Town Manager's Message:

Although this is the monthly e-blast for June, we are providing a reminder for this coming holiday weekend, including the Memorial Day Parade & breakfast, and the opening of Coventry's beaches.

The biggest news is that COVID is in retreat, and we are reopening further. While we still need to be cautious, we are respecting the CDC's guidelines and are not requiring masks at Town Hall for those who are fully vaccinated (including the two-week waiting period). We still welcome masks if you choose to wear them, but are not requiring them. This also means that many of our meetings will be transitioning also. Town Council meetings will again allow citizens to attend and participate in the Audience of Citizens portion of the meeting. Letters will no longer be read aloud, but will go back to being included on the agenda under correspondence. The deadline to submit letters for correspondence for the Monday Council meeting is noon on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. Initially, only audience members will be allowed in the Town Hall Annex at meetings. 

We are working on a reopening at the Senior Center, and senior transportation services too. Don't forget the Farmers' Market opening is June 6 at 10 AM (new time). Please sign up for road closing alerts - we have a lot of road construction work planned this summer.

The Town Council is reviewing the American Rescue Plan and State funding in early June for Phase 1 of the funding.

ANTICIPATED DETOUR FOR BRIDGE WORK: 

Work is scheduled to start approximately June 9 on the Bunker Hill Road Bridge in Andover. Please see this link to a map of the detour to be implemented in Coventry at the Bunker Hill Road / Parker Bridge Road intersection. Traffic will be re-routed during the day. The project is anticipated to take a week, weather permitting.

COMING EVENTS: 

Sat & Sun 5/29 & 5/30: Caprilands Tag Sale, 9 AM - 3 PM, Strong Porter Museum, 2382 South Street. Items to be sold include goods from the barns, gift shop, and greenhouse. All proceeds will benefit the Coventry Historical Society. CHS Website.  

Mon 5/31: Memorial Day Breakfast Sandwich Fundraiser, 7 AM - 10 AM, First Congregational Church, 1171 Main Street. A sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich and choice of beverage will be offered for $6. To-go basis only. Proceeds benefit Coventry Lions Club service projects. 

Mon 5/31: Memorial Day Parade, 10 AM, Main Street in Coventry Village. Enjoy this annual tradition of pride and patriotism. A military flyover is anticipated at approximately 10:15 AM. Parade starts at G.H. Robertson School, 227 Cross Street and finishes at Bradbury Lane.

Sat 6/5: Tag and Bake Sale, 8 AM - 1 PM, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, St. Mary Church Parking lot, 1600 Main Street. Many bargains and treasures to be found. Take home tasty treats from the bake table, all individually wrapped. Please no early birds. COVID protocols in place. Contact persons: Barb Koepke, 860-742-0692, or Janice Sentivany, 860-742-6355.

Sat 6/5: Pickleball Social, Noon-2 PM, Coventry High School Pickleball Courts, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Conducted by Doreen Junious, USA Pickleball Ambassador. Learn to play this fast-growing sport! See a demonstration, learn the basics, drills, raffle prizes, and meet like-minded people to match up with for future play. All ages. FREE. Sign up here.

Sun 6/6: Coventry Farmers' Market Reopens, 10 AM - 1 PM, Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street. The Coventry Farmers’ Market is back to an in-person market this season! Join the opening day festivities at 9:45 AM for a ceremony with CT Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt and government officials. Bring the kids for seed potting activities sponsored by New England Seed Co. and Andover Landscaping. Please note there are NEW MARKET HOURS: 10 AM - 1 PM. For more info, visit our website or follow CFM on Facebook or Instagram. Every Sunday from June 6 - October 31, 2021.

Weds 6/9: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church, 1171 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.

Sun 6/13: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street. Back to an in-person market this season! For more info, visit our website or follow CFM on Facebook or Instagram. Every Sunday from June 6 - October 31, 2021.

Mon 6/14: Flag Day Dedication Ceremony and Retirement of Flags, 6 PM, front lawn of Town Hall, 1712 Main Street. Please join the Town of Coventry and American Legion Post 52 as we rededicate the Town Hall flag pole area and perform a ceremonial retirement of American flags. All are invited and welcome to attend! For additional information please contact the Town Manager's Office at 860-742-6324.

