IN YOUR TOWN
What’s going on in your neighborhood
WESTPORT 1 Mathias elected school board chairman
Information technology executive and town Maker Faire founder Mark Mathias is the new chairman of the Board of Education following a unanimous vote by his fellow board members.
“I’ve long believed the most important thing we can do in life is to prepare our youth for the future,” Mathias said in accepting the board’s nomination.
A Democrat, Mathias has served on the school board for 15 years and fills the chairmanship vacated by fellow Democratic Michael Gordon who resigned from the board in June, citing a busy schedule.
Republican board member and Vice Chair Jeannie Smith filled in as acting chair over the summer and nominated Mathias for the chairmanship at Monday’s meeting.
“He’s truly the expert in keeping us centered as a board of ed when we face challenging and unexpected circumstances,” Smith said in nominating Math- ias, adding he is not only a valued member of the BOE, but an active Westport resident.
There are four Democrats and three Republicans on the board.
Seven years ago, Mathias founded Maker Faire Westport, a showcase of creativity that is now the state’s largest single- day event and last year attracted more than 13,000 people to town, Smith said.
The board also unanimously re- elected Smith as BOE vice chairwoman and Elaine Whitney, a Democratic BOE member, as secretary at Monday’s meeting.
— svaughan@ hearstmediact. com
MONROE 1 Route 25 closure planned for next weekend
The second of three weekend closures planned for Route 25 is expected to take place next weekend, weather permitting.
From 8 p. m. on Friday to 6 a. m. on Monday, Sept. 10, a stretch of Route 25 in Monroe will be closed to all traffic while improvements continue to be made to the roadway, according to signs posted at the site.
The first step of the project was delayed three times in August because of inclement weather. But when construction finally got underway, Monroe police, said crews made significant progress.
Dates for the third planned weekend closure have not yet been released.
— toneill@ hearstmediact. com
SHELTON 1 Indian Well closed to weekend swimming
The beaches at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Kettletown State Park in Southbury and Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford are closed for swimming this holiday weekend, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Saturday in its final water quality report for the season.
The beaches in the parks in Shelton and Southbury are closed due to blue/ green algae in the water. The park in Wallingford is closed because of storm damage.
FAIRFIELD 1 Explore local pond wildlife with Audubon
The Connecticut Audubon Fall Pond Exploration is scheduled for Sept. 22 from 12: 30 p. m. to 2 p. m. at the Connecticut Audubon at 2325 Burr St. in Fairfield.
CAS members can attend for $ 5 and non- members can participate for $ 8. The event is open to anyone age 3 and up. The CAS said strollers will not be allowed during the exploration.
Attendees will explore the Larsen Sanctuary and search the pond on the CAS property to take a look at frogs, turtles, tadpoles, insects and all the other creatures that live in the wetland habitat of Farm Pond.
Buckets and nets will be provided. Participants are expected to provide their own boots.
Advanced registration is required. Spots can be reserved by visiting ctaudubon. org or by calling 203- 259- 6305, extension 109.
— toneill@ hearstmediact. com
BRIDGEPORT 1 Dinner will benefit animal shelter
Bridgeport’s animal control facility will host a benefit dinner from 7 p. m. until 11 p. m. on Sept. 28, at Vazzano’s Four Seasons, 337 Kenyon St. in Stratford.
Tickets for the dinner cost $ 50 and can be purchased on Eventbrite at https:// bit. ly/ 2PuKScf.
“If you can’t attend our fundraiser, cash and check donations are always welcome,” the facility said.
Donations can be sent to Bridgeport Animal Control, at 236 Evergreen St. in Bridgeport. It is open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. from Monday through Saturday. The shelter is closed on Sundays.
A full list of animals up for adoption can be found at https:// bit. ly/ 2PVDGqz.
— toneill@hearstmediact.com