Issues. People. Events. Waterbury Connecticut's Independent Newspaper
The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Ned Lamont is reminding Connecticut residents who need help paying last winter’s home heating bills that there is still time to apply to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). An extended application deadline of Monday, June 1, 2020, gives eligible families and individuals – including those impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency – more time to apply for this vital assistance.
The Waterbury Reads StoryWalk® project will make its debut Saturday, May 23rd in Hamilton Park. StoryWalks® are a free and fun way to share books while enjoying the outdoors.
Waterbury Reads provides free books to local children in an effort to spark a lifelong love of reading. While the program is on break from distributing books during the COVID-19 crisis, these StoryWalks will provide a family-friendly way to encourage reading.
Like you, I have watched as our country has become more politically divided in recent years. There are quite a few causes, though it’s hard to say which is driving the trend. The political parties themselves are definitely more divided than ever. The major news media outlets have given up attempting fair reporting in favor of biased propagandizing. Finally, we have begun electing candidates based on superficial traits rather than the values or principles they hold and promote.
Surprisingly, the US is the only industrialized country that does not provide postpartum healthcare coverage. For mothers that have just given birth during a pandemic, that is especially alarming.
According to the CDC, although 15% of mothers experience postpartum mood disorders, the American insurance system does not include postpartum coverage. This is what led Mandy Major, Connecticut-based mom and certified doula, to launch That’s Major!, the new virtual doula agency that is changing how mothers receive postpartum care.
StayWell Health Center is excited to announce that we are now accepting patients into our new Adult Co-occurring Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) located at 1309 South Street in Waterbury. This program runs on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9am until 12pm. Overseeing this program is Jackie Davis LCSW, LADC, our Assistant Director of Behavioral Health.
The Salvation Army is set to open its stores in Hamden, Newington and Dayville on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The stores were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but are now ready to welcome shoppers with bargain-priced clothing, household items, electronics, books, toys, furniture and collectables.
Residents in the Waterbury region will have easier access to a lifesaving medication used to reverse overdoses, thanks to the American Savings Foundation and Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center community health center in the Brass City.
State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) joined with Governor Ned Lamont to encourage any student loan borrower who has been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis to utilize additional resources newly available to them for free. Governor Lamont announced recently that borrowers can receive free assistance from the social enterprise Summer (www.meetsummer.org), which offers resources including tools and experts who can help with finding, comparing and enrolling in dozens of loan assistance and forgiveness programs.
There was the Loch Ness Monster, then Champ in Lake Champlain; now there is Quassilla of Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury Connecticut. A book produced by husband and wife team Janis Hogan (writer) and by Don Farrell (illustrator), former Southbury residents, recounts the tale of a plesiosaurus from Mesozoic era rescued by Middle McFee of Quassmorrah Bay from the icy shores of northern Europe. Their journey takes them through a secret cave beneath Manhattan to a tiny spring-fed lake in CT.
Primary care, behavioral health, and addiction treatment offered through walk-in, appointments, and telehealth and telemedicine services
Wheeler’s Waterbury Family Health & Wellness Center has moved from 100 Jefferson Square to 855 Lakewood Road, and the new community health center facility opened on Monday, May 11th.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Connecticut invites all adults aged 50+ to register for its first online learning summer session through June 2020.
Torrington will celebrate Memorial Day a bit differently this year. To protect the health of residents and visitors, the regular downtown parade has been cancelled due to the continued threat of COVID-19. In the spirit of continuing the longstanding tradition of Memorial Day ceremonies, Mayor Elinor Carbone and the Torrington Veterans Memorial Committee have decided to develop a “virtual parade” slideshow, and a video veterans’ recognition ceremony, to be shared through the City website and local media.
Earlier this week, CT Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced her plan to alter elections and voting processes for the Aug 11, 2020 Presidential Primary and November 5, 2020 General Elections.
Building on their first round of $100,000 in emergency grants they approved in April for ten local hospitals, Liberty Bank of Middletown, Connecticut today announced that through their charitable foundation they will be providing an additional $100,000 in funding to support several other community organizations in their COVID-19 response.
Information here: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Relief-Fund-for-Connecticut-Artists
Artists Respond Grant: Award amount: $1000 for individuals, $2000 for collaborations to create new art to inspire, connect, and educate during this time
This week, Congresswoman Hayes will be introducing the Helping Hospitals in Need Act, a bill which would direct critical resources to help hospitals in Connecticut and around the country that are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill would replenish funds for hospitals and providers authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with another $100 billion dollars. It would also ensure that the Secretary prioritize hospitals that serve a high proportion of uninsured or low-income patients, and states that have the highest per capita hospitalization rates for confirmed COVID-19 cases – like Connecticut.
The Historic 17-foot tall Seth Thomas Street Clock, dating back to 1921, was removed from its location on Bank Street and brought to Wakefield, Rhode Island in October 2019 to be fully restored. The clock is returning to its location on April 16, 2020.
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and State of Connecticut flags to be lowered to half-staff statewide effective immediately in recognition and mourning of all those who have lost their lives and been affected by COVID-19. The flags will remain lowered throughout the emergency. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S.