Alice Hutchinson, the owner of Bethel’s Byrd’s Books, has announced this year’s winners of the 9th annual Bookmark Contest.

The winners were selected by members of Bethel Arts, and each winner will receive 25 copies of their bookmark and a $25 gift certificate.

Runners-up will receive $10 gift certificates. Alice expressed her thanks with an enthusiastic nod to everyone who made the contest so successful.

* *“We got a huge number of 3rd and 9th-grade submissions, which made it more fun AND more difficult to choose from such great art. The members of Bethel Arts really took some time and made serious consideration of all the wonderful entries. Here are the winners. BRAVO to all.”

Winners shown in image #1 left to right:

* Mackenzie is from Berry School in Bethel and is in the first grade. Her book is How to Code a Sandcastle.
* Violet is in third grade and her book is Zita the Spacegirl.
* Sierra is from Newtown Middle School and is in the eighth grade. Her book is Let the Sky Fall.
* Hana goes to Bethel High School and is in the ninth grade. Her book is Romeo and Juliet.
* Erin is our adult category winner and her book is Phantom.

Runners-up shown in image #2 left to right:

* Juliette is in second grade and is home-schooled. Her book is The Secret Garden.
* Matthew is in the third grade at Johnson School and his book is Harry Potter.
* Emilia is from Bethel Middle School and is in eighth grade and her book is When You Reach Me.
* Katie is in ninth grade at Bethel High School. Her book is The Odyssey.
* Kateland is our runner-up in the adult category. Her book is Onyx and Crake.

Byrd’s Books is located at 178 Greenwood Avenue, across from the Bethel Public Library. Author discussions and Book Group gatherings are regularly added to Byrd’s Books’ calendar of events at ByrdsBooks.com Hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00am to 6:00pm, Sundays, 12:00 noon to 4:00pm, Closed Mondays. For directions to the store or more information, call Byrd’s Books at 203-730-2973. To review the shop’s expanded catalog of new titles, go to ByrdsBooks.com

Family Summer Kickoff 

Annually, the Bethel Education Foundation Association holds a Family Summer Kickoff. This year it is on June 9th at the Bethel High School Football Field.  You can purchase your ticket by clicking this link.  

This a fabulous family event, activities include:  

• All Sports Booster Club will have the Snack Shed open to purchase dinner

• Bethel Fire Department & Police Department 

• The Park and Recreation Department will be providing games

• Boy Scouts will be hosting a Gaga Pit

• Bouncy Houses 

• Booths with arts and crafts, tattoos, etc.  

• Campfire games

• Lawn games and much more.....

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy this annual tradition to help kick off the summer!  

Bethel Traffic

Bethel’s emergency services and I joined others from neighboring towns update to the CTDOT Highway Diversion Plan to deal with local Bethel traffic when I 84 or Rt 7 are shut down.

One resource available to all residents in Connecticut’s Interactive Traffic Map at https://www.ctroads.org/

Blight Ordinance

Blight issues and catch basins were the hot topics during office hours this week. Yes, Bethel does have a blight ordinance. Visit Town Hall or go to the “Land Use, Planning & Zoning, Inland Wetlands” department online and select “Documents and Forms.” Under the “Make Your Selection” tab you will see a Blight Complaint form with instructions.

Please look at the form and chapter 64 of our town code before you make a complaint. (Use “Bethel CT Code” in your browser or visit https://ecode360.com/28540793) Our Highway Department is diligently working on the catch basins! 

Office Hours

My next office hours are Thursday, June 15th from 6 pm to 7 pm at the First Selectman Office in Town Hall.

Codfish Hill

The Codfish Hill culvert project is almost complete. The final cleanup begins tomorrow.

Water and Sewer Bills

We have a new billing company for water and sewer bills. The June water/sewer bills have been mailed out and are due June 1st. As always, you have a full 30-day grace period to pay, meaning July 3rd is the last day to pay without penalty. We apologize for any confusion.

Eversource Relay Work

Eversource is conducting Relay Work on the Plum Tree substation at 16 Walnut Hill Rd. from June 2nd to June 5th. All work will be conducted within the control house and will not involve loud construction sound. Please note that a Sunday, 7am – 7pm is included in this date range.

Household Haz Waste Drop-off at BHS on Saturday

The Town of Bethel and HRRA are hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event at Bethel High School on Saturday, June 3rd from 9am to 1pm. Please visit https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste/ for information about what can and cannot be dropped off.

The next event is in September, so clear out your old paint, stains, and cleaners.

