Weston Town Hall Happenings For Dec. 12, 2025

Press release from the Town of Weston:

12/12/2025 3:05 PM

FIRST SELECTWOMAN’S OPENING NOTE
Today’s opening note is one of huge gratitude.

Last week we held the fourth annual Holiday Music Festival and Tree Lighting, and it was genuinely a magical evening. The musicians were exceptional, and we are grateful they performed for us, despite the frigid temperatures. None of this would have been achieved without the tremendous support from our sponsors, volunteers, and the dedicated municipal team and we are immensely thankful for their commitment and effort. We must acknowledge our lead sponsor, the Crown Family. Their support means everything to us. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Commission for the Arts, especially Marc. We also want to extend our appreciation to Jodi Stevens, Liz Morris, Stew Leonard's, Summer Rain Lighting, Wayne Wyatt, the Weston Women’s League, the Girl Scouts, and all the other helpers. A very special thank you goes to Darcy, Larry, and Benny, who went above and beyond to make this program possible. Once again, from the depths of our hearts, thank you so much to everyone who made the annual Holiday Music Festival and Tree Lighting such a memorable and extraordinary event.

I also want to take a moment to thank the Weston Women’s League for their extraordinary gifts of $12,500 for the Social Services Fund and $12,500 for the Weston Warm-Up Fund. The proceeds of their event, Main Street Weston with title sponsor Camelot Real Estate, are a testament to their dedication to the community and we are so grateful for the support of those in need in Weston.

TOWN WIDE SURVEY
This past Fall the Board of Selectmen approved conducting a revised survey (based on the 2018 Survey) to understand Weston’s demographics, priorities, and residents’ feelings about the Town. We hope you will encourage your friends and neighbors to participate. We welcome your feedback. To take the Town wide survey, visit https://praxisresearch.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1GMcq8K963H2rVs?Q_CHL=qr to access this important questionnaire.

MENORAH LIGHTING
The Weston Community Menorah Lighting is December 16, 2025 at the Weston Shopping Center at 6:00pm. This annual event is sponsored by the Schneerson Center. Live Music, gelt and dreidels for all!

🎄 WESTON POLICE TOY DRIVE 🎁
The Weston Police Benevolent Association is kicking off its annual Toy Drive to help brighten the holidays for local families and children in need. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys at the Weston Police Department through December 15.

Join us on December 13 from 10–2 at the Weston Shopping Center for our Stuff a Police Cruiser event. Help us fill a patrol car with generosity and holiday spirit. We are also accepting new hats, gloves, socks, and underwear for adults and children. All donations will support Toys for Tots, Weston Social Services, and local houses of worship. Toys for Tots collection boxes are also located inside the Weston Police Department lobby for easy drop-off. Thank you for helping us make the season brighter for the community we serve.

WESTON WARM-UP FUND - WINTER DONATION CAMPAIGN
It’s that time of year again when the days grow shorter and the chill of winter sets in. For some residents in our Weston community, the cost of home heating brings real worry and hardship. You can help our neighbors keep the heat on by donating to the Weston Warm Up Fund. For more than 40 years, the Warm Up Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit, has been providing vital heating assistance to eligible Weston residents. Funded entirely by donors, the Warm Up Fund has become a lifeline during the coldest months. Your gift can make a real difference, a contribution of any amount goes toward helping our neighbors keep their homes heated in the winter. Donations can be sent to PO Box 1254, Weston CT 06883 or online at westonwarmup.com/makeadonation.html

GET READY TO CELEBRATE AMERICA’S 250!
The year 2026 will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence and the founding of our country. Weston’s nonprofits, Library, schools, town departments and volunteers have planned an extensive array of programs for 2026 that will encourage discovery and engagement, and are certain to delight. Highlights will include a town-wide scavenger hunt, musical events and performances, a reenactment and immersive colonial experience, and the biggest, best-ever July 4th fireworks and field day with games for the entire family. All events are posted on the website and will be updated regularly. You can help make this a memorable, historic milestone for your family and all of Weston. Visit the Weston Celebrates America 250 website and purchase t-shirts, hoodies, hats and more with Weston’s commemorative logo at this site: https://www.bonfire.com/store/weston-celebrates-america-250/. Get something for everyone on your holiday gift list! And please also consider making a fully tax-deductible donation through the Donate page on the website. Your support is essential to the success of this program.

WESTON VOLUNTEER EMS OFFERS FREE COMMUNITY CPR CLASS
Be the Difference for Someone You Love - When a person has a heart attack, survival often depends on immediately receiving CPR. According to the American Heart Association, of the 360,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in the United States each year, 90% of the victims die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival. Weston Volunteer EMS is offering free training that will enable you to act quickly and confidently in the event you witness a cardiac arrest. The class will meet only once for 90 minutes and will cover Hands-Only CPR and how to use an AED. This is not a certification class.

