The Thomaston passport program is open to all Thomaston residents, neighbors and visitors. The program begins July 4th and ends on September 3rd with drop box locations at the Thomaston Town Hall Land Use Office and Thomaston Public Library. Varying levels of prizes totaling over $500 will be announced on September 13th. 

Postcards are available at all 44 participating locations, and there is no cost or obligation to participate, simply visit the location to get your card stamped. Be sure to put your name and contact information on the card so we can contact you if you are a prize winner. 

The Town of Thomaston and Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), invite residents to learn about a proposed National Register of Historic Places nomination for the downtown. National Register listing is an honorary status, which celebrates places with important local history. Downtown Thomaston has a wealth of historic resources, worthy of recognition. The historic community spaces, businesses, mill housing, and mill complexes all contribute to the Town’s identity and unique character.

 

Jenny Scofield, National Register Coordinator for SHPO, and Renee Tribert of Preservation Connecticut will provide an overview of the National Register program and benefits of designation.

 

Please join us to learn more about this effort!

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is inviting residents, students, and visitors to help define the region’s identity through a regional photo contest supporting the development of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (NVRPOCD). The plan is a long-range document that guides growth, preservation, and community priorities over the coming years.

The contest seeks photographs that capture the people, places, and experiences that define life in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. Submissions may reflect Architecture, Arts & Culture, Community and Places of Belonging, Environment, Entertainment & Leisure, Public Events, and/or Transportation across the region. Selected images will be used to visually support the NVCOG’s long-term planning efforts and to illustrate the themes and priorities reflected in the NVRPOCD.

Submissions are open now through 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Participants may submit up to three digital photographs through an online submission form at https://arcg.is/1G5OSr2. The contest is open to adults aged 18 or older, as well as high school students in grades 9 through 12 who have parent or guardian permission.

One winning photo will be selected from each of NVCOG’s 19 municipalities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Waterton, Wolcott, and Woodbury. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to a local establishment in the town where the photo was taken. Selected images may also be featured on the NVCOG website, social media platforms, and in future official planning publications.

Full contest rules, submission guidelines, and required photo release forms, including forms for high school student participants and any identifiable individuals appearing in submitted photos, are available at https://nvcogct.gov/project/photo-contest/.