Hyper Local News Pages

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

12/09/08 Greenwich Post Police Blotter




LARCENY


Milton DeLavera, 48, of Port Chester, N.Y. was arrested Dec. 8 and charged with sixth degree larceny. Police had been sent to the West Putnam Avenue Stop & Shop on the report of a shoplifter. The store manager told police that he had seen DeLavera stuff numerous items into his jacket sleeves and under his pants legs before walking out of the store without paying for anything. Police arrested DeLavera and he was held in lieu of a $200 cash bond. He is due in court Dec. 23.


ASSAULT


A 57-year-old Greenwich man was arrested Dec. 8 and charged with disorderly conduct and third degree assault. Police responded to the report of a domestic incident. The investigation determined a husband and wife had an argument and he allegedly kicked her in the legs over possession of the telephone. The man was released on a $10,000 surety bond and was due in court Dec. 9.


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12/09/08 What's Going On? Many Of The Greenwich Bloggers Are Getting Very Lazy Lately

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12/09/08 We Have Found A New Greenwich Blogger: Publicani AKA Dr. Zak Maymin




Iraq, the world’s highest percentage of people in prison, warrantless phone and e-mail searches, the Fed printing money like there’s no tomorrow, bans on medical use of marijuana and other drugs, suspension of habeas corpus, ...




Recent Entries:




HERE ARE SOME OF PUBULICANI'S MOST PUPULAR POSTS:




PUBLICANI IN THE NEWS:




WE WILL BE ADDING DOCTOR ZAK TO THE RAW GREENWICH BLOG FEED


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12/09/08 The Raw Greenwich Business News Feed


New York Times
Before the market softened, some rents in Greenwich were more than $100 a square foot and more than $60 in Stamford. “Landlords are trying to hold on to ...
Treasury Bills Trade at Negative Rates as Demand for Investor Haven Surges
Bloomberg
Treasuries rose, pushing rates on the three-month bill negative for the first time, as investors gravitate toward the safety of U.S. government debt amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.


The Treasury sold $27 billion of three-month bills yesterday at a discount rate of 0.005 percent, the lowest since it starting auctioning the securities in 1929. The U.S. also sold $30 billion of four-week bills today at zero percent for the first time since it began selling the debt in 2001.


“It’s the year-end factor,” said Chris Ahrens, an interest-rate strategist in Greenwich, Connecticut, at UBS Securities LLC, one of the 17 primary dealers that trade directly with the Federal Reserve. “Everyone wants to be in bills going into year-end. Buy now while the opportunity is still there.”


The benchmark 10-year note’s yield tumbled 11 basis points, or 0.11 percentage point, to 2.63 percent at 4:48 p.m. in New York, according to BGCantor Market Data. The 3.75 percent security due in November 2018 gained 31/32, or $9.69 per $1,000 face amount, to 109 23/32. The yield touched 2.505 percent on Dec. 5, the lowest level since at least 1962, when the Fed’s daily records began.


The two-year note’s yield fell 10 basis points to 0.84 percent. It dropped to a record low of 0.77 percent on Dec. 5.


If you invested $1 million in three-month bills at today’s negative discount rate of 0.01 percent, for a price of 100.002556, at maturity you would receive the par value for a loss of $25.56.


‘Horrible Year’


Indirect bidders, a group that includes foreign central banks, bought 47.2 percent of the four-week bills, compared with 31.7 percent in the prior auction. Primary dealers bought 52.1 percent, while direct bidders such as individual investors purchased 0.7 percent.


“It’s been such a horrible year people want to show they have the good stuff on their balance sheets, not the bad stuff, but with yields already so low it pushes these even lower,” said Theodore Ake, the head of Treasury trading in New York at Mizuho Securities USA Inc., another primary dealer.


The rate on four-week bills peaked at 5.175 percent on Jan. 29, 2007. The government began issuing the four-week bills in July 2001, according to Stephen Meyerhardt, a spokesman for the Bureau of Public Debt in Washington. The bills are intended to reduce the government’s reliance on irregularly issued cash management bills.


Meyerhardt wasn’t aware of the three-month bill ever trading at a negative rate before.


Housing Slump


Treasuries of all maturities have returned 11.4 percent this year, according to Merrill Lynch & Co.’s U.S. Treasury Master Index. That compares with a 39 percent loss in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, including reinvested dividends.


Bonds have surged as the U.S. housing slump pushed up the cost of credit globally, causing equity markets to tumble. The world’s biggest financial companies incurred almost $1 trillion in writedowns and credit losses since the start of last year, helping push the major economies into recession ...


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Editorial: The Season for Giving
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In lieu of our regular editorial, Radio World today shares this space with the Broadcasters Foundation of America, which has begun its annual fund drive.


The following letter to the industry was distributed by President Philip Lombardo and Vice Chairman Stu Olds.


Dear Colleague: Over the years you've been very generous to the Broadcasters Foundation of America and we're hopeful we can count on your support during these difficult and uncertain economic times. We need you now more than ever. Thanks to you, our national charitable Foundation has been a "Foul-Weather Friend" to hundreds of present and former broadcasters.


As you know, many support our Mission by attending our golf events, the Golden Mike dinner at the Waldorf each year and the "Angels" Campaign for corporate contributors....


