Greetings and welcome to today’s Town Hall Happenings!

Opening Note
This week we celebrated the 77th Anniversary of the United Nations at a Flag Raising ceremony with the Weston High School Model UN (MUN). The event, which we celebrate annually, prompted me to reflect on how grateful I am to live in a town that honors both the global and local community. Our unique Weston, with residents originally from parts all over the world, both treasures its small town charm and fosters our children to become contributing members of the global community. I appreciate the participants, including Tony Award winner and Weston resident James Naughton, MUN Students Gab Escandon and Robbie Kohn, Superintendent Lisa Wolak Barbiero, the WesTones, and Marjorie Nieuwenhuis for making this event possible and your commitment to the broadening of our horizons.

Report on end-of-year financials
Weston’s fiscal year runs from July 1 thru June 30.  The Town and School District recently presented to the Board of Finance end-of-year financial projections based on unaudited figures.  Overall, the Town ended the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 with a surplus of approximately $1,058,000.  Key highlights of the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year are as follows:

- The Board of Education underspent its budget by $1.39 million;
- The general government underspent by $180,000;
- These two budgetary surpluses were substantially offset by supplemental appropriations approved by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance during the fiscal year totaling $1.34 million;
- Tax revenue exceeded budget by about $852,000. This was mainly due to favorable results in both our current list year collections and the supplemental automobile tax levy, which came in approximately $300,000 higher than recent years;
- Revenue from non-tax revenue sources came in about $25,000 less than budget mainly due to our investment income results characterized by low short term yields and unrealized losses in our fixed income portfolios.  Favorable results in our Town Clerk and Building Department fees nearly offset the investment income shortfall.
Reminder: All of the numbers stated are subject to the final audit.

Free Wifi Hotspot now available on the municipal campus!
Altice has finished installing free Wi-Fi hotspots on the Town Hall and Library buildings.  That means that you should be able to get free internet.  To access the service from your device, select the network entitled “optimumwifi-Emergency.” Optimum will then ask you to accept its access terms of use.  After that, you will be connected to the internet for 60 minutes.   Repeat the process as needed.  The Town has paid for this service to be installed using federal ARPA grant dollars. Going forward, there will be no charge to users or the Town.

New Grant Award for Regional Training Facility
This week the State of Connecticut announced a grant award under the Regional Performance Incentive Program that would benefit Weston and several other towns in our area.  The $1,500,000 grant would go towards the creation and operation of a regional indoor firing range that would serve 26 municipal police departments, Western Connecticut State University Police, and other law enforcement agencies.  These local law enforcement agencies, which are required to provide continual firearms training, would realize savings in travel and overtime costs since we currently send personnel to training outside of the region.  In addition, the facility would allow us to avoid the costs of municipalities having to build multiple independent ranges.  The Regional Performance Incentive Program was established in 2007, and amended in 2021, to encourage regional participation in voluntary intermunicipal or regional shared services projects that have the potential to produce measurable “economies of scale,” provide desired or required public services, and lower the costs and tax burdens associated with the provision of such service.

Paper Shredding and Computer Recycling Fundraiser Event
Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Standard boxes for $10 each and Computers/Hard Drives for $20 each.
Simply drive through the Hurlbutt Elementary School Bus Loop, School Road, Weston and there will be folks there to help you unload. Sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library Info: Westonpubliclibrary.org

Recycle Your Unwanted Mattress and Box Springs
The Weston Transfer Station now accepts mattresses from Weston residents at no charge.  Users must place their mattresses in a designated storage container.  The mattresses are taken off site and dismantled.  Steel, foam, fabric and wood get separated and eventually make new products. 

