Feb. 28 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

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

Feb. 28, 2025

Dear Bethel,

Budget

The Board of Selectmen voted to recommend Town and Board of Education budgets to the Board of Finance that will be presented to the board on Monday. The Board of Finance will deliberate and craft a budget to be presented at a public hearing on Wednesday, March 19th at the Bethel High School auditorium at 7 pm. The budgets proposed by the Board of Selectmen can found here: https://bethel-ct.gov/depts-comptroller. There will be updates once the Board of Finance proposes a budget. If you cannot come to the hearing, please send comments to budget@bethel-ct.gov.

Fake Coyotes

If you see a what appears to be a coyote near the Berry and Kisling softball fields, please don’t panic! Bethel Youth Softball purchased 3D coyote decoys to help deal with our messy geese issues. The decoys will be moved around periodically.

Threat to Park and Rec Camp

There is a public hearing on Senate Bill 6 next Tuesday, March 4th at 1 pm. While bill is advertised to lower costs and increase access for disconnected youth, but it will dramatically increase costs to Bethel Parks and Recreation, and other municipalities. Bethel residents depend our programs when school is out for the summer. Learn more about SB 6 here. Click on the public hearing testimony link to learn more. You can submit testimony here.

Teen Center for 6th Graders

The Teen Center is available for 6th graders as a trial until the end of March. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30-5 pm and Fridays from 5:30-8:30pm with our open gym program that follows from 8:30-10 pm. Activities include baking, cooking, board games, video games, puzzles, crafts and more! Transportation available from the middle school. Email teencenter@bethel-ct.gov or call 203-778-7522 for more information.

Youth Soccer

Bethel Youth Soccer Association's registration is in full swing! BYSA is a youth soccer league for girls and boys ages 4 - 13 and a great way to become involved in our wonderful community. They have both Intown and Travel teams, and you can learn more about the program and sign-up at https://www.bethelsoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1386431

Art Sculpture Exhibit

Bethel Arts is seeking sponsors to achieve its goal of raising $7000 for towards a matching contribution from Sustainable CT to launch the 2025-2026 outdoor sculpture exhibit. The exhibit will include seven large-scale outdoor sculptures downtown on the lawn of the Municipal Center and the Bethel Public Library that celebrate the beauty of art and the earth. The theme is “Our Power Our Planet — Sculptural Reflections.” The exhibit will be launched during the Bethel Earth Day celebration on April 26th. If you would like to support the event, please visit https://www.patronicity.com/project/bethel_arts_20252026_outdoor_sculpture_exhibit#!/.

Bethel Garden Club “Dahlias”

The Bethel Garden Club has announced 2025 Annual Gardening Series with three great programs. The first is on March 6th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Bethel Public Library featuring Julia Cencebaugh Kloth who will share her passion for “Dahlias.” Julia is Master Gardener Emeritus with the University of Connecticut, and has served as their Fairfield County Program Coordinator. Register for the event: https://bethellibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/the-dahlias/. Find other events at https://www.bethellibrary.org/events/.

Winter Guard Annual Show

The Bethel Winter Guard is hosting its annual Friends and Family event on Friday, March 7th. Doors open at 6 pm and the Juniors, JV, and Varsity guards begin performing their award-winning shows at 6:30 pm. The great news is we are all friends and family, so we all have free admission! Every year has a different theme, so come see what they put together. If can’t make it and want to help them get to the championship in Dayton, Ohio, visit https://bethelwinterguardct.com/. Remember, “no one sits on the bench!”

Urinetown The Musical

Looking for some fun entertainment? The Bethel High School On Stage Players Presents Urinetown The Musical! The Broadway production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won 3. See the show at Bethel High School on Friday, March 14th at 7 pm, Saturday March 15th at 7 pm, or Sunday March 16th at 2 pm. Adults $16 and Seniors and Students are $13. For information and tickets, visit https://www.bhstheaterboosters.com/.

BPL Mini Golf

Join the Bethel Public Library Board of Directors' Mini Golf "fore" the Library fundraiser on March 28 & 29. On Friday, March 28, adults ages 21 and over will enjoy beer, wine, and food from local restaurants and businesses while playing a round of mini golf. On Saturday, March 29 all ages are invited to play 18 holes. Tickets are now on sale. Check out www.bethellibrary.org/minigolf/ for all the details and sponsors.

Shoutouts

Congrats Lady Wildcats on your SWC Championship win, the first for BHS since 2017! Congrats Vivian Stewart as Athlete of the Week. 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists during the SWC series! Good luck Lady Wildcats in the State Playoffs at BHS on Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm.

Congrats Alexandra Roberts for earning All State honors in skiing and Riley Ganes, our All State gymnast!

Good Luck to the Bethel Boys Basketball team in the opening round of states tomorrow, March 1st at 6 pm at BHS!

Good luck to the IceCats who are playing Milford Coop in the semifinals next Wednesday in Danbury! Tickets available at https://gofan.co/. The IceCats are a multi town team, so lookup Immaculate High School and choose #1 BBDI vs #4 Milford at 5:30 pm on March 5th.

Have a great weekend!

Dan