Old Town Hall (Directions) 611 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 Sullivan Independence Hall 725 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 203-256-3000 Find additional contact info here
7/30/2021 - 7.30 TOWN UPDATE Dear Fairfielders, The summer always goes by so fast and it is hard to believe that July is almost over. The last two weeks have been bustling around our community and in Town Hall, since my last newsletter two weeks ago. It's an honor for Fairfield to be hosting the 3rd USGA Senior Women's Golf Open at Brooklawn Country Club, an A.W. Tillinghast course which opened in 1930. The tournament began on Thursday, July 29th and will conclude on Sunday, August 1st. This is an exciting women’s sports event, featuring 120 competitors and we are so thrilled the USGA picked a location in Fairfield to showcase women’s sports. NBC Golf will broadcast from Brooklawn on Saturday, July 31st 2pm-5pm and Sunday, August 1, 2pm-5pm. Congratulations to all the women participating in this national event in our hometown! Purchase Tickets Here COVID-19: With a slight rise in cases from the delta variant and the approaching new school year, I know COVID-19 has again become a hot topic of conversation in our community. Connecticut has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, Fairfield County leads the state in vaccinations, and as a town we are doing very well. Our Town has put together a list of local places administering the vaccine, which you can see here. Our Health Department remains in constant communication with the State Department of Public Health and participates in conference calls with the CDC. The Town is still conducting contact tracing for new cases, which has become more labor intensive as our residents have far more contacts than when we were all masked and not attending large events. I want to remind Fairfielders that the Health Department continues to provide weekly updates on their data page where you can see new cases and other relevant information. The reality is that the delta variant is causing concern among health professionals, but I want to assure our community that we are monitoring this situation. COMMUNITY NEWS ALDI GROCERY GRAND OPENING Yesterday, I was excited to cut the ribbon and welcome Aldi Grocery to Fairfield. It's a wonderful addition to have a new grocery store in the former Kohl's shopping center, next to the new Floor & Decor. I was happy to see a long line of residents waiting to get in, when the doors opened, yesterday morning. I hope you'll stop by and check them out. ONE LOCATION, THREE BUSINESSES After more than a combined 30 years of operation in three separate Fairfield locations, Jen and Bill Kenny are uniting all three of their growing businesses in one location - at 1899 Bronson Road in the Greenfield Hill Village. The former Fairfield County Bank building was beautifully renovated to support all three growing businesses. NATIVE’s mission is to provide a wide diversity of healthy, superior quality, regionally native plants to support the national movement of expanding ecologically critical native plant habitats to support our wildlife, while fostering an appreciation for the beauty of native plants. Jennifer Kenny founded Fairfield Performing Arts Studio (FPAS) to provide professional acting instruction to people of all ages. As owner and executive director of FPAS, Jennifer designs her programs to help students build their confidence and stimulate their imaginations William Kenny Associates provides ecological and landscape architectural services dedicated to delivering management strategies and design solutions born out of sound ecological principles. Thank you to the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce for organizing the ribbon cutting to celebrate the success of the Kenny's businesses. FAIRFIELD LITTLE LEAGUE JUNIORS TEAM BRINGS HOME A STATE TITLE IN ALL-STAR TOURNAMENT Congratulations to the Fairfield Little League Girls Softball (FLLGS) Juniors All Star Team, that won the 2021 Connecticut Juniors State Title on Tuesday, July 20th in Orange. They defeated Bristol Little League by a score of 8 to 5. The Parks & Recreation Department is planning a ceremony to congratulate the team on their success. FALL BASEBALL - 11D STATE CHAMPIONS Congratulations to 11D, the 2021 Connecticut State Champions! The Fairfield American Little League boys took down Southington 10-1 in the championship game to win the title on Tuesday, July 27th. The Parks & Recreation Department is also planning a ceremony to congratulate them on their success this season. INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY FOUND IN FAIRFIELD The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in cooperation with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) informed my office that there has been a detection of nymphs of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) on Ailantus (Tree of Heaven) in Southport. In 2020, multiple adult populations of SLF were found in Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford and most recently Norwalk. To read a recent article on the discovery in Fairfield, click here. For further information, and guidance on what to do if you see the spotted lanternfly, click here. PEQUOT LIBRARY'S 61ST ANNUAL SUMMER BOOK SALE On Friday of last week, I