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Friday, December 5, 2008

12/05/08 Associated Community Bancorp of Greenwich has announced the retirement of James McLean as president and the appointment of two new officers


PRESS RELEASE


McLean, who served as president of Associated Community Bancorp and Connecticut Community Bank for the past four years, will assume the role of vice chairman of Associated and Connecticut Community Bank.


A resident of Greenwich and Madison, he has held various roles with the company since 1998, including president of Greenwich Bank & Trust.


William Laudano Jr. was named president of Associated and will retain his chief financial officer title with Associated and Connecticut Community Bank. He has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Associated Community Bancorp and Connecticut Community Bank since December 2003. He joined Associated seven year ago.


Laudano is a certified public accountant and lives in Guilford.


Richard Cummings Jr., who has served as senior vice president of Associated Community Bancorp and executive vice president of Connecticut Community Bank since December 2003, will assume the role of president of Connecticut Community Bank.


A Fairfield resident, Cummings has served in various capacities with the company since 1998, including president of Westport National Bank.


Associated Community Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company with two subsidiaries: Connecticut Community Bank N.A., a national banking association, and Associated Community Brokers Inc., an insurance broker.
* Heather Spaide, of New Canaan, has joined the law firm of Cohen and Wolf P.C. in Bridgeport as an associate. She practices in the areas of commercial litigation and employment law.


Spaide previously was a litigation associate at Casper & de Toledo LLC in Stamford and at Neubert, Pepe & Monteith P.C. in New Haven. She has a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Fairfield University.


Spaide is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York state and the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. She is a member of the American and Connecticut Bar Associations, and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. She volunteers at the Connecticut Legal Services Day Laborer Wage and Hour Clinic in Stamford.
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Reports on new Greenwich businesses, company reallocations, awards, job changes and special appointments can be submitted by e-mailed to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com . Photographs are accepted and enouraged.

12/05/08 READER SUBMITTED COMMENTS: Greenwich crime statistics


2007 Greenwich Crime Statistics Kept Under Wraps


Brian - the reason Greenwich wasn't listed can be found in the opening of the story: "The rankings of cities with populations greater than 75,000 were recently released ...."

Greenwich's population is under 75,000 (I think it's about 60,000) and so wasn't included. I know we're safer that Danbury, however How do I know? Because our police blotter has room to include stories about stolen bicycles and unleashed dogs. Res ipsa loquitur.


Best,
Chris
--
Chris Fountain
Riverside CT

http://www.christopherfountain.com/
HERE IS THE POST CHRIS IS TALKING ABOUT:


COMMENT:

Dear Chris,

That's why I asked these questions in the post:

Was Greenwich Included In This Database Of Statistics?

Would Greenwich Compare Favorably With Other CT Towns?

How does Greenwich Stack Up Against New Caanan, Darien, Westport and Fairfield?

Six months ago Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg decided to sit on Greenwich's crime statistics and told taxpayers that they need to wait to the end of the year while he prepares a report.

Ridberg should stop playing games with the statistics and just post 5 years of reports on the town's web site for everyone to see.

Why can't taxpayers just have a little bit of transparency at the Greenwich Police Department?


We are still waiting for Chief Ridberg to release the High School taser video. I thought it was going to be released for all to see after the court case was over.


If the Greenwich's crime statistics are great why wont Chief Daivid Ridberg put them up on the town's website. If Ridberg wanted to be really transparent he could even break down the crimes by village.


Crime statistics for your beloved Riverside are probably pretty great.


But here in Western Greenwich many residents feel like this.


Please See:


12/94/08 Could Danbury Be Safer Than Greenwich ??? = Danbury Is Much Safer Than Gov Wanna Be Dan Malloy's Stamford !!!

But later in the article Ridberg admits that he's prematurely rushed out the numbers and they are not really ready for prime time

....Ridberg said that he is still analyzing some of the data, and that a final version of the report is expected later this year....

Aggravated Assualts in Town Increased 46 percent.

Assault is a crime of violence against another person or persons that refers to the threat of violence caused by an immediate show of force.

Like a bunch of rival gang members squaring off on Davis Avenue in Greenwich.And we know that all persons involved in Aggravated Assaults get properly reported by the Greenwich Police Department and the Greenwich Time and the free weekly news papers look the other way.

Not all of the Gang members involved Friday night were arrested Friday night.


