Agenda

Board of Selectmen - Subcommittees - Agenda - May 7, 2026

May 7, 2026

A public record published by the Town of Simsbury (simsbury-ct.gov). mySimsbury indexes it and makes it readable; it is not the official copy. View the original file.

933 HOPMEADOW STREET ~ SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 06070
Hometown Hero Selection Committee
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Main Meeting Room, Town Hall
5:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Call to Order
1. Discussion on Hometown Hero Nominations
2. Determine Hometown Hero Award Recipient(s)
3. 2026 Ceremony Date
4. 2027 Meeting Calendar
Adjournment
933 HOPMEADOW STREET ~ SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 06070
1
Guidelines for the Hometown Hero Program
Adopted by Board of Selectmen
November 13, 1996
Amended February 23, 1998
Amended March 26, 2018
Amended March 25, 2024
Amended March 10, 2025
1. Background Information
The Program was initiated in 1986 by Governor William O’Neill as part of the
350th Anniversary of the founding of Connecticut. Any municipality could
designate residents as “Hometown Heroes” for any deed or service that made the
community a better place in which to live. State certificates were presented to
the 42 individuals and 4 organizations on May 12, 1986. The following year,
First Selectwoman Margaret Shanks continued the program with certificates
developed for Simsbury, naming 48 designates. It has been continued since,
with Hometown Heroes recognized at a ceremony during the month of May as
May 12th is the date of Simsbury’s birth.
2. Criteria for Selection
A. A person(s) who is a resident, or who is active in the Simsbury
community, or who lived in Simsbury. Groups may be considered under
the same criteria.
B. That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
C. Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero
Award shall be duly considered with the following exception:
A nominee may not:
• Be a member of Town staff,
• A sitting elected official,
• Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided their
work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their position.
D. There will be no quotas or automatic selections by the Committee and the
Committee shall use discretion to protect the special significance of the
award when considering large numbers of nominees.
3. The Selection Process
A. Written nominations will be requested and received during a thirty (30) day
period typically occurring in whole or part during the months of March and/or
April.
B. The Selection Committee shall review the names nominated for the Hometown
Hero Award. The Committee shall make selection and approve the list of award
recipients no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled ceremony.
C. The Town Manager’s Office shall notify all award recipients of the time and
place of the award ceremony.
D. The Town Manager’s Office shall complete arrangements for the ceremony
such as scheduling, publicity, and refreshments.
E. The names of award recipients will be engraved on the Hometown Heroes
plaque displayed in Town Hall.
4. The Selection Committee
The Selection Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen on a biennial basis.
The Selection Committee shall consist of the First Selectman, a Board of Selectmen member
of the opposite party, a member of the Historical Society, a business leader, a previous
hometown hero, and a member of a veterans or service organization, with the goal of non-
partisanship in mind.
The membership of the Committee shall be recommended by the First Selectman and the
Town Manager to the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen is the appointing
authority.
Staff assistance to the Selection Committee shall include reasonable requests deemed
necessary by the Committee.
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\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Lions Club of Simsbury
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
The Simsbury Lions Club has served its friends and neighbors for
over 60 years with various projects and support activities.
The most visible of these activities is the Jack Bannan Turkey
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
The most visible of these activities is the Jack Bannan Turkey
Trot to advance CT Foodshare’s mission to address food
insecurity. Jack’s experience with hunger as a World War II
Prisoner of War motivated him to establish the Turkey Trot 34
years ago. Simsbury Lions, led by Jack’s daughter Marianne,
continue Jack’s legacy with support from supermarkets,
businesses, and community volunteers throughout the
Farmington Valley. In a typical year the Turkey Trot collects over
1300 turkeys, 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food, and
$15,000 in cash donations.
The Simsbury Lions Club’s engagement with the schools is also
noteworthy. Students across the town support the Turkey Trot
with cash and food donations while assisting with collections at
various locations. The Club presents annual scholarships to
graduating seniors who embrace community service. Lions also
collaborate with the Henry James Memorial School art faculty to
encourage students to create Peace Posters as part of a global
contest (the Simsbury entry was awarded first place in seven if
then past ten District competitions!).
For many years Simsbury Lions have performed pediatric vision
screenings in public elementary schools worth thousands of
dollars per year to the Town. This service has been extended to
private schools, pre-K programs, and day care facilities
throughout Simsbury. In 2025 over 1300 children were screened
with around 100 children identified to their families as candidates
for further testing from an eye care professional. The Club also
serves clients referred by Simsbury Social Services (1-2 per
year) in funding eye exams and glasses from a partner eye care
provider at no cost to the client.
Other areas of community involvement include supporting
Simsbury Celebrates with sponsorships, the Hopmeadow Street
Trolley and (beginning in 2025) cider, donuts and corn hole
games at the Simsbury Public Library, Souper Tuesday at the
Senior Center, and coffee houses at the Library. Finally, the Club
makes annual donations from its fund-raising activities to
community organizations such as Simsbury Community Media,
the Simsbury Senior Center, Simsbury Social Services, and the
Simsbury Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Companies.
