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YOUTH IS NOT WASTED ON THE YOUNG
For those of us who once believed the arc of progress was steadily curving toward a brighter future, it is painful and alarming to now fear that it is bending backward. Many of us devoted decades to moving the world forward, advancing justice, and widening the reach of opportunity. But somewhere along the way, we lost control of the very means to protect those gains. It’s like spending years beautifying your home while termites eat away at the posts and beams. The truth is that younger generations have been warning us for a while that we were losing our way.
The good news is that there is a vibrant culture of youth activism, and young leaders are stepping up to run for office. A report by Future Caucus shows that about 25% of candidates for Congress in the 2024 cycle came from the Gen Z and millennial generations—a 79% increase in the number of millennial candidates compared to 2020, according to Future Caucus, a national, nonpartisan organization that works with young state legislators and members of Congress to bridge partisan divides.
Democratic organizations are beginning to cede influence to younger people. New leaders, like North Carolina’s Anderson Clayton, the youngest Democratic state party chair in the nation, are reshaping how campaigns reach voters. And figures such as Zohran Mamdani and the late Charlie Kirk, whether you support them or not, show how younger politicians both understand and reflect the priorities of a new generation. They also bring a native fluency in using today’s digital and offline tools to tell stories, build networks, and engage younger voters. If we want to restore trust, energy, and relevance, our job is not to step aside but to welcome and nurture young people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and step into the arena.
Meanwhile, all of us need to stay engaged in the fight for our democracy—regardless of how these times affect our emotional state. Indeed, the best antidote for anxiety, depression, and helplessness is action. Read below for just a few of the ways that you can join with your friends and likeminded citizens in your community and across the country to change the arc of history.
With excitement that comes from working together,
Your Faithful Editor
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In This Issue
- What If You Threw A Party and Everybody Came?
- NO KINGS DAY 2 - Nationwide Protest - Saturday, October 18
- Make A Plan To Vote
- Upcoming Events
- Things You Can Do Now
- In Memoriam: Jim Dresser
- In Case You Missed It
- Did You Miss A Newsletter?
- Share Your News
- Tell Us What You Think
- Spread The Word
- Support Our Work - Donate
| WHAT IF YOU THREW A PARTY AND EVERYBODY CAME? | |
That’s what happened at Sunday’s Democratic candidate meet-and-greet at the Town Grove. Nearly all 15 of our candidates for municipal offices were on hand at this standing-room-only event to introduce themselves and talk with voters—who turned out in larger numbers than ever before. Click to read our candidates' bios. Many of our sitting Democratic officials who are not up for re-election this November also joined us, representing the various commissions and boards that play a critical role in making Salisbury work.
First Selectman Curtis Rand spoke about the need to address affordable housing and solid waste—issues that involve both local and state policies. He also emphasized the importance of the race for Second Selectman, introducing our candidate, Barrett Prinz. Barrett is well known for his years of service on the school board, the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, and the boards of several local organizations—in addition to his work as a lawyer for nonprofit organizations. With three candidates running for two seats in this race, it is especially important to cast a vote for Barrett.
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Governor Ned Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz also attended, as did our State Representative Maria Horn. They highlighted the importance of Connecticut’s Democratic supermajority in protecting healthcare, education, immigrants, and LGBTQ rights in the face of the Trump administration’s attacks. They also contrasted the Trump administration’s budget—which adds trillions to the national debt while giving tax breaks to billionaires—with Connecticut’s balanced budget, which has successfully retired billions of dollars in state pension debt.
While the candidates and public officials were the center of attention, it was hard to overlook the copious and delicious food, thanks to our many volunteer cooks, bakers, and confectioners, along with others who donated beverages. Special thanks go to Alan and Robin Cockerline of Whippoorwill Farm for once again donating farm-fresh hamburgers and hot dogs from their grass-fed animals. A new treat this year was the delicious ice cream confections donated by Bill Colgan of Grassland Dessert Café, the terrific new shop in Lakeville. The Salisbury Garden Center provided plants and other decorations, and Barbara Friedman supplied assortments of beautiful dahlias from her garden.
