Friends and neighbors,
As we head into the summer and the Governor is poised to continue to loosen restrictions as we get a higher percentage of the population vaccinated, it's exciting that we can start to gather in ways that feel familiar. We still, of course, need to be mindful of CDC guidelines.
I’m happy to announce that the Memorial Day Parade is ON! Kent’s traditional Memorial Day Parade will take place on May 31st. Andy Ocif, who has been the Parade Marshall for almost 20 years, is retiring as the Legion Adjutant, so this will be a very special parade for him.
On May 20th, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are scheduled to lift a majority of COVID restrictions. As of this writing, businesses, including restaurants and theaters, will be allowed to operate at full capacity for the first time since restrictions were adopted last year to prevent the spread of the virus. It is important to note that protocols that relate to face coverings and social distancing are being maintained with some modifications, and people and businesses are urged to continue adhering to those health and safety procedures.
As we increase our support of local businesses, let's all work together to keep each other safe. We are looking forward to opening Town Hall and will share information in the coming weeks. Please enjoy this newly revamped newsletter, which you can look for in your inbox on the first Tuesday of each month, with other updates and alerts as needed.
Stay well,
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Yesterday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that Connecticut is the first state in the nation to reach 50% of adults 18+ fully vaccinated! This is a major milestone and something to be extremely proud of. |
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Updates on infection rates and testing: State trends are continuing to go down across New England. Our daily case rate, based on a rolling two-week average for the previous two weeks, is down significantly to 10.3 (from 30.8 for the previous period). This represents four positive cases. This indicates that with continued vigilance, we can keep the numbers going down!
Wear A Mask
Wash Your Hands
Watch Your Distance
Easing of restrictions: With the easing of travel and other restrictions, we know people are going to be moving around more. The Connecticut Department of Public Health continues to urge the state’s residents and those who are traveling to the state to continue to be cautious and follow the latest travel-related guidance from the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are planning out-of-state travel, please visit the CT Travel Advisory page to read the latest recommendations.
COVID19 Test Site: The COVID testing site at the Transfer Station continues to provide free testing. It is now open twice a week, Monday and Thursday, from 3p-7p. We have confirmed that the site will stay open through at least the end of May. THANK YOU to the Kent Emergency Management Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) for continuing to provide traffic management for the site every week!
Vaccination rollout: Compared to other states across the country, Connecticut continues to rank high in their vaccination rates, especially for the percent of the population that have been fully vaccinated. Here's what that looks like on a "scatter" visualization - each dot represents a state (the size of the dot represents overall population). The farther to the right the dot, the higher the vaccination rate. Our 'dot' - Connecticut - is the small dark blue dot second from the right, ranking second in the nation.
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data source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/28/960901166/how-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state
How is Kent doing?
Kent ranks 5th in the State with 70% of its population having had at least one dose of the vaccine.
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Getting Vaccinated
With such a high vaccination rate, we know it’s more important than ever to ensure that all members of our community have access to getting vaccinations. Eligibility is currently open to all residents 16 years of age and older and will expand to 12-15-year-old children next week.
Kent Station Pharmacy: Vaccinations by appointment (J&J and Moderna), Tuesday-Thursday, 10a-2p. Kent Station Pharmacy
High Watch Vaccination Site: Walk-in vaccinations for individuals 16+ OR schedule an appointment by calling 211. 211 website
Parents can now preregister children ages 12-15 for the Pfizer vaccine through the New Milford Health Department. Registration Form
Vaccinations for Farmers: CT Department of Agriculture is working to expand on-farm or centrally located vaccination availability for farmworkers, including seasonal and migrant workers. Farms may register their interest in hosting a mobile vaccination clinic through May 10, 2021, at 5p. State agency employees will not be present. Clinics will be providing free vaccines to all employees present and willing. Clinics will not be asking for insurance or identification. Interest form
Vaccinations for Homebound Individuals: The Town has worked to create a partnership with RVNAhealth to administer COVID-19 vaccines to homebound residents in Kent. If you are homebound and want to be vaccinated, there are two ways to register: online or by calling the Kent Social Services office at 860-927-1586. Once registered, RVNAhealth will contact interested parties to confirm eligibility for this service, provide important vaccine information, and schedule an appointment with an RVNAhealth visiting nurse. Online registration
Assistance/COVID19 grants: Are you an artist? The Craft Emergency Relief Funds (CERF+) grant program provides funding to individual artists to safeguard their studios, protect their careers, and prepare for emergencies. Assistance grants
Are you making an appointment for a family member or loved one? The Department of Public Health has developed a Navigator's Guide, which answers many questions about scheduling an appointment for someone else.
CT Vaccine Portal: To make an appointment for the vaccine or to find more information on vaccine safety, visit the CT Vaccine Portal and create a Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) account.
Important note: At this point, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for those ages 16 and 17. When signing up for an appointment for this age group, make sure you are making an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine.
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I've been vaccinated - now what?
I've been getting many questions about wearing masks and social distancing once you've been vaccinated. The CDC has released updated guidance on post-vaccine activity. Click the image for more information. When in public, continue to take the same precautions of wearing a mask, keeping at least 6' distance, and wash your hands frequently.
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Upcoming Dates of Interest |
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Friday, May 21 | Annual Town Budget Meeting | 7p | TBA
Monday, May 31 | Memorial Day Parade | 9:30a
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Job Opportunities: There are often opportunities for employment with Kent Town governments. All openings are posted to our website.
