October 2023

I hope everyone is off to a great start this new school year! We were blessed to welcome our Cubs and to have opened our new Candlewood Lake Elementary School. Additionally, the football field and track and boys locker room are all nearing completion and looking fabulous! Next up is part of the roof and the tennis courts at BHS, the completion of the demolition and paving at the old HHES site, and the removal of the portable classrooms at WMS, among other projects across town.

For those of you who celebrated Rosh Hashanah, I hope you enjoyed a meaningful observance and that you had an easy fast and a good holy day on Yom Kippur.

In September, we recognized Paul Avery (Town Sanitarian in the Health Department) as our Employee of the Month. Paul's commitment to his role is truly extraordinary and his invaluable contributions bolster the Health Department. He is always ready to take an extra step to help others. Thanks for being you, Paul! 

October brings us many observances to ensure awareness of breast cancer and domestic violence, bullying prevention, and cyber security. We additionally recognize 'Adopt a Shelter Dog Month'' 'National Apple Month' and 'World Smile Day,' which is the first Friday of October. I like the idea of World Smile Day – an international holiday dedicated to spreading happiness and joy. Smiling has many benefits, it reduces stress, generates more positive emotions, boosts the immune system, encourages positive thinking, and acts as a natural anti-depressant. As a bonus, smiling is free! October 10^th is World Mental Health Day. A Gallup poll estimates 17.9% of Americans are being treated for depression, up about 7% since 2015. Caring for your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health.

Last month I mentioned that the Town of Brookfield is supporting the Energy Commission’s “PowerSmart” campaign, which is part of a new statewide solar and battery storage community outreach initiative. If you haven’t had a chance to learn about it yet, please visit www.smartpower.org and https://powersmartbrookfield.wee.green.

Take care of yourself and one another and have a very Happy and SAFE Halloween.

Yours in service,

Tara 

Tara Carr

First Selectman

Board of Selectmen Meeting

Monday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m., Meeting Room 133. The meeting agenda will be posted on the town website the Friday afternoon before the meeting and live-streamed and recorded for viewing.

Board of Selectmen Coffee

with the Community

Saturday, October 28, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Dunkin Donuts located at 756 Federal Road. We encourage you to stop by with any questions or concerns for the Board of Selectmen.

Farmer’s Market is Open on Fridays

The Brookfield Farmer’s Market will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every Friday through October 20th. Shop for jams and pickles, bread, chocolates, and more, visit our craft vendors for candles, jewelry, and clothes, and new this year - a seafood vendor.

The Brookfield Arts Commission Presents:

Feature Artist - Steve Habersang

Steve’s detailed pen and ink drawings are a mix of fantasy and realism with a focus on the natural world, animals, and portraits.

Please visit Town Hall to admire Steve's sketches. All sketches are available for purchase.

Public Works

The DPW is busy doing proactive maintenance to our storm drain system to keep it functioning to its maximum capacity especially due to the extremely wet weather. If you have a catch basin near your home and notice that it's covered by sticks and leaves, give us a call. If it's within your means, we'd appreciate your removing the debris. 

As we approach Fall, we'll be wrapping up our paving program and will start planning for next year by updating our road ratings.

Assessor

Attention business owners or owners of unregistered/out-of-state cars: Personal Property Declarations will be mailed at the end of September and are due no later than Wednesday, November 1^st at 4:00 p.m. Please note that if declarations are received in the office later than November 1^st, you will be penalized unless they are postmarked by November 1^st or earlier by the U.S. Postal Service. If you do not receive a form or need a replacement form, they are available on our website. If you have any questions, please call the Assessor’s Office at 203-775-7302. If you are a veteran and never submitted a DD-214, please submit it to the Town Clerk by September 30 for exemptions on your taxes for next year. If you already submitted it, you do not need to again.

Town Clerk

Apply for your Absentee Ballots for the November 7^th Municipal Election early! Apply Online via the CT Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal, by mail by mailing an application to the Town Clerk, or in person at the Town Clerk’s office during regular business hours. Ballots become available on October 6^th. Learn more about the November 7^th Municipal Election by visiting the Town Clerk’s Elections, Primaries and Referendums page.  

 

Tax Collector

Waterline Assessment Bills

Reminder: All Waterline Assessment bills are due 10/01/2023. Payments must be received or U.S. postmarked no later than 11/01/2023 to avoid an interest penalty. Bills have been mailed. Failure to receive a bill does not invalidate the assessment or interest. Waterline Assessment bills will be available on the website starting on 10/1. Please note there are additional fees if you pay through the online portal. We accept personal checks, money orders, bank checks and cash up to $500.00.

Candlewood Lake Road Assessments will start this year. You can choose to pay annually or pay the entire balance. All the amounts will be available on your bills. Accounts that are not paid in full will have a lien placed on the land records.