In all these ways the Simsbury Lions Club follows through on
Lions Clubs International’s mantra “We Serve.”
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Richard O. Kuziak
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Christine Poler Fleming
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
It is my honor to nominate Christine Poler Fleming for her
volunteer work cleaning head stones at the Simsbury Center
Cemetery. For the past 8 years Christine has volunteered to
clean headstones giving special attention to veterans’ resting
places and to those gravestones that have been unattended over
hundreds of years and need a little love and care.
Christine begins her work each spring when the cemetery water
system is turned on, often working on hot summer days and well
into the fall until the water is shut down for the winter.
Christine uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, small
Christine uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, small
brushes and wooden ice cream sticks to gently remove years of
stains that naturally occur on New England head stones.
Christine will apply the cleaning liquid which must sit for a bit
before she can loosen the mold, moss and stains, a process that
can take from one to several hours. While waiting Christine may
often work on a lonely headstone nearby that needs a little
cleaning as well.
Christine keeps a diary of each headstone she cares for with the
date on the stone, the date of cleaning and notes on interesting
features such as an inscription or symbol. As of the date of this
nomination Christine has cleaned a total of 161 headstones with
a remarkable 40 of them cleaned in 2025! It is worth noting that
60% of those cleaned are veteran headstones.
Christine’s respect and interest in burial grounds began as a
child when her mother took Christine and her siblings to visit
many of the graves of family members stretching back to the
1600s in Massachusetts, Silver Lake in Chesham New
Hampshire, Rowayton Connecticut and Huntington Long Island.
I respectfully request that Hometown Hero Committee of 2026
look favorably on this nomination.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Active In Simsbury Community
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Charity P Folk
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Amy Zeiner
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate my mother,
Amy Zeiner, as a deserving candidate for the Hometown Hero
award.
For the past 30 years, Amy has been an unwavering pillar of our
Simsbury community, consistently dedicating her time, energy,
and passion to making it a better place. What began as her
involvement in the Junior Women's Club has evolved into a
lifelong commitment to improving our town, culminating in her
extraordinary work for the Simsbury Land Trust (SLT).
extraordinary work for the Simsbury Land Trust (SLT).
Amy's contributions to Simsbury span a wide range of initiatives -
from raising funds to build the original playground at Simsbury
Farms to creating the beloved "Simsburyopoly" game, and from
her roles as PTO President of Squadron Line School to her
decades of service as Executive Director of the SLT.
Amy retired in September 2024 after 23 years of transformative
leadership at the SLT. As the organization's first staff hire, she
shaped the Land rust into the thriving and highly respected
institution it is today. When Amy joined, the SLY protected
approximately 350 acres of land with a membership base of 500
families. Upon her retirement, the Land Trust now protects more
than 1,100 acres and counts over 800 families as members. An
incredible legacy of growth and community impact.
Numbers alone don't capture the full extent of Amy's work. Her
leadership was instrumental in acquiring two of Simsbury's most
treasured properties: Tulmeadow Farm, one of the oldest farms in
the area dating back to the 1700s, and Rosedale Farm, located
at the base of Talcott Mountain. These efforts required raising
millions of dollars, which Amy did through successful fundraising
campaigns and strategic partnerships with individuals,
businesses, and government entities.
Thanks to her tireless efforts, the SLT established an endowment
with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, ensuring a lasting
financial foundation for the organization and its mission. Amy's
vision and dedication to preserving Simsbury's scenic vistas,
farmland, and vital habitats will allow future generations to
experience the beauty of our town just as we have.
On a personal level, I am incredibly proud of my mom's
commitment to improving the community that she raised her
family in. As my wife and I have returned to Simsbury to raise our
own family, we welcome the opportunity to carrying forward the
legacy of service and dedication that Amy has instilled in us.
Without a doubt, Amy Zeiner is deserving to be included as one
of Simsbury's Hometown Heroes.
Thank you,
John Zeiner
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
John Zeiner
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Chris Latz
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
Date: 04/28/2026
To Whom It May Concern,
The Simsbury Garden Club wishes to nominate Chris Latz from
Thrive Farm in Simsbury as our Hometown Hero for 2026.
Chris took over management of the farm last year and
immediately embraced the Garden Club with open arms. We
have maintained a Pollinator Garden there since 2018. It has won
both State and National awards. Without prompt from us, Chris
mulched the garden area, and installed chipped bark to better
facilitate access. Just because he cared and wanted to help us.
facilitate access. Just because he cared and wanted to help us.
