Resources and Links of Interest

Community Associations

Community Associations Institute (CAI) - Provides education, tools and resources to people who govern and manage homeowners associations, condominiums and other planned communities.

An Introduction to Community Association Living , a basic primer for homeowners new to their community or condominium association. It addresses the roles and functions of owners and association leaders and addresses the rights and responsibilities of each.
CAI’s Governance Guidelines for association boards - 12 basic benchmarks of responsible governance—the cornerstone of any successful common-interest community.
Community Association Fundamentals , a summary of 10 core principles that define the nature of common-interest communities. These characteristics address the basic function of associations, the essential obligations and expectations of homeowners and the underlying principles that should guide association leaders.
Best Practices Reports

Connecticut Chapter of Community Association Institute

Town of Simsbury

Assessor's Office - Compiles the Town's annual grand list and values all property including real and personal property and motor vehicles. Also provides a listing of real property assessment data online.
Culture, Parks & Recreation - The Parks and Recreation Department coordinates a wide range of programs and other activities throughout the year and maintains a network of 12 town parks and facility reservations for the Apple Barn, Simsbury Farms and other town parks.
Farmington Valley Health District
Fire Company - A volunteer fire department with roots back to Ensign-Bickford Company when it provided coverage to its plant, company owned houses, and the community at large.
First Selectman's Office - Mary Glassman's Office
Police Department - The Simsbury PD is responsible for maintaining civil order, preventing crime, protecting life and property, and educating the community in ways and means of preserving peace, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
Public Library
Social Services - The Social Services Department provides assistance for residents with social, emotional, and economic needs of every kind. Their services help residents achieve self-sufficiency, maintain economic well-being and adjust to difficult circumstances and events in their lives.
Tax Collector - The collector of real, property and motor vehicle taxes. There site includes listings of taxes paid.
Town Clerk - The Town Clerk's Office is responsible for safekeeping Town records that include Land Records, Maps and Surveys, Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage, Civil Union), Election and Referendum Results, Voter Registration Records, Dog Licenses, Sport Licenses (Hunting, Fishing, Trapping), Military Discharges, Town Ordinances, Meeting Minutes, Trade Name Certificates, Notary Public Appointments and Liquor Licenses.

Area Attractions

These area attractions are within Simsbury or just a short drive away.

Flamig Farm - Educational farm, petting zoo, hay, sleigh and pony rides, horse and carriages for special occasions, fresh eggs, pumpkin picking, school tours, summer camp, gift shop. 7 Shingle Mill Rd, West Simsbury

Hill-Stead Museum - National Historic Landmark noted for 1901 mansion, grounds, and garden. See impressionist paintings in home of original collector. - Farmington, CT (5 miles)

New England Air Museum - Open 7 days a week, year round. Windsor Locks, CT (17 miles)

Old Newgate Prison - Originally founded as a copper mine in the early 1700's. NewGate was first used as a prison to house Tories and Loyalists during the Revolutionary War. It was the first State Prison in America.

Phelps Tavern Museum and Homestead - The Simsbury Historical Society operates the Phelps Tavern Museum on a two acre site in the center of Simsbury and includes research archives, museum store and award-winning period gardens to highlight the visitor's experience. The museum is open year round, except major holidays, Tuesday through Saturday.

William Phelps Eno Memorial Center - Display of artifacts owned by an American pioneer in the field of transportation and traffic regulation, William Phelps Eno (1858-1945). Located at the Simsbury Genealogical and Historical Research Library, 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury.

Area Schools

Public Schools

Simsbury Public Schools are an award-winning school district with a long tradition of excellence in education and among the best public school districts in the State of Connecticut. » Review the Simsbury District's Strategic Profile

Central Elementary - Elementary school serving Maple Court. Grades K-5. Located 1.5 miles from Maple Court in Simsbury Center.
Henry James Memorial School - Town of Simsbury's Middle School. Grades 6-8. Located 1.4 miles from Maple Court.
Simsbury High School- Grades 9-12. Just down the street from Maple Court and within walking distance (0.5 miles).