September is SepticSmart Month!!

The average lifespan of a septic system is 15 to 40 years, but it can last longer if properly maintained!

Improperly maintained or failing septic systems can be a problem for many homeowners.

Following are a few tips for maintaining and preserving your septic system:

• Have your system inspected every 3-5 years by a licensed septic system service provider.
• Plan to have the tank pumped every 2-3 years. Just like changing the oil in your car, preventive septic system maintenance will extend the life of your system for a small cost compared to the cost of replacing the system.
• Think at the sink – many household items can either clog your system or kill the microbes that treat the wastewater; e.g. wipes, coffee grounds, grease, and high amounts of anti-bacterial soaps and detergents.
• Don’t strain your drain – the less water you use, the less your septic system has to work. Stagger the use of appliances and repair any leaks in your home.
• Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. This will significantly reduce the amount of fats, grease, and solids that enter your septic system and could clog it.
• Plant trees away from the drain field since tree roots can clog the field and cause the system to fail.

How do I know if my septic system is not working properly?

• Wastewater backing up or gurgling into household drains.
•  A strong odor around the septic tank or drain field.
• Bright green, spongy grass appearing on the drain field

Respiratory Viral Season is upon us!

Optimizing immunity to respiratory viral diseases this Fall will be the best way to ensure your health and that of the community. The upcoming respiratory season this Fall/Winter poses a complex set of risks again this year.

We're preparing for three respiratory viruses that may be co-circulating this season:

Influenza (Flu)

COVID-19

RSV 

Vaccines can provide protection from infection against all three of these viral respiratory diseases. These vaccines can be co-administered.

Speak to your healthcare provider to assess your specific situation and provide guidance on the best approach for you. 

As Fire Prevention Week approaches, the Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents:

 “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” The campaign seeks to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to remain safe. 

The Fire Marshal’s Office encourages all residents to embrace this year's theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU.” A cooking fire can grow quickly. We have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.

The Fire Marshal’s Office offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

1.  Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you're cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you're cooking.
2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
3.  Have a “kid-and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org.

For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.

For more fire safety and fire prevention messages, follow the Brookfield Fire Marshal’s Office on Facebook.

The Board of Selectmen approved a project to construct two eight foot tall metal herons in the center of the Town Center District pocket park, as recommended by the Arts Commission. The project will be paid from the $20,000 capital reserve approved in this year’s capital budget and available Streetscape Phase 3 funding. The project is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2024.

The below image is an artist's rendition of how the completed art piece will look.

The Brookfield Parks & Recreation program guide is now available online and registration is open. Click here to visit the new website and check out all the new offerings.

Join us with the family for the annual Scarecrow Decorating Day. Build your own scarecrow to take home for display. Click here to reserve your spot.

Fall craft workshops for the kids are now open, register here.

Start planning your costume for the annual Halloween 5k at Brookfield Town Hall. Registration is now open to 9 age groups. Click here for details. Gear up for the race with our Train for a 5k program by registering here.

Parents with young 'trick-or-treaters' are invited to the annual Trick or Treat at Town Hall on Halloween! Please RSVP here.

Welcome Back to School 2023-2024 Video

https://youtu.be/OzCYpnzC1oc

Below are the Three Main Points from the regular Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023:

1. Opening of School Updates: Dr. Barile reported on an exciting and successful opening of the school year, including the opening of the new Candlewood Lake Elementary School and the implementation of new Healthy School Start Times. New staff has been fully onboarded and teachers had a great Convocation and start to the year. Each principal introduced their new teachers to the Board of Education.

Principals Balanda, Renda and Pepsoski all reported on their respective school openings. Mr. Balanda thanked his administrative staff, technical staff, guidance counseling staff and Laura Murphy from Parks & Recreation for all their work over the Summer, particularly on the new athletic field and guidance wing roof work. Mr. Renda thanked his administrative and custodial staff, along with Mr. Bednarik and the central office staff for help with interviews and hiring new staff. Mr. Renda reported very smooth busing procedures despite new routes. Mr. Renda also reported very positive attitudes among staff, and stressed the importance of the work teachers do and how teachers can change students' lives. The WMS staff is adjusting to the new "right sized" school, now that 5th grade has been moved to CLES after 32 years at WMS. Dr. Pepsoski reported a great start to the year at CLES and mentioned receiving a significant number of positive emails from parents about the first few days of school. With the exception of dismissal issues on Day 1, things have been going very smoothly. Dr. Pepsoski thanked the secretarial staff, custodial staff and the CLES PTO for everything they did to get the school ready and welcome the teachers. Dr. Pepsoski reported that the merging of the CES/HHES and WMS staff has been a smooth and enjoyable experience. Dr. Pepsoski also thanked everyone including staff, administrators and Mr. & Mrs. Belden and Mrs. Greenstein for helping set up classrooms and for leading tours with families on Labor Day. None of the principals reported any negative issues relating to the new start times. Mr. Balanda will be presenting a more extensive update on the new school start time effects for BHS at next month's BOE meeting. To hear the principals' updates, click here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9IOKtX0bzS0?si=jTwp4brFsMQIhILW&t=441