I approached Chris last Summer about hosting a youth program
for children in Simsbury, run by the Garden Club. He agreed and
we all got to work. We now have indoor and outdoor classrooms;
we have two planting areas and workspace in the greenhouse. All
donated by Thrive for use by the children of our community
We began “Sprouts” in September 2025 with a Fall program, not
knowing what to expect as far as interest. We were full. We ran
the program until the end of October, and it was such a joy to be
able to work at Thrive Farm. The kids and parents loved it. We
already have multiple requests to offer planting classes for adults
next Spring, and we have a list of new children waiting to join
Sprouts as well. Our children’s program will start back up on the
12th of May
The Simsbury Sprouts, as they are now called, also presented a
demonstration table at Simsbury Celebrates, with Chris’ help, of
course.
Chris offered SGC greenhouse space to the club so that we can
start our plantings from seed in late February, for our annual
plant sale in May. The plant sale helps our club to be able to
tend to the public gardens throughout the town of Simsbury, and
we provide a scholarship to a High School student from Simsbury
who is majoring in Agriculture.
Chris grows food at Thrive to be given to the Simsbury Food
Pantry. In following with Eno’s wish to help the less fortunate of
Simsbury, he donated over 4,500 pounds in 2025. The Healing
Meals Community Project, also in Simsbury, received 1,620
pounds of fresh vegetables.
He also gives fresh vegetables to Hand On Hartford, a non-profit
agency based in Hartford that serves the greater Hartford area
with a focus on food, nutrition, housing assistance and health.
Chris gave them over 1,000 pounds of fresh produce
Forge City Works, another nonprofit, operates The Grocery on
Board, which is a grocery store that offers fresh produce from
Thrive as well and it improves access to healthy, affordable food
for individual families in need.
Thrive works with eight community outreach organizations. In
total he grew and provided 8,500 pounds of vegetables
He offers weekly programs for Westminster, Ethel Walker and
other schools in the area, so the students can understand not
only where their food comes from, but how to grow it!
The students love the program.
To be able to have a place that welcomes nonprofits, who wants
to help little kids, teenagers, and families who desperately need
fresh food , and helps them understand where their food comes
from, and then watch what Chris and his team who works there
harvest and provide food to these organizations is just awe
inspiring.
This is the spirit of community cooperation that Simsbury is
about. It is a small, giving community and Thrive Farm gets it. I
can’t think of a better organization or business that could have
positively impacted all these local community entities. We are so
thankful.
Thrive is an important asset to the town and our community, it
brings people together. How lucky is Simsbury? We say very.
brings people together. How lucky is Simsbury? We say very.
If I can be of further assistance, or to speak to anyone in my club
who works with Chris, please reach out to me.
Sincerely,
Susan Demuth
President, Simsbury Garden Club
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Active In Simsbury Community
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Susan Demuth
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee David Ryan
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
I would like to nominate Dave Ryan as a Simsbury Hometown
Hero. Since he moved to Simsbury in 1976, Dave has been
volunteering and serving to make Simsbury the wonderful town it
is. Dave started his service by managing a Little League team
and then coaching Youth Hockey. He was active in 4H and many
of its activities. Dave turned his willingness to share much of his
time towards making Simsbury the town that we love today. He
served on the Economic Development Committee in 2001. He
served on the Planning Commission from 2001 to 2005 and was
then elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2005. He was elected
then elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2005. He was elected
to the Simsbury Zoning Board in 2009 and served through 2023.
He was chair from 2016 to 2023. Dave also served as the
Treasurer of the nonprofit Auer Farm from 2005 -2008. Dave was
an important member of the 2012 Charter Revision Commission.
Dave was a strong proponent and organizer in creating the
Simsbury Performing Arts Center. He served as its first
Chairperson for 4 years and has continued to be a key member
of its Board, working to enhance the venue for so many cultural,
entertainment and community events.
Volunteerism, as demonstrated by Dave, is what makes
Simsbury so special. He is a true Hometown Hero and deserves
to be recognized through this award.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Marianne O’Neil
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Janet Lintner
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
Jan Lintner has been an Officer/Chair of the Old Drake Hill Flower
Bridge for many years. Her dedication, direction and wisdom
have guided the various committee members and volunteers in
enhancing the bridge, its flowers and surrounding areas. The
bridge is a special destination point within and outside the
community. Jan’s extensive knowledge obtained over the years
has enabled the bridge corporation to successfully undertake
fundraising and projects to pay for all the expenses needed to
obtain and maintain the plantings on and around the bridge. The
Burgers on the Bridge is an annual event for the town. Jan has a
Burgers on the Bridge is an annual event for the town. Jan has a
special talent in motivating and inspiring the members and
volunteers. Her frequent emails commending volunteer activities
and pictures highlighting the beautiful flowers and gardens
motivate everyone involved. Jan’s efforts have been instrumental
in the success of the Flower Bridge’s beautiful setting in
Simsbury.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Joyce Palmisano
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Simsbury Loan Locker Volunteers
Nominee's Address 60A Old Farms Road
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
I would like to nominate several people for their work at the
Simsbury Medical Equipment Loan Locker. We have an amazing
crew of volunteers who are literally on call 365 days per year and
all hours of the day and evening. While we have a total of 25
terrific loan locker volunteers the following 4 leaders consistently
perform extra essential tasks that I will describe. These
nominees have been instrumental in our success for years and
many of them have been volunteering since the day we opened in
January 2020 (which means they took this on at the outset of the
pandemic.)
pandemic.)
