Press Release from The East Haven Fall Festival, Inc.

The East Haven Fall Festival 5K Road Race Committee, in conjunction with Mayor Joseph A. Carfora and the East Haven Fall Festival Committee, has announced that the the seventh annual East Haven Community Classic 5K Road Race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 8 a.m., with all proceeds pledged to benefit the town’s Police Athletic League.

“Over the past few years, the town's Road Race has continued to expand alongside the Fall Festival. This event is a truly collaborative effort involving the Fall Festival Committee, our community's wholly non-profit Police Athletic League, and the town,” Mayor Carfora said. “As the race has expanded its offerings, it has come to attract not only fitness enthusiasts looking to beat their personal bests, but also casual runners, high school students, and young children. This year, in collaboration with our Senior Center, the race will also include a first-time-ever fitness walk for Senior Center participants. We expect, as with past years, that the Road Race will mark a morning of fun and fitness for all who come join along.”

The 5K Road Race will be preceded by both the Senior Fitness Walk and an Almost a Mile Fun Run, both of which are slated to take place at 7:30 a.m. and will end shortly before the 5K Road Race kicks off at 8 a.m.

Individuals interested in participating in the 5K Road Race or the Fun Run can learn more about the races, register, and remit race entry fees via the race website at www.ehroadrace.com. Mail-in registration forms can be requested by e-mailing ehcommunityclassic@gmail.com.

“Judy Sittnick, the race's coordinator for over 20 years, is joined this year by long-time race volunteers, Joe Jarmie and Julie Dougherty, who will be working with members from our police department, along with State Representative Joe Zullo, to organize this year's race,” said Carfora. “As with prior years, all the profits from the race will go directly to benefit the town's Police Athletic League, which provides quality, wholesome athletic programming and activities for town youths."

“We are particularly grateful to our title sponsors, including our lead sponsor—The Law Offices of Zullo, Zullo, and Jacks, LLC—along with local realtor Tom Vanacore, the East Haven Memorial Funeral Home, and consulting company Lenox & Hughes, LLC, which have teamed up with Attorney Zullo as major sponsors,” Sittnick said. ”Their support will continue to allow us to expand event offerings and turn over additional monies to the Police Athletic League.”

The 5K Road Race route is fast and flat, begins at the Town Green, leads runners through the center of historic downtown East Haven, and finishes back at the starting line next to the Town Green. The race is open to people of all ages, and wheelchair athletes are encouraged and welcome to participate. The event has ample water stations and includes a hydration station at the conclusion, so that runners can recover after the race. Trophies are awarded across 10 age categories to both male and female participants and to the male and female first-place finishers.

"I am thankful for the logistic support provided by the mayor’s office, town, and police department, which helps us put this race on each year,“ said Noreen Clough, president of East Haven Fall Festival, Inc. ”I am equally excited to have a committed group of local volunteers and community stakeholders both organizing the race and competing in it. I encourage anyone interested in running to sign up for the race and show their support for the East Haven Police Athletic League."

For more information, visit www.ehroadrace.com.