JANUARY 2025 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 || JANUArY 2025

Town Hall will be closed on Wednesday, January 1st and Monday, January 20th for the holidays.

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REAL ESTATE and PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES DUE JANUARY 1, 2025

From the New Fairfield Tax Collector:

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BUDGET SEASON BEGINS

The budget workshops will begin in January. Each department will present their proposed budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. The agendas indicating the day and time of each workshop will be posted on www.NewFairfield.org, on the January 2025 calendar, along with the Zoom link. The link to the daily schedules and each department's proposed budgets can also be found on the agendas.

If you are interested in the budget and the budget process, then these workshops will be of great interest to you and we encourage EVERYONE to attend.

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January 20, 2025

We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A brief history from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA):

"On January 20, 2025, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday will mark the 30th anniversary as a National Day of Service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

Americans celebrated the first official Martin Luther King Day, which is the only federal holiday commemorating an African-American, on Monday, January 20, 1986. In 1994, Congress designated the holiday as a national day of service and marking the third Monday in January every year as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - a "Day On, Not a Day Off."

Dr. King advocated for nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice as a means of lifting racial oppression. He created change with organized sit-ins, marches, and peaceful demonstrations that highlighted issues of inequality. Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964; he was the youngest person to ever receive this high honor. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father by entering the ministry to become a Baptist minister. On April 4, 1968, at the age of 39, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee as he stood on the balcony of his hotel. Dr. King traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to lead a march in support of striking sanitation workers.

We remember Dr. King as a husband, father, friend, and fierce advocate for the betterment of all people. Honor his memory by organizing, volunteering, and spreading the word. Remember to MAKE IT A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF, for you and those around you."

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Please be sure to sign up for the new alert system with winter upon us, to choose what types of alerts you would like to receive.

Sign up for the New Alert System

***Please remember to sign up for the New Alert System!***

The town has transitioned 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

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

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Curious about Affordable Housing in NF?

Beginning in January, the NF Housing Opportunities Committee (HOC) will be sharing information by supporting the NF Housing Trust’s Open House.

On Tuesday, January 7 @ 7:30 .pm., there will be a virtual Housing Trust Open House during the HOC regular meeting via zoom.

On Saturday, January 25, an in-person Open House of the NF Housing Trust will be held at the Senior Center @ 10:30 a.m.

All are welcome.

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SMART TIPS FOR SAFE SHOVELING FROM THE NEW FAIRFIELD OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

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VENDORS & SOLICITORS IN NEW FAIRFIELD

All vendors and solicitors selling products or services in New Fairfield must obtain a license from the Town BEFORE conducting business or soliciting door-to-door. The application process for a license includes fingerprinting and background check by the CT State Police. Vendors and Solicitors must carry their license with them while doing business in the Town.

If approached by a solicitor, please ask to see their license from the Town of New Fairfield. If they do not have a valid license, ask them to leave or call the Police Department at 203-312-5701. All Vendors and Solicitors will also be issued a badge from the Town of New Fairfield with their picture and year that their license is valid, which they should wear on a lanyard around their neck.

A list of approved vendors can be found on the Town website, www.NewFairfield.org, under Municipal Departments, Selectmen's Office. This list is updated each time a solicitor is issued a permit. All solicitors need to apply for a new or renewed permit for 2025.

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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM NFPD-DISPATCH

Per Town ordinance, all alarm systems within the Town of New Fairfield must be registered and updated every 2 years. This ordinance is in place so the Emergency Communications Center has accurate information on file in the event of an alarm or issue at your residence or place of business that requires us to contact a key holder. This includes burglar, fire and medical alarms. Forms can be downloaded online at https://www.newfairfield.org/.../emergency-communication.... Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Police Department, 302 Ball Pond Rd.

Additionally, please make sure your house mailbox, etc. is clearly marked for emergency responders to locate your residence and/or place of business quickly.

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Household Hazardous Waste Regional Events

The first Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority Household Hazardous Waste Regional Event will take place in April 2025 in Danbury. Please refer to the HRRA.org website for additional information as it becomes available.

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A wonderful time was had by all at the New Fairfield Holiday Festivities by the Parks & Recreation Department