The Regular Legislative Session in Hartford ends June 7th at Midnight. Here are a few bills to watch:

* HB 6486 – The tire bill passed the House and is waiting in the Senate. We need to stop illegal tire dumping in Bethel. Consider calling your Senators.

* HB 6570 – This bill will increase liability for police and fire vehicles traveling to emergencies, resulting in an increase in insurance costs to Bethel.

* HB 6664 – This bill will increase costs for Bethel residents to get rid of garbage. Instead of added fees, the state should be developing a comprehensive waste plan.

RVNAhealth - Mediterranean Diet

RVNAhealth is hosting an event on the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet at the Library on Friday, June 9th from 1pm to 2pm.

Bethel Healthcare

Congratulations Bethel Healthcare who held their Grand Re-opening this week. Thank you for your commitment to compassion and excellent care for Bethel Residents!

Town Hall and Bethel VFD

Town Hall had a visit this week from the kids from the Bethel Middle School Learning Center. Thank you for your visit and thanks to all the town departments who were so welcoming!

A big shout out to our own Pat Morton who celebrated 38 years of service to the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department!

Join Us For Our Scholarship Fundraising Golf Tournament!

Bethel Garden Club Plant Sale on Saturday, June 10 from 9am to 1pm on the Bethel Municipal Center Lawn

Locally grown tomato plants, perennials, and more will be for sale! Plus, receive guidance from master gardeners and shop for garden decor!

Learn more facebook.com/BethelCTGardenClub

Baseball great Jackie Robinson (b. 1919 - d. 1972) broke Major League Baseball’s color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Now, as one of America’s legendary sports figures, Robinson is the subject of a unique biography by author Kostya Kennedy.

Entitled True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson, this probing, the richly-detailed book will be the subject of discussion at Bethel’s Byrd’s Books’ History Book Group gathering on Thursday, June 8th at 7:30pm. The author is scheduled to participate in what is sure to be a lively conversation. 

All Book Groups at Byrd’s Books - general, history, and soon-to-be-added sci fi - are free and open to the public. The books selected for discussion are made available at the store for pre-purchase.

True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson by Kostya Kennedy is an unconventional biography, focusing on four transformative years in Robinson's athletic and public life: 1946, his first year playing in the essentially all-white minor leagues for the Montreal Royals; 1949, when he won the Most Valuable Player Award in his third season as a Brooklyn Dodger; 1956, his final season in major league baseball, when he played valiantly despite his increasing health struggles; and 1972, the year of his untimely death. Kennedy examines each of these years through details not reported in previous biographies, bringing them to life in vivid prose and through interviews with fans and players who witnessed his impact, as well as with Robinson's surviving family. True, tied to the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s passing and the 75th anniversary of his professional baseball debut, opens  a new window on a complex man — a player, a father, a husband, and a civil rights hero 

 Kostya Kennedy Is the New York Times bestselling author of  56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports (runner-up for the 2012 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing) and Pete Rose: An American Dilemma.  Both won the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year. A resident of Westchester County, Kennedy has taught at Columbia and NYU.

Byrd’s Books is located at 178 Greenwood Avenue, across from the Bethel Public Library. Author discussions and Book Group gatherings are regularly added to Byrd’s Books’ calendar of events at ByrdsBooks.com 

Hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00am to 6:00pm, Sundays, 12:00 noon to 4:00pm, Closed Mondays.

For directions to the store or more information, call Byrd’s Books at 203-730-2973. To review the shop’s expanded catalog of new titles, go to ByrdsBooks.com

Springfield College recognizes Bethel residents Patrick Alvord and Brad Bornn for being named to the Dean's List for academic excellence for the 2023 spring semester.

The criteria for selection to the Dean's List are as follows: The student must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the term, exclusive of "P" grades. The student must not have any incompletes or missing grades in the designated term. The student must have a minimum semester grade average of 3.500 for the term.

Governor Ned Lamont and Aging and Disability Services Commissioner Amy Porter today announced that the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services has been awarded $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that will be used to support upgrades and enhancements at senior centers statewide in Connecticut.

The state is designating $9 million of this funding to be distributed to municipalities. The municipalities can use the funding to support upgrades at their local senior centers through:

• Facility improvements, which can cover a variety of capital improvements, including air and HVAC systems, lighting, accessibility features, vehicle acquisition, maintenance, and repurposing; and
• Programming, which can include the acquisition of program registration software, web design renovation capability, extended senior center hours, special or focused entertainment or programming, while also encompassing expanded staff hours to support those programs, when applicable.

The remaining funds will be used by the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services to support its statewide senior center activities. This includes items such as improving online services for senior centers, supporting senior center events, and developing media campaigns that promote engagement at senior centers.

