It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Parsons/Taylor House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Easton, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive,”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend.”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years”
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive, respectful, and cheerful. This was the first step in getting outside assistance for our Mom and we were so impressed with how thorough the care was - the first helper checked to see that her home was safe and that she knew how to use her cell phone. We'd highly recommend using their in home care.”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend. We all thought she was wonderful!! I think her biggest strength is that she sees the work, needs little/to no direction, offers to take things out of our hands, and is a true-go-getter. For Billie, this type of help is great since she feels like she can take some time to rest and trust all is okay. Mary works hard and is also very patient. I really think Mary is a natural dealing with elderly. She is patient and kind! Anyway, what I wanted to ask is if Mary can be the consistent caregiver for the weekends. The other 4 caregivers that I have met are also very nice. We would like Mary as much as possible as she is punctual, and as I mentioned before, sees what needs doing. She is focused on what she can do to help. She doesnt just sit there next to Bill, she has eyes in the back of her head and goes the extra mile. Anything that needs to get done, she says no wait, let me do it if she hasnt already initiated it herself. She seems to have endless energy and never complained. I just felt compelled to drop you a this note to let you know how impressed we were with her. Thanks”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant to have someone come into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased with Betsy. Not only does she have someone to keep her company and meet her physical needs—her kitchen is looking cleaner than I have seen it in a while. Thank you again. Your kind manner was reassuring to my mother and to me, and you have made the process of caring for my mother at home easy, and provided me with much needed relief so that I can actually return to work with a calm mind.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would do their very best to take care of you in your time of need. I will recommended this facility to family and friends. I want to thank you so much for the exceptional care you took of my dad. I hold your agency in the highest regard and you have my deepest appreciation.”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years old. She refused to leave her home. Susan Oderwald took wonderful care of her. She found caregivers for her who treated her with kid gloves and she herself went above and beyond by getting papers signed, visiting her in the hospital and fetching things for her. I don't know what I would have done without her, since I live 3,000 miles away. I highly recommend her, her services and her staff of caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Gollub Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local River Grille or visit Jacob Mixsell House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Easton, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Easton, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Easton, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Budget work, Ukrainian sister city, New England Prayer Center and more Easton News…Patch Staff**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**Feb. 2, 2024Good Afternoon,On Monday, we held a press conference at EMS headquarters attended by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and State Senator Tony Hwang to mark the grant of $396,000 to Easton from the Governor’s state bond commission. This will pay for site work around the current, soon to be renovated EMS building. It...
Patch Staff
**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**
Feb. 2, 2024
Good Afternoon,
On Monday, we held a press conference at EMS headquarters attended by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and State Senator Tony Hwang to mark the grant of $396,000 to Easton from the Governor’s state bond commission. This will pay for site work around the current, soon to be renovated EMS building. It was a nice event, recognizing our dedicated volunteers and highlighting the state’s support of our town. Specifically, I addressed the importance of writing grants and obtaining available funding from the state and other sources which allows us to do important work in town without always having to rely on your local tax dollars to fund projects. We all pay a lot of taxes to Hartford, so it is important that we continue to work with the state administration to get some of those funds back into Easton. They have been extremely responsive and we appreciate that.
We have begun reviewing individual budgets in town hall. This is a month-long process. Our Department heads work hard to present responsible and cost-effective budgets which allow the town to still provide a high level of services to our residents.
As we approach our first year supporting our sister city of Sviatohirsk, Ukraine, I am pleased to announce that we have raised over $55,000. We have been able to provide a dump truck, a machine for turning wood into fuel chips for heating, and a water filtration system. In addition, we have set up programs for our children and seniors to reach out to each other in the spirit of friendship and support. We are extremely grateful for the amazing work done by our local steering committee. Some have had questions about the legitimacy of the aid group that we are engaged with, Ukraine Aid International. Their Form 990 is available through my office, please contact Ginger at gfiore@eastonct.gov.
Last night at the Board of Selectmen meeting, Chief Doyle answered questions about harassment. To avoid any possibility of editorializing, I would ask that when the meeting tape is posted please listen to his comments, questions and answers. After the Chief spoke, we discussed a charge for the task force for the protection of town volunteers and officials. The charge will be attached to the February 1st Board of Selectmen minutes on the town’s website. I am happy to say that despite the ongoing discussions surrounding attacks on volunteers, there is still robust interest in joining boards and commissions.
