Easton Joins Westport-Weston Health District; Community Input Needed for New Name

Press Release

Effective May 1st, Easton, CT has joined the Westport Weston Health District.  Mark Cooper, Director of Health, is delighted that Easton is an official member of the Health District. “Residents of Easton will now have full-time access to the comprehensive services provided by our trained and certified staff.  We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all residents and serving as a source of information for health-related concerns.”  He adds that the move increases efficiencies and fosters collaborative efforts. Health District Board Chairman, Otis Crawford, formally welcomed the town to the Health District during May’s regular Board of Directors meeting. 

Easton First Selectman, David Bindleglass, attended the Health District’s May meeting on the Town of Easton’s behalf while Easton’s Board of Selectmen appoints a Board member who will represent Easton on an ongoing basis. He stated “ Joining the WWHD replaces our previously part-time health department. I am thrilled at the additional public health and sanitation services we will be able to provide our residents and looking forward to working with the health district.” 

WWHD Community Health Division’s Public Health Nurse, Loren Pace, is excited to work with the neighboring community.  “We’ve been offering homebound COVID-19 vaccination visits and community clinics over the past few months. Residents have also dropped off many ticks for identification and testing.”  She encourages everyone to take advantage of the services offered through the District.  The organization has added a full-time sanitarian to cover the added environmental health load.   For the convenience of residents, the sanitarian has been holding office hours at the Easton Town Hall  Monday through Friday.

Formed in 1965, the Westport Weston Health District is the first recognized health district in Connecticut. Member towns include Westport, Weston, and now, Easton.  With the addition of Easton to the Health District, the Board of Directors has begun discussing the need to change the Health District’s name to be more inclusive and is open to suggestions. Anyone with suggestions should send them to publichealth@wwhd.org.  The Health District services more than 40,000 residents.  It is responsible for environmental health and code enforcement, health education and promotion, disease monitoring and prevention, and public health emergency planning and response.