had so much fun joining in the tradition of firing off the cannon to mark the beginning of Pequot Library's 61st Annual Summer Book Sale. To view it firing off, click here. TOWN GOVERNMENT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING On July 19, I hosted an informational workshop to present my proposed list of projects to utilize the $24.8 million in federal funding coming to Fairfield. The goal in selecting these projects was to have an impact on the cross section of our community and address some long over due infrastructure projects. We looked at the Town's capital improvement plan to identify shovel ready projects that qualified under the federal guidelines. You can watch my presentation, the public comments, and the follow up Q&A from the Board of Selectman, Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting here. It would be very helpful if our residents, who were not able to call in or watch the meeting last Monday, take the time to watch the recording on FairTV or review the back up information presented during the meeting here. If you have a project you think the Town should consider, please refer to the guidelines in the presentation to make sure it qualifies under the federal guidelines. As I shared with elected officials during the meeting, it would be helpful to know which project you think we should remove in order to add your suggestion(s). In September, a final list will be presented for the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Representative Town Meeting for a vote. FILL USE REMEDIATION AND FILL PILE UPDATE I am disappointed that our community is faced with the clean up and costs associated with the illegal actions of former Town employees, and the amount of time, money and resources this entire scandal has required. Many of our residents have reached out to me after reading an article that stemmed from information in the new long forms, that were filed in court by the State's Attorney and named new co-conspirators. As troubling as the allegations are, they are not completely surprising. It is incredible to me that this was allowed to happen in our Town, but as I promised you, the residents of our community, from the day I was sworn in to serve, I would fully cooperate with law enforcement and do everything in my power to restore honesty, integrity and transparency to our Town government. I'd like to report that the remediation work is complete at Osborne Elementary, Lake Mohegan, Mill Hill School, Southport beach, Jennings Beach and McKinley School. Some additional sodding and seeding still needs to take place, but the removal of the contaminated fill is completed at those sites. The remediation work at Sunset Avenue will begin on Monday. As for Gould Manor, I am pleased to let you know that this morning the Town received a sign off report from the Department of Public Health, that will allow us to begin our remediation plan which should begin in mid-August. I believe the most important thing an elected official should do is communicate with residents openly and honestly. Transparency is paramount and public trust is sacred. As a third generation Fairfielder, this is my home, and I feel passionate and care deeply about our community. I will continue to do my best to lead our Town through this awful situation. There are approximately 40 sites around Town associated with the Julian fill. While we have made a lot of progress, as noted above, we will continue to work through the list of sites and I will provide updates when I have more information to share. It is my hope that the justice system will hold all those accountable for causing this mess in our community. POLICE DEPARTMENT On July 16th, I had the honor of administering the oath of office to eight members of the Fairfield Police Department in a promotion ceremony. I hope our community will join me in congratulating Deputy Chief John Bucherati, Captain Peter Koval, Captain Antonio Granata, Lieutenant Michael Paris, Lieutenant Hector Irizarry, Sergeant Richard Peck, Sergeant Michael Komm, and Detective Michael Zerella. I want to offer a special thanks to Dr. Petillo, President of Sacred Heart University, for graciously allowing us to hold the ceremony in the new beautiful SHU Community Theatre. It was a lovely venue for friends, family, and our community to gather and celebrate the individual achievements. FAIRFIELDERS GIVING BACK Fairfield resident Brian Duffy and a group of volunteers hosted their 2nd Annual First Responders Car Wash, as a way of supporting local first responders and doing something positive for the community. This group of volunteers are exemplary members of our community, who not only braved the heat to wash Fairfield’s emergency vehicles, but also were a blast to hang out with! The Fairfield Police and Fire Departments, along with the Town of Fairfield, thank Brian and his team for their continued generosity and thoughtfulness. NEW FACES IN TOWN GOVERNMENT Conservation Director After an extensive search with a professional hiring firm, the Conservation Commission selected a new Conservation Director who I happily approved, per the rules of the Town Charter. Timothy Bishop has over 18 years of experience as a consultant in environmental investigation and remediation projects throughout the metro area in both the residential and commercial