D-Day Anniversary, Yankee Doodle Fair, and More!

June 13, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you are doing well. Although the legislative session is over, there is still plenty of work to be done. 

Last Friday was 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Two of my grandfathers, Grandpas Leslie and Merliss, were among the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, one as an Army medic and the other as an Army Air Corps engineer working behind enemy lines.

They, alongside other American troops and Allied forces, fought to protect us from tyranny. The bravery of these soldiers ensured that our freedom was protected.

Yesterday was Connecticut’s first ever Women Veterans Recognition Day — a powerful step forward in honoring the courage, service, and sacrifice of women who have served in our country’s armed forces. I was proud to cosponsor the legislation that made this day possible.
 
June 12th marks the anniversary of the 1948 Women's Armed Services Integration Act, which allowed women to serve as permanent members of the military.  Join me in honoring the generations of women who have served our nation with strength and resolve across every branch of the military.

Please read below for information on Juneteenth events in our community, information about dog license renewals, and more!

Pride Flag Raising in Norwalk 

Pride Month is a time to gather strength, feel joy in being who we are meant to be, and to reflect on how we owe everything to our elders, especially our Stonewall generation. Allyship is what you do when no one is looking and true allyship is needed more than ever. And last week I was proud to stand in the welcoming City I love to raise the Progress Pride flag together and to talk about why standing up for each other is more important than ever.

Click here to watch the ceremony. 

Juneteenth Celebrations

Next 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.

Norwalk’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held next Thursday  from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the historic Norwalk Green, 8 Park St. This free family event is a celebration of art, music, culture, and food, including a DJ, live music and dance, activities for children, and more. Please see the flyer for more information. 

The Westport Museum for History and Culture will also host a Juneteenth event. On Wednesday, June 18, Executive Director of Westport Museum for History and Culture Ramin Ganeshram will share the hidden history of Westport’s connection to Juneteenth,  well as genuine Civil War artifacts from the Museum’s collection.

Click here to register. 

Dog License Renewal 

Attention dog owners - you have until the end of the month to renew or register your furry friend's dog license. I just renewed our pup's license online and it was quick and easy!

All dog licenses must be renewed for 2025, and any new dogs over six months of age or currently unlicensed must also register at this time. 

No license may be issued unless a valid rabies certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian and including the date of the vaccination and duration of immunity, is presented to the town clerk.

Click here to learn about the registration process in Norwalk.

Click here to learn about the registration process in Westport. 

Yankee Doodle Fair 

The Westport Woman’s Club annual carnival, the Yankee Doodle Fair, began on Thursday and will continue through Sunday, June 15. The fair will feature carnival rides, games, live music, and delicious food from a wide array of vendors. Click here to learn more about the event.  

The event is held at the Westport Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Avenue, and in the Imperial Municipal Parking Lot located on Imperial Avenue.  Please note that this municipal lot will be closed to the public through Sunday to accommodate the set up and take down of the carnival attractions. 

Residents and motorists can expect traffic congestion and temporary delays in the downtown area associated with this event.  Attendees are reminded that there is no event parking allowed on both Thomas Road and Imperial Avenue.  Motorists traveling through the area are asked to exercise caution due to increased pedestrian traffic.

Impact of Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division 

Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division was established in 2018 in response to the growing overdose crisis and to expand statewide access to the prevention of opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, outreach, engagement, and overdose prevention coverage with a focus on overdose deaths. This marks the third consecutive year of decreases of statewide overdose deaths.
 
The division manages projects and initiatives that resulted from infusion of State Opioid Response grant funding as well as those approved by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Some of 2024’s improvements include:
 
💠 Expanded innovative services in the state, adding three and continuing to support original Harm Reduction Centers in municipalities with highest morbidity rates: Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and New London
 
💠 Added outreach services via Peer Navigator Programs in two areas of the state;
Distributed close to 60,000 naloxone kits (naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal medication), exceeding the state saturation goal for the year.
 
💠 Hosted a successful and informative Harm Reduction Conference. The conference included four expert speakers from around the country, as well as two panel discussions, focused on addressing equity, and stigma, 390 individuals attended the conference: 263 in person and 127 virtually.
 
While we are heartened to see data going in the right direction, we know there is much more work to do to fight this public health crisis. Our hearts are heavy for the 990 individuals who lost their lives to overdose in 2024 and their loved ones whose lives have been forever altered. We remain steadfast in our mission to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, public education, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports until no lives are lost to drug overdose.
 
Additional information is available on the DMHAS Opioid Services Division website at portal.ct.gov/dmhas/programs-and-services/opioid-treatment/opioid-services.

Anyone seeking services regarding opioid use disorder in Connecticut should visit www.liveloud.org or call 1-800-563-4086 any time, day or night.

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 programing. Please visit their website to learn more. 

ICYMI

Westport Delegation Town Hall 

The Westport Delegation will hold an End of Session Town Hall on Monday, June 16 at the Westport Public Library. Rep. Steinberg, State Senator Maher and I will be available to answer your questions, as well as discuss and reflect on the 2025 legislative session. Hope to see you there! 

Survey for Norwalk Residents

Attention Norwalk residents and business owners - the City of Norwalk and Redevelopment Agency (RDA) have created a survey to gauge interest in developing a Business Improvement District (BID). A business improvement district could potentially increase resources and investment in downtown Norwalk.

Click here to access the survey. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. 
 

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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