<p><strong>Powerhouse Vocalist (and Bethel native) Isabelle Miner &amp; Friends return to perform at the weekly Jazz &amp; World Music series Bethel Jazz this Wednesday May 8 @LaZingara Restaurant 8 P.T. Barnum Square.&nbsp;</strong> Born and raised in Bethel, CT, Isabelle found her footing as a singer and performer at the age of eight. She's gone on to train with some of Bethel's hometown musical favorites including Billy Michael, Cynthia McKorkindale and Erin Volpintesta. As a long time Jazz for Junior, she continued to hone her craft and went on to perform in New York City during her time in college. She returned to Hartford, CT where she sat in and collaborated with a variety of musicians. Isabelle has been growing her career as a photographer while constantly searching for outlets to sing and captivate audiences with her performance skills. Isabelle returned to Bethel for a couple years to start the band, Belle and the Boys, a trio including Billy Michael and Peter Strouse. Now a resident of Portland, Maine, she's been sitting in with a local band, Frenzie and will return to the CT area often to sit in with other bands in the jam scene. Isabelle enjoys a combination of soul and folk music while incorporating a number of power ballads into every performance.</p><p>Only 6 Seats Left! Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/isabelle-miner-friends-mike-oehmen-varun-shah-matt-geyer-nate-sears-tickets-860184544127?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Bethel Community Calendar Launch</strong></p><p>The town launched the Bethel Community Calendar this week. This is a separate calendar from our Meeting Calendar. In addition to local events, there is an option to highlight local places and businesses. Eventually, we will have the ability to create stories. Accounts to submit events are free. Check out <a href="https://events.bethel-ct.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Bethel Community Calendar</a>.</p><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Employment Opportunities</strong></p><p>We are interviewing for two positions with the town. We are looking for a Network Administrator and an Associate Director of Environmental Health Services. Learn more at <a href="https://bethel-ct.gov/Employment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Bethel Employment</a>.</p><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Legislative Updates</strong></p><p>As this update is sent out, the State House is debating HB 5390: An Act Concerning Transit Oriented Communities. The bill would allow Bethel, which has a transit-oriented district (TOD), to apply to become a transient-oriented community (TOC). We would be eligible for discretionary funding on a priority basis that we must spend on improvements in the TOD. However, if the town becomes a TOC, we would also have to follow state zoning guidelines for our TOD and we must allow residential developments with multiple units to be built according to those guidelines without public hearings, variances, or special permits. If we choose not to become a TOC, then we would not have the priority for state funding, including Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants. If passed, the bill will go to the Senate.</p><p>The House may also be voting on SB 416: An Act Concerning the Conversion of Commercial Real Property for Residential Use, which has already passed the Senate. This bill would require that Bethel allow developers to convert commercial buildings into residential developments without requiring public hearings, variances, special permits or special exception be granted or some other discretionary zoning action be taken, as long as site plans conform with applicable zoning regulations.</p><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Upcoming Events</strong></p><ul><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Workspace CT Offers for May</span> - Workspace CT has new adult offers for May (cooking, woodworking &amp; improv and sip) and a full slate of summer camps. <a href="https://www.workspacect.org/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Workspace CT Events</a>.</li><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Office Hours</span> - The next Office Hours are on Thursday, May 9th from 7:30 am to 9 am at Town Hall in the First Selectman office.</li><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Master Gardeners Office Hours</span> - A full complement of Master Gardeners are staffing their office at the UConn Fairfield County Extension Center at 67-69 Stony Hill Rd. Monday through Thursday from 10-4 where clients can speak with them in person. Email FairfieldMasterGardeners@uconn.edu with questions.</li><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Bethel High School Jazz Ensemble</span> - The Bethel High School Jazz Ensemble will be playing at La Zingara on May 9 at 7 pm. Reservations are recommended (mention you’re there for the music). 10% of the proceeds from jazz patrons will be donated to our program.</li><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Kids Fishing Derby and Pig Roast</span> - The Bethel Fish &amp; Game Association is hosting its annual Kids Fishing Derby and Pig Roast on Saturday, May 11th at Bennett Memorial Park. The fishing derby registration starts at 7 am and kids 15 and under fish free from 8 am to 11 am. The pond will be stocked with over 100 trout and there will be prizes for the first trout caught and the top 3 longest! The Pig Roast &amp; Clam Bake kicks off at 3 pm (doors open around 2-2:30) at Bennet Memorial Park. Arrive hungry! Smoked pig and chicken, raw &amp; steamed little neck clams, burgers, dogs, BBQ &amp; More! Beer, hard seltzers &amp; soda included. $50 for adults and $20 for kids 10-18, kids under 10 are free. Get details and tickets at: <a href="https://bethelfishandgame.square.site/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Bethel Fish &amp; Game</a>.</li><li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day</span> - Our next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day for Bethel residents is Saturday, May 11th at the Newtown Public Works Facility at 4 Turkey Hill Road, Newtown. It is super easy and they remove the items from your car for you. Check out what you can and can’t dispose of at <a href="https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">HRRA Household Hazardous Waste</a>.</li></ul><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Community Recognition</strong></p><ul><li>A big Thank You to Bethel Garden Club for the beautiful and fragrant May Day baskets at Town Hall. We all appreciate everything you do!</li><li>Thanks to the crew of the “Why We Are Friends” podcast! Talking about flying, Taco Bell, and Bethel was great. You guys pack so much fun in every episode! <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whywearefriends/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Why We Are Friends Podcast</a>.</li><li>Congrats to all Bethel athletes, coaches, and staff for being the top-ranked school in the SWC for sportsmanship!</li><li>A big shoutout to South-West Conference Leadership Award winners Brooke McEvoy and Pedro Coelho!</li><li>Congratulations to Wendy Salto and Madison Tamburri for receiving the SWC Unified Sports One Athlete &amp; One Partner Leadership Award!</li><li>Vincent Greto was named a scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation! Great Job!</li></ul><p><br></p>

