Norwalk events postponed; Maritime Aquarium and Library close

NORWALK, Conn. — The varied changes Norwalk residents are experiencing due to efforts to slow the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic include:

• Norwalk Library closes
• Maritime Aquarium closes
• Event cancellations announced by the State Rep. Lucy Dathan (D-142), Triangle Community Center, The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, the Rowayton Civic Association (RCA), the League of Women Voters (LWV), the Norwalk Historical Society. The Department of Corrections announced changes.

Library is closed

Both branches of the Norwalk Public Library closed at 1 p.m. Friday, a press release said.

This is a surprise as a Thursday City press release said they’d stay open. “Both libraries for now will remain open to the public during regular hours, unless the health crisis worsens,” it said.

The Library answers questions from patrons in a document you can find here.

Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk will close to the public from March 13-29 in a preventative action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, a press release said.

“There has been no known exposure to the virus among Aquarium employees, volunteers or visitors,” Aquarium President Jason Patlis is quoted as saying. “Still, the Aquarium is taking this step because the safety and well-being of our guests, staff and animals are our first priorities.”

The closure applies to visits, both to the Aquarium and through Traveling Teacher programs to schools, as well as “Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises” scheduled for March 14, 15, 28 and 29 aboard R/V Spirit of the Sound, the release said. The Aquarium’s Animal Husbandry staff will continue to provide excellent care to the seals, sharks, sea turtles and 300-plus other species during the public closure.

Aquarium staff is working to create special video connections to be offered online and through social media focusing on animals, animal care and environmental education, it continued. The Aquarium already was taking precautionary measures based on recommendations by the Center for Disease Control.

“We’re going to find new online ways to engage and inspire during this time, and – when the day comes to welcome everyone back – The Maritime Aquarium will be the same dynamic, inspiring, fun destination that everyone knows, loves and respects,” Patlis said.

Other changes

• A bipartisan transportation forum scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at New Canaan Town Hall has been postponed, State Rep. Lucy Dathan (D-142) said.
• 2020 “Pride in the Park” is postponed from June 6 to August 22 according to a press release from Triangle Community Center.
• The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) has cancelled all of its public-facing events and programs.  The cancellation does not change studio scheduling for member artists.  The opening reception for CCP’s  next exhibition, Collaboration 2020: Ann Chernow and James Reed Explore the Lithographs of Picasso will be rescheduled.
• Rowayton Civic Association (RCA) has cancelled its April 4 Easter egg hunt, according to a press release. For now, RCA’s Comedy Night is still on for May 15 and 16.
• The Norwalk Philatelic Exhibition planned for Saturday March 14 is cancelled according to a press release from the League of Women Voters (LWV).  The specially designed first-day cover commemorating the League’s centennial will be sold online.  Details will follow.
• The Norwalk Historical Society’s “Woman Suffrage Centennial Symposium” planned for Saturday, Mar. 28 has been postponed, with a new date to be announced according to the LWV.
• The Connecticut Department of Correction has announced suspension of all social visits to its facilities, all community inmate work crews, and all public tours.  Nonessential inter-facility transfers of inmates will be limited, and recreation groups will be limited to one housing unit at a time.  To lessen the impact of the loss of visits, the prison phone service provider will provide two free phone calls per week for the next 30 days.  More information is here.