Newsletter 7/9/2022

July 9, 2022

If you or someone you know is a recent high school graduate headed to college or university, I have some important information to share with you! The deadline to apply for financial aid through Connecticut's free community college program is fast approaching. Students looking to take advantage of the Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) program are encouraged to apply by Friday, July 15.
 

This session, we passed legislation expanding eligibility for PACT funding to part-time college students.
 
Applicants must be Connecticut high school graduates who are first-time college students, have completed the FAFSA application, plan on taking at least six credits per semester, and are working toward a degree or certificate.
 
The goal of PACT was to make higher education more accessible. Including part time students will further increase the reach of this program. Click here to learn more.
 
Fairfield Charter Revision
This Monday and Tuesday will be the final opportunities for the public to give comment on the town's charter revisions before the Board of Selectman votes on what changes it would like the Charter Revision Commission to consider adopting for the town charter.
 
The public can share their comments before the Board of Selectman on Monday, July 11th at 3:00PM and Tuesday, July 12th at 2:00PM. Members of the public can participate in-person or virtually for both meetings. Click here to read the agenda. 

The Fairfield Town Charter is an integral document to our local government it defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures for Fairfield. Changes are seldom made - the document has not been revised since 2006. Click here to read a summary of the proposed revisions. 
 
Summer Reading Challenge 
It is not too late to register for the Fairfield Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge. The program runs through August 13. Participants can earn points by reading, writing book reviews, and completing bonus activities. The summer reading challenge is an excellent way for children of all ages to have a fun and productive summer. Click here to enroll.
I love seeing these signs around town that honor our "MVP Readers"! 
The Fairfield Public Library has wonderful resources for all ages and you can learn more about their offerings this summer here.
 
The Pequot Library also has many fun, educational, and engaging offerings, which you can learn more about here.

You will also want to mark your calendar for July 22 at 9:00am for the beginning of their annual used book sale, which includes over 100,000 titles across over 60 categories! 
 
Supporting Small Business
Each year in November, we hear about Small Business Saturday and the importance of shopping small. But are we thinking about it year-round? If we aren't, we should and we shouldn't just think about it, we should consciously shop our local boutiques, hardware store, gift shops, ice cream parlors, bakeries, chocolatiers, and specialty fish store, butcher, restaurants, and others. In Fairfield and Southport, we are so fortunate to have so many unique local shops, which contribute to the vibrance and economic stability of our town and community. Take a moment and imagine Fairfield or Southport without a vibrant main street. It's bleak, right?
 
It's a reality we don't want to face, but big box stores continue to hurt our mom-and-pop shops. Rising gas prices haven't helped and neither has an inflationary economy. But there are things we can do to help.
 
First, when you're about to run errands or about to place that online order, think about who might have it locally. Typically, customer service is so much better at our local businesses and we can all feel good about feeding the local economy when our local businesses are more likely to give back to our community. They give back jobs too.
 
Second, get to know your business owners and believe me, they will get to know you and your needs. When you have a great experience at a store, use social media to post about it. We have plenty of negativity on social media, but imagine scrolling through your feed and seeing how a local business provided great customer service or seeing a product that is the exact one you are looking for as a gift. Major win-win.
 
I hope you found these suggestions helpful and I hope you'll join me in shopping small year-round.
 
Get Health Insurance Through Covered CT
Did you know that the Covered Connecticut program can help you with some out-of-pocket health insurance expenses? This is a new health insurance option through Access Health CT and the State of Connecticut will pay your portion of your monthly premium, deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. Enrollment is open through January 15, 2023. To see if you qualify for Covered Connecticut and to learn more, please click here. 
 
Keep Your Pet Safe During the Heat
If you're taking your pet outside for a walk during high temperatures, don't forget the real temperature of asphalt is more than the air temperature. At 125 degrees, the skin on your pet's paws will get burned in less than a minute.