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Showing posts from October, 2022

New Council Takes Office, with Education as Top Priority

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Council members congratulate Enfield’s new mayor, Gina Cekala, at the Town Council’s Nov. 10, 2025 meeting. From left are Republicans Lori Unghire and Marie Pyznar, and joining by video, State Rep. Carol Hall. Democrats, from left, are Cynthia Mangini, Bob Cressotti, Mayor Gina Cekala, Deputy Mayor and State Rep. John Santanella, Linda Allegro, Maya Nicole Matthews, Aaron Thomas, and Zach Zannoni. The new Enfield Town Council took office Monday night, six days after a landslide Democratic victory that unseated the Republican majority, opening its term with a commitment to education funding and a promise of unity. Gina Cekala, an attorney and seven-term councilmember, was unanimously elected mayor after being nominated by Councilmember newcomer Maya Nicole Matthews, who called the moment “a turning point” for Enfield and praised women’s leadership in local government. “People are tired of drama and division,” Matthews said. “Women in Enfield turned out to vote in record numbers, and b...
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Enfield's economic decline and how to fix it

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  Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission, September meeting to discuss town's overall plan. Enfield is facing several significant problems. Our population is declining, our commercial shopping area is in trouble, and we don't have enough multifamily housing, the type that appeals to young people and empty nesters. I graduated from EHS in 1972 and have lived most of my adult life in other cities. But I've been back here for some years and worry about the town's future. Here's a fast breakdown of this history, the problems, and potential fixes. The once happening town From 1950 to 1970, Enfield's population increased from 15,500 to 46,000, its high point. The completion of I-91 and houses priced low enough for a factory worker's wage encouraged this growth. The town needed to build schools faster to keep up with demand. My class was on double sessions at EHS while the town raced to finish Fermi. As it built schools, Enfield was also planning for the future. Fo...
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