Governor Lamont said, “Connecticut’s cities and towns do a great job supporting older adults through the operations of their senior centers, which provide incredibly valuable services to many residents statewide. Being able to expand that crucial support through upgraded facilities and modernized services keeps older adults actively involved in their communities and connected to local services.”

To obtain funding, municipalities must develop a plan and submit it, along with an application, to the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services’ Unit on Aging. Applications will be accepted through June of 2024. More information for municipal officials is available online at portal.ct.gov/ADS-SeniorCenterARPA.

Why Small Businesses Matter

Shop small, do big things for your community

Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!

You're IT Sorted!

Three questions with Katie Richards, founder of Sorted.

Why did you start your business?

I started Sorted because I love organizing! I realized that many people need help with everyday organizing projects and struggle to create functional spaces to maintain and enjoy. Most clients reach out because they don’t know where to start, and I’m here to help them through that process.

What is your best-selling product/service?

Our best-selling service is the 3-hour organizing sessions, one-on-one with the clients helping them purge and create better spaces together.

How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?

Most of the businesses that receive support directly from Sorted are charitable organizations that receive physical donations from my clients. To name a few; Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Danbury, Goodwill, Dress for Success, DAWS-Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Junkluggers of Fairfield and Westchester County, and the NAPO Chapter of Connecticut (National Association of Productivity and Professional Organizers) where I can rely on other professional organizers for assistance on larger jobs.

Katie would like to nominate Al Massage of Bethel to be featured next!

Visit Sorted online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, and Instagram pages as well!

HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!

Directed by ACT’s Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine and Musical Director, Bryan Perri, ACT of Connecticut’s 2022-2023 season reaches its pinnacle with a mind-blowing performance. 

Theater-goers begin a magical journey into THE SECRET GARDEN before they even see the stage.  A terraced garden beckons you in where the sound of birds chirping heightens the senses preparing the audience for the experience that awaits. 

Have you ever felt a loved one’s presence after they have left the world? Levine’s clever use of color brings deceased loved ones into the world again. Pictures hanging on the wall transform before your eyes conveying the message that spirits can penetrate the afterlife to observe and influence those they have left behind. The use of an LED screen backdrop innovatively creates a stark contrast between life and the netherworld.

The casting is flawless; each character is seemingly made for the role they are passionately playing. The audience is captivated in the very first scene when the spirit of beautiful Lily played by ACT co-founder Katie Diamond sings a powerful rendition of Clusters of Crocus while appearing to float across the stage. 

Eleven-year-old orphan Mary Lennox (Charlotte Ewing) is the show-stopper. She leaves an indelible mark on the audience. We empathize and grieve with this child who has suddenly lost both parents to cholera. We watch in awe as her character brilliantly and profoundly transforms from a bitter uppity aristocrat into the salt of the Earth. 

She grieves her mother Rose, played by Juliet Lambert Pratt, and father Albert (Constantine Pappas) but by way of their spirits, it’s evident that love never dies.

From a life full of family and privilege, Mary suddenly finds herself in a place where deep sorrow stymies her only relatives left on Earth from living. After losing his wife Lily in childbirth, Mary’s uncle Archibald Craven (Brian Golub) whom she is sent to live, is bitter and broken. He prevents his crippled son Colin (Jasper Burger and George Aronow) from growing and healing, and prohibits anyone to enter and tend to Lily’s beloved garden. 

We watch as troubled orphan Mary’s heart begins to soften and she finds healing, hope and happiness through the bounty of nature, unlikely friendships, and the powerful spirits of those she’s loved and lost. 

It’s not royalty but those in humble positions who help Mary to find her purpose in life. Martha (Laura Woyask), the maid, her younger brother, Dickon (DJ Plunkett) and the gardener Ben (John Baker) show Mary a new and better world - one with jump ropes, melodious robins, and secret gardens.  

Mary unlocks the forbidden door and brings more than the secret garden back to life.

 “When a thing is a wick it has life about it… somewhere there’s a single streak of green inside it.”

THE SECRET GARDEN runs from May 18 through June 11. Purchase your tickets NOW for this enchanting production and grand finale of ACT of CT’s 5th season by clicking here or by calling the box office (475) 215-5497

Performance Times: 

Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 2pm

Additional Performance:

Sunday, May 28 at 7PM

Sensory-Friendly Performance: 

Sunday, May 28 at 2pm - This matinee is reserved only for our patrons who require adjusted production elements in order to enjoy the performance (it is not open to the public). Please contact the box office for more information or visit our Sensory Friendly Performance page to read about the program.

