Wednesdays 10:00 am – 10:30 am
This virtual social gathering meets weekly through ZOOM so that we may socialize with you while safe distancing. We will keep it casual and allow for everyone to have a chance to say hello and chat. You do not need the Zoom app to participate. Email colsen@groton-ct.gov to get the direct link.
Don’t forget to swing by tomorrow starting at 4pm for a FREE dinner. Simply pull up to the main entrance, have a designated spot in your vehicle for the meal, we will place the meal in your vehicle for a no contact delivery and off you go. We do ask that all individuals in the vehicle have a mask on. This meal is open to all community residents. No registration required and no questions asked.
This Thursday, Feb 25th we are giving out BBQ PORK, MACARONI & CHEESE AND VEGETABLE.
GROTON COMMUNITY GARDEN is located at 2 Fort Hill Road, Groton, (behind Groton Human Services office) and Noank Community Garden is at 42 Smith Lane, Noank. Both gardens are intended to be a beautiful, safe, and peaceful place for individuals, 18 and older, to cultivate flowers and vegetables. Individuals may rent up to two (2) garden plots, each being either 10′ x 10′ or 10′ x 20′. Water and gardening tools are available on-site.
Returning gardeners are assigned garden plots first. New gardeners should register under “Garden Plot – New Gardner Wait List”. As plots become available, new gardeners are contacted from this list beginning the first two weeks of March to receive their assigned plot at which time the registration fee is due.
At the time of printing this newsletter, vaccines are now being given to persons 65 and older. We encourage you to get the vaccine as a way to reduce your risk of getting Covid 19. If you have concerns about getting the vaccine, contact your physician’s office to discuss your concerns. Visit ct.gov/COVID vaccine and type in your Zip Code to look for additional locations near you.
Commonly asked questions from the State of CT:
The Vaccine –Is there a difference between the vaccinations that I can take? There are only small differences, but both vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are highly effective based on trials. Below, you’ll see some basic details about both.
Do I get to choose which vaccine brand I want to receive? In general, given scarce supply, only one vaccine may be available through your provider. You can talk with your medical provider if you have specific questions or concerns that may lead you to want to seek out one specific COVID-19 vaccine versus another.
You must schedule two separate dates. Why? Because the timing of both equally important doses are determined by science, and recommended by medical experts. The date of your second visit will be determined by the date of your first visit. The second dose is mandatory.
The Second Dose How do I know when to schedule my second vaccination? Most providers will ask you to schedule your first and second vaccination at the same time, and will help you set up reminders via text, email, or phone call about your second dose. What if I miss my second shot? You should talk to your provider about what next steps you need to take if you miss an appointment for your second vaccination. You will likely be able to get your second vaccination within a short time period of the recommended date, and it will remain effective.
Can people who have already have COVID-19 get the vaccine? Yes. The CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19 because you can catch it more than once. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection will last.
We know you miss our clay works class. So we have worked out a way that you can still get your artistic juices flowing again while we wait to have you back in the classroom. We are putting together Ceramics on the Go kits for you to pick up.
Packs will include: greenware, paint, brush(es). After you are done painting your project, you return it to us. At that point, our Clayworks instructor, Nancy, will come in and do the firing for us. Then we let you know when it is done.
Groton Senior Center has received two new grants to increase programming. Groton Senior Center successfully applied for a State of Connecticut CARES ACT grant of $2500. We will be utilizing these funds to purchase items to improve outdoor programming including a large 20’x 40’ tent, fire pits and lumber for a stage. In addition, to increase the WiFi indoors, a new hub to boost the WiFi will be purchased. We are looking forward to using our new purchases for expanding the fun outdoor programs that we offered last summer and fall.
Also, Groton Parks Foundation provided grant funding for us to begin a social calling program. We will be implementing a social connectivity program developed by the Motion Picture Television Fund. Aptly named The Call Hub. The MPTF developed this social phone program to empower organizations to play their part in keeping us all connected. Building upon experience combating social isolation in the entertainment community, MPTF developed an end-to-end solution that enables countless organizations to mobilize social connections – the bedrock of good health and wellbeing.
The Call Hub will facilitate safe, telephonic connections between volunteers and isolated older adults. No phone numbers are shared, just the phone number for the hub. This will allow volunteers to contribute to the community from the safety of their own home. The hub will allow the senior center to track the number of calls to individuals, the length of time for the calls in an effort to meet the needs of isolated older adults. The goal of this program is to have individuals feel validated and connected to other people with similar interests and values through the utilization of weekly phone calls.
Both CHOICES Health Insurance Counseling and Benefits Counseling are
going to continue via phone sessions while we continue to deal with
COVID19. Please call Senior Resources at 860-887-3561 for either program.
If you are eligible to be vaccinated you can visit the following websites to look for an available vaccination appointment.
All vaccinations by all providers are by appointment only.
Ledge Light Health District is holding two 1st dose vaccination clinics this week. Please register for an appointment: in New London on Wednesday February 10 or in North Stonington on Friday February 12.
Community Health Center and some other vaccine providers use a CDC system called Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to schedule vaccination appointments. If you are 75 years of age and older and live or work in Connecticut you may provide your information here to begin the VAMS registration process. Please use a unique email address for each eligible person you are signing up. You will receive an email from CDC inviting you to register: you should click on the link in the email and answer ‘no’ to the first question to start the registration process. You must complete create a password and complete the registration process in VAMS in order to find and schedule a vaccination appointment. If you have already complete the registration process and just need to look for an appointment you can sign in to VAMS here.
Hartford Healthcare uses a system called MyChartPlus to schedule vaccination appointments. If you are 75 years of age and older you can visit their website to sign-up. Please note that the Hartford Healthcare MyChart is different from the Yale New Haven Health System MyChart. You do not have to be a patient at Hartford Healthcare or have an existing MyChart account to sign-up.
Yale New Haven Health System uses their portal to schedule vaccination appointments. If you are 75 years of age and older you can visit their website to sign-up. You do not have to be a patient at Yale New Haven Health System or have an existing MyChart account to sign-up.
CVS in Waterford is now offering COVID vaccinations through their scheduling system. If you are 75 years of age and older you can visit their website to sign-up.
I feel like we’ve been here before and I was so hopeful that this year we might be able to return to normalcy for the tax program. No, not so. Once again, we will not be holding the Tax Assistance program at the Preston Senior Center this coming year. Yes, COVID-19 is the cause of the cancellation plus our facility isn’t large enough to safely accommodate each person having their income taxes prepared. Once again, you will be directed to the Rose City Senior Center in Norwich to schedule an appointment to have your taxes completed. Their phone number is 860-889-5960. we are hopeful that sometime in the very near future that our good friends from AARP will be manning the Preston site. In addition to having an opportunity to visit with all our Preston neighbors having their taxes done for free, we miss the volunteers immensely!
until further notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
