02/29/08 - Greenwich Newswire For Friday

front row l-r: B.E.S.T. host Scott Mitchell of Richards of Greenwich; Francois Kwaku-Dongo, Executive Chef at lâ escale Restaurant; Eilhys England Hackworth, SFTT Chair; Wendy Laurent, Pastry Chef at l'escale Restaurant; Shelly Tretter Lynch , B.E.S.T. Committee Chair; Middle row“ l-r: Susie Quinn; Sheila May, owner of Therese Saint Clair stationers; Linda Levy; Guy Flichy; Top row: - l-r: Paul Warren, Darrah Gleason, Lin Tien, Mary Newcomb

Greenwich News Reports

SFTT and Richards of Greenwich host BEST cocktail reception on ...
Stamford Plus Magazine - Stamford,CT
By Press Release

Raising Awareness and Support to Protect the Front-Line Soldiers Who Are Protecting Us

SFTT Chair Eilhys England Hackworth, Scott Mitchell of Richards of Greenwich and Event Chair Shelly Tretter Lynch are hosting B.E.S.T., a cocktail reception to champion the Best Equipment to Support the Troops. It pays tribute to the late Col. David “Hack” Hackworth by raising funds to protect the troops ‘out at the tip of the spear’ that he loved and continues to fight for through his legacy foundation, SFTT.

B.E.S.T. will be held at Richards, 359 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich , from 6:30 PM to 9 PM on Friday May 9. While enjoying four-star cocktail fare, pastries and beverages, courtesy of l’escale Restaurant’s Executive Chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo, ...

... All of the proceeds from B.E.S.T. will be used to support the front line troops defending our freedoms by ensuring that they have the best available equipment – including body armor and helmet liners - to make it home alive and in one piece. The current Army-issue body armor and helmet liner are part of the Basic 5 personal combat essential gear that SFTT has identified as being sub-standard.

Honorary Event Co-Chairs are former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, and former Greenwich First Selectman Jim Lash. Also confirmed are Fox broadcast journalist Geraldo Rivera, Peabody-award winning producer/journalist and SFTT’s Defense Watch webzine editor Roger Charles, and Fathers for the Truth’s John Grant. Grant, father of an infantry soldier currently deployed to Iraq , and SFTT’s Charles were interviewed by Senior Investigative Correspondent Lisa Myers for the multi-part story that aired in May, 2007 on NBC Nightly News, Dateline, and MSNBC about inferior body armor and the Army’s flawed procurement and testing process. The NBC revelations triggered immediate calls by Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle for independent, third-party reviews of all Defense Department body armor procurement....

...SFTT’s is a nonpartisan, apolitical, nonprofit foundation. Its unique educational and advocacy mission is to see that the Pentagon and our elected leaders in Washington get the right equipment, training and leadership for our US troops ‘at the tip of the spear,’ by giving a public voice to and providing a candid forum for America’s front-line forces.

Greenwich swim team golden once again
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT
After a year absence, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship swim team trophy once again resides at Greenwich High School. ...

Too Much Tevin
Greenwich Citizen - Greenwich,CT
By Scott Ferrari

FAIRFIELD - If Greenwich High is to make a run in the CIAC Class LL boys' basketball tournament next week, Tuesday night's FCIAC semifinal ...

HOUSE SITTING Tommy Hilfiger's 27.9M Connecticut jump-off
Radar Online - New York,NY
This week, the recently engaged fashionisto dropped a walled, gated, four-acre Greenwich, Connecticut, country estate called Stone Hill back on the market ...

Out of the Mouth of Babes
Greenwich Citizen - Greenwich,CT
As a result, Greenwich becomes the 62nd of Connecticut's 169 municipalities to climb aboard the clean energy train chugging across the state. ...

With Drug Abuse on Rise, Paulmeno Makes Pitch for Health Coordinator
Greenwich Citizen - Greenwich,CT
By PATRICIA McCORMACK That is according to a report presented to the Greenwich Department of Public Health Board Monday night by Community Health Planner ...

Magnificent Seven Swimmers grab seven golds, but Greenwich takes title
New Canaan Advertiser - New Canaan,CT
The New Canaan Rams captured seven gold medals and amassed 388 points as they finished runner-up to the Greenwich Cardinals at the FCIAC boys’ swimming and ...

