First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
This week was amazing. I had the most incredible opportunity to meet with the Weston Daisy Troop. I was blown away by their enthusiasm, confidence, and curiosity. They had this incredible spark that just lit up the room. They were visiting Town Hall, the Police Department, and the Weston Volunteer Fire Department to receive their well-deserved Daisy Democracy Badges and Public Safety Awards. I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be a role model for these future leaders and to show them that they can truly make a difference. But you know what? They taught me so much this week. They reminded me of the importance of gratitude and the value of paving the way not just for our own families, but for the entire community. I want to give a huge shout-out to the troop leaders who organized this incredible program. Cheers to these amazing girls who not only know how to lead with confidence but also rock those sparkly shoes!

We are Hiring!
The Town of Weston is currently looking for members of our municipal team. Please click here: https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/town-hall/municipal-job-openings for more information.

Transfer Station News!
The Food Scrap Recycling program at the Transfer Station has received over 500lbs of food scraps in the first two weeks! At this rate, we are on track to reduce our Municipal Solid Waste by 13,000lbs per year. The participation in the program has exceeded our expectations and shows the dedication our residents have towards sustainability. For those wishing to sign up for the program, please click here: Food Scrap Recycling Signup

**Please note the Transfer Station now accepts credit cards.

Town of Weston Warning of Special Town Meeting, Tuesday March 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM
The voters of the Town of Weston, Connecticut are hereby warned and notified that a Special Town Meeting will be held at the Town Hall Meeting Room, 56 Norfield Rd, Weston CT 06883 on Tuesday March 19th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, for the following purpose: To vote on the following question: “Shall the Town of Weston transfer Town-owned property located at Weston Road/CT Route 53/57 to the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, State Project L157-001 Town Center Intersection and Pedestrian safety improvements? “The Board of Selectmen have nominated Susan Moch to serve as Moderator of the Meeting. Dated this 21st day of February 2024 Donna M. Anastasia, Town Clerk.

Road Paving Plan Underway
At the past two BOS meetings, DPW Director, Larry Roberts has been meeting with the members to discuss the state of deterioration and rehabilitation planning for our roads, in collaboration with the engineering firm, Beta Group. We are in the early stages of planning and anticipate more robust conversations with the BOF and the greater community. At the most recent BOS & BOF meetings, the team approved a plan to collect more data with Beta. Please check the website to simulcast the meeting. To see the most recent presentation click here:  https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11698

Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls
Wednesday, March 20, 7 PM - 8 PM
In Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls – And How We Can Take It Back, communication professor and CNN Opinion contributor Kara Alaimo, Ph.D. reveals how social media is affecting every aspect of the lives of women, girls, and nonbinary people — from our relationships and our parenting to our physical and mental wellbeing. Over the Influence is a book about what it means to live in the world social media has wrought – whether you’re constantly connected or have deleted your accounts forever. Alaimo shows why you’re likely to get fewer followers if you’re a woman. She demonstrates how fake news is crafted to prey on women’s vulnerabilities. She reveals why so much of the content we find in our feeds is specifically designed to hold us back. And she explains how social media has made the offline world an uglier place for women. Register HERE

Pickleball Update
The Parks & Rec Commission and Parks & Recreation Department has completed a comprehensive plan for Pickleball Courts at Bisceglie Park. This designated area, spanning approximately 0.20 acres, is situated conveniently near the walking path leading to the pond and adjacent to the parking lot, enclosed by a charming split rail fence. During the 1/18 BOS meeting, the team presented their well-thought-out proposal to the Board of Selectmen, who have subsequently referred the project to the Planning & Zoning Commission for positive 8-24 report. On 2/5 the P&Z Commission issued a positive 8-24 report. The Conservation Commission received the application and will be reviewing it on 3/21, parks and recreation commission met with neighbors. We will continue the conversation. The expectation is that we will have three fully operational courts by the upcoming summer season. This project is being funded through the ARPA grant, as well as the Parks & Recreation Enterprise Fund at no cost to Weston taxpayers.