Sat 6/19: Keep Calm & Craft On!, 11 AM - 12 PM, via ZOOM. Join Coventry's own Yasmine Forte as she leads kids in grades 3-5 in fun, easy, themed craft activities on Saturday mornings. Order your "craft kit" chock-full of materials needed to complete the projects and join Yas for a ZOOM class as she walks you through how to complete each project. Kits are $10 and can be picked up at the Parks & Recreation office at Town Hall during regular office hours. June theme: Famous Artists. Register early - space is limited!

Sat 6/19: Drive-thru/take-out Dinner, Second Congregational Church, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Menu: ham, baked beans, yams, and dessert. $13 adults, $6 child. Place orders at 860-742-1616, or email and indicate pick-up time of 5, 5:30, or 6 PM. Correct amount of cash or check is required. Drive down from church parking lot to the Community House located across from Highland Park.

Sun 6/20: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street. Back to an in-person market this season! For more info, visit our website or follow CFM on Facebook or Instagram. Every Sunday from June 6 - October 31, 2021.

Mon-Fri 6/21-6/25: Adventures in STEM with Lego® Materials!, 9 AM - 12 PM, Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main Street. For kids ages 5-7. Let your imagination run wild with tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Build engineer-designed projects such as: tunnel boring machines, stilt houses, and teacup rides. Explore your craziest ideas in a supportive environment. Instructed by Play-Well TEKnologies. $150 residents/$160 non-residents. Register here.
 
Mon-Fri 6/21-6/25: STEM Explorations with Lego® Materials!, 1-4 PM, Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main Street. For kids ages 7-12. Master your engineering skills with tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects such as elaborate houseboats, heavy-duty forklifts, and Big Ben clock towers. Design, build and explore in a supportive environment.  Instructed by Play-Well TEKnologies. $150 residents/$160 non-residents. Register here.

Weds 6/23: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church, 1171 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.

Fri 6/25: Drive-up Food Distribution, 10-11 AM, Coventry Town Hall, 1712 Main Street. Available for any Coventry resident who is in need of additional food. No appointment required. Please bring proof of residency. Food box will be distributed in front of Town Hall. Please follow directional signage. Info: Coventry Human Services, 860-742-5324.

Fri 6/25: DEEP CARE: Learn to Fish, 4-8 PM, Coventry Lake via Patriots Park. Bring your family and friends and join the CT DEEP CARE "Learn to Fish" FREE program for a fun, hands-on introduction to the basics of fishing. Includes a ZOOM instruction class with choice of available dates, followed by on-site fishing trip on Coventry Lake on 6/25. For ages 8 & up. Fishing equipment will be available to borrow. Register on the DEEP care website for a ZOOM class, which you must take prior to the fishing trip date.

Sat 6/26: Stuff-a-Bag Sale, 9 AM - 1 PM, Noah's Closet, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Noah's Closet sells gently-used children's clothing (newborn to size 10), rain coats, sandals, swim wear, games, books, DVD's, toys, and baby equipment. Donations of gently-used children's items are welcome on Tuesdays 9 AM - 11 AM and Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM. For more information call 860-742-1616. Facebook page.

Sun 6/27: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street. Back to an in-person market this season! For more info, visit our website or follow CFM on Facebook or Instagram. Every Sunday from June 6 - October 31, 2021.

THE BOOTH & DIMOCK MEMORIAL
LIBRARY IS OPEN!

For the health and safety of all staff and patrons, we request that masks be worn in the building and while attending outdoor programs. Our current hours are Tuesday 10-3, Wednesday and Thursday 2-7, and Friday 10-3. The Library is open 10-1 on Saturdays for curbside pick-up and computer use. 

The Library is offering a collaborative program with the Bentley Memorial Library in Bolton on backyard beekeeping and native pollinators. On June 10th at 6pm we'll be joined by an expert from Cropley's Lawn and Garden Center, and beekeeper and former high school science teacher Joseph Jankowski, who will share experiences, advice on how to get started with backyard beekeeping, and suggestions on the best plants for creating an oasis no pollinator can resist.  To register and receive the Zoom link call 860-742-7606 or email jchretien@coventryct.org  If you would like to attend but aren't sure how to use Zoom, please stop by the library and ask for a copy of their Zoom guide.

In lieu of our annual Ice Cream Social, the library will be offering a special edition of Science Thursday - Take & Make Ice Cream! This tasty program will be offered around the end of the school year, date TBD!

Summer Reading starts for all ages on June 15th! Special programs with fun activities and prizes will be offered for children, teens, and adults. Call or visit the library to register for what will be a fantastic Summer Reading Program!