News Flash

Newly-appointed head golf pro Patrick Massi Jr., right, with First Selectman Fred Camillo.

Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.

I’m pleased to announce the selection of Patrick Massi Jr. as the Head Golf Professional at the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course for the 2022 season.

Patrick has held the position of First Assistant Golf Professional at the “Griff” since 2007.  Patrick achieved his Class A Golf Professional Certification in 2010 and was elected a member of the PGA Class A Membership.

Patrick is well known for his teaching ability, his commitment to the Junior Golf Program and the Town’s golf operations. The Town of Greenwich wishes Patrick well in his new role as the Head Professional and look forward to seeing him next season.

I am heartened by the resiliency and compassion for friends and neighbors that residents have shown one another as cleanup from Tropical Storm Ida continues. Next week, I will be convening a meeting of a storm water mitigation task force with staff from the Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Environmental Affairs, Risk Management and Law departments. We will be reviewing and assessing issues, possible resolutions and develop plans that will reduce the impacts of powerful weather events such as storm Ida.

I continue to be in contact with our state delegation, Gov. Ned Lamont and Congressman Jim Himes as we work to obtain a federal disaster declaration that would provide relief to residents impacted by the storm. I want to recognize the efforts of Town Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Ben Branyan and IT Director Tom Klein for their efforts and those of staff who created the special website that enabled residents to file damage reports.

Nearly 600 households and businesses filed damage reports. We are hopeful that a federal disaster declaration will be issued. The disaster declaration process is complicated. In addition to meeting the statewide threshold, each county must also meet its own threshold in order to be eligible for FEMA funding, which is opened up on a county by county basis. The Town has submitted the necessary information to the state for consideration.

As residents continue cleanup efforts, I’d like to take this time to remind you that for the health and safety of our staff at Holly Hill Transfer Station, and for the health of the environment, please keep materials such as paints, pesticides and other potentially hazardous liquids and materials out of your trash or demolition materials. Air conditioners and other small appliances should also be kept separate. Please visit https://www.greenwichct.gov/265/Waste-Disposal-Recycling for more information on how to handle your trash materials.

Residents please note that Connecticut Natural Gas reports that some residents may have been charged a $130 service fee for turning on gas lines after repairs were made. The charges were made in error. If you were charged that amount for that service, please call CNG at 203-869-6900 and the money will be credited back to your account.

This Saturday, September 18, Mothers for Others will hold a Community Diaper Distribution Day, at which anyone who experienced loss or damage from Tropical Storm Ida can receive a free one-week supply of diapers for every child up to age 3 in their home. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at Second Congregational Church, 139 E. Putnam Ave.

Residents who are looking for ways to assist their neighbors at this time can consider donating diapers or making a contribution to MFO's Diaper Fund.

More information about the event and ways to help can be found here: https://www.mothersforothers.org/community-diaper-distribution-day.html

It appears the infection rate in Town continues to flatten. Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, there were 49 new cases reported. That’s nearly half the rate of new cases per week from a month ago.  Health Director Caroline Baisley reports that many of the new cases involve youngsters who aren’t eligible for vaccines. The primary infection sources are within families and sports. There is a total of 55 active cases being monitored by the Greenwich Health Department.

Today, Greenwich Hospital has 4 COVID-positive patients, 1 of whom is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit and is on a ventilator.  

The number of residents who have died from COVID remains at 90.

 On the vaccine front, of the 52,482 eligible residents, 85.38 percent have initiated the vaccination process and 78.72 percent are fully vaccinated.

Vaccine and testing information: 

Locations of vaccine providers and how to contact them can be found here.

The Family Health Division of the Health Department can provide assistance for homebound residents who still  need the vaccine.  Residents need to contact their physician to request that a doctor’s order for a vaccine is forwarded to the Health Department. Doctors can contact the Family Health Division by calling 203-622-6495.

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.

Greenwich Green & Clean, in partnership with Skip the Straw Greenwich, is sponsoring the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Environmental Fair on Saturday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Greenwich Point Park. Certificates are available for community service hours. For more information and to register, click here.

The Frontage Road, Delavan Avenue and Ritch Avenue Improvement Project will begin Tuesday, September 21. Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works devised this project after identifying an opportunity to make this area more pedestrian and bicyclist-friendly, along with incorporating traffic calming measures.  Motorists should expect delays in the area because of construction. Follow @greenwichpublicworks on social media and learn more about the project, HERE.

Absentee ballots for the November 2 local elections will become available October 1.  You can print and fill out the application here https://www.greenwichct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23460/absentee-application?bidId=

The applications can be returned to the Town Clerk’s office (address is on the application).  Ballot boxes will be available for applications and ballots from September 15^th till November 2^nd at 8 p.m. They are located at Town Hall and at the Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place.

If you need to check your voter registration status, you can do so online by using this link:  https://www.greenwichct.gov/1191/Voter-Information-Lookup . This link also allows you to check your absentee status.

The League of Women Voters Greenwich also will be offering community-wide voter registration activities on National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Details, and links are available online: https://www.lwvgreenwich.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=784813&item_id=1523909.

I hope to see you all at this Sunday’s ‘Wearing of the GREENwich Thank You Parade and Tatoo.’ The parade to thank all essential workers from throughout Town and to celebrate the Greenwich Police Department’s 125^th anniversary kicks off at 1 p.m. at Town Hall and will follow the St. Patrick’s Parade route up to Route 1 and Greenwich Avenue and will conclude with a bagpipe tattoo and Irish step-dancing program at Havemeyer Field.

Stay safe and please remember the four W’s: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance and wipe down surfaces.

All the best,

Fred