Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
As we enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I hope that you will join me in supporting our local businesses on Small Business Saturday, which is tomorrow. Through your support, many of our local businesses were able to withstand the punishing impact of the COVID pandemic during the past year. I hope that this holiday season, you will continue to support them.
I am looking forward to the 13th annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival which kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, November 26, at noon, at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North St. In addition to seeing live reindeer, there are several family-oriented events planned. For details, please use this link.
In case you haven’t heard, the Safe Roads Sunday program at Greenwich Point is underway. Each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., traffic is restricted on the road leading to the Point to allow walkers, joggers, cyclists to enjoy a traffic-free loop that starts and ends at the entrance to the main parking lots. For video details on this popular program that’s sponsored by the Friends of Greenwich Point, please use this link.
COVID-19 update
Before getting into this week’s statistics, I want to clarify a number provided in last week’s newsletter. On November 19, Greenwich Hospital had five COVID patients, none of whom were vaccinated.
As of Wednesday, November 24, Greenwich Hospital was treating 7 COVID- positive patients, with 2 in the Intensive Care Unit, one of whom is on a ventilator. Only 1 of the 7 patients is vaccinated.
In Greenwich Public Schools, as of November 23, there is a total of 22 cases. According to the district’s data tracker, 15 cases originated from outside activities or family; 6 have an undetermined origin, with 1 case being an in-school transmission. There are 17 students who are ill; 2 teachers and one each who is a service provider, administrator and non-teaching staff.
As of November 23, the total number of COVID cases stood at 6,057, representing an increase of 65 cases from November 16. The Greenwich Health Department was tracking 80 active cases. The infection rate is 16.6 cases per 100,000 residents.
I am saddened to report that the number of residents who have died from the disease increased by one – to 97 - during the past week.
Here are the latest vaccination rates for our residents, as of November 23. The vaccination rates continue to increase incrementally week to week. The 25- to 44- years-old age category continues to have the lowest vaccination rates.
Here are the latest full vaccination rates as reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services, as of November 10:
• Age 12 – 17: 87.83% of 5,449 residents
• Age 18 – 24: 81.25% of 4,037 residents
• Age 25 – 44: 66.66% of 13,580 residents
• Age 45 – 64: 81.56% of 18,950 residents
• Age 65 +: 91.95% of 10,466 residents
To find a vaccination site near you, please use this link.
Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) is administering booster doses of the 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 to find out which booster is available and to make an appointment, log onto the YNHHS website: www.ynhhs.org/covidvaccine.
It's grapefruit time with the Greenwich Lions
You know the holiday season is here when the Greenwich Lions hold their annual Texas ruby red grapefruit sale. Members will be selling at locations throughout Town including Greenwich Point, Old Greenwich at Arcadia Road and Sound Beach Avenue, the Perrot Library, and the Cos Cob Fire House. The cost is $33 with proceeds going to local health and human services agencies including
Greenwich Scholarships, Neighbor to Neighbor, Meals on Wheels, Abilis and River House. The Lions also sponsor summer camp scholarships for visually impaired youth and conduct vision screenings at all elementary schools in Town. The club also contributes to local and regional agencies working to alleviate food insecurity. The generosity of Greenwich donors allowed the group to contribute $20,000 to local causes this year. Individuals can make a direct gift by mailing a check to Greenwich Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 130, Old Greenwich, 06870.
Guidance for filing FEMA assistance applications
There is still time to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Ida. To begin the process online, please use this link. Assistance also is available by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., seven days a week. The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585.
Here is a link with information on how the application process works. For information on the Individuals and Households assistance programs which provide financial help or direct services to people with needs that aren’t met through other means, please use this link.
Here is the link to frequently asked questions. To help provide as much information as possible, please take the time to review the Disaster Resource and Recovery Guide.
Town Hall tree lighting
Next Friday, December 3, the Parks & Recreation Department will once again organize the annual tree lighting to officially kick off the holiday season in Greenwich. This season we are doing the event virtually so everyone can enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes. For more details on live streaming, please check the Town website on Monday, Nov. 29. I am looking forward to having some help from Santa and his friends when I press the button to light the tree and ring in the holiday season at 4:45 p.m.
And for our residents who are celebrating the Festival of Lights that begins on Sunday, November 28, I extend my best wishes for a Happy Hanukkah.
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Stay safe and be well. Best,
Fred