From the Desk of the First Selectman
Don Lowe First Selectman Column 07/14/25
Don’t forget to get your tickets to the Fireman’s Ball to be held on Saturday, August 2 on the Town Green. Doors open at 4:30. Tickets are available on the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department website and also from SVFD members who sell them. Along with a tasty roast beef dinner with all the fixins’, there is live music, door prizes, and fun-filled times with your friends and neighbors. All proceeds go to our first responder heroes – the SVFD.
Speaking of heroes, I have recently had meetings with some Veterans in town about a program that you see displayed in other area towns called Hometown Heroes. This is where photos of your town’s military veterans are displayed, usually on telephone poles, as a way of honoring those who have served. I’m sure you have seen this. I will be proposing this and the program’s details to the Board of Selectmen at our July monthly meeting on July 24. Many of us feel that this would be appropriate for Sherman.
As I mentioned last week, the internal work at the school is ongoing as construction crews get ready for the start of the large scale and visible work that will be a key part of the Sherman School renovation. I also reported last week on the news about the bidding overages. I will report further on that when we have concrete news. Right now, the Board of Education, the building committee, and the Board of Selectmen acting as Board of Finance is still going over plans and ideas to deal appropriately with the situation, especially to mitigate exposure for taxpayers. Meanwhile, students are slated to begin their school year in the week after Labor Day.
On Thursday, July 17, if you’re a Sherman military veteran you are invited to an event, “Pin-ups for Vets Ms. August!” at Charter Hall. The event’s social hour starts at 6pm and the dinner is at 7pm. This is a gathering for any Sherman veterans with the idea of meeting one another and learning more about what is offered to Sherman veterans.
Last week, nearly the entire town of Sherman (or so it seemed) came out for the wake, funeral, and graveside burial of Matthew Hatcher. This young man with his spectacular smile, his courage, kindness, and his bravery obviously touched many people. Our hearts go out to the Hatcher family over such a profound loss. One thing I know is that Matthew, and his indomitable spirit, will never be forgotten. A thoughtful Sherman resident has suggested that we all tie a white ribbon in memory of Matthew somewhere on our property in a prominent place to honor this fine young man. Thank you, Bernadette, for this beautiful suggestion. Let’s tie white ribbons all over Sherman!