Please Also See:


06/21/08 Gang Violence Comes To Down Town Greenwich

Will it take a gang fight in front of Richard's on Greenwich Avenue before Ridberg pulls his head out of the sand and admits that thier is a deadly gang problem in town.David Warner who is the new Greenwich Time Editor and Chief is not going to be able to stop the Greenwich Time's continued loss of readership if doesn't start teaching his reporters to hold town officials accountable to the public.


FBI Uniform Crime Report


The following report is generated from crime data submitted to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. This report does not reflect all crime as the UCR program only collects data on eight offense types and then only counts the most serious offense when numerous crimes are reported on the same police report.


Greenwich - Connecticut
In 2006, this city reported 25.00 violent crimes and 514.00 property crimes. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims.


BY THE NUMBERS:


Violent Crimes
25
Property Crimes
514
Population
62,139

VIOLENT CRIMES
Murder
2
Forcible Rape
1
Robbery
10
Aggravated Assault
12


On Average, In 2006 There Was A Violent Crime About Every 14 Days


PROPERTY CRIMES
Burglary
58
Larceny-Theft
428
Motor Vehicle Theft
28
Arson
3


On Average, In 2006 There Were Are 9 to 10 Property Crimes A Week In Greenwich
Plus In 2006 And 2007 There Were Over 80 Civilian Complaints Against The Greenwich Police Department.
That's A Civilian Complaint About Every Nine Days
You Wont Read The Above Statistics In The Greenwich Time, Nor Will The Greenwich Time Report......
The Very Generous Taxpayers Of Greenwich Have Made The Greenwich Police The Best Compensated Department In All Of Westchester And Fairfield County.
In Fact, No Other Police Department In The Entire State Of Connecticut Is Better Compensated Than The Greenwich Police Department.
One Tuesday The Greenwich RTM Is Going To Approve Giving Our Police Officers An Additional $1,448,328 In Compenation Over The Next Two Years.
Also, The Greenwich First Selectman Is Going To Announce That Two Additional Parking Enforcement Officers Will Be Hired.
This Is All Happening When The Town Is Eliminating 15 Non-School Positions In Order To Save 1 Million Dollars.
This New Police Compensation Increase Comes When 25 Full Time Equivilant School Staff Positions Will Be Slashed From The School Budget.
All Because Next Year Is An Election Year And The Town Republican Must Keep That Mill Rate Between 3 and 4%.
Since The School And Town Positions Are Getting Cut, While The Police Department Is Getting Increased Compensation, It Shouldn't Be Too Much For The Taxpayers To Ask For A Little Accountability From GreenwichPolice Cheif David Ridberg.
Ridberg should take the crime statistics out of his desk drawer and put them up on the town web site for all too see. Then put up two or three years of previous reports so that the taxpayers and voters of Greenwich can observe any trends.
Then the Greenwich crime statistics should be updated every month and possibly broken down by neighbor hood.
The crime stats that Ridberg probably has some very good news, as well as, some troubling trends, but towns voters can't solve problems that are hudden from them in Police Cheif David Ridberg's desk.
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12/05/08 Reader Submitted comments: There once was a man named Dan...

Govenor Wanna Be Dan Malloy's Greenwich Poetry Trip Post
Is 404-Page Not Found


Greenwich Roundup:

I can't seem to find the link to Mayor Dan and his poetic plan!!!! But I will do a full history check later today!!!

However, I READ it. I think it was in Susie Costar-eggstremely exciting "DISH WATER DRAMA" where she writes about her adventures STALKING MEN OVER 50.

The Gene Wilder siting kind gave me the impression of desperation though. I mean, COME ON!!!!! He is like 75 years old.....and looks......well......very nice.......but......ok, he's very talented.

Dan is a man over 50. He could be considered a "STAR," or a prominent figure for those who follow that kind of thing. He's married.....ahhhh....the perfect man. Mayor Dan.

I know Susie Dirty Dishwater likes to follow Diana Ross so maybe it's the mayor's motown slant...."wanna be starting something" like running for governor.....that keeps it real for Our Susie. Why don't we ask Our Joe. Our Joe knows what makes the Dishwater TICK.....and she knows TOCK.

I think it caught my eye b/c the Poetic Dan "event" was being sponsored by the Stamford Library....but scheduled somewhere in Greenwich. And I said "WHOA!!!!!!!!" This is very mysterious to me.

Plus I knew the Greenwich Roundup Editor would be all over such important news.....when he wasn't cranking out sausage links......because our Greenwich isn't Susie's, Joe's, or Dan's. It's ours!!!! And Kristen Zimmerman cranks out absolutely nothing. Brian, that was your arm....

