Greetings and welcome to today’s Town Hall Happenings

Opening Note
On May 17^th on the steps of Town Hall we united with Mayors and leaders across the country to help raise awareness and drive research for a genetic disorder that affects 2.5 million people worldwide and has no cure.  As part of the Children’s Tumor Foundation efforts to make visible neurofibromatosis, a group of genetic disorders that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, local residents Courtney and David Marshall came forward with their own family’s story to help others. Their 2-year-old daughter Whitney has NF1 and they are not only caring for her daughter, but they are trying to help the entire NF community.  I was honored to present them with a proclamation raising awareness on the disorders. NF affects 2.5 million people around the world, but many have not heard of this rare genetic disorder that can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. NF Awareness Month is an opportunity to amplify the voice of all NF patients through the Children's Tumor Foundation ‘Make NF Visible’ initiative.  The Make NF Visible campaign focuses on the external things the NF community is doing to raise the profile of a disease that affects 1 in 2,000 births, while also bringing to light both the outward and internal struggles NF patients experience in their day-to-day lives. By other leaders bringing light to the cause we can raise NF’s visibility, which can impact and influence public awareness, diagnosis, clinical care, and research investments in search of a cure.

Happy National Police Week!
Thank you Weston Police Department this week and every week for all that you do to keep Weston safe and at risk to your own lives. Thank you for your service.

Construction Started on Monday, May 15! - The Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project
On Monday, May 15 the Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project began.  This project creates approximately 5,500 linear feet of new sidewalk, within the Town Center and along School Road. Completion of the project will improve walkability on both the school and municipal campuses. The project will provide students with a safer pathway to and from the Weston Shopping Center via the newly completed Flashing Beacon Crosswalk across Weston Road. The project is funded from the State’s Community Connectivity Program Grant Program and will cover 100% of the construction cost.  The Town was responsible for engineering of the project, including all costs associated with design. All work on School Road will start after the end of the school year to prevent any disruption. See here for more information about our pedestrian safety projects. https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/public-works/infrastructure-projects/pedestrian-safety-projects and here for the most recent podcast on the project: https://vimeo.com/820579482

We are Hiring!!
Open positions include Junior Eagles Summer Camp Pre-K Supervisor, Public Safety Dispatcher, Public Works Vehicle Mechanic Jr Grade, Assistant Tax Collector, Director of Public Works, and Town Administrator.  Visit our website for more information:  https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/town-hall/municipal-job-openings

BOS Meetings are moving to HYBRID starting 6/1 at 7:30
There will now be opportunity to attend the BOS meetings in person in the Meeting Room at Town Hall. AND you can still zoom in if you prefer. More to come in next week’s newsletter.

Message from the Weston Assessor's Office
The 2023 Revaluation is upon us and inspections have been happening since March 2023.  The areas of Town being inspected will be posted and updated throughout the entire collection process.  Data Collectors will have badges for identification as well as their cars being registered with the Weston Police Department.  They will be taking photos as well as requesting an interior inspection be done at the time of their visit.  If a virtual inspection is preferred, a data mailer will follow when an inspection is not granted and the virtual option can be arranged at that time.   Please click here for more information.  Listen to the podcast about the 2023 revaluation here: https://vimeo.com/807322949

Land Mobile Radio Project approved by Boards, now moves to Special Town Meeting
A presentation was given to a joint Board of Selectman and Board of Finance Meeting on April 19. The Board members were informed about the recommended new radio system, the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN), and its associated costs. The CLMRN will allow Weston’s Public Safety personnel to communicate more easily with our surrounding communities, therefore addressing our current lack of interoperability. The complex system will cost $4.5M to purchase and install. This system, also being adopted by Wilton, Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield, will increase the range of our communications exponentially. The Board of Selectmen approved the Land Mobile Radio Project on April 19^th and set a date for a Special Town Meeting contingent on the Board of Finance approving the project, which they did on May 8^th.  A Public Information Meeting was held on May 18 at 7:30pm, the video is on our website.  Next steps is the Special Town Meeting on June 7 at 7pm.

