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Get ready, Stratford! Blues on the Beach is TOMORROW, Saturday, July 18th, from 12- 9 PM at Short Beach! The event is RAIN OR SHINE.

Do Good at Blues

Anyone attending Blues can donate to the Mayor’s Do Good Fund. All donations are voluntary, tax-exempt, and greatly appreciated. 

LINE UP OF PERFORMING BANDS:

12:00 p.m. - PARTY WITH FRIENDS

1:00 p.m. - LOUIS ZAYAS AND BLAZE

2:00 p.m. - WILD AND CO

3:00 p.m. - REMEMBER SEPTEMBER

4:15 p.m. - CHRIS D’AMATO

5:30 p.m. - ELLIS ISLAND

6:45 p.m. - MOONRISE CARTEL

8:15 p.m. - RESIDUAL GROOVE

Here's what you need to know about getting to Blues on the Beach:

• Only Town Residents will be allowed to park at Short Beach beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.
• Stratford residents are required to display stickers to park at Short Beach. Your sticker should be blue, as shown in the image below.
• Licenses are NOT a substitute for beach stickers.
• The only Uber drop-off area is at Wayne's Walk at the intersection of Riverdale Drive and Lighthouse Avenue in Lordship.
• Short Beach Golf Course will be closed the entire day on Saturday, July 18th.

What to know about accessing a beach sticker:

• Beach stickers are mailed in Motor Vehicle Tax Bills every other year, in odd years. Motor Vehicle Tax Bills arrive at the end of June.
• If you do not receive your beach sticker or you are new to town, please contact the Recreation Department at (203) 385-4052. Non-residents may also contact the Recreation Department to obtain a non-resident beach sticker.
• For residents with new cars or leased vehicles, a car registration or tax bill and a driver’s license must be shown to obtain stickers at the Recreation Office at the Birdseye Complex. Resident cars without stickers will be charged the parking fee.
• Beach stickers for non-residents are $300 for the season; $40 per day Monday through Thursday; or $55 per day Friday through Sunday and holidays, for Long Beach and Short Beach.
• Learn more about resident stickers here.

Stay up-to-date on Blues on the Beach!

• For the most up-to-date event details, including weather updates, please visit our website here.
• You may also call the Stratford Blues on the Beach Hotline at 203-380-6757 for further information.

Looking for World Cup Watch Parties in Stratford?

We've got you covered! The following restaurants are hosting final game watch parties this Sunday, July 19!

A big thank you to these businesses and to the Sterling Community Center for partnering with the Town for this exciting occasion.

On Tuesday, Aquarion Water Company notified the Town of water main breaks on Huntington Road and Beaver Dam Road, disrupting water access. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who came together to respond to this emergency and repair the pipes, getting service back up and running as quickly as possible. Water was restored to everyone impacted by Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

A big thanks to the Stratford Emergency Management team, our Department of Public Works, all our first responders, the CT Department of Emergency Management, and Burns Construction for their speedy response and hard work!

And thank you to all our residents and businesses who were impacted for your patience.

Tax Bill Updates for Homeowners



I know homeowners have received their tax bills. The Town Council and I understand how difficult this is for many of our residents.

As you may recall, in May, we adopted a three-year phased-in approach to lessen the blow to homeowners from the State-mandated revaluation, which increased home values by 80% on average. We approved a 33% phase-in for this year.

At the July 13 Town Council meeting, we passed an ordinance to increase the income limits for people who need assistance, making more individuals eligible for tax relief. This will help many seniors and people with disabilities on fixed incomes. To receive the expanded benefit, individuals would have to have applied for the tax relief by May 15, 2026. Anyone who missed the deadline or would like more information about the tax relief programs, please contact our Tax Assessor's office at (203) 385-4025.

We also reinstituted a Town Council Finance and Audit committee. The committee is actively reviewing the Homestead Act to understand its full potential impact on homeowners and commercial entities and to see what's possible for Stratford. Implementing the Homestead Act next year would have a dramatic impact on homeowners' taxes. More updates on this coming soon.

