Immigration Community Forum, East Norwalk Station Closed for Weekend, and More!

September 12, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week. The Connecticut Sun played their last game of the season on Wednesday. Although it was disappointing that the team did not make the playoffs, they played hard all year and will come back stronger in 2026. 

Please read below for information on locally based food pantries, an immigration community forum, and more! 

Immigration Community Forum 

Join the City of Norwalk for their Immigration Community Forum on Monday, September 15, at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The forum will include a panel discussion with Mayor Harry Rilling, Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh, State Senator Bob Duff and Immigration Attorney Jane Renaud. Several community partner organizations will be tabling at the event, including Building One Community.

The majority of the forum will be a question-and-answer discussion where the audience will be invited to ask our panelists questions about how local and state officials are addressing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement situation. The meeting will be hybrid and take place in the Concert Hall as well as on Zoom. The Zoom link will be presented on social media and the City of Norwalk’s website ahead of Monday’s forum. The event will include Spanish and Haitian Creole interpreters who will be in person, as well as translating the meeting via Zoom.

East Norwalk Train Station Closure 

The East Norwalk Train Station will be closed this weekend,  September 13-14 - no train service in either direction. The station will re-open Monday, September 15 for the first trains - both platforms.

Additionally, the parking lot on the north side of station will closed on Monday for construction and inspection. The station and the platform will be open for use. Drop offs permitted; ADA parking permitted; pedestrian access permitted. Permit holders may use lots at SOUTH NORWALK TRAIN STATION on the New Haven Side; or Westport Train Station or the 180 East Ave. Commuter lot.

Police and traffic flaggers will be directing traffic. 

Touch a Truck & Open House in Norwalk

Attention Norwalk residents - Norwalk's Fire, Public Works, and Police annual House/Touch a Truck event is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at 15 South Smith Street. Please see the flyer below for more information. 

Town Aid Grant Increases

Connecticut’s Town Aid Road (TAR) grant program is growing, with state support rising from $60 million under the previous state budget to $80 million in the current budget. This funding boost represents a 33% year-over-year increase that will directly support the cities and towns with the costs of local road paving, maintenance, and safety operations.
 
It is the program’s largest investment in more than a decade, and helps towns repair roads faster, improve safety, and respond better to severe weather.

Food Pantries in our Community

Free fresh food is available to those in need. The Norwalk based nonprofit Filling in the Blanks will hold a mobile food pantry on the second Saturday of each month. Registration is not required. For more information, visit the Filling in the Blank website or give them a call at (203) 750-0019.

Catholic Charities, Norwalk Family Center and Connecticut Foodshare Food Pantry also holds a mobile food pantry. They will distribute food on the forth Saturday of every month from 9:30 AM- 10:30 AM. Please bring your own grocery bags. Click here to learn more. 

CT State Bond Rating Receives Upgrade 

Connecticut received notification from Moody’s and Fitch this week that both rating agencies are upgrading the state’s bond ratings.
 
Moody’s is upgrading Connecticut from Aa3 to Aa2. Fitch is upgrading the state from AA- to AA. These upgrades mark the seventh and eighth credit rating increases during the Lamont administration. Prior to that, the most recent General Obligation bond rating upgrade the state received was in 2001.
 
These ratings upgrades will result in even greater demand for state bonds, creating both immediate and long-term savings for taxpayers, while freeing up resources for Connecticut to make critical investments in programs and people. 

Cornhole Popup

The City of Norwalk will hold a Cornhole Pop-Up with The Blind Rhino on Wednesday, September 17, at 6 PM. Click here to register. 

Protecting Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine

The federal government has created uncertainty and confusion around access to the COVID-19 vaccine. In response to these actions, Governor Ned Lamont has implemented several executive actions to ensure that residents who wish to be vaccinated continue to have access to vaccines and that coverage remains uninterrupted under state-regulated health insurance policies. 

  • The Department of Public Health recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older
  • Pharmacists and providers can keep giving vaccines under the latest CDC guidance
  • State law requires most insurance plans to continue covering COVID-19 vaccines

These changes will ensure that Connecticut residents and doctors alike have all the tools necessary to keep us healthy.

