Remembering Nancy Wyman, Sales Tax-Free Week Begins Sunday

August 13, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

I’m sure many of you saw the news yesterday of former Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman’s passing. Her entire career was dedicated to the betterment of people’s lives, and the loss is felt deeply. So many beautiful tributes were shared yesterday, and I hope they bring comfort to her family. 

Sales Tax-Free Week is next week, and I’ve included the updated and expanded list of items included. I’m grateful we continue to find ways to help make back-to-school more affordable. 

Don’t sleep on the annual Lobsterfest by the Canton Volunteer Fire Department next weekend (August 21 and 22) in Canton. The proceeds from the event are how they fund many of the amazing things they do for the community each year. 

Finally, I’m in Washington, D.C. this week for a Medicaid Leadership Academy learning all about the upcoming changes and significant effects to people who are covered by Medicaid (HUSKY in CT).

I will share more on this soon, but it’s incredibly daunting to realize how many people may lose coverage and how much we need to understand these coverage impacts as we plan for 2027 and 2028. 

Have a good week,

Eleni

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
 

Remembering Nancy Wyman

I first met Nancy Wyman when I began to help out on the Avon Democratic Committee. She was larger than life for such a tiny woman in such statuesque heels. Her public service was unmatched, and I may have fangirled more than once.

Nancy had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room when she took the time to speak to you. She was someone who showed up to fundraisers, festivals, and anywhere you asked her to be.

I recall vividly a story she told me of her time as an X-ray technician before Roe became the law of the land. She was a fierce advocate for legal and safe abortion because she saw firsthand the women who came in for an X-ray and the wire hanger was still inside them from a botched abortion.

She didn’t have to imagine that women’s lives were on the line because she knew they were.

Then-Gov. Malloy said she was the best partner he could have asked for, and history tells us the truth of that statement.

My condolences to her family, and may her memory be eternal.
 

Sales Tax-Free Week Begins Sunday

The 2026 Connecticut Sales Tax-Free Week begins Sunday through Saturday, August 22nd.

This week provides a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

During this week, sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax.

This exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers. 

However, certain items are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax-Free Week exemption.

The following items are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax-Free Week exemption:

  • Any special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed; and
  • Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body but not worn on the body in the manner characteristic of clothing.

Please click HERE for a list of items that are exempt from sales tax and a list of items still taxable.

This legislative session, we passed a state budget to expand eligibility during Sales Tax-Free Week, making this the first year Sales Tax-Free Week includes items such as clothing, shoes, and backpacks priced under $300, up from $100 in previous years. Click HERE for more information on Connecticut's Sales Tax-Free Week and frequently asked questions.
 

CT Revolution Family Saturdays 

Connecticut’s Revolution examines how Connecticut residents both affected and were affected by the events of the American Revolution.

The Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History have announced that during the year-long Connecticut’s Revolution exhibit, the Museum, at 231 Capitol Ave. in Hartford, will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and also on one Saturday per month, to help ensure that as many residents as possible will have the opportunity to see the exhibit.

The first of these “Family Saturdays” will be this Saturday, August 15.

Connecticut’s Revolution will run through July 9, 2027, at the Museum of Connecticut History. Admission is always free.
 

Pine Grove Schoolhouse Renovations

The 161-year-old Pine Grove Schoolhouse, operated by the Avon Historical Society, is undergoing some renovations, with a public unveiling scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26th, and a documentary featuring the site planned for 2027! Click on the image to check out Mike Lemanski's great read for more details in Patch.
(Photo credit: Avon Historical Society via Patch)
 

Investing in Downtown Hartford 

The state is making a $20 million investment to establish a new 100,000-square-foot Hartford Innovation Center at State House Square in downtown Hartford.

Funded through the Connecticut Innovation Clusters Program and administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the center will bring together workers, students, startups, employers, researchers, and public agencies to build skills, test emerging technologies, and accelerate the responsible adoption of AI.

The public-facing campus will feature labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces, with a focus on strengthening Connecticut’s key industries, including insurance, healthcare, financial services, advanced manufacturing, and government.

The Hartford award is the second investment through the $100 million Connecticut Innovation Clusters Program, which supports the growth and application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing across the state’s economy.

The first award, announced in September 2025, provided $50.5 million for public infrastructure and facilities in downtown New Haven to accelerate the development of quantum technologies and their applications in sectors such as the life sciences.

Click here to read the full release.
 

Reminder: Flood Risk Open House 

A FEMA Open House for the Farmington River watershed (Hartford County) flood map update project will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Avon Public Library.

This is a free event and open to the public. FEMA and state staff will be at the event to answer any questions and review revised flood maps with attendees.
 

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