What You’ll See On Your Tax Bill:

• Gross Assessment: Your property’s new assessed value following the State-mandated revaluation.
• Phase-in Reduction: This represents the remaining balance of the assessment increase from the revaluation that you are not being taxed on this year.
• Net Assessment: Gross assessment minus phase-in reduction equals your net assessment.
• Any other exemptions will be listed above the phase-in reduction.

The Last Day to Pay 1st Installments of Tax Bills and Sewer Usage Bills Without Interest is August 3, 2026.

Ways to pay:

• Online payment options are available at townofstratford.com
• Mail your payment to Tax Collector, Town of Stratford, PO Box 9722, Stratford, CT 06615-9122.
• In-person at Town Hall, M-F, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Tax Collector & Tax Assessor Offices will be open Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• At Stratford M&T Bank locations (bank hours apply). Don’t forget to bring your tax bill(s) with you!
• There's also the dropbox option for those paying by check ONLY. The dropbox is located inside Town Hall, at the Tax Collector’s Office. The dropbox will be open until August 3, 2026. Include a copy of each tax bill being paid and place it in a sealed envelope.

Questions? Contact our Tax Collector's Office at 203-385-4030, or come to Town Hall at 2725 Main Street in Stratford to speak with our team on the first floor.

Consolidated Motor Vehicle Tax Bills

On your new motor vehicle tax bill, you will see:

• A listing of ALL vehicles registered in your name, rather than a separate bill for each vehicle.
• All the same vehicle and tax information you are used to seeing, but on one page (up to 10 vehicles per bill).
• The grand total of what is due July 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027, for all vehicles, as well as a breakdown by car.

Why are we doing this?

• Increased efficiency
• Keep track of one bill rather than multiple bills on separate sheets of paper.
• Faster transaction processing time at the Tax Office will cut wait times when paying in person.
• Using less paper saves money and the environment!

Please note: This does not inhibit your ability to pay how you'd like; in half or in full for one or multiple vehicles, as you wish. All you need to do is tell our Tax Collector's Office which vehicles you are paying for and whether you wish to pay in half or in full, etc.



Below is an example of what the new and improved motor vehicle tax bill looks like.



Questions? Contact our Tax Collector's Office at 203-385-4030 or come by to speak with them in person on the first floor of Town Hall, located at 2725 Main Street.

We are making great strides in growing our commercial base. Here are a few updates:

1.)  The Revitalization of the former Army Engine Plant is underway!

• Point Stratford Renewal, the private development team overseeing the project, hosted a community meeting on June 29 that approximately 400 residents attended. They discussed what’s next for the site and gathered input and ideas from the community. To watch the meeting online, click here.
• Cooper Robertson, an acclaimed design firm selected by Point Stratford Renewal to lead master planning for the site, is developing the design plans based on community input. We expect to start seeing and sharing concepts by fall and have a site plan by early winter.
• One way that Point Stratford Renewal is gathering community input is through a survey, and over 1,000 residents have responded so far! To share how you envision this site, take the survey here.
• The Tidal Flats have now been restored after 30 years and $85 million in federal investment.
• Over 50% of the buildings are down, and the site will be cleared by early next year.
• We have secured a $5 million State grant, contingent on meeting certain conditions, from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development to convert the site from industrial to mixed-use residential development.
• Point Stratford Renewal will be attending several upcoming Neighborhood Association Meetings to continue the conversation. You can view the full Neighborhood Association Meeting schedule here.

2.)  Aldi has broken ground at Stratford Square! An official ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for September.

3.)  Raymark Ballfield clean-up is complete, and we are putting the site on the market.

4.)  And so much more! Stay tuned.



1. We reached an agreement with the Town Hall and Dispatchers unions, both of which have been ratified.

2. We closed on the sale of $3 million dollars of tax liens and received close to $3.4 million, making an additional $400,000 that goes toward our General Fund Balance.

