First Selectman’s Report: 10/31 - 11/4/2022
1. Congratulations to the local boy scouts who participated in a very successful "Scouting for Food" drive with over 8,000 pounds of food and other items collected. Well done!!
2. A C-TIP application has been submitted to the Economic Development Commission regarding 120 South Main Street (Jack's Chevrolet). The owner of the property will be looking to invest $1.5M to renovate and expand the structure to attract quality retail establishments.
3. Both the Playground Grand Opening and Trick or Trunk were tremendous successes. A special thank you to our Park & Recreation Department and Public Works department for all they did to help make these events a success.
4. The Town Green Revitalization Project is steadily moving along and still looking to achieve completion by Thanksgiving. The new sign looks great!
5. Election Day is November 8th. The polls open are open from 6 AM – 8 PM. The voting locations are District 1: Town Hall at 127 Norwich Ave., District 2: Abundant Life Church at 85 Skinner Rd., and District 3: Bacon Academy at 611 Norwich Ave.
6. Our community will celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th at 11 AM on the Veterans Green. It is the day to remember our military heroes who have served or are serving our Nation.
American Veterans have defended the country in all the wars that our Nation has been involved in since the first colonial soldiers took up arms in 1775. They served so that we could keep the things that we love the most: God, country, family, and our liberty. By remaining true to these principles, we honor their sacrifice.
Observances like this one in Colchester are happening in communities across Connecticut. If you asked our heroes how they would like to be honored, most would probably say, "take care of my family." That is why Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, when he pledged that the government would "care for him who shall have borne the battle."
The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have always shown great pride in our Nation's veterans and for those America sends into harm's way to continue the fight for freedom in many corners of the world.
Whether a person fought in World War II, Korea, the jungles of Vietnam, the Middle East, or elsewhere, the stories of American heroism and sacrifice continue to occur and are no less significant. All veterans, their families, and in fact all Americans must pause to reflect on, remember and give thanks to our many heroes. We owe them no less. I hope to see you all on November 11th at 11 AM on the Veterans Green.
7. On October 22nd - Fire Chief Steve Hoffmann, Fire Marshal Sean Shoemaker, and 9 members of the CHFD, along with 19 volunteers from the Red Cross, walked throughout Colchester Commons, educating residents on fire safety as well as installing smoke detectors in their homes. The crews installed 108 smoke detectors in 51 homes in the complex. Thank you for your service and commitment to our community.
8. Mailbox Markers - Help us find you in an emergency by marking your address properly and clearly. The Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company allows folks to order mailbox markers to identify their address. Order forms are in the mailbox at the town hall's main entrance. Order forms can also be downloaded from the volunteer fire company website at http://colchesterfd.com . All completed forms with payment can be dropped off at Colchester Hayward Fire Department Headquarters located at 52 Old Hartford Rd. Signs are $12 each.
9. A new initiative by one of Colchester's farmers and the Chairperson of the Agriculture Commission, Donna Rosenblatt, is a "Food Bank for Farm Animals." While our very generous residents regularly donate to the Food Bank for our residents, many people, including grocery stores, may find themselves with an overflow of foodstuffs that have passed their human "sell-by dates." This food is not accepted by our Food Bank staff at town hall, but oftentimes, these foods can very safely be fed to farm animals—livestock and poultry. It's a win-win as the food is kept out of the waste stream and helps farmers at the same time. This initiative will remove food waste from the waste stream, which charges for the disposal of such food. So, it is a double win—feed farm animals and reduce food waste. If your food item is past the sell-by date, the best-by date, or the expiration date, please consider donating to the "Food Bank for Farm Animals."
The items that can be donated to the "Food Bank for Farm Animals" at Rose' N' Petal Farm, located at 348 Westchester Road, include canned and jarred fruits and vegetables, all types of beans, soups, fresh fruit (bruised or overripe), dried beans, raw oatmeal, quinoa, barley, lentils, couscous, microwaveable popcorn kernels, crackers, cookies, pastas of all kinds, breakfast cereals, flour of all types and cornmeal. (Please do not drop off frozen or refrigerated foods or "dead" fruits and vegetables). The donation table is located by the barn at Rose' N' Petal Farm and is well-marked. Questions? Call Donna Rosenblatt at 860.267.4975.
Andreas Bisbikos
First Selectman