Summer Activities & Community Resources

June 14, 2022
Memorial Day and our wonderful parade mark the unofficial start of summer, but for our students and parents, summer kicks-off next week. Today’s e-mail includes some summer tips and reminders, upcoming community events and resources to give you some ideas about how to refresh and renew this summer.

There are a number of events both here in the community and beyond, so this email includes quite a few items. To help you navigate all of them, I have listed all of the events and/or resources below, and provided direct links. If one piques your interest more than the others, just click on it and it will jump right to it!

For those of you who are parents, don’t forget to apply for the Child Tax Credit. You won’t automatically receive the rebate, so be sure to apply before July 31.

Also, a number of you have e-mailed me regarding a proposed development in downtown Fairfield that is on the TPZ agenda this evening. Click here to see my statement. I am opposed to the project, and as a State Representative do not have a vote. Those who vote are our local zoning commissioners, and you can reach them by phone at (203) 256-3050 or by email.

Jump To:

 
Summer Reading Challenges
The Governor's Summer Reading challenge and the Fairfield Public Library Summer Reading challenge are great ways to keep your mind active! Click here to learn more about the Governor's Summer Reading challenge and click here to learn more about the Fairfield Public Library Summer Reading challenge.

A message from the Fairfield Public Library: Summer 2022 is all about Fairfield! What do you love about your town? How can you share your story? Learn something new, get creative, and have fun while earning points toward our community goal! We challenge Fairfielders of all ages to reach 1 million points together by the end of the summer. Express yourself, attend events, write book reviews, complete bonus activities, and of course READ to earn points and help reach our goal this year! Your story begins at home!

 
Summer Safety
The Department of Children & Families (DCF), in partnership with the Department of Public Health (DPH), recently shared a helpful info-graphic reminding families of simple ways to stay safe throughout the summer. Make sure you are taking the proper precautions to protect your loved ones this summer.

To access a number of other summer safety resources, please visit the DPH webpage by clicking here.

 
Fairfield Watering Restrictions
The Aquarion Water Company sent out a reminder in May that between April 1 - October 31, water is a valuable resource. In an effort to conserve our water supply, the company has implemented mandatory restrictions for sprinkler irrigation in Fairfield.

Restrictions:

  • Irrigation from sprinkler systems is limited to twice a week depending upon the last digit of your address - See chart below for schedule
  • Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand-held watering are allowed at any time
  • All watering times are 12:01 AM - 10:00 AM or 6:00 PM - Midnight.

For additional information, visit Aquarion Water Company.

Sprinkler System Schedule
Last Digit of Address:
  1. Even (0,2,4,6,8)
  2. Odd (1,3,5,7,9)
  3. No address number
Irrigation Dates:
  1. Sunday & Wednesday
  2. Saturday & Tuesday
  3. Sunday & Wednesday
 
Fairfield Pride Events
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

Town leaders have once again planned a flag-raising for this Thursday, June 16th at 5:30 PM Fairfield Parks and Recreation has planned a 6:00 PM celebration at the Burr Mansion immediately following. Whether or not you can attend these events, I hope you will continue to help make Fairfield a place where all members of the LGBTQ community feel safe, welcomed, and celebrated.

Please click the image below to register for free through the Fairfield Parks & Rec.

 
In addition to the Fairfield Pride Month Celebration, the Fairfield Parks & Rec is hosting a number of other fun summer activities. Please click the button below to see their schedule of events as well as a full list of summer activities.
Fairfield Parks & Rec
 
The Hub Pride Resources
The Hub, which is our Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization, offers numerous resources and information for the LGBTQIA+ community. Please check out their website for information and materials. Here is some information below from their recent update:
 

Why is Pride Month so important? 

LGBTQIA+ individuals face unique challenges that can negatively impact mental health. Here are 6 challenges many individuals face. 