Its amazing what I can see up here!!!! I have some serious information to enlighten Greenwich on. But I'll wait for you to return from church and get the other stuff up!!!!!!

On the bell tower



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12-05-08 Greenwich Time News Links For Friday



Trini Leonard smiled as she held a sleeping baby boy up to his father, 9,000 miles away from the computer screen in front of her.


"He definitely has your nose," she said from Greenwich Hospital.


U.S. Marine Corps Captain Tim Leonard nodded in agreement. "Yes," he said, sitting in a video conferencing center Thursday in Al-Asad, Iraq.


It was the second time the Stamford resident had seen his new son. Thanks to modern technology and a New Jersey-based charity, Tim witnessed his son's birth the day before.


"It's a great feeling being able to witness this event far from home," Leonard, 30, told members of the media Thursday during a video conference arranged by the Freedom Calls Foundation.


"And I'm just so happy he's healthy. He's a big boy, 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Yesterday he was screaming and crying, so it's nice to see him so calm in his mother's arms."



Explicit chat online with cop posing as teen leads to arrest


A Greenwich doctor has been charged with engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover Westchester County investigator posing as a 15-year-old boy, New York authorities said.


Clifford Berken, 55, of 39 Cogswell Lane, Stamford, was arraigned in White Plains City Court Thursday on one count of first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors, a felony. He was being held until his bail hearing today, officials said.


Berken allegedly had online conversations with an undercover investigator from the Westchester County District Attorney's Office from Tuesday to Thursday, officials said. Berken believed the investigator to be a 15-year-old boy and the conversations discussed various sex acts, officials said.


During the conversations, Berken offered to meet the "teenage boy" in downtown White Plains, officials said. When Berken arrived for the meeting, he was placed under arrest.


Officials at the Westchester County District Attorney's Office were not available for further comment Thursday night.


Berken specializes in gastroenterology as an attending physician at Greenwich Hospital as well as through his own practice at 500 W. Putnam Ave.


He has been practicing medicine at Greenwich Hospital since 1983, according to information on his private practice's Web site.


"We are very sorry to learn about this incident," said George Pawlush, spokesman for Greenwich Hospital. "Dr. Berken has been highly regarded as a medical practitioner and until we hear final judgment on this matter, the hospital has suspended his medical privileges."




LAS VEGAS - A broken O.J. Simpson has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for a Las Vegas hotel armed robbery by a judge who rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity.


The economic crisis will likely lead to more students enrolling in the town's public school system as more cash-conscious families seek affordable education options, school officials said.


With private school tuition exceeding $33,000 in some cases, "there are some people in a situation where it's going to be difficult to make those payments and who we think may be withdrawing," said Assistant Superintendent John Curtin.
That could lead to an influx of new students transferring to the public school system in fall 2009, school officials said.


The prospect is a concern for some because the district's annual budget is based on enrollment projections that don't account for deteriorating economic conditions.


If enrollment exceeds those projections, class sizes could swell at some schools, forcing administrators to seek additional funding from the central administration to hire additional staff.


District officials won't have a clear picture of whether an enrollment spike is in store until families begin registering their children for classes in the spring and summer of 2009, Curtin said. But he cautioned there is no way to determine whether students have transferred into the public school system because of economic hardship.


However, with the economy declining, there are already signs that enrollment next fall will exceed the district's projections.


While there was little evidence that the economic crisis affected enrollment at the elementary and middle school levels this year, Greenwich High School saw enrollment exceed projections by 27 students as of Sept. 15. ....




NEW HAVEN - A campaign committee for U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, who was defeated in last month's election, says it has uncovered apparent fraud in its financial records and referred the matter to federal authorities.


The Shays for Congress Committee says it became aware, after a post-election review, of a series of anomalies that appear to be the result of fraudulent activity by one of its former employees. Details were not released.


Campaign officials say the committee's attorney contacted the U.S. attorney's office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Election Commission and is cooperating fully with law enforcement officials.


"This is a serious and sad situation," said Shays, a champion of campaign finance reform. "If true, the actions of this individual represent a betrayal of my campaign, its supporters and the very things I stand for, but in no way do they reflect upon the incredibly dedicated and honorable service of my other staff members and extended family of volunteers and supporters.".....


Greenwich Vietnam Veteran to be honored by state
There are many other ways Roger Paulmeno's story could have ended. Having enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War in 1970, the Old Greenwich resident served five months and a day before 30 percent of his body was burned and his eyesight damaged by a white phosphorus grenade.


Having enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War in 1970, the Old Greenwich resident served five months and a day before 30 percent of his body was burned and his eyesight damaged by a white phosphorus grenade.


