BoE candidates, a forum on your quality of life and a National Voter Registration Day

NORWALK, Conn. — Some Norwalk civic events for your consideration:

• SpEd parents hold BoE candidates forum Monday
• CNNA holds ‘quality of life forum,’ also Monday
• National voter registration day

BoE candidates to speak

Norwalk Board of Education candidates have been invited to speak to SpEd Partners at 6:30 p.m. Monday, in the Norwalk Public Library.

“This is an important election year for the Board of Education and families with special needs,” the SpEd Partners flier states. “As the special education fund sunsets, it is imperative that we get to know what our candidates thoughts are on continuing improvements to Special Education in Norwalk.”

Norwalk invested $3.6 million over three years to improve the quality of its Special Education offerings and design in-house services. That effort concluded in 2018-19.

SpEd Partners is a parent-run organization consisting of Norwalk-based families of children with special needs.

“Our goal for this forum is to give the candidates a chance to speak directly to our members and to also give families a chance to ask any education related questions,” the flier states. “… Each candidate will be invited to give a brief overview of their thoughts on Special Education and respond to our concerns going forward. Candidates are being asked not to use this event as a campaign opportunity.”

Seven to take questions in CNNA forum

“How is YOUR quality of life?” the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA) asks in a flier advertising a Monday (Sept. 23) evening forum.

The event, to begin at 7 p.m. in the City Hall community room, is expected to feature:

• Norwalk Chief of Operations and Public Works Anthony Robert Carr
• Norwalk Chief of Economic and Community Development Jessica Casey
• Norwalk Citizens Traffic Safety Committee leader Audrey Cozzarin
• Director of Transportation, Mobility and Parking Kathryn Hebert
• Planning and Zoning Director Steven Kleppin
• Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik
• State Rep. Chris Perone (D-137)

“A happier, cleaner, safer city enhances the local economy, promotes a vibrant arts culture and preserves our parks, wetlands, river, harbor and Long Island Sound,” CNNA states. “Come join the conversation!”

Get your voters’ passport

When you go to the polls on Election Day, do you know what kind of voter ID to bring? Ever wondered how poll workers know if you are a registered voter? Do you know what accommodations are available for voters with disabilities? Or how your ballot get scanned and tallied?

The League of Women Voters of Norwalk expects to answer those questions and more in its family-friendly National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) event Tuesday, Sept. 24. Drop in to the SoNo Branch Library anytime between 6 and 8 p.m. for this “hands-on” experience, where representatives from Norwalk’s Registrar of Voters office will explain the different parts of the voting process.

Visitors will get a “passport” booklet and earn stickers for each station visited. To make it easier for families to attend, pizza will be provided. There’s no charge – just head upstairs to the community room.

“Sometimes the voting process can be intimidating, and this event is a way to make it fun and informative for all ages,” Laura Smits, a member of the League’s Voter Service Committee, is quoted as saying in a press release.

“I am so glad the League of Women Voters is proactive with getting the word out about the importance of registering,” Norwalk Public Library Assistant Director Sherelle Harris is quoted as saying. “Staying home on Election Day is the equivalent of saying, ‘I will let others decide my fate.’ Some people mistakenly think their one vote won’t make a difference. I wish everyone would read Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who. One vote can break ties. One vote added to the collective can help win the race.  One vote is, indeed, very important. Vote!”

As a nonpartisan unofficial national holiday, National Voter Registration Day was started in 2012 for the presidential election, counting on thousands of partners and volunteers to create an annual moment when the entire nation focuses on registering Americans to exercise their most basic right – the right to vote.