First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
The excitement was palpable in Pennsylvania this morning. The whole town of Punxsutawney was buzzing with anticipation as everyone eagerly awaited our furry weather predictor, Phil, to make his appearance. And boy, did he bring the good news! Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his cozy burrow and confidently declared that an early spring is on its way. While I do love winter, it does bring me joy to see the entire production. It was as if a weight had been lifted off our shoulders! My family has wasted no time in shedding their heavy coats and scarves, ready to embrace the warmer days that lie ahead.   Goodbye, winter – hello, spring! And spring in Weston means embarking on meaningful projects like a turning lane onto School Road, sidewalks, solar, bridges, road rehabilitation and more!

Weston Today Hosts: Community Conversation: Legislation & Priorities
10:30 am February 3rd at the Weston Public Library Community Room
Please join State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Anne Hughes, and First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor to share your views about current civic matters and the upcoming session of the legislature. Signing up is encouraged but not required.

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. To see the most recent presentation click here:  https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11698

Solar Array Moves Forward
A plan for a new solar farm at the Transfer Station has moved to the P&Z for a positive 8-24 referral. Greenskies will be building and maintaining the array at no cost to the Town, but will be paying an annual fee based on a lease agreement that will eventually need to be approved by the Town at a Special Town Meeting. Please see this link https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11696/638423864730197304 for more information on the proposed project.

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. The expectation is that we will have a minimum of 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.

A Message from the School Superintendent
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 with links to the meetings. The meetings can also be found on the WPS website under Board of Education/Previously Recorded Meetings.

01/04/2024 - Budget Presentation
01/05/2024 - BOE Budget Workshop
01/10/2024 - BOE Public Forum #1 with Administration on FY 2024 Budget Request
01/11/2024 - BOE Budget Workshop
01/18/2024 - BOE Public Forum #2 with Administration on FY 2024 Budget Request
01/22/2024 - BOE Budget Workshop
01/23/2024 - BOE Special Meeting: Approval and Adoption of Recommended Operating & Capital Budgets
Links to meeting details can be found on the WPS district calendar.  In addition, Board of Education meeting details can also be found on the Town of Weston Community Events Calendar.

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 will be posted for review before February 10th.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 6:00 pm– Board of Selectmen reviews Board of Education’s budget request.
Thursday, February 15, 2024, 6:00 pm– Board of Selectmen reviews First Selectwoman’s budget request.
Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:00 pm– Board of Selectmen votes on and transmits First Selectman’s and Board of Education budgets to Board of Finance. Board also nominates moderator for ATBM.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 6 pm– Board of Finance reviews Board of Education’s budget request.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 6 pm– Board of Finance reviews Board of Selectmen’s budget request
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 6 pm – Board of Finance reviews Board of Education’s budget request and Board of Selectmen’s Budget (if necessary).
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.
 
Human Services/Senior Center Department Reorganization
We are happy to announce that the Weston Senior Center is now under the auspices of the Weston Human Services Department.  This transition aims to streamline administrative tasks and provide additional support to the senior residents of the Town, with no alterations to senior center programming or staffing.  Under the umbrella of Human Services, the Senior Center now has access to added resources, promoting a unified and collaborative environment for both seniors and all residents. We welcome you to reach out to the Human Services Director, Allison Lisbon, MSW, LCSW, with any questions, comments, or concerns.  Her email is [email protected] and her phone number is 203-222-2663.

"Confronting Acts of Hate in our Community:
Antisemitism, Religious Intolerance, Ethnic Exclusion, Racism and LGBTQ+ Hate"
Sunday Feb 4, 2024, 2:00-4:00 pm, Riverbrook Regional YMCA, Wilton
In light of the unprecedented rise in the number of hate-inspired incidents within our local communities, Temple B’nai Chaim’s Kulanu Social Action Group to Confront Antisemitism and Hate ? in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League’s Kulanu Program, the Riverbrook YMCA, and the Wilton Library ? will offer a two-hour community strengthening program led by faith and local community leaders. Panelists representing various faith and marginalized groups ? including Cantor Harriet Dunkerley (Temple B’nai Chaim), Father Reggie Norman (Our Lady of Fatima),  Ms. Sohair Omar (Muslim Community representative),  Mr. Sarvesh Damle (Hindu Community representative), and Rachel Simon, ED (LGBTQA+ Community, Norwalk Triangle Center) ? will share their communities’ sensitivities and experiences with hate incidents and the impact these have had on their community. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their experiences with bias and hate incidents during a Q&A session for a more personalized understanding of what is occurring around us. In addition, Congressman Jim Himes and CT State Senator Ceci Maher will be in attendance to offer remarks, listen, learn, and respond to what they hear at this forum. The program sponsors hope that this community program will facilitate the formation of a supportive network that will meet periodically to follow-up on this forum’s discussions and implement ways to prevent hate speech and acts of hate from invading our community. Most importantly, its work will address developing a coordinated system of responses to future hate incidents and help ensure support for those who are victims of such acts.  More information may be found here as well as a QR Code Registration Link to RSVP (which is required for attendance).  