Greenwich Blog Posts

Tommy Hilfiger lists seven-bedroom mansion in Greenwich, CT for $27.9M
By Bob Goldsborough
Tommy Hilfiger is asking $27.9 million for his seven-bedroom mansion in Greenwich, Conn. The Greenwich Time broke the story on Wednesday of the listing, followed by the New York Post’s Braden Keil’s report yesterday. ...
Celebrity Real Estate Homes Blog... - http://www.bergproperties.com/blog

Friends Friday Films - 51 Birch Street
Where: Greenwich Library at Cole Auditorium 51 BIRCH STREET (2005) Directed by Doug Block. A great documentary that takes a look at the filmmaker’s Port Washington, NY roots and by doing so gets at the root of all families and their ...
Greenwich Library Today's Events - http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

Republican Retirements Leave Open Seats
By Genghis Conn
Claudia “Dolly” Powers (R-Greenwich) is retiring. The 151st has long been a solid GOP district. Alfred Camillo Jr., a former RTC chair, is running for the seat (no word on a Democrat yet). The district should be safe Republican ...
Connecticut Local Politics - http://ctlocalpolitics.net

Wiederecht lifts Staples to fifth
By MIKE MADAR Hour Correspondent GREENWICH -- Staples junior Christopher Wiederecht finished second in the 500-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly to lead the Wreckers to a fifth-place finish at the FCIAC Boys Swimming ...
http://www.thehour.com/

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02/29/08 - News Reports From The Greenwich Time

Blue Sky Animation is pulling out of White Plains New York and to Connecticut, where the tax breaks are as high as a Horton the elephant's eye.

Benefits of deal remain unclear

By Brian Lockhart
Greenwich Time - Staff Writer

State lawmakers are questioning the Blue Sky deal following a report in Greenwich Time and The Advocate yesterday that the General Assembly unknowingly approved $15 million worth of annual digital animation tax credits tailored for Blue Sky Studios last year.

Additional details emerged yesterday about the state's behind-the-scenes bid to lure the renowned digital animator and its 300 employees from New York to Greenwich with tens of millions in film tax credits. It remains unclear, though, how thoroughly the state's effort to woo Blue Sky has been analyzed, and if it will pay off.

Jim Watson, spokesman for the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said the examination by his department, which is providing Blue Sky an $8 million low-interest loan, cannot be released because it involves confidential, proprietary information.

House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, has promised the company $10 million more in tax breaks. Many lawmakers this week said they thought last year they were voting on a generic bill creating a maximum, annual, transferable tax credit of $15 million to be split among digital animation studios with 200 or more full-time employees.

"In budget negotiations (the discussion) was always in terms of the entire film industry," House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said yesterday. "Never was an individual company mentioned, ever."

Leap Year birthdays finally get a chance to celebrate
BEING A LEAP YEAR baby has helped Anthony Gioffre stay young.

Camillo vies to replace Powers
The chairman of the Republican Town Committee seemed surprised that no one had questions for Fred Camillo Wednesday night when the town native announced he would make a bid for a state House of Representatives seat.

Town to rejoin lobbying group
Going against his predecessor's view that it is a waste of taxpayer money, First Selectman Peter Tesei wants the town to rejoin the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

Teachers slam BET on day care
Teachers at last night's Board of Education meeting bemoaned this week's decision by the Board of Estimate and Taxation to turn down the board's request to operate a child-care center for children of teachers.

Luxury home developers make record land donation
STAMFORD - The Stamford Land Conservation Trust has received 25 acres of land in North Stamford, the largest single tract donated to the trust, representatives said.

Pioneers, civil rights leaders parade at Hart Magnet
STAMFORD - Daniel Boone carried a wooden rifle around Hart Magnet Elementary School yesterday, Wilbur Wright flew a cardboard plane and Neil Armstrong wore a spacesuit.

NCC settles sexual assault suit for $765K
NORWALK - Norwalk Community College has settled a federal lawsuit with a student who claimed a male professor sexually assaulted her four years ago.

02/28/09 - Greenwich Newswire

Greenwich News Reports

FOREX-Dollar hits record low vs euro for second straight day
Reuters - USA
"Bernanke has yet to make a remark that shows open concern about dollar weakness," said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital ...

Dollar holds near greenback peak, slides against others
National Business Review - New Zealand
"Bernanke has yet to make a remark that shows open concern about dollar weakness," said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital ...

Greenwich, New Canaan neck-and-neck in FCIAC swimming
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT
The Greenwich High School boys swimming team has plenty of work to do tonight if wants to reclaim what it ownded for almost four decades -- the FCIAC ...

Suggest a story by sending an email to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

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News Reports From The Greenwich Post

http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/greenwich.shtml

Greenwich Crew fares well at annual event in Boston
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT,USA
Greenwich Crew was well-represented in this year’s CRASH-B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championships. The event, which takes place at Boston University’s ...

Is pill popping prevalent in Greenwich? Town health planner urges ...
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT,USA
“There is a significant substance misuse problem amongst Greenwich youth despite our local, regional and state efforts,” Ms. Paulmeno said. ...

Greenwich attorney plans hotel, housing downtown
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT,USA
An aggressive plan is being developed for Benedict Place, including underground parking, new stores, increased green space, new housing and a luxury hotel, ...

