Stories
<p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Emergency Services & Public Protection Update: Severe Geomagnetic Storm Warning</strong></p><p>The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING. A large sunspot cluster (16 times the diameter of earth) is likely to cause interference with HF communications, GPS, and power grids later today and through the weekend. Operators of critical infrastructure across the state have been notified. Visit <a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">SWPC</a> for more information.</p><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Town Announcements</strong></p><ul><li>The town has entered a contract to purchase a new ladder truck to be delivered this fall and based in Stony Hill. While we have communicated that the truck will be based at the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company, the card sent out via snail mail prior to the referendum didn’t say where the truck would be based. Sorry for the confusion.</li><li>The legislature wrapped up the 2024 session this week. While some of the controversial bills that would have had a negative impact on Bethel failed to pass, our major concern is Bethel was underfunded for education. Education Cost Sharing (ECS) for the town was underfunded by $200k and the Excess Cost grant for special education was also underfunded by $200k. We will be working together limit the impact on your kids.</li><li>Bethel has a Housing Authority is independent from the town and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Connecticut State Department of Housing (DOH). The Bethel Housing Authority manages two properties in Bethel and rental assistance funding for these subsidized apartments is provided by HUD and the USDA/RD. Call (203) 797-9909 or email office@bethelhousingauthority.org for more info on availability.</li></ul><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Community Events</strong></p><ul><li>Check out upcoming public hearings at <a href="https://bethel-ct.gov/2024-public-hearing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--link);">Bethel CT</a>.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Public Hearing: Planning & Zoning Commission re: 140 Greenwood Ave and 18 Stony Hill Rd on Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00 pm at Town Hall in Conference Room D</li><li>Tomorrow, May 11th is National Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Day. Place a bag of nonperishable food next to your mailbox and our letter carriers will deliver your donation to Brotherhood in Action and The Bethel Community Food Pantry. Please check the expiration dates to not include expired items!</li><li>Don’t forget Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day for Bethel residents is tomorrow, May 11th at the Newtown Public Works Facility. 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</a>.</li><li>The Saint Mary School Carnaval is back! Come down to the Town Hall green for food, rides and more starting Wednesday, May 15th and ending Sunday, May 19th. Wednesday through Friday 6 pm to 10 pm, Saturday 4 pm to 10 pm, and Sunday 4 pm to 7 pm.</li><li>Join Sustainable Bethel for the Bethel Walk Audit on Saturday, May 18th at the intersection of Stony Hill Rd and Old Hawleyville Rd. at 1 pm. You will help document and capture the experiences of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation riders to find and recommend to the town more sustainable transit-oriented development options. The objective is to improve safety, ease of access to local businesses, and quality of life for Bethel residents, organizations, and businesses in the Stony Hill area. Contact gj.hernandezkeene@gmail.com or sustainablebethel@bethel-ct.gov with questions.</li><li>The Bethel Memorial Day parade steps off on Sunday, May 19th at 2 pm. The Bethel Patriotic Association have been working to make this year’s parade fantastic. The parade will begin in front of Whitlock’s Restaurant and travel east on Greenwood, turning left (north) at PT Barnum Sq., left (west) on School Street, and end in front of the town hall. There will be a ceremony at town hall.</li></ul><p><strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Acknowledgments & Events</strong></p><ul><li>A big shoutout to Joy Kisling, Bethel’s own softball junkie! She helped found the Bethel Softball Association in 1979 for Bethel girls. After playing, coaching, holding every position in the BSA, and induction into USA Softball of CT Hall of Fame, Joy hosted an amazing Opening Day at Kisling Field! Congrats and thank you, Joy!</li><li>A shoutout to Bethel Teachers for Teachers Week! Fact: The majority our teachers have master’s degrees and many sixth-year diplomas! Thank you for your dedication, long hours, and compassion for our community!</li><li>A big shoutout to our Bethel Police Officers of the year, Sargent Jared Robinson (2022) and Corporal Keith Freeman (2023), and all the officers recognized with service awards! The stories about what you do every day to protect our town are amazing!</li><li>Congrats to Bethel boys outdoor track for advancing to an 11-0 season! Great job!</li><li>Good luck to the Bethel Baseball on your senior night game against Stratford tonight!</li><li>To all you Moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day!</li></ul><p><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Have a great weekend! </span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><br></p>
<h2 class="ql-align-center"><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);">Make Music Day Bethel </span>June 21 - This is a special day for musicians </h2><h4 class="ql-align-center"><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">WHAT IS MAKE MUSIC DAY BETHEL?</em></h4><p><strong>Make Music Day Bethel is a free celebration of music on June 21st, (summer solstice). Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music Bethel is free and open to anyone.Local musicians will play short sets around Bethel town and in selected restaurants and other businesses. Everyone is invited to sing along or dance and enjoy the first day of summer. </strong></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Who can perform?</strong></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Anyone and everyone. Amateurs, professionals, and established artists are all welcome to participate.</strong></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Musicans and performers </strong><a href="https://bethelartsct.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dfc8d62dd1253be9cc77b47d5&id=06c445eb23&e=7b6d9bb104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>click here</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to learn more</strong></p>
