Town of Colebrook, Connecticut

Following the purchase of our new Western Star snowplow truck earlier this year, the town is now accepting sealed bids for the purchase of its 2010 International MaxxForce 10 plow truck with International 7500 SFA 4×2 chassis. The truck has a 350 horsepower International engine with 47,750 miles on it. The minimum bid is $25,000. Bids below minimum will not be considered, and final bid acceptance is at town discretion.

Bids should be submitted to Karen Odell at Town Hall by noon on Friday, October 9th. To schedule an appointment to view the vehicle, please call the Town Garage at 860.379.8306, ext. 300.

This week marks the first anniversary of our pilot food scrap recycling initiative. To date, more than 70 food scrap recycling kits have been distributed. During our first year, we diverted approximately seven tons of food scraps from landfills in Ohio and Pennsylvania, in line with what we’d forecast for our first year. USA Recycling adds that the purity of our food scrap waste stream is excellent. We are also in discussion with USA on ways to make our collection stations more user-friendly. Details coming soon. If you’d like to participate in our food scrap recycling program, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>.

As a followup to last week’s repairs of the underground water leak, our Public Works team has completed repaving in front of Town Hall on the Route 183 side.

This week, our Smith Hill Park playground at Colebrook Consolidated School is being refurbished with 96 cubic yards of playground surface mulch. This is done periodically to ensure the playground’s safety and to protect the town’s investment. The playground was established in 2007 with a Small Town Economic Assistance Grant from the state.

Flu shots will be available at the Community & Senior Center next Thursday, October 1st, from 9-11 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 6th, at 9:15 a.m., following breakfast at the Community & Seniors Center, Fire Marshal Ed Bascetta will discuss, “Do’s and Don’ts of Alternative Heating Methods,” tips for heating your home safely this winter.

The town is accepting applications for energy assistance. Please contact Karen Odell at 860.379.3359, ext. 201, or at kodell@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:kodell@colebrooktownhall.org>.

State and Federal elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd. Early voting at Town Hall will be available beginning Monday, October 19th. Attached, please find a list of important voter registration dates from the Office of the Secretary of State.

Save the date. This fall’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, October 24th, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Torrington Water Pollution Control Facility in Harwinton. Details to follow next week.

When the Colebrook Store closed at the beginning of 2025, its not-for-profit owner, the Colebrook Preservation Society (CPS), announced the kickoff of: a major fundraising campaign; a store interior repair/restoration/replacement/preservation project; and an eventual store reopening via a lease to a new operator.

Attached, please find a letter from the CPS discussing the renovation in detail. They report that where it has been possible and affordable to repair, preserve and restore, it was done. They note, however, that there where ADA, building codes and fire/security issues necessary be addressed as well as electrical, plumbing and HVAC upgrades.

The Preservation Society adds that a search for a search for and negotiations with potential lessees are ongoing with expectations of reopening the store before June 1st, 2027.

This week, the Colebrook Fair Committee, led by Co-Chairs Sherri Gray and Karen Odell, met to evaluate this year’s Fair and to kick off discussions for the 82nd annual Colebrook Fair to be held on September 4th, 2027. If you would like to be involved in planning our 82nd Fair, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>.

Beardsley Library is lending laptop computers and accessories for long-term use to eligible Connecticut residents through LaptopConnectCT. Supplies are limited. Please call the Library at 860.379.6043 to inquire by October 9th. Laptops will be allocated via a random drawing. Learn more at the attached flyer.

Upcoming events

Tomorrow, Friday, September 25th, the Colebrook Historical Society will host its final Friday Night Gathering for 2026. The topic will be the Hartford Circus Fire. In 1944, one of the worst fire disasters in American history occurred in Hartford, Connecticut. This presentation by the Connecticut Museum of Culture & History will use photos and artifacts from their collection to help tell the stories of that day. Learn more at the attached flyer.

This Saturday, September 26th, the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative’s “Salute to Smiles” program is hosting a free oral health event at the University of Bridgeport (Warner Hall, 60 Lafayette St.). Limited spots are available. Learn more at the attached flyer.

On Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Colebrook Consolidated School Fifth-Grade Class Pumpkin & Mum Sale will be held in the school parking lot. Pumpkins, mums, food, bake sale items and raffle tickets will be sold. NOTE: Raffles will be drawn at 1 p.m. Proceeds benefit the 2028 Nature’s Classroom trip.

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

Voter-Registration-Information.pdf
Colebrook-Store-Update.pdf
LaptopConnecCT_Beardsley-Library.pdf
CCS_The-Hartford-Circus-FIre.pdf
Veterans-Oral-Healthcare-Day.pdf