July 7 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

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

July 7, 2023

Dear Bethel,

Thanks again to the Bethel Parks and Rec department, Bethel first responders, and our Highway Department for their hard work in support of the 57th annual Firecracker 8k. 256 runners participated and proceeds will go to Ben’s Bells and the Scotty Fund.

The after a public hearing, the Board of Selectmen approved the sale of two lots in Francis J. Clarke Park. Once the contracts are complete, there will be a Special Town Meeting to allow the public to vote on the sales. Stay tuned to social media, email, and our website.

This week marks the first week where the temperatures required the state to activate its Extreme Heat Emergency Management Protocol. When the protocol is in place, various buildings in town are designated as cooling centers. Even without a protocol in place, if temps rise over the summer and you find yourself in a situation without cooling, consider a visit to the Library, Senior Center, or Town Hall.

Bethel has formalized our agreement with the state to begin a Food Scraps program at the transfer station. We will be launching the program in a few weeks. Household trash will continue to cost .25 cents per pound, but a bucket of food waste will cost $1.50, which equates to around 10 cents per pound. Not only will residents realize a savings, but we will divert waste from landfills to energy facilities and compost.

Our Office of Economic Development is working on their five-year strategy for Bethel’s economic development. If you are a business in Bethel, please take a moment to fill out their survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5HPFQ2H. Your input is important. Email eddirector@bethel-ct.gov or call 203-794-8521 if you have questions.

I will hold my biweekly office hours on Thursday, July 12th from 6 pm to 7 pm at Town Hall in the First Selectman Office.

A huge shoutout to Kelly Schneider who represented the USA in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin! Kelly, a Bethel resident, has been competing for 17 years with the New Milford Special Olympics. This year she competed in Bowling and brought home the Gold Medal for US Unified Team, the Bronze in Doubles, and the Fifth Place Ribbon in singles. We will recognize Kelly with victory parade THIS EVENING on Greenwood Ave. between Depot Pl. and PT Barnum Square, followed by a proclamation at Food Truck Friday at 6 pm.

A few happenings tomorrow, July 8th: shop the Bethel Craft Summerfest tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm in front of Town Hall. Visit the Bethel Farmer’s Market at 67 Stony Hill Rd. from 9am to 1pm. The Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant is celebrating 75 years on Saturday, July 8th at 6pm.

From the Highway Department: The drainage work on Plantation Ct is complete. Expect catch basin work on Brookwood Dr. and Blue Spruce Ct. next week followed by paving. Also, keep an eye out for our highway crews. Vegetation has grown quickly this spring, so our folks are out mowing grass and trimming around blocked signs.

Attention Baseball fans! Bethel is hosting and participating in the 10U New England Cal Ripken Regional Tournament. Opening ceremonies at Mitchell Park on Friday, July 14th at 1:00pm and the first game starts on Saturday, July 15th at 10:00am on Leonard Field. The tournament will run until Thursday, July 20th, so please lookout for pedestrians on Old Hawleyville Rd. and around businesses in Stony Hill.

Speaking of baseball, our Bethel Health Department reminds us that July is National Hot Dog Month. Yes, there is a month for hot dogs. People in the US will consume millions of hot dogs this month and throughout the summer. Please avoid cross contamination of raw hotdogs on utensils, prep surfaces, and items in your fridge. Store opened packages of hotdogs up to a week in the refrigerator and two weeks unopened. And always cook them thoroughly.

Next Saturday, July 15th the Bethel Chamber of Commerce hosts the Summer Shop & Stroll downtown from 11 am to 4 pm. Enjoy sidewalk Sales, music, and connect with local community groups as people stroll along Greenwood Avenue. If you would like to register as a retailer, non-profit group, musician, or business, visit https://www.bethelchamberofcom... or email bethelchamber@gmail.com.

Don’t forget our 4th – 8th graders who will be performing Willy Wonka at Bethel High School on Friday, July 14th at 7pm and July 15th at 2pm and 7pm. You can get tickets at https://ticketpeak.co/bethelpa...

Have a great weekend!

Dan