From the Desk of the First Selectman

Don Lowe First Selectman Column 02/02/2026

First Light, the owning entity of Candlewood Lake, has decided to draw down the lake an additional four feet over the next weeks. First Light is cautioning members of the public to be aware of constantly changing conditions on the lake, which can become dangerous in very short periods of time. Ice shelves, ice drifts, and other hazards regularly occur and could present a life-threatening situation, so proceed with extreme caution when venturing out onto the lake.
Meanwhile, the first Senior Center Building Committee meeting with the officially named building committee will be held Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm in Mallory Town Hall. This meeting will kick off work with our architect as we prepare the plans to go forward with the project. We have been fortunate to have had some significant donations for this project come our way (around $700,000 so far) and those will help offset the cost. If you are inclined towards helping fund this project, please reach out to me. We can talk about the donation and, also, if you choose to do so, the naming of some part of the building to honor someone that you designate.
Last Saturday morning, the Sherman Library held a terrific program on blues music with Connecticut troubadour, Ramblin’ Dan Stevens, who took his audience through the formative years of the blues with emphasis on the patchwork of regionalism exemplifying that music. I commend Ashleigh Blake and her staff for the fine array of programs they consistently produce, all to the enhancement of life here in Sherman. Browse through the Sherman Library website and take note of future programming. It’s quite amazing.
The cold weather has posed challenges for our Sherman School renovation project, yet the challenges are being overcome. So far, as I have reported previously, everything is on schedule and going as planned. I attend an update meeting every Wednesday and continue to be impressed with they way this huge project is being managed.
It looks like Super Bowl weekend is going to be mighty chilly in our parts. If the predictions of sub-freezing weather come true, we will certainly have a warming center opened at the Senior Center should anyone have a home freeze up and need warmth. In addition, our emergency services and public works are always on point during times like this for potential problems. After this weekend, who knows for sure, but I think we may be seeing some warmer weather (Finally!) and that will be welcomed – especially to those of us who would like to go ice fishing. I guess I might be getting older or something, but I simply don’t enjoy ice fishing when it’s brutally cold out.