For many years Dan and Gina Blaze have lived and run the New England Prayer Center at 18-22 South Park Ave. The history of that arrangement is long and complicated, including the fact that for many years there has been no formal lease. With much hard work by our town attorney’s, we have a proposed lease acceptable to all. That lease was approved last night by the Board of Selectmen. Because of the value of the property, our Land Use Ordinance states that the lease must also be approved by a town meeting which should be scheduled by the next Board of Selectmen meeting. I will write a summary of the lease and background in an article in the Courier shortly. The lease can be found at https://www.eastonct.gov/board-of-selectmen/pages/south-park-information.
Also, our Town Clerk, Debbie Szegedi attended a recent Connecticut Town Clerk’s Academy Certification class where she learned that when a person resigns from a board or commission they must submit their resignation letter with an original signature to the Town Clerk office.
Enjoy the sunny weekend ahead!
Dave
EASTON — The Emergency Medical Services facility is set to remain in its nearly 100-year old home instead of moving to a revamped firehouse across the street.The committee charged with upgrading the volunteer EMS station tabbed the existing, weathered two-story building for a proposed $3.6 million renovation project that would double the number of garage doors and refresh the second floor, which would include an office, sleeping quarters and training space.The Board of Finance approved the committee's recommendation to sp...
EASTON — The Emergency Medical Services facility is set to remain in its nearly 100-year old home instead of moving to a revamped firehouse across the street.
The committee charged with upgrading the volunteer EMS station tabbed the existing, weathered two-story building for a proposed $3.6 million renovation project that would double the number of garage doors and refresh the second floor, which would include an office, sleeping quarters and training space.
The Board of Finance approved the committee's recommendation to spruce up the facility and appropriated $20,000 through a newly created capital project fund for costs that could include hiring an architect or legal counsel.
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"I think we all agree that the EMS needs a better station," William Andrews, the EMS Planning and Building Committee chair, said at the recent Board of Finance meeting. "There's no doubt about that. And the other thing we need is we need to have an economical solution that meets the needs of the community that works."
Committee members had eyed the firehouse across the street as the likely location for the EMS' new home earlier this year due to structural issues and space shortages in its current location. But the renovation of the existing station would open four garage doors instead of two at a lower price than the alternative — building an addition to the firehouse across the street.
The renovation at the EMS site would make over the entire building, including the alarm system, the floor and roof, interior finishes, parking, lighting, HVAC and a new septic system, according to projections from Turner Construction, the company overseeing the project.
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Costs for construction at the nearby fire facility would start at $4.2 million for a two-door garage, rising to $4.5 million for three doors and $5.4 million for four doors, according to Turner Construction projections.
First Selectman David Bindelglass said the four-door configuration at the EMS station would rectify safety issues stemming from emergency vehicles that would need to back into the two doors facing the two-lane Sport Hill Road, which passes by the front of the building. Under the renovation plans, three of the doors would be located along two sides of the building tucked in from the street and one door would face Sport Hill Road.
"This would give EMS the operational capabilities that they need to exist right now in a station that is functional and cost effective compared to the other options," Andrews said of the plans for the EMS building.
Andrews said the station would continue to operate with two ambulances, which meets the town's needs, and the crew can opt to replace the day truck that would be parked outside the building with an ambulance at any time. Bindelglass said a third ambulance could fit in the garage with some space reconfiguration on the first floor, which would open with two bays for ambulances each.
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The facility would also feature private bathrooms, a kitchen and living room on the second floor, according to the presentation from the EMS Planning and Building Committee. Andrews said all renovations would fit within the building's current footprint.
He said the volunteer EMS crew would shift its operations to a tent and trailer on an adjacent property, where members can live during the renovation period with beds and plumbing. Bindelglass said the owner of the property, the lot sitting between the EMS station and neighboring Easton Village Store, has signed the town's letter of intent to purchase the land.
