Attention Rental Property Owners
If you own a property which is rented or leased, including commercial, retail, industrial and residential property, except for owner-occupied residential properties of four units or less, your Annual Income & Expense Report is due by June 2nd. Look for a notice in the mail next week. The form is also available online at https://bethel-ct.gov/income-expense. The penalty in state law is absolutely ugly for fraudulent, incomplete, or late filing: a ten percent increase in the assessed value of your property!
Eggs and Issues
Local businesses and leaders attended the annual “Eggs and Issues” breakfast this week. The Governor was there to discuss the strength of our state’s economy. The CEO of Nuvance Health was there with an important announcement affecting Bethel: the merger with Nuvance and Northwell Health has been given the final approval and the deal should close very soon. The combined system will have 28 hospitals.
Office Hours/Public Hearing
There will be an Office Hours next Tuesday, April 15th from 5 pm to 6 pm at Town Hall in the First Selectman office. If you are a student out for break next week and want to learn more about town government, Tuesday is a great time to stop by and chat!
There will also be a public hearing for the sale of 19 Trowbridge Dr. on Tuesday, April 15th at 6:30pm in Meeting Room A followed by the Board of Selectmen meeting.
Spring Break
Use caution next week as schools are out for break! There will be fewer busses, but more kids could be out and about. We will likely have pothole work downtown and on Chestnut St. next week, so lookout for workers. And the Bethel Police made 620 traffic stops last month, so lookout for your speed!
Fire Service College Fair
Interested in the Fire Service? The Connecticut Fire Academy is hosting a Fire Service College Fair tomorrow, April 12th at the Connecticut Fire Academy at 34 Perimeter Rd. in Windsor Locks. Free admission and refreshments. Learn about college, training and career options in the Fire, Emergency
Medical Services, Emergency Management and Public Safety Communications career paths! Contact Alan Zygmunt at alan.zygmunt@ct.gov or 860-627-6363 Ext 222 with questions.
Commission on Aging
The Commission on Aging has a regular meeting on Monday, April 14th at 2:30 pm in the Senior Center at Town Hall. Proposals for senior tax relief are on the agenda. Check out https://bethel-ct.gov/meeting-calendar for other meetings that might interest you!
Sweet Tooth
There is a public hearing on House Bill 7273 next week that would impose a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders and dedicate the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program. If you would like to browse through bills coming close to a vote in Hartford, visit https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGATodayFileCopies/CGAAllFC1.asp.
Brotherhood in Action will be delivering food next Friday, April 18th, starting at 9:00 am. Enter the lot behind the United Methodist Church at 139 Greenwood Ave from the driveway on Greenwood Ave. It’s easy: your car will be loaded for you and you will be given instructions. They really could use drivers since they get fewer drivers around Easter due to travel plans, etc. It’s a quick but meaningful way to help some of our friends and neighbors! Show up or let them know you are coming at https://www.bethelbrotherhoodinaction.org/.
Stations of The Cross Downtown
Next Friday, April 18th, look out for residents participating in the Stations of the Cross downtown from 12 pm to 1:30 pm. This is an ecumenical event sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Bethel, the United Church of Christ, Bethel United Methodist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and Walnut Hill Community Church. Other churches and individuals are welcome and invited, so there may be a pretty large group. Participants start at 12 pm from Molten Java and will end the walk at the First Congregational Church. You may want to avoid Main Street
since there will be a lunch after the event. If you have any questions, visit
https://firstchurchbethel.org/events.html or call 203-743-1877.
Newtown Savings Volunteer Fair
Attention nonprofits and those looking to volunteer! Newtown Savings Bank is hosting a Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, April 23rd from 5 pm to 7 pm at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. It’s a great way for nonprofits and volunteers from Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties to connect! Nonprofits interested in participating may email community@nsbonline.com for more information.
Shoutouts
- A shoutout to Coach Fernandes, CT Coach of the Year and SWC Outstanding Coach of The Year! This was his 18th and final season with Boys Soccer. Thank you for your positive influence on Bethel!
- Congrats to the to the lady Wildcat’s Coach Dani on CT High School Coach of the Year! Coach Scolpino led the girls basketball team through an amazing season and the first CIAC championship game this year!
- BHS Varsity teams were on fire this week! Boys baseball over Brien McMahan 14–4 and Fairfield Ludlowe 4-3, girls lacrosse over Pomperaug 11–8 and Stratford/Bunnell 19-3, and boys lacrosse over Pomperaug 19-3 and Stratford/Bunnell 15-3, girls softball over Joel Barlow 20-12. Junior varsity girls softball and lacrosse also off to a great start this season!
- Ilana Flynn with BHS girls lacrosse scored her 100th career goal! Way to go!
- Thanks to the Bethel Patriotic Association for honoring veterans with the banners on School Street!
- A shoutout to Ava, Julia, Katie, and Ryan for shadowing at town hall this week! It’s great to see your interest in local government!