Private Schools

Cobb School Montessori - A thriving Toddler, Preschool and Elementary school located on five picturesque acres whose approach to education is based on the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori. Mary Lou Cobb, head of the school, also owned one of the homes in Maple Court in the late 1970's.

Ethel Walker School - The Ethel Walker School, founded in 1911, is an independent, college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 6 through 12.

Master's School - The Master's School is a co-educational college preparatory day school for students in preschool through grade 12 with average and above-average academic ability pursuing educational excellence from a Christian perspective.

St. Mary's Catholic School - The Farmington Valley's only Catholic school for grades K-8.

Westminster School - An independent, coeducational, secondary school serving grades 9-12 and postgraduate. Approximately 1.6 miles north of Maple Court.

Culture

Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts - Hartford, CT (8.5 miles)

Farmington Valley Chorus - A group of 50 women of diverse ages, backgrounds, and professions who sing a cappella four-part harmony in the barbershop style.

Mark Twain House - Tour the Hartford home where Mark Twain lived and worked from 1874 to 1891, includes children's activities and a Museum Shop. - Hartford, CT (8 miles)

Simsbury Celebrates - Simsbury Celebrates is a FREE Community Holiday Celebration, traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving along Hopmeadow Street. A Thanksgiving town tradition!

Simsbury Chamber Music Festival - A not for profit, all volunteer, community-based organization, dedicated to bringing artistic and musical experiences directly to the residents of the Farmington Valley.

Simsbury Light Opera Company - A community-based group of actors, singers and talented backstage crew dedicated to bringing quality musical entertainment to audiences throughout Connecticut's Farmington Valley.

Wadsworth Athenaeum - America's oldest public art museum, founded in 1842 and featuring a collection of American and European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts. - Hartford, CT (10 miles)

Law and Legal Issues

Connecticut Common Interest Ownership Act (CIOA) - This statute, also known as "CIOA," applies to common interest communities created on or after January 1, 1984. Also, portions of it apply to communities created before then (including the Maple Court HOA), as stated in the footnotes in the table of contents and in the parenthetical notes after relevant section numbers.

Connecticut Revised Nonstock Ownership Act - This statute, also known as the "Nonstock Act," applies to common interest communities whose associations of unit owners are incorporated as nonstock corporations. Our homeowners' association is incorporated.

Perlstein, Sandler & McCracken, LLC - Our attorney's website which includes an excellent quarterly newsletter on legal issues related to condo associations and homeowners associations.

Unit Ownership Act - This statute, which is no longer codified in the Connecticut General Statutes, applies to condominiums and homeowners associations created before 1977.

Places of Worship

Chabad House of The Farmington Valley - 141 Hopmeadow St., Weatogue

Church of Christ - 1 St. John's Pl., Simsbury

Covenant Presbyterian Church - 124 Old Farms Road, Simsbury

Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom - 55 Bushy Hill Rd, Simsbury.

First Church Of Christ - 689 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury

Shepherd Of The Hills Lutheran Church - 7 Wescott Road, Simsbury

Simsbury United Methodist Church - 799 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury

Saint Albans Episcopal Church - 197 Bushy Hill Rd, Simsbury

Saint Bernard's Roman Catholic Church - 7 Maple St., Tariffville

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - 940 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury

Saint Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church - 265 Stratton Brook Rd, West Simsbury

Trinity Episcopal Church - 11 Church St., Tariffville

Recreation

Farmington River Watershed Regional Trails - Information about regional trails and tourist information related to the Farmington River.

Farmington Valley Greenway - The Farmington Valley Greenway is a 26-mile multi-use trail running through five towns of Central Connecticut with connections to many more miles of walking and biking trails. It is a ten-foot wide, wheelchair accessible trail designed for walking, jogging, biking, inline skating and other activities, including travel to work and school. Both trails, the Greenway and River Trail pass through Simsbury. Maple Court is on the "Blue" River Trail pathway.

