[Summit] City Councillor Helen Anthony's Ward 2 Letter (Covid, Vaccines, Hope High, Downtown & more)

Fri Mar 5 19:47:42 UTC 2021

   ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Helen Anthony <helen at helenanthony.com>To: 
Sent: Friday, March 5, 2021, 10:42:30 AM ESTSubject: Providence Ward 2 Letter, March 4, 2021
   An update from City Councilor Helen Anthony  
|  
| 
|  
|  View this email in your browser  |

  |

 |
| 
|  
|    |

  |

 |
| 
|  
|  
|  
Dear Neighbors, 

A few quick updates on vaccinations, testing and city news. I am encouraged by the hint of spring in the air and the increase in vaccination rates, but let's stay masked and protect our neighbors.

Let's take care of one another. 

Helen
  |

  |

  |

|  
|  
COVID Updates

Free COVID Testing Sites   
   - RI Department of Health
   - Vaccination in RI
   - State of Rhode Island
   - City of Providence
  |

|     
   - Providence Public Schools
   - Brown: Healthy Brown; Report concerns: using this form, 877-318-9184 or 863-3322
   - RISD: COVID Information; Report concerns using this form
   - State Police COVID line: 401-764-5554
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
Providence City Council Meetings

Next City Council Meetings:  March 18 and April 1 at 5:30pm. Tune in to meetings on Zoom -- look for a link at the end of the agenda -- or on the Council's YouTube channel. Agendas and minutes are posted on the City of Providence Open Meetings Portal, and you can register to receive notice of any city committee or board meetings.
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
COVID Testing for Businesses
  |

  |

|  
|  The state's COVID-19 Testing Program for Businesses through the RI Department of Health has announced that it will supply free BinaxNOW rapid test kits to employers. BinaxNOW kits include everything needed to test someone for COVID-19 and get results within 15 minutes on site, rather than through a laboratory.

A new contact center for RI's employers will be staffed Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The COVID-19 Business Testing Contact Center can be reached at 888-662-4354 or RIDOH.COVID19BizTesting at health.ri.gov.  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
Supporting Hope High School
  |

  |

|  
|  Hope Circle is a group of neighbors who have organized to support the east side's Hope High School, its student and teachers. They report that students will be attending "Saturday School" throughout the month of March to make up missing work, and they seek donations of snacks to help students feel welcome and supported in the building. Sign up to donate snacks on the form here. My thanks to Lucia Gill Case for her years of volunteer effort in support of Hope High. You can reach Hope Circle at onhopestreet at yahoo.com   |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
COVID Vaccination
  |

  |

|  
|  I am hearing from many people who have had successful and smooth experiences at Providence's vaccination clinics. The system is not perfect, but momentum is building to get more people vaccinated. 

Targeted Groups & Timeline
Vaccinations are currently open to people aged 65 or older. People 65+ as well as other priority groups can make appointments for vaccination through state clinics, municipal clinics or at private pharmacies. The current timeline for all age groups here: https://covid.ri.gov/vaccination

State Clinics
Register Now:  Get on the COVID-19 Vaccine Notification List  https://portal.ri.gov/
(note: this is is the same site where you can register for a COVID test) 

State Vaccination Clinics
RI DOH will release new appointments at 9am on Tuesdays and 5pm on Fridays, and will also release appointments at other times during the week as supply allows.     
   - Where: Dunkin Donuts Center in downtown Providence at 1 LaSalle Square and 100 Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston. Next month DOH will open state clinics in Woonsocket and Middletown.
   - You can view a short video of the vaccine experience at the state clinics here. Staff can assist people who need help getting from the parking area to the vaccination clinic. 
   - Make an Appointment: You MUST have an appointment and be in the targeted age range. Schedule an appointment at vaccinateri.org or on the automated phone line at 844-930-1779.
 Get Updates: Click here to read weekly email updates from RI DOH

NEW: Pharmacies
Pharmacies require an account to make an appointment, so set one up in advance. Appointments appear throughout the day, so keep checking back for available slots. 

Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
CVS: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine or (800) 746-7287

CVS has added 14 new locations in Rhode Island where vaccines are available. CVS has also begun to offer vaccinations to preschool and day care workers as well as K-12 teachers. 