sectors. Tim has a master's degree in environmental technology, a certification in wetlands delineations, and he serves on the Inlands/ Wetlands Board in his hometown of Ridgefield. Tim has a well-rounded background in the environmental field, and will be an asset to our Town and great leader for the department. Tim's first day will be on Monday, and we look forward to welcoming him to Town Hall. I want to thank Conservation Commission Chairwoman Jen Hauhuth, former Chair Kevin Gumper, and Commission member Dabney Bowen, for volunteering a great deal of time working with the professional hiring firm and interviewing all qualified candidates that applied. Assistant Director of the Department of Public Works We also hired a new Assistant Director of DPW, John Cottell, who started on July 19th. As part of my Town reorganization plan, John will assume the responsibilities of Assistant Director of DPW and the management of Solid Waste and Recycling, formerly two separate positions. John comes to Fairfield with the experience as a manager of utilities and energy conservation and a former Public Works Director. He has an engineering degree and is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. John also previously worked under our current DPW Director, John Marsilio. Mr. Marsilio is excited to have John's wealth of knowledge, expertise, and another level of oversight and support for our Department of Public Works. I hope you'll join me in welcoming John to Fairfield. FAIRFIELD COMMISSION ON disAbilities Today I stopped by the Senior Center to socialize with our seniors and issue a proclamation recognizing July as Americans with Disabilities Act Month, as we celebrate the 31st anniversary of its passage. This was special because on June 21st, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the establishment of the Fairfield Commission on disAbilities. The mission of the Fairfield Commission on disAbilities is to ensure that Fairfield is a welcoming community where people with disabilities can lead inclusive and fulfilling lives, participating and contributing as active members of our town. For more information on the commission, visit their webpage here. Julie Demarco, Director of Human and Social Services, Loretta Jay, Chairwoman of Commission on disAbilities, First Selectwoman, and Laura Incerto, Chairwoman of Human Services Commissions. Lastly, I want to share with residents that the Fairfield Juvenile Review Board, (JRB), a community program that diverts youth from the Juvenile Justice System, when appropriate, by handling the case through a community program instead of court. This program is for Fairfield Youth, (under 18), that have committed a non-violent, relatively minor, first-time offense. They, along with their parent(s)/guardian(s), face the community instead of a court room. The Board in turn supports the family, offers services and recommendations, as well as consequences. The Fairfield JRB is seeking volunteer members for the board. Requirements include that you live or work in Town, undergo a background check, sign a confidentiality agreement, and have a heart for kids and families. Experience working with kids and families, with knowledge of local resources, is a plus but not a requirement to be a Board member. The hearings are once a month and last about two hours in the late afternoon. If you are interested in learning more or signing up to be a Volunteer Board Member, please contact Detective Beth Leetch, bleetch@fairfieldct.org, for more information and forms. I hope you'll take some time to review additional Town information and upcoming events, by scrolling below. I hope you have a nice weekend. Brenda L. Kupchick Fairfield First Selectwoman FAIRFIELD COVID RESOURCE PAGE Scrolling below you can find additional events, information and resources organized by the following categories: Community Events Town Events July/August Updates Town Services Community Resources COMMUNITY EVENTS FAIRFIELD FARMER'S MARKET The Fairfield Farmer's Market will be open on Sundays from 10-2 PM until October 2nd. The Greenfield Hill Farmer's Market will be open Saturdays from 10-1 PM. For more information click here. OPERATION HOPE TAG SALE It will look a bit different but rest assured, proceeds will continue to help feed, house and counsel our neighbors in need and you are guaranteed to find some treasures. The Tag Sale will take place Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8, 2021, rain or shine from 9AM-5PM. Rather than locating the Tag Sale at First Church, they are asking friends to host tag sales in their own yards and garages that weekend around the Town of Fairfield. This is a great chance to purge so others can benefit from your treasures! Shoppers from all over will come to Operation Hope at 636 Old Post Road on the days of the Tag Sale, 9am-5pm, to receive the location list. ANNUAL FAIRFIELD WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT August 14 at 10:00 AM. For more details click here. ADVANCE FILM SCREENING OF "GET A NEW DREAM" THE DENNIS WALTERS STORY August 24 at 7:00 PM. For more details click here. UPCOMING TOWN EVENTS Friday July 30, 2021 – Sunday August 1, 2021 – Fairfield Teen Theater presents School of Rock Saturday July 31, 2021 at 6:30pm – Concert at Sherman Green featuring Voo Doo Carnival Saturday July 31, 2021 at - CT