For immediate release:

January 15, 2007

Fairfield, CT

John Mayer Joins Neighborhood Fight

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter John Mayer, a native of the Stratfield Village in Fairfield, Connecticut, donated an undisclosed sum this week to the Stratfield Village Association (SVA).

The SVA has been leading a community effort to keep a proposed Walgreens store out of its village center. Mayer has been following the situation on his recent trips home, and met last week with Connecticut Post Managing Editor Mike Daly to discuss how he could help.

According to Daly's January 14th column, Mayer told Daly he just wants to help preserve the neighborhood he grew up in, and where his parents still live.

Mayer's first job was at the corner grocery store, the Gran Central Market, in Stratfield Village and he recalls composing songs in his head as he stocked shelves and corralled shopping carts in the parking lot. Mayer was born in Bridgeport and grew up in Fairfield, attending local public schools before heading to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

After meeting with Daly, John Mayer called Maryann Garcia of the SVA last Thursday evening. "John told me he was concerned about what was happening, that he was about to leave on tour, and that he wanted to help," said Garcia. "He wants to help us save the local grocery store where he once worked, and I was thrilled to accept his help on behalf of the SVA."

"His parents must be very proud of him—with all his artistic success, he's still John Mayer from Fairfield, CT and he remembers his hometown. I hope that my own children would do the same someday," said Stratfield resident Celeste Vanderlip of Mayer's community spirit. "This neighborhood is a strong community and while it doesn't surprise me that one of our own wants to give back, I am filled with pride that John sets a wonderful example to our kids."

The property in question, at the corner of Stratfield and Fairfield Woods roads, has been the location of a grocery store serving the neighborhood for more than 50 years. The latest grocer closed in August when property owners, Lottstein Realty LLC of Stamford, declined to renew their lease in favor of leasing to Walgreens, even though the successful grocer had agreed to meet the increased rent.

Walgreens' application to obtain a Certificate of Zoning Compliance will be heard by the Fairfield Town Planning & Zoning Board at an upcoming meeting. Walgreens will attempt to prove that they are not a change in use under the zoning regulations, and that they are not a detriment to the neighborhood.

"Walgreens is clearly a change in use for the property," said SVA president Julie DeMarco, "and we do not accept their attorney's argument that retail is retail. That line of reasoning is dangerous for all of Fairfield's neighborhoods."

“There’s a place for Walgreens in Fairfield, just not in any of our residential neighborhoods,” she continued. “A mass-market retailer would zap the character right out of Stratfield Village. Walgreens needs to find the right fit for everyone.”

Mayer, who released his 7th album, "The Village Sessions," in December 2006, has been nominated for five Grammy awards this year, including the prestigious Album of the Year. Previously Mayer has won two Grammy awards: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the 2002 release of "Your Body Is a Wonderland," and Song of the Year for the hit single "Daughters " in 2005.

*******************************************************

For more information, contact:

www.stratfieldvillageassociation.org

Maryann Garcia, 203-367-5079
Julie Demarco, 203-332-7586
Celeste Vanderlip, 203-333-8083


Submitted by: Heather Martens, 203-336-3190