Brookfield Spotlight: Candlewood Lake Islands Closed, Town Achieves Top Bond Rating, and More

Town Beach, Pickleball, and Summer Concerts
 
The Town Park Beach is open daily through August 23 and weekends only August 29-30 and September 5-7, including Labor Day. Season passes and reservations required. Full details available here
 
The Newtown Savings Bank Concerts in the Park series continues on Friday nights for the month of August. Join us in person or watch on the Town’s YouTube Channel each week from the comfort of your home. Full schedule available here
 
Looking for a fun way to spend these last weeks of summer? We have many in-person and virtual camp options for kids of all ages. For adults options include golf lessons, pickle ball lessons, tai chi and yoga on the beach. Full details available here.  
 
Islands Closed on Candlewood Lake
At the request of the towns on the lake, public access to all islands owned by FirstLight Power will be closed until further notice starting this weekend as a precaution to control the spread of COVID-19 and address the large crowds that have been congregating on the islands during the Pandemic.
 
Town achieves highest Bond Rating
Standard and Poor’s has given the town a Triple A rating for debt, their highest rating. They cited “Strong Management”, “Strong Budgetary Flexibility” and “Very Strong Liquidity.” S&P also rates the town as “above the sovereign,” which means they believe our credit rating is higher than the nation’s credit rating.
 
This rating will allow us to borrow at the lowest rates possible.
 
Connecticut Residents Asked to Report Receipt of any Unsolicited Packages of Seeds
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture and The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have been notified that several Connecticut residents received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China. The types of seeds in the packages are unknown, but they may be invasive plant species. The packages may have Chinese writing on them. People in several other states across the country have received unsolicited packages of seeds over the last several days.
 
Please do not plant these seeds. CT DoAg and CAES ask that anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds from China to immediately contact their state plant regulatory officials, Dr. Kirby Stafford at 203-974-8485 (Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov) or Dr. Victoria Smith at 203-974-8474 (Victoria.Smith@ct.gov ). Please hold on to the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone contacts you with further instructions. 
 
Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. Taking steps to prevent their introduction is the most effective method of reducing both the risk of invasive species infestations and the cost to control and mitigate those infestations.
 
Messages to Residents Using CodeRED
The 33rd update was distributed on the CodeRED system on July 10. It will be the last message we send for now. We will begin sending again if the situation warrants it. We thank our 1,200 users for signing up, and encourage you to tell your neighbors because we’d like more subscribers. You can sign up by clicking on the CodeRED icon on the bottom of the main page on the town website.
 
Town Hall Hours
We will remain open to the public by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to keep our employees safe. We will address opening to the public again sometime in mid-August, after the Board of Selectmen have met to discuss and conferred with the Director of Public Health.
 
For state resources and information on COVID-19, visit the state’s website.
 
Lions Club Shred and Dumpster Day – Community Event
The Lion’s Club Shred & Dumpster Day will be on Saturday, August 29 from 9 a.m. - noon at Town Hall. Details can be found on the town website sometime in August.
 
United States Census 2020 – It’s not too late to complete yours
You should have received in the mail the official 10-minute questionnaire that should be completed by every household. You can respond online at my2020census.gov using the barcode printed on the front of the questionnaire. If you are unable to respond online, complete and mail back your questionnaire. If you need help completing your questionnaire, call toll-free 1-844-330-2020.
 
Between August 11 and October 31, census takers will interview homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
 
When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.
 
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Submitted by Brookfield, CT

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