Image Courtesy of Community Centers Inc.
Stop by Town Hall on Valentine's Day for special homemade holiday treats made by Community Centers Inc. students. The bake sale will be held in the lobby from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
There is some encouraging news on the COVID front. With the numbers continuing to decrease, I have decided that the mandatory face mask requirement in Town facilities can be lifted.
Effective Friday, February 18, face masks will be optional for both visitors and employees. For those who are uncomfortable in public settings or are immune-compromised, please wear a mask.
Please keep in mind that private businesses and stores have the option to set their own mask policy, so carry a mask with you. Also, please remember that the Governor’s face mask requirement for students remains in effect until Feb. 28 and that it is up to the school superintendent and Board of Education to decide how to proceed after that date.
The downward trend in the number of COVID cases continues in our schools and at Greenwich Hospital.
As of today, February 11, Greenwich Hospital was treating 10 COVID-positive patients. That is down from 18 patients a week ago. The COVID hospitalization rate in the Yale New Haven Health system was 127 patients today. A week ago, the system-wide patient count was 235.
Greenwich Public Schools reports a total of 17 cases today among students and service providers. A week ago there were 35 cases.
As of February 11, the total number of resident COVID cases among Town residents (since the pandemic began in March 2020) increased to 11,124 with 177 active cases being tracked by Health Department staff. A week ago, the number of active cases being tracked by the Health Department was 195.
As of February 11, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported that 118 residents have died since the beginning of the pandemic. That number represents 2 additional deaths since last week. Information on ages and vaccination status of the victims is unavailable.
As of February 9, the state Department of Health and Human Services reports that 88.96 % of Town residents have initiated the vaccination process. Here are the latest full vaccination rates as reported by the department, as of February 9:
Age 5 – 11: 49.23 % of 6,470 residents
Age 12 – 17: 94.88 % of 5,449 residents
Age 18 – 24: 95.26 % of 4,037 residents
Age 25 – 44: 76.44 % of 13,580 residents
Age 45 – 64: 85.60 % of 18,950 residents
Age 65 +: 96.01 % of 10,466 residents
Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) continues to administer booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Fairfield County. All vaccinations are by appointment only. 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 is 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.
Green is good (and saves money!)
The Town is tackling its energy use to save taxpayer dollars and improve air quality and emissions. Leading this effort is our Energy Management Advisory Committee. EMAC advises the Board of Selectmen on energy consumption, where we can achieve greater energy efficiency, and where we can invest a little now to save a lot in future annual costs.
Since March 2021, EMAC has baselined current use, examined best practices, engaged stakeholders, and evaluated projects including the Town’s transition to electric vehicles and solar power, among others. EMAC hopes to help us save more and pollute less, for the Town and for the community as a whole.
We will keep you posted on news on specific project plans and progress.
Town receives $4 million traffic grant
We all know how frustrating it is waiting for a traffic light to change when there isn’t any traffic approaching an intersection, especially along Route 1.
The Town received some good news this week from the state Department of Public Works. A $4 million grant as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program has been awarded. This grant will help eliminate the bottlenecks and reduce vehicle exhaust emissions along Route 1 from the Port Chester border to the Stamford border.
Our Department of Public Works staff is looking forward to working with the state DOT to determine next steps so the project can enter the design phase.
Talk about being green …
The food scrap program has two additional drop off sites: the Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road, from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays; the Living Hope Community Church, 38 West End Avenue in Old Greenwich, from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Volunteers will be on site at both locations to assist, answer questions and sell starter kits and compostable bags. The original drop off site at the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility remains available Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon.
Blood donors still needed
The American Red Cross continues to seek blood donors to help replenish the blood supply. To those who already have made the donation of life, thank you! Here is the schedule:
Feb. 14: 7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road.
Feb. 15: 7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road.
To schedule an appointment, log on to redcrossblood.org
What is that?
Those hazy white stripes you see on our local roads in advance of a winter storm event is the work of our Public Works crews. In anticipation of the potential snow forecast for Sunday and Monday, DPW has been making and spraying salt brine on our local roads. For road condition updates on social media, you can follow @GreenwichPublicWorks.
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Stay safe and if you’re planning to attend a Super Bowl party on Sunday, please remember to have a designated driver: Don’t drink and drive.
All the best,
Fred