News Flash

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, First Selectman Fred Camillo and Select-person Janet Stone McGuigan following the Dec. 1 swearing-in ceremony.
 
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
 
This week marked the beginning of the 2021-23 term of the Board of Selectmen with the swearing-in ceremony at the Arch Street Teen Center. I look forward to working with my colleagues – Selectwoman Lauren Rabin and Select-person Janet Stone McGuigan.
 
I know that they join me in pledging to serve all of our residents during the next two years … that we will listen, learn and lead so that Greenwich continues to be a premier place to live, work, play and raise a family. I am ready to build on the progress we made during the past two years, despite the COVID pandemic.
 
It was a lovely ceremony on Wednesday that was shared with many and if you didn’t attend, you can view it here. Thank you to Don Conway and Horst Tebbe of GCTV for their work in making this video possible. I also want to thank those whose efforts made this ceremony a memorable one: my Executive Assistant Barb Heins; Customer Service Representative Angie Kaether; Parks & Recreation Director Joe Siciliano, Parks Foreman Stacey Mortenson and her team, Ricky Rodriquez, Phil Scarano and Chris Armiento, and Kyle Silver and the Arch Street staff.
 

With the news of the development of the omicron variant of COVID, I want to remind residents that it’s not too late to begin the vaccination process if you haven’t done so. If you are vaccinated, please arrange to receive a booster. And always keep a mask handy, if you don’t wear one regularly.
 
As of today, Greenwich Hospital was treating 8 COVID-positive patients, with 3 in the Intensive Care Unit, two of whom are on ventilators. Only 1 patient is vaccinated.
 
In Greenwich Public Schools, as of today, there is a total of 28 cases, up from 22 aweek ago. According to the district’s data tracker, 17 cases originated from outside activities or family and 11 have an undetermined origin. There are 26 students and 2 teachers who are ill.
 
As of today, the total number of resident COVID cases is 6,142, representing an increase of 68 cases since November 26. The Greenwich Health Department was tracking 80 active cases. The infection rate is 15.3 cases per 100,000 residents. The Town is considered a red zone – as are most surrounding communities -  given the number of infections.

This past week, we lost another resident who died from COVID. A total of 98 have died.

Here are the latest full vaccination rates as reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services, as of December 2:

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 in Fairfield County. 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.
 

The Board of Human Services and the Brunswick School have collected new and gently used winter coats for adults and children that will be distributed next week to Greenwich residents. No pre-registration required.

This event is open to all Greenwich residents regardless of citizenship status and participants do not need to be clients of the Greenwich Department of Human Services. If you have questions regarding the coat distribution, please email GDHS@greenwichct.org.

Distribution will be in the Town Hall meeting room from 2 to 4 p.m. December 6; 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., December 9 and 10 a.m. to noon on December 10.
 

The Annual Commuter Parking Permit renewal process is being conducted only online (submitting an application, proving/uploading residency documents (if applicable), and rendering payment). It is a multi-step process and emails are sent to the permittee, each step along the way. Please allow 2 to 3 business days for your application to be reviewed.
 
Renew online by visiting https://www.greenwichct.gov/572 The deadline to pay is close of business day December 31, 2021. Questions: email Parking Services at parkingpermits@greenwichct.org
 

The Greenwich Choral Society has announced its return to live performances with its Annual Holiday Concert, “Hope,” Saturday, December 18 at 4 p.m. at the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center. It is the society’s first live concert in two years as they share “hope” for a better tomorrow with candles, bells and carols. This year, for the first time, tickets will be free to all K-12 vaccinated students.
All attendees must be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination upon entering the concert hall.  All attendees must be masked.

For tickets and information, visit the Greenwich Choral Society’s website at www.gcs-ct.org.
 

The Town has released a RFP for nonprofits to submit proposals to respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impact due to COVID-19 pandemic. The RFP will be funded from a portion of the American Rescue Plan funds. Overview and the RFP is available here: https://www.greenwichct.gov/1946/American-Rescue-Plan

The RFP is due no later than January 10, 2022.
 

The Flinn Gallery is preparing its new exhibit “Alignments,” an exploration of new abstract work by artists Meghan Brady, Ben Godward, and Erika Ranee, and curated by Tracy McKenna. These three artists triangulate around shapes and strata in their work, embrace supercharged color, and overlap in the physicality of their mark making. An opening reception will be held December 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is on view from through January 26, 2022.

For more information, call the gallery - located on the second floor of Greenwich Library - at 203.622.7947 or check the website www.flinngallery.com
 

On Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Greenwich Botanical Center is hosting local vendors and artisans and a sustainable wrapping station to ease the holiday burden and environmental footprint. Glenville Photo will be on site to capture family photographs with Santa and help with holiday cards.

Masks are required inside the building if you are unvaccinated. For more information, visit www.Greenwichbotanicalcenter.com”
 

First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 108 Sound Beach Ave., continues its 55th Annual Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale on Dec 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Proceeds raised will be given to six local charities that serve families in this time of critical need, including Kids in Crisis, the Young Adults Program at Pacific House, Fund for New Covenant Center, Mothers for Others, Community Centers, Inc. and Building One Community. For more information, please click here.
 

There is less than a month left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Ida.  As of Dec. 2, FEMA has provided more than $4.7 million in federal grants to affected state residents.

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.
 

The next Red Cross Temple Sholom blood drive will be held on Monday, December 6, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich.  There are still appointment slots available. You may make an appointment by going online to www.RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RedCross.
 

I hope that next Thursday, I will see many of you along Greenwich Avenue for the Holiday Stroll. Our Re-Imagine Greenwich committee have enlisted dozens of businesses and restaurants to participate in extended hours for shopping and dining from 5 to 8 p.m. December 9. To learn more about the work of Re-Imagine Greenwich, please click here.

Stay safe and be well.
Best,
Fred