From the Desk of the First Selectman

Don Lowe First Selectman Column 06/16/2025

The Sherman School graduation ceremony was a great evening as the class of 2024/25 received their diplomas. Congrats to the graduates and their families as these students go onto the next chapters of their education. Music teacher extraordinaire, Chris Carlone, gave a terrific commencement speech which was meaningful, heartfelt, and perfectly on pitch (of course) for occasion.

The Town and the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department are asking residents to place their house numbers in more viewable spots so that our emergency services women and men can more easily find the addresses to which they are called to respond. So many Sherman homes either have no number on view at all or a number that is difficult to find or see. It’s advisable to make your house number easy to see and easy to read not only for emergency services, but for delivery services too.

For much of last week Sherman was visited by a young man who went door-to-door peddling “amazing” deals on pest control. It seemed as if he hit every house in Sherman. To my knowledge no one took him up on his proposal, at least I hope that is true. But please, do not do business with ANY person who comes unannounced to your home and peddles home services. Gone are the days of the down-and-outer with a heart of gold who pops in and helps out around the homestead for a hot meal and few sheckles. Nowadays, there’s both risk in your being grifted for poor service and an even greater risk of credit card and banking fraud. Just always politely say NO.

School is out, summer is officially here, and with that comes increased leisure traffic on our roadways – more motorcycles, bicycles, and walkers. This will especially be true with Summer Camp in session and the campers walking from one location to the next. Please be aware of this and be watchful to safely share the road with everyone as you travel in your vehicles.

Speeding through Town and on our state and local roadways is still a recurrent problem, one that is difficult to mitigate in a definite way. It has gotten better (we have evidence of that) but when someone is roaring through town it doesn’t seem like it is getting better. Please drive respectfully. Also, when company vehicles with their company names and contacts showing drive too fast, we have been calling the companies and asking them to please ask their drivers to slow down. This will continue.

Here’s wishing you a blessed summer with time spent with family and friends. In the words of the inimitable Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Live in the sunshine, Swim in the sea, Drink in the wild air.” I’m sure that last phrase is meant to mean “drink” as in breathe in the air. However, one could possibly interpret that as an invitation to “party hard outside…” In any case, you do you; just be safe!