Transitions: We continue to see the changing of the guard in various positions. Land Use Clerk Tai Kern recently left her position; we wish her well in her new endeavors, and Rick Osborne has been accepted the position of Transfer Station Manager. He will continue in his role as Road Foreman.
Transfer Station: We are working to reopen the swap shop, which was closed due to COVID restrictions.
The Town is participating in a new glass recycling program through the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA), approved by CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protections (DEEP). I’m pleased to report that our first glass bin is full after just two months and will soon be emptied. Remember - all glass should be "topless" when tossing it in. Metal and plastic caps go in the co-mingle, and corks go in the "CORX" mailbox!
Public Trash Bin reminder: As our village heads into spring and we transition to seeing a lot more visitors, please remember, the trash and recycling bins out around the village are provided as a convenience to the public for garbage and recycling generated when patronizing the shops and businesses around town. They are intended for your to-go coffee cup' they are not intended to be used for residential garbage dumping. If you are a resident, please make arrangements for your household garbage and recycling, either by hiring a curbside hauler, or contacting the Town Hall to purchase a Transfer Station permit.
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There are many ways to engage in a civic way at the local level and have your voice heard! Submit written testimony to support or oppose a bill, or volunteer to sit on a subcommittee to help shape the future of municipal government.
Housatonic River Recreation: Summer 2021 & Beyond: Are you interested in Housatonic River access and recreation sites in northwest Connecticut? Join the Housatonic Valley Association for a virtual community meeting this Thursday, May 6, at 7p. The HVA will discuss their efforts to promote sustainable river recreation, share what they've learned from people who use and live near the sites, and present short-term strategies for this summer. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of site owners and managers (with representatives from CT DEEP, FirstLight Power, Eversource Energy, and more), and also discuss concerns and solutions in Breakout Rooms. Register to attend
The 2021 Legislative Session is well underway, and there are many bills that are worth following. Here are a few bills I'm watching:
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H.B. 6442 | AN ACT CONCERNING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
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H.B 5429 | AN ACT CONCERNING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, VISION ZERO COUNCIL, SPEED LIMITS IN MUNICIPALITIES, FINES AND CHARGES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS, THE GREENWAYS COMMEMORATIVE ACCOUNT AND MAINTENANCE WORK ZONE AND SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.
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H.B. 6413 | AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF A MUNICIPAL ENERGY SECURITY AUTHORITY.
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H.B. 6456 | AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO PROTECT SENIOR CITIZENS FROM FRAUD.
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H.B. 6485 | AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT HYDROGEN AND ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE REBATE.
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S.B. 817 | AN ACT CONCERNING SENIOR CENTERS.
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S.B. 1037 | AN ACT CONCERNING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
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H.J 41 | RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.
If you see a bill you are passionate about, and think you'd like to submit written testimony, click the "Public Hearing Testimony" button on the bill's webpage and you will see all written submitted testimony. Reading other's testimony is a great place to find inspiration, proper formatting for submitting your own written testimony.
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Memorial Day Parade: Kent’s traditional Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 31st at 9:30am.
The Kent Chamber of Commerce Community Activities page is a great resource to see what community activities are happening in town.
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The Kent Conservation Commission sponsored their annual spring collection of debris along the roadside. The goal was to clean 100% of the town roads between April 11-25, Earth Day week.
The town came together to help in this arduous task. Many thanks go to community volunteers as well as volunteers from Kent School, Marvelwood School, South Kent School, Kent Center School, Boy Scouts (photo), Chamber of Commerce, Club Getaway, and Premium Guard. Roads covered extended from Skiff Mountain on down to Bulls Bridge to the NY state line and over to Kent Hollow & Beardsley at the Warren line.
Many thanks to all who participated in this campaign!
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Birch Hill: There are no updates regarding the proposed 85-bed substance use disorder treatment facility on the property at 46 Maple Street. The Town of Kent continues to monitor developments.
Cell Tower: The cell tower on Richard Road, approved by the Connecticut Siting Council, is currently going through the judicial appeal process, filed by a local citizen action group.
Kent Sustainability Team: I am excited to announce that the newly formed Kent Sustainability Team met for the first time on Earth Day.. The Town of Kent is enrolled in the Sustainable CT program, which will guide the work of the KST. In the coming months, the team will use the Sustainable CT framework to develop a plan for Kent. If you are interested in being part of the team, please contact the First Selectman.
Primary Care Office: The loss of the sole primary care practice in Kent will have an obvious negative impact on our community. Families and seniors have depended on this traditional model of healthcare delivery for decades. The delivery of rural primary care is difficult, especially when juxtaposed with the business needs of a healthcare system. We know the costs of healthcare in the US are extremely high, and social and racial disparities and access to healthcare are real.
The solution may lie in the life we have all had to live over the past 14 months during the pandemic. The disruptions caused by the global COVID19 pandemic forced the healthcare industry to think outside the traditional four walls of a doctor’s office, and condensed acceleration in innovative delivery of care models. We should be open to less traditional models and support the concept alternatives like telehealth and community paramedicine. The Town is working with health care companies in the area to find a solution.
Streetscape: The committee continues to meet and we anticipate that work may begin towards the end of the summer. While some disruptions will occur, we will work to maintain pedestrian safety and access to businesses.
Tribal Recognition: Currently, there are no updates to report.
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Join the Town of Kent's Newsletter listserv and stay informed. Fill out a form join, or sign up via text by texting "KENT" to 42828.
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