As you may know, the loan locker is located at the Apple Barn
where donations of used durable medical equipment are
accepted, cleaned, and loaned out free of charge to anyone who
needs the equipment for any length of time. The loan locker is
run completely by volunteers without paid staff with the exception
of building maintenance and occasional accounting oversight
through the Social Services department. Alan Needham and I
founded the loan locker and we have both already received a
Hometown Hero award in separate years. I am most grateful for
that honor however I can tell you with absolute certainty that we
would not have been able to accomplish anything without the
work of the nominees I am about to propose. They are worthy of
your consideration for the honor of Hometown Hero.
Mary Johnson 36 Hayes Road, Tariffville: Mary has been involved
since before we opened the doors of the loan locker. She used
her Occupational Therapy background to help us with equipment
decisions at our inception and she continues in that capacity
now if we have questions about whether to accept an item or how
it is to be used. Whenever I am away Mary does the inventory
which requires extra trips to the loan locker. She stays on top of
everchanging circumstances as equipment comes in and goes
out as well as making numerous appointments to meet clients at
the loan locker to give out or receive equipment. Mary is always
willing to pitch in when we need help with housekeeping details
such as cleaning our space, reorganizing, and future planning. It
would take several people to replace everything Mary does to
keep us going!
Jim O'Herron 12 Sanctuary Drive, Simsbury: Jim is a skilled
carpenter who came on board before the loan locker opened and
volunteered to build storage for walkers, crutches and other
equipment. Jim and his great structures are both still working for
us 6 years later. He has become our go-to repairman who has
since built a cane rack and assembled numerous pieces of
equipment for us. Jim repairs any equipment that comes in
needing some TLC to save it from the trash heap! He cheerfully
takes things home to his workshop and brings them back with
new parts that add years of life and help so many people who
cannot afford to buy them. He is truly indispensable.
Rachel Hsu 45 Saddle Ridge Drive West Simsbury: Rachel is a
nurse who has been with the loan locker since we began. Her
healthcare background and compassionate nature drive her to go
above and beyond to help everyone; she will frequently go to the
loan locker more than once in a day if that's what it takes to
meet someone's needs. In addition to the role of taking requests
she is our weekday "phone person" which means she picks up
requests left on our phone line instead of email. These calls are
usually older persons without access to email who may need
more follow up than other clients and Rachel willingly steps up to
help them. There have been times when we simply ran out of
space for donations at the loan locker so Rachel graciously
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
back as needed! Rachel is another leader who can be counted
on year round, working quietly behind the scenes to make the
loan locker an effective and appreciated service for so many area
residents.
Margaret Haldeman 17 Banks Road, Simsbury:
Margaret was not an original member; she joined us 4 years ago
and has become a huge asset. She assists Alan by fielding
email requests every weekend. It's not unusual to get 4 or more
requests daily so it requires constant vigilance. She puts out the
request to the volunteer email list and utilizes an excel
spreadsheet to track who takes it and when it is completed.
Margaret also takes over monitoring the phone line on weekends.
Whenever Alan is unavailable on weekdays Margaret takes over
email monitoring those days too, and whenever Rachel needs to
be away Margaret covers the weekday phone line. She is always
cheerful about doing whatever is necessary to give others a
break. She is available year round, promptly and efficiently
coordinating requests which is vital when people need medical
equipment. Margaret recently initiated a digitalized spreadsheet
for managing our inventory which we had previously been doing
on paper. This greatly improved our ability to keep track of
equipment simply and accurately. Margaret makes frequent trips
to other loan closets to share our overflow or collect equipment
from them when we need something. We could not function well
without Margaret's support.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Jean Miles
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Simsbury Loan Locker Volunteers
Nominee's Address 60A Old Farms Road
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
I would like to nominate several people for their work at the
Simsbury Medical Equipment Loan Locker. We have an amazing
crew of volunteers who are literally on call 365 days per year and
all hours of the day and evening. While we have a total of 25
terrific loan locker volunteers the following 4 leaders consistently
perform extra essential tasks that I will describe. These
nominees have been instrumental in our success for years and
many of them have been volunteering since the day we opened in
January 2020 (which means they took this on at the outset of the
pandemic.)
pandemic.)
As you may know, the loan locker is located at the Apple Barn
where donations of used durable medical equipment are
accepted, cleaned, and loaned out free of charge to anyone who
needs the equipment for any length of time. The loan locker is
run completely by volunteers without paid staff with the exception
of building maintenance and occasional accounting oversight
through the Social Services department. Alan Needham and I
founded the loan locker and we have both already received a
Hometown Hero award in separate years. I am most grateful for
that honor however I can tell you with absolute certainty that we
would not have been able to accomplish anything without the
work of the nominees I am about to propose. They are worthy of
your consideration for the honor of Hometown Hero.
