March 22 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

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

March 22, 2024

Dear Bethel,

The 2024-2025 annual budget was approved by the Board of Finance after a public hearing this week. The budget will go before the Annual Town Budget Meeting on April 4th at 7 pm in the Bethel High School Auditorium and then the referendum on April 23rd. Visit https://bethel-ct.gov/depts-comptroller to view the proposed budget.

Pickleball and repairing our tennis courts were popular topics at the public hearing this week. The Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and Parks and Recreation are working together to move forward with the repairs. Stay tuned!

The town is considering two significant purchases. First, a Fire (Ladder) Truck to be stationed in Stony Hill. Second, the purchase of the Wells Fargo property downtown when the bank closes in May. The Board of Selectmen have recommended the purchases and the Board of Finance will consider them next. The Wells Fargo purchase has been referred to Planning & Zoning. Stay tuned to the possibility of a Special Town Meeting for consideration of the purchases and adding one or both to the referendum on April 23rd.

Early voting for the April 2nd Presidential Primary takes place on March 26th, 27th, 28th, and 30th at Town Hall in Meeting Room A from 10 am to 6 pm. Voting on April 2 will take place at your normal poll locations between 6 am and 8 pm. This is the first time we have had early voting and there are a few state mandated extra steps, so it is difficult to say if you can expect lines at the polls. If you are not registered to vote or you are an unaffiliated voter, visit www.MyVote.CT.gov to learn how you can vote in the primary.

If you want to keep tabs on what is happening in town, public hearings are a great way to stay in the loop! Notices and minutes for public hearings are now available on the town website under a single folder. Note that some hearings may be continued to a future meeting, so look at meeting minutes closely. Upcoming hearings: Zoning regulations regarding Tattoo Art Studios on Tuesday, March 26th (Continued from 3/12). Visit https://bethel-ct.gov/public-hearing

Broken Symmetry is teaming up with the CT Beer Tour for a Cancer-Free Future tomorrow from 4 pm to 9 pm. A portion of beer sales will fund blood cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). CT Beer Tour team will provide raffles and swag! Learn more at https://ctbeertour.org.

The First Congregational Church and Bethel CT Pride are hosting a Mutual Aid Day Tomorrow, March 23rd. Get free clothing, shoes, toiletries, makeup, nail polish, plants, and more. PeerPride will be on site, free masculine haircuts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis by Ferni’s Barbershop, and free, confidential health screenings and vaccines (Covid, monkeypox) will be provided by Circle Care Center.

On Good Friday, March 29th, look out for residents participating in the Stations of the Cross. This is an ecumenical event sponsored by First Congregational Church, Bethel United Methodist Church, St. Mary's, St. Thomas, and Walnut Hill Church and is open to all regardless of faith, so expect a pretty good crowd. Participants start at 12 pm from Molten Java and travel east on Greenwood, north on Library Place, east on School St., south through the lot next to the United Methodist Church, east again on Greenwood to St. Thomas, to main street on the road/alley by St. Thomas and concludes at First Congregational Church. You may want to avoid Main Street since there will be a lunch after the event. If you have any questions, visit https://firstchurchbethel.org/events.html call 203-743-1877.

Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company hosts their annual Easter Flower Sale Friday, March 29th from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday, March 30th from 8 am until they sell out. Proceeds benefit their ambulance fund!

If you've been participating in the food scraps recycling pilot program, your compost is here! Please come to the Transfer Station and gather up to 3 buckets of finished compost on Saturday, March 30th or Thursday, April 4th. Tell your neighbors about this great program!

Good luck to Varsity Boys Lacrosse against Trumbull and Varsity Girls Lacrosse in the New Milford Jamboree this weekend!

Congratulations to Spencer Kurtz and Kyle Kurtz who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout!

Varsity Boys Baseball takes on Holly Cross in a scrimmage on Monday! Go get em!

Have a great weekend!

Dan