Flower Bridge at Drake Hill - Inspired by a unique Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA., a group of Simsbury residents began to develop a community garden on the historic Old Drake Hill Bridge in 1996. A perfect spot to watch crew races, wildlife viewing as well as a wonderful destination for Greenway walkers and bikers.

Great Pond Park - Located off Great Pond Road, the park offers hiking and walking trails. The 296-acre forest also serves as a nesting place for a variety of birds and waterfowl.

International Skating Center - The International Skating Center of Connecticut offers a world class skating facility, including: 2000 seat twin rinks: one olympic size and the other NHL size, a pro shop, cafe, and fitness facilities. The skating center offers public skating, figure skating, and youth and adult hockey programs.

Penwood State Park - The park, located along the Metacomet Trail off of CT-185, offers 787 acres for hiking, picnicking and cross country skiing. The parks 741-foot elevation offers a view of both the Farmington River and Connecticut River valleys.

McLean Game Refuge - Located in the northwest corner of town along Holcomb Street and Firetown Road, it is named after the former Governor and United States Senator, George P. McLean. The 3,400 acre preserve contains four hiking trails that wind their way through Simsbury and Granby.

Simsbury Farms Recreational Complex - A 235 acre recreational facility operated by the Town of Simsbury which offers a wide range of both active and passive recreation.

Simsbury Farms Golf Course - An 18 hole golf course and pro shop located at 100 Old Farms Road, Simsbury.

Simsbury Clubs and Organizations - The Town of Simsbury maintains a listing of clubs and organizations on its web site.

Simsbury Land Trust - Works to conserve open space in Simsbury and publishes the Walkbook which features 26 hiking trails in Simsbury.

Simsbury Performing Arts Center - The Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows is state of the art performing arts center located on Iron Horse Boulevard and serves as the summer home of the Hartford Symphony.

Stratton Brook State Park - Located off Farms Village Road, the park offers two ponds for fishing, swimming, and ice skating. Also the site of the former Central New England Railroad, it is now a popular bike and walking path that extends through Simsbury's Town Forest Park.

Talcott Mountain State Park - The park, located off Route 185, boasts a one and one-half mile hike which leads up to the Heublein Tower, an elevation of 1,000 feet. The tower, donated by the Heublein family, is open on a seasonal basis.

Restaurants

Simsbury offers a variety of great restaurants from casual to elegant. View the Town's Places to Dine listing.

Shopping

Riverdale Farms Shopping - A faithfully restored 19th century dairy farm beautifully landscaped for your shopping pleasure on the Avon-Simsbury town line.

Shop Simsbury - Come explore a wide variety of unique retail shops and fine dining from a selection of flavorful restaurants in Simsbury Center.

Utilities

Listing of utility providers which serve the Maple Court neighborhood.

Aquarion Water Company - Water utility company which serves the Town of Simsbury. (800) 732-9678
AT&T - Provider of local and long distance telephone services.
CNG Corp - Natural gas provider. (860) 727-3000
Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) - Residential electricity supplier and distributor. (800) 286-2000
Comcast Cable of Central CT - Provider of cable television, broadband Internet and telephone services. (888) 824-2273
Paine's - Offers recycling and disposal services. The Association currently pays for automated curbside rubbish removal for all homes in the neighborhood but this service does not include recyclables which can be added at the homeowner's expense or brought to the Town's Bulk Waste/Recycling Center on Wolcott Rd.

Other

Connecticut Visitors Bureau

Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau

Farmington Valley Visitors Association

Simsbury Bank Community Calendar - A listing of local community events in Simsbury and the surrounding area.

Simsbury Main Street Partnership - The Simsbury Main Street Partnership is a non-profit organization devoted to the continued success of downtown Simsbury.

Simsbury Community TV - Simsbury Community Television is a nonprofit local access TV station serving the community of Simsbury since 1984. SCTV facilities are available free of charge to trained volunteers for community programming.