Special Town Meeting on June 7^th at 7pm at the Weston Hight School Cafeteria.
More details about the project can be found on the Town of Weston website here:  https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/communications-center/land-mobile-radio-communications

See here for the What’s Next in Weston podcasts describing the project: 

Part 1: https://vimeo.com/798205670
Part 2: https://vimeo.com/802476770

A Message from our Veterans Affairs Committee
Calling and inviting all Weston Veterans and Families!! The Town’s Veterans Affairs Committee has arranged a continental breakfast for Veterans and their immediate family on Monday, May 29th, before the WVFD parade and ceremony on the Town Green. Continental breakfast is from  8-9:30 am in the Weston Library Community Room.  Restrooms available.  At 9:15 and 9:30 AM, transport has been arranged to take you to the parade. Or, you can walk to the Town Green for the Ceremony.

Please RSVP Here so we have enough for everyone to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

Have a question? Email Hutch from the Weston Veterans Committee at [email protected].

Thanks for attending…… Best regards, the Veterans Committee: Al Fazi, Kevin Dougherty, Matt VanLandingham, and Ed Hutchins

Coley Cemetery Tour
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 1:00pm
Free Event
Advanced Tickets Required as Space is Limited!
Get Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coley-cemetery-tour-tickets-633591357807

Join us for an enlightening tour of the Coley Cemetery on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 1:00 pm.  Longtime resident of Weston, Karin Giannitti, the Weston History & Culture Center's Executive Director, Samantha Fargione, and local volunteers will be on hand to reveal the history of the cemetery as well as some of the notable individuals and families buried there. Please wear sturdy shoes!  Tour is 70 minutes. Cemetery terrain is uneven, rocky, and has inclines. The Coley Cemetery is located on Weston Road ( Rte. 57) behind Weston Gardens. Parking at the Coley Cemetery is limited! If you can, please consider carpooling. If you plan on carpooling, you can leave a car at the Weston History & Culture Center - 104 Weston Road - and carpool to the cemetery from there.

After the cemetery tour, come back to the Weston History & Culture Center for snacks and a 3pm author talk with Weston author, Dan Burstein, on his new book, "The Ivy Hero: The Brave Life of Sergeant William Shemin".

ARPA Update: Wood Hill Road Emergency Access-way
At the May 4 Board of Selectmen meeting, the board unanimously approved that the BOS refer the project to the P&Z for a section 8-24 request for an emergency only access to Wood Hill Road. If approved by the P&Z construction will begin and be completed this summer.

 ARPA Update: Pickleball Courts Stalled
At the May 18^th BOS meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted 2 in favor, 1 opposed to rescind the positive 8-24 referral to the P&Z, and effectively halted the process for courts at the Onion Barn this summer. The Parks & Rec Commission and staff are searching for other areas in town. We will keep you posted on progress.  I would like to thank the Parks & Recreation Commission for all your hard work over the past year developing this project.

Social Services ARPA Update
The Towns of Weston, Wilton, and Westport have partnered with Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling, to tackle the region's growing need for affordable and timely mental health treatment.  Together they developed the Counseling Assistance Program (CAP) with the goal of providing a barrier-free process for the three town's residents to gain access to quality mental health treatment.  Residents wishing to utilize the CAP program must contact their Town's Human & Social Services Department to determine eligibility and explore available supports.  For those deemed eligible, an appointment for an assessment will be scheduled with a Positive Directions clinician. This program is open to ages 12 years and up.  For more information about Positive Directions please check out their website at https://www.positivedirections.org/   Weston Social Services  203-222-2663  [email protected]

Ukraine Sister City Project with Seversk
As mentioned in my previous THH, I recently spoke with Alexei Vorobyov, Mayor of Seversk, a small town very similar to ours in Eastern Ukraine, right on the front lines of the war. This dialog is the start to a program also adopted by my colleagues in Westport, Easton, Stamford and Greenwich, titled the “Sister City Partnership.” We are in the early stages of the relationship between me and Mayor Vorobyov, which is focusses on friendship and cultural exchange. The other aspect of the Sister City program is a private partnership where our community supports theirs. The first task is building a committee of Westonites who will help to fund needed items. Over the coming days and weeks we will post links to fundraising efforts, programs and activities. If you would like more information about the sister city programs or would like to volunteer to help with the committee, please email me at [email protected].  Click here to visit our sister city webpage: https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/organizations-services/ukraine-sister-city-seversk

