Town Manager's Message:

There is a lot to love about Coventry, so let's have our own Valentine's celebration. Tell us why you love our town and we will send you a Love Coventry static cling decal for your window to show your town pride. Email your love letter here.

We thank the public for the recent approval of the Coventry High School heating and ventilation grant bonding request. We await the outcome of a pending grant application which would assist in paying for the project and expand the scope to include chilled air. This work will not be done unless the grant is received.

We have worked with CT Water to collaborate with the road bond work to replace all water mains in the Pilgrim Hills subdivision off Rt. 44 ahead of our road reconstruction. CT Water accelerated their schedule to start work in late spring, with hopes of completing it in the fall. This will allow the Town to do the work for less money, since CT Water will contribute the cost of patching toward our full restoration (similar to what we did in the Northfields subdivision.)

We are waiting for a final signature from the State to go out to bid for the second girls' softball field for spring construction. The first field will be finished up then, too.

Kudos: we want to share in congratulating our school district on being ranked the Number 1 School District in Tolland County. The Town once again was awarded a Silver Certification by Sustainable CT for our environmental actions. Also, the Coventry Police Department was awarded a 2022 Risk Management Award by CIRMA for establishing risk management as an organizational priority.

Library construction update: Please watch the Library Facebook page for possible change of hours, relocation of services and/or temporary closures for safety and productivity issues as the renovation project progresses. Walls will be going up, and the driveway may not be safely accessible for vehicles or pedestrians. The good news is that the new elevator is ready for final shipping and installation, and the pace of the work has increased.

Public input sought: Three opportunities for public input into proposed grant submissions are available:

• Recreation Trails Grant. To establish a trail on Town open space on South Street near Silver Street to the Skungamaug River, Will allow for Town maintenance and fishing access. Details on the Town website. Submit comments to Mindy Gosselin, Inland Wetlands Agent. by February 13, 2023.
• TRIP Grant. A pedestrian safety/ADA grant to improve crosswalks on South Street to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and install LED crosswalk lights at GH Robertson School, four locations on Main Street (Rt. 31), and two standard crosswalks on Monument Hill and Folly Lane to address dangerous conditions. Comments must be received by February 10, 2023, and can be emailed to the Town Manager, or sent via regular mail to Office of Town Manager, Town of Coventry, 1712 Main Street, Coventry, CT  06238.
• Hop River State Park Trail Signage. The Hop River Trail Alliance is proposing to submit a grant application to CT DEEP for the purchase and installation of signage along the 20.5-mile Hop River State Park Trail. Signage would include mileage markers, town names, street names and other wayfinding information, creating uniform signage along the trail. Details here. Comments must be submitted to the Hop River Alliance by email by February 14, 2023.

For more information about Town projects, see the bi-monthly Town Manager's Project Update memo on the Town website.

COMING EVENTS: 

Weds 2/1: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

Weds 2/1: Council Chair's office hours (rescheduled from January 25 due to inclement weather), 5-6 PM, Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main Street. Ask questions and share feedback with Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas during this monthly session. 

Fri 2/3 & 2/17: BINGO Night, first and third Fridays of the month, doors open at 5 PM, BINGO starts at 6 PM. First Congregational Church, 1171 Main Street. Presented by the American Legion Post 52. 50¢ entry fee, must be 18 or older to play. Raffles, prizes and refreshments available. Email for info. 

Fri 2/3: Quiet Corner Contra Dance, 8-11 PM, intro lesson at 7:45. Patriots Park Lodge, 172 Lake Street.  Adults $12, students $6. Partner not necessary. Wear soft-soled shoes and light layered clothes. Mask optional sign in/waiver required. Music by the First Time String Band. Dances called by Jen Jasenski. Info, contact Dennis: knowdj@frontier.com.

Sat 2/4: $10 Stuff-a-Bag Sale, 9 AM - 1 PM, Noah's Closet, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Children's clothing (newborn to size 10), coats, toys, puzzles, and games. Donations of children's clothing is welcome on Tuesdays 9-11 AM and Saturdays 9 AM-1 PM. Call Saturday for more information, 860-742-1616.

Sun 2/5: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. First market of the winter season! Over 30 vendors featuring everything from locally-grown produce, freshly-baked goods, and hand-crafted items. Website.

Fri 2/10: Someone Special Valentine's Dance. See details under Parks & Recreation section below.

Sun 2/12: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. First market of the winter season! Over 30 vendors featuring everything from locally-grown produce, freshly-baked goods, and hand-crafted items. Website.

Weds 2/15: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

Thurs 2/17: AARP Tax Aide, by appointment from 9 AM - noon, Coventry Senior Center, 172 Lake Street. Free tax preparation assistance for your federal and state tax returns by a team of highly-trained tax volunteers. Multiple appointments available. Contact the Senior Center at 860-742-3525 for more information and to schedule your appointment.

Sat 2/18: Pot Roast Thru/Take-out Dinner, Second Congregational Church of Coventry, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Menu: pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, gravy, bread and dessert. $15 adults, $8 children. Place orders at 860-742-1616 or email and indicate pick-up time of 5 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6 PM. Correct amount of cash or check required. Drive down from church parking lot the the Community House located across from Highland Park.

Sun 2/19: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Over 30 vendors featuring everything from locally-grown produce, freshly-baked goods, and hand-crafted items. Website.

Weds 2/22: Council Chair's office hours, 5-6 PM, Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main Street. Ask questions and share feedback with Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas during this monthly session. 

Sun 2/26: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Over 30 vendors featuring everything from locally-grown produce, freshly-baked goods, and hand-crafted items. Website.

KEEPING IT GREEN - GENTLE HINTS FOR RECYCLING

Want to know about what’s IN and what’s OUT for recycling in Coventry? take a look at recyclect.com or www.scrrra.org.  These websites will let you ask about a specific item or material.  Or, download the free SCRRA app to your smart device, or contact Coventry Public Works at 860-742-6588.  Recycling saves our Town money and is good for the environment.  In general, all recycled items should be empty, rinsed out, clean, and open.  Do not shred, box, bag or bundle items.
 
February's Recycling Focus – Styrofoam^©: Cups, containers, packing material, and packing peanuts from polystyrene foam, also called expanded polystyrene and commonly called Styrofoam^© , are NOT recyclable in Connecticut. It has low density and very light weight which makes it unsuitable for automated sorting. CT materials recovery facilities use automated sorting. Polystyrene contaminates paper and other recyclables, reducing the value of these recycling commodities. Place polystyrene in the trash.

This message is a public outreach effort by the Town of Coventry's Energy Conservation/Alternative Energy Advisory Committee. For more information about the committee, see this link.

NEWS FROM THE BOOTH & DIMOCK MEMORIAL LIBRARY:

Take Your Child to the Library Day on February 4th! Stop by any time to get a Take & Make story kit, or make your own button!

Sign up to Read to Dogs on Saturday, February 11th. Call 860-742-7606 or visit the Library to reserve your spot.

Join us for "Sing, Stomp, Story" on February 16th at 11 AM. This sensory story and music hour is designed for preschool-aged children. No registration necessary!