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First Selectman's Report - May 28, 2014

Posted on: May 29, 2014 - 2:33pm

First Selectman’s Report

May 28, 2014

 

Simsbury Performing Arts Center Kicks Off Season on Friday, June 13, 2014

The Simsbury Performing Arts Center is kicking off its season with some wonderful concerts, starting on Friday, June 13 with Lynyrd Skynyrd  – and two days later, on Sunday, June 15 – Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss.  These concerts will be followed by the Solstice Music Festival, featuring some of the best bands in New England, and Midsummer Mozart – the first of our Talcott Mountain Music Festival concerts with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra – on June 27.

This is the inaugural season for the Simsbury Performing Arts Center 501(c)(3) and they are off to a terrific start.  Their new website is up and running, and you can find out more about these concerts and buy tickets for them at  www.simsburymeadowmusic.com.

 

Simsbury Open House Day at the Wadsworth Atheneum – June 21, 2014

On Saturday, June 21st, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art celebrates Simsbury Open House Day. All Simsbury residents are invited to visit free of charge, 10 am to 5 pm. Residents are invited to visit all the galleries including the newest exhibition, MATRIX 169 / Ruben Ochoa. Free Family Guides, a cell phone audio tour, and docent-guided tours at 1 and 2:30 pm are also available. The tours will include the painting, “Niagara Falls” by the Hudson River School painter, John Kensett.

To obtain free general admission to the Wadsworth Atheneum, Simsbury citizens are asked to show proof of residency (such as a driver’s license, or an envelope sent to their home address) and Phelps Chapter members proof of membership, at the admissions desk.

For more information about exhibitions and events, call (860) 838-4100 or visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org.

Community for Care Booklet – A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use – Available to Public

I’m pleased to announce that our Community for Care has put together “A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use” with excellent factual information on the physical and legal consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as recommendations about how to discuss these issues with your children.   We have some copies here tonight for those who are interested, and they will be distributed at Simsbury schools, Town Hall, the Library and Social Services.

I would like to thank the Community for Care Committee and co-chairs Woody Eddins and Lisa Heavner for their work on this – they are tackling a problem that continues to have serious consequences for our children and this is an important step in the right direction.

 

Town of Simsbury Awarded State Grant to Cover Infrastructure Costs for Joining Nutmeg Network

As you know, late last year the Town of Simsbury applied to be connected to the “Nutmeg Network,” which is the state’s fiber-optic infrastructure built to deliver reliable, high-speed internet access to its members throughout Connecticut.  While this network has been available to schools, libraries and emergency services, it was only recently made available to Towns.  At the time we applied, the Town also applied for a grant to cover infrastructure costs associated with joining the network.

I’m pleased to announce that Simsbury has been awarded a grant of $27,100 from the state to cover our connection costs.  This grant fits perfectly with our major capital commitment to ensure that the Town has appropriate bandwidth and technology to provide needed services to its residents, now and in the future.  I would like to thank Rick Bazzano, the Technology Task Force and this Board for everything they have done to move our technology initiative forward.