Mary Johnson 36 Hayes Road, Tariffville: Mary has been involved
since before we opened the doors of the loan locker. She used
her Occupational Therapy background to help us with equipment
decisions at our inception and she continues in that capacity
now if we have questions about whether to accept an item or how
it is to be used. Whenever I am away Mary does the inventory
which requires extra trips to the loan locker. She stays on top of
everchanging circumstances as equipment comes in and goes
out as well as making numerous appointments to meet clients at
the loan locker to give out or receive equipment. Mary is always
willing to pitch in when we need help with housekeeping details
such as cleaning our space, reorganizing, and future planning. It
would take several people to replace everything Mary does to
keep us going!
Jim O'Herron 12 Sanctuary Drive, Simsbury: Jim is a skilled
carpenter who came on board before the loan locker opened and
volunteered to build storage for walkers, crutches and other
equipment. Jim and his great structures are both still working for
us 6 years later. He has become our go-to repairman who has
since built a cane rack and assembled numerous pieces of
equipment for us. Jim repairs any equipment that comes in
needing some TLC to save it from the trash heap! He cheerfully
takes things home to his workshop and brings them back with
new parts that add years of life and help so many people who
cannot afford to buy them. He is truly indispensable.
Rachel Hsu 45 Saddle Ridge Drive West Simsbury: Rachel is a
nurse who has been with the loan locker since we began. Her
healthcare background and compassionate nature drive her to go
above and beyond to help everyone; she will frequently go to the
loan locker more than once in a day if that's what it takes to
meet someone's needs. In addition to the role of taking requests
she is our weekday "phone person" which means she picks up
requests left on our phone line instead of email. These calls are
usually older persons without access to email who may need
more follow up than other clients and Rachel willingly steps up to
help them. There have been times when we simply ran out of
space for donations at the loan locker so Rachel graciously
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
back as needed! Rachel is another leader who can be counted
on year round, working quietly behind the scenes to make the
loan locker an effective and appreciated service for so many area
residents.
Margaret Haldeman 17 Banks Road, Simsbury:
Margaret was not an original member; she joined us 4 years ago
and has become a huge asset. She assists Alan by fielding
email requests every weekend. It's not unusual to get 4 or more
requests daily so it requires constant vigilance. She puts out the
request to the volunteer email list and utilizes an excel
spreadsheet to track who takes it and when it is completed.
Margaret also takes over monitoring the phone line on weekends.
Whenever Alan is unavailable on weekdays Margaret takes over
email monitoring those days too, and whenever Rachel needs to
be away Margaret covers the weekday phone line. She is always
cheerful about doing whatever is necessary to give others a
break. She is available year round, promptly and efficiently
coordinating requests which is vital when people need medical
equipment. Margaret recently initiated a digitalized spreadsheet
for managing our inventory which we had previously been doing
on paper. This greatly improved our ability to keep track of
equipment simply and accurately. Margaret makes frequent trips
to other loan closets to share our overflow or collect equipment
from them when we need something. We could not function well
without Margaret's support.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Jean Miles
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Simsbury Loan Locker Volunteers
Nominee's Address 60A Old Farms Road
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
I would like to nominate several people for their work at the
Simsbury Medical Equipment Loan Locker. We have an amazing
crew of volunteers who are literally on call 365 days per year and
all hours of the day and evening. While we have a total of 25
terrific loan locker volunteers the following 4 leaders consistently
perform extra essential tasks that I will describe. These
nominees have been instrumental in our success for years and
many of them have been volunteering since the day we opened in
January 2020 (which means they took this on at the outset of the
pandemic.)
pandemic.)
As you may know, the loan locker is located at the Apple Barn
where donations of used durable medical equipment are
accepted, cleaned, and loaned out free of charge to anyone who
needs the equipment for any length of time. The loan locker is
run completely by volunteers without paid staff with the exception
of building maintenance and occasional accounting oversight
through the Social Services department. Alan Needham and I
founded the loan locker and we have both already received a
Hometown Hero award in separate years. I am most grateful for
that honor however I can tell you with absolute certainty that we
would not have been able to accomplish anything without the
work of the nominees I am about to propose. They are worthy of
your consideration for the honor of Hometown Hero.
Mary Johnson 36 Hayes Road, Tariffville: Mary has been involved
since before we opened the doors of the loan locker. She used
her Occupational Therapy background to help us with equipment
decisions at our inception and she continues in that capacity
now if we have questions about whether to accept an item or how
it is to be used. Whenever I am away Mary does the inventory
which requires extra trips to the loan locker. She stays on top of
everchanging circumstances as equipment comes in and goes
out as well as making numerous appointments to meet clients at
the loan locker to give out or receive equipment. Mary is always
willing to pitch in when we need help with housekeeping details
such as cleaning our space, reorganizing, and future planning. It
would take several people to replace everything Mary does to
keep us going!
