Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
Every now and then we need to take our temperature to see just how we’re doing. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the postponement of the 2020 biannual resident satisfaction survey.
I am pleased to announce the Town has again contracted with Great Blue Research of Glastonbury, to conduct the 2021 resident satisfaction survey. The survey asks residents to rate their satisfaction with several key services provided by the Town.
Your feedback is a valuable resource that helps to inform improvements that can be developed to enhance customer service and resident satisfaction. The survey will start October 4. An online survey also will be made available. For more details, please click here.
Greenwich Waste Wizard
The Greenwich Waste Wizard is a new online tool designed to reduce waste and empower residents to dispose of hundreds of items in an environmentally responsible and safe way. Greenwich Waste Wizard can be accessed on the websites of the Greenwich Department of Public Works, Waste Free Greenwich and Greenwich Green & Clean, and a QR code makes the tool even easier to use.
Simply enter the name of an item for disposal in the search box, and the Waste Wizard responds with the best options of how and where to recycle, reuse or dispose of it. The tool offers a number of features for ease and accessibility, including local drop-off locations for recycling and donation, special instructions for disposal of items and even events in Greenwich such as the Paper Shredding Day, in multiple languages - English, Spanish and Japanese.
To access: use the QR code or visit Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works’ waste disposal webpage. To learn more and to access the Waste Wizard tool, please click HERE.
Tropical Storm Ida update
I wanted you to know that we continue to work with our state and federal delegations as we await word on whether Fairfield County – including Greenwich – will receive a federal disaster declaration. That declaration would allow local residents and businesses who experienced damage to apply for federal assistance. I will let you know as soon as we receive any updates.
Red Cross storm preparedness
As we continue to clean up from Tropical Storm Ida, I hope that you will take advantage of a Zoom presentation, "Be Red Cross Ready" - a free emergency preparedness training for individuals and families. The Red Cross Greater NY Region is offering this program. Please click HERE to register for this one-hour zoom at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 29. You can make this program a family activity. The program will be introduced by Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of Red Cross NY Region, and presented by Alex Poku who has personally trained 100,000 people in the last few years.
This training gives a comprehensive overview of preparing for natural and man-made disasters and how to respond to and recover from them. This program will help build confidence by explaining simple steps one can take now to help protect your family. The program will provide preparedness essentials that would help during hazards like home fires, hurricanes and winter storms. HERE are more details about "Be Red Cross Ready" program.
COVID-19 update
As you may have read this week, I have relaxed the requirement that face masks be worn in all public buildings and businesses. Effective today, businesses, offices and private venues now have the authority to determine their own mask requirements. However, face masks are still required in all Town facilities.
As numbers of new cases and hospitalizations have stabilized, I believe it was the prudent action to take. The full announcement can be found here.
Between Sept. 14 and Sept. 21, there were 69 new cases reported. Health Director Caroline Baisley there is a total of 68 active cases being monitored by the Greenwich Health Department.
Today, Greenwich Hospital has one COVID-positive patient who 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.
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.
Wheel-it-Forward
The Commission on Aging has partnered with Wheel-It-Forward to coordinate a “Drive-Thru/Drop-Off” durable medical equipment drive on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenwich Senior Center, 299 Greenwich Ave.
Donations of gently used durable medical equipment supports and benefits others, saves money and is a sustainable/environmentally friendly option. Please refer to the list of items that will be accepted and note that only new commodes and unopened disposable items will be accepted.
After this event, residents can donate equipment at the Holly Hill Transfer Station, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon.
Paper shredding day
The annual Paper Shredding Day in Greenwich is scheduled for Saturday, September 25 at Island Beach parking lot on Arch Street between 9:30 a.m. and noon, or until the trucks are full.
Shredding Day is run by volunteers from Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board and Greenwich Green & Clean, with support from The First Bank of Greenwich and Santaguida Sanitation.
All paper must be in boxes or rigid containers similar in size to case of wine. Volunteers will lift boxes from your car and tip into a bin. There is a five box limit and a $3 fee will be charged for each box. Only exact cash payments will be accepted.
Donations of canned and dried food for Neighbor-to-Neighbor will be accepted at shredding day, including tuna, soup, peanut butter & jelly, canned fruit and veggies, cereal, and any un-opened toiletry items.
13th Annual Dazzling Dahlias Show
The Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible Street, Cos Cob, is sponsoring the Greenwich Dahlia Society’s 13thAnnual Dahlia Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 26. All dahlias will be sold at 3 p.m., Sunday. Admission is free, although free-will donations to the Botanical Center will be accepted. Face masks are required to enter the center.Absentee ballots applications, voter registration for the November election
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 15th till November 2nd 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. Details, and links are available online: https://www.lwvgreenwich.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=784813&item_id=1523909.
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I hope to see you all at Adopt-a-Dog’s annual ‘Puttin’ on the Dog’ this Sunday. This family event is a fund-raiser and adoption even for several shelters in the surrounding area. There will be music, vendors, demonstrations and competitions for all dogs and pet lovers. It’ll be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch Street.
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Stay safe and please remember to wash your hands, watch your distance, wipe down surfaces and get a vaccine if you haven’t done already.
All the best,
Fred