Kate Farrar

Pride Month continued last weekend with the 2^nd Annual Newington Pride, an incredible day to celebrate and show solidarity with our LGBTQIA neighbors and friends. Thank you to the planning committee for their hard work to bring this day today. Every day we can show through our actions that love wins over hate and that everyone simply deserves the freedom to be who they are. I look forward to seeing many more folks this Saturday at West Hartford Pride at West Hartford Town Hall with the rally at 10:30am. 

Also last weekend, I was able to join in the celebration for two new West Hartford Eagle Scouts - Colin Boyle and Liam Heaney. It is always special to be a part of this ceremony and honor the dedication to service of young people like Colin and Liam.

Liam completed his Eagle Scout Service Project at the Holy Family Retreat Center. He led volunteers in constructing five directional trail signs, building a split-rail fence at a trailhead, and performing trail maintenance to improve safety, visibility, and accessibility for visitors using the retreat center's walking trails.

Colin's Eagle Scout Service Project involved installing a bicycle repair station along the Trout Brook Trail in West Hartford. He organized volunteers, coordinated with town officials, prepared the site, installed a concrete foundation, and oversaw the assembly and installation of the repair stand to provide cyclists with a convenient location for basic bicycle maintenance.

The Early Childhood Education Endowment’s Advisory Board voted this week to approve the new early childhood educator health insurance subsidy program beginning in 2027 and available through Access Health CT’s Open Enrollment starting October 23.

Established into law in 2025, the state's historic Early Childhood Education Endowment has already created up to 1,000 new child care spaces, supported an 8% increase in Early Start CT reimbursement rates, expanded Smart Start preschool classrooms, and invested in operational grants for providers across the state. As specified in Public Act 25-93, $10 million of the FY27 Endowment is dedicated to a health insurance subsidy program for early childhood educators. Early childhood educators often struggle with access to affordable health insurance, and this subsidy program can help retain and recruit essential workers for our early childhood system to work for families, employers, and our economy. 

The subsidy will allow educators to access qualified health plans through Access Health CT and receive a subsidy toward their cost for health insurance through either an individual plan through Access Health CT, an employer’s small employer group plan through Access Health CT or in conjunction with an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) offered by their employer. Eligible early childcare educators must not be eligible for Medicaid or the Covered Connecticut program.

The subsidy program is income-based and provide a flat subsidy for covered options regardless of which option through which an individual receives their health insurance. Early childhood educators earning between 175% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will receive a subsidy of $1,200 per year; those earning between 250% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level will receive $1,100 subsidies; and those earning over 400% will receive $1,000.

Approximately 7,200 to 8,800 early child care workers will be eligible for the program. Access Health CT will also receive funding from the Endowment to promote and advertise the program to early childhood educators and providers.

Several new laws that we passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1, bringing important changes for Connecticut residents.

Among them is Public Act 26-42, which expands access to voting by allowing any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The law removes outdated restrictions that previously limited absentee voting to a narrow set of circumstances.
 
Another new law, Public Act 26-12, strengthens recruitment and retention efforts for Connecticut's first responders. The legislation expands benefits such as tuition waivers and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members, while also providing support for the families of certain public safety personnel who die in the line of duty.
 
Public Act 26-1 provides stronger workplace protections for employees at warehouses and fulfillment centers. The law ensures that productivity quotas do not interfere with legally required meal and bathroom breaks and requires employers to clearly communicate any quotas workers are expected to meet.
 
These measures reflect our ongoing efforts to make voting more accessible, support those who serve our communities, and strengthen protections for Connecticut workers.

Commemorating America250 and Exploring the American Dream is a two-day civics event hosted by the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO). The event will take place on Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Legislative Office Building (300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford).

Through panel discussions, community art, music, spoken word performances, and meaningful dialogue, participants will reflect on our nation's past, examine the present, and envision the future we hope to create together. Featured topics include The Need for Civic Education at All Levels and Understanding Connecticut's Civic Health.

This event welcomes everyone. Whether you come to listen, learn, share your story, or connect with others, you will find a place in the conversation. Join us as we explore the American Dream, strengthen civic engagement, and celebrate the diverse voices that shape our communities.

Click here to register.

Families across Connecticut are receiving extra help putting food on the table this summer through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services, in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, is providing a one-time $120 food benefit for each eligible child to help offset meal costs while school is out of session. More than 350,000 children are expected to get support from the program.

This investment helps families with children pay for food during the summer months while school is not in session. More than $42 million in S-EBT funding is expected to be provided to Connecticut families this summer.

Who is eligible?

Children may qualify if their family:

• Participates in SNAP, Temporary Family Assistance Program (TFA), or Husky A with an income below 185% of the federal poverty level or
• Was approved for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2025-26 school year.

Most eligible families automatically received their benefits electronically last weekend. They are being loaded onto existing SNAP or EBT cards, including previously issued Summer EBT cards. Families new to the program will receive an EBT card by mail.

Families who are not automatically enrolled can apply for Summer EBT through August 31.

The Newington Children's Theatre Company is proud to present their final Mainstage Musical of their 63rd season, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr, on Friday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

The Smart Cycling program taking place on Saturday, June 27 and Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is designed to build the confidence and skills of cyclists of all experience levels. Participants will learn how to choose the right bicycle, understand the basic parts of a bike, identify essential equipment, and ride safely and comfortably in a variety of traffic conditions, terrains, and weather environments.

Registration is required for the course which includes:

• 4 hours of classroom instruction
• 4 hours of on-bike training

Click here to register, a $20 deposit is due at registration and will be fully refunded when you attend the class. Space is limited to 15 participants.

June is National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a celebration of the rich culture, history, and enduring contributions of Caribbean Americans to the United States. 

On Saturday, June 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. join the West Hartford Caribbean American Heritage Committee in honoring Caribbean American Heritage Month by celebrating Jimmy Cliff: One of the Architects of Reggae at the Noah Webster Library.

Click here for more information and to register.