Weston Town Hall Happenings For Sept. 20, 2024

Press release from the Town of Weston:

09/20/2024 3:35 PM

First Selectwoman’s Opening Note

“The Bridge Builder” A Poem by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide.
Through which was flowing a sullen tide
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting your strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day,
You never again will pass this way;
You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build this bridge at evening tide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head;
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followed after me to-day
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been as naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”

Fall 2024 Road Paving Plan
The following is an update on the Weston Road Paving Program. This schedule is subject to change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances. The installation of select curbing and driveway apron repairs will start next week on roads where paving is complete.

Paving has been completed on the following roads:

Daily work schedule (subject to change):

Friday (9/20)

• Paving - Osborne Farm Road

Monday (9/23)

Tuesday (9/24)

Wednesday (9/25)

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

Sign Policy on Town Hall Campus Approved
The BOS approved 3-0 at their September 18 meeting a new sign policy on Town Hall Campus. This policy will be in effect starting October 1st. Please see the link to the sign policy here: Town Hall Campus Sign Policy | Town of Weston, Connecticut (westonct.gov)

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.

Message from the Registrars: November 5, 2024 Election and Early Voting

Early Voting
October 21 - November 3
10 am to 6 pm *with extended hours 8 am to 8 pm on October 29 and 31
Weston Town Hall

Election Day Voting
November 5, 2024
6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Weston Middle School, Rear Entrance

Register to vote online at https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do.

Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events
This is an opportunity to safely dispose of gasoline, lawn and pool products, paint thinners, lithium-ion batteries, 1lb propane tanks and more! For more info: www.HRRA.org
Oct. 4, 2024 9am – 2pm New Milford
Nov. 2, 2024 9am – 2pm Brookfield

What to do with empty flowerpots?
Fall mums will be coming soon and that means lots of empty flowerpots again. Consider the following when looking for ways to get rid of them:

If you are unable to donate your colored plastic nursery pots and planter trays place them in the TRASH. As a reminder, all black plastic is NOT accepting in the mixed recycling stream. Broken ceramic and clay pots also belong in the trash.

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 almost complete: courts have been painted, fences are installed, and after the paint cures the court lines will be striped, the nets will be put up and then the court gates will be installed. A Noise guard is on site waiting to be hung. We are nearly there!

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 Bulletin
--Call or email the Senior Center to register: 203-222-2608/ jbraden@westonct.gov

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)

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

DPW & Facilities Director Larry Roberts stands in front of Weston's first electric vehicle

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