Board of Finance member Andrew R. Kachele urged the Planning and Building Committee to run the renovation plans by the state Department of Transportation since the project would take place off Sport Hill Road, part of state Route 59. He said the town should also arrange for environmental testing at the site before moving forward with the project to identify potential contamination from the village store, and old ceramic studio or previous motor oil dumping.
"We can't take the risk of having a huge remediation issue on that site," Kachele said.
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A feasibility study for a sewer and septic system at the location would also be necessary before moving forward, he added.
Committee members will start searching for an architect for the site this month before presenting the board with its pick at a November Board of Finance meeting, where they will request funding from the town's supply of American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The architect would then formulate plans and speculations so a construction bidding process can takes place in early 2024, which will lead into a final town vote on project funding in the spring.
Budget reviews, Black History Month happenings, the Annual Boy Scout Gourmet Breakfast and more Easton News…Patch Staff**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**Feb. 23, 2024Good afternoon,I am gratified to see a continuing surge of letters in favor of exempting watershed towns like Easton from the 8-30g legislation regarding affordable housing. I think we all realize the critical importance of protecting our watershed. Given this tremendous show of support we can hop...
Patch Staff
**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**
Feb. 23, 2024
Good afternoon,
I am gratified to see a continuing surge of letters in favor of exempting watershed towns like Easton from the 8-30g legislation regarding affordable housing. I think we all realize the critical importance of protecting our watershed. Given this tremendous show of support we can hopefully look forward to our state senator Tony Hwang moving his “bill concept” forward into meaningful legislation this term.
Last night Selectman D’Addario convened the first meeting of the Task Force for the Protection of the Town Volunteers and Officials. We will finish filling vacancies on the taskforce and look forward to their work.
The Board of Finance begins its budget review process on March 5, and meets March 6, 7, 12 and 13, to review the individual budgets. The initial presentation of the budget will then take place on March 25.
The March 7, Board of Selectmen meeting will begin at 6:00 PM in order to allow the selectmen to attend the Board of Finance budget meeting and Board of Education presentation that same evening. Our main focus will be the fact that the Board of Education is seeing a short fall in funds due to a significant increase in special education costs. (I would refer you to the ER 9 website for more info). There will need to be an appropriation of additional funds for them to cover their expenses. In Easton, such an appropriation requires the approval of a town meeting. We will be discussing arrangements for that meeting. More information will be forthcoming
Happy 100th birthday to Arlene Wilson!
February is black history month. Please come view the, “Black History, Identity, & James Baldwin Centennial exhibition” at the Easton Library through March 16. This show celebrates Black History with an Underground Railroad Quilt made by local and national quilters, posters from James Baldwin Review, Columbia University student sketches, Black Men Reading paintings by Larry Morse, student artwork by Joel Barlow High School students & Discovery Magnet School Bridgeport. Please join us on March 2, 5:00-8:00 PM for a reception and the James Baldwin Spoken OutLoud performance. Curated by Easton residents Sheila Weaver and Karen Thorsen, this Easton Arts Council event will be co-hosted by the Easton Public Library, the Easton Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce (EDIT) and The James Baldwin Project.
Just a reminder, Easton K-9 Officer TJ is in the running for a grant of up to $5,000. TJ is a 7-year-old German Shepherd, handled by Officer Tamra French. He is trained and certified in building searches; apprehension and handler protection; tracking; narcotics detection and evidence recovery. In addition to their regular patrol work, TJ and Officer French frequently conduct demonstrations for the local schools, Girl and Boy Scout troops, Senior Center and they attend many public events. The Easton PD's K-9 program is funded solely through donations. Fundsfrom the grant would help pay for TJ's food, veterinary care and training. To cast a vote for TJ online go to: https://k9.hometownfoundation.org/submission/view/103.
Save the date for the Annual Boy Scout Gourmet Breakfast, March 23rd at Easton Community Center from 7:30am to noon. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by emailing Troop66Breakfast@gmail.com.
Have a good weekend,
Dave
Westport had 11 businesses and Easton had one business with priority item health violations during the Aspetuck Health District's November inspections. This is down from the 17 Westport businesses that received them in October.Priority item violations are the top infractions a business can get during health inspections, which need to be corrected within 72 hours. Priority foundati...
