COVID-19 Roundup: What’s Open And Closed: New Police Procedures; Access To Health Insurance; Earthplace Ideas; Help Your Household Help; Jim Himes Telephone Town Hall, And More

Looking for an up-to-date list of what’s open, closed or semi-operating downtown? Click here for the Westport Downtown Merchants Association list.

Click here for the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s list of restaurants that offer takeout and/or delivery services. In addition to ordering delivery directly, Seamless, Grubhub and UberEats also deliver without personal contact. They can leave the food at the door. Payment is automatically processed through a credit card in their systems. Most Westport restaurants are participating in one or more of these services.

Another resource: FindingWestport.com. Their “What’s Open” page includes stores, restaurants, gyms, services, real estate firms and salons around town.


To protect the public and police officers during the COVID-19 emergency, the Westport Police Department encourages telephone contact, rather than visits to headquarters.

Calls made to non-emergency and emergency lines will continue to be answered as always. The operator will ask questions about the nature and details of the call, to determine whether officers are required to respond.

Officers will continue to respond to crimes in progress, violent offenses and medical emergencies. If the call does not meet criteria for response but requires follow-up, the call taker will log the complaint. An officer or detective will remotely conduct a follow-up investigation.

Click here for information on online reporting.

The records division will no longer process requests at the window. All records related inquiries should be directed to 203- 341-6001. Requested records will be sent electronically

In addition, fingerprinting services are suspended indefinitely.  ‘


Effective today, the Saugatuck and Greens Farms railroad stations buildings are closed to the public. This has no impact on normal railroad operations.

The closures are meant to keep people from congregating in close contact. It is unknown how long they will last.

The building is closed. Trains are still operating.


Westporters without health insurance can pick up coverage starting tomorrow through April 2, through Access Health CT. Click here for information. (Hat tip: Mary Jennings)


Earthplace is continually updating its website with ideas and resources for crafts, home study,  and outdoor and online activities. Click here for details.

 


Concerned reader Lindsey Blaivas writes:

Many of us have people come to our homes on a weekly basis — cleaning crews (mine are like family), babysitters (also like family), piano teachers and more.

Each have their own families and rely on their income. Please consider supporting them — for example, through Skype lessons or outdoor alternatives for cleaning crews (grills, outdoor furniture, garage cleaning). Think creatively.

Or maybe just pay them as you normally would, because they (like us) need to survive and protect their families. My cleaning people have reported many clients are cancelling without pay.

Please consider the macro impact on micro thinking. It’s not just one person cancelling — it’s everyone.


Grateful reader Deborah Green called Verizon with a question about her iPhone.  She did not want to come in, because of her age.

Manager Dominic di Pasquale — whom she had never met — answered her question. Then, remarkably, he told Deborah to call if she needed him to shop for groceries or do any other errands!

She thanked him profusely. He replied simply, “We all have to be there for each other during these times.”

She made one more call: to Verizon’s HR department, to praise their magnificent employee.


The other day, Congressman Jim Himes held a fascinating, informative telephone town hall. He’s got another one set for tomorrow (Thursday, March 19, 3:30 p.m.)

The call-in number is 855-962-0953. The streaming link is Himes.House.Gov/Live.

For answers to his most frequently asked questions, click here(Hat tip: Nicole Klein)

Congressman Jim Himes


Le Rouge Aartisan Chocolates is — like many small businesses — struggling. But owner Aarti Khosla is still thinking of others.

Customers can buy her “Give a Little Love” chocolate hearts, to send to first responders, hospital workers and others on the front lines. She’ll match whatever you buy, to let them know how much we appreciate their work.

She started by campaign by donating 100 hearts to Norwalk Hospital and EMS. Click here to donate.


The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce has extended its Soup Contest through April. They encourage everyone to try soups via restaurant takeout or delivery services.

 

 

13 responses to “COVID-19 Roundup: What’s Open And Closed: New Police Procedures; Access To Health Insurance; Earthplace Ideas; Help Your Household Help; Jim Himes Telephone Town Hall, And More

  1. Celeste Champagne

    Cannot thank you enough, Dan Woog, for keeping us posted and feeling a sense of community during this terrible corona-world state.

  2. Dan, you continue to provide helpful information and access to resources we otherwise might overlook or not find! Thank you for everything you do for all of us.

  3. William Gibson

    Hey Dan,

    I believe that State Senator Will Haskell is also doing one tomorrow (19 March) at 18:45. You might want to check the time before posting. I’m sorry, I do not know the telephone number.

    Thanks and best regards,

    Will

    William F. Gibson 22 Wedgewood Road Westport, Connecticut 06880 U.S.A. +1.203.227.7522 (h) +1.203.644.3600 (m) WGibson648@mac.com (e) wgibson648 (Skype)

  4. Jack Backiel

    Dan, This Caronavirus is making me feel like I’m on a rollercoaster, during a hurricane, while trying to do a 500 piece puzzle. I need a bagel. Do you know where I can get one?

  5. Claudia Shaum

    I believe Village Bagels is still open!!!

    • Jack Backiel

      Claudia, Under what ownership is it open?

      • William Strittmatter

        Same ownership as the last 25 years?

        https://www.villagebagelsnorwalk.com/about-us.html

        • Jack Backiel

          Claudia, I asked that question the wrong way. Who’s renting the space? Is it Alex, or someone else selling bagels? I’m wondering, if under these conditions, could anyone meet their rent?

          • Wendy Cusick

            Jack, I was able to drive up to old Bagel Maven this afternoon.
            This is what I saw….
            The paper that covered the windows and doors is off.
            I noticed equipment was moved around and is now blocking the Snapple refrigerator and the right side of the double door. It looks like an open case refrigerator.
            I then drove into the back of the building and there’s a dumpster at the back door of old Bagel Maven. It’s filled with something already. I can see a green crate sitting on top of whatever is piled in the dumpster.
            Do to the non essential business shutdown.
            The nail saloon is now closed and five guys is doing take out (I think)
            It looked really quiet but I see cars in the back so employees are probably inside five guys.
            I also see a while SUV with no license plates with two flat right side tires in the back parking lot next to the regular business dumpster.
            I wonder what the landlord will do now when the rents come due….

    • Wendy Cusick

      Village Bagels started in Norwalk about 25 years ago on Westport Ave.
      They have two other locations Southport next to Michael’s and Fairfield next to Bob’s.
      I haven’t seen anything move in yet in the space.
      Jack I’ll go take a drive by later if I can.