It’s Budget Season!
The public is highly encouraged to participate in this year’s budget process. Below is the tentative meeting schedule. The Town budget is posted here:  westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11824/638435193132830000 and the First Selectwoman’s Presentation is here: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11862/638435892539730000 Watch videos of previous meetings here: Weston Government TV’s Videos on Vimeo.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 6 pm – Board of Finance holds public hearing on budget request.

Thursday, April 4, 2024, 6 pm – Board of Finance budget deliberation meeting.

Monday, April 8, 2024, 6 pm – Board of Finance budget deliberation meeting (if necessary).

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 8 pm – Annual Town Budget meeting at the High School Auditorium.

Saturday, May 4, 2024, 12pm to 8 pm–Annual Town Budget Referendum at the Town Hall.

Monday, May 6, 2024, 6 pm – Board of Finance meets to set mill rate.

From the Registrars of Voters:  Presidential Preference Primary
The Presidential Preference Primary is when voters in a political party vote for the candidate of that party that they would like to be their presidential candidate in the upcoming general election.  You must be enrolled in a political party to vote in the CT presidential preference primary.

Important Dates

March 12 - Absentee Ballots become available from the Town Clerk

March 25 (noon) - Deadline for unaffiliated voter who want to vote during the early voting period to enroll in a party

March 26, 27, 28, 30 (10 am - 6 pm) Early Voting at Weston Town Hall

April 1 - Deadline for registering in person to vote and for unaffiliated voters to enroll in a party to vote in person on April 2

April 2 (6 am to 8 pm) - Presidential Preference Primary at Weston Middle School

Important Links

-- Register to Vote Online (CT ID required): https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do

-- Check your registration status:  https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

-- Apply for an Absentee Ballot:  https://oabr-sots.ct.gov/OABR/absenteeBallotReqPortalHome.do

WHS Green Team & Tree-Plenish Team Up!
Wondering how to celebrate Earth Day this year? How about planting a tree!
For its 3rd year, WHS Green Team is partnering with Tree-Plenish to improve Weston’s sustainability. From February 1 to March 20, WHS Green Team is selling saplings for $5 that can be delivered and planted by high school volunteers on April 27th. The three available saplings are: Eastern Redbud, Red Maple, and River Birch. After calculating WHS's carbon emissions, The Green Team has set a goal to sell 380 saplings to offset these emissions. All proceeds go to the National Tree-Plenish organization. Please visit tpevents.org/school/4134 to make a purchase.

Weston High School Sustainability Updates!
Please link HERE to read about all the great sustainability initiatives at Weston Public Schools.

Ukraine Sister City Fundraiser
Our little town of Weston continues to raise money for our Sister City, Siversk, in Ukraine. Please join us in our focused mission of giving children from Siversk a break from war! Together, we can reunite children via a camp retreat where they can be kids again, and receive social-emotional healing The cost of sending one child to sleep away camp here in the states, covers the cost of sending 40 Siversk children on a ten-day camp retreat! $9,000 will send our third round of campers! Watching Weston Middle students on Zoom calls with Siversk kids at camp, and witnessing the connection, good will and shared humanity from our efforts, moves us all to work to do much more. Additionally, our supply/evacuation van, which was recently bombed by an enemy kamikaze drone, will need repair or replacement. Your support ensures we can continue this aid into the future!

Click to RSVP https://www.ukraineaidinternational.org/blog/weston-siversk to attend our March 21st event, or make a donation if you cannot attend and are willing to help. Every contribution helps us continue to make a difference!

Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation Winter session 2 programs are winding down. Spring program registration for Parks & Recreation, WOW and Aquatics have begun. Programs will start after April break. Spring isn't the only thing happening- Summer Camp registrations have begun and camps are filling quickly! We're also currently accepting applications for Lifeguards, Head Lifeguards, Camp staff and pond monitors. Application links are available at the bottom of our website: Parks & Recreation | Weston, CT  as well as flyers for all of our programs, camps and more!  

From the Office of the Tax Collector: Applications for Elderly Tax Relief
The Tax Collector is currently accepting applications for the Abatement, Deferment and Freeze programs through May 15, 2024 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 2697 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

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 2023. You must not be delinquent on your taxes by the closing date of May 15, 2024.  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 an application: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11934/638442056817970000

Message from HRRA: GEARING UP FOR SPRING CLEANING?
HRRA is here to remind you of some important tips as you plan to clean out your garage, basement, or attic.

April 6^th is the first of SIX Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events in 2024. This is an opportunity to safely dispose of gasoline, lawn and pool products, paint thinners, lithium-ion batteries, 1lb propane tanks and more! Head to our website to see a full list of items and dates.

- Connect with a local thrift or consignment store to donate items that are in good condition or use an online marketplace to sell your items.

- Torn and stained clothing, shoes, linens, towels and more at your Town Transfer station in one of the textile recycling bins. https://hrra.org/textiles/

- If you are considering renting a dumpster, find a registered hauler on https://hrra.org/trash-how-to-choose-a-hauler/ and search by town.

CANS + BOTTLES
Where does the money go?
By now you know about “Cans + Bottles,” the student-run program that recycles redeemables at the Transfer Station and turns them into cash. But do you know where that cash goes? 100% of the money (over $12,000 per year) is donated to the High School Boosters Club and the High School Green Team. In 2023, the Boosters money added to the Turf Replacement Fund and purchased State Championship Jackets, cameras for live streaming of competitions, shooting machines for our basketball programs, safety screens for our baseball and softball programs, Swim & Dive touch pads, among many other necessary items. The Green Team used their share to restore the school garden and build a 20’ x 12’ garden-tool shed. This Spring, funds are being used to create a showcase native pollinator courtyard, providing countless educational opportunities for students. More about the Booster Club can be found here: www.whsboosters.com

But the Cans + Bottles Program does more than generate much-needed funds. Over the last three years alone it has prevented over 800,000 single-use items from entering landfills (where it takes centuries for them to break down). It saves the town thousands of dollars in refuse-collection and -dumping fees. Best of all, it helps participating high schoolers understand the importance of recycling. So please support Cans + Bottles and bring your plastic, aluminum, and glass redeemables to the three brightly colored collection stations at the Transfer Station (237 Godfrey Road East), a 6-minute drive from Lily’s Market. Every item you donate helps the kids, the town, and the Earth.

Human Services
Weston Human & Social Services is currently taking applications for the 2023-2024 CT Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
If you think you may qualify or are having difficulty paying your heating bills please call 203-222-2556 or 203-222-2585 to schedule an appointment.

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 Rashida Miller, MSW at [email protected] for more information.

Youth and Family Services
Please register for the Social 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. Be sure to sign up at the bottom of the page to receive our newsletter each month! Click here for our latest newsletter

Caregivers Support Group With Allison Lisbon, LCSW, MSW, Director of Human Services
Monthly meetings are held every third Tuesday, 1-2pm at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Caregiver Support Group email list, contact Allison Lisbon at [email protected]

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 for the Arts, Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Beautification Committee, Building Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Marketing and Communications Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee. The following elected board has a position available:  Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate. 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.

