Weston Town Hall Happenings For Sept. 13, 2024

Press release from the Town of Weston:

09/13/2024 4:13 PM

First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
I love this time of year. Besides being physically beautiful, autumn in Weston offers so many opportunities to strengthen our community bonds. There are so many ways to connect with others over the next few weeks – festivals, fundraisers, sporting events, concerts, ribbon cuttings, cooking classes, and educational programs. These opportunities give me such a sense of gratitude, beginning with my own family and spanning to our Weston community as a whole. It's truly heartwarming to see everyone come together to support each other and celebrate the season. The sense of unity and camaraderie during this time fills me with joy and appreciation for the community we have built here in Weston.

Fall 2024 Road Paving Plan
Weston Paving Project began this week. Work will begin on the north end of Town and progress southerly. These roads will see milling and paving work this week and next week:

Click here for a full list of roads to be paved: Weston CT List of Roads to be paved
Weston DPW will advise on project progression and any issues that may arise. Weston Department of Public Works appreciates everyone’s patience as we prepare our streets for paving. DPW is completing the replacement of 77 catch basins and performing other drainage repairs. Motorists should use caution around these repair areas.

Weston Road Work – Construction Projects Fully Paid for with Grants from CT DOT and Federal Agencies
River Road Bridge Replacement (near the intersection of Good Hill Road): This project is on schedule and the bridge is scheduled to reopen on October 15, 2024.

• Davis Hill Road Bridge Preservation (near the intersection of Valley Forge Road): The Davis Hill Bridge renovations continue. Workers have moved to the opposite side of the bridge to install new parapet walls and bridge railing. Milling, waterproofing and paving of the Davis Hill bridge will likely occur starting on September 30 remaining closed to traffic through October 7. This should be the only full road closure for the remainder of the construction. Davis Hill Road Bridge is slated to be completed by October 15.
• Michaels Way Bridge Replacement (at Newtown Turnpike): Flooding from the severe rainfall event affected this work site. Crews made great progress this week cleaning up the site and getting back on schedule. The bridge remains closed and is due to be completed by December 1, 2024.
• Lyons Plain Road Rehabilitation: This project has been approved to advertise by the CTDOT and bids have been received by the Town. Pavement and drainage repairs should commence in September. Delays from the Department of Transportation have set this project back from Summer 2024 to Fall 2024. Construction will require intermittent road closures.

CT Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team is seeking Volunteers
Join Weston & Westport Human Services for an Informational Session
September 25 at 5:30 via Zoom
Register for a 20 minute Zoom session to learn more about how you can support your community in local responses to emergencies. Contact Allison Lisbon for more information: alisbon@westonct.gov

Update from Weston’s Office of Emergency Management
Our Town of Weston emergency management continues to work with officials from the State of CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security along with FEMA in securing an Emergency Disaster Declaration. We hope to learn more in the coming weeks and will communicate all pertinent updates as they come in. As a reminder, it is important to thoroughly document all damage, repairs and insurance claims and maintain detailed records. In the event of FEMA approval for individual assistance those records are important in the application process.

A message from the Assessor’s Office
eQuality will be in Town collecting data on open building permits beginning Monday, September 16. For more information contact the Assessor’s Office at 203-222-2606.

Parks and Recreation
Our Parks and Recreation Afterschool/WOW program flyer is up on our website and registration has begun! You’ll notice the WOW programs are now all included in this brochure and the booklet is sorted by each school. ALL programs are under the AFTER SCHOOL box on our registration portal- here Please let us know if you have any questions.

Aquatics/Swim Classes
Swim classes will be offered on Saturdays/Sundays starting 9/28. We are currently adding the programs to the website, we will send an update when registration will be open.

Pickleball Update
The Town went out for bid this summer for construction of three pickleball courts at Bisceglie Park. Bids were opened on June 20 and the contract was awarded to Hinding Tennis, who have constructed many other pickleball courts. The bid came within the budgeted amount for the project. The project is being paid for with a combination of funding from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) which is federal funding awarded to the Town as well as Park & Recreation Department fee revenue. Construction is nearly complete - we are getting closer!

Town Hall Talks
As an enhancement of the weekly Town Hall Happenings newsletter, please join First Selectwoman Sam Nestor for "Town Hall Talks," on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Come with your questions and we will be there with updates on Town activities.Town Hall talks Fall schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the Month - 1pm at the Town Hall
4th Tuesday of the Month - 6pm at the Town Hall
RSVP for the next session on 9/23: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

Human Services
Applications are now being taken for the CT Elderly and Disabled Renters' Rebate Program. Please get in touch with Weston Human Services at 203-222-2556 to schedule an appointment. More information and eligibility requirements can be found here: CT Renters' Rebate Program.

Would you like to be added to the Reassurance Program?
The Reassurance Program is a list of Weston residents who would like to be called by an employee of the Weston Social Services Dept in times of Town emergencies or inclement weather. We encourage those who live alone, don't drive, or have medical needs to register as this list is also shared with Emergency Responders in times of Town emergencies. Please email Rashida Miller, MSW at rmiller@westonct.gov for more information.

