March 21 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

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

March 21, 2025

Good afternoon,

Please attend the budget presentation at Samuel Staples Elementary School cafetorium on Monday, March 24, at 7:00 pm. You will hear the presentation of the proposed budget and its explanation. The overall increase proposed is 2.73%. The town budget is decreasing by 3.28%. The budget for Region 9 is increasing by 4.55% and the Easton School budget is increasing by 6.72%. After the Public Hearing, the Board of Finance will present the final budget at the Town Meeting on Monday, April 28.

This week we held a tax sale for properties that were long past due on tax payments to the town. We recovered $941,013 to cover back taxes.

Yesterday, Officer Tamra French and her K-9 TJ accepted a $5,000 grant check from the Hometown Hero’s Foundation for winning first place. IG: @thehometownfoundationinc, FB: @HometownFoundation.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025, is CT Save-a-Life-Day. There will be free Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training for Westport, Weston, and Easton residents. This is hosted by Positive Directions, Aspetuck Health District, and Catalyst CT, and will be held at Toquet Hall, 58 Post Road E, Westport from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

A small clarification of the history of Helen Keller Middle School: The land that holds that school was purchased in early 1955 by the Town of Easton from Walter Sherwood. It consisted of 26.4 acres and the purchase price was $22,000. It was approved at a Special Town Meeting held on December 3, 1954. The dedication for the new school took place on Sunday, March 7, 1965, not the 26th. Helen Keller could not attend, but a letter from the executive director of the American Federation for the Blind was read aloud explaining her absence. "Your friend and neighbor, Miss Helen Keller, has asked that I send you her warm personal greetings, her humble thanks for the tribute. Thanks to Bruce Nelson and the Historical Society of Easton. In honor of this Diamond Anniversary and their namesake, HKMS has launched a month-long initiative focused on being forces for good in the world. They are working to raise funds for Mikey's Way, an organization that brightens the lives of pediatric cancer patients. This organization was started by an inspiring former HKMS student, Michael Friedman. The staff of HKMS are voluntarily organizing and running before and after school events. All of the fun event ideas were generated by the students themselves. Each event has a small participation fee. They are hoping that by the end of March, they will have raised enough money to fully stock a cart with the electronics needed for a Mikey's Way Day at Yale New Haven Smilow Cancer Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology floor. March at HKMS is about togetherness and putting good into the world. It doesn't get better than that. If you are interested in contributing, you can make a tax-deductible donation via Venmo at @MikeysWayFoundation or by dropping a check off to HKMS made out to "The Mikey's Way Foundation". If you do not know the story of Mikey Friedman, please see the Courier article at https://eastoncourier.news/202.... Mikey’s story is truly inspiring.

The State of Connecticut Office of Policy & Management has asked Town Assessors to post and share the following online survey for PA 490 Farm, Forest & Open Space Classified Land Owners. Please see the survey information and link here: https://www.eastonct.gov/assessor/news/pa-490-farm-forest-land-and-open-space-online-survey.

Activities around town:
The Easton Public Library is hosting Jill Morton, Richard Oriolo, Janice Sweetwater, & Barb Winsor art exhibit “Visual Journeys” in the Glass Display Case, and Elizabeth Katz art exhibit “Calming Colors” is in the Conference Room until March 30.

The Easton Senior Center, 650 Morehouse Road, is having a spectacular Tag Sale now through April 10, 2025 weekdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Many fantastic items, including Jewelry, most are under $5.00.

Joel Barlow High School is hosting the musical, Urinetown. It is set in a dystopian future where a devastating drought has made private toilets illegal, citizens must pay to use public amenities controlled by the corrupt Urine Good Company (UGC). Performances Thu-Sat, March 20-22 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or here: JBHS.BookTix.com.

The Easton Public Library is hosting “Author Talk: Emotional Fitness by Shaun Zetlin” on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:00 p.m. Join Shaun to learn how fitness can help heal you from anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. He is a Master Trainer, Author, and Motivational Speaker. Registration is recommended.

The Easton Community Center is hosting the Annual Boy Scout Troup 66 Gourmet Breakfast on Saturday, March 29th, from 7:30 am to noon. Tickets are $15/person, and $12/Seniors and Children. Click HERE if you would like to purchase ticket(s).

Save the Date: Tuesday, April 1st. Library Giving Day is a national fundraising event for people to donate to their individual library system. Like most municipal libraries, Easton’s library depends on donations to finance many of the programs and services our community depends upon. The Friends fund a number of community-building events, such as the recent Holiday Tree-Lighting and Market, but we also fundraise to support programs such as the One Book One Town initiative, Summer Reading Programs, museum passes, STEM materials for our children’s area, and college-preparedness programs for our high school students. Please support our Easton Library Friends on April 1st, and help keep our library a vibrant place for Easton to learn, grow, and thrive! EASTONLIBRARYFRIENDS.ORG/DONATE

The Easton Parks and Recreation is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza! Visit with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the New Friends Playground, 360 Sport Hill Road. Ages 0-10. Registration required. Easton residents Only. (Rain Date April 6th)

The Covenant Church of Easton is hosting a “Feed the Hunger Pack-a-thon” on Saturday, April 5th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am OR 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at 1 Sport Hill Road. Help us pack 25,920 meals for hungry children across the globe! Sign up for a session by following this link https://www.signupgenius.com/g.... There will be a nominal cost to participate. For further info call (203) 371-8335.

The Historical Society for Easton is hosting a Den Cemetery presentation by Dr. David Leslie, renowned Archeologist, on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm at the Old Academy Hall Congregational Church located at 336 Westport Road. Tickets are a $10 suggested donation to help fund maintenance and restoration efforts at Easton's historic cemeteries. Please purchase tickets HERE.

Enjoy a special evening with your Easton friends and neighbors on Wednesday, April 9th for a performance of “Theater People” a rollicking comedy at the Westport Playhouse 203-227-4177. 6 PM Cocktail Party, 7 PM Performance. Ages 14+. Purchase your tickets HERE and use code “EASTONNIGHT”.

Applications for college scholarships from the Staples Free School Fund for the 2025-2026 school year are available online at www.staplesfreeschool.com and are due Friday, May 9, 2025. Applicants must be Easton residents (minimum five-year residency) who plan to attend or are attending an accredited college, community college, or university within the United States. One-half of the award is a scholarship; the other half is a loan due without interest within seven years of the date of receipt. Recipient selection is based on financial need. Scholarships are granted for a year at a time. Students may reapply on an annual basis. For questions, please email StaplesScholars@yahoo.com.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dave