The Visiting Nurse Association in cooperation with Windsor’s Healthy People will be conducting a Flu Clinic on Thursday, December 9, 2004 at the L.P. Wilson Senior Center. The clinic will be held exclusively for:

• Windsor Residents

• 65 years of age and older

Any Windsor resident 65 years of age or older, who wishes a flu shot is required to signup for an appointment ahead of time to receive the shot. Appointments can be made by calling 285-1883 on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Flu Shots will be given on Thursday, December 9^th in the gym at the L.P. Wilson Senior Center, 599 Matianuck Avenue in Windsor. Those who have signed up and received an appointment time will be required to bring proof of residency and proof of age when they come to the clinic on Thursday, December 9^th.

Join the fun as fire trucks and vehicles from Windsor businesses parade in their holiday decorations in the annual Torchlight Parade this Saturday, December 11^th in the center of town. The parade will begin on Remington Road at 6:30 PM and proceed through downtown Windsor. A bonfire at the pond by the commuter parking lot will follow the parade with refreshments sponsored by Windsor Federal Savings and Loan. For more information call 688-5165.

Windsor's Emergency Services will be sponsoring a toy drive on Saturday and Sunday December 11th and 12th at the Windsor Safety Complex on Bloomfield Avenue from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Santa will be there to collect the presents and for pictures. All the toys collected will be distributed to residents of need in Windsor.

The Healthy People Strategy Team and Start Smart staff would like to thank the Windsor Education Association for their donation of $3,000, which will be used to purchase books for Windsor's Start Smart program. Start Smart staff currently provides home visits to 111 families in town. During these visits, members of the staff encourage adults to read to their children, and books are distributed to the families. This generous donation will enable staff to continue to purchase books for their families.

In the coming weeks you may notice some construction around the Mather House (the colonial portion of the Main Library). The Mather House will be sealed off from the newer section of the library in preparation for the library renovation so staff offices can remain there during construction.

The Windsor Volunteer Fire Department has again this year been awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. The federal grant will be in the amount of $60,000, with the town being responsible for a 10% local match. The $66,000 will allow the fire department to purchase an integrated accountability system that will assist in keeping track of firefighters while they are performing interior firefighting in residential and commercial buildings. These units are a module that is attached to the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) purchased last year with federal funds.

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of William Lewis as Fire Chief of the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Lewis has led the Windsor Fire Department since November 2000 and has continued the efforts of past Chiefs Greg Malloy and Dale Smith to achieve a unified town-wide department. Bill has facilitated a number of changes over the past fours years including:

Creating a new command structure with town-wide officers

Reducing the number of fire vehicles

Reassigning apparatus to meet town-wide needs

Creating a town-wide training program

Increasing use of technology to improve communication

Receiving federal funding to replace and upgrade firefighter safety equipment

Chief Lewis has been a volunteer firefighter since 1970, serving in a variety of command positions. Over the years, Bill has been intricately involved in many facets of the department, including assisting in the construction of the new Wilson Fire Station and the purchase of fire equipment and apparatus. He is retired from the Connecticut State Police. He is a State of Connecticut Certified Fire Marshal and a nationally certified fire investigator. Bill is currently Fire Marshal for the Blue Hills Fire District.

One of the primary goals for the department during the next year will be the completion of a multi-year strategic plan. This plan will focus on identifying department strengths and key focus areas for the coming years.

I am confident that under Chief Lewis’ leadership the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department will continue to provide high quality fire and emergency services. Many thanks to Chief Lewis, his family, as well as to the department’s volunteers for their dedication to the fire service and the Windsor community.