Town of Colebrook, Connecticut

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Due to extremely high fire danger across the state, ALL open burning in Colebrook is strictly prohibited until further notice. This includes ALL leaf burning, and the use of fire pits and chimineas, without exception. Please exercise extreme caution, especially when disposing of smoking materials outdoors.
As of noon today, 241 votes have been cast since early voting began on October 21st (out of approximately 1,100 registered voters in town). Early voting will continue in the upstairs meeting room in Town Hall through Sunday, November 3rd,10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily-except for today (October 31st) when early voting hours are extended until 8 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The Post Office drainage project is underway. The budget is approximately $15,000 (plus the cost to re-stripe the parking area) and will be paid from our Post Office maintenance reserve budget, which has a balance of approximately $80,000, and can only be used for expenditures specifically related to the Post Office.
We are moving forward this week with drilling our new Town Hall well. The budget is approximately $16,000 and is funded by a grant from the Draper Foundation Fund, a fund of the Northwest CT Community Foundation. We researched various options for location of the well. Ultimately, at the recommendation of the Farmington Valley Health District, the well is being drilled behind the Seymour Inn building, the location of the Colebrook Historical Society.
Anyone interested in applying for the position of highway maintainer for the Town should contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org> for more details.
The Colebrook Associates are sponsoring a mental health awareness training called QRP (Question, Persuade, Refer.) QRP is a suicide prevention initiative designed to help people recognize the signs of declining mental health-and learn ways to help those in need. You can register here<link.edgepilot.com/s/1edf6db7/DxX_odww6kypA3Di4fkb4g?u=https://forms.gle/8kNECxSjZmC7yDrB6>.
A wooden Colebrook Conservation Commission plaque recognizing Jeb Burrows for his donation to the trail linking the Town Pond and Colebrook Consolidated School has gone missing. Anyone knowing of its whereabouts should contact Debi McKeon at Town Hall at dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org>
Upcoming community events
Colebrook Consolidated School will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Friday, November 8th, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the school. Community members are cordially invited to join students, staff and alumni for the festivities.
Northwestern Regional School District #7 is hosting a Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, November 11th, at 8 a.m. in the school cafeteria at 100 Battistoni Drive in Winsted, with a program to follow from 9-10 a.m. in the auditorium. Veterans should RSVP to Gail at 860.379.8525, ext. 2100, or grogers@nwr7.org<mailto:grogers@nwr7.org>.
Later that day, the Colebrook Community & Senior Center will be hosting a Veterans Day Lunch at noon. Veterans are free. Guests and community members are $7.
On Sunday, November 17th, at 3 p.m. the Colebrook Historical Society is hosting a special concert at the Colebrook Congregational Church. World-renowned violinist Stephanie Chase will perform “Inspired by Bach,” a recital honoring the 300th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo, and other works. Admission is free.
Upcoming municipal board meetings
Board of Ed – Wednesday, November 6th, at 7 p.m., at Colebrook Consolidated School Planning & Zoning – Tuesday, November 12th, at 6:30 p.m., at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office) Board of Selectmen – Tuesday, November 12th, at 7 p.m., at Colebrook Town Hall (upstairs meeting room)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Happy Halloween,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Our annual Town Meeting was held this past Monday at Town Hall with more than 30 residents in attendance. The following 10 appointments were voted upon and approved:
Planning & Zoning – Kevin Robichaud and Ned Catto (regular members); Aden B. Ruwet (alternate) Zoning Board of Appeals – Fred Williams and Penny White (regular members); Sarah Carfiro (alternate) Recreation Board – Ryan Farrell and Kimberly Demarco (regular members) Historic District Commission – John Lossin (regular member); Jen Catto (alternate)
The Post Office drainage project will take place early- to mid-next week (weather permitting). Parking will be limited for a few days.
Last week, we received the final invoice for expenses pertaining to the 2023/24 budget year (which ended June 30th). Pending audit results, the Selectmen’s budget (which covers everything except educational costs for Colebrook Consolidated School and our share of the Region 7 budget) came in 2.6%, or $61,546, under budget for the fiscal year.
Voting was brisk on our first day of early voting this week, with 37 voters casting ballots. As of noon today, more than 90 votes have been cast, out of nearly 1,100 registered voters in town. Early voting will continue in the upstairs meeting room in Town Hall through November 3rd,10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily-except for Tuesday, October 29th, and Thursday, October 31st, when early voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday was a busy day at the Community & Senior Center as 24 second, third and fourth graders from Colebrook Consolidated School joined the regular crowd of more than 30 for breakfast. Our students especially enjoyed the pancakes. Breakfast is served every Tuesday from 8-9:15 a.m. Lunch is served every Thursday at noon (with advance registration required).
The Community & Senior Center thanks everyone who participated in the recent clothing drive benefiting the Wounded Heroes Program of Maine. Dana Towers reports they were able to collect and deliver an entire pickup truck load of new clothing.
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Colebrook Consolidated School. The school community will be celebrating the occasion on Friday, November 8th, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Community members are cordially invited to join students, staff and alumni for the festivities.
Anyone interested in applying for the position of highway maintainer for the Town should contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org> for more details.
The Metropolitan District’s flood warning notification sirens, located at the Goodwin Dam Hydroelectric Powerhouse in West Hartland and adjacent to the Grange Hall in the Riverton section of Barkhamsted, will undergo routine testing and public sounding on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, at 2 p.m. and again that evening at 7 p.m. This public sounding will likely be heard in the communities of West Hartland, Colebrook, Riverton, and a portion of Barkhamsted.
The Colebrook Associates are sponsoring a mental health awareness training called QRP (Question, Persuade, Refer.) It is scoped as a suicide prevention project that will help people recognize the signs of declining mental health and help them learn ways to help those they may recognize as being in need of further help. You can register here<link.edgepilot.com/s/1edf6db7/DxX_odww6kypA3Di4fkb4g?u=https://forms.gle/8kNECxSjZmC7yDrB6>.
Upcoming community events
This Saturday, October 26th, from 5-7:30 p.m., Camp Jewell will host its annual Halloween Harvest Festival. The event will include trick or treating, a haunted house, and a pasta dinner. Dinner is $5 per person with optional donations to fund scholarships for day camp students in 2025. No RSVP required.
Northwestern Regional School District #7 is hosting a Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, November 11th, at 8 a.m. in the school cafeteria at 100 Battistoni Drive in Winsted, with a program to follow from 9-10 a.m. in the auditorium. Veterans should RSVP to Gail at 860.379.8525, ext. 2100, or grogers@nwr7.org<mailto:grogers@nwr7.org>.
Later that day, the Colebrook Community & Senior Center will be hosting a Veterans Day Lunch at noon. Veterans are free. Guests and community members are $7. Invitations to Colebrook veterans are forthcoming. Please RSVP.
Upcoming municipal board meetings
Composting Advisory Committee – Monday, October 28th, at 4 p.m., at Town Hall (Land Use office) Board of Selectmen/Board of Finance (Special Meeting to discuss Wind Colebrook South proposed property tax stabilization agreement-Executive Session anticipated) – Monday, October 28th, at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall (Land Use office)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org