Phase 2 begins, details and news you can use

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Welcome to Phase Two of Nova Scotia's reopening! Many restrictions were lifted yesterday. Read the full list at novascotia.ca/reopening-plan/phase-two. Some highlights include: Personal services businesses (like hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons and body art establishments) can offer all services. Restaurants and bars can offer indoor and outdoor dining with a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) between people at different tables to a maximum of 10 people (close social group of 10) per table. All retail stores can operate at 50% of the store’s capacity. Community-based adult day programs for seniors and people with disabilities can resume. Long-term care residents can go for a walk off facility grounds. Informal social gathering limit indoors is up to 10 people (household members and visitors) without social distancing and masks. Informal social gathering limit outdoors is up to 25 people without social distancing. Mobile vaccination for those who are housebound will start soon after some successful pilot programs. Nova Scotians who need a first shot and are not able to leave their homes to access COVID-19 community vaccine clinics because of significant health and mobility challenges are asked to call 211 from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 8 pm. Vaccines will be administered in July and August by Nova Scotia Health following a screening process to confirm eligibility.  The Province also updated their FAQ sheets on travel and restriction. Take a look at these PDFs below: Restrictions FAQ Travel FAQ Travel Restrictions Easing Nova Scotia will open its borders to the other Atlantic provinces without quarantine on Jun 23rd and open up to the rest of Canada on July 14th or earlier. Everyone is encouraged to continue getting regular tests to ensure the safe opening of the province. Many will not have passed the 14-day period after receiving their second dose by the scheduled border openings, so consistent and regular testing is essential for Public Health to keep an eye on COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Testing With the opening of the Alderney Gate Library, the rapid testing site there is no longer available. Rapid testing sites rely on community volunteers, so if you are interested in setting up a location in Dartmouth and have a group of volunteers and a space in mind, I am happy to help facilitate. In the meantime, there is once again capacity for asymptomatic testing at the PCR testing sites at either Dartmouth Crossing or at the drive through behind the Dartmouth General Hospital. You can book (often same day!) at nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting. Community Losses The impact of COVID-19 on the landscape of the community is really starting to come into focus. As businesses re-open I want to urge you to please support local if you are able. We have been lucky that so many of the businesses we love, many of whom have gone above and beyond in serving our community, have made it this far. Let’s show them some love when we can.  Unfortunately, this week we found out that the Dartmouth Players will close its doors to the public. The Sawmill Playhouse, a community theatre that has been a part of Downtown Dartmouth for 34 years has lost its home by the duck pond. Dartmouth Players are looking for a new venue. You can read their story here. This comes on the heels of the closure of Dartmouth Daycare Crichton site in the same building, and the relocation of Victoria Children’s Centre. The good news is that VCC has found a new home for next year at the old Southdale North Woodside School. Still, this leaves us with no childcare in the downtown core which is a real loss for the community. I will continue to push for universal, accessible, and affordable childcare.  We’ve also been informed that Nova Scotia Power will now resume the disconnection process for anyone in arrears with whom they have not been able to negotiate a payment solution. If this applies to you or someone you know, please check out the HEAT Fund and the Nova Scotia COVID Relief Fund. Thank you for your patience and perseverance through the ups and downs of the past year. If we stay the course we can again have summer that allows us to enjoy friends, family, and our beautiful community.  Kind regards,   Lakes The recent heatwave sent many Dartmouthians flocking to our urban lake system. Unfortunately, as in years passed, we are still plagued by environmental issues that keep us from these cool waters. The toxic levels of blue-green algae that showed up in the Shubenacadie Grand Lake recently is a stark reminder that action is required. This is not news to many of you and is something I have been working on since 2019, and others before me for much longer. I continue to press the Department of Environment and Climate Change to establish an Urban Lakes Commission, so that we can save our lakes before it’s too late.  