Dec. 5 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

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

Dec. 5, 2025

Dear Bethel,

Wells Fargo Lot Closed

The parking lot behind the former Wells Fargo building at 159 Greenwood is closed to public use, but the businesses are open. The town has offered to maintain and insure the lot as shared parking until the owners find a tenant. Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach any agreements with the new owners. This is a difficult situation for the business owners at 155 Greenwood, especially during the holidays, as the building they occupy has limited parking for the residents and businesses. Please consider supporting those businesses by parking behind the Town Hall if you have Town Hall business and walking a little further to support the businesses at 159 Greenwood Ave. We are hopeful a resolution can be achieved, but this situation highlights the importance of development with adequate parking.

Bethel Utility Bills

Attention Bethel Water and Sewer customers: Your December utility bill should arrive in your mail box this week. Due to the delay, the payment due date is extended to January 10th. The online payment system is temporarily unavailable, so payments can be made in person at the office with cash or check, by mail postmarked by January 10, 2026, and by dropping a check into the secure yellow correspondence box in front of Town Hall.

Public Hearings

Inland Wetlands is continuing a public hearing for 7 Rockwell Rd. (Modification of Inland Wetlands Denial) on Monday, December 8th at Town Hall in Meeting Room D at 7 pm. Learn more at https://bethel-ct.gov/2025-iwc

The Planning & Zoning commission will Continue public hearings Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm in Town Hall in Meeting Room D for 67-69 Greenwood Ave. (Excavation & Fill Permit) and 72 Reservoir Street (8-30g affordable housing 6 units). Learn more at https://bethel-ct.gov/2025-zoning.

The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a Public Hearing for December 16th at 6:30 pm at Town Hall in Meeting Room A for an increase in the fee for couches from $25 - $35 to $25 - $50 at the Transfer Station. The higher range is to cover costs of disposing of large sofas.

Friends of Parks & Rec

Looking to get on Santa's nice list? Make a donation to the Friends of Parks & Rec picnic table fundraiser! This is a crowdfunding campaign to buy a picnic table that will be placed in either Meckauer or Parloa park. These picnic tables are made in America out of recycled material. With shipping, this table costs $2305. If we all chip in, we can give a nice holiday present for our parks. Plus, your donation is tax-deductible! Learn more at https://www.friendsofbethelpandr.org/.

Craft Fair

Don’t forget the Christmas Craft Fair at St. Mary School tomorrow, December 6th from 9 am to 3 pm. Shop for homemade crafts, jewelry, and more! Santa will be on hand for photos in the Christmas Café and there will be lots of fun activities for the kids and vendor raffles.

Bethel PD Toy Drive

The Bethel Police Department is hosting their Annual Toy Drive this Sunday, December 7th from 9 am to 3 pm in front of Byrd’s Books and the Toy Room to support Bethel Social Services and The Center for Empowerment and Education, formerly The Women’s Center. Bethel and Stoney Hill Fire Departments will be there to help. There will be a coin drop supporting special Olympics and a visit from Santa.

Table Talks

The next Table Talks series is Tuesday, December 9th from 11 am to 12:30 pm at Daily Fare in the Bethel train station. Join Mohammed Shilleh, a Palestinian-American Muslim, Yehezkel Landau, an Israeli-American Jew, and special guest Mary Churchill for a conversation about Jesus in the three Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Bring your curiosity! Email info@MyBrotherFromAnotherMother.org with any questions.

Classics and Carols

If you want to help neighbors with food insecurity and love classic Christmas music, don’t miss Big Band Christmas: Classics & Carols featuring Jay Prince & Friends at Walnut Hill Community Church on Friday, December 12th at 7 pm. All proceeds from ticket sales and concessions will support the Walnut Hill Food Pantry. For information and INEXPENSIVE tickets, visit https://walnuthillcc.org/events/big-band-christmas-concert/.

Cookie Sale

Do a little less baking this year. St. Thomas’ Church 29th Annual Cookie Sale is back on Saturday, December 13th from 9:30 am to 12 pm. Homemade cookies and Fudge for $10.00 per pound!

Plumtrees School Sing-a-Long Party

Don’t miss the Plumtrees School Association Annual Holiday Party and sing-a-long on Saturday, December 13th from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Plumtree School. Enjoy music by Billy Michael and Santa Claus will make a special appearance! Contact Shani Burke Specht with questions at shaniburkespecht@hotmail.com or 203-501-7594.

Bethel Big Band Holiday Show

Don’t miss the Bethel Big Band Holiday Show on Sunday, December 14th at 3:30 pm at Greenwood Features. This concert will feature members of the Bethel music community, teachers, alumni, and students performing classic and contemporary holiday jazz selections. The Vocal Jazz students and with the Bethel Big Band have been preparing collaboratively and are excited to showcase their talents! It is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring students, families, and community members together to celebrate the season and highlight the strength of the arts in Bethel. For tickets, visit https://www.greenwoodfeatures.com/upcoming-events/.

Shoutouts

A huge shoutout to Taryn McCormick’s 1st Grade class at Rockwell who had the annual a Kindness Project today. Residents can stop by Hunt Baseball Field on Whittlesey Dr. next to the Football Field. You will find items secured to the fence, such as hats gloves and scarfs, in bags. If you are a family in need, please take one. (Please leave the bag and clothes pins.) If you would like to leave an item, please bring it in a waterproof bag and secure it with the clothes pins provided! Thank you for your Kindness!

A shoutout and thank you to Mary Churchill, BHS NJROTC, Eden DeRosa, Bella Valenti, Yehezkel Landau, Hannah Lipman, our student volunteers, Judge Steven DeMoura, Town Clerk Lisa Bergh, Asst Town Clerk Kasey Galbis, Cindy Feuerman, and BHS Staff. Each of you made the Swearing in Ceremony for our newly elected officials a truly special event!

A shoutout to Bethel student athletes earning special recognition! Girls Soccer: All SWC – Breanna Steen. All Colonial – Sienna Troetti, Aziza Macchiarulo, Zuzanna Kochman, & Piper Davies. Boys Soccer: All SWC/ All State - Brady Fitzgerald, Dante Lagravinese & Kevin Ly. All SWC – Tiago Silva. All Colonial - Logan Fesh & Sam Lino Field Hockey: All Patriot – Ava Osimanti & Macy Johnson. Honorable Mention – Nora Ryan & Sam Gale. Football: All SWC 2nd Team – Kaden Islami & Kaleb Morrison. Honorable Mention – Hudsen Wish & Nate Fontaine. Volleyball: All Patriot – Victoria Dembeck. Honorable Mention – Bella Lombardi. Girls Cross Country – All SWC – Amina Macchiarulo. All SWC 2nd Team – Hana Yuen. Boys Cross Country: All SWC 1st Team – Calum Binder & Christian Dubois. All SWC 2nd Team – Christopher Kim.

Have a great weekend!

Dan