it's protected is fundamental to our underlying approach and our policies and our pilots,” Raymond said.

Some pilot programs with ChatGPT and Microsoft guarantee data will not be shared outside of Connecticut, but that comes with a cost.

“Those kinds of characteristics come with higher class models. If it's free, and if people are using the free version, then your data is the price of entry,” Raymond said. “We do not do that in the state, and have taken efforts to educate people on the dangers of doing so.”

Behzadan listed some of the general concerns to consider when engaging with an AI model, but specifically important to government work: “Accuracy, bias, trustworthiness and responsibility. Essentially, to ensure that the AI tools used by the government for the purposes of tasks that are within the responsibility of the government body are trustworthy. They do what they should do.

“If things go wrong, they are caught, they can be mitigated, and also, somebody is held accountable for making sure that the AI system is running without any deleterious impact on people's lives,” he said.

The promise of AI

Despite some concerns, Raymond and Behzadan are both excited about what AI technology can do for the state government.

Ideas such as translation services and information accessibility are low-hanging fruit, but there are other ideas, too, “such as monitoring traffic patterns in emergency management, monitoring the state of how a storm has affected particular neighborhoods, automatically and autonomously and so on,” Behzadan said.

With Connecticut’s state government with more than 45,000 employees engaged in a variety of tasks at 40 different agencies, AI can make it easier for residents to manage their own data within state government, Raymond said.

“The use of some of these tools to allow you as an individual to operate more efficiently with our different agencies, I think will will change the nature of how people consume government services,” he said.

There are rules and laws that would keep agencies themselves from sharing data, but nothing would prevent the state from providing a tool residents could use to corral their own data.

“Then when you interact with us, say, ‘Look, here's my current stuff,’ in a really automated way,” Raymond said.

For example, a person who has been laid off and is having difficulty paying rent. The state offers services that could help, and AI could make it smoother to access them.

“Instead of you thinking about having to apply for a specific benefit, what if you were to say, ‘Dear Connecticut, I have a need right now. Tell me all the different things that I might qualify for to help me transition from an out-of-work experience to additional training to bridge a temporary financial gap,” Raymond said.

“Don't think about going to one agency and applying. Your curated data matched with what we offer from our programs, can actually lower those barriers between how we think about what we provide. That's where I think this is going," he said.

Jordan Nathaniel Fenster is a reporter with CT Insider. He's worked as a journalist covering politics, cannabis, public health, social justice and more for 25 years. Jordan's work has appeared in The New York Times and USA Today in addition to multiple regional and local newspapers. He is an award-winning reporter, podcaster and children's book author. He serves as senior enterprise reporter and lives in Stamford with his dog, cat and three daughters. He can be reached at [email protected].

I was not surprised that New Haven proved triumphant with more than 4,500 attendees for their Apizza Feast a couple of weeks ago. It’s no secret the Elm City has a plethora of pizza spots and a storied history around the crispy thin-style pizza, but my love for apizza has also been rekindled recently.

The world’s largest pizza party prior to New Haven’s record was in Tulsa, Okla., as they had more than 3,300 in attendance two years ago. Guinness World Record officials chronicled New Haven’s challenge to Tulsa’s record but there were also a variety of pizza distribution and witnessing rules.

New Haven’s Apizza Feast was great timing since Connecticut’s economic development and tourist agencies have been promoting the state’s passion for pizza. The Department of Motor Vehicles even has a new pizza license plate.

Nearly 20 of New Haven’s notable apizza eateries were at the pizza party. The debate is ongoing about which has the best pie, especially among the “apizza trinity” of Modern, Pepe’s and Sally’s. And there have been many newer pizza restaurants, especially in the last decade.

BAR tends to draw attention among the nouveau pizza places. Aside from it being a Yalie staple with sizable backrooms for events and weekend partying, their Americanized pizza includes an unusual but savory mashed potato and bacon pie.

I prefer going to BAR on a balmy evening, and visited last week when friends were in town. Since my friends are microbrewery fans, I knew they would appreciate BAR’s summer ales on draft. Plus, we were fortunate to be seated immediately without a reservation on a Friday night.