Mattresses and box springs that are eligible for free drop-off and recycling are defined as:
-Mattresses: which are defined to include any sleep surface covered with ticking or fabric that contains resilient material, such as steel innersprings, foam, fiber, or other filling or upholstery materials, used alone or in combination, regardless of size or shape, except for those products listed below:  (Note: Crib and bassinet mattresses are also accepted)
-Box springs (also commonly called Foundations): which are defined to include a ticking- or fabric-covered structure used to support a mattress or sleep surface, and may be comprised of a frame, foam, springs or other structure, or other materials, used alone or in combination, and includes both adjustable bases or foundations and stationary foundations.
-Products that are NOT eligible for free drop-off include:
·Items that are wet, heavily soiled or infested with bedbugs
·Air mattresses that contain no upholstery material (such as camping beds)
·Car beds
·Cushions (such as from chairs, couches or patio furniture)
·Juvenile products including, carriages, baskets, dressing tables, strollers, playpens, infant carriers, lounge pad, crib bumpers
·Mattress pads
·Mattress toppers
·Pillows
·Sleeping bags
·Sofa beds
·Futons
·Collapsible roll-away beds
·Water beds that contain no upholstery material

Cavalry Road Bridge Project Update
Approximately 135 feet of metal guide rail was removed from the northeast quadrant of the bridge on Monday, October 10th.  In addition, Eversource has removed the orange covers on the power lines located near the Bridge.  We continue to investigate painting options for both the guide rail and the bridge rail. We also are investigating approximate costs to replace steel materials with timber materials.  It is anticipated a public meeting will be held on this project sometime in November.

A message from the Registrars of Voters
November 8, 2022 is the state election.  November 1st is the last day to register to vote before election day (election day registration will be available).  The Registrars of Voters will be holding a special registration session on November 1st from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm at Weston Town Hall.  Now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote!  You can register to vote on-line or in person, click here to visit our website, register to vote or check your voter registration.

A message from the Town Clerk’s Office
Absentee ballots for the state election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 are available until Monday November 7, 2022
WHERE: Town Clerk's Office, Town Hall 56 Norfield Road
HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:00am to 4:30 pm
APPLICATIONS: Applications are available at the Town Clerk's office or online at Applications can be mailed, given to the Town Clerk or put in the Ballot Box in front of Town Hall.
TO VOTE ABSENTEE: Any qualified voter may vote absentee if unable to vote in person due to: active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, absence from the town of residence, Sickness, Religious tenets which forbid secular activity of the day of the election, duties as an election official at a polling place other than the Town of Weston, or physical disability
BALLOT BOX: Voters may drop their ballots in the BALLOT BOX located near the FRONT entrance to Town Hall (Norfield Road side) Not the side entrance. The Ballot Box is available Nov 8 until 8 PM
BY WHEN: Completed ballots must be received by the Town Clerk By mail or Ballot Box by 8 pm on Tuesday, November 8 or In person by 4:30 pm on Monday, November 7
Donna M. Anastasia Town Clerk 203-222-2616 [email protected] Shawn Amato, Asst. Town Clerk 203-222-2617 [email protected]  Please call the Town Clerk should you have special circumstances.

What’s Up in the Weston Public Schools?
Listen to the latest podcast where Superintendent Lisa Barbiero shares highlights about the Weston Public School District. https://anchor.fm/lisa-wolak

Road Work 2022
The road work for 2022 is complete. If you see a pot hole, please report it by taking a photo and sending to John Conti –[email protected]. We are currently working on the program that will enable residents to report road damage through our website as well as check on the status.

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

Covid 19
Covid-19 updates and information are posted regularly on the town website. Please see here https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/emergency-management/covid-19  for more information.

Volunteers Needed for Town Boards
The following appointed boards have positions available: Assessment Appeals, Beautification, Historic District Commission, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. Elected position openings are 2 open alternate seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Social Services
Weston Social Services is now accepting applications for the CT Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). This program provides assistance to income-eligible households with home heating costs over the winter months.   Income eligibility is as follows:
Household of 1: $ 39,761 or less
Household of 2: $ 51,996 or less
Household of 3: $ 64,230 or less
Household of 4: $ 76,465 or less
Household of 5: $ 88,699 or less
Household of 6: $ 103,227 or less
Schedule an appointment or pose questions by calling Weston Social Services at 203-222-2556.

Parks & Recreation
Weston Parks and Recreation will hold its winter session 1 registration starting at 12:01 A.M. on 10/31 (late Sunday night!) This is the big one! It will have basketball for grades K-12, Middle School Ski club and our after school offerings!