** Additional “family night” performance on Sunday 5/28 at 7pm

The American Red Cross is helping one family – two adults after a fire today on Fleetwood Avenue, Bethel. The Red Cross provided assistance to meet the family's immediate needs. Responders included: Sheri MacKenzie, Art Hopkins and Ralph Stein.

The Red Cross also provided a recovery envelope containing information helpful to families recovering from a fire, including tips on cleanup; notification of important contacts; dealing with damaged items and more. The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits containing personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant; shaving supplies and other items a resident might need when suddenly displaced from their home by a fire.

Those affected will connect with Red Cross caseworkers in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery plan. The Red Cross is able to provide assistance through the generosity of our donors and commitment of our volunteers.

Bethel Public Schools Superintendent, Christine Carver announces District honorees!

Carver wrote in today's newsletter, "Our staff awards highlight excellence in our field, our dedication to improving teaching and learning, celebrating the excellent programs we provide our students, strong leadership within our Board of Education, and recognizing individuals who contribute to our system in extraordinary ways."

Pillar of the Year

Bethel High School – Sheila Levine, Substance Abuse Counselor

Bethel Middle School – Pamela Fontaine, Paraeducator

Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Shay Anastasakis, Paraeducator

Frank A. Berry School – Kathleen Darrah, Paraeducator

Anna H. Rockwell School – Bridget Chin, Building Substitute

Bethel Public Schools – Linda Westlake, Paraeducator

Rookie Teachers of the Year

Bethel High School – Megan Richardson, Special Education Teacher

Bethel Middle School – Elaine Godfrey, School Counselor

Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Chelsea Rossomando, Grade 3 Teacher

Frank A. Berry School – Brittany Shea, Grade 1 Teacher

Anna H. Rockwell School – Kailby Schommer, Elementary Teacher

Teacher of the Year

Bethel High School – Kateri Kenney, Biology Teacher

Bethel Middle School – Kristen Faucher, World Language Teacher

Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Diana Bernardo, EL Teacher

Frank A. Berry School - Danielle Troiano, Elementary Teacher

Anna H. Rockwell School – Anthony Liberati, Elementary Teacher

Friends of Bethel Award

Lucy Houghton, Director of Care Ministries, Walnut Hill Community Church

Lance Sven, Lead Youth Pastor, Walnut Hill Community Church

CHAMP Award

Jessenia Beamonte, School Resource Officer, Ralph M. T. Johnson School & Anna H. Rockwell School

Jason Broad, School Resource Officer, Bethel High School & Frank A. Berry School

Amelia Fekieta, School Resource Officer, Bethel Middle School

Educational Service Awards

10 Years of Service

Ann Belardinelli, Andrea Callahan, Corinne Caridi, Tracy Cassavechia, Katherine Coffey, Sandra Correira, Lauren D’Andrea, Susan DeCarlo, Christofer Demuth, Maura Dundie, Leah Esposito, Kristen Faucher, Alison Ghio, Rachel Gross, Laura Massey, Crystal Morgan, Christopher Neville, Diana Oliveira, Micki Paradise, Kyle Sarrazin, Trisha Soucy, Melissa Spaziani, Shellie Zancan

20 Years of Service

Cindy Hayes, Cindy Keane, Kari Leonard, Rosanne Licari, Patricia Moriarty, Silvia Nedelcov,

Kirsten Nielsen, Stephen Schrader

30 Years of Service

Carol Ann Oberacker

Retirees

Linda Anderson, Barbara Barese Daryl Bartkus, Barbara Denninger, Mary Fox, Suzanne Galante, Susan Lynch, Gino Natalino, Kathi Rainville, Donna Savelle, Debbie Sutton, Amy Weed

Creativity, Innovation, & Excellence in Education

Christine Manalo, Bethel High School

Kristen Ricciardone, Bethel High School

Rick Baumer, Bethel High School

Robert Flynn, Bethel Middle School

Keith Marotta, Bethel Middle School

Kristen Faucher, Bethel Middle School

Nancy Seri, Bethel Middle School

Nicole Ducsay, Bethel Middle School

Lauren D'Andrea, Bethel Middle School

Jeff Moscowitz, Ralph M. T. Johnson School

Melissa Dube, Ralph M. T. Johnson School

Heather Barr, Ralph M. T. Johnson School

Shelby Land, Frank A. Berry School

Danielle Troiano, Frank A. Berry School

Kerry Collins, Anna H. Rockwell School

Bethel Education Foundation's Janice Jordan Excellence in Education Award

Kerry Collins, Elementary Recipient

Kit Neilsen, Secondary Recipient

Jess McGlinchey, Elementary Recipient, 2022

Memorial Day Parade

A huge thanks to all the organizations who participated in Bethel’s Memorial Day parade and ceremonies last Sunday. It’s been a long-standing tradition to hold our events the weekend prior to Memorial Day to give our residents an opportunity to participate. You did not disappoint! A special shoutout to the American Legion and Bethel Patriotic Association for all their hard work!

