05/02/2026
๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐: The Aspetuck Land Trust has ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฐ $๐,๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to expand its orchard and pollinator meadow ๐ธ at Trout Brook Valley Preserve.
The project will help prevent invasive overgrowth while supporting pollinators and future farming efforts. Plans include ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐-๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฐ, reinforcing the Trustโs commitment to sustainable agriculture, and land stewardship.
๐ธ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ญ. ๐ข๐ง โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Ellie & I made the cover of Easton Neighbors, May issue! ๐ In the linked article, I discuss my hometown Easton roots and perspectives, especially on environmental and education issues.
๐https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/easton_neighbors_article.pdf
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๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Pick up a waterproof ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฉ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ guide, now available at Town Hall on a first-come, first-served basis.
Courtesy of Bill Karesh, these handy, easy-to-use guides are perfect for bird lovers of all agesโwhether youโre identifying visitors at your backyard feeder or exploring local trails. Stop by and ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก!
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๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐, ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ for Earth Day. Speakers at the CT Capitol, sponsored by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, highlight the importance of protecting natural lands across the state and celebrates ongoing efforts to conserve open space, wildlife habitats, & community resources for future generations.
๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐จ: https://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=26380
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๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Bill recently joined conservation leaders in Washington, D.C. for the Land Trust Alliance's annual ๐ด๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ท๐๐ฆ๐ , helping bring Connecticutโs voice to the national conversation on land and environmental protection.
Bill, alongside Executive Director, Amy Blaymore Paterson, of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council met with members of Connecticutโs Congressional delegation to ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง priorities.
๐ One of their priorities is a robust ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ with dedicated funding for forest conservation, timely release of Highlands Conservation Act funds, and protection of the U.S. Forest Service (and its critical climate and forestry programs).
Billโs participation reflects Eastonโs ongoing commitment to preserving natural resources and ensuring that local conservation values are represented at the national level. Thanks Bill!
๐ https://www.aspetucklandtrust.org/boardmembers
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โ๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐): Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released a study with recommendations to improve and streamline its NDDB program, which reviews potential impacts to endangered species impact reviews required for DEEP permitting.
This study is an important opportunity to learn about proposed improvements and provide input. Participation is encouraged.
๐https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/nddb/ct-deep-nddb-report-march-2026.pdf
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๐ณ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: We encourage Easton homeowners to take a walk around their properties and ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ that climb and strangle treesโespecially along unmanaged property borders.
These vines can grow several inches ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ค over time and place ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ on trees, often leading to long-term damage or loss. Simply cutting them as close to the ground as possible with shears โ๏ธ or loppers can make a big difference.
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๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Legal expenses have been reduced greatly and we were also able to avoid a few lawsuits before they began. Rather than the initial 100-150k discussed at the Board of Finance last year, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
50๐ฒ more to finish the fiscal year!
Employment Litigation Attorney, Zachary D. Schurin, of Pullman & Comley, LLC, has been โญ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ in helping the Town navigate and resolve the dispatcher's union contract issues originating from early last year.
Zach provided clear guidance throughout a complex process, ensuring that all matters were handled professionally and very efficiently. A big thanks to Zach for all his help! ๐
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๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Please support the proposed budget during this difficult budget year.
๐ฒ Budget referendum vote is on ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ from ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ. Please see the joint statement from BOF Chair ๐https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/statement_from_dan_and_art_laske_5.1.26_0.pdf
For transparency, I encourage all residents to ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง from the Board of Finance and Board of Education below. ๐
๐ https://sites.google.com/er9.org/easton-budget/home
โผ๏ธ Turnout at the meetings was low - so ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ that the proposed tax increase is primarily due to the ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ $๐๐.
๐That one addition added ~2% to the spending increase, which went from ๐.๐๐% ๐ญ๐จ ๐.๐๐% (If not for the additional $1M increase in teacher's health care claims, this would have been a more reasonable budget increase of 3.48%). As discussed at the Annual Meeting, this equates to a ๐.๐๐% ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ.
Thank you to our long-time ๐ Board of Finance Chair, Art Laske, and our Board of Finance members for leading this very difficult process, including managing to reduce the initial budget proposals substantially in an equitable fashion.
โ๐ป I note that I included $๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฌ. As in any municipal budget, there will be ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ - especially during this difficult year. Please support the proposed budget while we all try to improve the situation.
๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐
๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ: There are often questions about the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula and whether Easton โsendsโ money to the state to fund other school districts.
