Connecticut intends to celebrate the new state candy today. Did you know there is a state candy? Yup, it was passed in Public Act No. 24-121, which, in case you missed it, also designated the Siberian Husky as state dog.
No surprise there, as Jonathan XV, the University of Connecticut mascot, put his two cents in when the bill came up before the legislature. Huskies have represented UConn as the school’s mascot for 90 years and Jonathan XV took over the role March 3 and represents UConn at athletic matches, campus events, and other venues. (Laura Centanni, Jonathan XV handler for the University of Connecticut, noted in her testimony that Jonathan I was named after Connecticut’s first Governor, Jonathan Trumbull .
) (There was also talk that day about redesignating the state insect, which by law is now the praying mantis. The spring azure butterfly and autumn meadowhawk dragonfly came up as possibilities as they are native to the state. As Connecticut loves to do, a working group to study the insect issue was established).
But back to the lollipops, which is the issue being celebrated today. It’s an early celebration, by the way, as the law states that both the lollipop and the Husky designations do not take effect until Oct. 1, 2024.
Gov. Ned Lamont is to visit Dwight Elementary School in Fairfield to meet with students to celebrate this special new law, according to this office. According to the governor’s office students from the school lobbied lawmakers this year, �.
