Weston Town Hall Happenings For May 16, 2025

Press release from the Town of Weston:

05/16/2025 2:00 PM

Voters Approve Town, School & Capital Budgets
On May 3rd, voters in the budget referendum approved all three proposed budgets: Town operating, Board of Education operating, and Capital expenditures. Town Operating: 78.44% approve, BOE Operating: 76.80% approve; Capital: 77.60% approve. The Mill Rate for the FY26 year is 23.90. I want to thank all individuals who have dedicated their time and effort to the development of this budget. For more background information, please visit: https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/finance.

Weston Dog Park @ 22 Lords Highway East
WESTON DOG PARK IS OFFICIALLY OPEN. Please Bring your pooch and water. Please see all the Dog Park Rules HERE: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showdocument?id=14765&t=638816933838200126. This project utilizes 7% of the entire Moore Property -- land that was purchased by the Town more than two decades ago for $2.3 million, specifically for municipal use. The dog park construction, design, and first few years of maintenance are funded with grants (ARPA, access way and parking & Greyledge plantings), gifts from private individuals through the Weston Dog Park 501c3, as well as a contribution in memory of Brian Gordon, our former second Selectman who passed away in 2018. Recent improvements have included fixing a hole near the fence and amended opening hours, which will be at 7:30am.

Memorial Day Weekend
Each year the Weston community celebrates Memorial Day with a fair, 5K, parade honoring our Veterans (and breakfast). It is an annual tradition that attracts thousands of families from surrounding communities as well as its own Westonites. The fair is run by volunteers from the Hurlbutt and Weston Intermediate School PTOs and the 5K is run by the Weston High School PTO. Both of these events are their largest fundraisers of the year. We are so grateful to the PTO and to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department who coordinate and sponsor the Memorial Day Parade and Festivities.

Schedule of Events:

Learn more about these events and how to support them here: weston5k.com and westonmdf.com

Save a Life Day: Free Narcan Training
May 20 at 6:30 pm
Be the difference in a crisis—learn how to save a life!
Weston Human Services is offering FREE Narcan Training to the community! 🚨 In partnership with CATALYST CT | THE HUB and Weston Library, this training will teach how to administer Narcan and help prevent opioid overdoses. The session will take place on Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30 PM, It’s a great opportunity to make a difference—don’t miss it Current high school and college students are encouraged to attend! Register at https://westonpl.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-kara-2065

Weston Pride Flag Raising
June 3 at 4pm
Weston Town Green
Save the Date for food and fun at the 3rd annual official Pride Flag raising in Weston, CT on Tuesday 6/3 at 4pm at Weston Town Green at Weston Town Hall. There will be an ice cream truck, activities for the whole family and much to celebrate with the kick-off of June, Pride Month, with our wonderful community. Please follow Weston CT Pride on Facebook or Instagram for more updates.

National EMS Week May 18–24, 2025
Weston Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (WVEMS) proudly joins the nationwide celebration of National EMS Week, taking place from May 18–24, 2025. This year’s theme, “We Care. For Everyone,” underscores the unwavering commitment of emergency medical professionals who provide lifesaving care across the country. National EMS Week is an annual week-long celebration honoring emergency medical services professionals. It's a time to recognize the dedication, hard work, and vital role that EMS plays in emergency response in Weston. Weston EMS is 100% volunteer and provides emergency care services to the community of Weston, 24/7. 365 days a year. If you would like to make a donation you may:

• Go to www.westonems.com/donate.html
• Text “GIVE” to 888-303-7059
• Write a check to “Support Weston EMS, Inc.”

