https://jtnweb.com/ Free Connecticut digital newspaper: wellness, community resources, local news and events in all eight counties, focused on eastern CT. en-us Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 https://jtnweb.com/img/logo.pnghttps://jtnweb.com/ https://jtnweb.com/#health-insurance-enrollment https://jtnweb.com/#health-insurance-enrollment Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Access Health CT opened enrollment for 2027 coverage on Oct. 23, a week earlier than usual. You have until Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage that starts Jan. 1. Community health centers and community action agencies across eastern Connecticut can walk you through it at no cost. https://jtnweb.com/#health-observances https://jtnweb.com/#health-observances Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 November is American Diabetes Month, National Family Caregivers Month, Alzheimer's Awareness Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month and National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Here's what's on the calendar these two weeks, with one simple thing you can do for each. https://jtnweb.com/#norwich-police-hq https://jtnweb.com/#norwich-police-hq Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 A Nov. 3 ballot question asks voters to approve borrowing to turn the city-owned former Chelsea Groton Bank building at 300 Main St. into police headquarters. Officers say their current quarters are cramped and aging, and the city plans to seek state, federal and grant money to offset the cost. Early voting is at City Hall, Room 335, 100 Broadway. https://jtnweb.com/#mansfield-early-voting https://jtnweb.com/#mansfield-early-voting Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Mansfield voters can cast early ballots on the bookstore's second floor or at Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Nov. 1, with 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. hours on Tue., Oct. 27 and Thu., Oct. 29. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#medicare-advantage-cuts-connecticut https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#medicare-advantage-cuts-connecticut Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 ConnectiCare, CarePartners of Connecticut and HealthSpring have no Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2027. If you're in one of their plans, you'll need to choose new coverage. https://jtnweb.com/#prescription-drug-take-back-day-connecticut https://jtnweb.com/#prescription-drug-take-back-day-connecticut Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was Saturday, Oct. 24. The next one is expected in late April 2027, but 120 drop boxes in police stations and pharmacies across Connecticut take medications free and anonymously all year. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#snap-300-grocery-card-hr1 https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#snap-300-grocery-card-hr1 Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 About 25,000 residents who lost food benefits under H.R. 1 can get a one-time $300 card from their local community action agency. Apply by Nov. 30. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#food-pantries https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#food-pantries Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Hunger is rising in one of the country's wealthiest states. Most pantries ask for very little, and many ask for nothing at all. https://jtnweb.com/#fall-foliage-weekend-eastern-ct https://jtnweb.com/#fall-foliage-weekend-eastern-ct Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 The leaves are almost done inland, but the lower Connecticut River holds its color into early November. Here's how to spend both weekends of this issue outdoors, with history, stargazing and a head start on holiday shopping. https://jtnweb.com/#counties https://jtnweb.com/#counties Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Connecticut news county by county https://jtnweb.com/fairfield-county/ https://jtnweb.com/fairfield-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 23 Fairfield County, CT towns, including Bridgeport. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/hartford-county/ https://jtnweb.com/hartford-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 29 Hartford County, CT towns, including Hartford. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/litchfield-county/ https://jtnweb.com/litchfield-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 26 Litchfield County, CT towns, including Torrington. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/middlesex-county/ https://jtnweb.com/middlesex-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 15 Middlesex County, CT towns, including Middletown. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/new-haven-county/ https://jtnweb.com/new-haven-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 27 New Haven County, CT towns, including New Haven. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/new-london-county/ https://jtnweb.com/new-london-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 21 New London County, CT towns, including Norwich. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/tolland-county/ https://jtnweb.com/tolland-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Free local news and help for all 13 Tolland County, CT towns, including Vernon, Mansfield. Food pantries, medicine drop boxes, mental health help and events. https://jtnweb.com/windham-county/ https://jtnweb.com/windham-county/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 News and help for all 15 Windham County, CT towns and ZIPs 06226–06387: Willimantic, Putnam, Danielson, Killingly, Plainfield, Thompson, Woodstock and more. https://jtnweb.com/wellness-health/ https://jtnweb.com/wellness-health/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Six small ways to feel better this fall: walking, eating in season, blood pressure checks, gentle movement, mental health and cooking, with free CT resources. https://jtnweb.com/financial-literacy/ https://jtnweb.com/financial-literacy/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Money basics for kids, teens and adults, plus Connecticut first-time home buyer help: CHFA loans, down payment help, homebuyer classes and HUD counselors. https://jtnweb.com/career-development/ https://jtnweb.com/career-development/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Explore careers early, learn what jobs pay and what training they need, and get a free referral to Connecticut partners for career development support. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#black-maternal-health-wic-connecticut https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#black-maternal-health-wic-connecticut Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Most pregnancy-related deaths in Connecticut can be prevented. HUSKY now pays for doulas, WIC covers food and nutrition support until a child turns 5, and community programs run by and for Black women are growing. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#community-action-agencies-connecticut https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#community-action-agencies-connecticut Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 Every town in Connecticut is served by a local community action agency. These nonprofits help residents with low or moderate incomes, and most services are free. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#prescription-drug-take-back-day-connecticut https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#prescription-drug-take-back-day-connecticut Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:00:00 -0400 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is free, anonymous and no questions asked. If you can't make it Saturday, 120 drop boxes in police stations and pharmacies across Connecticut take medications all year. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#health-insurance-enrollment https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#health-insurance-enrollment Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 Access Health CT opens enrollment for 2027 coverage on Oct. 23, a week earlier than usual. Community health centers and community action agencies across eastern Connecticut can walk you through it at no cost. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#norwich-jobs https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#norwich-jobs Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 ConnectiCare, CarePartners of Connecticut and HealthSpring have no Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2027. If you're in one of their plans, you'll need to choose new coverage. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#windham-fire-engine https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#windham-fire-engine Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 ConnectiCare, CarePartners of Connecticut and HealthSpring have no Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2027. If you're in one of their plans, you'll need to choose new coverage. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#groton-sail https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#groton-sail Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 ConnectiCare, CarePartners of Connecticut and HealthSpring have no Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2027. If you're in one of their plans, you'll need to choose new coverage. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#counties https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#counties Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 At least four civilians died and 27 were hurt in another night of drone and missile attacks, following a Monday strike on a park in the Kharkiv region that killed six people, three of them children. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#free-immigration-legal-assistance https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#free-immigration-legal-assistance Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 Nonprofit lawyers and accredited advocates help with green cards, citizenship, DACA, asylum, work permits and court cases at little or no cost. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#fall-foliage-weekend-eastern-ct https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#fall-foliage-weekend-eastern-ct Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 Inland color is fading fast, and the coast and lower Connecticut River are just about to peak. Here's how to catch both, with hikes, festivals and Halloween fun along the way. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#fora-cruise-international-2027 https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#fora-cruise-international-2027 Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 From Alaska glaciers to Japan's ports and polar expeditions, advisors say now is the time to lock in next year's big trip, and to check your passport. https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#beat-the-street https://jtnweb.com/2026/10/20/#beat-the-street Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 For more than 30 years, this Meriden nonprofit has given young people somewhere to go after school, and a reason to keep coming back.