Weston Food Scrap Recycling Program – New!
Program Kick-off at the Transfer Station - March 2
Weston Department of Public Works, Sustainable Weston and Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) are delighted to announce the launch of Weston’s Food Scraps Recycling Program, following in many of our neighboring town’s footsteps. Food Scraps diversion from the waste stream is a very important step in managing Connecticut’s waste crisis.  We have identified a hauler to collect residential food scraps from the transfer station.  We have allocated a designated spot for the collection bins next to the redeemables and glass containers at the Transfer Station. Residents will be able to tip their food scraps and organic material in these bins during regular transfer station hours (Tuesday to Saturday 8:00AM to 2:30PM).The bins will be emptied weekly (bi-weekly in the Summer) and hauled to New Milford Farms. New Milford Farms operates a commercial composting facility that is an indoor turned windrow with forced aeration. The food scraps are turned into high-quality compost certified by US Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance Program (USCC STA).  Click here for more information

February 28 – Community Meeting: On Wednesday, February 28 at Lachat Town Farm at 7:00PM, HRRA, Public Works and Sustainable Weston are hosting a community meeting to explain the program, review the guidelines and answer any questions. Click here to register for the community meeting on Lachat’s website
March 2 - Program Kick-Off at the Transfer Station: Saturday, March 2 will be the opening day, kicking off the first Food Scraps drop-offs at the transfer station! Snow date: Saturday March 16th.
Sign-up: We are aiming to get at least 250 households to sign up between now and the end of February, in advance of the program’s opening day. Please consider signing up as a new year resolution!  The first 250 who sign up for the program will be entered into a raffle, with prizes awarded at the Lachat Earth Day event in April.  Click here to sign up
Starter Kits: The first 100 households who sign up for the program will get a free starter kit and can pick it up at the community meeting. After the first 100, if you opt to purchase a kit, you can do so at the event on February 28th or, alternatively, at the Transfer station starting on February 29th. The cost is $20 payable by credit card.  The starter kit consists of a 1.5-gallon counter collection bin, BPI certified BioBag liners (1 roll with 25 liners) and a 6-gallon carry container with lock lid. Purchasing a kit is optional and not mandatory to participate in the program. You can also use your own containers and bucket

Household Hazardous Waste Dates
Residents have six opportunities to participate in Household Hazardous Waste events in our HRRA region.  The first will be on April 6 at Danbury Public Works.  Please visit www.HRRA.org for more details.

Message from HRRA
Along with your usual glass, metal and plastic food and beverage containers did you know you could also recycle yogurt containers, whipped cream canisters and shelf-stable cartons like chicken stock?  There are many paper, plastic, metal, and glass items you CAN recycle.  Be sure to make sure you rinse your items before placing them in your recycling bin.  Glass should be recycled separately at a local drop-off. Be aware that there are some commonly placed items in recycling that don’t belong and go in the trash.  Items like paper takeout containers, black plastics, shredded paper, and small items are a few examples that cannot be recycled.

For a full list of “What’s In? What’s Out?” in our mixed recycling and to learn why we can’t recycle certain items head to https://hrra.org/recycling/

Weston Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation will host Summer camp registration March 4th at 10:01 PM on the registration portal. Flyers are now on the website and daily event calendars will be coming shortly. Many of our Winter session 2 programs have begun but there is still space remaining. Please see the website for more details:  https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/parks-recreation

Family Ski Trip- Mt. Snow 2/26- Open to ALL. We're hitching up a bus and headed to Vermont for a day at Mt. Snow. Tickets can be purchased through the registration portal.  

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

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, Parks and Recreation Commission, Sustainable Weston Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee.  The following elected board has a position available:  Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate.  Please click here for more information and/or to submit your information for consideration for a position.

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] 

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

2024 All CT Reads – Kids
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

2024 All CT Reads – Teen
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

2024 All CT Reads – Adult
Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black

Register here: https://cslib.libcal.com/event/11497161

Click this link to see what’s happening at the Library:  https://www.westonpubliclibrary.org/