May 2020 TC Chamber Lunch City Update (COVID-19 and The Colony)

•Citizens remain encouraged to minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household except to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services.

• People over 65 are strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible, and maintain appropriate distance from any member of their household who has been out of the residence the previous 14 days.

• Citizens remain encouraged to practice social-distancing and good hygiene. Face-coverings are recommended in public but not mandatory.

Under certain conditions, several types of businesses were allowed to reopen on May 1. Others have been given a green-light for May 8 or May 18. The most recent changes to the Governor’s executive orders are as follows:

Businesses that can open May 18th (found at gov.texas.gov/opentexas)

•Childcare centers

•Massage and personal care services, including tattoo/piercing studios

•Youth facilities, such as Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs

Businesses that can reopen or expand on May 22

•Restaurants move to 50 percent

•Bars, wine-tasting rooms, bowling alleys at 25 percent

•Zoos, aquariums, natural caverns

Businesses that can reopen on May 31

•Youth sports and little leagues (spectators must social-distance)

•Summer Camps

•Daytime and overnight camps

•Scouting, VBS, 4H, etc.

•Professional sports (w/o spectators): golf, auto racing, baseball, softball, tennis, football, and basketball. Special safety standards apply.

Summer Schools

• Schools can provide summer school while following safe distancing practices as of June 1.

Theme parks remain closed until further notice.

We encourage everyone, especially business owners, to read the announcements from the Governor's Office for more information, including the Governor's checklists for specific types of businesses. Locally:

• City-operated facilities, such as City Hall, the Library, Recreation Center, Aquatic Park and Community Center, remain closed until further notice.

• With the exception of the annual fireworks show (location TBD), Liberty by the Lake festivities for 2020 have been cancelled.

• A wealth of local resources are available on the city's website for those in need of food or financial assistance. For more information, visit www.TheColonyTx.gov/covid19

With the expiration of the Governor's previous executive orders on April 30, we have reopened Pawsome Playground Dog Park, The Colony Wheel Zone Bike & Skate Park, and the Bridges Tennis Courts. Please be aware, it is impossible for the City to disinfect park equipment and furnishings in a manner to completely eradicate the potential spread of COVID-19. All users of any park facility are encouraged to follow best practices for personal protection, which includes maintaining social distance of 6 feet from person to person, frequently washing your hands, staying home when sick and covering your cough or sneeze.

Other parks throughout The Colony remain open for usage of green space and trails only. Park amenities such as playgrounds, pavilions, picnic tables, basketball courts, etc., remain closed. Stewart Creek Park is open for pedestrian and bike traffic, and for usage of the boat ramp and will open to vehicular traffic May 27th

Click this box to view our #ResponsibleRecreation video for tips on how to stay safe in the great outdoors.

TC Seniors Memorial Day Drive-Thru Parade May 22

In order to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while keeping a safe social distance from one another, The Colony Senior/Community Center is having a Memorial Day Drive-Thru Parade for our local senior citizens! The first part of the parade will feature the American Legion Honor Guard who will read the name of a veteran and ring the bell in his/her honor for each car that passes by. The second part of the parade will have all of the Senior/Community Center staff, along with various other city department personnel that provide services to seniors, welcoming the seniors back while they drive through the parade route

· Who: All TC Senior/Community Center members and their families & other area seniors 50+years of age

· What: A Reverse Memorial Day Parade where YOU drive thru!

· When: 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 22

· Where: Griffin Middle School and The Colony Community Center parking lots

· Why: To honor those veterans who died in military service and to celebrate getting to see our seniors!

How: Parade entrance will be marked near 5151 North Colony Blvd. Follow the route through the parade.

Families of all area seniors are welcome to drive through with their senior. This will be a touchless parade. Parade stations will be at least 15 feet apart. Parade staff will be wearing masks. Attendees are also encouraged to wear masks.

The Colony Public Library Introduces Curbside Pickup

Beginning this Friday, May 8, TCPL will begin to offer curbside pickup for library materials! To request items for pickup, holds may be placed through our online catalog or by calling Circulation at 972-625-1900, ext. 2.

How it works:

• Holds may be picked up Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Up to 15 items may be placed on hold at a time.

• Library staff will notify you once your items are ready for pickup.

• Once notified, park in the designated area of the parking lot and call the number posted on the pole.

• Library staff will verify your card number and check the items out before bringing them to your car.

• Holds placed after 4 p.m. will be fulfilled the next business day.

• Holds will be released after 3 business days if they are not picked up.

EDC launches Small Business Support Grant

The Colony Economic Development Corporation has established a Small Business Support Grant program to assist businesses within the City that are experiencing financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Declaration of Public Health Disaster and Order of mandatory closings or service disruptions.

A total of $100,000 has been allotted to the grant fund. Grants will be awarded on a case-by-case basis with a maximum of $1,000 per grant. This provides the potential to help as many as 100 local businesses or more, as not all grants awarded will be for the maximum amount of $1,000.