All routes will be postponed to the day after your regular pick-up day.  If your regular pick-up is Monday you will be picked up Tuesday of that week, etc.

The bulky pick-up week for September will be Monday, September 13^th through Friday, September 17^th.

Please call (800) 286-5335 or (860) 423-4527 or go to www.williwaste.com and click on “Tolland Residents Only” to schedule your bulky waste pick-up. Remember, you must schedule 4 days in advance.

For a complete list of acceptable items please visit us on the web at www.tolland.org and look under the navigation tab for Waste & Recycling.

CRRA is now offering paper shredding at its residential electronics recycling collections.  Bring your boxes of old papers, canceled checks, bills, records and other materials — especially those that could enable someone to steal your identity — to our electronics collections. They’ll be safely shredded and recycled, conserving natural resources and protecting your identity.

Bring your electronics and paper shredding to the following locations and dates:

Glastonbury Highway Department, 2380 New London Turnpike on Saturday, Sept. 18th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CRRA Transfer Station, Echo Lake Road (about 1/4 of a mile west of Exit 37, Route 8), Saturday, Sept. 25th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CRRA Transfer Station, Town Dump Road (off Exit 4 of Route 9), Saturday, Oct. 2nd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Stanley Jablonski Public Works Complex, 40 Moody Road, Enfield, Saturday, Oct. 16th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Proof of residency is required.  No commercial electronics will be accepted.

Items that could be recycled are Computers, Monitors, TVs, VCRs, Cell Phones, Copiers, Printers, Radios, Stereos, and Fax Machines.

If you like to bake then enter the Kollas Orchard Apple Pie/Apple Dessert contest and try for the blue ribbon and compare recipes. 
Apple dessert contest entry form

If you have someone you consider the “Apple of Your Eye”, then take a photo of them and share it with us.  Make sure to include an apple theme to be eligible to win a prize.  All photos will be included in a collage and displayed in the Town hall prior to the festival and at the festival. 
Apple of my Eye photo contest entry form

Enjoy the multitude of residents, singing, dancing, playing and generally showing just how talented they are.  In addition there will be plenty of games, contests and displays to keep everyone busy.  Hope you can join us!

I am proud that the Town, working with the Board of Education, can be leaders in promoting the use of clean energy,” said Steve Werbner, Town Manager.  “It is our responsibility to make sure that for future generations we improve the environment and ensure that we have sufficient energy supplies for our state and nation.”

Tolland’s Energy Task Force has been the driving force behind the Town’s support for clean energy.  Established two years ago and led by Chairman Mark Summers, the Task Force has implemented a number of clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives and has plans to implement more.

One of its first initiatives was to benchmark the energy use profiles of all Town-owned buildings.  Town staff now track the monthly energy use of the buildings and the Task Force is evaluating ways to reduce energy costs.  One clean energy solution in the works is a geothermal retrofit of the Hicks Memorial Center & Library.  Guided by the Energy Task Force, Tolland applied for and received funding from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation for a geothermal test well and infrared scan of the Hicks Memorial Center & Library.  Using information received from this test well, which was drilled in the spring of 2010, Tecton Architects and the engineering firm Lindgren & Sharples are proceeding with the final design phase and preparation of the construction documents.  The Town has also received federal stimulus funds through ARRA to offset the design costs for the geothermal retrofit heating and cooling system which will replace the current oil-based system.

Summers, who is also President of CNC Software, a “green” company that incorporates both solar photovoltaic and geothermal systems at its Tolland facility, said, “The Tolland Energy Task Force is proud to be involved with Tolland’s clean energy purchase and we view it as a step in the right direction to raise our energy awareness and to work toward a more efficient town.”

The Energy Task Force has also reached out to residents.  It has promoted clean energy signups through CTCleanEnergyOptions at the Annual Cider Mill 5K Race and plans to promote signups again this fall at the event. Additionally, Task Force members have conveyed their enthusiasm for clean energy and energy efficiency and promoted clean energy signups in articles they have written for the local newspaper.  Recently, the Task Force purchased 11 electric usage monitors that are available to the public at the Library as a tool to help residents see how many kilowatts their appliances and electronic gadgets are consuming at home.

