Photo credit: Contributed photo
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
Time for spring cleaning
There are plenty of cleanup events planned in the coming days and weeks including the Live Like Luke cleanup at Greenwich Point tomorrow.
Spring cleaning should also include a check of your medicine cabinet. The Greenwich Police Department is hosting its annual National Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, April 30. Unneeded or expired medication can be dropped off in the lobby of the Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place. If you can’t make it tomorrow, there is a secure drop box available in the Public Safety Complex lobby. You can walk in any time 24/7, 7 days a week. Please do not drop off liquid medications or sharps instruments.
And, planning ahead: the Town will hold a collection for household hazardous waste on Saturday, May 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Island Beach parking lot. Open to Stamford and other area residents as well, with proof of residency. For a list of acceptable items, please use this link or call Public Works at 203-869-6910 or the Health Department at 203-622-7838. Once again all paints, including latex, will be accepted.
COVID Update
As of today, Greenwich Hospital was treating 7 COVID-19 patients. The Yale-New Haven Health system has a total of 77 patients, an increase of 11 from a week ago. Our public schools reported today there are 45 active cases. The breakdown: 38 students; 5 teachers, 1 service provider and 1 administrator. A total of 2,609 cases have been reported so far this school year.
According to the state, as of April 27, the total number of resident COVID cases (since the pandemic began in March 2020) increased to 12,693. The number of residents whose deaths have been attributed to COVID is 122.
The Greenwich Health Department has announced it will host a vaccine booster clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in the lower level of Town Hall. Registration must be made via VAMS. Details can be found here.
Vaccine info
Log onto the Yale New Haven Health website to find a booster vaccine site.
Family Centers is offering weekday vaccine and testing clinics at 111 Wilbur Peck Court. Details can be found here.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is offering mobile vaccine clinics. Information on locations can be found here.
Tax bill reminder
Greenwich Tax Collector Heather Smeriglio would like to remind all taxpayers that the last day to pay on time for the North Mianus Sewer Assessment bills is quickly approaching. The last day to pay on time is Monday, May 2. If payment is received after May 2, a 3% interest charge will be applied. Each month thereafter is an additional 1.5%.
Please note that if you choose to mail in your payment and it’s close to the deadline, have the Post Office hand stamp the date on the payment envelope. We will honor the postmark as allowed by Connecticut state statute.
Pickleball update
As the various committees of the Representative Town Meeting continue their budget deliberations, I want to share this information from our Department of Parks & Recreation regarding the request to fund pickleball courts.
The Department of Parks and Recreation (P&R) recently produced a Fact Sheet highlighting the real need pickleball players have been requesting for years: new dedicated pickleball courts. In the FY23 Proposed Budget currently before the RTM, there is $116,000 for new dedicated pickleball courts at a location to be determined by P&R and the community.
This request was originally to convert 1 basketball court at Bible Street to pickleball. After receiving extensive community input from Bible Street neighbors, through coordination with the BET & P&R, the request was amended, and the Bible Street basketball court was removed as the location. Protective conditions were placed on access to the funding by the BET.
P&R is committed to a transparent process. The required public hearing will be held in the same RTM district that the courts are proposed in. Stakeholders, including the RTM District Members, will be notified of the public hearing. Another public meeting, with community input, will be required with the BET to access the funds. For more information, see the Department’s Fact Sheet.
Traffic light improvements
This week the Town became the first municipality to implement an adaptive traffic signal system in the State. The Arch Street Corridor Traffic Improvements Project designed by our Department of Public Works, utilized cutting-edge technology to optimize traffic signal timing, improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and lower vehicle emissions. Approximately 35,000 vehicles pass through the area daily.
This project also introduced the first yellow flashing arrow in the state. The flashing yellow arrow is a new signal located in a dedicated left-turn lane at a signalized intersection and signifies yield to oncoming traffic and then proceed with caution. This alleviates traffic and queue time by allowing vehicles to turn when there is no traffic in the opposing direction. Prior to the flashing yellow arrow, motorists had to wait for the green light. Further information about this project can be found here.
The Selectmen’s Energy Management Advisory Committee weighed in on the new signals with this statement. “We would like to congratulate Commissioner Amy Siebert and the DPW for activating the new adaptive traffic signal system on Arch Street. This system will speed local commutes while reducing idling and congestion, and in the process reduce fuel consumption, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, the LED traffic lights themselves use 66% less electricity. Putting the Green in Greenwich!”
Beach pass season to begin
Beginning Monday, May 2, park passes or single-entry tickets will be required for Greenwich Point Park and Byram Park. With the closure of the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, single entry tickets will be sold at the Cos Cob Dockmaster Office, 94 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They also will be sold online. For more information about passes and sales, please use this link.
Tavern Garden Market returns
Another sign that spring is in the air is the return of the Tavern Garden Market at the Greenwich Historical Society’s Cos Cob campus. On May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be locally sourced farm-to-table organic produce, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, flowers and distinctive one-of-a-kind gifts, fashion accessories, including vintage jewelry and crafts and environmentally sourced beauty products. The Market will continue on alternating Wednesdays through November 2.
Traffic disruptions
Aquarion Water Company continues its water main replacement work on Woodland Drive, Nawthorne Road and Keofferam Road. Construction is anticipated to be completed at the end of June for Woodland Drive and mid-July for Nawthorne and Keofferam roads. Motorists should expect minor traffic delays and possible detours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents may sign up for alerts via this link. Information regarding Aquarion construction projects can be found here.
Ride a Bike Week
The week of May 1 to 7, is Ride a Bike Week in Greenwich, to raise awareness about the convenience, fun and health benefits of two-wheeled transportation and recreation. May is National Bike Month, so the First Selectman’s Bicycle Task Force (BTF) proposed the Greenwich proclamation to encourage cycling in town as an alternative to driving to work, school, parks, the grocery or the train.
Not only is cycling an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to motorized transportation, it also is one that promotes a healthy lifestyle. There are several events planned along with a photo contest. Details can be found here.
Greenwich food system forum
The Foodshed Network and the Town’s Conservation commission will host the second panel discussion of the Greenwich Food System Forum. ‘Cultivating Connecticut Grown by Land’ will be held via a webinar at 7 p.m. May 4. More information and forum registration can be found here.
Central Middle School building committee
At its April 22 meeting, the Board of Selectmen approved School Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones’s request to appoint a building committee for Central Middle School. The Selectmen’s Nomination Advisory Committee is accepting online applications until 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 3. The application form can be found here.
The Board and I will begin interviewing candidates during a series of special meetings, beginning next week. Our goal is to send the nominations for the seven-member committee for consideration at the Representative Town Meeting in June.
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Stay safe and wishing you the best,
Fred