We extend special thanks to Sophia deBoer for organizing the food volunteers, Pam Kelley for finance and administration, Jane Kellner for promotion, Barbara Bettigole for managing trash and recycling, Al Ginouves for—well—everything he does, and Joanne Hayhurst for serving so ably as our captain once again this year. Many others helped make this event a success. If we neglected to mention you specifically, please know that your contribution was appreciated.
| | NO KINGS 2! JOIN THE NATIONWIDE MASS PROTEST - SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 | | |
The first NO KINGS protest in April was one of the largest mass demonstrations in US history, and this second NO KINGS protest is on track to be even bigger. Trump is doubling down on his authoritarian tactics and ramping up his attacks on our rights and democracy. We, the people, are not backing down. Showing up and making our voices heard is critical. Gather your friends and use your voice: America has no kings. There are many local protests to join whether you are in NW CT or elsewhere in the country:
10am - Torrington. Details here.
11am - Salisbury. Details here.
11am - Great Barrington. Details here.
12noon - Cornwall. Details here.
12noon - New Milford. Details here.
12noon - Hartford. Details here.
Click here for more locations and updates from indivisible.
| | NO KINGS Long-Sleeve T-Shirts Available – Last Day to Order! | | |
Talented artist, political activist, and local leader Victoria Selbach is once again offering her iconic NO KINGS image on t-shirts — now in a long-sleeved version to keep you warm at upcoming protests and events.
This is a limited offer. Orders must be received by end of day October 1 - Tonight. Shirts will be ready for pick-up at the White Hart before October 18's big protest event (details to follow). The shirts are 100% cotton and available in unisex sizes S, M, L, XL. at $30 each.
To order email local leader Sarah Zarbock at sfzarbock@gmail.com and make sure to include:
- Your name
- Your cell number
- Number of shirts and sizes (e.g., 1 Small, 1 Large)
Payment options:
- By check to: Sarah Zarbock, 37 Chatfield Dr., Lakeville, CT 06039
- By Venmo to Victoria Selbach: @victoria-selbach* (last 4 digits: 9909)
- At pick-up by check or Venmo
Make your voice louder by wearing one of these special t-shirts!
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MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE
In these times when voting rights are being threatened, show that you still care by exercising this most basic American right.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 4. Vote at the Salisbury Town Hall from 6am-8pm.
Early Voting: October 20-November 2 (Two days before Election Day). Hours are 10 am–6 pm daily, with extended hours 8am-8pm on October 28 and 30.
Absentee Voting: Applications are due by November 3, the Monday before Election Day. Completed ballots must reach the Town Clerk by 8pm on Election Day (Nov. 4).
Registration: You must register at least 18 days before the election. Fortunately, CT also offers same-day registration at the polls on Election Day.
Contacts:
Registrar of Voters: 860-435-5175 or registrars@salisburyct.us
Town Clerk: 860-435-5182 or clerk@salisburyct.us
Make a plan to vote—whether early, absentee, or on Election Day!
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Thursday, October 2 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Saturday, October 4 at 11am-noon: Protest in Salisbury. Join your friends and neighbors every Saturday in standing up for democracy and against Trump's destructive policies and corruption. The event is at the Salisbury Town Green, 15 Undermountain Road, Salisbury. Bring your own signs or borrow one from the organizers. American flags are highly encouraged. We stand alongside the long-time activists of the Peace and Justice Rally, who have held vigil on the green for 40 years. Please remember: The organizers strongly encourage participants not to engage with the occasional heckler. Doing so could jeopardize everyone’s safety. Instead, simply ignore them or give a friendly wave.
Saturday, October 4 at 12pm: Protest in Cornwall. Come to the Triangle at the intersection of Routes 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge. Bring your American flag and join in every Saturday to stand tall in defense of our democracy! If you can, bring a sign as well as your family and friends.
Saturday, October 4 at 12pm: Protest in New Milford. Join Indivisible Act Local NWCT for their weekly peaceful rally to protect democracy. The event is at 50 East Street, New Milford (next to CVS). A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Always welcome: flags, chants, outside voices, freedom songs, and signs.
