Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
The Colebrook Board of Education will honor Principal Beth Driscoll by hosting an informal drop-in on Wednesday, June 4th, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the school library. This will provide an opportunity for parents and community members to thank Beth for her successful 18 years of leading Colebrook Consolidated School and to wish her well in retirement. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited.
Road oiling was completed this week on Prock Hill, McClave, Old Colebrook, Wolford Hill, and Fritz Roads. Sweeping will take place next week, and loose stone will be recycled and re-used in July. Ten years ago, the non-profit Colebrook Preservation Society (CPS) began the work of restoring the exterior of the iconic Colebrook Store. Now, they are focused on making the interior space of Colebrook’s 1792 landmark more sound, functional, and welcoming. When the work is completed, the CPS will have a new operator in place. The Colebrook Store’s service, menu and product offerings will reflect the wishes of the community, as captured in a survey conducted last year.
Based on bids gathered, the Colebrook Preservation Society anticipates the cost of the restoration to be upwards of $100,000. As the non-profit organization that owns the store building on behalf of the community, the Colebrook Preservation Society is seeking financial support to achieve its restoration goal. If you would like to support this project, please send your tax-deductible donation to CPS, P.O. Box 24, Colebrook, CT 06021. The restoration is slated to begin this month with completion targeted for the fall.
In July 2023, heavy rainfall and flooding did significant damage to area roads and bridges, with Pisgah Mountain Road severely impacted. Since then, the historic and scenic one-mile stretch of dirt road has been closed to motor vehicles-available exclusively to hikers and dog walkers. As we approach the 2-year anniversary of its closing to vehicles, the Department of Public Works and Colebrook Conservation Commission have collaborated on a fiscally responsible maintenance plan.
On Tuesday, June 3rd, at 6 p.m. a public informational meeting will be held in the upstairs meeting room at Town Hall to discuss whether to continue prohibiting vehicle access on Pisgah Mountain Road. We’ll be joined by a representative from the T2 Center, a UCONN-based organization that provides technical assistance to local municipalities for road and bridge maintenance. Several years ago, the T2 Center studied Pisgah Mountain Road, and one of their recommendations was to restrict vehicle access, and to maintain the road as a recreational trail.
The Colebrook Conservation Commission would like to thank everyone who helped pick up trash along roads for Colebrook Cleanup Day. Thanks also to Karen Odell for organizing behind the scenes at Town Hall, and the Public Works Department for collecting the bags left on roadsides. We know many residents routinely pick up nip bottles, cans and other trash throughout the year along our roads. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, June 21st, at the Falls Village Public Works Garage (100 Railroad St.) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You must have a ticket to participate. Contact Karen at Town Hall (kodell@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:kodell@colebrooktownhall.org>) for a ticket to this event. You can find a list of eligible/ineligible items here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202024/Brad%202025/6.21.25%20HHW%20flyer.pdf>.
This past Tuesday, 40 breakfast goers honored outgoing Community & Senior Center Co-Director Dana Towers and thanked her for her service to the Center. Dana is with us through next Thursday’s birthday lunch (5/22). Reservations for Thursday lunches are due by 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
If you are interested in participating in our proposed pilot food scrap recycling program, slated to kick off this summer, and have not already signed up, please do so here<docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvs-7EpTqTHQ7vVcAKCYTydwrsUO7fonzG4jlJXkVkvHoCVA/viewform>. Learn more about the pilot program here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202025/Pilot%20Composting%20Program_Instructions.pdf>, and more about the benefits of food scrap recycling here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202025/Pilot%20Composting%20Program_Benefits.pdf>. When we’re up and running, we’ll have collection points at Town Hall and the Forge Fire House. Stay tuned.
The Colebrook Associates reports that personal care products continue to be a need for their food bank in the foyer of the Center. Items can be left in the pantry or at the Post Office.
Congratulations to our Rec Board on a very successful billboard advertising fundraiser in support of our youth baseball program. You can check out all the new signs on display now at the ballfield. Thank you to our advertisers, and to our Public Works team for getting these installed in time for the season.
Upcoming events
The annual Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Colebrook Recreation Board, will be held on Sunday, May 18th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Pond. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Breakfast sandwiches will be provided by the Colebrook Lions Club. Register here<docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI-BcB7q_OCocaKhuTtLSORl0E7kBD2Gd4fnDShiiul6zuIg/viewform>.
On Sunday, June 1st, at 3 p.m. the Colebrook Historical Society<www.colebrookhistoricalsociety.org/> will host an Open House to kick off its 2025 summer exhibit, “Clothed in History”. Garments worn throughout history will be on display. Refreshments will be served at the open house. You may also view the exhibit and/or tour the Seymour Inn when the Historical Society opens on Saturdays and Sundays (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) beginning on Saturday, June 7th until the end of summer.
On Saturday, June 7th, from 1-2:30 p.m., the Conservation Commission and US Army Corps of Engineers are sponsoring a 1-mile walk at the Corps’ scenic 388-acre Colebrook River Lake property on Rt. 8. This event is part of CT Trails Day<ctwoodlands.org/events/ct-trails-day/> weekend. Leaders for this walk along the Beaver Pond trail will be Joyce Hemingson, from the Conservation Commission, and James Jylkka, with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The group will meet at 426A Colebrook River Road in Colebrook. To get there, turn right at the US Army Corps entrance (the gate will be open) and drive a short distance to the Administration Building on the left, and park in the lot there. (Note: the boat launch area is farther up on Rt. 8 and is NOT where the group will meet.) There is no rain date and, please, no dogs.