I openly confess my preference for Frank Pepe’s since their pepperoni is especially spicy and the staff has always been hospitable to me over the years. Modern Apizza is consistent with their pizza-making and I am grateful for their adjusting to larger parties. But I remain on the fence which clam apizza is my favorite (between Pepe’s and Modern).

Asking apizza fans their favorite New Haven pizza haunt is like questioning an auto enthusiast about their preferred German car. One will get a variety of reasons why they like a particular pizza or a certain auto maker. And since Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy has only stirred the pot further with his pizza-scoring, ranking favorite pizzas around New Haven and beyond has become a hobby for many.

Add me to the list of apizza aficionados since I go to apizza spots regularly. But I have not been going to Sally’s as frequently as I did during COVID. Sally’s was innovative throughout the pandemic, with the parking lot transformed into an extra-large tent space. The waiting lines were shorter and dining was al fresco.

But my 6-year-old godson taught this old professor something new about a place I already appreciate. We have a pizza tradition with his brother and father just before the school year begins.

Sally’s was at the top of our list but I feared those infamous lines and waiting times are not worth the drama with two pugnacious kid brothers. But there is a Sally’s near my godson’s house, so we all had lunch at the Wethersfield location.

I prefer the Stamford location and layout, but the Wethersfield Sally’s was similar with little wait time. Plus, their summer shrimp scampi apizza was superb and I’m still obsessing about it.

Maybe visiting pizza haunts frequently is what it takes during this pizza-craze era. But going to the various Sally’s and Pepe’s locations around Connecticut could add to appreciating apizza even more.

Jonathan L. Wharton, Ph.D., is associate professor of political science and urban affairs as well as sociology department chairman at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

For many, College Night was more than just about freebies. It offered a chance to make New Haven feel like home.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Downtown New Haven came alive Thursday night as over 1,500 students filled the Shops at Yale for the return of College Night.

The annual event, hosted by Yale University Properties, is designed to connect students with local businesses through food, music, culture, and community. It drew hundreds of attendees from several colleges for the largest public student gathering in the area.

Students enjoyed free food samples, giveaways, shopping discounts and live entertainment while exploring Broadway and the surrounding streets.

“It’s just very welcoming,” one student said. “I honestly love it, just getting to know all the local people and places, it’s really nice.”

For many, College Night was more than just about freebies. It offered a chance to make New Haven feel like home.

“Sometimes when you go to college, you’re away from home,” another student shared. “It’s kind of like finding a second home and a second family in that.”

Gina Cruz, a student from New Jersey who attends the University of New Haven, said the event gave her a chance to experience part of the city.

“What brings me is, honestly, the free things,” Cruz said with a laugh. “But also, I don’t get to explore this area the way that Yale students do and College Night gives me the opportunity to not only explore, but meet the store owners too.”

The shops offered more than food, local art and live music. Community spaces gave students reasons to discover and connect. For University of New Haven roommates Giana Greco and Livia Zaldivar, the event is a must.

“The deals were really good,” Greco said. “Sometimes downtown can be a little expensive and it’s nice that we can sample everything and then come back to what we liked.”

Zaldivar agreed, saying the night was as much about bonding as it was about exploring.

“Usually it’s just school and then back to the dorm,” she said. “This is a good opportunity to understand there are more of us—we’re all in it together. Plus, I drag my roommates along every time because they always have free stuff.”

As the night ended, students like Cruz said they will be back for the next College Night.

“The vibes, the music, the food, the culture—I really enjoy everything about it,” she said. “Every time they have this, I’m here.”

Yale University, one of the city’s largest taxpayers, continues to support events like College Night as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen ties between students and businesses in the community.

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New scholarship supported by Microboard and PTA Plastics creates another bridge between industry and academia, supporting the University's vision of being a leader in educating the elite global workforce of the future.