Easton residents do contribute significantly to the State of Connecticut through state income taxes. โป๏ธ In return, the Town will receive ~$๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ from the stateโs ECS funding formula.
I encourage residents to contact their legislators to ask for additional state education funding legislation for Easton.
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๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ Zoning Board of Appeals meeting - ๐๐ฎ๐, ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐ก, @ ๐:๐๐๐ฉ๐ฆ
at Easton Town Hall, Conference Room A.
๐ Planning and Zoning meeting - ๐๐ฎ๐, ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐ก, @ ๐:๐๐๐ฉ๐ฆ
at the Senior Center at 650 Morehouse Rd.
๐ Planning and Zoning meeting (regarding proposed ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ 26 home cluster housing development) - ๐๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐,
@ ๐:๐๐๐ฉ๐ฆ at SSES.
If you wish to receive updates regarding these meetings, please ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ.
๐ https://www.eastonct.gov/subscribe
๐ As always, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ at these hearings and support as we work together for the future of Easton! Ellie is so grrrrateful to have a team of passionate residents so dedicated to preserving Easton's rural character!
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๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ for the May 5 Referendum are available and MUST BE RECEIVED no later than 8:00pm on the same day.
Once you have completed your ballot, you can either:
๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฑ ๐ https://www.eastonct.gov/town-clerk/news/notice-official-ballot-drop-box-installed-in-town-of-easton-easton-only
or
Return it to the Town Clerk's Office
(Mon-Thurs 8:30am-4:30pm or Fri 8am-1pm)
๐ May 5 School Budget Referendum ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ:
https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/news/sample_ballot_may_5_2026_referendum.pdf
๐ May 5 School Budget Referendum ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ:
https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/referendum_may_5_2026_0.pdf
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๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐ญ๐ข ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ!!! A heartfelt thank you to Easton CT Police Department's Chief Foti Koskinas for helping the Town secure donated materials from Sam Gault of Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies for a beautiful new patio.
Additional thanks to Nicole Costantino for coordinating a generous team, including Easton resident, Al Lello, of Lello Stoneworks, who donated their time and talent to bring it to life!
We also extend our sincere appreciation to Selectman Nick DโAddario for his generous donation of the โ๏ธ picnic table, enhancing this welcoming space!
THANKS to their combined efforts, this area has been ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ into an ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ & staff to gather and enjoyโ just one more example of the incredible โฅ๏ธ community spirit that makes our Town so special!
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โก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: There is a ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ. Please move your car from the charger at or before the limit is expired!
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๐๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Residents are asked to use only *authorized* waste haulers. The approved companies are Residential Waste Systems & New England Sanitation (203-220-9253). Thank you for your cooperation!
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๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: If teens/adults are interested in being a volunteer, The Easton Garden Club could use some help this Spring! Their annual Garden Mart Plant sale is coming up on May 9 at the Firehouse Green.
To volunteer, please ๐ fill out the form on their website:
๐ https://www.eastongardenclubofct.org/contact-1
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๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: A beloved Easton resident since 1979, Dolly is a familiar and friendly face in our communityโknown for her public access television work, support of the arts, and dedication to local history.
Through her interviews, exhibits at the Easton Public Library, and volunteer spirit, Dolly has enriched town life for decades. Weโre grateful for all she does and wish her a wonderful birthday!
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๐ต ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: If you are a Senior and meet the qualifications in the link provided, make sure to apply for tax relief before the deadline on May 15, 2026.
๐ https://www.eastonct.gov/assessor/files/tax-relief-programs
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๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Homeowners are asked to review, complete, and return the mailers at their earliest convenience.
If anyone has received a damaged Data Verification Letter, they should contact Municipal Valuation Services at (203) 292-5500 to request a replacement.
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๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Major highway improvements continue at the I-91/I-691/Route 15 interchange in Meriden.
A newly constructed ramp to East Main Street opened on May 1, 2026. Phase Three of the project is now underway.
More Info: ๐ https://i-91i-691route15interchange.com/
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๐ถ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: These dogs deserve more than a kennelโthey deserve a companion to love and a home to thrive in.
Each pup is ready to give loyalty & unconditional love to the right family. Please help spread the word about these lonely
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ฌ - PARKER, SNOOPY, & APPLEJACK!
๐ https://www.adoptapet.com/shelter/83063-easton-animal-shelter-easton-connecticut
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๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐! (Please send image contributions to [email protected].)