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
The Colebrook Board of Education will honor Principal Beth Driscoll by hosting an informal drop-in on Wednesday, June 4th, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the school library. This will provide an opportunity for parents and community members to thank Beth for her successful 18 years of leading Colebrook Consolidated School and to wish her well in retirement. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited.
Road oiling was completed this week on Prock Hill, McClave, Old Colebrook, Wolford Hill, and Fritz Roads. Sweeping will take place next week, and loose stone will be recycled and re-used in July. Ten years ago, the non-profit Colebrook Preservation Society (CPS) began the work of restoring the exterior of the iconic Colebrook Store. Now, they are focused on making the interior space of Colebrook’s 1792 landmark more sound, functional, and welcoming. When the work is completed, the CPS will have a new operator in place. The Colebrook Store’s service, menu and product offerings will reflect the wishes of the community, as captured in a survey conducted last year.
Based on bids gathered, the Colebrook Preservation Society anticipates the cost of the restoration to be upwards of $100,000. As the non-profit organization that owns the store building on behalf of the community, the Colebrook Preservation Society is seeking financial support to achieve its restoration goal. If you would like to support this project, please send your tax-deductible donation to CPS, P.O. Box 24, Colebrook, CT 06021. The restoration is slated to begin this month with completion targeted for the fall.
In July 2023, heavy rainfall and flooding did significant damage to area roads and bridges, with Pisgah Mountain Road severely impacted. Since then, the historic and scenic one-mile stretch of dirt road has been closed to motor vehicles-available exclusively to hikers and dog walkers. As we approach the 2-year anniversary of its closing to vehicles, the Department of Public Works and Colebrook Conservation Commission have collaborated on a fiscally responsible maintenance plan.
On Tuesday, June 3rd, at 6 p.m. a public informational meeting will be held in the upstairs meeting room at Town Hall to discuss whether to continue prohibiting vehicle access on Pisgah Mountain Road. We’ll be joined by a representative from the T2 Center, a UCONN-based organization that provides technical assistance to local municipalities for road and bridge maintenance. Several years ago, the T2 Center studied Pisgah Mountain Road, and one of their recommendations was to restrict vehicle access, and to maintain the road as a recreational trail.
The Colebrook Conservation Commission would like to thank everyone who helped pick up trash along roads for Colebrook Cleanup Day. Thanks also to Karen Odell for organizing behind the scenes at Town Hall, and the Public Works Department for collecting the bags left on roadsides. We know many residents routinely pick up nip bottles, cans and other trash throughout the year along our roads. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, June 21st, at the Falls Village Public Works Garage (100 Railroad St.) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You must have a ticket to participate. Contact Karen at Town Hall (kodell@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:kodell@colebrooktownhall.org>) for a ticket to this event. You can find a list of eligible/ineligible items here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202024/Brad%202025/6.21.25%20HHW%20flyer.pdf>.
This past Tuesday, 40 breakfast goers honored outgoing Community & Senior Center Co-Director Dana Towers and thanked her for her service to the Center. Dana is with us through next Thursday’s birthday lunch (5/22). Reservations for Thursday lunches are due by 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
If you are interested in participating in our proposed pilot food scrap recycling program, slated to kick off this summer, and have not already signed up, please do so here<docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvs-7EpTqTHQ7vVcAKCYTydwrsUO7fonzG4jlJXkVkvHoCVA/viewform>. Learn more about the pilot program here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202025/Pilot%20Composting%20Program_Instructions.pdf>, and more about the benefits of food scrap recycling here<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202025/Pilot%20Composting%20Program_Benefits.pdf>. When we’re up and running, we’ll have collection points at Town Hall and the Forge Fire House. Stay tuned.
The Colebrook Associates reports that personal care products continue to be a need for their food bank in the foyer of the Center. Items can be left in the pantry or at the Post Office.
Congratulations to our Rec Board on a very successful billboard advertising fundraiser in support of our youth baseball program. You can check out all the new signs on display now at the ballfield. Thank you to our advertisers, and to our Public Works team for getting these installed in time for the season.
Upcoming events
The annual Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Colebrook Recreation Board, will be held on Sunday, May 18th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Pond. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Breakfast sandwiches will be provided by the Colebrook Lions Club. Register here<docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI-BcB7q_OCocaKhuTtLSORl0E7kBD2Gd4fnDShiiul6zuIg/viewform>.
On Sunday, June 1st, at 3 p.m. the Colebrook Historical Society<www.colebrookhistoricalsociety.org/> will host an Open House to kick off its 2025 summer exhibit, “Clothed in History”. Garments worn throughout history will be on display. Refreshments will be served at the open house. You may also view the exhibit and/or tour the Seymour Inn when the Historical Society opens on Saturdays and Sundays (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) beginning on Saturday, June 7th until the end of summer.
On Saturday, June 7th, from 1-2:30 p.m., the Conservation Commission and US Army Corps of Engineers are sponsoring a 1-mile walk at the Corps’ scenic 388-acre Colebrook River Lake property on Rt. 8. This event is part of CT Trails Day<ctwoodlands.org/events/ct-trails-day/> weekend. Leaders for this walk along the Beaver Pond trail will be Joyce Hemingson, from the Conservation Commission, and James Jylkka, with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The group will meet at 426A Colebrook River Road in Colebrook. To get there, turn right at the US Army Corps entrance (the gate will be open) and drive a short distance to the Administration Building on the left, and park in the lot there. (Note: the boat launch area is farther up on Rt. 8 and is NOT where the group will meet.) There is no rain date and, please, no dogs.
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