Jim O'Herron 12 Sanctuary Drive, Simsbury: Jim is a skilled
carpenter who came on board before the loan locker opened and
volunteered to build storage for walkers, crutches and other
equipment. Jim and his great structures are both still working for
us 6 years later. He has become our go-to repairman who has
since built a cane rack and assembled numerous pieces of
equipment for us. Jim repairs any equipment that comes in
needing some TLC to save it from the trash heap! He cheerfully
takes things home to his workshop and brings them back with
new parts that add years of life and help so many people who
cannot afford to buy them. He is truly indispensable.
Rachel Hsu 45 Saddle Ridge Drive West Simsbury: Rachel is a
nurse who has been with the loan locker since we began. Her
healthcare background and compassionate nature drive her to go
above and beyond to help everyone; she will frequently go to the
loan locker more than once in a day if that's what it takes to
meet someone's needs. In addition to the role of taking requests
she is our weekday "phone person" which means she picks up
requests left on our phone line instead of email. These calls are
usually older persons without access to email who may need
more follow up than other clients and Rachel willingly steps up to
help them. There have been times when we simply ran out of
space for donations at the loan locker so Rachel graciously
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
volunteered to keep things in her basement and brought them
back as needed! Rachel is another leader who can be counted
on year round, working quietly behind the scenes to make the
loan locker an effective and appreciated service for so many area
residents.
Margaret Haldeman 17 Banks Road, Simsbury:
Margaret was not an original member; she joined us 4 years ago
and has become a huge asset. She assists Alan by fielding
email requests every weekend. It's not unusual to get 4 or more
requests daily so it requires constant vigilance. She puts out the
request to the volunteer email list and utilizes an excel
spreadsheet to track who takes it and when it is completed.
Margaret also takes over monitoring the phone line on weekends.
Whenever Alan is unavailable on weekdays Margaret takes over
email monitoring those days too, and whenever Rachel needs to
be away Margaret covers the weekday phone line. She is always
cheerful about doing whatever is necessary to give others a
break. She is available year round, promptly and efficiently
coordinating requests which is vital when people need medical
equipment. Margaret recently initiated a digitalized spreadsheet
for managing our inventory which we had previously been doing
on paper. This greatly improved our ability to keep track of
equipment simply and accurately. Margaret makes frequent trips
to other loan closets to share our overflow or collect equipment
from them when we need something. We could not function well
without Margaret's support.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Jean Miles
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Margaret Haldeman
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
It is a pleasure to nominate Margaret Haldeman for Hometown
Hero. Margaret was one of the first to volunteer for the Simsbury
Medical Equipment Loan Locker when it was formed in 2020. The
Loan Locker relies on its 20+ volunteers to loan out a wide
variety of medical equipment seven days a week at no cost.
These items are often needed when faced with illness or injury.
Margaret quickly established herself as a valuable contributor
with her dedication and creativity. She developed an inventory
system that greatly improved the ability to keep track of the
system that greatly improved the ability to keep track of the
equipment on hand. She is one of the primary volunteers who
monitors emails and phone messages from those seeking help
and then tracks the process to make sure that help is provided in
a timely manor. Margaret also meets with clients directly. She
has taken it upon herself to deliver surplus personal care items to
other entities that can put them to use. On occasion, the Loan
Locker is overstocked with some equipment and Margaret will
drive it to the Orphan GrainTrain in Terryville so that it can be
used elsewhere. Margaret Haldeman is one of the Loan Locker's
primary decision makers and generouely gives hours of her time
every week to the Loan Locker and Simsbury. She is a treasure.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Alan Needham
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Michael T. Long
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
To: Members of the Hometown Heroes Committee
From: Lisa Heavner and Mary Glassman
Re: Nomination of Michael T. Long
Date: March 26, 2026
We are writing to nominate Michael T. Long as a Simsbury
Hometown Hero.
Michael has a long and esteemed history of service to our
community, working on behalf of all of us to ensure Simsbury is
and becomes an outstanding place to call home. His dedication
to excellence and transparency in governance helped build a high
degree of trust in government and set an important tone that
encouraged so many to volunteer. Michael believes that
participation in government is essential and should be welcome
both in words and deeds, so everyone feels heard and everyone
has an opportunity to participate meaningfully. He lived this vision
through his years of meaningful service, and we are better off as
a community for his participation.
In all these capacities, Michael served as a leader and mentor to
the many people who volunteer their services, no matter what
party they were enrolled in. His advice is always grounded in
doing what is best for our community based on hard data
analysis and genuine community sentiment.
Michael helped usher in Simsbury’s ongoing commitment to
Community Policing and was a driver in ensuring Simsbury
attained the highest national standards in policing. Simsbury’s
continued accreditation through CALEA can be directly linked to
his advocacy and tenacity in ensuring excellence in public
safety. This changed the conversation from “we versus them” to
one built on trust and service.
