Don Lowe First Selectman Column 09/21/2026
The regularly monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be this Thursday, September 24 at 7pm in Mallory Town Hall. The agenda is on the Town website. The main items concern public works and road repair and resurfacing. (Incidentally, the resurfacing of Anderson Road should start in the next two weeks.) We are also continuing our discussion on purchasing a new server, Mallory Town Hall safety and security, and our relationship with the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WESTCOG). As with all of our meetings, it will be transmitted via TEAMS so interested folks can view them in the comforts of their homes.
Last Friday I was kindly invited to a cool party for Sherman pickleball enthusiasts and the party’s host surprised me with a moment of recognition to the Board of Selectmen for building the courts. The four pickleball courts was a trouble-free and cost-free project that came about as quickly and smoothly as a municipal capital project can. It also, as evidenced by what I experienced at this party, created a deep Sherman pickleball culture. There is, apparently, quite a merry band of players who gather frequently to play this game. Their enthusiastic and spirited conversation over pickleball was a delight to experience. I appreciated the gratitude sent my way, and I will pass that on to Bob Ostrosky and Joel Bruzinski, fellow selectmen, who were both very responsible for this success. In a light-hearted moment at the party, I was presented with a plaque that names me “Commissioner of Pickleball.” Goodness, I was quite flattered to be named commissioner, and like I tell my kids, ya just never know where life might take you…. :)
Last week I went over a list of the capital projects that our Board of Selectmen has completed in the nearly 9 years since I have been First Selectman. At some point, I am going to list them outright. It’s a long list. And in my examination so far of that list, not one of them went over budget. None of this is about boasting. Rather, I believe it’s important for taxpayers to know the places where your tax dollars have been spent. I think the list will surprise people as many of these projects went by quietly. Did you know, for example, that just at Mallory Town Hall we have installed ADA compliant automatic doors, constructed a new roof, built an extra office, installed a new oil burner, repaired all of the sidewalks, and completely re-did the landscaping?
Some other projects: The Scout House is like a completely new building after its restoration, Charter Hall has had multiple improvements, all of our parks have been improved -- yes pickleball, but also a new soccer field at Veterans. Many other smaller improvements have taken place in all three parks. The Happy Acres farm buildings were all completely restored Anyway, these are just a few of the projects on the list and at some point, I will offer this in a clear manner with dollar amounts for each project. Of course, taking the main spotlight right now is the restoration and repair of the Sherman School, which is the largest capital project in Sherman’s history. Sherman will be very proud of that school when it is finished.
I wrote in last week’s column about the “annual coffeehouse” that the Sherman Chamber Ensemble puts on. This year they held it at the JCC. Almost every year for the last 20 years, I have been the opening musical act for that evening, something I love to do. Well, I was looking forward to it again last Saturday. And then that afternoon I turned my ankle quite severely and had to stay off of it. I’m better now, but it was an unpleasant sprain I can tell you that.