  1. Young people can face mental health struggles if they don't have a supportive environment when coming out.
  2. Some LGBTQIA+ individuals who come face rejection from family, friends or their faith community.
  3. The LGBTQIA+ community often faces discrimination, verbal and physical abuse, all of which can be traumatic.
  4. The rates of substance misuse are high in the LGBTQIA+ community since it is often used as a coping mechanism or form of self-medication.
  5. LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults are at a 120% higher risk of homelessness due to family rejection or discrimination.
  6. Suicide rates are much higher in the LGBTQIA+ community. High school students who identify as LGB are more than four times as likely to have attempted suicide. 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide, compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population.
LGBTQIA+ Resources
 
Fairfield Dog Days
On Sunday, June 19 from 11AM - 4PM, on the Old Town Hall Green, Pet Pantry will host Fairfield Dog Days!

This is a FREE community event is entertaining for the whole family and supports local non-profit organizations like Adopt-a-Dog, Operation Hope and Team Woofgang & Co.


 
The Event will Feature:
  • Dog lovers' lure coursing
  • Radar run
  • Kid zone
  • Face painting
  • Caricature artist
  • Bone bar
  • Ice cream pawlour
  • Sniffari
  • Food trucks

Also, the event will feature Fairfield K9 demonstrations and local vendors! Click here to see the group's Facebook Event.

 
Fairfield Resident Secures $398,000 Grant
As an Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT) member, I know first-hand the work Fairfielder David Brant does to preserve open space in Fairfield County. As Executive Director of ALT, David, a Stratfield resident, has secured a $398,125 award to preserve land in Wilton adjacent to the Devil’s Den property Governor Lamont recently announced that he released $7.5 million in state grants to preserve open space and renew green spaces throughout our state.

David, pictured below, has worked tirelessly to preserve - what is known as - the Weston/Wilton Forest Block (WWFB), one of the last un-fragmented forests in Fairfield County. These funds will permit ALT to provide passive recreational opportunities, like access to trail heads, while protecting critical ecosystems, wildlife habitat and their linkages, wetlands, groundwater fed watercourses, clean drinking water, and natural beauty, which are all under threat from a warming climate. Like my family, many of you have likely enjoyed hiking the trails maintained by ALT.

A special shout-out to David, for his ongoing commitment to this important work.

 
CT Wine Passport App
The Department of Agriculture recently announced that the Passport to CT Wine Country has gone digital. The Passport is now available in both the apple and android app stores and is just a click away.

At this time, there are 35 participating wineries across the state. The wineries and vineyards in Connecticut produce 85.8 million gallons of wine every year and support roughly 1,000 jobs. For more information on Connecticut farm wineries, please click the button below. Please also refer to the info-graphic below on how to download the app.

CT Wine Country
 
ParkConneCT
It is now easier than ever to visit a Connecticut State Park!

ParkConneCT, a transportation service that offers FREE buses to Connecticut beaches and state parks, is now open for the summer season. This expanded service will run through Labor Day. ParkConneCT makes our state parks and beaches more accessible, ensuring that all residents will be able to enjoy Connecticut's beautiful outdoor offerings.

The following parks are included in the ParkConneCT program: 
  • Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison)
  • Silver Sands State Park (Milford)
  • Fort Trumbull State Park (New London)
  • Sleeping Giant State Park (Hamden)
  • Sherwood Island State Park (Westport)
  • Osbornedale State Park (Derby)
  • Indian Well State Park (Shelton)
As a reminder, all statewide buses will continue to operate without fare collection until December 1st, 2022. If you are looking for a great outdoor activity during the summer months, I encourage you to take advantage of the free ParkConneCT buses.

For more information on the program, including a schedule, please click here.

 
CT Summer at the Museum
Last year, the legislature voted to utilize ARPA funding to offer kids and their accompanying guardian free admission to over 90 museums across Connecticut. This year, I am excited to share that starting July 1st, all children — plus one accompanying adult — will receive free admission again to museums throughout the state. The program will be offered through September 5th to all Connecticut children, ages 18 and under.
 
This initiative will be available at museums, science centers, aquariums, and historical landmarks across the state. While the list of participating centers has not yet been released, you can click the button below to learn more about the program and read any FAQs.
Summer at the Museum