FREE CLASSES STARTED IN DECEMBER with - Public Classes that you can sign up for individually or with a friend and Private classes for your Group, Organization or Business at your preferred location.
TRAINING INCLUDES:
- How to Recognize a Medical Emergency
- How to do Hands-Only CPR
- How to Use an AED
- Practice with a state of the art Mannequin
To sign up for a group or individual class, please follow this link https://westonems.com/programs.html

HRRA SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
As we move into the holiday season, we want to remind you of a few tips to have a more sustainable holiday!

TOWN HALL TALKS
As an enhancement of the weekly Town Hall Happenings newsletter, please join First Selectwoman Sam Nestor for "Town Hall Talks," on the second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of the month. ** Day Change ** Town Hall talks schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the Month - 1pm at the Town Hall
4th Wednesday of the Month - 6pm at the Town Hall
RSVP required: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

EMERGENCY ALERTS
Please make sure that you and your family are registered to receive emergency alerts from the Weston Office of Emergency Management. Registration can be done online by visiting https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/community-alert-system-and-e-notifications. Weston’s Public Safety Team will continue to expertly guide us through storms by sending out texts, emails and automated phone calls via our Everbridge system. Please make sure to mention Everbridge to your new friends, acquaintances and neighbors. Please also see this link, which provides details on how to prepare for weather events: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/5929/637650804379770000

WESTON HUMAN SERVICES

• Weston Human Services - Youth Services
  Weston Students Win State Youth Leadership Award!
  Weston High School’s Senior Connections Club has been honored with the Youth Leadership Award from the Connecticut Youth Services Association. The club a partnership between Weston Youth and Family Services, the Weston Senior Center, and Weston High School connects students with local seniors through visits, games, and shared conversation. Co-founded by Weston seniors Ryan Bigin, Wesley Arees, and Billy Maglione, with support from Gabe Miller, Rio Zullo, and Emmitt Capola, and advised by librarian Kara Swezey and Senior Center liaison Anne Bigin, the program fosters friendship across generations. The award was presented at the CYSA Annual Conference in Hartford, recognizing Weston’s youth for their compassion, leadership, and community spirit.

FRIENDS OF THE WESTON SENIOR CENTER
The Friends of the Weston Senior Activities Center (WSAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of Weston residents ages 55+. Thanks to your generosity, we fund the programs that help WSAC thrive, including memorable trips, welcoming spaces, expanded classes, healthy summer lunches, and more. Located in the Hurlbutt Elementary School building, the Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and offers everything from art and educational lectures to Broadway outings and specialized exercise programs like our new Parkinson’s class. The Town covers the essentials that keep WSAC running, and your support is what makes it vibrant, fueling the programs, connections, and experiences our seniors look forward to all year.

Thank you for considering a gift to the Friends of the Weston Senior Activities Center this year. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and healthy holiday season. To donate, please visit https://westonseniorcenter.info/friends-donate.html or send donations made payable to: Friends of the Weston Senior Activities Center, P.O. Box 1287, Weston, CT 06883

WESTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Kansal Clunker - A Weston Story Author Talk
Sunday, December 21 at 3:00pm
Join us for a special book signing and author conversation with Weston's Own Neil and Ruchin Kansal. Neil and Ruchin's memoir, The Kansal Clunker: The Car That Rebuilt Us, began right here in Weston, when Neil was a Weston High School Senior. What started as restoring a rusted Acura Integra turned into a 5,000-mile journey that reignited family bonds and inspired thousands. Registration is requested for this free event. Click https://westonpl.librarycalendar.com/event/kansal-clunker-4126 For more information on the authors, the book, and their experience, visit thekansalclunker.com. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library.

Historic Minis: American War of Independence Game!
Monday, December 29 at 5:00pm
Come and play with the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, Next Gen Inc. who have great experience in running games that are fun and challenging for players. In this session, youth ages 12-18 will be reenacting battles from the Revolutionary War. Lots of fun, and learn some history as well! Space is limited so registration is required. Click https://westonpl.librarycalendar.com/event/historic-minis-american-war-independence-game-4683 to register!

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETINGS
Please feel free to attend BOS meetings where you can watch in person at the Town Hall Meeting Room or you can stream into the meetings, which are always posted on the Town website. Documents, recordings, and minutes are available at: https://www.westonct.gov/government/boards-commissions/elected/board-of-selectmen

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TOWN BOARDS
The following appointed boards have positions available: Commission on Aging, Board of Assessment Appeals, Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Beautification Committee, Building Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Children & Youth Commission, Marketing & Communications Committee, Conservation Commission, Sustainable Weston, Veterans Affairs Committee. The Town of Weston Board of Selectmen will conduct interviews of candidates for appointed boards, commissions and committees in private, unless the candidate requests that the interview occur in public. Through the CT Freedom of Information Act, the state legislature expressly allows the Town Board of Selectmen to hold non-public executive sessions to discuss “the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee." C.G.S. § 1-200 (6)(a). Like Weston, several nearby municipalities have also implemented similar policies to protect residents interested in volunteering their service from the abuse of modern technology such as artificial intelligence, social media, and personal identity theft. Please click here for more information and/or to submit your information for consideration for a position.

With gratitude,
Sam

PS: Check out my previous THH by visiting the following link! https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/news-list

This press release was produced by the Town of Weston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.