Walk 2023: Day One
Started my annual Walk Across Connecticut yesterday! This year I’m beginning in Stafford and ending in East Haven. It’s gearing up to be a busy week crossing the state and talking to constituents, but also working from the road to build congressional support for Israel. I’ll be in constant contact with colleagues and other officials, helping to coordinate our response to the crisis in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
My office is also ready to help anyone with family in Israel. For more information, please visit murphy.senate.gov/emergency-israel.
A closer look at day one:
I started the day by walking for a while in Stafford with Bill Morrison and Rick Hartenstein, two great, active town leaders— they filled me in on all the news in town. I learned the Stafford Speedway had another good summer!
A little ways down the road, I stopped at the Ellington Depot General Store, a small business with a fascinating story. The Rogallas bought the abandoned site on a handshake deal 44 years ago. Over the years, they diversified and now run a deli, gas station, general store, and bakery. But expanding their business has been a real headache caused by so much bureaucratic red tape. This is the kind of story I would probably miss if I didn’t do this walk.
After a VERY long stretch of the walk without a single bathroom to be found, I was saved by the kind clerk at the Tolland Xtramart who allowed me to use the porta potty out back. This is the less glamorous side of walking across our state.
In Vernon, I stopped to eat lunch with leaders from the community at the famous Vernon Diner. They told me about the massive rental housing shortage here which is causing tons of families to be stuck in shelters even though they have the income to afford rent.
From Vernon, I took a rails to trails path and ran into my friend Mary and her mom Debbie. Mary and I met at Camp Horizons this summer, and she wanted to talk about creating more access for the developmentally disabled in higher education. It was great to catch up!
After that, I took a break from my walk route to attend an important rally in support of Israel in West Hartford. I’ll be honest – I seriously considered postponing my walk across the state in the wake of the atrocious and unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas.
I’m Chairman of the subcommittee that oversees Middle East policy in the Senate, and there’s a lot of timely and important work to be done in response to the events unfolding overseas. But I also know that this walk is an important opportunity to engage in this conversation with people across the state, to discuss in part why it’s so important for us as a state and as a country to come together as one voice in support of Israel.
After the rally, I still had a few miles to go to finish out day one of the walk before it got too dark. A few brisk miles later, I stopped in to Cafe Aura, Coach Geno Auriemma’s restaurant, in Manchester. I said hi to the crowd at the bar and met Paul, a great bartender there. Go huskies!
Crossed the finish line at Manchester Town Hall a bit after 7 pm – almost twelve hours after I started my day in Stafford.
Today is another full day — hoping to hit 20 miles! Going to get started bright and early. Looking forward to meeting and talking with loads of people along the way!
As a new constituent (transplant from Utah) I’m glad that you’re able to get outside and be in nature and community while doing the important work of helping the Israeli people. I hope the time serves not only as necessary constituent outreach, but also as a balm as you are, no doubt, experiencing trauma too.
Thank you, Senator Murphy, for your efforts to build congressional support for Israel even while you're on the road. Let us, your constituents, know how we can help. best regards, Barbara in New Haven