Challenge 2021 Charity Bike Event Sunday August 1, 2021 at 6:30pm – Concert at Sherman Green featuring The Glamour Girls Sunday August 1, 2021 from 10:00am – 2:00pm – Farmer’s Market at Sherman Green Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 10:00am – Peanut Butter Jam at Sherman Green featuring Al Decant & Jill Kubeck Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 6:30pm – Concert at Sherman Green featuring Yesteryear Thursday August 5, 2021 at 6:30pm – Concert at Sherman Green featuring Mertz’s Thursday August 5, 2021 at 6:30pm – Sand Jam Movie Night at Jennings Beach Friday August 6, 2021 – Sunday August 8, 2021 – Fairfield Teen Theater presents School of Rock Friday August 6, 2021 at 7:00pm – Comedy Night at Penfield Pavilion PARKS AND RECREATION WEBSITE JULY/AUGUST UPDATES BUY-A-BRICK PROGRAM | Fairfield Chamber of Commerce We invite Fairfield local businesses and organizations to become a part of Fairfield’s downtown streetscape, by purchasing a commemorative brick in celebration of the Chamber’s 75th Anniversary. You will have the opportunity to see your company name (also available w/logo), for all to view and enjoy in years to come. The bricks purchased through this fundraiser program will partially be used to help beautify and reconstruct the existing semicircle pocket park alongside the Fairfield Public Library on Post Road, in the heart of downtown. For more information on purchasing a brick, click here. HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN In January, the Harbor Management Commission sought public input to help with its efforts to update the Harbor Management Plan. Adopted by the RTM and the State of Connecticut in 1995, the plan guides beneficial use of Southport Harbor and protection of its coastal resources. After compiling all the responses, the results are now available here. ROAD CONSTRUCTION AT THE TRANSFER STATION Construction is underway on Richard White Way from 7 AM - 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Residents should expect delays, and when possible, plan trips to the transfer station Mondays and Saturdays. Next week the water and gas companies will be relocating their utilities and the pile driver will be driving steel sheets at the WWTP, to protect the neighborhood from flooding. Neighbors should expect to feel some vibration from this work. BIRD FEEDING HAULT FOR SUMMER The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recommends that you remove birdfeeders and bird food from late March through November, due to increased reports of black bear sightings in heavily populated residential areas -- 24 specific sightings in Fairfield. Anyone who sees a bear in Fairfield can contact animal control at 203-254-4857. If the animal is behaving aggressively or refusing to leave a residential area, people should call the police department at 203-254-4800. For a list of simple steps to avoid conflicts and problems with black bears, click here. TOWN SERVICES HARBOR MASTER OPENING The Harbor Management Commission is looking for candidates to fill the position of Harbor Master for the Town. If you are interested, click here for more details. All letters and resumes must be submitted by the end of business on August 11, 2021. RENTERS REBATE PROGRAM The Assessors Office is now accepting applications for the Renters Rebate Program. Applications are accepted between 9am and 4pm. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2021. Generally applicants need to be 65 years of age as of December 31, 2020 or be disabled, have income not exceeding $37,600 if single or $45,800 if married and have resided in Connecticut for one year prior to applying. Details can be found on the Assessors website here https://www.fairfieldct.org/rentersrebate or on the State of Connecticut’s site here https://www.fairfieldct.org/rentersrebate. 2021 BEACH STICKERS The 2020 Beach/ Transfer Station Sticker expired 12/31/20. Don't wait to buy your 2021 Sticker. RENEW your sticker online for 2021. You can also renew by fax, mail or in person at Parks & Recreation. COMMUNITY FOREST QUESTIONNAIRE The Fairfield Forestry Committee is seeking public input, relative to updating the Town of Fairfield Community Forest Management Plan and setting priorities for managing Fairfield's "Community Forest". Please click on the link below to participate in a brief survey. FAIRFIELD FORESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE FAIRFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARIES Library Express Service offers opportunities for quick browsing and checkout at both of our libraries. The Fairfield Public Main Library building is open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm and Tuesday & Thursday 9am – 7pm. Woods Branch building is open Monday & Wednesday 9am - 7pm and Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am – 5pm. Both Main and Woods are open Saturdays 1pm – 5pm. Learn more about Library Express service. Facemasks are required for everyone (ages 2+) entering and using the Children’s Department in both Fairfield Public Library buildings. As of July 6th, masks are optional for fully vaccinated patrons in all other areas of our library buildings. This update is in accordance with the Town of Fairfield Health Department and the recommendation of the CT Department of Public Health. Visit CT Department of Public Health for further information regarding settings where there is likely to be a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated people (including children younger than 12 years).. 