Lifespan
Lifespan is offering limited vaccines by appointment at Newport Hospital and perhaps other locations. You must meet the age guidelines set by the Department of Health and you must make an appointment. You can see available appointments here: 
https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/coronavirus-covid-19/lifespan-covid-19-vaccination-program/schedule-vaccine

City of Providence ClinicsRegister Now:  Sign up for the PVD Vaccine Notification List to hear directly when city vaccine appointments are available:  VaccinatePVD.com

Municipal Vaccination Clinics
The City of Providence is focusing its efforts on zip codes hardest hit by the virus currently including 02907, 02908, and 02909 and is opening appointments to individuals aged 50 and older who reside in those areas.    
   - Where: Locations may vary but John Hope Settlement House has been a primary site
   - When:  Weekly clinics scheduled for targeted age groups. 
   - Or dial 3-1-1 or 401-421-2489 Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm to speak with the Mayor's Center for City Services. 
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
3/10: Imagine Downtown
  |

  |

|  
|  
The Department of Planning is holding a second virtual public meeting on March 10 at 6pm to share plans related to the spaces in and around Kennedy Plaza downtown. Staff will present community feedback received thus far and share related design ideas.  

To register for the virtual public meeting, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/imagine-downtown-pvd-2nd-public-meeting-tickets-139713110675.

For more information and to sign up to receive future project emails, please visit https://imaginedowntownpvd.com/.
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
Call for Sidewalk Art
  |

  |

|  
|  
Rhode Island writers and artists are invited to submit poetry or word-based art for permanent display on Providence's sidewalks. 

The Art in City Life Commission will oversee the Art Selection Process and ultimately award 30 artists $1000 each and install 30 designs into newly repaired sidewalks beginning as early as fall 2021. The deadline is April 18, 2021.

For more information and to apply, visit https://artculturetourism.com/sidewalk-tattoos/

Note: I recognize that many in our Ward may want to submit the text "FIX ME" as we are anxious for sidewalk repairs regardless of what is written on them. I am preparing an explanation of how the city currently prioritizes limited funds for sidewalk maintenance for a future Ward Letter. I encourage everyone to continue reporting sidewalk maintenance needs to 311 to ensure the city has accurate data on the state of our streets. 
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
PVD Composting Survey
  |

  |

|  
|  Zero Waste Providence and the Providence Office of Sustainability are studying food waste disposal and composting infrastructure in Providence They are asking residents to full out a short survey to help them gather information about expanding support for composting.  Click here to take the survey.   |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
March 2 Special Election Results
  |

  |

|  
|  Rhode Island held a state-wide special election on March 2, and all bond measures were passed.    
   - Click here to see statewide results 
   - Click here to view in-person results for voting at Temple Beth-El
   - Click here to view Providence mail and in-person emergency voting at city hall 
  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
Homestead Exemption Deadline: 3/15
  |

  |

|  
|  The Tax Assessor's Office has extended the deadline for Homestead Tax Exemption applications to Monday, March 15. You can file your application online, in person at City Hall or via mail. Details here:  https://e.providenceri.gov/homestead-recertification/
Contact the Tax Assessor at TaxAssessors at providenceri.gov or 401-680-5229, and the city also suggests calling 3-1-1 or visiting PVD311.com.  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  
A Bright Light
  |

  |

| 
|    |
|  Do you know that Providence has a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC)? They advise various city departments and advocate for better conditions for walking and biking in our community. Click here to see the interactive map that details their recommendations to the city. Want to see BPAC in action? Their full list of meetings for 2021 is here -- the next one is March 17 at 4:45pm.  |

  |

|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|    |  Forward this Email to a Friend  |

  |

  |

  |

  |

  |

  |

|  
|  View Past Issues of the Ward 2 Letter  |

  |

 |
| 
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

  |

  |

  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

|  
|  Copyright © 2021 Providence City Council Ward 2, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Providence City Council Ward 2654 Angell StProvidence, RI 02906-5552
Add us to your address book

   |

  |

 |

  |

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://sna.providence.ri.us/pipermail/summit_sna.providence.ri.us/attachments/20210305/6bc9b390/attachment.htm>