Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
This weekend we will celebrate Memorial Day – a day with a history that dates back to the Civil War.
It was General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Union veterans group that was known as the Grand Army of the Republic, who issued a decree that the 620,000 soldiers killed during the Civil War be remembered on a day of commemoration in 1868. General Logan asked that Americans honor the war dead by decorating their graves with flowers. Thus, it was to become known as Decoration Day.
Memorial Day was observed every year on May 30. In 1971, Memorial Day was designated to be observed on the last Monday in May.
In honor of the fallen heroes of Greenwich, there are several events planned this weekend. I hope that you will take some time to join our fellow residents to commemorate these men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
- May 29 @ 10:30 a.m.: Cos Cob VFW wreath laying ceremony, Strickland Road – opposite Greenwich Historical Society.
- May 30 @ 2 p.m.: Byram Veterans Association parade and wreath-laying.
- May 30 @ 5 p.m.: Glenville Volunteer Fire Company parade and wreath-laying.
- May 31 @ 8 a.m.: American Legion Post 29 ceremony at Indian Harbor Yacht Club.
- May 31 @ 10 a.m.: Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department parade on Sound Beach Avenue with ceremony to follow in Binney Park.
- May 31 @ 10 a.m.: Memorial service at the Eugene Morlot Park, adjacent to Dorothy Hamill Rink.
- May 31 @ 1 p.m.: Chickahominy Reunion Association remembrance ceremony outside Hamilton Avenue School.
This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season. For details on operations at our beaches, please use this link. Please remember, 2021 beach passes are required to enter Greenwich Point and Byram parks. Details on the Greenwich Pool operations – which opens this weekend - including swim lessons for kids and water aerobics for seniors, can be found here. The Great Captain Island and Island Beach ferry service will begin June 12. The ferry and fee schedules can be found here.
Mill Pond cleanup
The holiday weekend comes after a rather busy week. If you have a chance, stop by the Mill Pond pocket park at the corner of Strickland Road and East Putnam Avenue to enjoy the much-improved vista of the pond thanks to the efforts last weekend of the Junior League Greenwich, our Parks & Recreation staff and a small army of neighborhood volunteers. This project is part of a larger effort to improve this little gem in the hub of Cos Cob.
Anti-Semitism rally
On Monday evening, my fellow board members and I proudly stood in solidarity as we participated in an anti-Semitism rally at the Stamford Government Center to voice our support for peace in Israel. As we have stated previously, anti-Semitism doesn’t have a place in Greenwich or in our democracy. Inclusion and tolerance of all are principles we should abide by every day.
Witness Stone Memorials
It was a privilege to be a part of the Greenwich Historical Society’s moving ceremony to unveil the “Witness Stones Memorial” on Thursday.
The Historical Society collaborated with The Witness Stone Project that teaches students about enslaved persons in their hometowns using primary sources such as deeds, wills and letters. The historical society partnered with students from Sacred Heart Greenwich and Greenwich Academy to honor four individuals — Cull Bush and his partner Patience, and Candice Bush and her daughter Hester Mead — who all lived and worked for David Bush and family at the Bush-Holley House.
The project will continue until the remaining 11 enslaved people from Greenwich are honored in coming years.
Congratulations to our new Deputy Police Chief
Yesterday, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the appointment of Captain Kraig Gray as Deputy Police Chief. Kraig is a 30-year veteran of the Department and will succeed Deputy Chief Mark Marino who retires June 1 after serving our community for 38 years. Please join me in congratulating Kraig on a well-deserved promotion and in wishing Mark a long healthy retirement.
Reminder About Dogs on School Property
A friendly reminder that resident should not be bringing their dogs on our public school campuses during pick-ups/drop-offs, as well as to athletic competitions. Dogs are not allowed on campus during the school day and during school activities, except those that are registered as service animals.
Emergency Repair Work in Riverside
Gas line repairs on Summit Road in Riverside may cause traffic delays for the next couple weeks. I ask that you give yourself some extra travel time and have patience for the work being done between 21 Summit and the Spring Street/Summit Road intersection. The work is expected to continue until June 11 with construction scheduled from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. This work will impact traffic headed to Greenwich High School, Eastern Middle School, and Riverside and Old Greenwich schools.
Blood donors needed
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on June 7 at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich. Hours are 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 1-800--RED-CROSS or logging onto www.RedCrossBlood.org
Food scrap drop off site coming to Old Greenwich
Starting June 2 residents may drop off food scraps at the Old Greenwich farmers market on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. The market is located at 38 West End Ave. at the Living Hope Community Church. Residents may bring food scraps only during market hours. At all other times, material must be taken to the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Center. As always, stick to the list of accepted materials - NO plastic bags or food packaging permitted.
Waste Free Greenwich will monitor the collection toters on site, while Curbside Compost, in partnership with City Carting, will be responsible for supplying the toters and hauling the scraps to a licensed composting facility weekly. A big thank you to market manager Dana Evans and Pastor Bill Gestal.
YMCA camp scholarship program needs donors
The YMCA is offering a summer camp scholarship program for children of COVID essential workers. The campers will be able to participate in the eight-week program that includes daily swim lessons. For more information about the program and how to donate, please click here.
COVID-19 update
As of May 25, 62.17 percent of all eligible residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine including 92.88 percent of our senior citizens age 75 and older are fully vaccinated.
As of today, there are 15 active cases, which is 5 less than a week ago. There have been a total of 5,115 residents diagnosed since the COVID outbreak began. The number of residents who have passed away due to COVID remains at 89.
For the first time since October 1, 2020, Greenwich Hospital does not have any COVID patients. And Greenwich Public Schools continues its trend of no student or staff cases. This is such great news – a trend that I hope and pray will continue.
Vaccine and testing information:
For homebound residents, the Family Health Division of the Health Department can provide assistance. Residents need to contact their physician to request that a doctor’s order for a vaccine shot is forwarded to the Health Department. Doctors can contact the Family Health Division by calling 203-622-6495.
Here is a list of available vaccine providers:
- Yale New Haven Health:
Sign up online here, or call 1-833-275-9644. - Stamford Health:
Sign-up online here, or call 203-276-7300. - Hartford Healthcare:
Sign-up online here, or call 860-827-7690. - CVS Health (Limited Locations):
Sign up online here, or call 1-800-679-9691. - Walgreens (Limited Locations):
Sign up online here, or call 1-800-925-4733. - Walmart (Limited Locations):
Sign up online here.
Testing information:
- Greenwich Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health system can be found here.
- Community Health Center can be found here.
- Family Centers at Wilbur Peck Court can be found here.
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I will close this holiday message with a quote from President Ronald Reagan: “As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this Nation.”
Stay safe and all the best,
Fred