Cards hockey team stunned 5-3 in FCIAC semis
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT,USA
This was supposed to be the year the Greenwich High School girls ice hockey team got over the hump and claimed the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic ...

Greenwich Blog Posts

Blog Search - Do you know of a blog that covers issues in greenwich. If so please let us know.

You can reach us at GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

Manage Your Library Card Online
Where: Greenwich Library at Training Center Learn how to use your library card on the Greenwich Library website to search the catalog, reserve materials, freeze your holds, renew items and manage your account.
Greenwich Library Today's Events - http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

Tommy wants $28M for Conn. estate
GREENWICH, Conn. -- Tommy Hilfiger has put his Greenwich, Conn., estate on the market.
Star-Gazette.com - Local News - http://www.stargazette.com

New Construction & Teardowns In Greenwich CT
By Cher
Here’sa snapshot of new construction sales in Greenwich over the last 6 months:. 35 Close Road - sold 8/07 for $14700000. Built 2006 - 14070 SF on 5.29 acres. 110 DOM. 4 Cherry Blossom - sold 8/07 for $10750000. ...
Teardown Post - http://blog.teardowns.com

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Greenwich Roundup has a team of snoops and sources who are creating one destination for everything there is to know in Byram, Cos Cob, Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Riverside and the back country.

There is room for you here, too. Please feel free to give Greenwich Roundup your scoop at GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

Writers, photographers and attitude are most welcome.

02/28/08 - Greenwich Children Left Behind

District wary of science test

By Andrew Shaw
Greenwich Time - Staff Writer

Greenwich educators are anxious about the outcome of the upcoming state standardized tests that will include a science portion for the first time.

Why are our Greenwich School Administrators "Anxious" about a State Standardised Science Test?

Could it be that the Greenwich School Administrators have failed to properly educate Greenwich Children?

The Connecticut Mastery Tests, given each March to students in third through eighth grades, assess math and reading skills and knowledge. The results are used to benchmark each school's annual academic progress under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Why are the very high paid Greenwich School Administrators having trouble meeting the very basic "No Child Left Behind" standards in the wealthiest town in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth?

The inclusion this year of a science portion will test fifth- and eighth-graders on their knowledge of grade-level content and their understanding of how a science experiment is designed.

What's The Big Fat Deal About A Basic Science Test!!!

Personally, I was born in the "hills and the hollars" of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and by the eighth grade I understood the scientific method and was able to present a controlled science project at a science fair.

Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg has cautioned the Board of Education that this year's science results will likely not be impressive.....

The Extremely High Paid Ms. Sternberg was not in Greenwich about 15 years ago when a national news magazines ranked Greenwich High School as one of the Top Ten High Schools In America, but many Greenwich Residents remember.

...Truxtun Southworth, the program administrator for science and math, said he wished the state would have given earlier guidance on exactly what the students will see on the test. That was not done until recently.

What is going on here?

Is a high paid administrator like Truxton Southworth teaching our children?

Is Truxton Southworth in charge of teaching basic science and mathematics, or on how to cram for a basic standardised test that measures the minimal proficiency?

Greenwich, like other districts, focuses a lot of class time on literacy and math, but not nearly as much on science, which may affect test scores this year, Southworth said.

What other districts are we talking about?

Darien, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Westport, and Wilton?

Or are we talking about....

Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford and Stratford?

"The ones that haven't had the spotlight on them some time drift to the back," Southworth said....

Duh!!!

...Kathy Greider, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning said it may be difficult to decipher if students who do poorly on the science portion are having trouble with science, or if in actuality they are poor readers or poor at math.

Well maybe we should conduct a $100,000.00 study?

Or maybe, we could just start teaching our elementry children basic science principals.

...Science isn't the only area educators have an eye on this year. Greenwich had poor districtwide results last year on test questions gauging a student's ability to make connections from the reading material to their own life....

No wonder, that Greenwich High School is no longer listed as one of the Top Ten High Schools In America.

02/28/08 - News Reports From Greenwich Time

Class action status denied in beach lawsuit
By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer

With a trial approaching, a federal judge has granted the town a partial victory by rejecting a Stamford bicyclist's request to add a discrimination claim to his pending lawsuit that Greenwich's beach access fees for out-of-towners are unconstitutional.

In her six-page ruling last week, U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall upheld the town's argument that Paul Kempner, 77, a Stamford shoreline resident, could not pursue a discrimination claim himself because a town policy change giving free access to town beaches to Kempner and others over the age of 65, made his claim moot....

... Last year Hall ruled Kempner could sue the town on his claim the town violated his individual free speech rights, and a trial is expected to begin on that issue on April 15....

... Last week was the third time Hall threw out Kempner's claim that the town beach policy's of charging out-of-towners more than residents was discriminatory, because it unfairly restricted access to town beaches to non-residents.

