Early Voting Under Way & Halloween Food Safety

October 24, 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 your town.

I have great news for low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut! The state is making a big investment to make it easier for people to buy a house. I'll break down how you can take advantage of the "Time To Own" program.

Join me for a fun Halloween event on Saturday! I will be at the Trunk or Treat at Colt Park in Hartford. Look below for more information on this family gathering.

Speaking of Halloween, 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.

These are the sections in today's email:

  • Early Voting Is Under Way
  • 'Time To Own' Program Reopens
  • Join Me for Halloween Fun in Hartford
  • Halloween Food Safety
  • Dyslexia Awareness Month
 
Early Voting Is Under Way
Early voting is underway across the state, and there has been a huge turnout. The Secretary of State's office said more than 56,000 people cast a ballot on Monday. My colleagues and I in the West Hartford delegation gathered on day 1 of early voting to encourage folks to take part.
Early voting is available at West Hartford Town Hall.

Early voting will continue through Sunday, November 3. It's the first time this option is available for a general election in Hartford or West Hartford. Any registered voter may cast their ballot during the early voting period.

Registered voters can cast an early ballot at:

  • Hartford City Hall (550 Main Street) 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.
  • West Hartford Town Hall auditorium (50 South Main Street) from now through 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. Connecticut also has same day registration available on election day for voters who need it.

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.

 
‘Time To Own’ Program Reopens

This week, the State Bond Commission approved $40 million in state funding that will be used to reopen the popular Time To Own program to a new round of applicants.

Time To Own has helped thousands of people buy their first homes since its launch in 2022. The program provides forgivable loans for down payments and closing costs and has enabled individuals and families to achieve the dream of home ownership, fostering long-term financial stability and contributing to stronger communities.

To date, Time To Own has helped more than 4,800 homebuyers in 149 towns buy their first homes, more than half of whom are people of color. With the new funding allocation, Connecticut has invested $195 million in the program.

For more information on eligibility, additional considerations, and how to apply, visit chfa.org/TimeToOwn.

 
Join Me for Halloween Fun in Hartford!

Bring your family, dress up in costume, and enjoy some Halloween fun at the Trunk or Treat at Colt Park in Hartford! The Colt Park Foundation does a great job every year running this event with the help of all the amazing sponsors.

I invite you to join all of us at the spooky event, which is taking place on Saturday from 3 P.M. – 5 P.M. You’ll get to enjoy music, a magician, a paint party, pumpkin decorating, and so much more!

Check out the video below to get a better idea of all the fun we’ll be having. I can't wait to see you all there!

Join the community for this wonderful Halloween experience!

I would like to thank everyone who has done a tremendous job supporting this event, including our sponsors:

  • Coldwell Banker
  • Mega Education
  • Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance
  • Betty Knox Foundation
  • Colt Park Foundation
  • CICD
  • Los Amigos Softball League
  • Hartford Chamber of Commerce
  • Dressler Law
 
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.
 
Dyslexia Awareness Month
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month event, which is an opportunity to focus on the most common learning disability in the country. Dyslexia affects millions of Americans every day, and millions of other are not diagnosed.

This learning disability is not a measure of intelligence, but a unique way of how the brain processes language, which ultimately presents challenges in reading and writing. This month is about raising awareness and advocating for the proper tools and resources needed to help those with dyslexia unlock their full potential.

Keep in mind that many people with dyslexia have unique strengths such as creative thinking, problem-solving, and excellent verbal skills. Let’s celebrate these strengths!