Tolland’s commitment to 20% clean energy is one of the required steps to become a Connecticut Clean Energy Community.  Additionally, the Town must commit to the EPA Community Energy Challenge – which challenges cities and towns across the nation to reduce their energy usage by at least 10% and make a municipal clean energy purchase.

The Town earns points for clean energy signups through the CTCleanEnergyOptions program and for the installation of clean energy systems, such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and geothermal, in the community.  As of May 31, 2010, Tolland had earned 165 clean energy points, consisting of 132 points earned through CTCleanEnergyOptions signups and 33 points earned through clean energy installations in Town. Once Tolland has met all requirements, the Town will qualify as a Connecticut Clean Energy Community and, based on its earned points, receive a clean energy system, such as solar PV, from CCEF.  Residents can learn more about the program and follow the Town’s progress at www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities.

“One hundred Connecticut towns can’t be wrong,” said Bob Wall, Director, energy market initiatives for CCEF.  “Those municipal governments and thousands of homes and businesses understand that clean and efficient energy practices help to build a strong local economy, improve our quality of life and save money.  We challenge the rest of Connecticut’s communities to follow Tolland’s leadership and become part of the clean energy solution.”

About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)

CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers.  CCEF’s mission is to promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s ratepayers in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state.  CCEF is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority.  For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.

About the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program

CCEF’s Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program is an award-winning initiative that challenges municipalities, faith communities, colleges and universities, businesses and residents to support clean energy.  This program has been critical to the development of the voluntary clean energy market in Connecticut.  For more information about the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program and CTCleanEnergyOptions, visit www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities.

The Dual primary results for Tolland are as follows:

Governor – Dan Malloy (D), Tom Foley (R)
Lieutenant Governor – Nancy Wyman (D), Mark Boughton (R)
Secretary of State – Denise Merrill (D)
Comptroller – Kevin Lembo (D)
United States Senator – Rob Simmons (R)
Representative in Congress – Janet Peckinpaugh (R)
Attorney General – Martha Dean (R)

• Tolland’s prudent fiscal management practices have resulted in solid reserve levels and healthy financial flexibility.
• The debt burden is moderate with above-average amortization and is expected to remain manageable.
• Although economic development has slowed, indicators, such as unemployment, wealth, and tax base growth remain above-average.
• Management’s sound budgeting and fiscal practices are expected to continue producing stable operating results and maintenance of healthy fund balance levels. 

 A copy of the full rating reports can be obtained in the Finance Office.

The Town of Tolland is presently recycling:

• Cardboard and Brown Paper bags
• Milk & Juice Cartons
• Glass and Metal Food Containers
• Mixed Paper (Including Junk Mail, Magazines, Multi Ply
  Carbon Paper)
• Newspaper
• Soft & Hard Covered Books
• Phone Books
• Copy, Color and Computer Paper
• Plastic Containers #1 through #7

More information can be found on our website by visiting us at www.tolland.org/solid-waste-recycling/ 

Also, a reminder to Tolland residents that when putting out your totes the distance between the garbage tote and the recycling tote should be at least 2-3 feet apart and away from any other obstacle such as mailboxes, shrubs, trees, etc.  Also, residents are reminded to have their garbage and recycling totes at curbside by 6:30 am the day of their pick up.

These tax bills will say “due July 1, 2010” on them, which means that you have the entire month of July as a grace period; the very last day to pay without interest is Monday, August 2, 2010. 

 If you use one of the lockboxes located outside of Town Hall you must still place your payment in there before the close of business on the last day to pay, otherwise they will be opened on Tuesday, August 3, will be considered late, and interest will have been added.  It is wise not to wait until the very last day, in fact, the middle of July is an optimum time to pay because lines will be short and the process will be efficient.

Thank you, and Happy New Fiscal Year!
Linda C. Calabrese, Collector of Revenue
860-871-3651
lcalabrese@tolland.org

Registered voters who are Unaffiliated Voters (not registered with ANY political party), have until August 5th to change party affiliation by mail and by noon on August 9^th to do so in person in the Registrar of Voters office, in order to vote in this Primary.

To see a list of candidates please click here http://www.tollandelections.org/