Mark your calendars for September 15 – a day for New Fairfield families to see, hear, and experience the many groups and activities that make our community a wonderful place to live.

In addition to the familiar activities from past years, we are making pla
ns for new events to add some fun and provide an opportunity to help families who may still be experiencing difficulties because of the May 15 storm. We are adding two evening events that are fundraisers for a May 15 Storm Recovery Fund established by New Fairfield’s Social Services Office to provide funds to families whose homes suffered damage from the storm and may be having difficulty making repairs.

We will actually begin New Fairfield Family Day on Friday evening (9/14) with a benefit concert from 7-9 PM on Memorial Field featuring the Mad Hatters Barbershop Quartet and the Candlewood Brass, both local groups. All donations from the concert will be given to the May 15 Storm Recovery Fund. (For more information on this Fund, please contact Cindy White at cwhite@newfairfield.org.)

On Saturday evening (9/15), the Community Service Club (CSC) will sponsor a Taste of New Fairfield at Company A Firehouse from 6-10 PM. This event will feature food from local caterers and restaurateurs and music from local bands. Proceeds for tickets – which are available at the Senior Center or at cscofnewfairfield.org. – will be given to the Storm Recovery Fund. The CSC is also raising funds for the Storm Recovery Fund through sale of its New Fairfield Strong tee shirts (see ad in Today’s Town Tribune) and the sale of space in its program from Taste of New Fairfield.

Additionally, the New Fairfield Cemetery Association will have a table in front of Town Hall to take donations to pay for clean-up of the damage caused by the May 15 storm to the historic cemetery in the center of town and to restore this important part of New Fairfield history. Although some clean-up has begun at the cemetery, much more needs to be done.

Among our other new events are nature education sessions by Great Hollow, a pie eating contest sponsored by the Goodie Shoppe, display and sale of art by local artists along sidewalks in the center of town, musical performances by New Fairfield High School students, and face painting by the Girl Scouts.

Both of New Fairfield’s Lions Clubs – New Fairfield Lions Club and Candlewood Lions Club — will participate as they have done i
n the past. The Children’s Library will have walk-in crafting activities.

Preserve New Fairfield will open our two historic properties and are planning a kid-oriented activity. The Community Service Club will register children in the Amber Alert program in the Program room of the Library. Trucks from Public Works and the Fire Department will be at one of our sites. The Senior Center will be open to exhibit their activities. As has been the case in past years, a number of community groups and local businesses will have tables in the Stop and Shop parking lot.

Activities will take
place throughout the center of town. We will provide a listing and map of activities and participants so that you do
n’t miss anything. We are still firming up details and ad
ding activities. If you would like to have a table for your business or group – or want to participate in some other manner — please contact Lori Vengalli (ljvengali@aol.com).

Don’t miss this community event – a chance to have some fun, find out more about our community, and help our neighbors.

– Khris Hall, Selectman