We're excited to announce that Hurlbutt's Vice Principal, Mr. Paylor will be running "Paylor's Pals" and after school enrichment program that will happen after normal Parks and Recreation & WOW programs. This 4:15-6:30 program is a great companion for working parents that want their children to have an opportunity to have some time to play, get some homework done and extend their learning to improve and enhance skills, knowledge, and well-being.

Registration can be done through the portal here and the flyer can be found at: westonct.gov/parksandrec

Weston Senior Center
(203) 222-2608
The Senior Center is collecting new or unused gift items through November 18th.
The Annual Holiday Gift Sale is November 28th through December 2nd.
Call the Senior Center for details or email Linda: [email protected].  Thank you!

Pacific Theater Of Naval Operations Series
Presented by Bill Preinitz, Historian
Thursdays, November 3rd, 1pm-3pm (Hybrid)
Rise of Japan 1890-1941
From a small agricultural nation in the 1850’s, Japan gradually built itself into a regional power to be reckoned with.  Powered by the 1st Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895, followed by the pivotal Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Japan entered the world stage.  Following the withdrawal of the British Fleet from the Pacific Japan saw its opportunity to dominate the region without interference-except the United States.  This is the story of a regional rivalry, artificially manufactured by the Imperial Japanese Navy.  After 1930, the IJN cast the USN as the next Pacific rival in the absence of the Chinese, Russians, and British.  To register, email Wendy:  [email protected]

Drawing with Chris Goldbach
Mondays, November 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, December 5th, 12th, 1pm-2pm (Zoom)
Discover how to look and then draw what you see.
Supplies needed: pencil, eraser, drawing paper and sharpener.
To register, email Wendy:  [email protected].

Classic to Abstract with Maj Kalfus
Translate classic settings into abstract compositions
Thursdays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 10am-12pm (In-House)
In the four Classic to Abstract sessions we will break down scenes from photographs into shapes and develop abstract compositions keeping the original subject in mind. Students can use the medium of their choice including water colors, acrylics and soft pastels (oil paints not included). We will learn from famous artists such as Milton Avery and Paul Klee. No experience necessary.
To register, email Wendy:  [email protected].

Painting Realism With Cindy Wagner
Tuesdays, November 1st, 8th and 15th, 10am-12pm (In-House)
This course will help students compose a well-designed painting. Will teach accurate drawing with paint. Will help students see and interpret value and color relationships. Will give students an organized method to mix the correct color and value resulting in three dimensional forms and paintings with atmosphere.  All levels of painting skills welcome. Students may work from a photograph or a landscape, or portrait.  Or students may set up their own still life and work from life.  Oil paint or acrylic paint may be used.
To register, email Wendy:  [email protected].

Weston Public Library

Sunday Makers!
Sunday, October 30th- Intro to the Cricut
@1:00-2:00pm in the community room. Registration Required.
Learn to use the smart cutting machine that works with an easy-to-use app to help you design and personalize almost anything — custom cards, unique apparel, everyday items, and so much more.

Sip and Stitch
Thursday, November 3rd from 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Join friends and neighbors for a night of sipping and stitching! Whether you are a knitter, crocheter, needlepointer or other crafter, bring your current project and make a little progress while chatting and sharing tips.

Children's Programs

Halloween Parade and Storytime
Monday, October 31 @ 11:30 AM-12:30 AM. All Ages. Registration required.
Children and families are invited to join us for our Halloween Costume parade through the library where you can show off your creative costumes and get some goodies from the staff. Afterwards, please join us for a Halloween storytime.

Halloween Movie and Munchies
Monday, October 31 @ 2:15-2:45 PM. All Ages. Registration required.
Join us for a Halloween favorite "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and some popcorn!

Introduction to Sculpture presented by Counsel Academy
Friday, November 4 @ 4:00 PM via ZOOM. Ages 10-18. Registration required.
An exciting introduction to the joy of creating art in 3D!! Our amazing artist from TX will guide children online through this wonderful experience of sculpting statues and shapes and adding a magic to their touch. You must pick up materials prior to the time of the program at the Weston Library.