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Dear Neighbor,
I wish all our Mansfield students, teachers, faculty, staff, and parents an enthusiastic welcome back to school!
I hope everyone is inspired and energized as the new school year begins in town.
 As a reminder, we all have to stop for school buses. Never go around a bus when they have their stop sign out and always be cautious there may be students nearby even if the stop sign signal isn’t active.
 Slow down in the school parking lots.
Here’s to a year full of connection and growth! |
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| Welcome Back UConn Students |
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Also an enthusiastic welcome-back to UConn students and faculty!
Best wishes for the 2025-26 school year! |
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Speaking of college students, the legislature last session created a new debt-free college program in called Finish Line Scholars that I championed as House Chair of the Higher Education Committee.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education must establish this program. Students who received a Mary Ann Handley program award while earning an associate’s degree at CT State Community College debt-free and who enroll in a bachelor’s program at Charter Oak State College or any of the Connecticut State Universities will benefit. Under this program, which begins with the fall 2026 semester, those students will receive a scholarship award to help them graduate without student loan debt. The award cannot be used to replace a student’s financial aid.
I co-authored this legislation and I will continue to work to make college affordable for students of all backgrounds. |
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| New Mansfield Firefighters |
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From the Town of Mansfield's Facebook page:
Congratulations to the Mansfield Fire and Emergency Services full-time firefighters who were sworn in at the Four Corners Station Thursday evening: Jeovani Perea, Dylan Vincent, Stephen Petrillo, and Todd Zavatsky. (part-time firefighter Daniel Murphy was not able to attend.)
The station bay was filled with family, friends, and fellow firefighters who joined them in celebrating this important milestone. Chief Roache and Deputy Chief Danielson introduced each person and their career story. Family members pinned each firefighter with their badge after Town Clerk Sara-Ann Chaine swore them in. |
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The public is invited to attend the State of Connecticut’s annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, honoring and celebrating the lives of those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
This year’s ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, where Connecticut's official 9/11 memorial is located.
Every year, the state intentionally holds its official memorial ceremony several days prior to the actual anniversary in order to accommodate the family members and friends of the victims. Because Connecticut is in such close proximity to New York City, many family members and friends who live in the state choose to also attend the annual ceremony that is held at the site of the World Trade Center on September 11.
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On Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs will host its annual Stand Down event. This event is a commitment to serving Connecticut’s veterans, military personnel, and their immediate families by providing “one-stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, veterans organizations, and community-based nonprofits at regional sites across the state.
A formal ceremony will be held at the Rocky Hill Stand Down location at 9:30 a.m.; however, you're welcome to attend any of the six Stand Down locations at any time throughout the day.
Stand Down locations are:
- Bridgeport: University of Bridgeport, Wheeler Recreational Center, 400 University Avenue
- Southington: Southington Armory, 600 Woodruff Street
- Danbury: Danbury War Memorial 1 Memorial Drive
- Norwich: Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point, 24 Stott Avenue
- Rocky Hill: Connecticut Veterans Affairs campus, 287 West Street
- Stamford: UConn at Stamford, 1 University Plaza
Click HERE for more information.
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Fair season is in full swing in Connecticut. Get your fill of (sometimes decadent) food, rides and entertainment. Many also showcase livestock, crafts, exhibits, pie-eating contests, spelling bees (!) and other things unique to Connecticut!
This weekend features three fairs, Woodstock, Haddam Neck and Goshen. Details are below. For more fairs scheduled into mid-October, visit here.
Woodstock Fair
Aug. 28 – Sept. 1
Celebrating its 163rd year, the state's second-oldest agricultural fair has food, livestock shows, a petting zoo, free stage shows, a midway, strolling entertainers, plenty of vegetables, flowers, and more.
Haddam Neck Fair
Aug. 29 – Sept. 1
The Haddam Neck Fair is celebrating its 105th year and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful setting, live music, and food. Events include tractor and truck pulls, horse and oxen pulling contests and a horse show. Contests include women’s skillet throwing, and more. Vendors will be on hand offering vegetables, flowers, canned goods, and handmade arts and crafts.
Goshen Fair
Aug. 30 – Sept. 1
This is a major agricultural fair with livestock judging, draft horse show, woodcutting competition, entertainment, food vendors, midway, arts and crafts, home exhibits, and more. This fair also has an adult spelling bee, fireworks, hay bale toss contest, parade, pie-eating contest, and a skillet throw contest. |
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| UConn Dairy Bar Schedule Change |
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One of the more important PSAs for Mansfield residents: The UConn Dairy Bar will switch to fall hours beginning Sept. 1, when it will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (instead of 9 p.m.)
The Dairy Bar will still be open daily, including Labor Day. More good news: pumpkin ice cream is on its way. |
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Mark your calendars: Mansfield Downtown Partnership's 22nd Annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. in Downtown Storrs.
It's Mansfield's biggest community event of the year, and you're invited to be a part of the fun, including activities, food, crafts and more.
For more information, visit here.
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Wishing everyone a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend! Law enforcement is reminding drivers to make safety a priority by not getting behind the wheel while impaired. You can expect to see an increased police presence across the state. If your plans include drinking, plan for a sober ride home.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation encourages these safe alternatives:
- Designate a sober driver. Even one alcoholic beverage can impair your ability to drive; don’t take the risk
- Use a taxi, a rideshare program, or public transportation. Plan by downloading apps and checking local transit schedules
- Be a good friend. If someone is about to drive impaired, take their keys and help them find a safe way home. They might be upset in the moment, but they’ll thank you later
- Report impaired drivers. If you see someone driving erratically, slow down, keep your distance, and call 911 when it’s safe to do so
For more information on the dangers of impaired driving, visit nhsta.gov.
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Sincerely,
Gregg Haddad
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