Vote On Tuesday
Don’t miss the referendum for the 2025-2026 Budget next Tuesday, April 22nd between 6 am and 8 pm at your normal polling location. Budget information, a sample ballot, and the referendum absentee ballot application is available at https://bethel-ct.gov/depts-comptroller. If voting absentee, personally bring your absentee ballot application or appoint a family member to bring it to the Town Clerk. Voter information is available at https://bethel-ct.gov/elections.
Town Meeting
A Town Meeting is scheduled at Town Hall on Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:30 pm to consider the sale of 19 Trowbridge Drive, Bethel, CT for a purchase price of $300,000 to Arctic Builders. This is the last of four properties in the Francis J Clarke Business Park developed by the Town and put up for sale. The project cost to build infrastructure was $1.4 million, $690k of which was covered by state grants. Once the deal closes, the totals will be in the Friday Update.
Charter Revision Public Hearing
The Charter Revision Commission has scheduled a public hearing for April 29th at Town Hall in the General Purpose Room at 7 pm. Our commission has been working on revisions to our Charter since July 2024, which outlines the way our town’s government is structured, how our officials are elected, and the powers granted to our officials. Visit https://bethel-ct.gov/2025-crc to review proposed changes to our Charter from the March 25th meeting. Charter changes will eventually be on the ballot in November or at a separate referendum.
Ballot Box
Note that the ballot box for absentee ballots at Town Hall has been moved over to the entrance on the front of the building where the Town Clerk’s office is located. The yellow box for correspondence is now in the spot the ballot box occupied in front of the main entrance.
Street Sweeper
Please excuse the messy streets! Our sweeper had a few mechanical issues, but is back on the road. In fact, you will see all our crews busy on the road working on potholes, signs, catch basins, and brush. Please use caution when driving near our highway crews!
Summer Registration
Wildcat Summer Adventures (formerly Summer Day Camp) registration begins Monday, April 21st at 9 am online or call 203-794-8531. Visit https://bethel-ct.gov/rec-programs for more amazing Park and Rec programs! Also, don’t forget WorkspaceCT spring theatre programs for kids and teens! Learn more at https://www.workspacect.org/tandemtheatre
Earth Day 2025
Join your friends and neighbors at the Bethel Community Earth Day at Town Hall on April 26th! First, check in and pick up garbage bags for Trashapalooza between 10 am to 12 pm! Help us pick up trash around town. The Earth Day Fair begins at 11 am. Enjoy games, entertainment, and snacks until 2 pm. Trashapalooza has a rain date of 4.27 The Fair is rain or shine. Please park behind Town Hall. Learn more on the Facebook event link.
It’s Spring and time to hit the trails! Connecticut is known for Food & Drink trails and hiking trails. Did you know we have a Book Trail? The Connecticut Book Trail is a group of independently owned bookstores in Connecticut working together to create a greater sense of community and to foster a love of reading and books across the state. This Saturday, April 26th, they are celebrating Independent Bookstore Day! Over 1,200 stores are participating across the country including our own Byrd’s Books. Start the CT Book Trail at Byrd’s with a raffle, goodie bags, and more. Learn more and how to get a book trail passport at https://byrdsbooks.com/.
Bethel Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit
Bethel Arts has partnered with Sustainable Bethel Commission to launch the 2025-2026 outdoor sculpture exhibit! The exhibit officially opens at the Bethel Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 26th on the Town Hall lawn or in the event of rain, in the Bethel Public Library. Many of the exhibits went up today. Learn more and see the map of exhibits at www.bethelartsct.org under the “Programs” link.
Newtown Savings Volunteer Fair
Don’t forget that 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 volunteers from Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties to connect with nonprofits who need help! Learn more at https://www.nsbonline.com/events
Compost is coming soon!
Residents participating in Bethel’s food scraps recycling program have diverted 47,105 lbs (23.5 tons) of food scraps from their trash, saving money and positively impacting the environment! Food Scrap Program participants can collect your bounty of up to three, five-gallon buckets of finished compost on Friday, May 9th or Saturday, May 10th at the Transfer Station. Compost is for food scraps recycling participants only and you must bring your own buckets. Want to join the program and be eligible for compost next year? Visit https://hrra.org/organics-food-scraps-bethel/.
Shoutouts
- Shoutout to Bethel Pizza who celebrated 50 years in business this week! Their Grand opening was 50 years ago yesterday!
- Shoutout to the honest person who dropped off a wallet that was found the sidewalk next to Town Hall! We are still looking for the owner.
- Another big week for BHS athletes! Bethel Softball won over Abbot Tech, boys tennis over Abbot Tech, girls tennis over Notre Dame Prep, boys baseball is 4-0 with victories over New Fairfield and Nonnewaug, and both the boys and girls lacrosse teams had victories over Brookfield and Immaculate, bringing the boys to 5-0 and girls to 6-1!
- A shoutout and thank you to the Bethel Women’s Club GFWC for your support of needy families through Bethel Social Services! Watching families in need walk out of Town Hall so happy is priceless!
- Last week was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. A late shoutout to our dedicated group of dispatchers! When we dial 911, we are so grateful you are there!
- Shoutout to all of those who are delivering food for Brotherhood in Action tomorrow at 9am! More drivers needed! Enter the lot from Greenwood Ave at United Methodist Church at 139 Greenwood Ave! It’s a super easy way to help others!