Dominique Johnson

Happy Friday and Women's History Month! I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend.

This proposal builds upon Public Act 24-91, passed unanimously last year, and signed by the Governor, which established the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. Investing in early childhood care and education produces better educational, health, social, and economic outcomes, driving increased revenue while reducing the need for costly spending.

Connecticut is home to approximately 181,000 children under the age of five, with 73% of these young children receiving care outside the home while their parents work.

By providing targeted funding and expanding access to childcare, H.B. 5003 will put more money back into our economy by opening new opportunities for stay-at-home parents to re-enter the workforce. This is not just an investment in childcare—it is an investment in the children of Connecticut and the prosperity of our state.

See the flyer below for more information.  

Click here to learn more. 

The Tree Master Plan will guide the future of tree growth and management in our City’s public and green spaces. Come share what you’d like to see at a public workshop on March 20, 2025 in the Community Room at City Hall.  

You can view the City’s website to view the draft plan and stay up to date on the project.

The annual Teen Diversity Contest is now accepting entries. The contest is open each year to students attending public or private high school (Grades 9-12) in Westport. Those who live in Westport and attend public or private high schools elsewhere are also eligible to participate.

This year's prompt is as follows:

In our community, each person's unique identity – shaped by their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other aspects of who they are – contributes to the character of Westport. In 1,000 words or less, we invite you to reflect on how your own identity shapes your perspective and the experiences you have in Westport. Please address the following considerations in your response:

• Which aspects of your identity feel most central to how you wish to be understood and accepted?

• How do aspects of your identity shape your daily school and community experiences, including both challenges and opportunities in expressing these parts of yourself?

• What specific changes could our community make to decrease identity-based bias, bullying and hate?

The entry deadline is 11:59 pm ET, Monday, March 10. Winners will be notified the week of April 11. Click here to learn more. 

The 29th recipient the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding senior in the Norwalk High School class of 2025, will be announced at the Fund's annual Scholarship Presentation and Benefit Dinner Dance on April the 5th at The Waters Edge in Darien.

The $130,000 scholarship will be awarded to the most outstanding senior the Norwalk High School class of 2025 for demonstrated involvements and accomplishments across the spectrum of academics, athletics, arts, and community and religious service.

The Norwalk High School scholarship is one of 17 scholarship supported by the Fund in 2025. Since the Fund’s inception, almost $3.1 million gifts of education have been awarded to 252 recipients demonstrating achievements in the areas in which Kevin participated and excelled.

Information regarding event tickets, event sponsorship, or silent auction donations can be obtained by contacting the Fund at KevinsFund@aol.com or 203-846-9718. Additional information regarding Kevin and the scholarship fund can be found on the fund's website www.kevinsfund.org.

Join the City’s Transportation, Mobility, and Parking Team, along with the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, and FHI Studios (now IMEG), for a public information meeting on Monday, March 24th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Jefferson Elementary School, located at 75 Van Buren Avenue, as part of the Route 1 Corridor Master Plan Study.

During the public meeting, the community will have the opportunity to participate in a break-out session to view proposed conceptual plans at key locations along the Route 1 Corridor, provide valuable feedback, and engage directly with the project team in a collaborative, 1-on-1 setting. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your voice heard and help shape the future of Route 1.

Click here to learn more. 

Tax season is upon us. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.

Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.

The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:

• Household income less than $68,000
• If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
• No income from a rental property