Board of Selectmen Approve Resolution
On Tuesday March 25th the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a Resolution aimed at Promoting Town Unity after recent incidents of antisemitism and hate symbols. Please See the Resolution HERE

A Message from the Acting Superintendent for Weston Public Schools
Please see this important message from Deborah Low, Acting Superintendent here: https://www.westonps.org/55460?articleID=159065

Weston Public Library
What does the Weston Public Library mean to you and your family? The Library’s Board of Trustees would like to hear from you! Please click here to take a brief survey and help us understand what you love about our Library, what could improve, and what you’d like to see there. Your input will help shape a new brand for the Library that reflects its range of programming and long-term vision. All responses are anonymous.

Sign Policy on Town Hall Campus
The BOS approved 3-0 at their September 18, 2024 meeting a sign policy on Town Hall Campus. This policy has been in effect since October 1st. Please see the link to the sign policy here: Town Hall Campus Sign Policy | Town of Weston, Connecticut (westonct.gov)

Weston Awarded State Grant for Traffic Control
Weston has applied for and was recently awarded a state grant for “high risk rural roads” to help control high risk driving behaviors on rural roads in Connecticut. Weston was awarded $43,370 at no cost to the Town, to conduct enhanced traffic enforcement on local roads and to purchase speed enforcement devices. Citizens should expect to see enhanced presence of Weston officers on our roads conducting enforcement activities during the grant period from March 1st through May 30th. Please be aware that there is increased pedestrian traffic during the upcoming spring months and obey posted speed limits and other traffic signage around town. Please help us to keep our roads safe in Weston.

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 and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Town Hall talks schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the Month - 1pm at the Town Hall
4th Tuesday of the Month - 6pm at the Town Hall
RSVP required. The next session is on May 27th at 6pm: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

A Message from the WPS School Security Director
Spring has sprung! Please see this reminder of school campus closures

Lyons Plain Road Rehabilitation
Lyons Plain Rd Rehabilitation – Milling and paving is complete. Remaining work includes replacement driveway apron and guardrails. To review details about the project link HERE: Road Maintenance Projects | Town of Weston, Connecticut

Valley Forge Road
The purpose of this project is to protect and preserve the Valley Forge Road corridor in terms of both infrastructure asset management and neighborhood quality of life. The project limits extend from Kellogg Hill Road to Bradley Road. The project includes many improvements which extend beyond just new pavement. The project has been developed to address not only deteriorated pavement conditions but also erosion to the roadside embankments, noted drainage concerns in select areas and at various culvert crossings, and safety concerns related to failing or inadequate guardrail and existing roadway alignment which provides inadequate sightline distances for drivers. Provisions for traffic calming are also included to encourage drivers to reduce traveling speeds along the roadway. All of these improvements are intended to preserve and protect not only the roadway but also the abutting properties and quality of life for the Valley Forge Road neighborhood. Please click here: Road Maintenance Projects | Town of Weston, Connecticut for a fully detailed description of the project, funding, information sessions and timeline.

The Food Scraps Recycling Program continues with great momentum.
Thank you for your ongoing participation in Weston's Food Scraps Recycling program. Since the program was launched, March 2024, 14 months into the program, we have 260 participating households in the program. 12,000 lbs or 6.6 tons of food scraps have been dropped off at the transfer station. This is significant diversion from the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream. As we did last year, to counter the effects of the warmer temperatures, we will be increasing the food scraps collection from once a week to twice a week in the summer and adding a layer of sawdust to the scraps in the bins regularly.

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. The Weston Public safety team will continue to expertly guide us through storms by sending out texts, emails and automated phone calls via our Everbridge system. With all the new residents in town, 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