"They ran me right into the operating room," said Paulmeno, 59, a native of the Bronx. "The last thing I remember, they were cutting off my crucifix (to treat me)."


Despite the odds, Paulmeno has recovered physically and emotionally, even dedicating his life to counseling other veterans back to health. For those reasons and others, he will be inducted into Connecticut's Veterans Hall of Fame Tuesday.


Established in 2005 by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the Hall of Fame recognizes not only extraordinary service in combat but also extensive community and public service......


STAMFORD - Inside a seemingly normal Metro-North Railroad commuter car Thursday, a technician in a white lab coat sat at what looked like a command center.



Ex-FBI, CIA chief salutes Boy Scouts
STAMFORD - He was director of the FBI during the famous Abscam public corruption and organized crime investigation of the late 1970s that sent a U.S. senator and six members of the U.S. House of Representatives to jail.


The "Martha Stewart Show" has always focused on creating cost-effective meals and crafts, and it has recently taken this philosophy a step further with a daily segment offering budget-friendly tips.



Stamford's rappelling Santa spreads nationwide
STAMFORD - If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, organizers of the annual Heights and Lights celebration should be blushing.


Brunswick basketball aiming for sixth straight FAA title
There is nothing quite like the beginning of a new season. It is a blank slate which fills players and coaches alike with hope and excitement for the challenges they will undoubtedly face over the next few months.




Eddie Ross makes setting the table with other people's discards look easy. An hour or two rummaging in a Greenwich consignment shop and Ross has the makings of four holiday table vignettes.


An hour or two rummaging in a Greenwich consignment shop and Ross has the makings of four holiday table vignettes. Give him another minute to look around and he's found more good stuff amid the so-called junk: Stueben candlesticks, sterling flatware with a mother-of-pearl inlay and green Venetian glass birds for a pop of color. "This was probably grandma's stuff, but none of it says grandma," Ross says. "It's fresh and modern, and I can see a sophisticated young couple serving a holiday dinner this way."


None of this something old-becomes-something new innovation should surprise viewers of Bravo's second season of "Top Design," who watched the Greenwich native's star-making turn as the fourth-place finisher and fan favorite known for his biting one-liners. For weeks it appeared the 30-year-old Ross, who until last month was the senior style editor at Martha Stewart Living magazine, was the designer to beat......



Legg Mason cuts 8% of corporate staff; Stamford office to see cuts
BALTIMORE - Baltimore investment firm Legg Mason says it is cutting its corporate staff by about 8 percent.



State must deal with its own woes
The news from Hartford keeps getting worse. As the state deficit grows, officials are running out of ways to keep pace without making debilitating cuts.


State Comptroller Nancy Wyman on Monday said the state's projected operating deficit has dramatically increased in the last month due to sharply declining tax revenues. She said the problem calls for another special session of the legislature. But with the year nearly over, that prospect is unlikely.


If a special session doesn't happen, that puts even more pressure on the start of the regular session on Jan. 7. Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Monday that she will put together a new deficit-reduction plan, and Democratic leaders will also need to examine every option for addressing the growing gaps between revenue and spending plans...... Blah ..... Blah ...... Blah ....... Blah ....... Blah ...... Blah ....... Blah ....... Blah .......


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12/05/08 Reader Submitted Comments: Sorry to disappoint you, but you are not number 2


Greenwich Roundup Is In 3rd Place


Hello Brian,


I hate to rain on your parade but I think you are number 3 not 2 since I have been average 2,000 a day, oops sorry.


On a serious note, congratulations, I no longer read the local newspapers I get all my news from you and Chris.


Claudette Rothman

Greenwich Diva


Dear Claudia,


If you are talking Unique Visitors and not just Visitors Or Page Views then you have a phenomenal amount of traffic and are are where I want to be in the future.


However, if the 2,000 number is for total visits or page views your numbers still are not too shabby and better than 80% of all bloggers.

You are right, to be proud of the constant hard work that you put into your blog.
I do not doubt your numbers, because I have noticed that your have monitized your blog with display and banner ads. I have even notice your adverstise with us link, but have not clicked on it because my wife won't let me spend any money on Greenwich Roundup.
I should have been nicer to Sarah Litman and the "Our Greenwich" crowd of fired reporters and editors, because I hear that Ms. Litman is loaded. The only problem is if you get help from Ms. Litman, then you have got to work with Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Joe "I Sat On The Moxley Investigative Report For 10 Years" Pisani and constant his side kick Susie "The Dish".

