THE AUGUST NEWSLETTER IS BEING SENT OUT EARLY THIS MONTH
We hope that you are enjoying your summer and making the most of the warm weather and vacation time. Please remember to take precautions when the temperature is high and to look at the Town website, Facebook page, call 2-1-1 or visit www.211ct.org to find out the locations of cooling centers when heat advisories or extreme hot weather protocols are issued.
Sign up for the New Alert System
The town is now transitioning to a new alert program called Everbridge. The Everbridge program will be able to alert our residents as our past program did, however, it also gives us more features that we are excited to be able to use. This program is already being used by the State of Connecticut, as well as many other municipalities and schools throughout the state. Enrollment is completely free and voluntary. Residents have the option of providing multiple phone numbers or email addresses to be sure the alert is received.
In addition to sending out emergency alerts (road closures, etc...), we will now have the ability to notify regarding town events (community events, Town Meetings, etc...), weather alerts, senior center alerts, and more. The program is able to send notifications based on neighborhoods and locations, as well.
**We are asking everyone to enroll for the new program, even if they have already enrolled for the previous one. Some of the phone list we had was quite outdated and we would like to be sure that everyone is getting the information that they are opting to receive. While signing up, please be sure to select whether you would like to receive All Alerts, or just some of them.
You can click on the QR code below to enroll:
OR:
To enroll, please go to: https://member.everbridge.net/77895137493018/login-click below:
https://member.everbridge.net/77895137493018/login
OR
OR
Search Organization Code nfeverbridge on the Everbridge Mobile App
OR
Go to the New Fairfield website www.NewFairfield.org and sign up on the home page as pictured below:
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New Fairfield Schools open Thursday, August 29th!
We hope that every student's year gets off to a good start and they have a wonderful year filled with learning, activities, friends and family participation!
Please remember that children will be walking to and from bus stops and standing at bus stops waiting for the bus—so PLEASE be aware of this, stay alert and DO NOT SPEED!
By law, except when otherwise directed by a traffic officer, a motorist approaching a school bus displaying its flashing red signal lights must immediately stop his or her vehicle at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus no longer displays its red signal lights (CGS § 14-279). At intersections, motorists are prohibited from turning toward a school bus that is receiving or discharging passengers.
Under the law, police must issue a written warning or a summons to the owner of a vehicle who illegally passes a school bus “upon a written report from any school bus operator…specifying the license plate number, color and type of any vehicle observed by such operator or recorded by a camera affixed to such school bus.” The driver's report must also note the date, approximate time, and location of the violation.
Any person who violates this law faces a $450 fine for the first offense. For each subsequent offense, a violator faces a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) also assesses four points against a motorist’s driver’s license each time he or she is convicted of illegally passing a school bus. DMV suspends a driver’s license after a person receives more than 10 points.
PLEASE SLOW DOWN, DO NOT SPEED, AND BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING!
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Important Information Regarding Your Taxes from the Tax Collector, Shareen Langdon
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We Wish a Fond Farewell to Kara Mehler, Human Resources Director
Human Resources Director, Kara Mehler, is retiring after working for the Town of New Fairfield and Board of Education for over 17 years!
We thank Kara for all of her dedication, patience, hard work and kindness and we wish her well as she embarks on a new life adventure!
THANK YOU, KARA!
The Perseid Meteor Shower 2024
Remember to put August 11th and 12th on your calendar to watch this amazing show in the sky! Midnight to dawn is the best viewing time.
Information regarding the Shower from The Planetary Society at www.planetary.org:
The 2024 Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night between August 11 and August 12. The Perseids usually put on a good show and this year may produce 50 to 75 meteors per hour at a dark site.
There will be a half Moon in the night sky during the peak of the 2024 Perseids, but only during the first half of the night. After it sets, the darker night sky will be more suitable for viewing.
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Sightings of comet Swift-Tuttle have been recorded throughout history, with the comet’s orbit bringing it near Earth every 133 or so years. It last entered the inner Solar System in 1992. The debris from this comet is known to cause fireballs often.
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Parks & Recreation Summer Concerts at the Gazebo Continue in August
August 8, 2024 (Rain Date August 15, 2024)
• The Chase
*****
August 22, 2024
• Split Decision Band
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Senior Center Kids Ice Cream Social
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Preserve New Fairfield, Inc.
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FROM THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
*****
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Visit CVRLT's Photo Contest Website Here:
https://www.gogophotocontest.com/candlewoodvalleyregionallandtrust
or click on the button below:
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New Fairfield Day
September 7th, Rain Date September 8th
Memorial Field, next to Town Hall
This is an event you don't want to miss-New Fairfield Park and Recreation's Annual New Fairfield Day!
Food, Entertainment, Vendors and more!
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HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Event
September 7, 2024
Ridgefield High School 700 N. Salem Road, Ridgefield
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
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WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Sunday, September 22, 2024
New Fairfield High School
This year, the Alzheimer's Walk will be in New Fairfield and you can register today! This disease touches many of our lives and this Walk is one of the ways you can get involved and make a difference!
Save these dates for "Paint the Town Purple":
-Friday, September 6th at 10:00 a.m. - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
-Tuesday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the New Fairfield Library - Communicating Effectively
-Wednesday, September 11th at 1:30 p.m. at the Senior Center - 10 Warning Signs
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Be sure to save the date for this wonderful show, get your tickets early!
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NFSAW FALL FLOWER POWER FUNDRAISER
New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare is holding a fall Flower Power fundraiser online until Oct. 15. NFSAW receives 50 percent of each sale.
Tulips, daffodils, allium and other popular fall planting bulbs are available for purchase now. Orders will ship directly to customers in mid-September.
For information on how to purchase flowers go to: NFSAWfpfundraising.com
Founded in 1977, NFSAW is a non-profit organization that shelters and finds homes for abused, neglected, and abandoned cats and dogs. Last year alone NFSAW saved 363 lives. All flower purchases will go to the care of the animals.
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NFSAW GETS ROOF DONATION
A roof, including labor, gutters and downspouts, donated by Flying Colors Roofing of Brookfield is replaced by the company’s workers at the New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare shelter in late June.
In June, New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare’s shelter received the donation of a new roof, including gutters, downspouts and labor, from Flying Colors Roofing LLC of Brookfield.
NFSAW, a non-profit organization founded in 1977, is grateful for the generosity of Flying Colors Roofing, whose employees worked for two days to replace a 30-year old roof on NFSAW’s Route 37 New Fairfield shelter where abandoned, neglected and abused cats and dogs are housed until they find their forever homes.
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New Fairfield Lions Club July 4th Parade
The Town came out to celebrate July 4th and to watch the wonderful parade!
Pictured from left to right: Congresswoman Jahanna Hayes, Selectman Tom Perkins, Probate Judge Martin Landgrebe, Town Clerk Holly Smith, First Selectman Melissa Lindsey, Tax Collector Shareen Langdon, State Representative Patrick Callahan, State Senator Julie Kushner, Selectman Pat Del Monaco and State Representative Farley Santos