The What: Growth of Public Art in Fairfield County, Complete Streets in Norwalk, Town Hall in Fairfield, and more
The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of October 14.
Monday, Oct. 14
Happy Monday! This week we’re exploring a fun trend across the region—the growth of public art, while many communities are finalizing their plans for allocating their remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Highlights
This section will give a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.
- Murals in Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport, an arts and cultural district in Fairfield, and more—these are ways public art is growing across southwest Connecticut.
- The Norwalk Ordinance Committee of the Common Council looks to advance Complete Streets policies.
- Fairfield is hosting a Board of Education Town Hall to discuss facilities, finances, and programs.
- Stamford’s Board of Representatives is hiring an attorney to help figure out how to handle Representative Anabel Figueroa after she made antisemitic comments, resigned from the board, and then rescinded that resignation.
Spotlight
This section will feature our main reporting each week.
Across southwest Connecticut, artists are painting new murals, communities are establishing arts and cultural districts, and municipalities are seeking grant funding to create more public art. Officials throughout the region believe art can help connect parts of the city or town together, turn places into destinations for visitors, and provide a sense of community.
Marc Alan, a member of the Norwalk Arts and Cultural Commission, pointed to a new mural as an example of how public art is a benefit to the city.
“This is what we’re talking about, investing in public art as a draw for cultural tourism, and it’s absolutely been proven to not only benefit the cultural landscape of the city, but also to benefit the surrounding businesses of that city,” he said. “So that is why we’re here today. We’re investing in Norwalk.”
Let’s explore the growth of public art around Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Fairfield.
You can also check out our video, which showcases some of the public art already in place around lower Fairfield County.
This Week at a Glance
This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.
- In Bridgeport, the Budget and Appropriations Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 15 at 6 p.m. and review a proposed resolution that would authorize the city’s final American Rescue Plan Act funds.
- In Stamford, there will be a Board of Representatives Special Meeting on Wednesday, October 16 at 8 p.m. where the board will vote on hiring outside counsel to help “determine the Board of Representatives’ course of action regarding the statements of Representative Anabel Figueroa.” Figueroa, who had made antisemitic statements against Representative Jonathan Jacobson, resigned from the Board of Reps, and then rescinded that resignation.
- In Norwalk, the Ordinance Committee of the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. to host a public hearing on Complete Streets Ordinance. Learn more about how Norwalk is reimagining its streets through this initiative.
- In Fairfield, there will be a Board of Education Town Hall on Tuesday, October 15 at 8 p.m. and will feature a discussion of facilities, finances, and programs.
- In Greenwich, there will be three Old Greenwich School Building Committee forums on Wednesday, October 16: a Parent Forum at 2 p.m; a Staff Forum at 3:30 p.m.; and a Community Forum at 7 p.m.
- In Darien, the Board of Finance will meet on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss and vote on a request to reallocate $514,441.42 of ARPA funds.
Plan Your Week
This section will include a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.
Bridgeport
- Tuesday, October 15: Budget and Appropriations Committee at 6 p.m | Board of Education at 6:30 p.m. | Water Pollution Control Authority at 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee at 6 p.m.
Stamford
- Tuesday, October 15: Steering Committee at 7 p.m. | Harbor Management Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Fiscal & Operations Committee of the Board of Education at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Board of Representatives Special Meeting at 8 p.m.
Norwalk
- Tuesday, October 15: Fire Commission at 3 p.m. | Board of Education at 7 p.m. | Ordinance Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Planning & Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. | Charter Revision Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Community Services Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17: Five Mile River Commission at 6 p.m. | Norwalk Transit District at 6 p.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 7 p.m.
Fairfield
- Tuesday, October 15: Harbor Management Commission at 4:30 p.m. | Fairfield Arts Commission at 6 p.m. | Board of Education Town Hall at 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Fairfield CARES Coalition at 8:30 a.m. | BOE Facilities Committee at 9:30 a.m. | Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | Parks and Recreation Commission at 7 p.m. | Water Pollution Control Authority at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17: Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee at 6:30 p.m.
Greenwich
- Tuesday, October 15: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee at 1 p.m. | Harbor Management Commission at 6 p.m. | Nathaniel Witherell Quality of Life Committee at 12:30 p.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee Parent Forum: Student and Staff Safety & Phasing in Person (and via zoom) at 2 p.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee Staff Forum: Student and Staff Safety & Phasing at 3:30 p.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee Community Forum: Safety, Phasing & Sight Logistics in Person and Via Zoom at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Planning & Zoning Commission at 4 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17: FS Active Transportation Task Force at 8:30 a.m. | Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m. | Board of Education at 7 p.m.
Darien
- Tuesday, October 15: Mental Health Task Force at 10 a.m. | Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Commission on Aging at 9 a.m. | Parks & Recreation Commission at 7:30 p.m. | RTM Finance & Budget at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17: Five Mile River Commission at 6 p.m. | Great Island Advisory Committee at 6 p.m.
Westport
- Tuesday, October 15: Selectman’s Maintenance Study Committee at 8 a.m. | Conversation Commission Special Meeting at 2 p.m. | International Hospitality Committee at 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 16: Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | Parks and Recreation Commission at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17: Commission on People with Disabilities at 9 a.m. | Tree Board at 4:30 p.m. | Youth Commission at 7:15 p.m.
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Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.
Have a great week,
Kelly Prinz
Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times