Kempner declined comment on the ruling yesterday, saying he was unaware the issue had been decided, and calls to his attorneys were not returned.

Michael P. Shea, a Hartford-based attorney for Day-Pitney LLP, who is representing the town in the case declined comment.
Stanwich School presents traffic plan
Stanwich School will encourage car pooling and monitor the traffic around its proposed new campus to lessen congestion on neighborhood roads, but officials will not agree to mandatory busing.

State GOP touts wellness plan
Republicans yesterday proposed paying Connecticut residents to stay healthy, while Democrats rallied in favor of providing paid sick days for part-time workers.

Antares makes its pitch to Manhattan
Antares executives met with real estate brokers in Manhattan on Tuesday night to pitch their projects and Stamford as a desirable, less expensive alternative to Manhattan.

Studio deal for town surprises lawmakers
Speaker of the House James Amann is scrambling to persuade the General Assembly to give Blue Sky Studios Inc. a $25 million tax break to move from White Plains to Greenwich this year.

02/28/08 - Greenwich Gossip - If you've been looking with a house with a separate closet for your belts

Tommy Hilfinger Sells a House

Well, at least he put it on the market. When and for what price it sells remains to be seen. The initial asking price is $28 million.

As faithful readers of this blog will recall, it was less than ten months ago that Tommy was planting trees. Click here 4/14/2007 09:56:00 AM to read the story, and here 5/01/2007 01:57:00 PM to see the pictures. Today, the trees look as though they've always been there. By the time spring gets here and the house-lookers are out in force, they should be pretty handsome.

What does 28 mill buy in this Town these days? The mandatory minimum of 20,000 square feet which all serious home-buyers are looking for, of course; an "infinity-edge" swimming pool; a tennis court; a basketball court (Tommy plays basketball?! That's new news to your scribe!); a pool pavilion; a 2,000-bottle wine cellar; a sauna and massage room; a suede-lined home theatre for two dozen of your closest friends (popcorn machine included); and "lush gardens". Oh, and let's not forget the allee of instant trees.

For those who may not yet know what an "infinity-edge" swimming pool is, it is a pool at the far end of which the water seems to fall away over the edge of the pool in an apparent drop into the landscape beyond.....

• Rape and Pillage Come to Greenwich
• Local Happenings and Non-Happenings
• Why the Town Fathers Won't Allow a Holiday Inn in ...
• The Silly Season Gets Sillier
• Valentine's Day Dilemma
• Elizabeth Watson 1944-2008
• Musical Magic at Christ Church
• Super Tuesday Comes to Greenwich / Update
• Manuscript Mavens Come to Greenwich Avenue! / Upda...
• Ave atque Vale, Cos Cob Food Mart

02/27/08 - Greenwich Newswire

Tommy Hilfiger is so, umm, gay?

Greenwich News Report

Tommy Hilfiger Puts Mansion Up for Sale
The Associated Press -
GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) — Fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger has put his backcountry Greenwich estate on the market. Southeby's International Realty said Hilfiger's ...

Crusaders Cruise Trinity rips Greenwich to reach FCIAC final
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT
Such was the case last night, during the semifinals of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Tournament, when Trinity allowed Greenwich ...

Estate of designer Tommy Hilfiger on market
Newsday - Long Island,NY
GREENWICH, Conn. - Fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger has put his backcountry Greenwich estate on the market. Southeby's International Realty says Hilfiger's gated ...

TREASURIES-Bonds rise as homes prices and confidence fall
Reuters - USA
... the consumer confidence numbers were significantly weaker than expected," said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS in Greenwich, ...

Greenwich Blog Posts

Empowering Yourself with a Healthy Lifestyle: Fuel for Body, Mind ...
Where: Greenwich Library at Meeting Room Nutrition lecture featuring tips and techniques to keep you healthy, happy and fit in 2008. Three of the area's leading experts in nutrition, exercise and food will deliver essential secrets on ...
- http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

Tommy Hilfiger Puts Mansion Up for Sale
GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) -- Tommy Hilfiger has put his backcountry Greenwich estate on the market. Sotheby's International Realty said the fashion designer's gated Stone Hill estate is listed at $28 million. The 20000-square-foot home has ...
Columbian.com Entertainment News Feed - http://www.columbian.com/news/rss

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02/27/08 - Once Again Failed Greenwich School Administrators Take Care Of Thier Own

One Hand Washes The Other
At The Mutual Admiration Society
Known As The Greenwich Public School System

Headline:

New principal to start at North Street in July

Reporter:

Andrew Shaw

Quote:

"My hope would be to continue the good work that she has been doing there," said School Administrator Charles Smith, a Stamford resident.