<h2 class="ql-align-center"><strong>Bethel Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger tomorrow, Saturday, May 11th</strong></h2><p class="ql-align-center"><span style="color: rgb(5, 5, 5);">Please mark this date on your calendars - it's our largest source of food in the year by far. Put a nonperishable donation bag in your mailbox! Our letter carriers do the rest and </span><strong style="color: rgb(5, 5, 5); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">everything in Bethel goes to Brotherhood In Action!</strong></p><p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p><br></p>
<p><strong>Bethel Education Foundation Family Summer Kickoff on May 31 from 5 to 8pm at Bethel High School Football Field</strong></p><p>The Annual Family Summer Kickoff is a fun event for all family members to come and celebrate the start of summer. Held annually at the end of the school year on the Bethel school grounds. All proceeds benefit the Bethel Schools.</p><p>Purchase your tickets <a href="https://www.betheledfoundation.org/store/p37/Family_Summer_Kickoff.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Tickets are also sold at the door.</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 </span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">volunteers</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> 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. </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 </span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><em>please click the </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> <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);"> </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);"> </span></p>
<p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p>DANBURY, Connecticut — Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wcsu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Western Connecticut State University</a> <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory</a> need the public’s help for <a href="https://www.newvec.org/itch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Project ITCH</a> (<strong>I</strong>s <strong>T</strong>ick <strong>C</strong>ontrol <strong>H</strong>elping?), a residential research study entering its second year. WCSU’s tick experts hope to learn about how local residents deal with backyard risk for Lyme disease, and are also seeking homeowners who will allow researchers to visit for the purpose of collecting ticks. Interested residents are asked to complete a short online survey at <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/itch.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">ITCH - WCSU Tick Lab</a>. </p><p>The university is a research partner in the federally designated <a href="https://www.newvec.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases</a>, whose goals include finding the best ways residents can protect themselves, their families and pets from tick-borne diseases. This year, Project ITCH activities will include an evaluation of natural products like cedar oil for backyard tick control. </p><p>“We know that many homeowners in our region are interested in using natural products to control backyard ticks,” said Sophia Chiaia, a graduate student in WCSU’s <a href="https://www.wcsu.edu/biology-msbiodiversity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Integrative Biological Diversity</a> program who is involved with the study. “We hope that our research can help us make recommendations about the best way to use such products.”</p><p>The online survey asks participants about methods they use to try to prevent tick exposure and allows respondents to indicate their interest in being considered for this study. Researchers will visit selected properties to measure tick abundance. To complete the 10-minute survey and request a backyard tick collection, go to <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/itch.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">ITCH - WCSU Tick Lab</a>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">For more information, contact WCSU Tick Lab study coordinator </span>Vicki Hornbostel at <a href="mailto:hornbostelv@wcsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hornbostelv@wcsu.edu</a> <span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">or </span>WCSU Communications and Marketing at <a href="mailto:pr@wcsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pr@wcsu.edu</a>. </p>
<p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p>Every year during the month of May, Bethel’s Byrd’s Books holds a summer bookmark contest, in which both kids and adults submit a bookmark design based on a book they love. This year is “a very special one — our 10th!” announced owner, Alice Hutchinson. “Draw a picture inspired by your favorite book and enter to see your bookmark in print!” The contest runs through Friday, May 31st. The entrants are judged by Bethel Arts, and Byrd’s Books gets the winners printed to handout with bookstore purchases.</p><p> The winners — pre-K - 2nd grade; 3rd - 5th grade; 6th - 8th grade; high school; and adult — receive $25 gift certificate to Byrd's Books and 25 of their bookmarks to give away. There is one submission per person. Artwork and completed entry forms must be returned to Byrd’s Books by Friday May 31st at end of day. Entry forms are available at <a href="ByrdsBooks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ByrdsBooks.com</a> “We welcome teachers to use this fun activity in the classrooms as well. This is a free, fun, book-focused contest for all ages,” adds Alice. </p><p>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 <a href="ByrdsBooks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ByrdsBooks.com</a> Hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays10:00am 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 <a href="ByrdsBooks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ByrdsBooks.com</a></p>