Jason Rojas

In lieu of the holiday this weekend, I'm sending this week's update a little earlier so that you can focus on enjoying time spent with your loved ones!

I hope you all have been staying happy and healthy this month. Next week brings a holiday, and I wanted to remind you that state and local offices will be closed in observance so please plan accordingly.

The state's recently-formed 36-member Commission on Connecticut's Development and Future is soliciting applications from the public to serve on working groups to make policy recommendations relating to land use, conservation, housing affordability, and infrastructure.

As the first snow of the season melts away, it's a great time to prepare for the winter weather ahead. During our colder months, it's critical to take steps to prevent cold temperature-related health problems and keep yourself and your loved ones safe!

I am pleased to announce that Connecticut's landmark Paid Family and Medical Leave Program has started accepting claims for paid leave beginning January 1, 2022. Under the program, which the legislature passed in 2019, eligible workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of time off work for certain qualifying events without losing income.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving spent with loved ones. With the holiday season now in full swing, the shopping season is also kicking off. As you start planning your DIY projects and make your gift lists, I encourage you to take a moment to think about supporting small businesses. This Saturday is Small Business Saturday, an annual event that reminds us to support our local small businesses during the busiest shopping period of the year.

I hope you all had a great week and are looking forward to next week's holiday! As you prepare your grocery lists for next week's Thanksgiving dinner, I wanted to encourage you to consider buying CT grown products. Did you know that buying from a local farm, market, or farm store can help beat rising costs? Not only will you be helping your wallet, but you're supporting local businesses and helping to create jobs – hard to beat that!

On Thursday, we celebrated Veterans Day, which occurs on November 11 every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I. It was an honor to join state and local leaders for a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to soldiers from East Harford killed in the line of duty during WWI.