Story:

Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg appointed Charles Smith as principal of North Street School earlier this month, replacing longtime principal Betty Burfeind.

Smith, 50, will switch from being a district special education program administrator to his new position on July 1, where he will take over for Burfeind after she held the job for 15 years....

... Kathy Greider, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning, said in a release that Smith's 27 years of educational experience made him an ideal candidate....

... Smith said he wanted to return to the classroom after spending years as an administrator....

... Now he'll lead one of the top performing elementary schools in Greenwich.

"I don't think it will require a lot of changes," Smith said....

02/27/08 - Greenwich Taxpayers Pay Through The Nose As Administrators Mismanage The Greenwich Public School System

Greenwich Tax Payers Are Repeatedly Being Held Up By Very High Paid Greenwich School Administrators Who Year After Year Deliver Academic Failure.

Quote:

"Since students need to remain competitive in a new world, we have the opportunity to think outside-of-the-box with this timely re-look," high school PTA co-president Laurie Heiss Grealy said. "We have a chance to evaluate other teaching and assessment models from around the world."

Headline:

Review to set goals for grads

Reporter:

Andrew Shaw

Story:

Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg is launching a comprehensive review of secondary education in Greenwich, to begin with a critical look at what skills and knowledge students should have as key milestones in middle- and high-school careers.

"It's crucial that we agree to that first," Sternberg said.

The review will likely tackle topics such as the Advanced Learning program for top-performing students, start times and the Greenwich High School house system, which Sternberg said is not functioning as intended.

"It doesn't really function as a smaller learning community. It's just an administrative entity," Sternberg said.

The review will be carried out by a committee headed by Sternberg.....

... School start times has long been a topic raised by parents at board meetings who believe their teenagers would function better if they woke up later. Board Chairwoman Nancy Weissler also expects the committee to discuss adding the International Baccalaureate program in upper grades. The program is used at the International School at Dundee.

Weissler said the committee's work has no definitive timeline, although it does coincide with a similar review of secondary education being done by the state right now.

Greenwich's committee can help the board find more effective ways to operate the three middle schools and high school, Weissler said....

Comment:

Greenwich is long over do for a wake-up call.

Greenwich residents must insists that our local political leaders remedy the cavernous depths of their ignorance regarding local education.

It is time once and for all to reverse the record of the school administration's failure to successfully promote reform in the Greenwich School System.

It is time to put pressure on our local political leaders.

Our local leaders need to start thinking about the questions they must ask and the understandings they must secure if the Greenwich School System is to be salvaged.

The residents of Greenwich need to a embrace a deep and abiding belief in the democratic spirit of public debate as a means to make educational change happen,

To stimulate this debate Greenwich School Administrators need to get out of the way and let Greenwich residents and leaders explore the complexity of the issues, using history, research, commission reports and personal experience to gain fresh insights and perspectives into the problems that the Greenwich schools have and the urgent need for the attention they deserve.

The Schools Belong To The Residents Of Greenwich Not The School Administrators Who Have Repeatedly Failed The Town.

02/27/08 - Years Ago Malcolm Pray Warned Greenwich That Pickwick Plaza Would Cause Gridlock. No One Listened. Now Another Traffic Disaster Is Comming.

Greenwich lawyer and real estate developer Joseph Tranfo poses with a rendering of a hotel proposed for Benedict Place and Lewis Street.
(Bob Luckey Jr./Staff photo)

Developer's plan hinges on leasing town lot

Joseph A. Tranfo knows he is risking a good part of his family fortune on a $100 million downtown Greenwich redevelopment project that depends on getting access to a piece of town land. But the real estate lawyer-turned-developer said the risk is worth it because of what the project promises to achieve.

"There's an opportunity to create a community here," Tranfo said.

The project is to build a multistory complex of offices, a hotel, restaurant, underground parking and dozens of residences on 2 acres of prime real estate between Greenwich Avenue and Lewis and West Elm streets.

The catch, however, is that Tranfo must first acquire the right to lease from the town a 1.3-acre municipal parking lot on Benedict Place to get enough room for his plans.

Tranfo, who has already spent more than $7 million acquiring many of the other pieces he needs for the project, recently presented his ideas to the Board of Selectmen.....

... In addition to the town's financial commitment to the project, Selectman Lin Lavery said she is concerned about the four-story height of the proposed structures.

"It looks very big," she said. "I need to look at it more."

Lavery said she wonders about the proposed density and whether the new development would attract transient residents who only live there part-time.

"It might be like the Plaza Hotel in New York or the Greenwich Gables where people purchase high-end condos and don't necessarily become community members," she said....

...

02/27/08 - "They have already been relegated to a spot under the deputy chief/shift commander and didn't want to lose any perceived part of the ..."

