First Selectman’s Report: 7/17 - 7/21
1. The Town Meeting on the Town and Education Budgets will be held on Wednesday, August 2nd at 6:30 PM at Town Hall. The Budget Referendum will be held on Wednesday, August 9th from 6 AM to 8 PM at Town Hall.
2. The bids for the Electrical Services Upgrades for the Town Green were opened yesterday, with the lowest bid coming in at $17,895. The Town will look to award a contract at the next Board of Selectmen meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 3rd with funding coming from a grant related to the Town Green revitalization project.
3. Thanks to a dedicated team of 8 Town employees, Colchester is back on track and implementing a plan to attain bronze certification from Sustainable CT by Spring of 2024! Sustainable CT is an organization and voluntary municipal certification program with a mission to “foster inclusive, resilient, and vibrant Connecticut municipalities that provide opportunities for all to thrive”.
Achieving this certification will demonstrate that Colchester is committed to building our local economy, supporting equity, and respecting the environment, and will enable the Town to access grant programs in furtherance of these commitments.
More information about the program and the benefits of certification, check out the Sustainable CT website here: https://sustainablect.org/
4. Looking for residents to serve on the Public Safety Working Committee, the Sewer & Water Commission, the Fair Rent Commission, and the Colchester Housing Authority. Please reach out if interested.
5. Projects: The Town Hall Roof, the Town Green Gazebo, and the Splash Pad are all progressing very well. Construction on the Trail Head Parking Lot is expected to begin soon. In August, the paving and construction of the new Fire Department HQ parking lot will begin.
6. The repaving of the rest of Rt. 16 should commence in August.
7. The Colchester Community Theatre Children’s Summer Theatre Workshop proudly presents Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. on Saturday July 22 at 2:00 pm in the Bacon Academy High School Auditorium. This is a musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow,” Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.
Tickets for this production are $6.00 each (adults & children) and may be purchased at the door on the day of the performance. Any questions, please call Wallis Johnson 860-267-1023 or email Laura Brown at [email protected].
8. Summertime is the best time to spend time with family and friends!
Join us on the Colchester Town Green every Thursday from 6-8pm for a fun family event. Events are free and open to the public, just bring your lawn chair.
Thursday, July 27-DJ Montez and a summer dance party in the park
Thursday, August 3-Concert by the Outcrops
Thursday, August 10-Trivial Night in the park
Thursday, August 17-Concert by Bluesberry Jam
Thursday, August 24-DJ Montez and the end of summer dance party in the park
9. Get involved in Colchester’s 325th Birthday Celebration
Colchester’s 325th birthday is Oct. 13, 2023, and the town will be celebrating from September 9th to October 13th.
The committee seeks individuals, clubs, businesses, etc. to join the celebration by hosting an Open House, tour, presentation, activity, special discount or item at a business or restaurant, or by becoming a monetary sponsor (starting at $10). For more info and Participation Form, contact Park & Rec Director Tiffany Quinn at [email protected] or Committee member Ines Kallmeyer at [email protected] or 860-537-2826.
10. Colchester Mill Fabrics & Quilting
On Monday, I had the pleasure to tour Colchester Mill Fabrics & Quilting with Cheryl Dolloff, owner, and her husband Joseph Dolloff. They are open 7 days a week from 10-5 and offer wonderful customer service with team members that have years of experience in all aspects of the quilting/crafting/sewing community while carrying the largest variety of quilting and sewing items in Southern New England, to meet any crafter's needs. They also offer classes from beginner quilting to specialized technique classes, to wool felting and quilling. Their classes include a hand stitching club that works on hand stitching projects which include punch needle, wool applique, knitting, and crocheting.
Colchester Mill Fabrics & Quilting is a family run business, started in 1973 by Cheryl’s mom, Carolyn Cheney. The shop was originally stationed at Mackey’s current location, but then moved to what is now the vacant lot next to Noel’s Plaza. On June 3rd, 1997, an arson fire destroyed their building, but they were not deterred. Within a year, they reopened at their current location on 120 Lebanon Avenue.
To both Carolyn and Cheryl, community has been an important part of who they are. Carolyn was both a Rotarian and Colchester Business Association member, who donated much of her time to various local and statewide causes. Cheryl carried her mother’s legacy of volunteerism. Recently, Colchester Mill Fabrics & Quilting donated 850 lbs. of goods to the Colchester Food Bank. During Covid, 900 cloth masks were created and donated to those in need. Their Stitched with Love, Community Sewing group has donated stocking for the Secret Santa program, placemats for Meals on Wheels, 48 quilts for the residents of Apple Rehab, NICU items for babies at Hartford Hospital, mastectomy pillows for patients at St. Francis Hospital, and quilts, backpacks, and reading pillows for a division of the Department of Children and Families. Other donations included pillowcases to the Hospice and Children’s Medical Center, adult cloth bibs for participants in the Horizon Developmental Disabilities Program, yarn to knitting groups at Cragin Library, and crafting ribbons for Wounded Warriors.
Next time you are on Lebanon Avenue, please consider visiting our friends at Colchester Mill Fabrics & Quilting.
Andreas Bisbikos
First Selectman