Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Dear Neighbor,

As chilly as it was this morning, the reality of back-to-school is nearly upon us. I hope you've had a chance to take advantage of sales tax-free week on many items the kiddos need for the school year. I've included some school bus safety reminders this week as we get back into the swing of things.
 
Huge congratulations to Canton's own middle and high school history teacher, Nora Mocarski for her recent win as "History Teacher of the Year." I've had the pleasure of working with her on events over the past few years and she is a beloved educator in the Canton Public Schools. Yay Nora!
 
I returned Wednesday from Providence, Rhode Island, where I attended the Council of State Government's Easter Regional Conference with legislative and executive colleagues from Maryland to Maine as well as Puerto Rico and Canada. It's great to spend time comparing notes on the challenges we face. More on that below.
 
As you may have seen, one of my colleagues, Representative Corey Paris, received disgusting death threats after he shared generic information that ICE was present in Stamford. An account on X (formerly Twitter) picked that up, accused him of doxing the ICE agents (inaccurate), and it has been viewed millions of times.

It was also reshared by the Department of Homeland Security, regardless of how inaccurate it was, and they then tagged the Justice Department.

Yesterday, members of the CGA stood with Representative Paris and called out the blatant attempt to silence and potentially jail an elected official who did not break the law.
 
We will continue to support both law-abiding citizens and immigrants in whatever way we are able.
 
Have a good week,

Eleni

It's an exciting time of the year for our kids and educators who will head back to the classroom soon! I hope every student has an amazing start to the new school year. 

This is also a time to remind drivers that the law requires them to slow down for school buses in your neighborhood. Here is the breakdown for any driver who fails to stop when a school bus is displaying its flashing red signal lights:

• First offense: $450 fine.
• Following offenses: $500 - $1,000 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

• $300 million initial investment to grow over time and strengthen child care statewide
• Launch of Early Start CT, combining multiple programs into one, making access simpler and more equitable
• $36 million in the first year (started July 2025) to expand and improve the child care system
• 1,000+ new spaces added by June 2026
• Higher pay & better benefits for early childhood educators
• Facility improvements funded for providers
• Health insurance study underway for child care workers

• By 2027, families earning under $100k will get free Early Start CT care
• Families earning over $100k will have costs capped at 7% of income
• More spaces and programs through a competitive process
• Expanded pre-K from part-day to full-day, with inclusive environments for all children

This is just the beginning-a long-term investment in affordability, quality, and equity for Connecticut’s youngest learners.

The 2025–2026 school year is just around the corner, and the United Way is looking for passionate individuals to join United Way Readers.
Just 60 minutes a week can change a child’s life. By volunteering, you’ll help young readers:

• Build confidence
• Strengthen reading skills
• Discover the joy of books
• Unlock a lifetime of opportunities

Help a child thrive — one page at a time. Click here to sign up.