March 30, 2020: A Letter from Falmouth Town Council Chair

Dear Friends, 

On behalf of the Town Council, I hope this letter finds you healthy and well.

As we go into our third week of practicing social distancing and of working and going to school remotely, some residents may be experiencing frustration and impatience in complying with the Governor’s stay-at-home recommendations.

I am writing on behalf of the Council to encourage you to hang in there.

The weather will be improving soon, and we hope that residents will continue to be able to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors in the midst of these unprecedented times. According to our police department, Falmouth residents have been complying with the current stay-at-home recommendations at a high rate, which still permit people to exercise outside if certain precautions are maintained. However, we have also heard reports of individuals accessing closed Town trails such as the Blackstrap Hill Preserve, failing to practice social distancing recommendations on golf courses and tennis courts, and allowing groups of kids to gather at the high school fields, which are currently closed. While we fully understand the desire to get outside and get active, it is critically important that we do so according to the CDC’s recommendations.

Please, continue to follow the recommendations strictly. Stay at home as much as you can, and go out only to access essential goods and services such as food and medications, or to get exercise. Comply with any restrictions on access (some Town Open Space is currently closed). When you do go out, follow social distancing recommendations and practice good hand hygiene. That means maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others and washing your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds immediately after any contact with a surface that could be infected.

And please take time to check in with your neighbors by phone, particularly seniors. If you need help, reach out. You can contact the Town Manager Nathan Poore (npoore@falmouthme.org) or me personally at akuhn@falmouthme.org. You can email the entire Town Council in one simple form at: https://www.falmouthme.org/town-council-town-manager/webforms/email-the-council. You can also dial 211 to reach the statewide helpline.

The Council and Town staff are acting in coordination with county and state emergency management teams, the Maine CDC, and our surrounding communities and will continue to update the Town website with new information as it becomes available. You can stay up-to-date on all the latest information here and we encourage you to subscribe to Town News and Announcements E-Alerts at www.falmouthme.org/subscribe.

Looking ahead, it seems likely that things will get worse before they get better. Let’s stick together right now to flatten the curve, keep each other and ourselves healthy, and protect our first responders and health care providers.

Take care,

Amy Kuhn