As the start of the school year approaches, Newtown State Representative Mitch Bolinsky is reminding parents and others to take advantage of Connecticut’s annual “sales tax-free week”, which kicked off yesterday. The one-week exemption period ends on Saturday, on clothing and footwear items costing less than $100 each.  Bolinsky says originally intended to take a little of sting out of Back-to-School items, it’s also an opportunity to save on many of the essentials everyone needs. “Tax Free Week” was first enacted in 2000. Goods not covered under the program include items that are solely intended for use in sporting activities and accessories such as jewelry, watches, handbags, and wallets.  Items placed on layaway with the first payment during tax-free week, means none of the subsequent payments on the applicable items will include sales tax either.