(Editor’s note: This letter is the December First Selectman’s letter that appears on the Beacon Falls town website.)
To the editor,
The holiday season is upon us, ushered in by the time-honored tradition of Thanksgiving. It is appropriate to set aside time during these busy weeks to acknowledge our blessings and to give thanks to the One from whom they flow. America has a rich history, beginning in the early 1600s, of thanking God for our safety and for the abundance of the earth. Beacon Falls enjoys the annual frenzy of decorating and shopping, baking and entertaining as much as anyone, but I’ve always sensed that our town maintains its true character through the core values that underpin our colorful holiday traditions. So, as you enjoy family and friends this season, please remember to make wise choices and celebrate responsibly. Stay safe.
I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to two businesses that, in seeking to expand their operations, have chosen to locate in Beacon Falls. K&W Tire and Utz Distribution have moved into the Murtha Industrial Park, which is great news for our local economy. Corporate partners help keep Beacon Falls affordable, and we thank K&W and Utz for choosing us. I believe we will be fine partners.
On Nov. 28, Beacon Falls was recognized for the completion of the downtown streetscape during a Celebrate Connecticut event at the Bushnell in Hartford. The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, or CERC, hosted the event, presenting Selectman Chris Bielek with a congratulatory plaque honoring the town’s project, which was chosen over numerous entrees. The plaque, which is on display at Town Hall, states that Beacon Falls’ “efforts have helped strengthen Connecticut’s economic climate, improve our communities, and revitalize our neighborhoods…”
Travelers on Main Street may be pleasantly surprised by a new wide-open vista where formerly trees, saplings, vines and brush vied for space. The bank has been cleared along the streetscape from the Depot Street Bridge to the Beacon Falls Market, affording one and all a lovely view of the Naugatuck River. On Nov. 10, volunteers from Beacon Hose Company No. 1 donated their time and labor, using land clearing equipment donated by local businessman Charles Edwards. They toiled all day, successfully clearing about 50 percent of their targeted goal, with tentative plans to tackle the remainder in the spring. Thank you very much to our local heroes, who give so much of themselves in so many ways to keep Beacon Falls safe, close-knit and beautiful.
Gerard Smith
First Selectman
Beacon Falls
