Eleni Kavros DeGraw

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I know many think of it as the last days of summer, but with the amazing weather this week, I hope we can all squeeze in a few days of sunshine and warm feelings.

As many of you know, we have a child, Ronan Hernsdorff-Smith, missing from Avon. There will be a vigil this evening at the Avon Gazebo at 7 p.m. Please be there to support their family and friends if you are able.

Looking ahead to the weekend, it's hard to believe that we are approaching the 20th anniversary of 9/11. This will be a difficult anniversary for so many and I hope this is a time for all of us to reflect and remember the precious lives that were lost that day.

Don't forget that every Sunday, the Canton Main Street Farmer's Market is still going strong from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

On Sunday, September 19th, the Casework on your Corner Team from Representative Jahana Hayes' office will be there. I mention this because sometimes there is confusion over what work I can do for you vs. what work her office does. If you need help with federal agencies like the IRS, SSA or the National Passport Agency, see her team at the Market a week from Sunday.

Have a great week!

A VIGIL FOR RONAN HERNSDORF-SMITH

Please attend tonight's vigil, if you can, for 17-year old Ronan Hernsdorf-Smith, who was last seen after their first day at Avon High School on Aug.30. The vigil will be held at the Avon Gazebo at 7 p.m.

9/11: 20 YEARS LATER

This Saturday marks 20 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives on the morning of September 11, 2001 and many more, including first responders, have died from health complications in the years following the attacks. September 11th remains one of the darkest and deadliest days in U.S. history.

In the hours and days following the attacks, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport became a staging area for emergency workers responding to the attacks. The park is now home to a memorial for the 161 victims of the 9/11 attacks who lived in or had ties to Connecticut.

Every year on the Thursday before September 11th, Connecticut holds a 9/11 memorial ceremony at Sherwood Island State Park to honor those whose lives were lost.

This year’s ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2021. The public is invited to join Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz at the State of Connecticut’s annual memorial ceremony. Family members of those who were killed in the attacks will participate, and the names of the 161 victims with ties to Connecticut will be read aloud. You can also watch the ceremony live on CT-N.

I’ll be at Avon Fire Department’s 9/11 Ceremony on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Green. The public is encouraged to attend.

I hope you have an opportunity to pause and reflect on this tragic event. Please remember the victims and the many first responders who bravely set aside their personal safety to save lives on that horrible day 20 years ago.

We will never forget.

A REDISTRICITNG UPDATE

The Bipartisan Reapportionment Committee announced has that it will be holding a series of public hearings to solicit input from the public on how lines should be drawn to best serve their communities.

The work of this Committee is critical to the functioning of our democracy, utilizing data from last year’s Census to ensure that we continue to comply with the fundamental principal of one person one vote.

You can watch the hearings live on CT-N. You can also submit testimony by email to reapportionment@cga.ct.gov.

YOUTH CABINET KICK-OFF ICE CREAM SOCIAL

My Youth Cabinet, giving Avon and Canton high school students a bird's eye perspective on how the legislature works and, more specifically, following how an idea can go from a concept to a filed bill and through the process of potentially becoming a law, kicks off Saturday with an Ice Cream Social at Ben & Jerry's in Canton at 3 p.m.

This is our first event. I am very much looking forward to working with these outstanding students. Any student who would like to participate you can do so by clicking on the image below:

CANTON MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET STILL GOING STRONG, OPEN ON SUNDAYS

The Canton Main Street Farmers Market loves to support local farms, local food, local artists and it is still going strong every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Click on the image below to access the Facebook Page.

(photo credit Canton Main Street Farmers Market Facebook Page)

WOMEN IN CONNECTICUT

Georgetown released a report ranking each U.S. state from best to worst for women. Shoutout to Connecticut for ranking second in the nation!!

A BELATED ROSH HASHANAH

Wishing our Jewish friends a sweet and happy new year! Shanah Tovah!