Aug. 25 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

**News Release Submitted by Bethel First Selectman Dan Carter**

Aug. 25, 2023

Dear Bethel,

The Board of Selectmen scheduled a Special Town Meeting for next Tuesday, August 29th at 7 pm at Town Hall in Meeting Room A to vote on the sale of 21 and 23 Trowbridge Dr. in Francis J Clarke Park. In January of 2022, after approvals from the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance, residents voted to appropriate up to $872,633 and accept a $635,017 state grant to develop 4 town owned properties in the park for sale. The town spent $772,571 on the project. In July 2023, after approval from the Economic Development Commission, Planning & Zoning, and the Board of Finance, the Board of Selectmen held a public hearing and voted to accept offers on two of the four properties: $500,000 for 21 Trowbridge Dr. and $725,000 for 23 Trowbridge Dr. Now that the contracts are complete, next week is the final step in the process when residents have an opportunity to vote on the two sales!

Unfortunately, the elevator at the Bethel Library is out of service. We realize how difficult the situation is for the library patrons and employees, so we are moving as fast as possible to repair the elevator. It may take some time since both the motor and pump are blown and parts are hard to come by. We will try to keep everyone updated and the amazing library staff are doing everything possible to accommodate you during the outage!

School starts next week, so school busses and students will be out and about! Keep in mind bus routes may have changed, so give yourself some extra time. Kids, stand at least 5 giant steps from the bus stop (10 feet). Drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus. One complaint I receive the most lately is that there are cars speeding in town. Please slow down.

If you have concerns, complaints, questions, ideas, accolades, or anything else to discuss about Bethel, please stop by office hours this week on Wednesday, August 30th from 7 am to 8 am at Town Hall in the First Selectman Office.

The final performance in the Summer Concert Series is Sunday, August 27th from 6 pm -8 pm on the Town Hall lawn. If weather is a concern, call cancellation line at 203-794-8502. This week’s band is the Cobalt Blue Band!

The Town of Wilton is hosting the next HRRA Hazardous Waste drop-off for our area on Saturday, September 9th at the Miller-Driscoll School at 217 Wolfpit Rd. in Wilton from 9am-1pm. This a terrific opportunity to rid yourself of any paints, chemicals, pesticides, or many other hazardous materials you may have collected over the summer. Remember, bring an ID to show Bethel residency and put your stuff in the back of your car so workers can remove it for you. Please check out the HRRA website for details and a full schedule of drop-off events: https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste/

In April Henry Atkins, now an 8th grader at Bethel Middle School, was recognized for his work with the local as an Ambassador for Real Men Wear Pink of Fairfield, which supports the American Cancer Society. We are partnering with Henry this October to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened, living a healthy lifestyle, and educating our community. We will be reaching out to local businesses and groups over the next month and putting together a community kickoff event in early October. If you are interested in getting involved, please email firstselectman@bethel-ct.gov. Stay tuned!

Get ready for a great community night out when the Bethel Marching Band kicks off the 2023 season with the “Quest for the Best” on Saturday, September 9th at 6 pm at the Bethel High School football/track field. 7 bands are scheduled to perform followed by awards and recognition of this year’s seniors. General admission is $15, Students/Seniors is $10, and kids 5 and under are free.

Last Friday was our final Food Truck Friday for 2023. Thank you Mary, Emma, Parks and Rec, Newtown Savings, and all the bands and food trucks who made the event possible!

A shout out to all the teachers in the Bethel Public Schools! Your Convocation this week was so packed with positive energy and dedication for your students. Thank you for your commitment to our community and we wish you a great year!

Have a great weekend!

Dan