Community Open City Dartmouth This Saturday is Open City and lots of small businesses in Downtown Dartmouth are participating. See below! Alderney Farmers’ Market at Alderney Landing Brightwood Brewery Indulgence Intimate Apparel  Portland Street Creperie Rhea Ferrolino RMT & Howard Bailey RMT Room 152 Clothing Boutique Strange Adventures The Dart Gallery The Tare Shop For details on times and the businesses' offerings/activations, visit downtowndartmouth.ca/pages/opencity2021. MCCL Summer Camps For youth between the ages of 12 to 19, with the exception of our Activism Toolkit camp which is 14+. Camps will take place from Monday to Friday starting the week of July 5th and will run from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. We provide a snack in the morning and afternoon - lunches are not provided. Register here. Building Community LifeSchoolHouse has been at the heart of some incredible community projects in Dartmouth South. Their latest is the gorgeous Southdale Neighbours Community Garden. If you're looking for an opportunity to build connections and take action! Get in touch. Common Roots Urban Farm The farm now has round plots along the pathway that is open for anyone to nibble & enjoy! The haskap berries are the first berries ready for picking and soon there will have strawberries, blueberries, and currants! Check them out on the grounds of the Nova Scotia Hospital in Woodside. DID YOU KNOW? I keep a record of my work in the legislature organized by topic on my website. Read and watch at claudiachender.ca/in-the-legislature Mental Health Resources Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team 902-429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free) Crisis support for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis by phone 24/7 anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 pm to 1 am to most communities in HRM. Kids Help Phone  1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868 Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, we’re here to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7. Live Chat is open daily from 8 pm to 1 am AT. They will be accepting new chats until 12:15 am AT only, in order to help ensure that all conversations are responded to by 1 am.  NSHA & IWK Mental Health and Addictions Intake Line 1-855-922-1122 For help with a mental health or addiction concern, the Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions team is available to take your call Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Morneau Shepell 1-844-751-2133 24/7 national crisis support line that is available to anyone in need of emotional support. By calling the crisis line, individuals will receive crisis counselling support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone and everyone, client or not. Eskasoni Mental Health Services (Indigenous Nova Scotians only) 902-379-2099 or 1-855-379-2099 (toll-free) or Facebook: @EskasoniCrisisWorker Culturally appropriate, community-based, and community-led mental health and addiction services available 24/7 by phone or via Facebook. Crisis intervention and referral services, central intake, ASIST/Safe Talk/Mental Health First Aid.  Pause: Mental Health Walk-In Clinic (ANS only) 1-800-598-5270 (toll-free) A mental health drop-in program where community members can access a 45 minutes counselling session on a first-come-first-served basis. Currently only operating via telephone due to restrictions around COVID-19. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5 pm – 8 pm. Call at any time, leave your name and a call back number and the coordinator will reach out to you with an appointment time. You do not need a health card or a mental health diagnosis. You do not need to be a patient of the NECHC. Association of Black Social Workers (ANS only) 1-855-732-1253 (toll-free) or email nsabswcovid19@gmail.com Providing support to members of the African Nova Scotian community by phone and email Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. For after-hours calls, please allow up to 12 hours for a callback. Crisis Text Line Crisis Text Line is available for adults who are going through a difficult time and need someone to text with. This service is free and available 24/7. Special support is available for frontline workers. Text NSSTRONG to 741741 Frontline workers: text FRONTLINE to 741741 Good2Talk Nova Scotia Good2Talk Nova Scotia provides support for university and college students. Call toll-free: 1-833-292-3698 or text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868 Healthy Minds Cooperative 902 404-3504 ext. 201 The HMC patient navigator, Brad, can help connect you with the appropriate support services within your community. Services in the community: support groups, programs and workshops, referral services, self-advocacy, web-based resources COVID-19 Information - Book a vaccine - Check exposure notifications - Provincial - Federal - Toll-free info line: 1-833-784-4397   How and Where to get a COVID-19 Test Primary Testing Sites. For symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. Book online or call 811. Dartmouth locations are Burnside/Dartmouth Crossing, by the Dartmouth General Hospital, and the Zatazman Sportsplex. Public Health Mobile Units. Pre-book your appointment at the mobile unit online, call 811. Click here for mobile unit locations. Pop-Up Rapid Testing. Asymptomatic testing. No appointment is necessary. This option is for you if you are over 16 and have no symptoms or exposures. Click here for rapid testing locations. Domestic Violence For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free) Further Resources 2-1-1 is a 24/7 connection to programs and services in Nova Scotia. Call 211 or visit online. Follow Claudia Claudia Chender MLAJune 17, 2021 Facebook0 Twitter LinkedIn0 Reddit Tumblr Pinterest0 0 Likes Previous Phase 3, Dartmouth lakes, July 1st, and power outages in Dartmouth Claudia Chender MLAJuly 5, 2021 Next Moving forward, slowly but surely Claudia Chender MLAJune 11, 2021 We are located in Punamu'kwati'jk in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. We are all Treaty people. 360–33 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth, NS, Canada (902) 406-2301 claudiachendermla@gmail.com Hours Mon 9am to 4pm Tue 9am to 4pm Wed 9am to 4pm Thu 9am to 4pm Fri 9am to 4pm HomeAboutContact © Claudia Chender