07/25/08 Greenwich Police David Ridberg Was Wrong - It's against the law for a person to circulate a criminal report involving a minor

"It is not a criminal violation for a civilian to circulate such a report", Ridberg said on Wednesday

HEADLINE:

At Least Eight Anti-Wiffleball Families Involved With The Juvenile Report Are Under Investigation And May Need The Services Of A Good Defense Attorney

QUOTES:

"So I think that it is pretty clear that if you disclose it further you would be in violation of that statute," Fran Carino, supervisory juvenile prosecutor for the state said. "You could probably make a case for contempt for violating a court order."

"We continue to interview people in house, " Greenwich Police David Ridberg said.

"At this point, we're taking the police at their word," Lindy Urso, the lawyer for the family of the juvenile named in the report said. "One way or the other, the family will discover the truth and proceed accordingly. If it turns out that someone in the police department is responsible, they will be just as liable as a private citizen.

STORY:

Police report sent illegally

By Neil Vigdor Greenwich Time Staff Writer

The state's top juvenile prosecutor said yesterday that it's against the law for a person to circulate a criminal report involving a minor, as was the case in connection with the recent Wiffle ball controversy in Riverside.

Fran Carino, supervisory juvenile prosecutor for the state, said youth cases are shielded from the public by law to prevent minors from being stigmatized by the crimes they commit.

Even sections of juvenile reports obtained legitimately through the court system by victims or defendants in crimes are prohibited from "further disclosure" under the law, he said.

...About eight to 10 families in the neighborhood received copies of the juvenile report, according to Urso, who said the family could seek punitive damages from anyone who distributed the report.

"Obviously, the more widespread the dissemination, the more harm that is done to the child," Urso said. "Once we discover who the culpable parties are, we want to be prepared to take immediate action."

Carino, the state prosecutor, said the judicial system is highly protective of juvenile reports.

"You could see why the parents of that (person) would be upset," he said

Please See Yesterday's Article:

07/24/08 Greenwich Time Reporter Neil Vigdor Updates And Relaunches His Story About A Juvenile Report That Was Circulated By Wiffle Ball Opponents

Please see Wednesday's Greenwich Roundup Article:

07/23/08 Will Lindy Urso Seek Police Department Computer Forensic Records Showing Who Modified Or Downloaded A Certain Police File

Please See Tuesday's Greenwich Roundup Article:

07/22/08 Police Chief David Ridberg said that disciplinary action and possible criminal charges may be filed if a Greenwich Police Officer Is Involved.

Greenwich Time Flashback:

Chief: Teen report "probably" obtained legitimately

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07/25/08 Attorney General Sends Message To Greenwich Building Inspectors - Cursory Inspections Won't Cut It Anymore

HEADLINE:

News Channel 8 went to town hall to look at the inspector's certificate.

The Certificate was not available because it's involved in pending litigation.

QUOTE:

"There really needs to be a complete overhaul in the way we inspect, review, establish standards and then make sure they're followed," Attorney General Blumenthal said. "Because, obviously human lives are at stake."

STORY:

Attorney general says overhaul needed for pool inspections

WTNH

Engineers and inspectors signed-off on the safety of a Greenwich pool that claimed a young boy's life. This leaves many to wonder if the pool company president should be the only person held legally accountable for the child's death.

Checks and balances are supposed to make sure that what happened in a Greenwich pool doesn't happen. The system failed and a young boy died as a result. Now, one man is facing manslaughter charges and his defense attorney is speaking out saying, his client didn't knowingly ignore safety codes. And, there were many others involved, including the town of Greenwich.

"You think of the thousands of swimming pools that have been built in Connecticut, prior to September 1, of 2004, that did not have these devices. And, I don't know of another entrapment death in Connecticut," Defense Attorney Richard Meehan said.

Meehan is fighting back for his client, Shoreline Pool President David Lionetti. Lionetti has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a young Greenwich boy who drowned after being sucked into the drain of his family's pool.

Meehan admits, the pool was not up to the safety standards but, he claims, it was not clear that the state law had changed.

"There was a great deal of confusion in the industry about whether there had been changes and when the changes became effective," Meehan said.

