Weston Town Hall Happenings For May 2, 2025

Press release from the Town of Weston:

05/02/2025 3:00 PM

EcoFest @ Lachat Town Farm
May 4, 11 am - 3 pm
Join us at Lachat Town Farm for a fun-filled day celebrating sustainability at EcoFest 2025, a partnership between WPS Green Teams, Weston Sustainability Committee and Lachat Farm! Enjoy activities for the whole family, including:
♻️ RAFFLE ALERT: Bring your redeemable bottles/cans (1 entry per 25 items) and celebrate Weston’s One-Millionth Bottle/Can for a chance to win $250!
🌱 Activities Include:
- Energize CT Mobile Activity Van
- Eco-Games, Crafts, Face Painting & more!
- Fly Casting Demos, Christine's Critters, & Nature Scavenger Hunt
🎶 Live Music from Local Student Musicians
💬 Eco-Talks: Learn about electric lawn care, invasive species, sustainable gardening, and more!
Explore local eco-vendors, enjoy delicious food, and celebrate sustainability with your community. Don’t miss it!
Cost: FREE

Weston Dog Park
WESTON DOG PARK OPENS MONDAY MAY 5th. 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.

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 13th at 1pm: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

Weston Public Schools Budget Information
The Weston Public School proposed operating and capital budgets, along with supplemental documentation can be found on the district website under Board of Education/Budget. Below is a list of WPS budget meetings that have already taken place. Please see the letter with detailed information HERE as well as the dates below regarding the Weston Public School Budget. Below are previous meetings which can also be found on the WPS website under Board of Education/Previously Recorded Meetings.

WESTON MEMORIAL DAY 5K ROAD RACE
On your mark, get set, sign up….It’s time to sign up for the 31st Annual Weston Memorial Day 5K Road Race sponsored by the Weston High School PTO and to be held on Saturday, May 24,2025. The USATF-certified course starts and ends at the Weston High School and takes the participants through the scenic and historic sections of Weston. Register online click here. The fee for the Kid’s Fun Run is $10. The children’s Fun Run (1 mile) and Kids 110-yard dash will start at 7:45 AM, and the 5K race will begin at 8:30 AM.

NEW this year: The students at Weston High School will have a student-run booth, selling breakfast items and Gatorade. The funds are used for student-run initiatives at the High School. Please stop by their booth and help support our high school students.

There will be T-shirts awarded to those who sign up by April 25th, awards, mile splits and water stations. Runners and walkers are welcome. For more race information, contact Tammy Roberts & Ann Day, 5K/Road Race Co-Chairs, at weston5k@gmail.com.

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

Weston’s Board of Police Commissioners now accepting nominations for its annual Citizen of the Year Award
Each year the Commission recognizes an outstanding citizen who makes a unique contribution to the town. Historically, recipients of this award have been involved in programs, committees, or organizations that contribute to public safety or quality of life and have positively impacted our town. When you submit a nominee, please highlight noteworthy achievements or projects showing the nominee's commitment. The mission is to identify someone with unwavering dedication, leadership, and selflessness in serving our town and whose contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of residents while exemplifying the spirit of community and civic responsibility. The Commission will discuss candidates, make a selection in early May, and present the award in June. Nominations will be accepted up until May 6th and can be sent to the chair of the award selection committee, Commissioner Kirby Brendsel, at kbrendsel@westonct.gov or mailed to 12 Godfrey Rd W.

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.

Saturday May 10th for From 9:00AM to 11:00AM, there will be a COMPOST GIVE BACK at the Transfer Station. Each resident who is already signed up as a participant of the program can come with a 5-gallon bucket or equivalent container to get their complimentary compost (one bucket per household). Make your way to the tent set up by the Food Scraps bins and where you will be checked in before you collect your compost. If there is compost left over, we will set up other give back dates. This Town of Weston program demonstrates the real potential of sustainable, circular loop consumption. Grow. Eat. Compost. Repeat.

REMINDERS:

Thank you and well-done Weston!

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

Hurlbutt Elementary - Kindergarten Registration
Hurlbutt Elementary School is already preparing for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes registering the incoming class of 2038. If your child will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025, they are eligible to begin kindergarten in the fall.
Please complete the online registration from the Weston Public Schools website.