2021 Summer Reading Challenge for ALL ages, children, teens and adults! Register NOW online. All ages are invited to enter our “Writing” Contest. Tell us a tale in words or art about an aspect of your culture or a family tradition. Entries should be no more than 750 words or in an artistic medium of your choosing. See details here. FPL 30 Day Sketch Challenge! During July, submit your daily sketch via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and tag us #fplctsummer2021 or email to: submissions@fplct.org. We’ll send you back the daily activity code for you to earn points in our Summer Reading Challenge (for teens and adults). Complete all 30 challenges to earn a badge and 5 bonus raffle ticket entries! All levels welcome – give it your best shot and show us what you can do! Every day a NEW theme! Fairfield Public Library continues to offer 24/7 access to their digital collection of books, music, magazines, movies and databases. Visit the Library Event Calendar to find a wide and varied assortment of Library Programs. Updates are shared via our website, newsletter and social media. SOCIAL SERVICES The hardest part to getting help is reaching out to make the call to the Social Services office. We are here to help. Please call us at 203-256-3170 Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM for more information about financial assistance programs. Not in a Crisis but Needing to Connect? Talk to a peer counselor at Soundview Warmline, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, seven days a week. Call 800-921-0359. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE: If you have been financially impacted by COVID-19, and are struggling to pay your rent and utilities, you may qualify for financial assistance through a new program opened up on March 15th called UniteCT. Additional information, and the application portal, maybe found at www.bit.ly/UniteCT or you may call 1 844-864-8328. Eligible applicants include both eligible renters as well as landlords on behalf of eligible tenants. BNT HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES - BNT (Building Neighborhoods Together) provides ongoing education and services designed to build financial skills and promote housing security, such as one on one credit counseling and benefits access (i.e. screenings to help determine available resources, as well as referrals to job training and placement programs). Call for more information: (203) 290-4255 OPERATION FUEL The Summer/Fall Season will be starting on July 12, 2021. Operation Fuel assists with utility bills, including electric, gas or water. The maximum grant amount is up to $500.00 and households can apply once per 12-month period. The income guidelines for a family of 4 is up to $90,492.00. Households are able to apply online at https://opf.toapply.org/. Please contact Social Services for additional information and documentation requirements at 203-256-3170, or visit https://operationfuel.org/. EMERGENCY PLANNING - GET STARTED NOW! There are abundant online resources that provide emergency supply lists, basic tips for emergency planning, evacuation plan checklists, and other useful information to consider ahead of a severe weather event or disaster. As the 2021 hurricane season begins, it’s important to be as prepared as possible! Here are some online resources with detailed guidance to help keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy: - The CDC https://www.cdc.gov/prepyourhealth/index.htm?cid=EPR-homepage - FEMA www.ready.gov - Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html ADVANCE CHILD TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS BEGIN JULY 15 Important changes to the Child Tax Credit: Parents of children 17 years old and younger will soon receive advance monthly payments on half of the total credit amount between July and December 2021. The other half may be claimed when 2021 taxes are filed. What this means: Families get the full tax credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple, or $112,000 for a family with a single parent (also called head of household). In other words, over the next 6 months, these families will get $250/month for each child between the ages of 6 – 17, and $300 per month for each child under 6. Families with higher incomes may be eligible for reduced payments. How it works: Automatic payments will begin July 15th for those who filed a tax return in 2019 or 2020, and claimed the Child Tax Credit. Automatic payments will also go out to those who received a stimulus check during the pandemic. PLEASE NOTE: Advanced payments will be sent out to income eligible parents who were not required to file. However, for parents who did NOT file tax returns in 2019 or 2020, OR receive a stimulus check, please use the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-Up Tool in order to start receiving these payments as soon as possible. Learn more and check out resources to help you fill out your form at ChildTaxCredit.gov ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG LAUNCHES ELDER JUSTICE HOTLINE Elder justice issues can range from age-based discrimination in