Youth and Family Services
Please register for the Human Services monthly newsletter! Our goal is to provide our families and youth with resources that help promote physical and mental well-being through programming, events, referrals, and advocacy. Click here sign up read our most recent newsletter and to subscribe to the mailing list

Caregivers Support Group with Allison Lisbon, LCSW, MSW, Director of Human Services
Monthly meetings are held every third Tuesday, 1:30-2:30pm at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Caregiver Support Group email list, contact Allison Lisbon at alisbon@westonct.gov

Bereavement Support Group with Rashida Miller, MSW
Monthly meetings are held every fourth Tuesday, 1:30-2 :30 pm, at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Bereavement Support Group email list, contact Rashida Miller at rmiller@westonct.gov

Weston Senior Center
--Click this link to view the Senior Center Newsletter: Weston Senior Center Weekly Bulletin
--Call or email the Senior Center to register: 203-222-2608/ jbraden@westonct.gov

Volunteers and Extras Needed for Haunted Halloween Production at Lachat Town Farm
We are excited to announce that planning for our new Haunted Halloween production "Meteor, The Immersive Theater Experience” has begun. The same production team that brought to Lachat "Once the Musical" and last Halloween’s "Village of the Damned” will present a dramatic and horrific rendering inspired by the true events of the giant meteorite that hit Weston in 1807. We are Looking for fun-loving extras for some of our scenes, and volunteers to join the excitement to help with set builds, props, or whatever skill you can offer in the weeks before show dates of October 18-20, 25-27. An info session with the producers for all those interested in being an extra and/or volunteer will be held Tuesday September 17th at 7PM. No R.S.V.P. necessary, just show up.
Volunteer Date: Tuesday September 17th
Time: 7PM
Show Dates: October 18-20, 25-27

Weston Public Library
Harmonia V Wind Quintet – Sunday Soundscapes
September 15
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Sunday Soundscapes at the Weston Public Library kicks off its second season with the mellow sounds of Harmonia V, an innovative professional woodwind quintet from Connecticut. This group of accomplished musicians is dedicated to performing the best of the standard literature, seldom heard treasures, and the most dynamic contemporary music available. The members of Harmonia V are proponents of works by living composers, and are always looking to add new music to their repertoire. Their concert will feature a piece written for them by Joseph Russo, resident of Weston, and there will be a short question-and-answer session with him and the quintet preceding the performance of this composition. Harmonia V has earned standing ovations throughout Connecticut and the Northeast US for their creative programming and unique rapport with audiences. Music lovers of all ages will enjoy Harmonia V's refreshing approach to virtuosity and nuance, exploring a new world of sound, color and emotion. Reservations are available by clicking here. Donations are suggested (but not required): $20 for adults and $10 for students.

Weston History & Culture Center in Weston Fundraiser
A House Tour & Cocktail Party at the Peter Thorp House in Weston, CT will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 4pm - 7pm, all to benefit the Weston History & Culture Center in Weston, CT. Explore one of Weston’s oldest homes on this exclusive house & garden tour. Enjoy a cocktail party and musical performance in the home's rose garden. The Peter Thorp House is featured on Instagram: @peterthorphouse with over 30,000 followers! The home is also the focus of the exhibit, "Weston...What Lies Beneath" at the Weston History & Culture Center and has recently been featured in Domino Magazine and in photographer Shana Novak’s latest book, The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell. Now is your chance to explore this exciting home and property! Tickets: early bird tickets are $125 and receive 5 complimentary raffle tickets. Purchase at: https://westoncthistory.org

Board of Selectmen Meetings
Please feel free to attend BOS meetings where you can watch in person at the Town Hall Meeting Room or you can stream into the meetings, which are always posted on the Town website. Documents, recordings, and minutes are available at: https://www.westonct.gov/government/boards-commissions/elected/board-of-selectmen

Volunteers Needed for Town Boards
The following appointed boards have positions available: Commission on Aging, Commission for the Arts, Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Beautification Committee, Building Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Veterans Affairs Committee. The following elected board has a position available: Zoning Board of Appeals. The Town of Weston Board of Selectmen will conduct interviews of candidates for appointed boards, commissions and committees in private, unless the candidate requests that the interview occur in public. Through the CT Freedom of Information Act, the state legislature expressly allows the Town Board of Selectmen to hold non-public executive sessions to discuss “the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee." C.G.S. § 1-200 (6)(a). Like Weston, several nearby municipalities have also implemented similar policies to protect residents interested in volunteering their service from the abuse of modern technology such as artificial intelligence, social media, and personal identity theft. Please click here for more information and/or to submit your information for consideration for a position.

Emergency Alerts
Please make sure that you and your family are registered to receive emergency alerts from the Weston Office of Emergency Management. Registration can be done online by visiting https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/community-alert-system-and-e-notifications. The Weston public safety team will continue to expertly guide us through storms by sending out texts, emails and automated phone calls via our Everbridge system. With all the new residents in town, please make sure to mention Everbridge to your new friends, acquaintances and neighbors. Please also see this link, which provides details on how to prepare for weather events: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/5929/637650804379770000

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westonct.gov
Instagram: Town of Weston, CT (@townofwestonct) • Instagram photos and videos

With gratitude,
Sam

PS: Check out my previous THH by visiting the following link! https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/news-list

Weston EMS Chief Michael Schlechter lowers the flag during the 9/11 Ceremony earlier this week

This press release was produced by the Town of Weston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.