🌱 Patch AM: Connecticut Labor Department Releases July 2026 Unemployment Numbers — See How Stafford Stacks Up

Good morning to you Stafford! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• See how Stafford's July jobless rate compares to the state
• How new rear-lot rules could change development options in Stafford

Also on today's calendar: Meditation: The Secret to Living a Joy Filled Life and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Some sun with a shower or two, with a high of 76 and low of 58 degrees.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 74, low: 51.
• Monday: Mostly sunny and beautiful, with a high of 79 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Connecticut Labor Department Releases July 2026 Unemployment Numbers — See How Stafford Stacks Up (patch.com) — Stafford residents can now see exactly how their town's job market compares, with July 2026 unemployment at 6 percent, slightly higher than Connecticut's 5.8 percent rate. Statewide, non-farm payrolls continued to grow, but Stafford's 365 unemployed workers highlight ongoing local economic challenges and the importance of tracking labor trends close to home.
   

• PZC revisits public hearing, approves changes to allow rear lots (staffordfreepress.com) — Stafford's Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a text change allowing certain large properties—like a 40-plus-acre parcel on Wales Road—to create rear lots with shared driveways by special permit. The commission also confirmed its earlier approval of two-family homes in AA zones will stand, after determining legal notice requirements were met despite concerns about website posting.
   

📸 Around Stafford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Stafford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 5
• Meditation: The Secret to Living a Joy Filled Life →
  Friends Meeting House, 57 Hunting Lodge Rd, Mansfield
  10:30 am
Thursday September 17
• Dementia Dialogue Book Event with John Scully! →
  123 West Rd, Ellington
  6:00 pm
Saturday September 19
• Jay Medal Soirée →
  Jay Estate, 210 Boston Post Rd, Rye
  5:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 10
• Stained Glass Sea Turtle Workshop At Stafford Cidery →
  Stafford Cidery, 68 Main St, Stafford Springs
  6:00 pm
Saturday September 19
• TOUR OF DESTRUCTION →
  Stafford Motor Speedway, 55 West St, Stafford Springs
  6:00 pm
Thursday October 1
• Somers Girls Varsity Soccer @ Stafford →
  Stafford High School, 145 Orcuttville Rd, Stafford Springs
  4:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Cold Train returns to Four Seasons By The Lake in Stafford, CT →
  Four Seasons By The Lake at Sun Valley, 51 Old Springfield Rd., Stafford
  8:00 pm

📣 Stafford Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday September 5
• Lego Club →
  Stafford Springs CT
  12:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• Stafford Springs Cemetery Association →
  Stafford Springs CT
  5:30 pm
• The Bald Eagle: America's National Symbol →
  Stafford Springs CT
  6:00 pm
• Rotary Interact →
  Stafford Springs CT
  6:30 pm
Wednesday September 9
• Little Rockstars Storytime →
  Stafford Springs CT
  10:30 am
Thursday September 10
• Stafford Education Association →
  Stafford Springs CT
  3:30 pm
• SES PTO →
  Stafford Springs CT
  5:00 pm
• Library Board Meeting →
  Stafford Springs CT
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Stafford PatchAM possible:

• Johnson Memorial Hospital — (860) 684-4251
• Allied Drain Cleaning — (860) 798-8200

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• KPG Healthcare, LLC posted a job opening for Psychiatry - $2,034 Per Week in Stafford. Apply here.
• Telephonics Corporation posted a job opening for Inventory Control & Distribution Specialist in Stafford Springs. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Stafford here.

🗞 Nearby News

Somers

• Fair Season Is Officially Underway: Here's Your Schedule (iheart.com)
• 2026 CIAC boys soccer predictions: Picking state champions before the season begins (nhregister.com)

Tolland

• Former accountant at Hebron nonprofit accused of embezzling over $50K (wtnh.com)
• 25 CIAC boys soccer players to watch during the 2026 season (nhregister.com)

Ellington

• Ellington Bookkeeper Admits Stealing $750K From CT Law Firm, Could Serve Decades In Prison (dailyvoice.com)

Ok Stafford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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