Early Voting Under Way, Halloween Food Safety, and Brush Fire Extinguished

October 25, 2024

Early voting is under way and constituents are taking full advantage across the state. Please check out the early voting section to find out how many people cast a vote on opening day and where you can do the same in Vernon.

The kids are excited to put on their costume and go trick-or-treating next week, but it can be a challenge for those with food allergies. Read below for some tips to make the Halloween experience better for everyone.

I had the pleasure of taking part in a Walk & Run for Recovery at Rockville High School. Keep scrolling to learn how the non-profit that organized this event is helping those in need in Vernon.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • Early Voting Is Under Way
  • Halloween Food Safety
  • Fallen Firefighter & Local Brush Fire
  • Supporting the Walk & Run for Recovery
  • National Drug Take Back Day
  • Community Events
 
Early Voting Is Under Way

Early voting is underway across the state, and there has been a huge turnout. The Secretary of the State's office said more than 56,000 people cast a ballot on Monday. Early voting will continue through Sunday, November 3. It's the first time this option is available for a general election in Vernon.

Any registered voter may cast their ballot during the early voting period.
Click here to register now or ensure your registration is up to date

Registered voters can cast an early ballot at Vernon Center 375 at 375 Hartford Turnpike from now through Sunday, November 3 from 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. AND on Tuesday, October 29 & Thursday, October 31 from 8 A.M. – 8 P.M.

You may also vote on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5, at your polling station. Voting is from 6 A.M. - 8 P.M. at regular voting locations:

  • District 1, Northeast School, 69 East Street
  • District 2, Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Road
  • District 3-0, Skinner Road School, 90 Skinner Road
  • District 3-1, Skinner Road School, 90 Skinner Road
  • District 4, Vernon Center Middle School, 777 Hartford Turnpike

Connecticut law allows you to receive an absentee ballot if, in your judgment, an absence from your town on Election Day prevents you from appearing at your polling place, or you are prevented from appearing at your assigned polling place on Election Day.
 
Halloween Food Safety
Halloween is a few days away, and kids are looking forward to dressing up and eating loads of candy, but for those with food allergies it can be scary! Whether there is an allergen included in the ingredients or the risk of cross-contamination, many candies are off-limits for kids with food allergies.

The good news is that there are some tips for a safe trick-or-treating experience from Food Allergy Research & Education:

  • Stock Up on Safe Alternatives: Have safe treats or inexpensive trinkets/toys ready to trade for any unsafe candies your child might receive while trick-or-treating. Use this opportunity to teach them about hidden allergens and reading labels.
  • No Eating While Trick-or-Treating: Enforce a rule that no candy is eaten until you have reviewed all food labels.
  • Avoid Unlabeled Treats: Steer clear of candy and treats that do not have an ingredient label.
  • Carry an Epinephrine Auto-Injector: Always have an epinephrine auto-injector available if prescribed.
  • Check Mini and Fun-Size Candies: Remember that mini-size, fun-size, or bite-size versions of candy may contain different ingredients than their full-size counterparts. Read all labels carefully.
  • Focus on Fun: Emphasize the fun aspects of Halloween rather than the candy.
  • Introduce the “Good Witch”: Start a tradition where kids leave their unsafe candies out for the “Good Witch” to collect and leave behind small gifts and safe treats.
  • Prepare Safe Goody Bags: Make small and safe “goody bags” for neighbors to give to your child. Deliver the bags in advance and describe your child’s costume to your neighbors. Encourage your child to trick-or-treat at these houses.
  • Host a Halloween Party: Consider skipping trick-or-treating and have a Halloween party instead, featuring safe and delicious treats. Alternatively, replace treats with fun Halloween toys, games, or party favors.
  • Always Read Labels: A candy that has been safe in the past may now have different ingredients. Read the label every time.
You can also participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project by placing a teal pumpkin outside your home to show you offer non-food treats, creating a safer and more inclusive Halloween for children with food allergies! Don’t forget to add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map before Halloween so your home is easy to find for those on the hunt for safe treats!
 
Fallen Firefighter & Local Brush Fire
I send my heartfelt condolences to the Wethersfield Fire Department and the family of Firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr., who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He died while battling a brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin on Tuesday.
The recent dry conditions have led to a number of brush fires in Connecticut including right here in Vernon. The Town of Vernon Fire Department contained a brush fire that burned nine acres on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were met with flames on Reservoir Road just south of the I-84 corridor.
Crews used forestry units, tankers, drones, and other equipment to get the fire under control in about three hours. Paramedics treated two firefighters at the scene, and they are both okay. The higher temps, dry conditions, low relative humidity, and wind create a very high fire danger. Please use caution with any sources of ignition.
Thank you to our first responders and everyone else who worked tirelessly to protect our community. We are grateful for your public service.
 
Supporting the Walk & Run for Recovery

I am proud to support our efforts to help those who are struggling with addiction. I had a great time joining the community for a walk on the Rockville High School track and donating to a local organization helping those in need. Become Part of the Solution (BPS) is a non-profit in Vernon providing inpatient acute care, post inpatient rehabilitation, and post rehabilitation housing.

Addiction affects many of our families, and the work BPS does is critical for our community. Thank you for organizing a wonderful Walk/Run for Recovery last weekend.
 
National Drug Take Back Day
The drug overdose epidemic is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. Communities across the country will collect prescription drugs on Saturday, which is National Take Back Day. This effort encourages the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
The Vernon Police Department will collect any unwanted drugs on Saturday, October 26 from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M at the Walgreens at 188 Union Street. This is a commitment to make our communities safer and healthier by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths.
 
Community Events
Take a look at the events below to see what's happening in Vernon!