Volunteer firefighters don't want to lose rank

By Martin B. Cassidy
Greenwich Time Reporter

A proposal to promote eight new lieutenants this year to provide better leadership and supervision at the Cos Cob and Byram fire stations has drawn concerns from volunteer firefighters' chain of command, town officials said.

In recent Board of Estimate & Taxation Budget Committee hearings, volunteer firefighters objected to the proposal, concerned that the lieutenants would be inserted above volunteer company chiefs during firefighting operations on each 24-hour shift, Fire Chief Peter Siecienski said...

... Jerry Cutrone, president of the Greenwich Volunteer Firefighters Association and a volunteer at the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department declined to comment on the proposal.

Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Chief Thomas Anderson, co-president of the Greenwich Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association also declined to comment....

...The new lieutenants would be promoted from within the department, requiring about $118,000 in additional salary for the new officers.

Siecienski said if approved the positions would create better accountability and safer firefighting efforts in those two neighborhoods.

"It strengthens our health and safety initiatives for the two areas of town that don't have lieutenants seven days a week," Siecienski said. "Those two areas don't get the same level of protection and we are looking to get those positions in place."

Currently the town charter places volunteer district chiefs second only in command to the chief of the fire department.

02/27/08 - Bill Clark of Greenwich Gossip Asks - Why Would You Buy A Landmark House Just To Tear It Down

Rape and Pillage Come to Greenwich

Cultural vandalism is nothing new in this Town, but it's always disheartening when a fresh and particularly egregious example rears its ugly head. The historic McCutcheon/Malley house at the entrance to Belle Haven, an outstanding example of the Richardsonian-Romanesque style of the late nineteenth century, has been posted for demolition. The Historical Society has filed an objection, but this will only delay the process for ninety days.

Only ninety days to save 120 years of history. Can Rene and Marie-France Kern be persuaded to reconsider this folly? Why, in heaven's name, did they buy such a historic house only a couple of months ago when there are lots of other places on the market that would never be missed? Is this some kind of perverse Gallic "in your face, America" gesture?

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• Valentine's Day Dilemma
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• Ave atque Vale, Cos Cob Food Mart
• Greenwich in Tampa

If an American couple tried to commit a similar atrocity with a historic French home, it would quite likely become a national cause celebre. Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Le Canard Enchaine would all get into the battle, and pretty soon the hapless American couple would probably find that none of the merchants in the local village would supply them, none of the neighbors would speak to them, and their residency papers would suddenly become entangled in a bureaucratic nightmare of red tape.

Here, of course, they will probably be admitted to the once-prestigious Belle Haven Club, where they will find many of the more recent members avidly waiting to swap house project stories. The object of these stories, of course, is to try to outdo your neighbors in tales of extravagance and expense - which is how the nouveau-riche play "keeping up with the Jonses" these days. The destruction of a historic mansion will become fodder for bragging rights around the bar.

"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you no sense of shame?" With these words Joseph Welch pricked the bubble of the infamous McCarthy hearings, and began to bring a national nightmare to a close. Your scribe poses the same questions to M. and Mme. Kern. Why would you buy a landmark house in order to tear it down? Can you perhaps find some other piece of property that will suit your needs without vandalizing our community? How would you react to an American behaving like this in France? And do you, at long last, have a sense of decency?

If so, please change your plans. Refurbish the house, as you originally planned to do - you will get your money back, and more. And you will also earn the gratitude of the local community.

How say you, M. et Mme. Kern? Nous attendons votre reponse avec hate et avec espoir. Soyez bien de nos amis, non pas de nos ennemis. Que dites-vous?

02/27/08 - School Board Coverup? - Are Displaced Hamilton Avenue Students Getting Rained On?

The itsy bitsy children went in the classroom.

Down came the rain, and washed the children out.

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy children suffered from mold infections again.

Hamilton Avenue School Parents are saying that thier children's temporary classrooms are leaking water. The problem is particularly bad after last weeks heavy snowfall that closed Greenwich Schools.

Memo To: School Superintendent Betty Stienberg

Water is leaking into one of your classrooms.

Parents have been complaining to school personell, but feel that thier complaints have fallen deaf ears.

Parents started making complaints late last year about the water leaking.

But, your failed administration and do nothing administrators have ignored these concerned parents.

Why won't the very high paid Betty Stienberg looked into the water problem?

If water was comming into Betty's office, it would be
fixed immediately.

Many Hamilton Avenue School parents think they being ignored by arrogant high paid school administrators.

Some parents feel that School Administrators are Covering up maintenance issues and they are not being told the truth about the school administrator's failures.

These parents want the truth and the answers about why thier children's classrooms are
leaking water all over the place.

Parents say that the School System has been in serious violation of fire codes and that has not been addressed the Board Of Education.

Where is Peter J. Siecienski,
Greenwich Fire Department Chief ?

