For Students:

Leadership. Empathy. Determination. Grit. Goal-setting. Resilience. Perseverance. Self-regulation. Creativity. You’ll need many of these strengths at some point in your life. With the Covid-19 crisis it feels like we need them all now. Volunteering virtually helps you develop strengths by doing. Below is a link to online volunteer opportunities for middle school, high school, and college students to do now.



Governor Lamont partners with CBIA and CONNSTEP to distribute free face coverings for small businesses

Governor Lamont today announced that his administration is partnering with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and its affiliate CONNSTEP on an initiative to distribute free face coverings to eligible, essential small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Eligible businesses include those  defined as essential businesses  by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

“The more proactive measures we can take to prevent the spread of this virus and keep everyone healthy, the sooner we’ll be able to reopen operations,” Governor Lamont said.

Eligible essential small businesses can request up to two free face coverings per employee by filling out the form found  here . Small businesses are strongly urged to create their own face coverings  following CDC guidelines . This will ensure the limited supply of coverings go to small businesses that are struggling to secure their own supply.

Requested face coverings will be distributed next week through the municipality in which the business is located. The local municipality will then contact businesses with a date, time, and location to receive the requested masks. The distribution will continue while supplies last. The initiative is intended to help small businesses comply with the governor’s executive order requiring face coverings to be worn whenever social distancing is not possible, including in essential businesses.

More details will be available in the next few days.



Fairy Tales serve an important purpose:


They serve to remind us that darkness can be overcome, that goodness can win; and that the dark clouds will not always be on the horizon.


Unknown Author
Dear Chester,

As of tonight, there have been 33 positive coronavirus cases in Chester (not including the three that were attributed to us but don't live here). Sadly, seven of those individuals have died from complications related to the virus. Of our total cases, more than 80% are associated with a nursing home and are over 70. Compared to other nearby towns, Chester's infection rate can be very directly related to an aging population and a nursing home outbreak.

For the past several days, the overall rate of hospitalizations have been going down in Connecticut, although the overall rate of new cases and the rate of deaths have both risen. A consistently lower rate of hospitalizations for a period of two weeks is the marker that public health officials look for to determine when we have reached the peak infection period and for planning long term recovery. Of course various areas of the state are in different stages and it is too early for any formal determination, but overall it is a hopeful sign.

Stay strong, be patient, stay home, wear masks, and wash hands. This is difficult - we will get through it.

Be well,

Lauren