Town Notices You Don’t Want to Miss
Be A Part of Stratford’s Future
Center School Redevelopment Proposals
Four developers who responded to the Town’s Request for Proposals for the Center School Redevelopment Project will present their ideas on Monday, July 19th in Room 110/111 of the Birdseye Municipal Complex, 468 Birdseye Street. The presentations will take place at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and will be videotaped and posted to the Town website.
Answer the Call: Town Wide Survey by Health Department
Stratford residents are urged to “Answer the Call!” for the largest-ever town-level survey on health, quality of life and recovery from COVID-19. The Stratford Health Department will join DataHaven and over 75 other foundations, hospitals, and local agencies from around the state in this initiative to get Connecticut residents to participate in the 2021 Community Well-Being Survey. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Help us learn more about health in Stratford, your needs, and what you want to see to promote greater happiness and well-being in your neighborhood. Data from the survey will be used to inform Stratford’s local Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement plan, which is updated every 3 years. Residents will receive phone calls from the Siena College Research Institute beginning this month. Calls will continue this summer and fall.
For more information go to:
https://www.ctdatahaven.org/blog/connecticut-residents-urged-pick-phone-largest-ever-town-level-survey-quality-life-and-recovery
Mosquito Spraying
In an effort to prevent illnesses such as West Nile virus (WNV) carried by mosquitoes, the Stratford Health Department has teamed up with the Town’s Public Works Department to treat the town’s 5,283 catch basins with a non-toxic larvicide.
“Stratford will be treating all of our catch basins starting later in July, weather permitting and will continue through the summer season, as needed and as funding permits,” said Kelly Kerrigan, the town’s Environmental Conservation Superintendent. She advises that you can do your part by reducing standing water on your property to limit areas where mosquitoes can breed. Residents can also purchase larvicide brickettes or “dunks” at local hardware stores or places like Home Depot to treat areas on their property where water may pool.
Stratford’s Health Director Andrea Boissevain said “We’ve started tracking mosquito surveillance data from the state agricultural stations located here in Town at Beacon Point and Beaver Dam Road, and so far all of the mosquitoes have been negative for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis”. Boissevain and Kerrigan outlined some tips on how to avoid mosquito bites and decrease mosquito activity around your home:
Remove Standing Water:
Rid your property of extra standing water. Artificial containers such as barrels and birdbaths are frequently used by mosquitoes for laying eggs.
Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools that are not being used, including pool covers.
Cleaning clogged gutters.
Drilling holes in bottom of recycling containers.
Fixing holes in your screens.
For commercial properties with flat roofs, check for standing water to reduce mosquito-breeding sites.
Wear Protective Clothing
Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
Minimizing time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Be sure door and windows screens are tight fighting and in good repair.
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
Insect Repellent
Considering using mosquito repellent, as directed, when outdoors.
Repellents made with 20-30% of the active ingredient DEET are very effective when used properly; however, Do Not Use on Children Under 2 years of age.
The State started their mosquitoes collecting and testing program June 1st. They test for the presence of WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, through October. For more information on mosquito control, visit the Stratford Health Department’s website at www.townofstratford.com/health and follow us on Twitter @Health Stratford and Instagram for tips and info.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station also has information for the public on mosquito surveillance control and mosquito-borne diseases. For the most up-to-date mosquito information across Connecticut, can be accessed on their website http://www.ct.gov/mosquito.
