Community Update from Town Manager Christopher Bromson 9/10/2020
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th. It is a time to remember those impacted by suicide, raise awareness, and focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it. Youth Services will be posting suicide prevention resources and materials on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Please see link for additional resources:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/
Enfield’s Regional Farmer’s Market
This Sunday, September 13, the Enfield Regional Farmer’s Market continues on the Town Green between 10 AM and 1 PM. Please join us and visit over 30 vendors to buy some fresh produce, delicious sweets, and handmade craft items. The Farmer’s Market will run on Sundays through September 27. Hope to see you there!
Department of Public Works
Enfield Public Schools welcomed students back to school this week. With that comes enhanced cleaning protocols required to keep our students and staff safe during this school year. Our Custodial Services team is performing the following procedures to help mitigate infection: During 1st shift hours, staff are disinfecting bathrooms and high touch areas. BOE staff that have taken COVID-19 cleaning methods training are also applying disinfectant on student desks as time allows. 2nd shift staff perform their regularly scheduled cleaning along with disinfecting of classrooms, bathrooms, and other high touch areas nightly. On Wednesdays, all custodial staff are washing high touch areas with a detergent based cleaner to prevent buildup of disinfectant; this includes deep cleaning of classrooms, bathrooms, common areas, and entryways including floors.
Recreation
The second issue of the September newsletter will be online beginning Friday, September 11 and will feature daily activities for the remainder of September.
Has your child shown an interest in martial arts? Recreation will be hosting a free two-day Martial Arts Clinic! In conjunction with Integrity Martial Arts of Enfield, children of different ages will explore the world of martial arts. This preschool/Kindergarten class will be held October 5 & 7, 4 – 4:30 PM and the Youth class will be held right after at 4:30 – 5 PM. Class will be held at Green Manor Park. Spaces are limited and pre-registration is required.
Please join Recreation on November 3 at the Angelo Lamagna Activity Center, from 9 AM to 2 PM, for a Babysitter Safety Course. This entry level course is intended to teach age appropriate skills necessary to care for children of all ages using team babysitting, mother’s helper and individual babysitting concepts. Other topics include handwashing, diapering, bottle feeding, personal safety, interview skills and COVID-19 related topics. Basic first aid, including adult and child CPR (requires passing written and skills testing to receive the 2-year certification) will be covered. Each participant will receive a booklet, handouts and Babysitter Safety Certificate. Space is limited and pre-registration/payment is required.
Enfield Recreation will also be hosting Adult Yoga on Tuesdays in October, from 6:15 to 7:30 PM at the Enfield Annex. Students will be able to work at their own level, modifying poses as needed.
Lastly, join Jonathan Metcalf at Integrity Martial Arts for a Women’s Self Defense Class to learn simple strategies to minimize risk, tactics to get you to safety quickly, the psychology behind most violence and how to avert it and the fundamentals of striking and escaping. Please note that mature topics will be covered in this class. The course will be held on October 19 & 26, 7– 9 PM at Integrity Martial Arts Studio. This is a free program, but spaces are limited and pre-registration is required.
Registration for new, in-person, programming will begin for Enfield residents on Tuesday, September 15 at 8 AM online. Visit www.enfield-ct.gov/recreation to view complete information and to register.
Library
On Wednesday, September 16 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM or 6:30 to 7:30 PM, come use supplies provided to create your own fall wreath. Craft kits can be picked up curbside at the Enfield Public Library. This craft is for ages 4 and up.
On Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 AM, bring your own blanket and play bingo on the front lawn of the library (weather permitting) and win prizes. Masks are required when not on your blanket and we ask that blankets be placed at least 6 ft from others. This drop-in program is for kids ages 5 and up and must be accompanied by an adult.
Lastly, on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM, join the Library for a virtual presentation: "The Missing Link In Retirement Planning Why and when To Consider Long-Term Care Insurance." Learn about how the State’s Partnership for Long-Term Care can help you plan ahead for your future long term care needs. Presented by guest speaker Aldo Pantano, from the CT Partnership for Long-Term Care, with the Office of Policy and Management. Email lsprague@enfield.org for a Zoom invitation.
Senior Center
Senior Center staff is meeting internally on how to safely reopen the Senior Center while adhering to State of CT guidelines. An announcement on the reopening will be made in the coming weeks. The health and wellbeing of visitors and staff is the highest priority. Staff have developed a survey regarding reopening which can be found on Facebook, the website, weekly e-mail or can be picked up at The Enfield Express.
There will be a pop up COVID testing site at the Senior Center on Friday, October 2. Testing will run from 9 AM to 1 PM. Please call 475-241-0740 for more information or to register.
The Senior Center continues to offer a variety of programs during the pandemic. The Medical Equipment Loan program remains active. Those in need of medical equipment can make an appointment to pick up or drop off equipment. The Virtual Dementia Caregivers group affiliated with Hartford Health is available 4 times per week. Every Tuesday at 11 AM, seniors can play Scattergories via Zoom. In addition, Thursdays at 9:30 AM join the Senior Center for “Virtual Coffee Hour”. This is an opportunity to connect with others while at home. Additionally, Take It and Make Crafts continue to be available weekly.
The Senior Center is providing popular exercise classes on Zoom. Zumba is available virtually every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 AM and Thursday at 6 PM.
Chair Yoga with Diana - Mondays through 9/28, from 12-1 PM
Yoga with Diana - Tuesdays through 9/22, from 11-12 PM
Stability Ball with Les - Wednesdays through 9/23, from 10-11 AM
Simply Stretch and Strengthen with Shelly-Thursdays through 9/24, from 11-12 PM
POW! with Lisa - Fridays through September 25, from 10:30-11:30 AM
Remember to drive through the Senior Center on September 17 between 1 and 3 PM to say hello and get a slice of carrot cake. On September 30, at 11 AM, you can also join for a Virtual Tour of Alaska, co-sponsored with Friendship Tours.
Social Services
FRC’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group will resume in-person meetings on 9/14 outdoors at Stowe following protocols for social distancing. Grandchildren will be supervised by staff on the playground while the FRC Social Worker facilitates the support group. In the event of inclement weather, the group will meet virtually.
The Youth Advisory Council, in partnership with the Elderly Services Care Coordinator, called isolated seniors to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on their daily lives. The conversations were appreciated by the seniors. All of those called identified loneliness as a challenge and loved hearing from the youth. With the beginning of the school year, Youth Services is prepared to assist students, families, and staff of Enfield Public Schools in supporting those who have encountered barriers with distance learning and are struggling since the start of the pandemic. Youth Services, in partnership with Enfield Public Schools, will be providing an in-service update on Crisis Response. The Youth Center will be assessing the need for additional afterschool activities.
CHOICES counseling has begun for senior citizens. Open Enrollment begins October 1. Please contact Social Services for more information 860-253-6403.
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