Westport had 11 businesses and Easton had one business with priority item health violations during the Aspetuck Health District's November inspections. This is down from the 17 Westport businesses that received them in October.
Priority item violations are the top infractions a business can get during health inspections, which need to be corrected within 72 hours. Priority foundation items and core items need to be addressed within 10 and 90 days, respectively.
Aux Delices received two priority item violations, three priority foundation item violations and four core item violations at its inspection. The priority items were for improper cold holding temperatures in the dessert cooler and a sanitizer bucket that had low concentration.
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"We take health very, very seriously,” Aux Delices General Manager Chris Berzolla said.
Berzolla said they check the 10 fridges' temperatures every three to four hours. He said the inspected fridge was in temperature earlier in the day, but not when the inspector came.
"That’s a very unusual event that he comes and it’s like that," he said, adding a multitude of factors could have caused it, like if the fridge was in a defrosting cycle or something that was sitting out back was put into the fridge.
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Aux Delices trains its employees across the company regarding health inspections, he said.
Exxon at 1510 Post Road East had one priority item violation, three priority foundation item violations and three core item violations. Its priority item violation was for the walk-in cooler not being cold enough.
Cashier Pia Daproza said the inspection went well.
Connecticut Golf Club in Easton had one priority item violation, five priority foundation item violations and six core item violations. The priority item was for raw food being stored over the ready-to-eat food, which was corrected on site.
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Director of Operations Deborah Wallenta said the health inspector came when the golf club was scheduled to be without power for the day for renovations. One of the employees still let the inspector in, though the club was closed.
Wallenta said the fridges weren't up to temperature because of the power outage, and all of the food was scheduled to be thrown away the next day. The violations were mainly corrected on site.
Green and Tonic received one priority item violation, four priority foundation item violations and six core item violations. Its priority violation was for a prepared food cooler not being cold enough, and needing to be serviced.
A representative from Green and Tonic said a technician who previously worked on the refrigerator accidentally set the timer to make the fridge go into its defrosting mode during the day instead of at night, which is usual.
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They said this doesn't affect the temperature of the food, as the cooling only turns off for a few minutes. Still, they removed all food and put the fridge out of service until the timer was fixed, which was shortly after the inspection.
Il Pastaficio received one priority item violation, three priority foundation item violations and four core item violations.
Its priority item was for a dish machine not sanitizing properly with a low temperature.
"During the latest health department visit, the inspector found that the chlorine level of our dishwasher was slightly lower than usual," said Federico Perandin, owner of Il Pastaficio. "Thanks to his warning we were able to immediately fix the problem on the same day of his visit. As we always strive to go above and beyond to provide and practice the highest food safety practices, we are grateful to the health department team for their diligent work and guidance."
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Mexica had two priority item violations that were corrected on site, both of which was for food stored over other food, seven priority foundation item violations and nine core item violations. Mexica did not respond to requests for comment.
There was one priority item, two priority foundation items and one core item at Starbucks at 1000 Post Road East. Its priority item was for the sanitizer buckets needing to be changed. Starbucks did not respond to a request for comment.
Taj Indian Cuisine had four priority item violations, five priority foundation item violations and 11 core item violations.
The priority violations were for the dish washer not sanitizing properly, raw meats stored in unoriginal packaging, improperly cooled sauces and bare hand contact with cooked bread.
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Owner Jijin Jimmichn said almost everything had been corrected already, and was hoping to complete all corrections by Wednesday. The health inspector is scheduled to return on Monday.
There were four priority item violations, three priority foundation item violations and six core item violations at The Cottage.
Its priority items were for improper cold holding temperatures at the bar coolers, an improper cold holding temperature of a basement fridge, hot water in the women's restroom not getting hot enough and improper cold holding temperatures at the prep line coolers. The Cottage did not respond to a request for comment.
The Porch at Christie's received one priority item, four priority foundation items and five core items. Its priority was for the dish machine not getting hot enough to properly sanitize.
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General Manager Iby Rivera said the inspection went well and they fixed everything that was pointed out.
Shell at 1530 Post Road East had one priority item violation that was corrected on site, one priority foundation item and three core items. The milk in the milk cooler was instead stored in the walk-in because of the milk cooler's improper holding temperature.
Shell did not respond to a request for comment.