Friday, October 10 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Saturday, October 11 at 11am-noon: Protest in Salisbury. Join your friends and neighbors every Saturday in standing up for democracy and against Trump's destructive policies and corruption. The event is at the Salisbury Town Green, 15 Undermountain Road, Salisbury. Bring your own signs or borrow one from the organizers. American flags are highly encouraged. We stand alongside the long-time activists of the Peace and Justice Rally, who have held vigil on the green for 40 years. Please remember: The organizers strongly encourage participants not to engage with the occasional heckler. Doing so could jeopardize everyone’s safety. Instead, simply ignore them or give a friendly wave.
Saturday, October 11 at 12pm: Protest in Cornwall. Come to the Triangle at the intersection of Routes 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge. Bring your American flag and join in every Saturday to stand tall in defense of our democracy! If you can, bring a sign as well as your family and friends.
Saturday, October 11 at 12pm: Protest in New Milford. Join Indivisible Act Local NWCT for their weekly peaceful rally to protect democracy. The event is at 50 East Street, New Milford (next to the CVS). A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Always welcome: flags, chants, outside voices, freedom songs, and signs.
Thursday, October 16 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Saturday, October 18 - NO KINGS 2: Nationwide Mass Protest. See details in the article above or click here for more locations, details, and updates from indivisible. This is big!
Tuesday, October 21 from 2-4pm: Postcarding for Virginia House Dems at the White Hart. Virginia has important elections to his House of Delegates in November, just weeks away. Join Saving Democracy and its friends at Swing Blue Alliance and the National Women's Political Caucus to get out the vote and help Democrats increase their current one-vote majority in the VA House. It will also provide "up-ballot" votes for Abigail Spanberger's run for governor. This series of postcards is supporting five candidates in rural Virginia districts: Mary Person (VA HD-83), Rise Marie Hayes (VA HA-52), Sarah Ratcliffe (VA HD-62), Liz Richardson (VA HA-100), and Yvonne Rorer (VA HD-47). Important notes: Unusually for these events, there will be a $5.50 charge for each packet of 30 cards. There will be a jar for donations to help defray that expense. Also, please plan ahead and bring your own postcard stamps because the organizers will need to collect the cards at the end of the afternoon to return them to local organizers who will mail them from VA. The organizers want everyone to be able to participate and are happy to provide stamps when that is a hardship.
Tuesday, October 21 at 7pm: Senator Chris Murphy for NC Fundraiser. See our senator, Chris Murphy, in action at this major Zoom fundraiser for Down Home North Carolina hosted by All In for North Carolina (AINC), a group of New England activists. Why North Carolina? It’s the Democrats’ best chance to flip two Senate seats and strengthen the House. Down Home NC is organizing year-round in rural communities—places Democrats have long neglected—to counter MAGA disinformation and mobilize new voters. With leaders like former Governor Roy Cooper and State Party Chair Anderson Clayton, North Carolina is poised to become the tipping point in 2026 and 2028.
All In For NC has already raised $225,000 toward its $400,000 goal. Help it get across the finish line and hear firsthand why Senator Murphy believes this work is critical to America’s future. Donate and register here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/early-intensive-rural-organizing
Tuesday, October 21 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular monthly SDTC meeting will be held at Town Hall and via Zoom. The SDTC is committed to promoting good government and democratic principles at every level of our civic life. The SDTC recruits candidates for local elective and appointed offices and supports the most qualified Democrats to run in municipal, state, and national elections. Meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of every month. Please email Al Ginouves to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting. All are welcome.
Thursday, October 23 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Saturday, October 25 at 11am-noon: Protest in Salisbury. Join your friends and neighbors every Saturday in standing up for democracy and against Trump's destructive policies and corruption. The event is at the Salisbury Town Green, 15 Undermountain Road, Salisbury. Bring your own signs or borrow one from the organizers. American flags are highly encouraged. We stand alongside the long-time activists of the Peace and Justice Rally, who have held vigil on the green for 40 years. Please remember: The organizers strongly encourage participants not to engage with the occasional heckler. Doing so could jeopardize everyone’s safety. Instead, simply ignore them or give a friendly wave.