Weston Senior Center
Click this link to view the Senior Center Newsletter:  https://westonseniorcenter.info/newsletters.php
Call or email the Senior Center to register: 203-222-2608/[email protected]

Weston Public Library

Sunday Soundscapes: Spring Concert
Sunday, March 24 at 4pm
Time to start thinking about the promise of spring…. fragrant blooms, balmy skies and the breezy sounds of the Serenade Duo, bringing their award-winning flute and guitar music to our Sunday Soundscapes concert on March 24, 2024 at 4 pm. Flutist Michelle Saulter and guitarist Gerry Saulter combine their talents to present gorgeous melodies by some of the most famous composers. Reservations in advance can be made at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-soundscapes-serenade-duo-tickets-687489338117?aff=oddtdtcreator Suggested donation at the door is $20 for adults, $10 for students. We believe everyone should have access to this music, so if those donation levels are uncomfortable for you, please give whatever you can.

Virtual Gallery and Art Tour with Riva Blumenfeld
Thursday, March 28 at 7pm (ZOOM)
Join Riva this month as she explores the current show at the Guggenheim Museum - Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility.  Twenty eight contemporary artists including: Kerry James Marshall, Lorna Simpson, Charles White, Dawoud Bey and others explore what it means to be seen and to see each other, especially when seeing takes place across racial and other forms of difference. How does looking at each other through these layers of stereotyping and misunderstanding distort our perception of the world? If being visible is dangerous, is there solace to be found in near-invisibility? These are the questions Ashley James, the curator, asks. The exhibition offers us an opportunity to explore work by artists we've seen as well as many new artists. Register here: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=WESTON&curID=692322&CFID=107346612&CFTOKEN=1a9e22c978ca31f9-6F26EA9F-D4AE-528A-5350C54C81FDE5D9 This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library and is part of the Daniel E. Offutt, III Art Lecture series.

Stand Up Against Antisemitism and Hate
Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30pm
How can we be better allies to our Jewish neighbors and those of other marginalized groups? Join us for a community conversation with Stacey Sobel, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League Connecticut, about how we can move toward a future without antisemitism and hate. There will be a question and answer session following the lecture.  Registration is required: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=WESTON&curID=688582&CFID=107346612&CFTOKEN=1a9e22c978ca31f9-6F26EA9F-D4AE-528A-5350C54C81FDE5D9

Stacey Sobel Bio: Stacey G. Sobel, is the Director of ADL’S (the Anti-Defamation League's) Connecticut Office and is passionate about ADL's mission of fighting hate for good. For nearly a decade, Stacey was the executive director of Child Advocates of Connecticut, which serves the needs of abused and neglected children. A lawyer by training, earlier in her career Stacey was in private practice and served in the General Counsel’s office of Continental Can Company. Law school: Boston University School of Law. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library, League of Women Voters of Weston and Weston History & Culture Center.

Special Event for Parents
Navigating College Admissions Successfully in 2024
Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm (ZOOM)
This Zoom presentation will help families understand how the lingering effects from the pandemic have changed the college admissions landscape. Our presenters, Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper of Stand Out For College LLC, will discuss how it affects juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Discussions will include: Current college admissions trends: How the Supreme Court decision will impact the process and the increased importance on a student's ability to express their insights, experiences, and personal growth Importance of researching and visiting colleges The holistic admissions review process And more!  Register here: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=WESTON&curID=686412

Special Events for Youth - Pokemon Club
Tuesday, March 26 at 3:45pm
Children ages 5-12 are invited to join the Pokemon Club where attendees will enjoy varied activities that change monthly including trading Pokemon TCG cards, watching episodes of the show, themed crafts, art projects, and more! Register here: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=WESTON&curID=683689&CFID=107346612&CFTOKEN=1a9e22c978ca31f9-6F26EA9F-D4AE-528A-5350C54C81FDE5D9

Five Nights at Freddy's Party
Thursday, March 28 at 3:30pm
Join us as we talk all things "Five Nights at Freddy's!" Enjoy a host of activities, snacks, trivia, and more as well as the company of fellow FNAF fans!  Register here: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=WESTON&curID=686419&CFID=107346612&CFTOKEN=1a9e22c978ca31f9-6F26EA9F-D4AE-528A-5350C54C81FDE5D9

With gratitude,
Sam

Click Here for more information.