The University of New Haven is proud to announce a new scholarship program created in partnership with Microboard and PTA Plastics aimed at supporting students pursuing degrees in engineering and technology-related fields. This initiative reflects the University's continued commitment to preparing future innovators as well as both companies' long-term commitment to strengthening Connecticut's manufacturing workforce and investing in future innovation.

Through this scholarship, Microboard and PTA Plastics seek to empower University of New Haven students with the resources and industry support needed to launch successful careers in advanced manufacturing and related sectors.

"The collaboration with Microboard and PTA Plastics reflects exactly what we strive for in our corporate partnerships: meaningful engagement that benefits both students and the industries they will serve," said Paul Lavoie, vice president of innovation and applied technology at the University of New Haven. "We are proud to work alongside these companies to help prepare the engineers of tomorrow and strengthen Connecticut's manufacturing future."

"This partnership is more than just a scholarship — it's a strategic investment in the future of advanced manufacturing" said Nicole Russo, CEO of Microboard. "Microboard is proud to support students who will become the engineers and innovators of tomorrow."

"Sponsoring an engineering scholarship at the University of New Haven is more than a gift — it's an investment in the innovators who will shape our future," said Mike Rocheleau, executive vice president of PTA Plastics. By supporting talented students, PTA hopes to help bridge the gap between academic potential and real-world impact. Together, PTA, Microboard, and the University of New Haven can empower the next generation of engineers to solve the challenges of tomorrow."

The new scholarship underscores the University's expanding corporate partnership efforts, which connect students with industry leaders committed to building strong and sustainable talent pipelines. It also reinforces the critical link between industry and higher education, helping to ensure a skilled, prepared, and inspired talent pipeline for years to come.

"The partnership also aligns with the University's vision for its new Center for Innovation and Applied Technology, which will serve as a hub for collaboration between faculty, students, and industry partners in areas such as manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity, biotech, and machine learning," said James Barone, director of development. "Together, initiatives such as this scholarship and the Center will create opportunities that empower students and fuel innovation across Connecticut and beyond."

EAST HAVEN, CT — East Haven’s Hobson Street will become an epicenter of gratitude for service and sacrifice this Saturday starting at 8 a.m., as Hamden-based Veterans Service Organization House of Heroes Connecticut takes over the block to provide no-cost home repairs and property maintenance services for four distinguished and deserving East Haven Veterans in need.

More than 30 volunteers from Project Partners Liberty Bank; Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company; and the Honorable W. Patrick Donlin Assembly 2459 of the Knights of Columbus, New Haven will join forces to assist U.S. Army and Vietnam Veteran Bill Heaney, 76, U.S. Navy Veteran Paul Murphy, 83, U.S. Navy Veteran Bernie Russo, 74 and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Doug Stack, 86. All four men live on Hobson Street.

"This will be one special day of service, bringing together so many from far and wide to assist these four veterans and long-time neighbors," said House of Heroes Connecticut Executive Director CarolMay.

Work begins at the four homes at 8 a.m. and is expected to wrap up by early afternoon. The properties have varying needs; among the tasks to be tackled, not necessarily at each home, are power washing, painting and staining, yard clean-up, miscellaneous exterior repairs, gutter cleaning and more.

The American Legion Post 89 Auxiliary, East Haven, will provide breakfast and lunch for volunteers.

Heaney, a New Haven native, joined the Army in 1966 and served in the Army Airborne. He served inVietnam for more than eight months, earning a variety of honors including, among others, the Purple Heart.

Murphy, who grew up in the Fair Haven section of New Haven, served in the Navy from 1961 to1966, including overseas duty in Italy.

Russo, who grew up in East Haven, served in the Navy from 1970 to 1972, including time in Okinawa, Japan and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Stack grew up in Schenectady, New York, and served in the Marines from 1960 to 1964. He was among those on duty off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The four projects bring House of Heroes Connecticut’s total number of Veterans served since its 2012founding to 276 in 74 Connecticut communities and eight additional states.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, HOHCT recognizes, honors and serves military and public safety veterans and/or their surviving spouses in need through the provision of no-cost home repairs focusing on safety and accessibility. For more information, visit www.hohct.org.