Parents are very concerned that Greenwich School Administrators are covering up the possibilty that there is dangerous mold in the classrooms.

Where is the Greenwich Director Of Health Caroline Calderone Baisley?

Parents want these classrooms to be tested for mold contamination.

Parents say that School Administrators have known about the leaky roofs since last year.

Why is the Teacher's Union allowing the School System to put band-aids on this problem?

Teacher's Union members and the children they care for are potentially at a sever health risk.

Shame, Shame, Shame on ...

Board of Education Chairwoman Nancy Weissler for not protecting the health of our children.

Shame, Shame, Shame on...

Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg taking the risk to our children seriously.

02/27/08 - News Reports From The Greenwich Time

Hilfiger mansion hits market
An eight-bedroom, eight-bath house that a famous fashion fortune built in backcountry Greenwich is on the market for $28 million.

At Stone Hill, the gated estate of fashion icon and marketing whiz Tommy Hilfiger, fieldstone walls curve outward to embrace guests arriving at the 20,000-square-foot home. Beyond the allee of snow-covered trees is the imposing facade of stone and clapboard, with Ionic columns rising to the pediment....

... This is not Hilfiger's only recent real estate leap. A year and a half after buying a contemporary home on 150 feet of beachfront in East Hampton for $18 million, he resold the property for $26.5 million late last year, according to news reports. Hilfiger's engagement to former model Dee Ocleppo was announced earlier this month. Ocleppo is the former wife of famed '80's Italian tennis star, Gianni Ocleppo.

Hilfiger has been a town resident for more than a decade.

Review to set goals for grads
Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg is launching a comprehensive review of secondary education in Greenwich, to begin with a critical look at what skills and knowledge students should have as key milestones in middle- and high-school careers.

New principal to start at North Street in July
Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg appointed Charles Smith as principal of North Street School earlier this month, replacing longtime principal Betty Burfeind.

Audit of votes cast on new machines shows no mistakes
No mistakes were found during a state-mandated audit yesterday of more than 800 votes cast electronically at one town polling station in this month's Super Tuesday presidential primary.

Children's group objects to tax credits for movies
A pair of legislative committees yesterday considered a trio of bills aimed at expanding the work force for the state's burgeoning film industry.

State film division appoints new director
The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism has appointed a new director for its film division, George Norfleet, who was senior program manager of the film tax credit program.

Metro-North price hikes won't affect Connecticut
Fares in Connecticut will remain unchanged when Metro-North ticket price hikes begin March 1, officials said.

Social services providers say 'rescue fund' needed
There was a time when anyone who wanted to work for CLASP Inc., a Westport agency that runs group homes for mentally retarded people, was not allowed to take a second job.

Canine couture
What do you get when you mix a well-known dog behaviorist and canine center owner with a Switzerland-based technology company? Dog Gone Smart products.

02/26/08 - Greenwich Newswire For Tuesday

'Cascade,' by artist Tom Richardson, right, is on display at the Bank of Greenwich. At left, Janice Stearns, vice of the bank, helps Mr. Richardson show off his work.

Greenwich News Reports

‘Pixels’ canvas the Bank of Greenwich
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT

A one-artist-show of works by Tom Richardson will be on view at The Bank of Greenwich, at 165 Mason St.

It is open to the public during normal business hours through the end of March.
Mr. Richardson’s “Pixels to Canvas 2” exhibit is a compilation of 10 pixel and oil paintings and drawings including montage/collage, oil portraits, computer graphics and photography.

“A full range of Tom’s creativity and imagination are on display here and we couldn’t be more excited in sharing his talents with the community”, said Robert J. Oca, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Bank of Greenwich. “As a lifelong Greenwich resident, I fully appreciate the role art continues to play in our community to enrich and inspire. Tom Richardson’s work is a fine example of that.”....

...Mr. Richardson has shared a rewarding college internship program with his firm and many institutions including Cornell, Yale, NYU, Syracuse, Manhattanville, Parsons, RSDI, SUNY and others across the country.

To learn more about Mr. Richardson’s work, go to Logo500.com (click ‘Richardson Art’ header) or call 625-9236.

Greenwich girls hockey team upended by St. Joseph
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT
DARIEN -- Everything seemed to be in order for the Greenwich High School girls hockey team to capture what has eluded it in the past -- the coveted ...

Colombia's Peso Rises to Eight-Month High on Rates, Investment
Bloomberg - USA
... while the US continues to cut its benchmark rate,'' said Benito Berber, a macro-strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital Markets in Greenwich, Connecticut. ...

Greenwich High School hockey player arrested
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT
By Zach Lowe

STAMFORD - Police Saturday arrested the captain of the Greenwich High School hockey team after he got ejected, entered the stands in violation ...