• Would you like to be added to the Reassurance Program?
  The Reassurance Program is a list of Weston residents who would like to be called by an employee of the Weston Social Services Dept in times of Town emergencies or inclement weather. We encourage those who live alone, don't drive, or have medical needs to register as this list is also shared with Emergency Responders in times of Town emergencies. Please email Melissa DiVito, LCSW at mdivito@westonps.org for more information.
• Youth and Family Services
  Please register for the Human Services monthly newsletter! Our goal is to provide our families and youth with resources that help promote physical and mental well-being through programming, events, referrals, and advocacy. Link to Register & see this months newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/westonct.gov/maynewsletter
• Caregivers Support Group with Melissa DiVito, LCSW
  Monthly meetings are held every third Tuesday, 1:30-2:30pm at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Caregiver Support Group email list, contact Melissa at mdivito@westonct.gov
• Bereavement Support Group with Rashida Miller, MSW
  Monthly meetings are held every fourth Tuesday, 1:30-2 :30 pm, at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Bereavement Support Group email list, contact Rashida Miller at rmiller@westonct.gov
• Weston Senior Center
  -Click this link to visit the Senior Center website: https://westonseniorcenter.info/
  -Activities newsletter: Weston Senior Activities Center
  -Call or email the Senior Center to register: 203-222-2608 or jbraden@westonct.gov
• The Assessment Program at Silver Hill Hospital
  We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with Silver Hill Hospital, the Town of New Canaan, and most recently, the Town of Westport to provide Weston residents of all ages with timely, comprehensive mental health assessments and personalized referrals for ongoing care. These assessments will remain available at no cost to Weston residents. This program was initially funded through ARPA grants and will receive future funding from the opioid settlement fund. For more information or to request an appointment please visit this link: Silver Hill Hospital’s Assessment Program | Silver Hill Hospital

Parks & Recreation
Pickleball Schedule/Lessons/pass registration can be found here: https://ctwestonweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html?interfaceparameter=webtracnew

The Weston Public Library
Sunday Soundscapes Concert
May 18 at 4pm
eGALitarian Brass Quintet at Weston Library rescheduled to May 18: The Friends of the Weston Library announce the rescheduling of their May 4 Sunday Soundscapes concert to May 18. All previous Eventbrite reservations will be honored, and new reservations are welcome. Come enjoy New York City's best women brass players as they celebrate Spring with their classy, jazzy, breezy renditions of music for horns of various types, May 18 at 4 pm in the Weston Public Library Community Room. eGALitarian Brass has presented recitals at Newport Classical, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Women Composer's Festival of Hartford, International Women’s Brass Conference, New York Women Composers, and Spectrum’s Female Composers Festival. In addition to performances, they have been an Ensemble in Residence at Rutgers University, Sacred Heart University and Marist College, where they have presented recitals and masterclasses, and led panel discussions. Admission is free, with suggested donations $20 for adults and $10 for students. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/egalitarian-brass-at-weston-library-rescheduled-may-18th-4-pm-tickets-1276170503329?aff=oddtdtcreator

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

Alice: The Trail to Wonderland! A new immersive and musical theatrical experience coming to Lachat Town Farm
May 16-18
This May, audiences are invited on a magical journey through a strange land as Lachat Town Farm is transformed into the immersive theatrical experience. Alice: The Trail to Wonderland, an immersive, mad, and playful 1980s inspired reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. Filled with both original music and familiar hits, this is not your grandmother's Alice! After a heated argument with her parents, 15 year old Alice runs to her sanctuary among the daisies and falls asleep. She is woken by a huge White Rabbit that she follows down the rabbit hole into a totally awesome and super weird world. Teeming with the most curious yet strangely familiar characters, Alice is whisked away on a vibrant, music-fueled journey of self-discovery, magic, madness, ending in a bodacious UnBirthday Party festival for everyone! So grab your hairspray and hammer pants, we're going on a rad adventure! For tickets: @lachattownfarm.org

Special Summer Memberships Available at the Weston Field Club
The Weston Field Club is excited to offer limited-time Summer Trial Memberships—available as both full and half-summer options—as well as discounted full memberships for 2025. All memberships are eligible for Their kids summer camp.☀️Learn more and apply here

Volunteers Needed for Town Boards
The following appointed boards have positions available: Commission on Aging, Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Building Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Children & Youth Commission, Marketing & Communications Committee, Panel of Moderators, Parks & Recreation, 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

Weston Dog Park is Open!

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