Saturday, October 25 at 12pm: Protest in Cornwall. Come to the Triangle at the intersection of Routes 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge. Bring your American flag and join in every Saturday to stand tall in defense of our democracy! If you can, bring a sign as well as your family and friends.
Saturday, October 25 at 12pm: Protest in New Milford. Join Indivisible Act Local NWCT for their weekly peaceful rally to protect democracy. The event is at 50 East Street, New Milford (next to CVS). A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Always welcome: flags, chants, outside voices, freedom songs, and signs.
Saturday, October 25 at 12pm: Protest in Cornwall. Come to the Triangle at the intersection of Routes 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge. Bring your American flag and join in every Saturday to stand tall in defense of our democracy! If you can, bring a sign as well as your family and friends.
Thursday, October 30 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening — and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day. Vote from 8am-8pm at Salisbury Town Hall. See article above for details about registration and voting in person or absentee.
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Phonebank for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Race
Pennsylvania has a critical election in just four weeks and the State Supreme Court is on the ballot. During a time when fair courts and the rule of law are under attack in Washington, Pennsylvania’s highest courts are one of the last lines of defense for our freedoms and our future. Volunteers from Promote The Vote PA have started calling fellow voters to let them know the importance of voting on November 4th. Many voters are unaware of the election but are happy to receive voting information and help with making their plan to vote either by mail ballot or at the polls on Election Day. Phonebanks are every Thursday from 6-8pm ET and Sunday from 4-6pm. They are held on Zoom and use an auto-dialer to make the calls easier. You will be shown how it works at the start of every phone bank. Join us to help ensure PA courts remain fair and protect the people, not billionaires. Click to sign up.
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At the risk of repeating a message from previous issues of this newsletter, we are re-posting some of the ways you can contribute to the growing groundswell of citizens making our collective voice heard. With the increasing recklessness of the Trump administration, it's more important than ever to take a stand. Channel your anxiety, depression, frustration, and anger into meaningful action.
Get Timely Updates on Important Actions From These Sources
Because we publish only once a month, there are many events during the month that never make it into our pages. To keep informed about those events, we strongly suggest that you subscribe to some of the excellent, more frequent sources that are listed below.
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5 Calls - Elected officials really do care what their constituents think. That's why calls to officials' offices are impactful. Every day staffers compile and report on all the calls that their offices receive. Making a call takes just a minute using the short scripts on key issues and telephone numbers they provide. 5 Calls researches key issues, drafts scripts, and provides contact info for elected officials. Go to the 5 Calls website and choose an issue you care about. Enter your zip code and the system will provide you with the telephone numbers of your senators and representatives along with the relevant scripts. Subscribe to 5 Call’s weekly newsletter for emails with the latest updates.
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Jill Drew’s Today's Action Daily Blast – This twice-a-week email suggests a single, focused calling action to our public officials each day, most often providing carefully-researched sample scripts along with the contact information for calling US senators and representatives serving Northwestern Connecticut and the adjoining area of New York’s Hudson Valley. To sign up email jill@jilldrew.com.
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Saving Democracy email - Indefatigable activist Kathy Voldstad provides announcements of actions for people in and around Salisbury and elsewhere. Kathy's emails also provide inspiration that we all need in times like these. To sign up, email kathyvoldstad@gmail.com.
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Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water – This is one of our perennial favorites. Activist Jessica Craven provides daily suggestions on easy actions that each of us can take. Read it here and subscribe free for her daily dose of actions.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Political Violence Is Not A "Both Sides" Problem, writes Steve Sheffey in his progressive pro-Israel newsletter. While Sheffey’s focus is usually on US-Israel relations, he often provides sharp insights into broader American politics. His recent commentary on the murder of Charlie Kirk highlights the hypocrisy of right-wing attempts to portray the tragedy as emblematic of the left. Click and then and scroll down to read this short piece.
Historic Decline: US Loses Over 1 Million Immigrant Workers Since January. For the first time since the 1960s, America's immigrant population is shrinking. New Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data reveals that more than 1.2 million immigrants have left the US labor force from January through July 2025—a dramatic shift with far-reaching economic implications. Immigrants make up 45% of agricultural workers, 30% of construction workers, and 24% of service industry employees. From California's tomato fields to construction sites nationwide, employers are grappling with workforce shortages as President Trump's stepped-up immigration enforcement—including 181 executive actions in his first 100 days—drives the exodus. Click to read the full Pew Research Center study.