Getty Images Agrees to Be Acquired by a Private Equity Firm
New York Times - New York City
Hellman has obtained financing commitments from Barclays Capital, GE Commercial Finance and RBS Greenwich Capital. The deal is expected to close in the ...

Greenwich Blog Posts

Still looking for Good Mexican Restaurants In Greenwich/Stamford ...
Just want something that is fairly traditional and seems fresh and good.
Chowhound's Latest » Tristate Region - http://www.chowhound.com/boards/20

2's and 3's Story Time
Where: Greenwich Library at Children's Constellation Room Drop-in story time for 2 and 3 year olds with a caregiver. Program includes stories, songs, movement and finger plays. No registration required but space is limited. ...
- http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

Game #22 Greenwich vs. New Canaan FCIAC QF
Greenwich 58 New Canaan 49 FCIAC Quarterfinals from Fairfield Warde; February 2008.
Brightcove - 50 Newest Videos - http://www.brightcove.tv

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02/25/08 - Greenwich Newswire For Monday

Greenwich News Reports

Mail volume down Business slowing down at post office
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT
Jared Feldman patronized a business on Friday he rarely visits anymore, even if it costs 41 cents to use and requires little effort.

Feldman, 29, stood inside the Greenwich post office on Valley Road with a stack of envelopes to mail. The letters weren't his. He was mailing them for a yacht club. Otherwise, with the advent of e-mail, instant messaging, online bill pay and other electronic communication, he has little reason to use the post office anymore....

... Postmasters around Green-wich said they've already noticed a drop in volume so far this year.

"I'm seeing a lot less," said Bob Palmer, Old Greenwich postmaster.

Part of the dip may be attributed to the expected post-holiday season when there are fewer items to be mailed, said Greenwich postmaster Doreen Reichard. But she said there's a lot of customers who are going online to send communication, forgoing the handwritten letter.

"E-mail is so impersonal," Reichard said.

Instead of fighting technology for business, the postal service is transforming its services, such as allowing customers to print address labels and stamps from a home computer and request home pick-up of packages.

"It helps them save a lot of time," Reichard said of her customers who use www.usps.com. "They are probably mailing more because of that."....

... Riverside postmaster Astor "Ozzie" Spezzano Jr. said he has embraced technology as a way to help customers. More people are using "click-and-ship," which is the package pick-up service.

Spezzano said he directs customers to use the service on the Web site, since it can be more efficient for some people instead of stopping by the office on East Putnam Avenue.

Greenwich resident Bill Galvin, 65, who used the Valley Road office on Friday, said that it makes sense for people to use the Internet when possible....

Getty Agrees to $2.1 Billion Private-Equity Buyout (Update3)
Bloomberg - USA
Barclays Capital and RBS Greenwich Capital are advising San Francisco-based Hellman & Friedman on the purchase. The financing will be provided by Barclays, ...

TREASURIES-Bond prices tumble as US stocks firm
Reuters - USA
I think if you look for anything more than that, you're probably looking too far," said David Ader, Treasury market strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital in ...

Getty Images to Sell Itself for $2.4 Billion
New York Times - New York City
But Hellman & Friedman has obtained financing commitments from Barclays Capital, General Electric’s GE Commercial Finance and RBS Greenwich Capital. ...

Greenwich church hopes to restore 'circle of trust'
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT
By Hoa Nguyen

GREENWICH - Officials at Christ Church Greenwich are searching through old employment files to find any trace of two pedophiles said to have ...

Scholastic Roundup: Greenwich Academy squash teams wins New ...
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT
Coached by Karen Schmidt-Fellner, Greenwich Academy won the coveted crown with 109 team points,easily outscoring runner-up Choate Rosemary Hall (89). ...

Word on the street Officials: Town must now embrace Avenue's status
Greenwich Time - Greenwich,CT,USA
By Hoa Nguyen

Already considered one of the priciest retail stretches in the region, Greenwich Avenue should make the most of its high-end reputation, ...

College Notes: Verrico stars for Loyola swim team
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT
Jonathan O'Connor (Norwalk/Fairfield Prep) had an ECAC-qualifying time of 2:00.72 in the 200 butterfly for the Stags while Sasha Campbell (Greenwich) had a ...

Greenwich Blog Posts

Scarsdale is to Westchester as Greenwich is to Fairfield…
By Stephen Higley
As Greenwich dominates Fairfield County, Scarsdale has the richest and largest number of neighborhoods in the Higley 1000 in Westchester County. Four out of the five richest neighborhoods are found in Scarsdale including the 5th ...
The Higley 1000 - http://higley1000.com

Databases @ your library
Our Greenwich Library staff will provide a weekly half hour hands on introduction and practice on one database per session. Rosetta Stone provides a completely interactive online learning platform of language immersion designed to help ...
Greenwich Library | Today's Events - http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

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