Severe Cold Weather Protocol, Upcoming Holiday Events, and More!

December 5, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week. 

Because of a blast of arctic air expected to blanket Connecticut over the next several days, the state's severe cold weather protocol is in effect through Tuesday, December 9.
 
Low temperatures over the next few days will dip into the single digits, with wind chills close to zero at times.
 
Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.
 
Click HERE to learn more.

Please read below for information on holiday celebrations, LGBTQ+ office hours, and more! 

LGBTQ+ Virtual Office Hours

On Thursday, December 18, the LGBTQ+ Caucus will hold virtual office hours from 9 AM to 5 PM. State Representatives Shannon, Allie-Brennan, Brown and I will be available to talk with you virtually. Click here to schedule a time to meet with us. 

Early Childhood Public Hearing Next Week

Early childhood education was one of our District's priorities and I am proud to fight for us on this issue, ensuring our caucus priority bill passed during the 2025 legislative session.
The newly formed Early Childhood Education Endowment is already making a difference for families and educators in Connecticut. Beginning in January 2026, the state will add spaces for up to 1000 new children in the Early Start CT program, expanding access to affordable early learning opportunities for more families. In addition, we are increasing funding for operational costs and improved staff compensation. 

You’re invited to join the conversation and help shape the future of early childhood education in Connecticut by offering your feedback. Attend the ECE Endowment Board’s Annual Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 10, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building.

Holiday Celebrations 

The City of Norwalk will hold their annual tree lighting celebration tonight at 6:30 PM! Please see the graphic below for more information. 

The Westport Center For Senior Activities  (WCSA) will hold a holiday craft and gift sale next Friday, December 12. This event is a great opportunity to find a meaningful gift for a friend or family.

Finally, the Westport Police Department is holding a toy drive. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off on December 6,7,13 and14 from 9 AM - 4 PM. Please see the flyer for more information, including drop off locations. 

CTECS Application is Now Live

The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) is now accepting applications for students entering grade 9 and 10 in the 2026-2027 school year.

CTECS is a statewide system of 17 diploma-granting, NEASC-accredited technical high schools serving approximately 11,500 high school students, including many from your communities. Students in grades 9-12 attend a full-day program that combines academics with an advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum. 

Students can choose from 31 programs of study in areas such as Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communication; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security; Manufacturing; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM); and Transportation, Distribution & Logistics. 

A hallmark of the technical high school experience is the hands-on career development and production work students complete through partnerships with local companies via the Work-Based Learning program.

Graduates of CTECS are well-prepared for immediate employment, apprenticeships, or further education at two- or four-year colleges. Students also have opportunities to earn college credit while in high school through College Career Pathways (CCP) partnerships with community colleges and Dual Enrollment Programs with universities. In addition to academics and technical training, schools offer athletics and a variety of extracurricular activities.

The CTECS application closes on January 25, 2026. Applications submitted by this deadline will be included in the lottery for on-time placements. Applications submitted after January 25 will be added to the waitlist in the order determined by the lottery. No new applications for incoming grade 9 students will be accepted after March 1, 2026. For more information or to apply online, visit the CTECS admissions webpage.

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

The 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza in Norwalk will be held tomorrow, December 6 from 4 PM to 8 PM at 50 Washington Street! This event has plenty of family friendly activities to help get you into the holiday spirit: 

  • The official Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Meet-and-greets with holiday characters
  • An outdoor marketplace with over 25 local vendors for holiday shopping
  • Live performances by the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, Roton Middle School Choir
  • Carousel rides, a trackless train, stilt walkers, and goat petting!

The holiday extravaganza is free to attend. If you have any questions, please check out the flyer below. 
 

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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