In fact, the pool was signed-off on by both an engineer and a town inspector.

The state law went into effect in 2004. The town of Greenwich issued a permit for the construction in June of 2005. A town inspector signed off on a Certificate of Occupance in August of 2006.

News Channel 8 went to town hall to look at the inspector's certificate. In turn, it was not available because it's involved in pending litigation.

The First Selectman did not return the station's call for comment. But, sources inside the industry, who did not want to go on camera, tell News Channel 8 that those inspections are often only cursory. And, building inspectors are often not aware of all the code changes.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says the fact that this pool went through so many levels, without anyone raising red flags, is deeply disturbing to the state.

All of those people are involved in a civil suit, but only Lionetti has been criminally charged with manslaughters. He will be arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Monday.

Please see yesterday's article:

07/24/08 Should Town Building Department Employees Be Charged With Manslaughter In The Death Of Six Year Old Zachary Archer Cohn?

Please Also See:

07/23/08 Insiders Say Lionetti Got Email Alerts About New Laws Covering The Safety Vacuum Release System Required For Pool Construction

AND:

07/23/08 Is Frank Mazza A Nut Case? The School's Building Committee Wants Town Employees To Approve 112 Inspections In Less Than 4 Business Days

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07/25/08 Kevin Shattenkirk's good friend and teammate at Boston University, Colby Cohen, were both drafted by the Avs during the 2007 Entry Draft.

Avs' prospects still stick together

NHL.com

When defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was selected in the first round of the 2007 Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, he was entering the unknown with the impression that he would be doing everything on his own.

By the time that draft's second round was complete, that all changed.

That's because with the No. 45 selection, the Avs grabbed Shattenkirk's good friend, defenseman Colby Cohen. While the pair didn't grow up on the same street, they frequently played together on various travel teams. But it doesn't stop there. Not only are Shattenkirk and Cohen both Colorado prospects, they also skate on the same blue line at Boston University.

"It's great," Shattenkirk said during the Avs' development camp. "We've grown up together, playing with each other on summer teams, playing against each other in winter hockey. We've known each other for a while, and just going through all of this together, it's definitely something we both enjoy."

Added Cohen: "It's neat … we've known each other for a long time. We've been on a lot of the same teams growing up, so it's nice to know someone when you're going through this experience."

Shattenkirk, who hails from Greenwich, Conn., and idolized former Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch while growing up, had four goals and 17 assists in 40 games in his first season at BU. With some experience under his belt, the offensive-minded defenseman is banking on bigger things as a sophomore...

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07/25/08 Greenwich Citizen News Links

TOP STORY

HEADLINE:

Greenwich Citizen Reporter PATRICIA McCORMACK pours on the sticky syrup.

Police Chief David Ridberg used a "comforting tone of voice" and "a sympathetic manner and demeanor" as his officers made sure that Wiffle ball players did not chain themselves to the outfield fence.

First Selectman Peter Tesei faced "the darkest of my administration"

Reporters were "drawn like bees to clover"

DPW workers were "handling great fragile treasure"

Teenagers were "civil on the outside but sobbing on the inside"

STORY:

Solemn Signs of the Times

The woman appeared saddened that Town workers had just taken out the controversial Wiffle ball field, as ordered by First Selectman Peter Tesei.

"I understand both sides of this," Ridberg, using a comforting tone of voice, told the woman who exhibited the deep sorrow of one returning from the funeral of a loved one.

The Chief's demeanor - a sympathetic manner - mirrored that of other uniformed police officers and Town workers on the scene from around 7 a.m. to carry out Tesei's order.

When he issued it, Tesei related that the day was "the darkest of my administration."...

...Only an American flag was left.

"That belongs to the players," the foreman said. "It's their property.

We won't touch it."

"That belongs to the players," the foreman said. "It's their property.

We won't touch it."

Here Is Some More Sugar Coated Very Old

News Reports From The Greenwich Citizen:

Ham Ave. Parents Plead for Timely Finish

The hard working-through-summer school administrators and members of the Board of Education were confronted by an angry parent body of two western Greenwich elementary schools Tuesday night at an emergency meeting of the board in the Greenwich High School Auditorium....