Michael’s knowledge of state government was instrumental in
ensuring Simsbury was able to advocate effectively for its
citizens. If a local elected official was unsure who to call at the
state, Michael was the one they reached out to for the contact
and the strategy to employ.
As a member of the Bradley International Airport Commission
(appointed by Gov. William O’Neil in 1983), Michael helped
create the Connecticut Airport Authority, which is now the
governing authority for multiple airports in Connecticut, including
Bradley International Airport. Upon its creation, Michael was
appointed Vice Chair by Governor Malloy and has remained Vice
Chair throughout its existence. In this capacity, Michael was
instrumental in turning Bradley into an international airport.
As a member of the Board of Finance, Michael was an important
voice for fiscal transparency and sustainable budgeting because
he understands that citizens have a right to know how their
money is being spent and that it’s being spent wisely.
As a Selectman, Michael was instrumental in helping steer the
town through the fallout from the Great Recession of 2008,
coordinating between multiple boards to respond appropriately to
tough economic conditions with measured adjustments to
budgets and services that enabled Simsbury to recover over the
long-term.
As a member of the Ensign Bickford Foundation, Michael helped
As a member of the Ensign Bickford Foundation, Michael helped
coordinate donations to various Simsbury organizations,
including Simsbury Crew, the Simsbury Performing Arts Center,
the Historical Society, and the Simsbury Senior Center.
Today, as we look around at the beauty that is Simsbury, we can
thank Michael for the roles he played in shaping that vision. His
service on Planning, Zoning and Building helped build the
infrastructure of that beauty that we enjoy today.
On a personal note, Michael and his wife Ann raised three
wonderful children in town - Michael, Maura, Deirdre - and now he
is a grandfather to eight treasured grandchildren. Prior to his
retirement in 2007, Michael worked for Ensign Bickford
Industries, Inc. (EBI) in Simsbury, where he had several positions
over time, including President and several years as Vice
President and Chief Legal Officer. His earlier job responsibilities
at EBI included: Supervisor of Industrial Relations; Government
Contract Administrator at Ensign-Bickford Aerospace Company,
Divisional Controller, Manager of Government and Legal Affairs,
and Secretary and General Counsel. He also served on the
Board of Directors of EBI, was Managing Director of several of its
subsidiaries and affiliates, and was a Director of DYNO Nobel
Industries, Ltd, headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Michael was
admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. In his work
capacity, Michael also served as an important liaison with the
town. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has
his JD degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
To the extent we love Simsbury, we can thank Michael because
he played such a large role in so many of the decisions that
make our town a great place to call home.
Thank you for your consideration.
Michael’s History of Service
His 50+ years of service include:
Town of Simsbury
 Member and Chair of the Police Commission (25+years)
 Board of Finance member (10 years)
 Board of Selectmen member (one term)
 Tourism member
 Building Committee member (5 years)
 Planning Committee member
 Zoning Committee member
 Culture, Parks and Recreation Commissioner
 Simsbury Town Moderator (2 years)
 Charter Review Commission
 57 years as Democratic Town Committee member (12 years as
Chair)
 Simsbury Farms Golf Club – Founder
State Service
State Service
 Democratic State Central Committee (5 years)
Appointed the first Chair of the Bradley International Airport
Commission (by Gov. William A. O’Neil) in 1983 and has served
continuously on either the Commission or the Connecticut
Airport Authority (CAA) for the past 43 years. CAA Vice Chair
since its formation 12 years ago.
Other Service
 St. Mary’s Parish Council – President
 Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce – Director
 CT Bar Association – Corporate Counsel Section Exec.
Committee
 American Corporate Counsel Association – Director
 Institute of Makers of Explosives – Board of Governors
 Simsbury Jaycees – Executive Vice President and Director
 Awarded Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of
the Year
 Currently a devoted member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish
 Member of the Ensign Bickford Foundation
 Director of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council
 Member of the Simsbury, CT Land Preservation Trust
 2005 “Irishman of the Year” award
 2003 Public Service award Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz
 Listed in Who’s Who in American Law, Finance and Industry,
and in America
 University of Notre Dame Alumni Association
o Secretary, Connecticut Valley Club
o National Alumni Senator
o Scholarship Chair
o Funder of the Notre Dame International Security Center
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Lisa Heavner and Mary Glassman
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Margery Winters
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
Margery has contributed decades to preserving and enhancing
open space in Simsbury. Currently she serves as President of
Simsbury Land Trust who does amazing work caring for our
preserved open space.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Jason Levy
Nomination Form
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Raylan Bleimeister
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
Raylan Bleimeister helps out around the public. Works whenever
possible with the touch A truck and other public events and has
been nominated as the youngest member of the APWA other
than that he helps out at SCTV creating a weekly news channel
episodes for Simsbury. And has help out with the 2025 Simsbury
elections
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing Raylan Bleimeister
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Raylan Bleimeister
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Garance Herve-Mignucci
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
When Garance moved to Simsbury just eighteen months ago at
age fifteen, she didn't wait to settle in and dove straight into
serving her new community.
