Dec. 6 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**

Dec. 6, 2024

Good afternoon,

Our first snow gave Easton a beautiful coating yesterday as we continue into the holiday season. Easton is proud to be the Christmas Tree Capital of Connecticut. Each year, the Easton Garden Club supports our Easton Tree Farms & Stands and those farms and eateries creating holiday cheer by publishing a holiday version of our Easton Farm Map.

Visit https://www.eastongardenclubof... to learn more and to download copies of the Map. In addition, they decorate the entrances to town buildings with beautiful wreaths.

At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting most of the discussion centered around our emergency medical service. Vaughan Dumas, executive director of the regional dispatch center presented how the system works throughout the area and data about Easton. Highlights were:

• Every town in our area relies on help from surrounding towns for their medical needs. This is called “mutual aid”.
• Most of the towns in our area require this help approximately 20% of the time.
• Easton utilizes aid from other towns about 20% as well (we agree we need more details on time of day). Easton provides about the same amount of help to other towns as it receives.
• The director was most emphatic when a resident suggested that they would be better off driving their loved one to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. He emphasized that this was absolutely the worst thing that they could do.

The discussion got quite heated, but the data was valuable for all to hear. I know that EMS is quite committed to handling as close to every single call themselves as possible and in a timely fashion. I expect a detailed plan for accomplishing this which will be shared with the town imminently.
On Wednesday, we had a meeting in town hall of approximately 20 Easton business owners interested in networking and promoting their small businesses. It was a productive meeting and they are looking forward to future events

Activities around town:
Stuff-A-Cruiser, to benefit Toys for Tots, will be held at the Easton Police Department at 700 Morehouse Road on Saturday, December 7th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. New, unwrapped toys only.

Join us for the Easton Community Center’s Annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 7th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am! Enjoy a delicious breakfast, fun crafts, and hot cocoa while creating magical memories with Santa himself. Preregistration is required for each attendee: Free for ECC Members, $5 for Non-Members at the door (ages 1 and up). Breakfast will be held at 364 Sport Hill Road – please park at ECC or at the lower lot.

Save the date for the annual #joyoushappymerrypride event at Sport Hill Farm, 596 Sport Hill Road on Saturday, December 7th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm! There will be a holiday market, delicious food, our favorite Santa and Ms. Claus, crafts and arts for purchase and so much more!

From Christ church: Visit from St. Nick – Saturday, December 7th 3:30 pm – Santa will arrive at Christ Church Nursery School for a quick visit offering cookies and refreshments! Please sign up by calling 203.268.0792. Then join in our traditional Annual Tree Lighting, Bonfire and Caroling – Saturday, December 7th, 5 pm - Join the fun when Christ Church lights its tree! Caroling around the bonfire will ensue. Hot chocolate will be provided by the Boy Scouts and a bake sale to benefit the children of the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. You are encouraged to dress warmly, wear boots, and bring a flashlight! We would like to thank Easton Arborists for installing the tree lights! Please consider them for your tree maintenance needs.

Ukraine Aid International is hosting a Holiday Celebration on Sunday, December 8th, from 1 PM to 5 PM at the amazing Redline Restorations at 2475 Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock, CT. It’s going to be a fantastic afternoon filled with festive cheer, community, and an opportunity to support civilians on the frontlines in Ukraine. Please also see the Courier article about the latest fundraising campaign at here. This a terribly uncertain time for our sister city as winter approaches and the generators that we hope to supply them with can truly be lifesaving.

The Library’s Friends Organization is gearing up for our Annual Holiday Market and Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 8th, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. This event is always eagerly awaited, and for good reason. There will be something to delight young and old alike: a singalong with our favorite elf at 3:15 pm, a craft project for kids to make and decorate their own paper gingerbread goodie box and fill it with candy canes and Hanukkah gelt, vendors in the Community Room for everyone’s holiday shopping needs, hot chocolate and cookies, last year’s fantastically-popular photo booth, and the Penguin Popper whack-a-mole game - courtesy of Easton’s Parks and Rec. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance, and the Joel Barlow Chamber Singers will serenade us with caroling at 4:30 pm. They will be followed by the highlight of the afternoon: the lighting of Easton’s holiday tree at approximately 5:30 pm. For more information, please visit our webpage: https://eastonlibraryfriends.o... Details about this year’s holiday competition, a mini-tree decorating contest, can be found at the library or on the webpage.

Reminder! The Senior Center’s Annual Holiday Boutique is open weekdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Extended hours on Tuesday, December 10th – open until 7:00 pm. Cash or checks only, please. Do your holiday shopping locally for kids, Christmas décor, wreaths and trees, hand-knitted ware, spa products, housewarming gifts, small pieces of furniture, and jewelry, all reasonably priced!

Holiday/Winter Pet Photo Contest!! Easton's Park & Recreation would love to see your pets dressed up for the holiday and/or winter season! Simply email eastonpr@eastonct.gov a photo of your pet in the holiday/winter spirit, for a chance to win a $50 Greiser's Gift card! Our Park & Rec commission will be voting on the winner. The winner will be announced on our website and Facebook page on Wednesday, December 18th. Include your name, your pet's name, address, email, and phone number from November 16th to December 13th. Good Luck!

Daniel Simonelli, Easton's Municipal Agent, is starting a ‘Giving Tree’ this holiday season for the seniors in our wonderful Town of Easton. Beginning Monday, November 25th, you can visit his office to obtain a tag that lists specific items that will go to some of the seniors in our community. The tree will be up until Tuesday, December 17th, then everything will be taken to a recipient. If you have any questions please stop in to see him or give him a call at 203-268-1137.

Old Academy Series in conjunction with the Historical Society of Easton is hosting a Whisky Tasting Evening at the Congregational Church Hall, 336 Westport Road on Wednesday, December 18th from 7-9pm. Tickets are $100 per person and will benefit the renovation and preservation of the Old Staples Academy Building. For inquiries please call 347-678-7230.

Enjoy your weekend,

Dave