Upcoming Library Events 

The Norwalk Public Library will hold several events over the next few weeks. If you want more information, click on the corresponding flyer or visit the Norwalk Public Library website. 

Westport Public Library also has a robust lineup of programming. Please visit their website to learn more. 

ICYMI

Fair season is in full swing in Connecticut. Get your fill of fantastic food, fun rides and other great entertainment. Many also showcase local businesses and organizations, crafts, exhibits, local oysters and craft beers, and other things unique to our great state!

There are a few upcoming events in our community: 

  • The 8th Annual Westoberfest Craft Beer & Family Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 4. Click here for more information.
  • The American Legion Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 11. Click here to learn more.

Click here for a list of upcoming fairs in the state. 

Nominations for the Class of 2025 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame

The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the Class of 2025. The Hall of Fame honors veterans from Connecticut who have made a positive impact in their community after the conclusion of their military service. 

To be eligible, nominees must have been born in Connecticut or resided in the state for a minimum of five years. They must also meet the definition of a “veteran” under Connecticut General Statutes § 27-103 and have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

The submitted nomination package must contain the completed nomination form, the veteran’s discharge documents, and a detailed narrative of the veteran’s community and/or public service at the local, state, and/or nation level and the veteran’s contributions to the community at large. The focus of this honor is on the veteran’s service to their community after leaving the military.
 
To download the nomination package, visit portal.ct.gov/dva/pages/ct-veterans-hall-of-fame.
 
Completed nomination packages must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs by September 15. They should be delivered either by email to lindsay.jesshop@ct.gov or mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to:
 
Office of the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
ATTN: CT Veterans Hall of Fame
287 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
 
Detailed instructions and information on eligibility criteria can be found within the nomination package.

Join the Women's Business Development Council, the Greater Norwalk Chamber, and the City of Norwalk to meet and mingle with business professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders. This free event will be held at Coals Pizza on Tuesday, September 16 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. 

Click here for more information. 

The City of Norwalk will hold a mattress and box spring recycling collection on Saturday, September 27 from 9:00-12:00 PM at 15 South Smith Street in Norwalk. This free collection program recycles mattresses and box springs through the City’s partnership with the Mattress Recycling Council’s Connecticut Bye Bye Mattress Program.

This program is only open to Norwalk residents. All mattresses and box springs must be dry and intact.

Unacceptable items include:

  • Severely damaged, twisted, wet, frozen, or soiled mattresses.
  • Mattresses infested with bed bugs or other living organisms.
  • Sleeping bags, pillows, cushions, loose bedding, mattress pads or toppers, etc.
  • Car beds.
  • Juvenile products, i.e., carriage, basket, stroller, crib bumper, etc.
  • Water beds.
  • Camping or air mattresses.
  • Fold-out sofa beds.
  • Futons for furniture.

For additional information about the program, click here.  

For questions, contact the Customer Service Center at CustomerService@norwalkct.gov or (203) 854-3200. 

WBDC Grant Opportunity 

The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of Ignite and Child Care Business Grant Programs.

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million. The application period for Ignite grants runs through September 16. You can find additional information on Ignite here.   
 
Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods. These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session here. 

Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, established by the Connecticut General Assembly and administered by the CT State Department of Education (CSDE), is now open and accepting applications!

This scholarship supports students who:

  • Graduated from a public high school in an Alliance District
  • Are enrolled—or will soon enroll—in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
  • Are in good academic standing
  • Meet any additional CSDE eligibility requirements

 Up to $10,000 per year is available for eligible students, including:

  •  High school seniors planning to begin a teacher prep program this fall
  • Undergraduate or graduate students already enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners!

Apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator. To learn more, click HERE.

American Legion Hosts Golf Tournament

The American Legion in Norwalk is hosting its first golf tournament in over 20 years! The tournament will be held on October 6 at the Silvermine Golf Club. Click here for more information, including how to register. 
 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have - I can be reached at Dominique.Johnson@cga.ct.gov, or through my office phone - 860-240-8585.

Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative

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