Don Lowe First Selectman Column 05/11/2026
Kudos to the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) for last weekend sponsoring a water search dog training for fire departments throughout our tri-state area. I was honored to go out on the SVFD water vessel and see this amazing program in action.
These water search dogs (there were nearly a dozen of them) were taken out on boats and were given the opportunity to find human scent submerged in the water. The dogs’ trainers recorded the dogs’ reactions so if in the event of a real search for a missing submerged person they knew what to expect from the dogs. Big thanks to Ken Hoffman for spearheading this training which provides another search-and-recovery resource for area first responders. And you know all those movies where people chased by dogs try to run through water to shake their scent? It’s not true. Dogs can smell through water. I watched it happen!
I received a notice from the State DOT that they will be doing upgrades to existing guardrails on Route 37 in Sherman from the New Fairfield town line to route 39. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday May 18 ,2026 and be completed on Friday July 10, 2026. There will be intermittent lane closures on Route 37 from Monday May 18, 2026, to Friday July 10, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No work will be performed on holidays. Traffic control signing patterns and flaggers will guide motorists through the work zone.
Our Hometown Heroes Banner Ceremony is this Saturday, May 16, at 11am on the Town Green at the gazebo. This is a commemoration for the veterans, past and present, whose photos now hang in the Town Green area in honor of their service to our great country. There will be a few brief speeches along with refreshments in addition to an opportunity to experience Sherman’s rich tradition of individuals serving and sacrificing in the military for our country.
On the weekend following this one, Sunday, May 24 at 1pm, the Memorial Day Parade will step off. If you haven’t experienced this spectacle, then you must do so. The parade is Rockwell-esque and it all culminates into a heartfelt ceremony at Veterans Field. Regarding the parade, if you wish to drive your exotic, fancy car in the parade, just show up near Sunny Lane at about 12:15. We’d love to have you in the parade. The lineup of cars starts there, and we use Sunny Lane for the staging area of the lineup.
We are still hoping to find someone to fill the vacancy on our Commission on Aging. This is for someone of any age and requires a commitment of one meeting a month. If you have an interest in the issues facing seniors in Sherman, feel free to reach out to me.
