Photo credit: Tom Henell
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
The autumnal equinox arrived in full force this week – bringing some much-needed rain and welcome cooler temperatures.
However, that seasonal change doesn’t mean that mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile virus have gone away. The Department of Health reported today that it was notified by the state Department of Pubic Health that a Town resident has tested positive for West Nile virus. The individual, who is between 80- and 89 years old, became ill at the end of August and is one of four state residents who have tested positive so far this year.
Greenwich will continue its larvicide program treating catch basins and the public is advised to remove any standing water on their properties. More details on how to protect yourself as well as the virus symptoms can be found here.
Does the seasonal change have you considering a career change or a search for a job? The Town of Greenwich has dozens of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from seasonal positions with our Parks & Recreation Department to permanent positions of police officer, mechanic, nurse and assistant town attorney. For details on any of these positions plus many other opportunities, please use this link.
Fall also means there are many activities planned and I hope that you will read details on several upcoming events that can be found below. I hope to see you at some of these great community events.
Update on Greenwich Point gate operations
I want to let you know that the Parks and Recreation Department has completed its review of the gate operations at Greenwich Point, following some confusion that took place on Sunday, September 18. The encounter was brought to the attention of the Department via email and social media on Tuesday, September 20.
The Department conducted a full audit of the electronic guest ticketing system both in-office and at the Greenwich Point gatehouse location and determined that at that time of the audit, the bar code scan system was fully functional.
The confusion that occurred may have been caused by human error or a double scan of the ticket bar code. The parking ticket in question was validated at 12:19 p.m. The actions taken by the gatekeeper who processed a ticket transaction on site was in direct violation of a standing Department policy which prohibits these transactions at that location.
Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Siciliano said, "Our management team met with the seasonal employee to review the policy. Following the meeting, the employee is no longer employed by the Department." The cash transaction which occurred on Sunday has been secured and a $25 refund will be issued.
Old Greenwich detours continue
The Department of Public Works reports that trench restoration work for the Old Greenwich Common Force Main Replacement Project is ahead of schedule. Work zone 1, 2 and 3 are already completed and crews will be in Work Zone 5 next week from 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Work Zone 5 is located on Summit Road, between Spring Street and Riverside Avenue. Expect temporary road closures and detours. We appreciate your patience as we improve the longevity and reliability of the Town's most critical sewer force main.
Follow @greenwichpublicworks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for project updates! To learn about the Old Greenwich Common Force Main Replacement Project, please click HERE.
The Sound Beach Avenue bridge project continues moving along. The Department of Public Works has been informed that a bridge closure and detour is likely to occur at some point next week. For project updates and bridge closure/detour alerts, please follow @greenwichpublicworks on social media, sign up for DPW-related alerts via Notify Me® or check the dedicated project webpage.
Poll workers needed
The Registrars of Voters are looking for poll workers for the November 8, 2022 election.
Many of the positions require only one-hour training and are fun because you have the opportunity to see friends and neighbors. The available positions pay between $260 and $350, depending on the position. The application can be found here. All poll workers must be registered voters in the State of Connecticut.
Job well done
Please join Town Clerk Jackie Budkins and me in congratulating our Assistant Town Clerk Kimberley Spezzano on becoming a Connecticut Certified Town Clerk. Kim was awarded her certificate during the annual Connecticut Town Clerks’ Association (CTCA) fall conference held last week.
Jackie said, “Kim has been a valuable employee with the Town of Greenwich for 26 years.” Kim has worked in the Town Clerk’s Office since August 1995. She was appointed Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics in May 1997 and promoted to Assistant Town Clerk in September 2009.
The CTCA Certification Program consists of not less than two years of working in a municipal clerk office, along with a five-module training program offered by the Central Connecticut State University and approved by the Connecticut Secretary of the State and Connecticut Town Clerk Certification Committee.
Jackie also said, “I am proud to announce that other Greenwich Town Clerk team members will be taking part in the Connecticut certification process moving forward.”
COVID Update
Greenwich Hospital reported that as of this morning, Sept. 23, there were 8 COVID-positive patients being treated. A total of 150 patients are being treated in the Yale New Haven Health system. According to the state, as of September 14, the total number of Greenwich COVID cases (since the pandemic began in March 2020) is 15,768. The number of resident deaths attributed to COVID remains at 126.
Family Centers also offers weekly vaccine and testing at Wilbur Peck Court, and the Connecticut Department of Health provides public mobile vaccine clinics.
Upcoming events
Gather up those old papers
Get a jump start on fall cleaning and organizing. Volunteers from the Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board and Greenwich Green & Clean are once again pleased to be able to provide a chance for residents to shred documents containing sensitive information on Saturday, October 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Island Beach parking lot.
Residents are requested to sort through papers such as folder, cardboard, metal clips, binders, newspapers, and magazines. Staples are okay. Do not bag; put paper in box or rigid container, no larger than 12”x18”x12”; boxes can be returned. There is a five-box maximum per car at a cost of $3 per box.
Volunteers also will accept healthy food donations of canned and dried foods which will be distributed to Neighbor-to-Neighbor. For information, email info@greenwichgreenandclean.org.
DART to the finish
Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) is honoring its 20th anniversary this year and holding its fifth annual charity walk, DART to the Finish, at 8 a.m. tomorrow, September 24, at Greenwich Point Park.
This family-friendly and accessible 2-mile walk is $30 for adults; $15 for 10- to 21- year-olds, and free for children 10 years and younger. Virtual walkers from anywhere in the world also can participate and may register with a $30 donation to DART, the Greenwich-based nonprofit Dana’s Angels Research Trust, which is focused on funding research into the rare childhood disease Niemann-Pick type C (NPC), which is often referred to as childhood Alzheimer’s.
To learn more and register, visit danasangels.org or dartevents.org.
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I want to take this opportunity to wish a L’shana Tovah to all who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah next week.
Stay safe and wishing you all the best.
Fred