Upcoming Coffee Hour, Celebrating Juneteenth, Local Updates, and more

June 20, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

This week I had the opportunity to meet and speak with residents across Stratford and spend time in the 120th District. My work continues in representing you. My priority year round is advocating for Stratford and meeting the needs of my constituents. Friday, June 20th, the Appropriations and Human Services committees convened for a public hearing on the Birth to Three Waiver Renewal. Please reach out to my office at anytime to contact me about how I may assist you.

In this newsletter, you will find information about my summer community office hours, State resources, and local Stratford updates.

Upcoming Community Office Hours

Thank you to everyone who came to my community event at Open Door Tea on June 16th! I appreciated the thoughtful questions and conversations. Throughout the summer, I will be holding in-person "office hours" at various locations in the 120th District here in Stratford to hear from my constituents directly. As your State Representative, your thoughts, concerns, and ideas are important to me, and I want to provide local opportunities for you.

Next Monday, June 23rd at, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., join me at Blue Sky Diner for a cup of coffee and conversation!

Celebrating Juneteenth

Thursday, June 19 is Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in our country. For many years, this important holiday was primarily celebrated in the South, but was unknown to others from the rest of the country. However, thanks to great advocacy work, it is now rightfully observed throughout the country, including Connecticut. In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday.

Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the practice of slavery in America. It also did not end at the conclusion of the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.

Although Juneteenth celebrates a momentous event in our history, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and its lingering effects on our society. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that will make Connecticut a better state for all. If you have any questions about Juneteenth, its history, and how it has been celebrated around the country, please check out this page from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Hot Weather Protocol

Due to an anticipated stretch of high temperatures, the state is activating its Extreme Hot Weather Protocol, effective at noon on Sunday, June 22nd. The protocol will remain in effect through at least 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25th.

This is the first time this year that the protocol is being activated. The current forecast calls for temperatures to exceed 90 degrees over this period, with a heat index that could range from between 100 to 105 degrees.

The purpose of activating the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the hot conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available statewide, providing a location for those in need of relief.

Cooling centers will be available throughout the state. Anyone in need of a place to get out of the heat can locate their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list that will be published online at 211ct.org.

Summer Travel Scam Alert

As you make plans to travel this summer, it is important to stay alert, especially when it comes to scams targeting travelers like you.

There is a rise in fraudulent websites posing as legitimate services offering to assist travelers with passport and visa documentation. These sites charge users fees to access application forms, which are free through the official U.S. Department of State website. These sites aim to collect your private and personal information and charge unnecessary fees.

How to spot these scams:

Be cautious of third-party sites with URLs that do not end in ".gov"
Avoid advertisements that promote "fast results" or "shortcuts" for obtaining your passport or visas

Make sure you are planning ahead of your trip by researching official passport processing times directly through the U.S. Department of State, and give yourself plenty of time to obtain your documentation before your scheduled trip to avoid looking for a fast solution and becoming a victim of one of these scams. If you come across a suspicious website, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Keep you and your family safe while traveling this summer by staying informed and aware of any potential scams. Safe travels!

Finding Childcare

If you are looking for summer programs or school-aged care that is right for your family, the CT Office of Early Childhood has resources to help you find care. Visit www.211childcare.org/ for more information on finding nearby trusted child care.

DEEP Resident Survey

The Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory and the Long Island Blue Plan were unanimously adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2021. This established the Inventory and Blue Plan and also requires the documents to be reviewed and updated every five years. Now, the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is looking for your feedback to understand the importance of Long Island Sound to the residents and determine how they can improve their efforts.

Please click here to fill out the DEEP survey

Local Stratford Events

Next week, on Thursday, June 26th, join Stratford Partnership for Youth and Families for a powerful conversation on how to support the LGBTQIA+ Community at the Birdseye Municipal Complex.

Email ckordiak@townofstratford.com by June 24th to register!

Stratford Professional Firefighters IAFF 998 is holding its annual softball game against the Stratford Brakettes on Thursday June 26th. This year the game will benefit Linked- Autism Safety Project to go along with their T Shirt Fundraiser. This year's pregame will feature a kickball game against Stratford Police Union Local 407.

Individual tickets are $15
Family of four for $20
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or ahead of time at the link below.
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/KDNPCFC29MJCW

Registration is open for the Stratford Veterans Museum and Stratford Seniors Men's Club Golf Tournament! Check out the flyer below to see how you can reserve your spot!

It is Paradise Green Farmer's Market Season! Every Monday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Paradise Green. This is a great chance to support our local CT farmers and businesses.

Summer is back in Stratford, and the pool at Sterling Community Center will be open for Community Swim on June 28th! Every Saturday, starting at the end of June through August 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the pool will be open to everyone for $3 per person.