Website and Community Calendar

We are making progress on the website changes. I am so grateful for the ideas we have received and your patience. And yes, there will be a community calendar!

Road Closure

Codfish Hill Road closure update from the Highway Department: Lots of work was completed this week. The sub base materials are installed and graded in preparation for paving. Rip rap rock is installed at the inlet and outlet areas. We expect to install the asphalt binder and surface course mid-next week. The curbing, guardrail and final cleanup will be following the paving. Stay tuned.

Income & Expense Report

Those with commercial property in town, please remember your annual Income & Expense Report for Commercial and Industrial property is due into the Assessor's Office by June 1, 2023. A postmark of June 1st will be considered a late filing. Please read the front page of the report to verify all documentation is provided.

Office Hours

I will be hosting office hours in my office on Wednesday, May 31st from 7am to 8am. My office is just inside the font door to Town Hall on the right. Feel free to stop by. The next one will be on Thursday, June 15th from 6pm to 7pm. If the times have not worked out for you to connect with me in person, let me know and we will work something out.

 Wear Orange on June 2

Many folks across the state and country will be participating in Wear Orange activities on June 2nd to observe the ninth annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day Wear Orange activities to call attention to the crisis of gun violence and signal our commitment to reducing gun violence in all its forms. I issued a proclamation that June 2, 2023 is Gun Violence Awareness Day in Bethel. While the remedies to reducing gun violence are sometimes controversial, our commitment to reducing gun violence should never be.

 Food Truck Friday

The first Food Truck Friday of the summer is on Friday, June 2nd from 5pm to 8pm in front of Town Hall. Friday’s band will be “Grooved Pavement” and The Coop, Artisan Food Trailer, Fork In The Road, Notch 8, Brazilian BBQ Boys, and The Scotty Fund will be bringing the culinary experiences! There are many downtown restaurants with to-go options as well. Be kind to downtown businesses and park behind the Town Hall.

 Haz Waste Day at BHS

The Town of Bethel and HRRA are hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event at Bethel High School on Saturday, June 3rd from 9am to 1pm. Please visit https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste/ for information about what can and cannot be dropped off. This is a great opportunity to clear out old paint, stains, and cleaners!

Pride Month and Flag Raising

June is Pride month and Bethel CT pride is kicking off the celebration with a flag raising at Town Hall on Thursday, June 1st at 4pm. The next big event is the annual Sidewalk Parade and Celebration on Saturday, June 3rd. The parade check-in begins at 12pm and the parade line-up starts at 12:30 across from the Bethel Train Station. The parade starts at 1 pm and ends at Town Hall where there will be a celebration until 5pm The event will include some great vendors and will be rain or shine. Come out and support inclusivity in Bethel, the LGBTQIA+ community, and allies. Find more info at https://bethelctpride.com/event-info/

Legislative update

Illegal tire dumping has been an issue in towns across Connecticut, including Bethel. A huge thanks and shout out to both our State Representatives, Rep Allie-Brennan and Rep Foncello for supporting the passage of HB 6486 in the State House. The bill creates a safeguards to ensure tires are disposed of properly. THANK YOU!

 Red-light Cameras

I have had a few questions regarding speed and red-light cameras in Bethel. HB 5917 did pass the State House this week and is off to the State Senate. It will allow municipalities to create an ordinance that allows for use of cameras to enforce traffic laws. If it passes the State Senate, we will have a better idea of what is to come. Everything I have seen so far indicates it would be our choice to adopt an ordinance. That means public input before anything happens. Stay tuned for more info.

 Fair Share Housing 

The “Fair Share” housing mandates will likely show up in a bill this week. Bethel has a history of doing good things to create more affordable housing. As good as we are, the mandates coming will further override local zoning and will likely expose our town to many costly lawsuits.

There are few bills likely to come up that will lower the interest rate for delinquent tax payers from 18% to 12%. (SB 1142 and HB 6751) and It could make collecting taxes from delinquent payers more difficult, but it is a win for those who are behind. You may want to reach out to your reps and senators if you want to learn more.

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.

As we gather this weekend with friends and family, or just go about our normal lives this weekend, I hope each of you have a moment to reflect and truly feel a sense of gratitude for those who have given everything for what we enjoy today. I wish you are all a safe, happy, and healthy Memorial Day!

Have a great weekend!

Dan