North Stonington Weekly update 9.4.2020- Rabies clinic tomorrow, video and details on upcoming referendum, ribbon cutting and more!

Happy Friday NoSto!

Another busy week ends here in town as we go into a long weekend.

This past Monday the Board of Selectmen hosted a meeting where the leasing of the old middle school was discussed. We encourage everyone to take the time to watch the Monday evening meeting if you weren’t able to attend. The recording can be viewed here… https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/home/pages/board-selectmen-special-meeting-zoom-meeting-august-31-2020 . Please take the time to inform yourself and then cast your vote on September 14th at 298 Norwich Westerly Road from 12-8pm. Absentee ballots are available by visiting the Town Clerk in person during normal town hall business hours 8-4pm. 

On Sunday community volunteers, construction and design partners, students and staff came together to celebrate the opening of our newly renovated North Stonington Elementary School. While it certainly was a different kind of celebration due to COVID-19 it was special none-the-less. For those interested in taking a virtual tour of the building, check out this link and the video created by Margaret Leonard https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/home/pages/north-stonington-elementary-school-virtual-video-tour-8-30-2020

We also recorded the ribbon cutting for anyone who would like to see the remarks from community leadership and that video can be viewed here https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/home/pages/north-stonington-elementary-school-ribbon-cutting-8-30-2020 . In short this entire school building project was an incredible undertaking and accomplishment for our town and was to date the largest project we have ever completed. Please consider watching the ribbon cutting video to hear about all of the important people who helped make this possible. We especially must thank the School Modernization Building Committee who volunteered countless hours in this endeavor and specifically their Chairwoman Dr. Pamela Potemri who led the initiative. Kudos to them and we look forward to the closing out of the project in the coming months. 

A hazardous waste collection day will take place at North Stonington Education Center (former middle high school) on September 12th from 9am-1pm. Details about what can be brought to the event can be found by clicking this link http://scrrra.org/how-do-i/recycle-hazardous-waste/ . Clean out all of those materials (including paper shredding) and stop by to properly dispose of them at no cost! 

This week the highway crew continued to clean up the sides of roads from storm damage. Large trunks were removed from the sides of Wintechog Hill, Fowler, and a section of Meadow Wood. Dirt road washouts were repaired on Pinewoods and Cranberry Bog roads. A stop sign on Milltown and Princess Lane road sign were reinstalled. Mowing took place on Babcock, Wyassup, Hangman Hill, Princess, and North West Corner Roads. The crew also removed some boulders and cleared an area for parking on Wrights Road where we have finished marking some trails and the trailhead in the area. While some of this area is designated for a solar project in the coming year, some may likely remain available for hiking. Special thanks to the Conservation Commission for their work on this trail. Three members of the Commission Arnie Vlieks, Steve Colgan and Bob Degoursey are pictured here admiring the new sign after their work blazing the trails was completed.  

The Town will be hosting a rabies clinic with services provided by Dr. Morrone tomorrow, from 9am-11am at the Rec Center, 267 Norwich Westerly Road.  The clinic will cost $15, please bring exact amount in cash and bring your dog’s previous rabies certificate to receive the 3 year vaccine.  Masks are required and animals will be brought into the building without their owner to be vaccinated. 

The North Stonington Community Calendar for 2021 is now available for purchase for $10!  This year’s calendar features many of our stone walls around town.  Calendars are available at the Town Clerk’s office, Wheeler Library and the Shunock River Brewery and Village Café for your purchase. 

As we go into this Labor Day weekend, we encourage everyone to continue to remain vigilant and protect yourself and others. COVID-19 is still out there and as we’ve seen in some areas it can very quickly resurface. Please wear a mask when distance can’t be kept from others. We have continued to fare well in Connecticut but this virus spreads fast and we certainly don’t want to have an outbreak in our area. We want our schools and businesses to remain open and our residents to remain healthy. Do your best to take care of yourself and your neighbors. We wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day! 

Mike Urgo

First Selectman