After meeting last year's Hero, Jason Gilbert, she was inspired to
join the Simsbury Fire District as a cadet firefighter, where she
was quickly recognized as the most dedicated cadet.
She answers emergency calls, maintains perfect attendance at
Monday night drills, and is one of only a handful of district
Monday night drills, and is one of only a handful of district
firefighters, and the only minor!, to hold a Commercial FAA Part
107 drone license to operate the department's firefighting drone
(Note that fewer than 100 girls under 18 hold this certification
nationally out of 300 000 holders).
She also volunteers her coding skills, earned through a Harvard
computer science program, to maintain the department's website
for free.
She is also pushing hard to organize a multi-town junior firefighter
weekend with Avon, Bloomfield, and neighboring departments to
build camaraderie amongst cities and inspire the next generation
of first responders to work hand in hand.
This spring she is completing her EMT certification, having
already assisted with 10+ patients in the past two months alone
and is now volunteering with them to assist any Simsburian in
emergency need .
Moreover, just last week, she earned her Lifeguard certification in
Granby to volunteer as a lifeguard.
Beyond public safety, Garance joined Scouts BSA in August
2024 and has already reached Life Scout. Her Eagle Scout
project will design a system to help locate lost hikers, and she
regularly volunteers on other Scouts' service projects.
At the Simsbury Library, she helped create the "Win a Potato"
reading program: a hit initiative the Library recognized with
boosting youth reading across town last summer.
She accomplishes all of this while maintaining a 4.0 GPA at both
Simsbury High School and Tunxis Community College as the
only dual-enrolled high-school student, earning admission into
Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society, and serving as a
Student Government Ambassador encouraging more Simsbury
teens to pursue dual enrollment.
Garance is living proof that you are never too young or too new to
make a difference.
Recognizing her sends a powerful message to every teenager in
Simsbury: your community needs you now, and the young
volunteers of today will become the invested adults who make
Simsbury stronger tomorrow.
Thank you for considering her.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Active In Simsbury Community
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Ingrid Vierne
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
\itap4Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
Nomination Form for Hometown Hero Program
\itap5Criteria for Selection
\itap5
That the acts and services which are recognized have a significant benefit to
the community; and that
Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award
shall be duly considered with the following exception:
\itap5
\itap5A nominee may not:
Be a member of Town staff,
A sitting elected official,
Have benefited financially from his/her endeavors.
An appointed member of a board or commission may be nominated provided
their work being recognized for is for actions done outside the scope of their
position.
Name of Nominee Raylan Bleimeister
Nominee's Address
Nominee's Phone Number
Nominee's Email Address
Please describe, in detail,
the Nominee’s act/deed
and/or behavior which
contributes/contributed to the
Simsbury community:
Raylan is a 13 year old who attends Henry James School in
Simsbury and he is a huge “fan” of public works!!! He has done
school projects on public works and construction. In years past
he has with the planning for Simsbury DPW annual Public Works
touch-a-truck and open house event. When his elementary
school underwent a major renovation, each week he was allowed
to inspect the construction with the school Principal as long as
all of his assignments are complete. All of the contractors on site
knew and loved Raylan.
Two years ago, he started his own YouTube Channel, “The Hard
Hat Kid” where he interviews Town officials and companies
involved in construction. Most importantly, Raylan founded the
YOUTH CONSTRUCTION MOVEMENT. This endeavor focuses
on informing young people of the varied career paths in the
construction and building trades so that today's youth will realize
there are a multitude of high paying and rewarding jobs in these
fields. He is partnering with American Equipment manufactuers
assoc to spread the message.
He attended the world's largest Construction Expo this year in
Las Vegas and has appeared in several corporations' promos for
the event.
Nominee's Status During
Period Under Consideration
Simsbury Resident
Name of Person Completing
Nomination Form
Eric Bleimeister
Email Address of Person
Completing Nomination Form
Phone Number of Person
Completing Nomination Form
\itap4Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
Town of Simsbury
933 HOPMEADOW STREET ~ SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT 06070
Marc Nelson – Town Manager
Telephone (860) 658-3230
Facsimile (860) 658-9467
townmanager@simsbury-ct.gov
www.simsbury-ct.gov
An Equal Opportunity Employer
8:30 – 7:00 Monday
8:30 - 4:30 Tuesday through Thursday
8:30 - 1:00 Friday
To: Trish Munroe, Town Clerk
Cc: Marc Nelson, Town Manager
Hometown Hero Selection Committee
From: Thomas Fitzgerald, Deputy Town Manager
Date: May 8, 2026
Re: Hometown Hero Selection Committee - 2027 Regular Meeting Schedule
At their meeting on May 7, 2026 the Hometown Hero Selection Committee agreed by consensus
to establish a regular meeting schedule for 2026 as follows:
Monday, May 3, 2027 at 6:00 PM
The meetings will be held virtually or in a location to be determined. Meetings will be properly
noticed in accordance with FOIA requirements.