Consumer and Finances
Fema Homeland Security Seal

FEMA Opens Office at Noroton Heights Fire Dept to Help Residents With Hurricane Ida Storm Damage

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A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open in Darien to help area residents affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. — an announcement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Representatives from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available at the center to help survivors apply for disaster assistance, explain disaster assistance programs, answer questions about FEMA letters and the appeals process and provide literature about repairs and rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant. The DRC opened at the Noroton Heights Fire Department at 209 Noroton Ave. on Thursday. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays.

Business
Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week 2021

State Leaders: Shop for Your Family and Help Local Retailers During Sales Tax Free Week

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Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax on clothing is eliminated during Sales Tax Free Week (through Saturday, Aug. 21) for clothing and footwear priced at less than $100 per item. Darien students return to schools in town on Monday, Aug. 30, a week before Labor Day. Something to keep in mind: Since sales tax is calculated after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price per item is less than $100, the sale is exempt from taxes.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Agile buyers wanted for fragile items Darien Scouts Online Mega-Auction.

Darien Scouts’ Rolling Auctions Fundraiser Continues, With Some Closing Thursday, Friday

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Darien Scouts has taken its annual tag sale online this year, with a series of auctions running in April and May. New auctions are online now. All auctions feature a mix of furniture, art, décor, antiques, bikes, sporting equipment, toys, and more, with bidding starting as low as $1. — an announcement from Darien Scouts

Visit soon and visit often! Next auctions close Thursday, April 29 and Friday, April 30, and more will be added regularly until at least May 6.

Consumer and Finances
Medicare Stethoscope laptop

Medicare 101: Register for This Online Presentation Hosted by Darien Library

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Are you overwhelmed by the choices of Medicare? Let’s navigate this Medicare journey together! On Thursday, April 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Darien Library is hosting an online presentation where you can explore and evaluate Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. — an announcement from Darien Library

This program will simplify the choices you need to make, help you make more well-informed decisions and explain what Medicare means for you! Register here.

Consumer and Finances
Energy Assistance Program

Applications Accepted Soon for CT Energy Assistance Program

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The Darien Human Services Department will begin accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Connecticut Energy Assistance Program on Monday, Sept. 14 for households who heat with oil and on Tuesday, Oc 13 for households who heat with electricity, gas, or propane. — an announcement from the Darien Human Services Department

Residents must meet the following income restrictions:

Maximum Household Income

Proof of income is required, including:

· Social Security benefits

· Pensions or annuities

· Dividend and interest income

· Employment income

· Child support and/or alimony payments

· Unemployment, workman’s comp. or disability payments

Proof of liquid assets is also required:

· Checking and/or Savings accounts

· Stocks, Bonds, CDs and IRAs

Individuals, couples, and families may have liquid assets up to $15,000 for home owners and $12,000 for renters and still be eligible. Applications must be filed by 3/18/21 for households with oil or gas heat and 5/6/21 for households with electric heat.

Consumer and Finances
Teenage driver

Not Just Some Theory: AAA Survey Shows Drivers in Crashes More Likely to Text, Phone, Run Lights

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American drivers continue to maintain a “Do-As-I-Say, Not-As-I-Do” attitude on the nation’s roadways. Worse, they fail to change their bad driving behavior even when their actions result in crashes, says AAA. — an announcement from AAA Northeast  
In the latest AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index, the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety reports drivers, who’ve been in at least one crash in the past two years, are significantly more likely to speed or text even when they think the police may catch them. The Index also highlights the gap between drivers’ attitudes and their reported behaviors. The research found drivers perceive distracted, aggressive and impaired driving as dangerous.

Consumer and Finances
AccessHealthCT home page website

Lose Your Job? Furloughed? For Many, Time’s Running Out to Get COBRA Health Insurance

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People who have lost a job have a 60-day deadline to get health insurance through COBRA, a period that is soon coming to an end for many of the laid-off, says Access Health CT, the state’s agency set up to help residents get health insurance. Losing health insurance coverage either from a furlough or a layoff is considered a ‘Qualifying Life Event,’ triggering a Special Enrollment Period through the federal COBRA benefits law. Access Health CT recommends comparing options with COBRA coverage. Workers who lose health insurance as a result of job loss may not know they have options, but Access Health CT says it may offer a better, less expensive choice, and is the only place where people can qualify for financial help to lower their costs. Here’s an announcement from the state agency:

Losing insurance either from a furlough or a layoff is considered a ‘Qualifying Life Event,’ triggering a Special Enrollment Period for that individual and possibly their household.

Consumer and Finances

Gov Lamont Reminds CT Residents of June 1 Deadline to Apply for Home Heating Assistance

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Gov. Ned Lamont is reminding Connecticut residents who need help paying last winter’s home heating bills that there is still time to apply to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). An extended application deadline of Monday, June 1, 2020, gives eligible families and individuals — including those impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency — more time to apply for this vital assistance. — an announcement from the Governor’s Office

“Even though we are well into spring, we want to remind everyone that there’s still time to apply for assistance to pay for your home heating bills for the last winter season,” Lamont said. “I want to thank the Department of Social Services and the dedicated staff of Connecticut’s community action agencies and partners for their work on behalf of so many children, families, older and other adults who need assistance.”

“CEAP is an important public-private partnership that safeguards tens of thousands of vulnerable Connecticut households from the cold each year,” Social Services Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford said. “It also helps residents who are behind on their utility heating bills and may be at risk of a shutoff at some point.”

