Upcoming Events & Community Recognition!

teacher
March 28, 2023
I hope this note finds you well. There are a number of upcoming events and programs - two of which are tonight - that provide helpful resources and insight in the community. Congratulations are also in order for Holland Hill Principal, Molly Farrell. Below you will find more information on these events, the gender pay gap, a reminder of tax assistance resources for our seniors, and an opportunity to join me for Coffee on Saturday!

You can click on any of the links above to jump to that section of the email. I hope that you find these resources helpful.
 
United Against Hate
No matter how much progress we make, we are not immune to hate crimes in Connecticut.

In hopes of shedding light on the importance of awareness, Westport PRIDE and Connecticut's U.S. Attorney's Office are hosting United Against Hate, an interactive learning program, on TONIGHT from 6PM - 8PM at the Wesport Public Library.

  • Discover the difference between a Hate Incident and a Hate Crime
  • Find out who to contact when an incident occurs and why reporting is important
  • Hear from members of law enforcement who understand the importance of reporting and connecting with the community

To learn more, or register for the event, please click the buttons below:
RSVP for the Event
More Program Information
 
One Book One Town
This is a reminder that TONIGHT at 7PM, fellow Stratfield Dad Ivan Maisel, and author of this year's One Book One Town (OBOT) selction, will join us at the Quick Center at Fairfield University. This is a great opportunity to learn more about his book, “I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye: a memoir of loss, grief, and love,” and Ivan's process in writing it.

As background, Ivan has written a beautiful and powerful memoir about his own journey following the loss of their son Max to suicide. I put off starting the book for quite some time, but am so glad I took the opportunity to read his story. Ivan is not only a beautiful writer (he covered college football for ESPN for many years), but an insightful and powerful voice of clarity amidst the hecticness of our lives.
 
I have heard some in the community say that the choice of this book is “too difficult,” and indeed this is a difficult conversation. I applaud the OBOT committee and our libraries for helping to bring a conversation about suicide and mental health into the light. In Connecticut in 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for those age 10-34. Help is available, now through 988 and many other community resources. Ivan’s story, which I hope to finish this week, is a powerful reminder that, as he says, “Grief is love.”

Registration is required for the event, so please click the button below to RSVP:
RSVP for Discussion
 
Coffee with Cristin
Saturday, April 1 at 9AM, I will host a coffee hour at Wake-Cup-Coffee next to the Fairfield Metro Station. I look forward to the opportunity to meet you and hear any of your ideas, concerns or questions about the legislative process. We can also discuss any of the work we've done so far in Hartford that is of interest to you.
 
Bridgeport Community Forum
On Thursday, March 30 at 6:30PM at the Aquaculture School, the Bridgeport Board of Education will hold a Community Forum to allow the public to provide input into the Superintendent search process.

To learn more, or to send in questions ahead of time, please click the buttons below:
Learn More
Submit Questions
 
Improve Oral Health
The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative is hosting a free community event on April 13 from 5:30PM - 7:30PM at the Boroughs Community Center. This is a great opportunity to learn from dentists how to keep your mouth healthy and clean.

Please RSVP in advance by clicking the button below:
RSVP for Event
 
Congratulations to Local Principal
Last week, our Holland Hill Principal Molly Farrell received the "Dawn Hochsprung" Outstanding Elementary School Principal Award from the Connecticut PTA.

This is a lifetime achievement that stems from the heroism of Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung. We are blessed to have such an amazing Principal in our community and her recognition is well deserved. Principal Farrell we are truly lucky to have you, congratulations!
 
Creating from the HeART
On Thursday, April 27 from 4PM - 7PM at the Knowlton, Life Bridge Community Services will host Creating from the HeART, a community celebration of self-expression. The event will feature leading industry experts, Bridgeport-based artists and poets, and artwork produced by Urban Scholars students.

To learn more, and to register in advance, please click the button below:
RSVP for Event
 
Gender Pay Gap
Despite historic growth, rising wages, and unemployment at a near record low, women working full-time, year-round are still only paid an average 84-cents for every dollar paid to men. Pay disparities are even more pronounced for Black women, Native American women, Latinas, many Asian American women, and women with disabilities.

On March 14, we recognized "Equal Pay Day," the time it takes for a woman to make the same amount as her male counterpart the year before. As we continue to work on and address these issues in Connecticut, recent research shows that the difference between the earnings of men and women has barely closed in the United States in the past two decades.

The Pew Research Center recently released an article with helpful datasets - like the graph below - to break down what this looks like throughout the country.

I encourage you to click the button below to visit the article and learn more:
Learn More
 
Senior Tax Assistance - Fairfield
This is a reminder that the First Selectwoman and the Fairfield Assessor's Office have shared that the town is accepting new applications for credits on real estate tax bills for qualifying elderly and/or disabled residents.

Qualifications:
  • Must be at least 65 years of age (75 years old for the Deferral) or totally disabled (receiving total disability payments from Social Security or from any other government disability program) as of December 31, 2022
  • See table below with income caps
  • The property for which the tax relief is claimed must be the legal residence of the applicant and occupied by them more than 183 days of each year
  • Been a taxpayer of the Town of Fairfield and have paid taxes for at least one year as of October 1 of the current Grand List year
  • Must have a qualifying total asset value (QTAV) not exceeding $650,000
  • Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2023

How to Submit:

Please call the Assessor's Office for application instructions at (203) 256-3110. Applicants must meet in person with a staff member from the Assessor's Office to file.

What to Bring:

  • Proof of income for the previous calendar year
    • Complete copy of your 2022 income tax form 1040 or 1040A
    • Copy of the 2022 social security form 1099
    • All other 1099 forms whether taxable or not
      • For those who do not file an income tax form - copies of all 1099 forms both taxable and non taxable are required.

*All income from all sources for the previous calendar year must be considered for any tax relief program.