3. We refinanced $13 million of debt and decreased our interest payments by $1.3 million.

We are asking for town Boards and Commissions to provide a quarterly report to our Town Council and the Mayor’s Office.

Why? Because we want to understand the needs and priorities of our Boards and Commissions to better support them while increasing transparency and connectivity.

The process will be simple, report quarterly on:

1. What are the top 3 things you are working on?

2. What did you accomplish in the prior 3 months?

3. How can the Town Council and Mayor’s Office help?

Interested in serving on a Board or Commission?

Come volunteer with the Town! Lend your passion and skills to help make our community the best it can be. We have several openings on boards and commissions. The best way to express your interest is to fill out an application, available on the Town's website here.

As part of our work to open up Town Hall, we have upgraded our Town Council chambers audiovisual system.

Previously, town meetings were recorded and could be viewed the next day on our website. But thanks to these upgrades, you can now live-stream town meetings and watch them in real time on our Stratford YouTube page, available here.

We’ve also added two screens for the public and new monitors at each Town Council member’s seat. This will allow anyone presenting to the Town Council to share their information with both the Council and the public simultaneously.

This will go a long way in increasing accessibility and transparency, and I want to thank our Town IT department, led by Ed Kingston, for their diligence in making these upgrades happen.

We are working hard to improve quality of life for residents and are moving forward with several meaningful projects, including the:

1. Benjamin House at Shakespeare Park
2. South End Community Center
3. Arboretum
4. Fletcher African American Museum
5. Civic Plaza Design
6. Greenway at Ferry Boulevard
7. Complete Streets at Paradise Green
8. Temple Court is being converted to 60 units, and construction will begin shortly
9. Center School site apartments - construction will begin this fall
10. Birdseye Dock - we just received approval from the Waterfront and Harbor Management Committee to install gates at Birdseye Dock, in addition to the existing Life Saver Rings. We are working to make our waterfront safer for everyone.

Stay tuned for more updates on these projects!

July Neighborhood Association Meetings



Point Stratford Renewal, the private development team overseeing the revitalization of the former Army Engine Plant, will be at several upcoming meetings. They hosted a community meeting on June 29 that approximately 400 residents attended. They discussed what’s next for the site and gathered input and ideas from the community, and want to continue that conversation with residents at these upcoming meetings!

Anyone from any district can attend any Neighborhood Association Meeting. If the date of the meeting for your district doesn't work for you, we'd love to see you at one of the other gatherings.

The Summer Sunset Concert Series Continues!

Stratford’s Paradise Green Farmers Market is

Every Monday from 2 - 6 p.m. through October!

Back to School Uniform & Clothing Drive

 The South End Community Center is seeking sponsors and donations of new school uniforms and other essentials to support Stratford youth in grades K-6 who are in need. Donors can choose to sponsor a child and purchase items themselves, or donate new or very gently used uniforms, new underwear and socks, etc. All donations must be received by August 6. Drop off at Birdseye Municipal Complex, SECC Office Room 112, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Stratford Democratic Primary is Tuesday, August 11, 2026, with polls open

6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Prefer to vote early? Early Voting is available August 3 through August 9 at the Baldwin Senior Center: 1000 West Broad Street, Stratford. Schedule below.

Additional resources:



• Check your voter registration, party affiliation, and polling place here.
• Register to vote or update your registration here.

Residents with questions may contact the Registrar of Voters' office at (203) 385-4049, by email at registrars@townofstratford.com, or visit the office at Stratford Town Hall, 2725 Main Street, Room 117.

Pride Crosswalk: Last month, we honored our LGBTQAI+ community with a rainbow crosswalk on King Street, connecting our two Stratford High School campuses. The rainbow crosswalk serves as a reminder that Stratford is a welcoming community that deeply values every single person and celebrates diversity.