Shoreline Pools' Lionetti Charged in Child's Drowning

The name of Shoreline Pools has been synonymous for elegantly laid out swimming pools across Greenwich, often with fieldstone surrounds, or artful waterfall features.

But Monday, Shoreline President David Lionetti, 53, of Stamford, stood accused of manslaughter in the second degree for, according to Greenwich police, "having recklessly caused the death of six-year-old Zachary Cohn." With the charge comes a possible prison term of 10 years...

Fresh Back from Israel, Himes Hones in on Issues

Congressional candidate Jim Himes, displaying a smoother oratorical style than in the past, spent two hours updating a packed Town Hall crowd on campaign issues July 16...

Dreams, Democracy Demolished

So the Big Bad Wolf decided to go and blow the house down. Nice. When the powers that be in Town Dysfunction decided in the name of "Holy Liability" that a Wiffle ball stadium built by teens....

Letters To The Greenwich Citizen Editor

About Letters In The Greenwich Time:

To the Greenwich Citizen Editor:

The July 16 issue of the Greenwich Time carried a letter, written by the chairman of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee, regarding increased drilling for domestic oil and natural gas - which he opposes.

The letter is predictably snide and nasty in its tone. More important, however, is that it unintentionally illustrates the danger to the country from political policies and politicians driven by ideology rather than common sense. Try as it might, the left wing of the Democratic Party cannot repeal the law of supply and demand; it is thus willing to repeat the failed energy policies of the Clinton administration.

The left wing (i.e., the Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Himes wing) of the Democratic Party is apparently so beholden to radical environmentalists that it will not or cannot adapt to changing economic circumstances.

Most Americans, however, want a common sense solution to the nation's current energy problems. That solution will be found in a combination of policies: greater conservation right now and, we assume, the development of economically and environmentally viable alternative energy sources in the longer term.

At the same time, it is absolutely essential, for both national security and economic reasons, that we take immediate action to increase our domestic energy resources. To pretend otherwise is to continue to live in an ideological fantasy land.

Voters should note which political party is likely to be willing and able going forward to support rational policies in the vital and rapidly changing energy sector.

John R. Raben Jr.

Chairman, Greenwich Republican Town Committee

Riverside

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07/20/08 More On Senate Banking Chairman Dodd

THE KINGDOM OF DODD

Chris Fountain covers "Our man in Washington" at his excellent news and commentary website called," For What It's Worth " the web address is Greenwichrealestate.blogspot.com.

Our man in Washington

There's an interesting discussion going on in the comments section of the previous post concerning Wall Street, Washington and in general, pigs at the trough. In the meantime, the question of Senator Chris Dodd coming up, I thought to confirm my suspicion that his "presidential nomination campaign" served as nothing more than a sop to his ego and a sponge for the campaign contributions he could solicit (or extort) because of his position as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. As for ego, there's no doubt that every boy and girl serving in the Senate believes, deep down, that he's qualified to be President. But it takes an ego of truly gargantuan dimensions to act on that belief when polls list you at 1% voter recognition. That didn't stop Dodd, of course, particularly when he could indulge his aspirations at the expense of the financial community he regulates. Sure enough, the senator put the touch on his new best friends. Try this or, for a general overview from years past (I believe this latter doesn't include his presidential campaign contributions, which are tabulated separately) this.

Dodd learned from his father, of course, that direct solicitation of bribes leads to trouble, but squeezing folks you can choose to put out of business, well that's just Washington politics. Years ago, William F. Buckley pointed out that our Senator from New London regularly voted against every single defense appropriation except those supporting new nuclear submarines. It's certainly possible, as Buckley posited, that the senator truly believed that the only weapon that could protect our nation from its enemies was the nuclear sub. On the other hand, cynics might be forgiven for suspecting that the man was just a hollow, greedy shill who looked out for his interests and his interests only. I was one of those cynics oh so long ago and I've never changed my opinion.

Previous Posts From For What It's Worth.

