Good afternoon,
On Saturday, Nov 23 at 2:30 pm, in the Easton Library Community Room, there will be a presentation of the First Annual Robert Lessler Citizenship Award. This award is a non-partisan recognition of an individual who helps make Easton a better town while demonstrating the qualities of good citizenship. This year’s winner is Adrienne Burke. Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor.
This year’s food drive has become a cherished tradition over the past decade, aiming to provide turkey dinners to as many families as possible, with Vicky Fenwick from the Recovery Network and Val Buckley from the Easton Senior Center at the helm. The initiative began in 2000 with the distribution of 25 dinners by counselors from The Recovery Network. Students from the National Charities League, representing Joel Barlow High School, contributed significantly by decorating and filling 140 grocery bags with typical nonperishable items for Thanksgiving. Community involvement has been remarkable, with seniors and residents donating throughout November, while Samuel Staples School organized a Turkey Trot, facilitated by the PTO. The Speech Academy also participated by delivering donations, and contributions poured in from various Southern Connecticut communities. Notably, Hilltop Painters in Newtown donated 100 turkeys, supported by Big Y, and the Procaccini Family purchased additional turkeys to reach a total of 140. Grocery items were collected on election day, and the Freemasons in Easton contributed several hundred dollars to assist with turkey purchases. On November 21st, the Senior Center bus drivers and Easton Park and Rec staff helped load Thanksgiving bags for delivery, while the Recovery Network coordinated with the Easton Senior Center to ensure that families received their donations before Thanksgiving on November 28th. This is a truly great show of our town’s spirit and generosity. Thank you!
While we are thankful that we received some very beneficial rain, it is still very dry underneath the surface and we are waiting to receive guidance from the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as to when it is safe to reduce our restrictions. The weather forecast for today and tomorrow is not conducive to backyard fire pits, it is wet and windy today and predicted to be very windy tomorrow. We are hopeful for some changes by Thanksgiving.
Town Hall will be closing at 1 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Offices will remain closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
I would like to update you on actions the town has taken, specifically in reaching out to the organizations that supervise medical care in our region.
Emergency medical care is overseen by the Sponsor Hospital Council of Greater Bridgeport (SHCGB) http://sponsorhospitalcouncil.org/. They are responsible for pre-hospital care in the Bridgeport region and as such, set standards and review all care, how care is rendered, and the qualifications for who can deliver care.
- The Fire Chief, EMS Police Chief, and Commission heads have met with the leadership of SHCGB, and reviewed the standards for appropriate care.
- We discussed what steps would need to be taken to have firefighters qualify to play a larger role in emergency medical care under the auspices of EMS. The fire department is working on this.
- We will have one of the medical directors at an upcoming selectmen meeting.
We also met with the Southwest Regional Communications Center Executive Director who is responsible for communications and deployment of ambulances for most towns in the region, again, with the Fire and EMS Chiefs.
- We were educated about how the system works, especially how services are coordinated between the towns.
- We learned that mutual aid is integral to regional medical care because, for many reasons, no town can successfully cover all the calls it gets with the appropriate level of service without mutual aid.
- The Executive Director, who is also a local Fire Chief, expressed his belief that Easton’s need for mutual aid was appropriate.
- The Executive Director will be at the December 5th, selectmen meeting.
I applaud both Fire and EMS for agreeing to participate in these meetings together. We will absolutely continue to work to improve services in our town.
Holiday/Winter Pet Photo Contest!! Easton’s Park & Recreation would love to see your pets dressed up for the holiday and/or winter season! Simply email eastonpr@eastonct.gov a photo of your pet in the holiday/winter spirit, for a chance to win a $50 Greiser’s Gift card! Our Park & Rec commission will be voting on the winner. The winner will be announced on our website and Facebook page on Wednesday, December 18th. Include your name, your pet’s name, address, email, and phone number from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13. Good Luck!
Join Easton Park & Recreation for a November Cake Decorating Workshop for adults on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Easton P&R Office, 652 Morehouse Road. The Great British Cupcake LLC owner, Alison Luciana, will teach students to create a four-layer fall-inspired cake. You will learn how to mask a cake in buttercream, work with fondant, and learn the tips and tricks of the professionals. Each decorator will leave with their own cake. Max 8 Decorators. Ages: 18+. The fee is listed on the website. Register at https://eastonct.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29458#0_142756
Daniel Simonelli, Easton’s Municipal Agent, is starting a ‘Giving Tree’ this holiday season for the seniors in our wonderful Town of Easton. Starting Monday, Nov. 25, you can visit his office to obtain a tag that lists specific items that will go to some of the seniors in our community. The tree will be up until Tuesday, December 17th, then everything will be taken to a recipient. If you have any questions please stop in to see him or give him a call at 203-268-1137.
The Easton Garden Club Wreath & Poinsettia Sale is on now until Monday, Nov 25. Each year, the EGC sells Wreaths, Poinsettias, and White Pine roping to support some of our charitable endeavors. The proceeds from this particular event provide the beautiful wreaths that adorn Easton’s town buildings and the Poinsettia plants that are delivered to our seniors in need, as well as other activities that serve our town. To learn more and place your order through their online store, visit https://www.eastongardenclubofct.org/wreathsale. Orders are accepted until Monday, November 25th, with scheduled pick up at the Easton Library Community Room Courtyard on Tuesday, December 2, 2024, from 1 – 6 p.m.
The Congregational Church is having its annual holiday cookie sale with orders due by Friday, Nov. 29. For more information go to http://www.eastonchurch.org/ The Easton Public Library is screening the classic film “The Southerner” (1945) directed by Jean Renoir and starring Zachary Scott and Betty Field on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7 pm. This series is hosted by film historian and Easton resident, Jon Sonneborn and is co-sponsored by the Easton Arts Council.
Stuff-A-Cruiser, to benefit Toys for Tots, will be held at the Easton Police Department at 700 Morehouse Road on Saturday, Dec 7 from 8 am to 12:00 pm. New, unwrapped toys only.
Save the date for the annual #joyoushappymerrypride event at Sport Hill Farm at 596 Sport Hill Road on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 1-3 pm! There will be a holiday market, delicious food, our favorite Santa and Ms. Claus, crafts and art for purchase and so much more!
Join us for the Easton Community Center’s Annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am! Enjoy a delicious breakfast, fun crafts, and hot cocoa while creating magical memories with Santa himself. Preregistration is required for each attendee: Free for ECC Members, $5 for Non-Members at the door (ages 1 and up). Location at 364 Sport Hill Road – please park at ECC or lower lot.
Save the date! The Library’s Friends Organization is gearing up for our Annual Holiday Market and Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 3 to 6:00 pm. This event is always eagerly awaited, and for good reason. There will be something to delight young and old alike: a singalong with our favorite elf at 3:15, a craft project for kids to make and decorate their own paper gingerbread goodie box and fill it with candy canes and Hanukkah gelt, vendors in the Community Room for everyone’s holiday shopping needs, hot chocolate and cookies, last year’s fantastically popular photo booth, and the Penguin Popper whack-a-mole game – courtesy of Easton’s Parks and Rec. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance, and the Joel Barlow Chamber Singers will serenade us with caroling at 4:30 pm. They will be followed by the highlight of the afternoon: the lighting of Easton’s holiday tree at approximately 5:30 pm. For more information, please visit our webpage: https://eastonlibraryfriends.org/ Details can also be found at the library or on our webpage for this year’s holiday competition, a mini-tree decorating contest.
Have a lovely weekend!
Dave