To complete your registration, we will need the following:
Completed online registration
Proof of Residency:
Warranty Deed or Signed/dated lease AND
Utility Bill (telephone, gas or electric)
Copy of your child's birth certificate
Updated CT Health Assessment form, through the 5-year old checkup

You can upload the required documents at the end of the online registration before you submit the form. Without all of these, your child’s registration cannot be processed. It may seem early in the year to register. However, Hurlbutt needs to begin the kindergarten registration process now in order to secure staffing needs and to plan for the incoming class. Should you have any questions, please call (203) 221-6300, the Hurlbutt Elementary School office and speak to our registrar, Nicole DiPierro.

Elderly Tax Relief Applications for Abatement, Deferment, and Freeze Programs
The Tax Collector is currently accepting applications for the Abatement, Deferment and Freeze programs through May 15, 2025 for the upcoming Grand List year. You must apply every year for all programs. You can request an application from the Tax Collector’s office. Please call 203-222-2696 or email jmorse@westonct.gov. You will be required to attach a copy of your completed 1040 and all back up material showing all income sources including your 1099s with your application. You also need to provide documentation about your net worth. Examples are: any mortgage or loans on your home and any checking, savings and retirement accounts. After completing your application, you can mail or bring it to: Tax Collector’s Office, 56 Norfield Road Weston, CT 06883. You may put your application in the drop box located on the library side entrance to the Town Hall. You can also email your application. Please be sure you have included copies of all supporting documents. You can call us anytime with questions. To qualify, you must be age 65 by the end of December 2024. You must not be delinquent on your taxes by the closing date of May 15, 2025. Income cannot exceed $49,000 for Abatement; $125,000 for Deferment and $100,000 for Freeze. Net worth cannot exceed $1,000,000 for Abatement. There is no net worth ceiling for Deferment or Freeze programs. Benefit will apply to only the first $400,000 of your assessment for Abatement and Deferment and for the first $800,000 of assessment for the Freeze. Click here for the Application Form for Elderly Tax Assistance for Abatement, Deferment, or Freeze

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.

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

Alice: The Trail to Wonderland! A new immersive and musical theatrical experience coming to Lachat Town Farm
Friday to Sunday May 9-11 and 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

The Weston Public Library
Sunday Soundscapes concert May 18
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

Call for Artists! Weston Connections Art Exhibit
Sponsored by the Weston Commission for the Arts and Friends of Weston Library
The Weston Commission for the Arts and the Friends of the Weston Library are delighted to announce a call for artists. Artists can submit up to three works to be considered for the Weston Connections Art Exhibit being held during the entire month of July in the Library’s Community Room. Talented individuals over the age of 14 are invited to submit paintings, drawings collages, digital art and more. The artist must have a “connection” to Weston such as the work could be a local subject matter, the artist may live or formerly lived in town, or the artist may work or volunteer in town. There is no entry fee and because of space constraints and other activities held in the Community Room during the exhibit, freestanding sculpture is not eligible for consideration. Artwork for the exhibit will be chosen by a Selection Committee comprised of members of the Weston Commission for the Arts and the Friends of the Weston Library. Artwork can be for sale or not, artists preference. If a piece is sold, it must remain in the exhibit until the end of the show and 10% of the sale price is requested as a donation to the Friends of the Weston Library.

Three events are being held in the Library’s Community Room in conjunction with the Weston Connections Art Exhibit. Hear from the artists about their connection to Weston and source of inspiration at the Meet the Artists Reception on Wednesday, July 9th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. On Saturday, July 12th from 1:00 to 4:00pm adults are welcome to draw a live, clothed model. Cindy Wagner, professional portrait artist will teach the class. Please bring your own supplies. To register email cindywagnerart@gmail.com Youth age 8 to 18 are invited to a drawing class on Saturday, July 26th from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Professional artists will be on hand to guide and encourage young artists! To register email cindywagnerart@gmail.com

To Submit:
Artwork, in jpeg format, can be submitted from April 1st through May 15th. For instructions, please visit https://www.cindywagnerart.com/general-clean
Artists will be notified by June 18th if their artwork has been selected. Artwork must be delivered to the Library on June 30th between 2:00 and 5:30pm Artwork must be picked up at the Library on August 2nd between 10:00 and 3:00pm. For additional details, please visit https://www.cindywagnerart.com/general-clean

Special Summer Memberships Available through May 5th 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 (R), 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

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