Connecticut residents are welcome to apply, regardless of whether their home is heated through electricity, natural gas, or a deliverable fuel.

Consumer and Finances
Stop and Shop logo Stop & Shop logo

Identity Theft Device Found Attached to One Darien Stop and Shop Self-Checkout Scanner

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Darien Stop & Shop customers who used one of the self-checkout scanners may be the victims of identity theft, the grocery company has announced. Someone illegally installed a skimming device (or “skimmer”) at that register at the Stop & Shop in the Goodwives Shopping Center at 25 Old Kings Hwy. North. The skimmer was attached for five days at the end of last month — from April 26 to 30 at the Darien store, according to the company. If you may have opted for self-checkout at the Darien supermarket from April 26 to 30, you may want to check the account of any card you may have used to see if there are suspicious transactions, the Stop & Shop announcement said.

Business
Online keyboard

Online Learning Programs for Unemployed Expanded in Connecticut

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The statewide expansion of a program that will make free online learning licenses available to recipients of unemployment insurance, including those who have been impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 public health crisis, was announced Monday by Gov. Ned Lamont. The SkillUp CT program will expand access to comprehensive online course work from a leading global provider for thousands of Connecticut residents. — an announcement from the Governor’s Office

Originally launched in eastern Connecticut, a sustained rollout of the program across the state over the coming weeks will enable recently laid-off workers to upgrade their skills and earn industry-recognized certifications even while the doors to most brick-and mortar education and training providers remain closed. Based on a successful model implemented by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, it is being offered through Connecticut’s five regional workforce development boards. Eligible Connecticut residents will receive email instructions on obtaining a Metrix Learning license that provides them access to about 5,000 online Skillsoft courses in areas such as information technology, business analysis, customer service, project management, and digital literacy, among others.

Business

Mortgage Payment Relief Plan Announced by Governor, Participating Banks, Credit Unions

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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration has reached an agreement with over 50 credit unions and banks in Connecticut to offer mortgage relief to the state’s residents and businesses who continue to face hardship caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. — an announcement from the Governor’s Office

Under the agreement, the following relief policies are being offered by participating financial institutions:

90-day grace period for all mortgage payments: Participating financial institutions are now offering mortgage-payment forbearances of up to 90 days, which will allow homeowners to reduce or delay monthly mortgage payments. In addition, the institutions will:

Provide a streamlined process for requesting forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;
Confirm approval and terms of forbearance program; and
Provide the opportunity to extend forbearance agreements if faced with continued hardship resulting from COVID-19. Relief from fees and charges for 90 days: For at least 90 days, participating financial institutions will waive or refund mortgage-related late fees and other fees including early CD withdrawals. No new foreclosures for 60 days: Financial institutions will not start any foreclosure sales or evictions.

Consumer and Finances

If Your Car Isn’t Going Anywhere During the Pandemic: Some Maintenance Tips

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Just because you’re not putting miles on your car now as you routinely do, doesn’t mean you should ignore simple maintenance during a time when many of us are working from home, says AAA Northeast. — an announcement from AAA Northeast

Like most of us nowadays, your car probably isn’t moving as much; and depending upon how long your vehicle sits, things can happen: dead batteries, stale fuel, rusty brakes, even critters nesting in vehicle nooks and crannies, says Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “For those of us who have time to catch up on things we’ve overlooked or ignored in the past, now is a good time to get ‘cranking’ on car maintenance,” said Mayko. AAA Northeast offers these simple tips to keep your vehicle running properly during extended off-road periods:

Fill your tank and add a gasoline stabilizer to help extend the life of fuel and prevent the buildup of condensation. Inflate the tires to manufacturer recommendation to prevent flat spots.

Consumer and Finances
Tax-Aide AARP Tax Help Tax Preparation Tax Assistance

AARP’s Busiest Free Tax Preparation Help Site in CT Is at Darien Library — Starts Jan 27

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IRS-certified volunteer tax aides, trained by the American Association of Retired Persons, will be available Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from Jan. 27 through April 15  in Darien Library. Taxpayers of all ages and incomes are invited to make appointments or just walk in. There is no charge for the service. Now’s the time to start gathering the financial documents you’ll need for filing.

Business
Going Out of Business wide blue generic

‘Going Out of Business’ Sales Can Trick Shoppers in Several Ways

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Going out of business sales may seem like golden opportunities to grab great deals. But before you head to one, here are a few things to keep in mind. — This article originally was posted on the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information blog. Colleen Tressler is a consumer education specialist at the FTC. How can you tell if you’re getting a good deal?

Consumer and Finances
Enoch Lenge Eversource energy efficiency spokesman

New Kitchen Appliances Can Save You Time, Money, Energy, Water and Reduce Stress, Eversource Says

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Whether your holiday menu includes a family recipe passed down for generations or a new dish from the latest Tasty video, food is typically the main attraction at festive gatherings. — This article by Enoch Lenge, Eversource’s energy efficiency spokesman, is from his blog on the utility’s website. To reduce the stress of cooking this holiday season, here is an essential appliance guide that can help you save time, money, and energy while also reducing your impact on the environment:

Refrigerators – Preparing a variety of dishes the night before and storing them in an ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator will make it easier to keep everything cool and enjoy time with friends and family instead of minding the stove. It will also save you time, energy, and more than $300 over five years. If an energy-efficient refrigerator arrives in time for holiday celebrations, you can dispose of your current refrigerator responsibly.