What’s Next in Weston?
The most recent podcasts from the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston features an update on the ARPA projects approved by residents last year. The podcast alternates between Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker (called Westport What’s Happening) and Weston First Selectwoman Sam Nestor as part of a public service program that offers perspectives from each town every Monday. “What’s Next in Weston” features First Selectwoman Sam Nestor and special guests. Every 2 weeks, we will discuss projects, programs and activities in our town in a brief five minute interview. Click here for the Vimeo for the podcast and search for the episodes.  https://vimeo.com/824841971

Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation's Spring Afterschool programs, Swim lessons and Summer Camp registration is ongoing- WebTrac Splash   Many camps and programs are filling quickly! We're excited to have added Field Hockey Camp to our programs as well as Fairfield County's premier Ultimate Frisbee camps for this summer; come and join the fastest growing sport in the country! Our Part Time summer staff link is live on our website as well- we're to hire Summer Camp Counselors, Pool/Pond Monitors & Lifeguards & more! Weston Parks & Recreation

Bisceglie Scribner Pond
The swimming pond at Bisceglie Scribner Park was under renovation the week of May 8.  Fresh asphalt surfacing was applied to the entire area and the pond will be color sealed in the next few weeks.  This summer the planned opening date is June 24 for swimming.  Pond Passes will be available for residents in a few weeks! Passes can be purchased online on the Parks and Recreation website.

Road Work 2023
We’ve posted publicly the invitation to bid for the 2023 paving improvements. Bidding closed May 15. After the project is awarded we will post the streets included in this year’s paving and timing. Stay tuned.

Board of Selectmen Meetings
Please feel free to Zoom into the virtual BOS 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: Assessment Appeals, Beautification, Board of Ethics, Weston Public Library, Marketing & Communications Advisory Group, Commission on Aging, Conservation Commission, Historic District Commission, and Veterans Affairs Committee. Elected position openings are 2 open alternate seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Weston Public Library

The Weston Public Library invites all children, teens and their families to meet Kara Sabbagh, the new Children and Teen Librarian, at a special after-school reception on Wednesday, May 24 from 3-5pm. The reception will be held in the library’s Community Room.  Weston children will have a great opportunity to meet their new librarian while enjoying snacks, music, and games. At the event, Kara will unveil her plans for Summer Reading, but she also wants to hear from the kids directly about what types of programs and services they want at their library. Join us! 

Weston Social Services
We are excited to announce our new 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 this month's Youth & Family Social Services Newsletter

A Message from Weston Youth Services…With spring recess behind us, let’s think of summer!
We’ve added two new programs to our schedule of weekly camps that run from June 26 through the week of July 24^: 

- Flight School Camp- NEW!

- Sitter Safety – NEW!

- Citizen Invention Camps  

- Mad Science Camps  

- Legos Camps

- Theatre Camps

- Bake Your Heart Out with Gabriela!

- Welcome to the Breakfast Club with Gabriela!

- Sew Awesome

- Spark Business Academy Programs 

So if you’re looking for one or more fabulous and local camps for your child(ren) this summer, we have you covered!  For more information, dates, grade eligibility, and to register online, please visit our website at www.westonyouthservices.org.   And if you have any questions, please contact Charlene Monn, Program Coordinator, at 203-222-2586 or email [email protected].

29th Annual Weston Memorial Day 5K Race/Walk and Kids Fun Run

Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with the 29th Annual Weston Memorial Day 5K Race/Walk and Kids Fun Run! This fun and family-friendly event is a great way to start your holiday weekend.  The race is held on a flat, scenic USATF certified course that winds through the beautiful town of Weston. There are water stations along the way, and a post-race party with food, music, and activities for the whole family.  Proceeds from the race benefit the Weston High School PTO, which provides support for students and programs at the high school.

Registration is now open!

- Adult 5K: $35

- Youth 5K: $25

- Kids Fun Run: $10

Register today and join us for a fun and rewarding morning! If you do not plan to run or walk in the race, you can still make a donation to the event with the same link above.

Weston Senior Center
Save the Date!
May 25th
Trip to Little Italy on Arthur Avenue
Bus leaves from Weston Senior Activities Center at 9am
Cost $35
Let’s visit the “old country” and shop the specialty stores which made it famous! Watch Borgatti's cut sheets of fresh pasta. Sample Calandra’s delicious cheeses. Roam the Arthur Avenue Market. Buy freshly baked bread at Madonia. Eat a fresh cannoli from Egidio!

Cardio Drumming is here!!!
Classes Begin May 17th on Wednesdays at 2pm
Click Here To See Cardio Drumming In Action!

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-lis