Don Lowe First Selectman Column 09/29/2025
This Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 4pm is “Farm Day” up at Happy Acres Farm. This is always a fun and free community event with hayrides for kids, animals to observe, food, activities, art, and live music. Our farm manager, David Jellen, who does such a fine job up at the farm will be there to show folks around.
Regarding David Jellen, at our Board of Selectmen meeting last Thursday, we made serious strides towards securing David’s placement up at Happy Acres as the manager of the farm. This means that he can be there even as Town management changes through the years. We felt he deserved that security and so did the many people who came to the meeting and spoke positively about him. In this way, David can be assured he has a place to work and live and at the same time continue to make improvements to the farm, which is one of Sherman’s prized pieces. We are always working toward having a bigger public stake in the farm and we will succeed. One of the main ideas is to work aspects of the farm into the Sherman School curriculum.
If you tried to contact me this week and I didn’t get back to you as quickly as usual, it’s because I was away from Sherman from Sunday through Wednesday. As you read this, I am back in my office on Thursday and will pick up things where we left off. When I am away – which is very rare – I do check emails and phone messages.
Expect some type of ceremony/ribbon cutting in late October or early November for the Scout House, which is being completely restored. Nothing has changed about the building’s 1827 character, but we have, through a state grant, made the building strong and whole again. The Scout House, which sits in Sherman’s Historic District, was once our first Sherman School. Yes, things have changed.
Speaking of the Sherman School, so far everything is on schedule and as it should be. I’m proud of the positive people who have worked so hard to make this project successful and who understand just how important the Sherman School is for our town. Thank you for all that you do for our students and for our community as a whole!