• Mea Culpa There's a nice post in the comments sect...
• Pricing There were 26 price reductions reported ye...
• HoJo's Thanks to two intrepid readers, Pam, who re...
• Price reductions The condos on South Water Street...
• Fun with numbers The Greenwich MLS has just issued...
• Needless Tragedy Greenwich Time reports that the h...
• Statistics We have 626 single family homes current...
• The market is going down I've complained before ab...
• The glaciers are melting! The glaciers are melting...

If you are relively new to Greenwich you spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon and read all or most of Mr. Fountain's Previous Columns.

Note To Greenwich Roundup Readers:

I have been thinking about starting a blog roll of local blogs for along time, but I have just been too lazy. However, I am going to officially start a blog roll today with the very insightful and informative blog - For What It's Worth.

Any Greenwich single family home-owner and taxpayer that fails to read For What It's Worth is truly uninformed about what is really going on in town.

Mr. Fountains excellent reporting got him relived of his duties at a local weekly newspaper, that could not handle the heat that the truth sometimes brings to an editor or publisher.

Please also see yesterday's article on Christopher Dodd:

07/24/08 John Dyment Of Cos Cob Can't Talk About How His Hedge Fund Is Helping To Bail Out The Senate Banking Chairman

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07/25/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Friday

TOP STORY

HEADLINE:

CT State Attorney Valdes Argues That His Case Against The Dinner Time Bandit Is So Weak That He Needs AP Reporter Christoffersen Testimony To Save The Day

QUOTES:

"The defendant made incriminating admissions to Mr. Christoffersen," State Attorney Joseph Valdes' motion said. "The state is requesting that the court order Mr. Christoffersen to testify to the relevant and admissible admissions by the defendant."

"It is a very strong law from the media's standpoint and demands the party seeking the testimony or demanding documents to make a showing that they need it in order to make their case," Dave Tomlin, associate general counsel for the Associated Press said. " I don't think they meet that."

"I liked the planning," alleged Dinnertime Bandit Alan Golder said in the interview. "I liked the execution. I liked the reward."

STORY:

Reporter ordered to testify

By Martin B. Cassidy Staff Writer

In a challenge to a 2006 law expanding protection of journalist's sources and other information, prosecutors want to subpoena a reporter to testify about what they say are incriminating statements made by alleged Dinnertime Bandit Alan Golder during a February prison interview.

In the motion filed earlier this week in state Superior Court in Stamford, Assistant State Attorney Joseph Valdes requested that Associated Press reporter John Christoffersen be ordered to testify about his conversations with Golder for a Feb. 10 article.

In the motion, Valdes argues that Christoffersen's testimony is "critical" to the prosecution of the 53-year-old Golder and not available by other means...

...Christoffersen interviewed Golder at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Facility in Suffield earlier this year about his time spent on the run in Europe after Greenwich issued a warrant for his arrest in 1998...

...Gary Farrugia, publisher of the New London Day and the current president of the Connecticut Daily Newspaper Association, said Valdes' motion is the first challenge to the 2006 law's protections he has heard of.

Farrugia said he believes the law puts a high burden of proof on the prosecutor to show they have exhausted other avenues to obtain the information they seek from Christoffersen.

"It pretty much flies in the face and the intent of the shield law," Farrugia said. "The way I read it this AP reporter is comfortably under its protection."

A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for Aug. 1
Greenwich Roundup Predicts That Assistant State Attorney Joseph Valdes Will Soon Be Reading The Following Associated Press Headline:

Judge Declines To Order Reporter To Testify In Dinner Time Bandit Case

Please Read The Full Greenwich Time Story

More Greenwich Time News Links:

West Nile virus found in town

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found at a location near the Greenwich Civic Center.

Bruce to receive $750,000

The Bruce Museum is set to receive $750,000 from the state for its expansion plans. Gov. Jodi Rell announced the state funding yesterday.

Police blotter

Loire A. Squillini, 40, of 411 East 88th St., New York, N.Y., was arrested by warrant Wednesday afternoon and charged with second-degree harassment and second-degree threatening, according to a police report.

Squillini allegedly made harassing phone calls to her former boyfriend, according to the report.