Young Men Backed Trump. Now They Are Questioning His Power. Harvard pollster John Della Volpe reports that his new research shows that Trump's support from
young men, ages 18–29, a group that helped power Donald Trump’s 2024 victory, is far from guaranteed moving forward. The very group that helped Trump win in 2024 is no longer firmly in his column. Their 2026 votes are in play. This uncertainty reflects something bigger than shifting partisanship. It reflects a generation of men wrestling with power, freedom, and trust. Read more in Della Volpe's Substack post.
The Obscure Liberal Group Seeking to Curb Republican Down-Ballot Dominance. Last year, as Democrats were dealt big setbacks in federal races nationwide, a small crop of well-funded candidates in Florida picked up 15 school board seats that had been targeted by conservative groups in competitive counties. Now, the obscure organization that backed those Florida candidates is planning a substantial expansion to cover more than half the country. Pipeline Fund, a left-leaning group that helped funnel more than $1 million, plus support and training, into the Florida races, is vying to establish itself as a liberal counter to the sprawling down-ballot infrastructure on the right that has helped Republicans notch wins on school boards, in county offices and in local judicial races. Read the full story in The New York Times.
Loss of Revolution Wind Could Cost Ratepayers $500M A Year. As a result of the Trump administration’s decision to cancel the Revolution Wind project, electric customers across New England could face up to $500 million in additional annual supply costs, according to CT's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Work on the wind farm—already four-fifths complete off the coast of Rhode Island—was abruptly halted in August by the Trump Administration, citing unspecified national security concerns. Fortunately, a US District Court has just granted a temporary injunction that lifted the federal stop-work order. The court order represents a rare—and, at least for now, temporary—win for the offshore wind industry, which has been a frequent target of the Trump administration. Read the latest in CT Mirror.
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IN MEMORIAM: JIM DRESSER
A few rare people have an outsized impact on their community. That was Jim Dresser—a longtime member of the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee—who passed away at his home on Academy Street on September 22. His life was a model of the “public citizen.” Our hearts go out to his wife, Laura Carlson, and their families.
Jim was a champion of affordable housing and of preserving land and the natural world. He was a fundraiser extraordinaire, a veteran, a member of countless boards (and the leader of many of them), an expert wielder of both the chainsaw and the pen, and a generous giver of time, money, land, and advice. And he was funny as all get out.
The 2024 Salisbury Town Report was dedicated to Jim. Read it and you will see why. To capture the essence of Jim, I recommend watching this 2013 video of him receiving a Doctorate of Humane Letters at his beloved Wesleyan University.
--- Al Ginouves
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER?
The entire archive of past newsletters is available at the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee website.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send us any news or announcements that you would like us to share with our community. We publish on the first of each month, so please send us any submissions at least one week in advance. Please submit to the editor at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We love hearing from you, our readers. Every edition of our newsletter is created with you in mind — to inform, engage, and inspire. But your feedback helps us do our job better. Drop us a note — even a few lines can make a big difference. Reach us anytime at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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If you've read this far, it's probably because you like this newsletter. Please feel free to forward it to your friends and family. Let them know that they are welcome to join our mailing list no matter where they live. We are delighted to have readers from anywhere – Salisbury, the Northwest Corner, or elsewhere in the world. They can sign up with the QR code or click here to sign up or go to salisburydemocrats.com and click below to join our mailing list.
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SUPPORT OUR WORK - DONATE
When democracy is under attack, local action becomes essential. That’s why the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee is stepping up and fighting back — and why your financial support is so critical right now. We’re mobilizing our community to protect democracy.
You can donate by credit card at salisburydemocrats.com/donate or use this QR code.
Please give generously — the stakes couldn’t be higher this year. The STDC has no paid staff, so every dollar you contribute goes directly to supporting our critical work.
If you have already given, thank you for your generosity.
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