This is the result of the community advocating for it over the past two years, and it looks amazing. I thank Colleen Hargrove and the Love is Love organization for championing it.

The crosswalk has garnered some unfortunate social media hate and hate emails. As a mayor and a physician, my role is to care for people and ensure that all members of our town are treated with respect and kindness. This is how we build a community and bring people together. This is how we lift each other up and make Stratford the home we cherish.

Someone said to me that the crosswalk will make children become gay and queer. I tried to explain that sexual orientation and gender identity are not a choice. It is who a person is, and they deserve the same respect and love as anyone else. I applaud our LGBTQIA+ community and thank them for all their contributions. They are valued and loved here in Stratford, and I’m very proud of that.

The Pilgrims' Picture at Town Hall: The Pilgrims' picture that has hung behind us in the Town Council Chambers since we opened our Town Hall was dated, inaccurate, and offensive to many people. In consultation with our Town Council leadership and our Historical Society, we chose to take it down. The plan is to restore the painting and put it back on one of the walls in the Town Council Chambers, with a plaque providing historical context describing how the image reflects how Stratford saw itself in the 1930s. I apologize to the town for not having a public forum to discuss this matter. Going forward, we will do better.

Please Know: I love being your mayor and strive every day to serve all the people of our town. I know that there are those who are blinded by partisanship and can only see through a Red vs. Blue lens.

I ask people to please give up the Red and Blue and join the Stratford Party, where we study the facts and make decisions based on what's best for our residents and the health and well-being of our community, both in the short and long term. It is time to leave the anger behind and work together to build the best town in Connecticut for everyone. 

Stratford Public School's Chief Operating Officer,

Pam Mangini

Congratulations to Pam Mangini, Stratford Public School's Chief Operating Officer, who was selected as the 2026 International Eagle Award recipient by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International.

The International Eagle Award is the highest individual honor bestowed by ASBO International. It recognizes a school business official whose leadership, service, and dedication have made an exceptional impact on the profession at the local, state, and international levels, and Stratford is so fortunate to have her.

Pam, thank you for your many years of dedicated, thoughtful, and impactful service. This award only reinforces what we already know: that you are a total superstar!

"This prestigious recognition is a testament to what we are fortunate enough to witness every day in Stratford. Pam is an extraordinary leader whose integrity, expertise, and unwavering commitment to public education have strengthened not only our district but the entire profession. Whether she is leading complex budget work, improving our operations, mentoring colleagues, or advocating for students, Pam approaches every challenge with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and heart." - Superintendent Heather Borges

Please join us in congratulating Pam on this extraordinary and well-deserved achievement. We look forward to celebrating her as she receives this international honor at the ASBO International Annual Conference this fall.

Pat Patusky, Stephanie Phillips, and the Stratford Rotary Club



At Monday night’s Town Council meeting, we recognized Pat Patusky, Stephanie Phillips, and the entire Stratford Rotary Club with a special proclamation recognizing them for their ongoing commitment to hosting Stratford Day/Main Street Festival. Startford Rotary has hosted the event since 2009, with this year’s festival the biggest and best yet! With 275 vendors and more than 8,000 attendees, there was something for everyone!

Thank you for all you and your fellow Rotarians do to bring our community together!

We are pleased to have recently welcomed The Village - Stratford, a new residential community bringing 103 modern homes to Stratford, including 21 middle-income units!



This project adds new housing options while supporting continued investment and growth in Stratford. Residents will have access to updated living spaces, in-unit washers and dryers, smart home features, nine-foot ceilings, and amenities including a fitness center, dog run, and dog wash.



Congratulations to everyone who helped bring The Village Stratford to completion. We’re excited to welcome this new community to Stratford! They are located at 2009 Main St, Stratford, CT 06615.

Stratford's Blues On The Beach: What To Know Before You Go | Stratford Patch

Mayor: Water fully restored to Stratford following water main breaks | News 12