The Parsonage Cottage Junior Advisory Board is leading a fund-raising campaign to purchase a new van for the senior residence. Contributed photo.
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
It took some time but we finally had our first snowstorm of the season today. Thank you to our staff in Public Works, Parks & Recreation and Fleet for their work throughout the night and day to ensure that Town operations were available to residents.
Before providing you with the latest Town news, I want to take time to extend our Town's condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of the young man who lost his life in a tragic accident during a junior varsity game yesterday at the Hartong Ice Rink at Brunswick School. We pray that all those affected find strength and comfort in the days ahead. For those who may want to avail themselves, please know that Kids in Crisis offers a 24/7 helpline: 203-661-1911.
COVID-19 updates
The Town has received an additional allocation from the State of Connecticut. The kits will be distributed while supplies last and free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis to Greenwich residents from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, at Grass Island Park. A portion of the test kits are being directed toward special service providers in Town, as well as to Greenwich schools, housing facilities, health care facilities and essential Town workers.
Proof of residency via either your valid Connecticut driver’s license or your 2021 beach pass is required. Further details can be found here.
As of today, January 7, Greenwich Hospital was treating 72 COVID-positive patients, with 5 in the Intensive Care Unit and 3 on ventilators. The Yale New Haven Health system was treating a total of 771 COVID patients yesterday.
In Greenwich Public Schools, as of today, there are a total of 438 cases among students and staff. The district’s data tracker did not provide a breakdown on the sources of infection. There are cases in all 15 of the district’s schools, as well as the Windrose Program, including 111 at Greenwich High School.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, January 7, the total number of resident COVID cases confirmed among Town residents (since the pandemic began in March 2020) increased to 8,637 with 458 active cases being tracked by Health Department staff. The 458 cases, includes 167 latent cases – cases that were reported late.
Here is a breakdown of cases recorded between January 5 and 3 p.m. January 7:
Age:
0 – 10: 40
11 - 20: 56
21 – 30: 30
31 – 40: 42
41 – 50: 43
51 – 60: 39
61 – 70: 22
71 – 80: 15
81 – 90: 2
91 – 100: 0
Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, a total of 100 residents have died of COVID.
Here are the latest full vaccination rates as reported by the state Department of Health and Human Services, as of January 6:
Age 5 – 11: 38.36% of 6,470 residents
Age 12 – 17: 89.8% of 5,449 residents
Age 18 – 24: 82.61% of 4,037 residents
Age 25 – 44: 67.06% of 13,580 residents
Age 45 – 64: 81.58% of 18,950 residents
Age 65 +: 91.49% of 10,466 residents
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.
Information on testing – which also by appointment only - can be found here.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is offering mobile vaccine clinics. Information on locations can be found here.
Energy Assistance for Winter 2021-2022
The Greenwich Department of Human Services is reminding residents that there is help with energy bills for those whose incomes fall below 60% of the state median income guidelines and those facing financial hardship. (For a family of 4 this is equal to $75,052, gross annual income.)
The State of Connecticut has several energy programs that assist in ensuring the safety of residents. Operation Fuel and The Town of Greenwich also offers some assistance to Greenwich residents whose incomes fall below 300% of federal poverty guidelines and meet other eligibility criteria. Residents are encouraged to apply early.
Eligible households may apply for:
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program – assists with primary heating bills.
Winter Protection Program – prevents heat source shut-offs.
Matching Payment Program – provides forgiveness of past due balances when a payment plan is maintained over time.
Operation Fuel –a private, non-profit statewide program that provides emergency utility bill assistance throughout the state of Connecticut to low and moderate income individuals and families, the elderly and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis. The assistance is targeted for those people who have exhausted other state or federal government benefits and programs. It is available seasonally to assist households experiencing a crisis or hardship in paying heat and non-heat utility bills.
For information regarding the energy programs, call the Greenwich Department of Human Services at 203-622-3800. Eligible residents can speak with a Case Manager who will determine the best program for them based on program criteria. The Case Manager also will assist with the application process. The Energy Assistance Program runs through May 31, 2022. (All services are confidential.)
Hot chocolate with the Friends of Byram Park
On Sunday, January 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come on down to the park and meet near the Christmas Tree Recycling drop off in the Byram Park parking lot for some hot chocolate, courtesy of Executive Deli, and learn about Friends of Byram Park.
For more information about this free event and the Friends of Byram Park, can be found here.
Leaf pickup update
A friendly reminder that the 2021 leaf collection program has officially ended. We ask that residents to remove any leaves that may have been put out to the curb. Those with a Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility entrance permit are welcome to dispose in the designated yard waste drop off area.
Give Our Seniors a Lift for Valentine's Day
Parsonage Cottage Senior Residence is launching a new fundraising campaign to replace their primary mode of resident transportation. Parsonage Cottage, a congregate home for seniors, currently has a van purchased in 2003 and is used for bringing residents to medical appointments, therapy, attending church services, shopping, and scheduled outings. A new, accessible passenger van is at the top of their New Year planning list. A Giving Our Seniors A Lift campaign has been launched with the help of the Parsonage Cottage Junior Advisory Committee, comprised of students from Greenwich Country Day School.
Accessible transportation is critical to keep our seniors connected to their Greenwich community. More information on the campaign and to donate, can be found here.
Ida updates
The deadline to file with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance for damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida is Jan. 28, 2022. More details can be found here.
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. And here is the link to help guide you through the process: Disaster Resource and Recovery Guide.
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I encourage everyone to continue best and safe practices to help mitigate the spread of the COVID virus.
Stay safe and all the best,
Fred