Good news all, February only seems like the longest month of the year … spring will soon be here! Read on to meet some new folks in our Vita Health & Wellness world – to see what’s new with some of our community partners – and to get a preview of our plans for Fairgate Farm’s 5th growing season!
West Side NRZ Meeting Schedule 2015
We now meet quarterly – always at Fairgate Community Center, 6:30 pm (light dinner served at 6 if you want to come early!). Mark your calendars …
- March 17
- June 16
- September 15
- December 17
Around & About the Neighborhood
Meet Paola Hernandez, our new Business Development Associate. Paola provides West Side merchants with entrepeneurial training and financial education, while fostering an understanding of how to meet challenges and opportunities as the neighborhood transforms. Paola connects with merchants and provides one-on-one business counseling every other Wednesday (thru 3/18) at Fairgate Community Center, 10 am – 3 pm. This service is provided in conjunction with the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), which provides counseling and workshops. Visit WBDC online: www.ctwbdc.org.
We are saddened by the passing of Anthony Pellicci late last year. We will miss him and his commitment to our neighborhood. From his obituary: “He will be remembered for his sense of humor, infectious laugh and his brilliant artwork. We will never forget his kindness, his stories, his delicious food and the effect he had on everyone he came across.” We’ll honor Mr. Pellicci this summer with a memorial at Fairgate Farm – look for details coming soon.
Stamford Police Captain Beth Erickson has replaced Captain Bill Mullin here in the West Side. Capt. Erickson welcomes opportunities to help solve problems: (Reach her via email: berickson@stamfordct.gov or leave a message at 203-977-4444). She has asked us to share two alerts: Please keep sidewalks in front of your business/home cleared of snow. If you haven’t shoveled, you may hear from the Police Department! Also, there is a crackdown on vehicles parking illegally in handicapped spaces. Please call 203-977-4444 to report violations.
Fairgate Community Health Center Now open 7 days/week
People get sick on Sundays too! West Side residents now have access to walk-in care all weekend, with new Sunday hours (11 am – 3 pm). 138 Stillwater Avenue, (203) 357-0277. This is a family medicine practice, including pediatrics and geriatrics.
Free Medical Care for the Uninsured
Just completed its first year here in Stamford! AmeriCares Free Clinics is a mobile van staffed and equipped to serve as a physician’s office. Visits are regularly scheduled at two West Side sites as well as at nearby NeighborsLink. To learn more about this program, including locations, hours, contact information and to learn whether you may be eligible for free medical care, please click here.
No Cost Dental Care for the uninsured and under-insured
Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, at WestConn’s O’Neill Center in Danbury. Starting at 6 am both days, the Connecticut Mission of Mercy and the Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach will provide free dental care to people who would otherwise have to go without. Available services include cleanings, extractions, fillings, fluoride treatments, x-rays and a limited number of root canals and partial dentures. No appointments, first come, first served. (Volunteers are needed too; enroll now to help!) For more information, click here.
Healthy Chef Contest for Kids
6th, 7th and 8th graders from Stamford are invited to submit healthy recipes (deadline: Feb. 20) to the “PlateUpStamford” contest. Sponsors include Stamford Hospital, the Kids’ Fans “Building Healthy Families” program, the City of Stamford and the American Heart Association. There will be three contest winners — the kids who submit the recipes that are the tastiest and healthiest. Winners will be announced March 9. For more information call 203-276-7046 or click here.
Fairgate Farm’s 5th Growing Season
After a long winters’ rest, we’ll be preparing Fairgate Farm for our 5th growing season starting next month! Depending on the weather, you’ll see stirrings at our Stillwater Avenue farm beginning in 4-6 weeks. In the works this season are a Community Gardening Gathering/Work Day in April – Spring Kickoff event in May – Farm-to-Table workshops all summer long – and our Harvest Festival in the fall. Farm volunteers (email us at fairgatefarm@gmail.com if you’re interested) are welcome … it’s great fun, plus you’ll enjoy free, farm-fresh produce all season long!
Stamford Community Collaborative
Vita brings together many of our community agencies to work toward a common agenda – improving the health of our West Side residents. Representatives from each of these organizations attend our monthly meetings at Fairgate. We’ll be sharing news from all partners regularly.
