Don Lowe First Selectman Column 04/21/2025
The Board of Selectmen (BOS) regularly scheduled monthly meeting is this Thursday, April 24 at 7pm in Mallory Town Hall. The agenda is on the website and there is a Zoom link for those who want to tune in. We will be discussing resurfacing Anderson Road along with capital items that Park and Rec brought to us. One Park and Rec item is the possibility of having a fireworks display in Sherman, probably over Labor Day weekend. Initially this sounds like a winner as in “who doesn’t like fireworks!” but it’s not as simple as it seems. Along with some logistical issues, it’s fairly expensive. The BOS will be exploring all aspects of this potentially explosive issue.
This Saturday, April 26 from 9am to 1pm is Roadside Cleanup Day in Sherman. Garbage bags, rubber gloves, and reflective vests will be available all week in Town Hall as good Samaritans walk the roads and pick up the fall and winter’s garbage and drop it off in the dumpster here at the Town Green. The Scouts will be collecting recyclable bottles and cans. Also, kayak slips and garden plots will be assigned on Saturday, April 26 too. John Wrenn, our P/R director, will be in the Sherman School cafeteria for this. Kayaks start at 9am although it’s best to get in line earlier. After that’s over, garden plots start at 10am.
On Saturday, May 3, from 11am to 3pm on the Town Green, the Arts Commission and Conservation Commission will host the Community Expo, which is a circle of booths and tables presenting various Sherman organizations. This is a terrific event, and not only do you learn what organizations offer, but it will be fun just to socialize with other Sherman folk. There’s fun for the kids and music for everyone. In addition, there’s a budget referendum across the street at Charter Hall. Don’t forget to vote!
The Commission on Aging has a vacancy on that important board and if you are interested in serving please reach out to me. All it takes is a cooperative mindset and an interest in helping Sherman seniors. The commission meets once a month and the meetings rarely last more than one hour. At this month’s meeting the commission held a moment of respectful silence for longtime commissioner, Ed Hayes. Our Board of Selectmen will be honoring Ed, a former selectman, similarly on Thursday night.
I’m thrilled that Suzette, our Senior Center director, asked me to speak at the Senior Center once a month every fourth Thursday. The first one is today. I will give updates on what is going on in Sherman, and then will take questions. Suzette told me that there are always many questions and discussion around “what’s going on in Town” and this is an effort to address a population that might not be as familiar with Facebook and other ways that people get local info. I truly look forward to doing this.
I think there is a letter in this week’s Tribune asking that people be respectful about the amount of signs placed along our roadways. These include event invites, ads for businesses, yard sales, and an array of other communications. I agree with the letter. Yes, it’s okay that people use the roadways for signage placement, but remember to pick them up when the event expires and maybe they don’t need to be placed so close together, or maybe not so many of them? There’s getting to be a lot of them and as summer approaches it will likely get worse. So, yes, it’s okay, but be mindful.
I am privileged to witness so many outstanding example of good, active citizenship here in Sherman. From taking part in “Cleanup Day” or the “Community Expo”, to volunteering for a commission or board, to kayaking or gardening, to attending or performing in the theatre, music, and art shows, to helping neighbors, to honoring our esteemed citizens past and present, to being part of our emergency response teams, and many many more examples -- my list is only getting started – I am continually awed by the goodness of this Town. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Meade.