the workplace to scams and frauds, elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. If you or a senior you know have been a victim of elder abuse call 1-860-808-5555. The Consumer Assistance Unit of the Office of the Attorney General will staff the hotline and refer matters as appropriate to agencies across state government. The hotline can be reached at 1-860-808-5555. The Elder Justice Hotline can answer your questions, connect you with trained investigators, and help you access aid, support and justice. Individuals may also access information about the hotline, resources, and an online complaint portal here: https://portal.ct.gov/ag/elderhotline. Reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation received through the Hotline will be referred to the Protective Services for the Elderly program of the Department of Social Services. DSS social workers investigate reports of elder maltreatment and neglect (including self-neglect) and intervene with services and connections to community partners. BE AWARE OF HURRICANE SEASON AND NATURAL DISASTER-RELATED SCAMS AS SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS BECOME MORE COMMON Warmer weather brings increased potential for flooding, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and tropical storm or hurricane activity that can cause damage to personal property, homes and businesses. Storm damage often requires consumers and business owners to make expensive repairs quickly – making them vulnerable to scam artists. And as severe weather events and disasters like large wildfires occur more often in other parts of the country, Connecticut residents could become greater targets for charity scams. Before hurricane season starts –be aware of these types of scams: Clean-up and repair scams: Scammers often offer clean-up or repair services at a low price, and without a contract. By law, home improvement projects must have a contract. Consumers should research potential contractors before making a decision, ask for credential information, identification, proof of insurance, and make sure there is a written signed contract detailing the work that will be done. You can verify credentials by visiting http://www.elicense.ct.gov Charity scams: In the aftermath of large natural disasters you may want to donate money to support the recovery process. Scammers take advantage good intentions by creating fake charities and advertising them to potential donors. Always research a charity before giving by visiting sites like www.CharityNavigator.org, www.GuideStar.org, or www.give.org, and ask questions about how your donation will be used. If someone uses high-pressure tactics to convince you to give, it’s probably a scam. Any charity soliciting in the State of Connecticut must be registered with DCP. Job scams: Natural disasters sometimes cause unemployment, creating an opportunity for job scams. These scammers can be very convincing and often advertise on legitimate platforms. Remember that you should never have to pay to apply for a job, or to start a job – and if a job posting guarantees employment, you should be suspicious. Used car scams: During hurricanes and severe storms, vehicles can be destroyed or have severe water damage. Scammers may try to cover up this damage and sell these cars out of state. Be wary of buying used cars after natural disasters, and always do a thorough inspection and ask for the cars history. If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, or if you notice a scam, you should report it to local law enforcement, as well as DCP by visiting www.ct.gov/DCP/complaint or to the Better Business Bureau’s Scamtracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker. Pequot Library: We're Here, We Care – Pequot Library offers curbside pickup by appointment and limited browsing hours from 3-6pm on Mondays & Wednesdays; 10am-6pm on Fridays; and 2-4pm on Saturdays. During browsing hours visit us to check out a book or view our display John James Audubon's Birds of America: A Return to Pequot Library, on view from February 4 - May 2. Outside of browsing hours, enjoy digital programs like story times, author talks, book clubs, and more! Get details on our website and social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Sign up for Pequot Library's Digital Digest eNewsletter or contact our Chief Librarian for personalized book recommendations. COMMUNITY RESOURCES Behind in your rent or mortgage? Are you behind in your rent or mortgage? Operation Hope may be able to help. Please contact Brenda at 203-292-5588 x225 or email her at blobdell@operationhopect.org. All inquiries are confidential – they are there to help! Struggling to make ends meet? Reminder: Operation Hope’s Food Pantry is here to serve all Fairfield residents. We are open at 636 Old Post Road Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 and Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00. Please let them help you with groceries and other basic necessities! Operation Hope Food Pantry Operation Hope has in-person openings for meal servers this summer to help our neighbors in need. All meals are served at our Community Kitchen at 50 Nichols Street, Fairfield, next to the police station. Servers must be 18+. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Friday. The commitment can be once a week for the entire summer or for a portion. If interested, send us an email at info@operationhopect.org. Please indicate your level of commitment, as well as your preference for lunch or dinner. BOXWOODS ALERT! CHECK YOUR SHRUBS FOR THE BOX TREE MOTH | FAIRFIELD'S FORESTRY COMMITTEE Find out what it can do to your boxwood! Please check your boxwood plants for the invasive and destructive box tree moth, which can kill your shrubs. If you bought a boxwood plant during spring 2021, please inspect it for signs of the moth (caterpillars, webbing, and leaf damage) and report any findings to your local USDA office or State Agriculture Department. RECYCLING DO'S AND DONT'S | SUSTAINABLE FAIRFIELD TASK FORCE Fairfield pays close to $700,000.00 a year for our recycling programs, but a lot of our Town recycling is contaminated - in other words there are multiple items in the blue bins that CAN NOT Be recycled. Our recycling processor says that close to 25% of our recycling is contaminated - sometimes it is as simple as residents putting their recycling into plastic bags (which the processor then treats as waste even though the materials inside might be good recycling containers). Learn More: Do's and Don'ts of Recycling What else can be recycled in Fairfield? SAFTEY TIPS FOR PEDESTRIAN, BIKING, AND RUNNING | FAIRFIELD'S BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE As more of our fellow Fairfielders get out to enjoy the summer weather, our Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee would like to remind townspeople of the following safety tips for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to ensure we operate as safely as possible. Below is a summarized list of more lengthy tips at the Committee’s website www.fairfieldct.org/bikeped that also includes Fairfield's Complete Street's Policy, maps of our town's bicycle routes, pumps, bike repair stations, and more. Motorists Expect pedestrians and cyclists on the road Reduce speed when encountering pedestrians and cyclists Look for cyclists when opening doors. Give cyclists at least 3 feet of space Connecticut is a yield State regarding pedestrians in crosswalks Never drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances that impair the operation of a motor vehicle Pedestrians ALWAYS face traffic, it’s the law because it’s safer Walk/run single file Make sure you’re visible Keep your dogs on a short leash Don’t cover your ears so you can’t hear Cross the street safely, use a crosswalk whenever possible Cyclists Ride with the traffic flow Obey all traffic laws Ride single file if riding with others Yield to traffic when appropriate Don’t cover your ears so you can’t hear Be predictable Stay alert at all times Look before turning Watch for parked cars GET INVOLVED! TOWN BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES You can also visit our Boards and Commissions page to learn more about roles and responsibilities: https://fairfieldct.org/boards Interested in giving back to our community? Want to have a voice in shaping Fairfield? The Town relies on the hard work of citizen volunteers who are appointed to provide guidance and governance on various Boards and Commissions. The list of vacancies for Boards and Commissions are on the Town Website. Be sure to check back often as the list is updated as positions become available: https://fairfieldct.org/vacancies To learn about the application process, please click here: https://fairfieldct.org/appointmentprocess EMERGENCY ALERTS | WHEN IT MATTERS MOST Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news from the Town of Fairfield, CT by signing up for the Fairfield Alert system. This system enables us to quickly provide you with critical information in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods and other emergency situations. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how! If you were previously registered with us on the CodeRed system, you must sign-up again by following the instructions below, in order to continue receiving Emergency and Community alerts from the Town of Fairfield. How to sign up? Click here. PREVIOUS UPDATES: July 16 July 2 June 18 June 4 May 21 May 14 Archives Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to receive my update directly here. Copyright © 2021 Town of Fairfield, All rights reserved. 203.256.3030 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Archives
It will look a bit different but rest assured, proceeds will continue to help feed, house and counsel our neighbors in need and you are guaranteed to find some treasures.
The Tag Sale will take place Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8, 2021, rain or shine from 9AM-5PM. Rather than locating the Tag Sale at First Church, they are asking friends to host tag sales in their own yards and garages that weekend around the Town of Fairfield. This is a great chance to purge so others can benefit from your treasures!
Shoppers from all over will come to Operation Hope at 636 Old Post Road on the days of the Tag Sale, 9am-5pm, to receive the location list.
You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how!
If you were previously registered with us on the CodeRed system, you must sign-up again by following the instructions below, in order to continue receiving Emergency and Community alerts from the Town of Fairfield.