She turned herself in at the Greenwich Police Department after being notified about the warrant, according to the report.

She was released on $250 bond, and is scheduled to appear Wednesday in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the report.

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Lorna J. Williams, 35, of 30-31 Armstrong Court, was arrested Wednesday night and was charged with second-degree breach of peace in connection with a verbal argument with her son, according to a police report.

Upon arrival, police were told that Williams had argued loudly in the roadway in front of 47 South Water St. with her 17-year-old son, according to the report.

The 17-year-old also was charged with second-degree breach of peace, according to the report. Police withheld his name because of his age.

Both were released on promises to appear Thursday in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the report.

Technology keeps hospital a step ahead

Digital wristbands, wireless Internet and voice activated communication devices are just some of the technology that has enabled Greenwich Hospital to be recognized as one of the "Most Wired" hospitals in the country.

The art of a gallery owner

There are brightly colored paintings of athletes evoking American painter Leroy Neiman. Amidst those paintings are more luminescent works reminiscent of the great masters.

This unique blend of antique and contemporary is what Mark Blechman says draws collectors to Galerie Zama, his latest effort in the local arts and antiques scene. The 62-year-old Blechman has been on the local scene for about two decades. He established the International Fiduciary Inc. (IFI), an auction house in the Shippan section of Stamford, in 1986. It also was there that for many years he operated the Shippan Center for Arts & Antiques. Last year he closed the antiques center where dealers rented booths to display and sell their wares.

The aftereffects of a brutal crime

It was a crime shocking not just for its brutality, but for the way it diminished our sense of safety. No one is immune to violence, but residents of well-to-do suburbs like Cheshire probably thought they'd put some distance between themselves and the worst of the danger. However, the killings of three people in that town one year ago contradicted that notion.

Last July 23, Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley Elizabeth and Michaela Rose, were slain in a home invasion. In the year since, state residents have struggled to cope with the idea of crime being so random and unanticipated, and the realization that we can never be protected from every danger.

The critics of school projects will not go away

To the Greenwich Time editor:

How embarrassing for the town of Greenwich. Here we are in the spotlight again, not down one school building but two!

To the members of the Board of Education and our first selectman: Do not think we, the parents of Hamilton Avenue and Glenville schools, will accept your continued nonsense.

Our children will not be victims any longer. We will not be dispersed nor will we go into the already-deemed-unsafe Glenville School building. It is time for officials to get their acts together and get our schools done. Stop the games!

How many millions of dollars has this incompetence already cost the taxpayers of Greenwich? Every Greenwich resident should be as outraged as I am.

The town can install pretty brick crosswalks and demolish Wiffle ball fields, but can't get its schools done. Something is terribly wrong.

Kerry Dunn

Greenwich

The writer is a Hamilton Avenue School parent.

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07/24/08 Postal Services is taking a look at options to turn its fleet green, even though, the town of Greenwich abandoned plans to go green

Postal Service Wants To Green 90% Of Fleet

Environmental Leader

The U.S. Postal Service is participating in Project Driveway to identify new technologies in hopes of replacing almost 90 percent, or 195,000 of its delivery fleet with non-petroleum fueled vehicles. General Motors presented a Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle to the Postal Service for testing in a mail-delivery environment.

The move comes as fuel price are skyrocketing; since a one-cent increase in a gallon of fuel adds $8 million annually to the company’s expenses. Last year, fuel costs were $1.7 billion and are expected to increase by $600 million this year.

An alternative could be hydrogen fuel cells, which are touted as being twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine, emits only water vapor and uses fuel that can be made from traditional and renewable energy sources.

The Postal Service currently has over 43,000 alternative fuel vehicles that can operate on hybrid-electric, compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas, ethanol (E-85), biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cell.

The Postal Service did well in a recent report that looked at the sustainability of shipping companies.

on the While the Postal Services is taking a look at options to turn its fleet green, the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, recently abandoned plans to run half of its fleet on soy-based biodiesel fuel.

But, for now, it seems the green fleet trend is still strong, with AT&T, UPS and Nike all adding more green vehicles to their fleets.

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