Jennifer Leeper

It’s hard to believe, but we’re just a couple of weeks away from the start of another school year.

Connecticut’s 26th annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 17, and runs through Saturday, August 23. It is a great opportunity to tackle your back-to-school shopping without paying sales tax!

I was thrilled to see $2.5 million approved by the State Bond Commission today to help fund the adaptive recreation center in Fairfield!

The funds cover capital costs related to the design, planning, and construction of the recreation center at 224 Colony St.

When complete, the rec center will provide a wide range of activities for residents, featuring classrooms, a mock kitchen, fields, and playgrounds, and can even serve as a location for local programs that serve adults and children with disabilities, including various sports teams. You can read about the rec center here and see a rendering of one room in the rec center below:

I'm so happy to share that I was given a 90% on the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Environmental Scorecard, which covers bills related to clean energy, pollution, wildlife, environmental protection, and more. Protecting and preserving our environment is becoming more important every day, and I am very proud to have received such a high rating from this organization!

The passing of Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber has been weighing heavily on our community, and I wanted to tell you about a way you can honor Bill and everything he did for our community.

Throughout the town, condolence books are set up where you can leave a message about Bill and reflect on the wonderful life he lived. You can find these books at the following locations:

Old Town Hall or Independence Hall, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm
Bigelow Senior Center, Friday, July 18 from 9am-4pm
Fairfield Main Library and Fairfield Woods Branch Library, Saturday, July 19 from noon-5pm

Any message, however long or short, is important.

Absorbing the news that our dear friend, Bill Gerber, has passed is difficult for us personally and for our entire community. Everyone who knew or interacted with Bill experienced his gift of making those around him feel better with his enthusiastic presence and joyful demeanor. He entered every room with that big smile and was always quick with a joke, a movie quote, a funny quip, and his hearty, contagious laugh.

Bill had an insatiable curiosity and seemingly endless energy. He loved Fairfield deeply and worked tirelessly to make it better, safer, and more welcoming to all. He was eager to tackle a challenge, bring people together, and fight for the causes he believed in. Bill has left a mark on this town that will never be forgotten, and he has left his stamp on the hearts of everyone who was fortunate enough to have known him.

Every 4th of July we have a reading of the Declaration of Independence in front of Fairfield’s Town Hall. This year instead of the typical 20 or so people in attendance, there were closer to 60 or 70.

So many people showed up with American flags and posters protesting tyranny and evoking the roots of our fight for freedom. Given the current political climate, distressing erosion of norms and checks and balances, and the rise in seemingly blind fealty to a leader above principles- our neighbors coming together to protest tyranny on a day to celebrate our independence gave me a lot of hope.

I hope you'll join me in taking a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this important holiday. Independence Day is not just about fireworks and cookouts – it’s' about honoring the ideals of freedom, democracy, and the generations of Americans who have fought to protect them.

It's also a time to come together with our neighbors and celebrate what unites us. In a world that often feels divided, our shared values and sense of community matter more than ever.

Tomorrow, July 2, I will be joined by State Rep. Sarah Keitt and State Sen. Tony Hwang for a post-legislative session update. The event will be at the Dolan School of Business Event Hall at Fairfield University (1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield) at 6pm.

We will discuss the highlights of our 2025 legislative session - including our state budget and major investments in special education - and how our community will be impacted. In addition, we will cover our priorities and yours as we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session.

We had a productive session, and I can't wait to tell you about the work we did for our community. I hope to see you there!