By Cathy Iino, First Selectman.
Happy Independence Day, everyone!
Some reminders:
Fireworks. Setting off aerial fireworks without a permit remains illegal in Connecticut. Sparklers and fountains are permitted, but please be considerate of your neighbors—especially the four-legged ones. A local horse owner writes, “Many people do not understand that horses are a flight animal and will try to flee when explosives are used. It would not be unusual for a terrified horse to go through fences to escape, causing life-threatening injuries.” Dogs, cats, and some people also suffer from the explosions.
If you see or hear illegal fireworks, you may report it to the State Police at 860-663-1132. They generally have quite a few calls about fireworks around the Fourth, but they will investigate if possible.
Transfer Station. The Transfer Station will be open regular hours, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, on Saturday, July 3.
Town Hall will be closed on Monday, July 5.
Community. The Fourth of July celebrates our dedication to the ideal of equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The rebelling colonies were far from perfect embodiments of this ideal, but it was a great accomplishment for them to come together to fight for it. As we celebrate the ideal, we must remember that it was the coming together that enabled them to win their independence and, eventually, to form a new nation. If we are to continue to strive for that ideal, we need to work together, across our differences, now more than ever.
