Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.

There is optimistic news to share with you regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) inspection of Tropical Storm Ida preliminary damage assessments. This week, FEMA representatives spent a third day in Town visiting neighborhoods damaged by the unprecedented rainfall.

We are confident that the threshold for FEMA Public Assistance (aid to municipalities) has been met on the county-wide level. It also appears that the threshold for Individual Assistance has been met on the county level. The state is now working to complete a consolidated disaster declaration request to submit to the Governor. If the request is submitted to the President and is approved, this will hopefully make assistance available to residents who incurred damage.

I will continue to keep you updated as soon as I receive any additional information. I appreciate your continuing patience.

Drivers needed

If you have some free time and are looking to volunteer, I hope that you will consider Call-A-Ride. This service that provides essential travel services for our seniors is experiencing a driver shortage. Without enough drivers some seniors in need cannot take advantage of this free service and have to pay to get where they need to go.

Drivers use one of the three Call-A-Ride cars, which are fully insured and based at 37 Lafayette Place, Greenwich. There are 2 shifts Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p. m. to 3:30 p.m.

Drivers can commit to a weekly shift, or a few times a month, or volunteer for an open shift that’s posted on the group’s monthly calendar.

For more information or to sign up, please call (203) 661-6633.

COVID-19 update

There is good news in that the number of active cases has decreased.

Health Director Caroline Baisley reports there are now a total of 5,842 residents who have contracted COVID-19. There are 19 active cases being monitored by the Greenwich Health Department. Of those 19 cases, 11 were reported between Tuesday and today.

As of today, Greenwich Hospital was treating three COVID-positive patients, none of whom has been vaccinated. Two of those patients are in the ICU and are on ventilators. In Greenwich

Public Schools, there are a total of eight cases. According to the district’s data tracker, five cases involve students and one each for teachers, service providers and non-teaching staff. None of the cases involve in-school transmission.

Another resident has died as a result of COVID, bringing the total to 95 residents.

Here are the latest vaccination rates for our residents. Our rates increased incrementally from

last week and I hope that more residents will take the time to get vaccinated, especially those who are 25- to 44-years-old.

Here are the latest vaccination rates as reported by the state Department of Public Health, as of October 21:

• Age 12 – 17: 86.57% of 5,449 residents
• Age 18 – 24: 80.73% of 4,037 residents
• Age 25 – 44: 66.61% of 13,580 residents
• Age 45 – 64: 81.27% of 18,950 residents
• Age 65 +: 90.39% of 10,466 residents

To find a vaccination site near you, please use this link.

Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) and Greenwich Hospital are administering booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for long-term care residents and those 65 and older, 18 to 64 with underlying conditions, and 18 and older at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure. All vaccinations are by appointment only and can be made on the YNHHS website: www.ynhhs.org/covidvaccine.

Got drugs?

The Greenwich Police Department and the Greenwich Prevention Council - Greenwich Together, are participating in the National Drug Take Back Day tomorrow, Saturday, October 23. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can drop off unused or expired drugs in the lobby of the Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place.

If you can’t make it tomorrow, there is a disposal receptacle in the complex lobby that’s available 24/7.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Did you know that the American Red Cross provides free smoke alarms to anyone who needs them? Next Friday, October 29, the Red Cross will be out in Greenwich, installing these lifesaving devices in area homes and talking to residents about fire safety. Visit www.soundthealarm.org/mnyn or call 845- 673-1198 to schedule a free smoke alarm installation next week.

Greenwich Health Department flu shot clinics

There’s one more flu shot clinic scheduled and it will be administered in the ground floor cafeteria lounge of Town Hall. It will be held Wednesday, October 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees need to bring their insurance card and wear a face mask and are advised to wear short sleeves.

The flu info line is 203-622-3774. More information, including other scheduled clinics, can be found here.

Concert in the park

The Friends of Greenwich Point concert that was postponed by last weekend’s inclement weather is rescheduled for tomorrow. The indie-rock trio Auguste and Alden Sachse-Skidd and Tyler Levander are

to perform Saturday, October 23, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Greenwich Point. More information on the trio and their family-friendly concert can be found here.

Walk or run with turkeys

It’s not too early to register for the 11^th annual Greenwich Alliance for Education Turkey Trot. There will be a 5K fun run and a 1 mile walk on Saturday, November 27. The start and finish is at the Arch Street Teen Center. Early registration guarantees lower admission prices and a tee shirt. For more information, log onto the Alliance’s website which can be found here.

Absentee ballots applications, voter registration for the November election 

The Town Clerk’s office will hold special absentee ballot office hours on October 30 from 8 a.m. to noon. You can print and fill out the application here https://www.greenwichct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23460/absentee-application?bidId= and bring it to the office for processing and to receive a ballot.

The applications should be returned to the Town Clerk’s office (the address is on the application). Ballot boxes are available for applications and ballots until 8 p.m. November 2, here at Town Hall and at the Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place.

Check your voter registration status, using this link: https://www.greenwichct.gov/1191/Voter- Information-Lookup . This link also allows you to check your absentee status.

Changes in scheduling building inspections

The Department of Public Works has rolled out a new and easier way to schedule building inspections. As of October 18, all building inspections must be scheduled through City Squared -- a free and virtual 24-hour permitting system.

Anyone can use the City Squared portal, including homeowners who are undertaking projects themselves, commercial contractors, builders, and repair and renovation professionals. City Squared can be accessed from the Building Inspection webpage on Town of Greenwich’s website or by directly visiting www.citysquared.com. There are tutorials and videos on how to use the program that are available on Building Inspection’s webpage. To learn more, please click HERE.

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Stay safe and please remember to wash your hands, watch your distance, wipe down surfaces and if you haven’t done so already, get a vaccine.

All the best, Fred