For right now I will accept third place behing you and Chris "I Have A Friend At The New York Times" Fountain.
I think it is interesting to note that the three bloggers that consistently make multiple postings on a daily basis are the ones with the highest traffic.


If the Greenwich Time was smart it would turn over it's web reporting to the three hardest working bloggers in Greenwich, so the corporate suits at Hearst Newspapers could send their web traffic through the roof.

The Journal News actually incorporates blogs into it's LoHud web page. For example there is a blog called the "Hall Monitor" blogs on school issues.

The only thing I would mention is that I wish Greenwich Diva did a few more local stories. Sort of like how #1 Blogger Chris "I Have A Friend At The New York Times" Fountain mixes, local and national news items in with his real estate reports.



Thank you for your kind words of only getting your news from Chris and myself.



sincerely,





Brian





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12/05/08 SHAZAM !!!!!! Greenwich Roundup Sets A New Daily Web Traffic Record !!!!!!


Greenwich Roundup has broken nearly all of the rules

and we are a huge success in Greenwich


There Is Nothing Like Google Analytics To Excite You

Or Send You Into Depression First Thing In The Morning.


Thanksgiving Week Every Single Day Was Wirse Than The Day Before Here At Greenwich Roundup.


November 24th 1,036 Unique Visitors

November 25th 780 Unique Visitors

November 26th 583 Unique Visitors

November 27th 360 Unique Visitors

November 28th 428 Unique Visitors

November 29th 355 Unique Visitors

November 30th 474 Unique Visitors


But Today I logged In To My Analytics And Nearly Fell Out Of My Seat.


1961

UNIQUE VISITORS


Please exuce me for a minute, while I dance and shadow box around the roon screeming dumbd things like,"Yeah Baby !!!!" and "Whose Your Daddy !!!!"


Now granted this does not beat Greenwich's ALL TIME WEB STAT record which is held by Chris "I Have Friends At The New York Times" Fountain, but it is a distant second place showing.


Well I have to go to my Men's prayer group and the go do some work at the proposed CVS site in Harrison New York. After that I am serving coffee at the Harvest Time Church ladies Christmas party. So the blog posts will be a little late to day.


But I did interview the Greenwich town clerk in person and a YMCA spokeswowman over the phone and I have some interesting information and some modifications to previous Greenwich Roundup postings.


Plus I have an interesting report about what Al Morrielli said about Frank Mazza and contractor change orders, as well as, a bunch of intersting information about the next town budget and the controls that are being put in place.


And there are going to be new processes and new fees for the town ferry and beaches. Plus two weekend parking enforcement officers are going to be hired during the so-called hiring freeze.


I will blog to you later.

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12/05/08 Greenwich Post Press Releases For Friday

PRESS RELEASES:

Governor warns of holiday scams online

With the holiday season upon us, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and State Banking Commissioner Howard F. Pitkin want to remind consumers to protect their personal financial information when shopping on-line.

Time for Lyme to hold gala to raise money for research

On April 18, Time for Lyme will present its bi-annual Gala event titled, "The Dream, Creating a Lyme Free World," at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich. Proceeds from the gala will go towards combating the devastating effects of Lyme and other tick borne illnesses. Call 969-1333 for more information and tickets.

The rates of Lyme disease — and the serious, often debilitating symptoms it can cause -— have been rising steadily across the U.S. and throughout the world. In fact, health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society just released a report listing 12 pathogens, including the agents behind avian flu, Ebola, cholera, and Lyme disease, which are likely to invade new regions as a result of global climate change. Other experts are reporting that the ticks that carry the Lyme disease bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, once thought to be transmitted only by deer and mice, can also be spread by chipmunks and other small animals.

Fashion show seeks models, actors

“Fashion from the Heart” is seeking male and female models and actors, including children ages 5 and over, to help make heart health fashionable in an annual community event. Models will showcase fashions from six diverse clothes designers, and actors will star in two educational skits in the annual event.

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12/05/08 Sandra Morgan of Sandra Morgan Interiors Inc. in Greenwich has been named one of the Top 50 Interior Designers in the New York Metro Area

PRESS RELEASE:

Sandra Morgan of Sandra Morgan Interiors Inc. in Greenwich has been named one of the Top 50 Interior Designers in the New York Metro Area in a recent issue of NY Spaces Magazine.

Morgan has operated an interior design firm in Greenwich for 20 years. To celebrate the firm's anniversary in June, she launched SM Home, a retail showroom featuring Swedish antiques, quality reproductions, unique decorative accessories and fine art.

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