<p class="ql-align-justify">In this week's newsletter (read it <a href="https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/bps-newsletters/bps-district-newsletters/5-3-24-newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>) Christine Carver addressed an incident that took place in Parloa Park this week.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Carver said, "The incident in Parloa Park this week was of significant concern.&nbsp;Because it has been asked of me more than once in the last few weeks, how can the school provide discipline for something that happens off school grounds?&nbsp;Shouldn't parents just address it?&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">CT State law and&nbsp;<a href="https://z2policy.cabe.org/cabe/browse/bethel/bethel/z20000165" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(120, 2, 2);">Board of Education policy 5114</a>&nbsp;define the discipline of out-of-school conduct as such:</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><em style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">"Students may be suspended or expelled for conduct off school grounds if such conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process and violative of a publicized policy of the Board.&nbsp;In making a determination as to whether such conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the Administration and the Board of Education may consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors:&nbsp;(1) whether the incident occurred within close proximity of a school;&nbsp;(2) whether other students from the school were involved or whether there was any gang involvement;&nbsp;(3) whether the conduct involved violence, threats of violence, or the unlawful use of a weapon, as defined in section Conn. Gen. Stat. §&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/title_29.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);"><em>29</em></a><em style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">-38, and whether any injuries occurred; and (4) whether the conduct involved the use of alcohol."</em><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</em></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Many incidents, especially those that involve violence, cause significant disruption in the school environment as many of the issues spill into the school setting.&nbsp;Often threats continue, students continue to speak to the incidents, etc.&nbsp;We hope parents also take these incidents seriously and provide home-based consequences for actions.&nbsp;Please take this opportunity to speak with your child about how conduct outside of school could affect discipline in school."</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Follow Bethel Public Schools on Facebook </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethelPublicSchoolsCT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/BethelPublicSchoolsCT</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p>Register for programs and activities at Bethel Parks &amp; Recreation and make this the best summer yet! Registration opens on Monday morning, May 6 at 9 am.</p><p>To view Bethel Parks &amp; Recreation Summer 2024 offerings, check out the brochure <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QQQWWc2JvEZt8JTd8RUHKyTObz3mjHRT/view" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">Monday, May 6 at 6pm at Rogers Park in Danbury, join us for an exciting varsity baseball matchup - all for a good cause! The Immaculate High School Boys Baseball Team will take on Bethel in a Breast Cancer Awareness game that supports </span><a href="https://www.areyoudense.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Are You Dense, Inc</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(77, 81, 86);">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">which educates the public about the risks and screening challenges of dense breast tissue and its impact on advanced stage breast cancer.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">The event is organized by Immaculate parents Marc and Kateri Kenney whose son Jordan '27 plays on the team. Kateri was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.</span></p><p><br></p>

<p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The Bethel Walk Audit will take place SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 from 1 PM - 3 PM at the INTERSECTION OF STONY HILL ROAD AND OLD HAWLEYVILLE ROAD.</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The Sustainable Bethel Commission is seeking&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">volunteers</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;to conduct a Walk Audit on part of Stony Hill/ Route 6 in Bethel to document and capture the experiences of pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation riders and others to find and recommend to the town more sustainable transit oriented development options. </span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The objective is to improve safety, ease of access to local establishments, and quality of life for Bethel residents, organizations, and businesses in the Stony Hill area. The Sustainable Bethel Commission and Bethel residents will be taking a close study of the intersection at Stony Hill Road and Old Hawleyville Road and the surrounding area. We are notifying the community and inviting you to participate in the Bethel Walk Audit.&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1354330948591173/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Click here </a>for additional details.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you are interested in participating as an individual or a group/organization&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><em>please click the&nbsp;</em></strong><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes0iF34nwmW3lhhlH_FoWGNK1wcfNMxHX19ocmg3z-1KrB6w/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(120, 2, 2);"><strong>Volunteer Form</strong></a>&nbsp;<strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><em>link</em></strong></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">Reach out with any questions about volunteering and/or partnering with the Sustainable Bethel Commission to</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:sustainablebethel@bethel-ct.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">sustainablebethel@bethel-ct.gov</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p>