2.DESSA Update:  Dr. Anna Mahon, Assistant Superintendent, provided an update on the district's DESSA screening tool for social/emotional competencies focused on the RULER approach. Dr. Mahon reported that the majority of students appear to be prepared and available for learning and ready to actively develop skills in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and change making. There are specific instructional strategies and activities that the district can employ to enhance skill development. In conjunction with the Board’s recent adoption of the Strategic Plan, staff are ready to build capacity and continue to implement teacher screening windows this Fall, Winter and Spring. To watch Dr. Mahon's update, click here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9IOKtX0bzS0?si=5jOd0u2AslCIz0g8&t=4353

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UG6bAgsT4iwHrFHWrv753An21hGllCgmBWCMc4UUANo/edit?usp=sharing

3. Athletics Update:  Athletics Director Steve Baldwin provided an update on several athletic achievements and enhancements to facilities. The 2022-23 Cheer team won SWC Championship, Dance Team was runner up in the state, Varsity Baseball team was Class L State Champions and Girls Lacrosse was in the final four. Last week, students attended the Class Act Pledge at Chick-fil-A, which was attended by 600 of our student athletes! The new athletic field has been completed. Rubber coating will be applied to the track this week and we're hoping the field and track will be in use soon thereafter. The boys’ locker room project is nearly complete with the exception of a few doors and benches, pending inspection. New bathrooms with outdoor access for the public during school events are finished as well. 

BHS was once again selected as a Michael's Cup winner due to its very strong Athletic Advisory club. No school in CT has received this award more than Brookfield in the last 8 years. BHS students are leaders in the state, going to other high schools to facilitate the process for other students on how to follow the Michael's Cup pledge. Mr. Baldwin also traveled to Indianapolis to speak at a national athletics conference. In addition, WMS was one of two middle schools in Connecticut named as National Unified School Champions. Many thanks to Mrs. Corilyn Rafferty, advisor for Unified sports. Congratulations to all the athletes! Mr. Baldwin thanked all the school administrators, staff and students who serve on various CIAC committees. Mr. Baldwin also reported about busing coverage issues with athletics which has had an impact on some games. Mr. Baldwin has been working closely with All Star Transportation and other transportation providers to minimize impact to sports schedules. Finally, the CIAC Athletic Program Review visiting committee will be working with BHS this fall to complete the work initiated last spring. To hear Mr. Baldwin's report, click here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9IOKtX0bzS0?si=PsfPngOrpnXnHuF0&t=7111 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CecNoRn9y00X2KXyYL5-R0ObNTBD-xhVpbFGYoHJORs/edit?usp=sharing

 

Brookfield Library

October at The Brookfield Library

Every day, but especially during Banned Book Week (October 1 – 7), the Brookfield Library celebrates the freedom to read. Stop by and exercise your freedom to select the books of your choice!

Come visit us at the Candlewood Inn during the annual Best of Brookfield event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11. We’ll have information about all of the fabulous free services we offer, and some giveaways, too.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the thrills and chills of the season, we have many programs to offer patrons of all ages: 

• Kids can enjoy our regular story times and a special Ed Emberly-themed art event on October 21. We will also have spooky twists on our Builders, Science Explorers and STEAM workshops and crafts. The whole family can come for a Sunset Cinema presentation of the original Ghostbusters. Bring your own picnic dinner or enjoy some food for purchase from the JJ Stacks food truck.
• Teens can join in our very popular Dungeons & Dragons events, as well as our Inklings writing group on Halloween!
• Teens and adults can navigate our Escape Room Challenge on October 7, or join a local author who will share some horror-themed poetry and invite you to create your own!
•  Patrons of all ages can join in our Thursday afternoon chess club meetings, or a Board Game Night on October 24. 
• Brush up on your workforce skills on the Career Coach bus. Learn how to write your own memoir, attend a genealogy workshop, or join our new ukulele club.
• Crafters can make cards, sew, embroider, knit, crochet, or needle felt.
• Check out the Brookfield Library Art Gallery’s exhibit, Land and Sea Melodies, beautiful oils on canvas by Beth Carlson, which concludes this month. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to stop in and view her artwork.

Please see our website for details regarding dates, times, and registration details for all of the above programs and more!