**News Release Submitted by Aspetuck Land Trust**Oct. 9, 2023Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass, and the leadership of the Aspetuck Land trust today announced the town’s sale of a 19-acre parcel of town land located on South Park Avenue to the Aspetuck Land Trust. The town closed on the sale of the property to Aspetuck Land Trust on October 2. There will be a briefing and a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 11 at 2pm at the South Park property located at 22 South Park Avenue, Easton. ...
**News Release Submitted by Aspetuck Land Trust**
Oct. 9, 2023
Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass, and the leadership of the Aspetuck Land trust today announced the town’s sale of a 19-acre parcel of town land located on South Park Avenue to the Aspetuck Land Trust. The town closed on the sale of the property to Aspetuck Land Trust on October 2. There will be a briefing and a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 11 at 2pm at the South Park property located at 22 South Park Avenue, Easton. The sale follows Easton voters’ overwhelming 65 percent approval where 1,057 people voted yes to preserve the land, and 574 voted no by town referendum on May 3,2022, to sell the property to Aspetuck Land Trust.
The Mill River is classified as a class 1 wild trout management area with streams cold and clean enough for wild brook and brown trout to naturally reproduce year-round. Only 9 such rivers exist in Connecticut.
The 19 acres of the South Park property adds to the Aspetuck Land Trust’s Green Corridor to protect land, wildlife, and water resources that extend through lower Fairfield county. The land trust has conserved 1,450 acres in Easton and will use a $188,000 state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant to purchase roughly 19 acres of the parcel, protecting the most ecologically sensitive portion of the property where the Mill River runs through it. The selling price is $470,000 with the Land Trust making up the difference.
Bindelglass described the sale as significant not only because it assures that one of the most environmentally fragile pieces of land in Easton will be permanently preserved under Aspetuck Land Trust’s stewardship, but also because the sale marks the first time Easton voters were able to decide the fate of town property by referendum as required by the Land Use Ordinance passed in 2021 by Town meeting via referendum
“It’s not only essential that we preserve priceless open space on this portion of the Mill River, but that we enable broad and inclusive public discussion about how to protect and manage our open spaces in Easton, and ultimately decide those issues with a town wide referendum to ensure that everyone has a voice,” said Bindelglass. “Completing this transfer today is a stunning example of how we can work together to find the best preservation solutions together.”
Aspetuck Land Trust President and Easton resident William P. Kraekel said, “Aspetuck Land Trust is extremely pleased to partner with the Town of Easton in permanently preserving and conserving the South Park property and we look forward to providing safe public access to residents of the Town of Easton and the general public. We are naming the property in honor of the late Bill Kupinse Jr. and his wife Patricia. A former Aspetuck Land Trust Director, and Easton First Selectman, Bill was instrumental in facilitating the Town’s purchase of the property.”
Aspetuck Land Trust Executive Director David Brant added, “Since 2020, the land trust has preserved 187 acres of land, no easy task in highly developed Fairfield County. When Aspetuck Land Trust partners with local towns we can always do more for land conservation. We had good leadership in the town and Easton and voters made their feelings known voting overwhelmingly to permanently protet the land and sell it to Aspetuck Land Trust. Thank you to our donors and to the CT DEEP open space grant program for supporting this acquisition. This is a win-win for the state of Connecticut, the town of Easton and for trout in the Mill River.”
Easton town government originally purchased the South Park property on July 10, 2008, to shield it from development, but without a plan to permanently preserve or maintain it. First elected in 2019, Bindelglass campaigned on the need to make all local government decisions in Easton more transparent and on preserving open spaces, including the need to find a permanent resolution for the South Park property, which had been in question, with multiple proposals for years.
In 2020 the Easton Board of Selectmen appointed a bipartisan South Park Advisory Committee to study options for preserving the property and to engage the public in the process. According to its final report, the committee had no formal recommendation, but the majority favored the sale to Aspetuck Land Trust to preserve the land.
Bindelglass added, “We wanted to preserve this beautiful river forever, but we had to do it in a way that the people of Easton felt they were able to share opinions and have a voice in the process. When it comes to preserving our open spaces, the successful transfer of this property shows that the path to preservation runs through transparent, open local government.”
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