Weekly Newsletter 11/5/21

jenn
November 5, 2021
I want to thank all of the citizens who came out to vote on Tuesday! I also want to recognize everyone who stepped up to serve our community in this way. We are fortunate to live in a community with so many people committed to public service. I look forward to working with each of our newly elected officials.  

Additionally, I want to recognize all of our Veterans in advance of Veteran's Day. According to the 2020 Census data, we have roughly 2,000 veterans in Fairfield, and I want to thank each one for their service and sacrifice to our nation. We owe you all immeasurably for our safety, security, and freedom. Fairfield's Field of Valor is one of my very favorite town events and I've included details below. Lastly, if you would like to honor this special day with a parade, there is one happening in Milford. You can learn more about that event here. 
 
COFFEE HOUR
Please join me and Rep. McCarthy Vahey this Monday, November 8th at 8am for a coffee hour at Wake-Cup-Coffee to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Hope to see you on Monday!
 
CHILDREN MENTAL HEALTH FORUM 
Please join me, Rep. McCarthy Vahey, and Rep. Devlin for a conversation about what to do and where to go when your child needs help. We will be joined by a panel of several pediatric mental health professionals who will provide practical advice. This event follows the excellent panel and discussion that Sen. Tony Hwang hosted this week on this topic. If you were not able to watch this event, please find a recording of it here. We hope you will join us to continue this very important conversation.
REGISTER
 
FIELD OF VALOR-- SPONSOR A FLAG
Veterans Day is this Thursday and it's not too late to participate in the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield's annual Field of Valor. This is one of my favorite things in town every year. If you have not experienced it, the Field of Valor is made up of at least 200 full-size (3' x 5') U.S. Flags to honor our Military Veterans and those men and women actively serving our country. The flags will be on display in Jennings Park (adjacent to Hansen's Florist and across from Bob's Shopping Center) for the two weeks surrounding Veterans Day (Nov. 7th - Nov. 21st). The dedication ceremony will be held this Sunday, November 7th at 2 PM and I hope you will join me. It's a truly moving event. 
 
All are invited to sponsor anyone they would like to HONOR with one of these keepsake flags. Your Honoree and sponsor name will be proudly displayed on a yellow card attached to each flag.

Proceeds support the efforts of Homes For The Brave in Bridgeport, CT, which has served more than 1,100 men, women, and children (mostly Veterans) by providing housing, vocational training, and life skills coaching to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Please click here for more information on the Kiwanis Club website. Click here to fill out the flag sponsor form. 
For the past many years, it has meant a lot to me to bring my boys to honor the veterans closest to my heart- my grandfather, Seargent First Class Maurice Caza, and my brother, Lt. Col. Matthew Shrull. My grandfather was in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII and then retired from the Army after serving for twenty years. My brother graduated from the US Air Force Academy in May of 2001, just 4 months before September 11th. He has since been a special operations pilot of both the H-53 and V-22 on multiple deployments and he continues to serve our country. I am so proud of their legacies. Every year this event makes me feel closer to these special men in my life and for that, I am incredibly grateful. I hope you can join me for the dedication but if not, I strongly encourage you to find time to walk through the flags and take in their solemnity. Deepest thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield for hosting this event.
 
MAIN STREET WORKING GROUP NOVEMBER MEETING
This afternoon, I facilitated our Main Street Working Group's "Lunch & Learn" to discuss two new programs: The Innovation Corridor and The CT Communities Challenge. These programs provide grants from anywhere between $1 million and $50 million for communities to promote place-based economic development that is focused on job creation, walkability, community vibrancy, and leveraging strategic public-private partnerships. With valuable programs such as these, I am very excited for the future of our town and state!  
 
Wishing you an enjoyable weekend and week ahead.