Press Releases and News

May 6, 2008

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership's Festival on the Green subcommittee is pleased to announce the third annual Juried Art Show as part of the upcoming Festival on the Green. The Festival will be Sunday, September 14, from noon to 5:00 pm in the parking lots of the Storrs Center commercial plazas. If it rains, the Festival will move inside E.O. Smith High School.

A Call to Artists and Prospectus is available for local artists who are interested in submitting works for consideration. Interested artists may contact the Partnership office at 429.2740 to request these items or to receive additional information about this wonderful opportunity.

Artists wishing to exhibit may submit up to four (4) pieces of creative works of original art for review. These pieces may be two- or three-dimensional and, because space is limited, they must be no more than 36 inches by 48 inches (the maximum single measurement for sculptures must be 48 inches). A selection committee will determine what pieces will be shown. Of the shown pieces, a jury will award the following prizes: Best in Show ($250), 1st ($125), 2nd ($100), and 3rd ($75) during the Festival on the Green. There is a non-refundable $10 entry fee. The deadline to submit is July 18, 2008.

Participation in the Festivals Juried Art Show is a unique opportunity for local artists to showcase their work and to join in the celebration of Mansfield. Our community will have the opportunity to enjoy fine art created by neighbors and friends and to become more aware of the quality of artists in our region.

To learn more about the Juried Art Show or for more information about the Festival on the Green, please contact the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Inc., at 429.2740.

May 6, 2008

Crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, sweet strawberries. Hungry yet? The Storrs Farmers Market opens Saturday, May 3, to satisfy your hunger for fresh, local produce, meats, dairy, and baked goods. On the opening day of the market, expect to find: maple syrup, honey and honey comb, leafy greens, sauces and jams, heirloom apples, herbs, meats, goat cheese, baked goods, and silver jewelry. There will also be plants and seedlings available to get your own home garden started.

Every Saturday afternoon from May 3 to November 22, the Storrs Farmers Market is open from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the parking lot between Town Hall and E.O. Smith High School, along Route 195 in Mansfield. As the seasons turn, the offerings change, too, so there is always something new to tempt you!

Children are always welcome at the Storrs Farmers Market. On opening day, children will have the opportunity to participate in a mask-making workshop. Amy Weinstein of Saltamontes Puppet Theater will be on hand to guide this unique activity. There will be opportunities to use a template, customize a pattern, or create a new style of mask all of your own. Ms. Weinstein, who has a Masters in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut, has worked with Saltamontes Puppet Theater since its 1994 inception in Bogot?, Colombia. In addition to creating a mask, participants can also try on one of Saltamontes? masks as Ms. Weinstein explains how to communicate characters through movements and gestures.

The Storrs Farmers Market is entering its fourteenth season and has over twenty local vendors. Everything sold at the market is grown right here in Connecticut. In fact, the average trip from farm to market is only seventeen miles! And, no item travels more than fifty miles to reach you. Located within walking distance of the Mansfield Community Center, UConn, and the WRTD bus stop at Town Hall, the Storrs Farmers Market is a convenient stop for local foods.

At the Storrs Farmers Market, you'll find premium fresh baked breads and pies, just-picked greens, local honey, and wild-caught fish: everything and anything you need for a delicious Saturday dinner or to get you through the week. We hope to see you there!

May 5, 2008

The Town of Mansfield is accepting applications for participation in the State of Connecticut's School Readiness Grant. This grant has made funding available for childcare to residents of the Town of Mansfield at one of four licensed and nationally accredited early care and education centers since 1997. The funding is available to Mansfield families for children ages 3 and 4. The Centers participating in this grant are: Community Children's Center, Mansfield Discovery Depot, University of Connecticut Child Labs, and Willow House Early Learning Center. Eligibility and a family contribution are based on income and family size. Income verification is required.

The School Readiness Grant Program helps support the cost of early childhood education for 3 and 4 year olds. The care is available for full or part time enrollment (Monday thru Friday). This funding is available starting July 1, 2008 until June 30, 2009.

High quality childcare programs help children learn how to be inquisitive and self confident. Our programs improve children's development in socialization, sharing and working together. This adds up to a good start in school and life.

For more information, please contact: Sandy Baxter, Mansfield School Readiness Coordinator, at 860-429-3338 or e-mail

Space is limited, so please act now!

May 1, 2008

The May issue of the Mansfield Senior Sparks newsletter is now available.

April 14, 2008

The Mansfield Town Hall, Mansfield Community Center, and their Outdoor Areas are now wireless hotspots!

Residents and guests can bring their wireless ready laptops to take advantage of free public wireless Internet access both inside and outside of these buildings. The coverage areas include all indoor spaces in the Mansfield Town Hall and the Mansfield Community Center (except for the pool and locker rooms), as well as most of the surrounding outdoors areas of both facilities. The outdoor access is here just in time for the warmer spring weather!

An easy directions handout and Frequently Asked Questions guide is available online here or in paper format in the Town Clerk's Office, in the information tray across from the Town Manager's Office, or at the Reception Desk at the Community Center.

Come down to the Mansfield Town Hall or the Mansfield Community Center and enjoy free public wireless Internet access!