NOVEMBER IN NEW FAIRFIELD VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 || NOVEMBER 2025

We can already smell the stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie – we are thankful for it all!

Most importantly, we are thankful for you, the residents of New Fairfield. We are thankful for all of you who volunteer for Town boards and committees, all of the many service organizations, in the schools, religious organizations and those of you who help your friends and neighbors.

YOU are what makes New Fairfield the wonderful town that we are all thankful to live in.

THANK YOU!

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Sell Your Old Gold Fundraiser

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November 8, 2025

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QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING VIA ZOOM

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Friends of the New Fairfield Library Holiday Boutique

Saturday, November 29th

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Downstairs at the New Fairfield Public Library Program Room

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SAVE THE DATE

New Fairfield Lions Club Breakfast With Santa

December 6th at 8:00 a.m.

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EVERBRIDGE ALERT SYSTEM

Fall is here and the snow and ice are not far behind. Please be sure that you are signed up for alerts for weather, road closures, notifications, etc.

**We are asking everyone to enroll for the new program, even if you have already enrolled for the previous one. Some of the phone lists we have are outdated and we would like to be sure that you are getting the information that you are opting to receive.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

Go to the New Fairfield website www.NewFairfield.org and sign up on the home page as pictured below:

Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust (CVRLT) has merged with Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC)

From ctland.org:

September 25, 2025 (Kent, CT) – Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC) is excited to welcome Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust (CVRLT) into its organization through a merger effective September 30, 2025. The combined organization will continue under the name Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy.

Through this merger, NCLC is entrusted with the stewardship of CVRLT’s 611 acres of protected land in Danbury and New Fairfield, including eight public nature preserves. As the largest land trust in Connecticut and the 22nd largest in the United States by the number of lands conserved, NCLC now protects over 14,000 acres across Litchfield and northern Fairfield Counties.

NCLC is uniquely positioned to carry forward CVRLT’s conservation legacy. Founded in 1965 and nationally accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, NCLC has earned widespread recognition for its leadership in land protection, including the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s highest award for land preservation, an EPA Environmental Merit Award for its outstanding commitment to protecting the natural environment, and a Working Lands Alliance Pathfinder Award for its significant contributions to educating the public about the importance of farmland preservation.

“This merger strengthens our collective ability to safeguard the lands, waters, and natural areas that make our communities thrive,” said Catherine Rawson, Executive Director of NCLC. “Together, NCLC and CVRLT can expand public access to the outdoors, protect clean drinking water, and ensure that treasured natural lands in Danbury and New Fairfield are cared for in perpetuity. We are proud to carry forward CVRLT’s legacy and to build an even stronger foundation for regional conservation.”

Founded in 1971 and also nationally accredited, CVRLT is an all-volunteer, nonprofit land trust. Its commitment to conservation will continue through the merger with NCLC. Members of the CVRLT Board of Directors will represent the community as part of the newly formed Candlewood Valley Council. This advisory council will provide ongoing local input, help shape future land acquisitions and conservation programs, and host events in Danbury and New Fairfield. In addition, council members will have opportunities to collaborate with advisory councils from other Northwest Connecticut towns on regional conservation priorities—such as strengthening climate resiliency, safeguarding clean drinking water by conserving forests and wetlands, preserving working farms and access to local food, and protecting the natural lands that are vital to our quality of life.

“As the work of land conservation has grown, many of our local land trusts have been strengthening their impact by joining together,” noted CVRLT President Faline Schneiderman. “By sharing resources and expertise, merged organizations have been able to better steward their preserves, expand their reach, and ensure long-term success. CVRLT is thrilled to be able to strengthen and grow our conservation legacy as part of the larger, stronger team of land trusts united within Connecticut’s largest land trust.”

The two organizations will celebrate the merger at NCLC’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at New Fairfield Senior Center Community Room, located at 33 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT 06812. This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.

For more information about the merger, including Frequently Asked Questions, visit ctland.org/cvrlt-merger.

About Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC)

Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy is a nonprofit, regional conservation organization working with the communities of Litchfield and northern Fairfield Counties to safeguard natural and working lands, public recreation areas, and drinking water resources forever. Founded in 1965, NCLC is the largest land trust in Connecticut, protecting over 14,000 acres (and growing). To strengthen the region’s capacity to conserve high-quality conservation lands and ensure the permanence of those conserved lands for the future, NCLC merged with Brookfield Open Space Legacy in 2019, Naromi Land Trust in 2020, and Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust in 2025. NCLC’s conserved lands include 31 public hiking preserves, 49 working farms, 57 miles of rivers and streams, and over 3,000 acres of habitat for rare and endangered species.

For more information about NCLC and how you can support conservation efforts in our region, please visit ctland.org.

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WINTER PREPAREDNESS

Salt and Sand at Drop Off Center

Salt and sand are available for use by private communities and tax districts and each Association is billed accordingly for this service. Residents are welcome to pick up salt/sand for personal use at the Drop Off Center during regular business hours at no charge. There is a limit of two 5 gallon pails per resident per storm. (No commercial/business use)

The Drop Off Center is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Thursdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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Mailbox Replacement Policy

It is the policy of the New Fairfield Department of Public Works that if any mailbox or post is damaged as the result of snow removal operations, the responsibility for making repairs shall be borne by the property owner. The Department of Public Works will not be responsible for mailbox damage from snow being discharged by snow removal equipment.

When a mailbox or post is damaged as a result of direct contact with our snow removal equipment, the following steps will be taken.

The Highway Foreman will inspect the mailbox/post to determine the cause of the damage.

The Highway Foreman will determine who is at fault (improper installation of mailbox, or plow operator error).

Following investigation, the mailbox or post will be repaired or replaced if the plow operator is found to be at fault.

Decorator mailboxes and posts that receive direct contact from snow removal equipment will be replaced with a standard mailbox and post.

*The majority of mailbox and post damage is the result of improper installation or maintenance. A properly installed and maintained mailbox will withstand the snow removal operations that occur during the winter months.

*It is uncommon that a mailbox comes in direct contact with snow removal equipment. The average number of mailboxes that come into direct contact with snow removal equipment during a snowstorm is less than one percent. Non-contact mailbox knockdowns may average more than one hundred or more per snowstorm.

*The Public Works Department will assist elderly or impaired property owners with repairing damage to their mailbox or post.

You can contact the Public Works Department at 203-312-5628.

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Wintertime Parking Ordinance

Sec. 9-27 wintertime parking:

(a) There shall be no parking on any town road at any time while the town or its agents are engaged in snow plowing, sanding, ice control, or any other weather or storm related emergencies to keep or make the public roads of the town in a safe, passable condition. Parked is defined as having at least one (1) tire of the vehicle in question in contact with the paved portion of the road, without a driver in the vehicle, for any length of time.

(b) Violations of this section are subject to a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which shall double if not paid within fifteen (15) days. Vehicles found to be in violation may be towed at the owner’s expense in addition to the fine. Appeals may be made under the process established by the Board of Selectman.

(Ord. of 2-14-67(1), § 1, 2; Ord. of 3-14-95)

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Trick or Treat Fest was so much fun and we were thrilled to see SO MANY trick or treaters!

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Subscribe to the New Fairfield Newsletter

If you have not already subscribed - you can sign up to receive the Town Newsletter sent to your email each month. Please click on the button below to subscribe:

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Library Newsletter

The Library has its own newsletter and you can subscribe to it here:

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Senior Center

Take a look at the Senior Center's beautiful website where you can find out about programs, events and all that the New Fairfield Senior Center offers, as well as their newsletter:

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Events Calendar

Town events can be found on our Events Calendar. If you have a Not-for-Profit fundraising event to be held in town — please send the information and flyer to be included on the Events Calendar to: jgreen@newfairfieldct.gov.

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Meetings Calendar

The calendar for the Town of New Fairfield board and commission meetings can be found at www.NewFairfield.org or by clicking the button below:

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Town Hall Hours

Thank you for reading the New Fairfield Newsletter

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Town of New Fairfield, 4 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield CT 06812

www.NewFairfield.org