Feb. 28 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

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

Feb. 28, 2025

Good afternoon,

The current Budget Meeting Schedule to show the full budget process before the referendum is as follows:

• Board of Education: Monday, March 3 at 7:30 pm
• Town Departments: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:00 pm

The budget will be presented to the town at a Public Information Session on Monday, March 24, 2025. The Annual Town Meeting will meet to consider the budget and other items on Monday, April 28, 2025, and the referendum to approve the items discussed at the Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

REMINDER: Effective March 7th, Town Hall will close at 1:00 pm on Fridays (but open a bit earlier). Demand for services is typically low on Friday afternoons, and many surrounding towns have reduced or eliminated Friday hours without adverse effects. Hours will remain 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and Fridays will change to 8:00 am – 1:00 pm.

TODAY is the last day to vote!! Our own Easton Police Officer, Tamra French, and her K-9, ‘TJ’, have been working hard to gain votes to secure a Hometown Heroes Foundation grant. You can vote online at https://k9.hometownfoundation..... The Cheshire-based charity will award three grants totaling $12,000 to police K-9 units that are not fully funded by their local and state municipalities and that rely heavily on private donations. French and TJ won the $5,000 prize last year and look to reclaim that prize again this year. As of now, they are in first place with 8,302 votes and are looking for more. If TJ wins a grant, French will use it to pay for his food and vet care. The grant will also be used for training, which would enable TJ to do his job even better. Winners will be announced on March 6, 2025, at 10:00 am (EST).

The Easton Tax Collector has a DROP BOX available for taxpayers to leave their payment (check/money order only, no cash) at Town Hall during business hours (Mon-Thu 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Fri 8:00 am – 1:00 pm) if they are closed. It is located inside the building, on the wall, to the right of the Town Clerk’s door. The drop box is checked frequently throughout the business day. Please ensure payment is submitted by 4:30 pm on the last business day of the payment deadline or payment will be considered late. Payments are date-stamped, secured, and processed as time allows. If you would like a receipt, please leave a note with your payment or contact the tax collector at 203-268-6291.

Activities around town:
Easton Public Library is hosting a C2Education SAT/ACT Practice Test (Gr. 9-12) on Saturday, March 1st, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. C2 Education will be at the Library to administer a free practice test (you choose the SAT or the ACT) and provide a follow-up session with your test results and feedback. Parent/guardian email will be required to schedule the results session.**Note: The SAT is now fully digital and this practice test will also be digital. Registrants will need a device (No tablets or phones), be connected to the Library's WiFi, and have an account with Bright Space, the online hosting portal, which C2 will create. The ACT practice test will still be given on paper. Parents should attend the results session. **Registration is required. Register Here
Easton Public Library is hosting an Irish Step Dancing Performance on Thursday, March 13th at 4:30 p.m. Register here

The Staples Academy Foundation is hosting an Irish Music Concert on Thursday, March 13th at 7:00 pm and a St. Patrick's Day Dinner on Saturday, March 15th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Congregational Church Hall, 336 Westport Road in Easton. Tickets to all events can be purchased here: https://staplesacademyfoundati...

Easton P&R is partnering with Redding P&R to offer our residents this amazing New York City Bus Trip that leaves from the Redding Community Center (RCC). NY Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers Hockey Game at MSG - Sunday, March 16th leaving the RCC at 3:00 pm for a 7:00 pm game. Seats are in section 216. The price for the trip is just $182. Sign up online at www.townofreddingct.org (Under Trips/Events, "Redding Express Trips"). Questions? Call Redding P&R at (203)-938-2551.

Have a nice weekend,

Dave