LETTER: It's Time To Return Connecticut's Charm To Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — I am currently 19 years old and like many who left Enfield and who left Connecticut upon graduation of high school, I left because I perceived my hometown as lacking opportunities and vibrance, and has a slight distaste for the weather. I left for the warm and sun soaked coast of Southern California to experience breath taking geography, immaculate weather and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Though lately I think back to what makes Connecticut special, and what so many take for granted when we leave for elsewhere.

Our sense of community, the charming quaint downtowns that seem picturesque for a Hallmark movie or Norman Rockwell painting. The synthesis of small towns with urban amenities, and with sophisticated interests. The idea of going down to a coastline and not having it permeated with tourists or traffic, something most coastal towns in other cannot fathom, but we can. Most importantly the strength of small business here, the rejection throughout most of the state of cookie cutter big box stores. These are not values and qualities we see illustrated in most other states.

That is why this November it is so incredibly important to fight to elect officials who wish to preserve, protect and progress that charm. I hear so many stories from family members of what small business used to be in Thompsonville Village, or the family owned restaurant that adorned its streets. Today it remains largely lifeless compared to the vibrance of brisk winters eve in December of the 1960s. We see our town largely dominated by big box stores, chain restaurants and overgrown and unkept infrastructure. Yet we do not see our council fighting to make a difference, so it’s time we elect people who do and give that breath of fresh air to bring about change and charm to my hometown. Enfield deserves to have it’s charm back, over the past few decades we’ve seen the charm fade away as Council takes a largely backseat approach to development in our town and witness businesses leave and our downtown remain lifeless. It’s so incredibly important we vote out those who do not seek to instill change in our community. It’s time we elect officials who have the energy, ambition, passion, commitment and open mind to make a difference and return the charm to Enfield and not simply be a vote on the dais so people like me will want to return to a town we want to stay in and be a part of.

Zachary P. Zannoni
California

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