Remembering Council Member Burnett

September 5, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend. As you may have heard, Norwalk Council Member Greg Burnett passed away last week. I wanted to take a moment to honor his legacy - he was a great colleague and public servant, and his impact on Norwalk will not be forgotten. 

Remembering Council Member Greg Burnett

An honorable man who brought his best to all he did has left us in Norwalk. Greg was among the best of us - leading with heart, listening to all, and emulating the citizen service that should be the cornerstone of our public service. He had such wit, a wonderful sense of humor, and brought his incredibly warm smile to all of our work.

I was honored to serve with him when he was our Council Majority Leader and President. Memories will be a blessing, from time at events honoring our Veterans or high-fiving the kids on their way into a school assembly together. I will think of you, Greg, and remember this value we share: It is an honor to work hard for our community and by doing it with a positive attitude and a smile we can build a better City together.

He took the work of community so seriously and always had joy in his heart as he did it. A true servant of Norwalk. I will miss him muchly. May you rest in peace, Council Member Burnett. Sending many prayers and love to his family.
Greg took this photo and I promised him that I would put in my newsletter one day.  It was at an event at Naramake School celebrating a student nutrition initiative. He took this photo just after making one of his great jokes he was known for, capturing the joy he brought to others while working hard for the City and its people that he loved so much.

9/11 Memorial Service in Sherwood State Park

Next Thursday, we remember the 2,996 lives lost on September 11, 2001, the thousands who have died since due to exposure to toxic chemicals, and the countless lives that were forever changed. May we never forget the people whose lives were stolen from us through this act of terror, and all of the first responders, construction crews, service members, and everyday citizens who saved lives and helped our country rebuild.

Yesterday, I attended Connecticut's 9/11 memorial ceremony at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. The state holds the ceremony several days early to allow the family and friends of the victims to attend the service at the World Trade Center site on the actual anniversary. It was a powerful ceremony and I was honored to attend. 

Though we move further away from that fateful day each year, we must continue to honor those Americans we lost and never stop the fight against terror and for peace.

Hurricane Preparedness

The Greater Norwalk Chamber and the Norwalk Fire Department will hold a seminar about hurricane preparedness. 

This free event will provide attendees with skills and knowledge necessary to protect you and your loved ones during a storm. Although hurricanes seem like a distant threat, they can still cause a great deal of damage. In the seminar, you will learn how to create an emergency plan, prepare an emergency kit, and more. 

The event will be held on Thursday, September 18 at the Norwalk Fire Department. 

Click here to RSVP. 

Fire Safe CT 

Governor Lamont has officially launched Fire Safe CT, a new statewide initiative aimed at reducing fire-related tragedies through public education and community support.
This coordinated effort brings together state and local agencies, fire service professionals, and health care experts with one shared goal: to protect Connecticut residents and their communities from the dangers of fire.

Core Objectives:

  • Public Education: delivering clear, actionable fire prevention tips through multimedia campaigns—highlighting home safety, outdoor fire management, and burn injury prevention
  • Community Empowerment: providing local fire departments and municipal fire marshals with enhanced tools, educational materials, and support to boost community-level fire risk reduction efforts

To learn more and get involved go to ct.gov/firesafe and for tips on outdoor fire safety, visit DEEP's Forest Fire Prevention Tips to learn how to protect your home, property, and the first responders who serve us.

Together, we can create a safer, more fire-aware Connecticut.

Generation Power Energy Assistance Program is Now Open 

The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program is now open and  will run through September 10th! This program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses.
 
Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.
 
All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when you are most in need. GPCT has four Energy Assistance Application Cycles:

  • September 2-10
  • November 2-10
  • January 2-10
  • March 2-10 

To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, go to: https://gpct.org/gethelp/

2025 OLR Bill Tracking Report 

The 2025 OLR Bill Tracking report is now available. This report identifies bills considered during the recent legislative session whose content or concepts were incorporated into other legislation, under different bill numbers, that the legislature then passed.

During this session, the content or concepts originating in at least 201 bills were incorporated into other legislation that was enacted in 51 public acts. Click here to view this report and track down the bill concepts of interest.

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 47th Annual Oyster Fest will be held this weekend - September 5-7. Click here for more information.
  • 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. 

Arts & Cultural Plan Survey For Norwalk

Attention Norwalk residents -  the city is looking for your input in shaping their Arts & Cultural Plan.

Last year, an area around Norwalk's downtown was named an official Arts & Cultural District, making Norwalk the first large city in Connecticut to earn this designation. 

As a result, the City of Norwalk is developing a community-driven plan to guide investments, public art, programs, and partnerships over the next decade. Take the short survey and tell the City what inspires you, what's missing, and how the City can better support the arts. The survey is quick and available in English and Spanish. It will remain open until 11:59 PM. 

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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