... made possible by your generosity. One of our recipients recently sent this note to our national headquarters in Greenwich. It should have properly gone to you and our other benefactors: "When my family and I were really up against it after my stroke ...

Blyth Q3 Sales Fall 12 Percent
Gifts & Decorative Accessories
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Incidence and Impact of Lyme Disease on the Rise

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Chromatin, Inc. Raises $12.4 Million in Series C Financing
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Maxum Petroleum Receives $300 Million Investment from Metalmark Capital and Waud Capital Partners
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12/09/08 The Raw Greenwich Blog And RSS Feed -Or- R.I.P.: Auf wiedersehen, goodnight Greenwich Time? -OR- Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out!




Greenwich Time, R.I.P? - Greenwich Round Up says so. I have my issues with this particular blog’s antipathy toward the paper and its former editor, Joe Pisani,whom I like, but but its editor seems to have a direct line into the organization and several former and current

employees. His previous predications about the GT have proved accurate - his latest include a raise in the newsstand price from fifty to seventy-five cents, layoffs of still more staff (there aren’t many left so what are they going to do, fire the custodian?) and its ultimate folding ito a regional paper, based in Bridgeport, with a local news insert.


You’d think that, if there were any business purpose still left for paper newspapers it would be local news, and therefore Greenwich Time should be in a prime location. But a succession of editors has pushed the paper away from that kind of coverage and more toward national and international news, all provided (cheaply, no doubt) by AP. Dreams of Pultizers dancing on dim brains or just cost-cutting bean counters taking control? It doesn’t matter, now.


An after thought: GT has enjoyed a near monopoly on local real estate advertising and charged prices that were onerous. With real estate in the tank and that other large advertiser, car dealers, just as low, who’s paying the bills? Not classified - Craig’s List took those years ago.


So perhaps my first thoughts were wrong: perhaps there is no business purpose left for a local paper.


COMMENT:


THE GREENWICH TIME COULD SAVE IT'S HIDE

OVERNIGHT WITH OUT SPENDING A DIME.


There Is Still Some Hope For The Greenwich Time If It Places A Renewed Interest Into It's Web Site And Local News Coverage.


The first Thing They Should Do Is Open Up Their Vast Digital Of Archive Of News Stories So That Greenwich Residents And Others Would Be Brought To The Web Site In Droves Via Search Engines.


The Greenwich Time Wants $2.95 For Each Of It's 908 Stories On Former Greenwich First Selectman Jim Lash. All Of These Articles Are In A Database That Is Part Of The Hidden Web That Search Engines Can't Reach. No One Is Buying These Old Greenwich Time Articles.


I Have Been Told That The Greenwich Time Doesn't Even Make A Thousand Dollars On These Old Newspaper Articles That Would Drive More Than A Thousand Web Searchers To It's Website Each And Everyday.


Greenwich Pastor Nic Uva Who Maintains Many Blogs Such As, The Daily Spurgeon , Told Me That His Favorite Search Engine Took Him To A Time Magazine Article From December 1941.


Apparently Time Magazine Has Opened Up It's Archive And Put It's Vast Archives On The Web, Thus Increasing Web Traffic To This Time Warner Web Site.


While The Greenwich Time Publisher And Editors Are Putting Their Energy In To A Dinosaur Of A News Delivery Model. Further, The Greenwich Time Is Still Stuck With It's Failed 1998 Web Strategy Of Creating A Walled Garden Around It's Old News Articles.


The Greenwich Time Could Get A Hell Of A lot More Dollars By Putting Google's AdSense Product Next To It's Old News Articles Instead Of Asking It's Newsreaders To Pull Out Their Credit Cards And Complete A Web Form.


But The Knuckleheads Actually Think Web Savvy Greenwich Residents Are Going To Pay $2.95 For Old News Stories.


After The Greenwich Time Frees Up It Web Archive, Then It Could Start Having It's Reporters To Put Links To Related Related News Articles At The nd Of The Story.


Then The Big Shots At The Greenwich Time Should Start Incorporating The Best Of Greenwich Blogs Prominately On It's Web Site. This Will Drive Even Thousands Of More Web Visitors To The Greenwich Time Website. The Journal News Has A Whole Bunch Of Blogs That They Pay Columnists To Write, but The Greenwich Time could probably get all of the Greenwich's Best Bloggers, Except For Chris Fountain, To Post For Free.


It Would Be A Victory For Bill "I Was Banned By The Greenwich Time" Clark To Bring His Greenwich Gossip Blog To The Greenwich Time's Home Page.


Next The Greenwich Time Should Have It's Webmaster Put All Of The Reader Comments Under Each Story. Right Now If You Read A Story Like Cos Cob resists wider street , Then You Must Go To Another Page To Read all 7 comments


Now When A Reader Posts A Comment Like.....


"The article talks about the town having the option of widening roads with X number of houses. I cannot imagine the immediate homeowners would be assessed for that."


You Have To Go Back To The Previous Page To Try And Figure Out What He Is Talking About.


This in inconvenient and discourages posts about the article, as well as, causes others not to read the comments.


Plus, The Greenwich Time Should Say Forget About Craig's List And Put A Link On Their Home Page That Let's Greenwich Residents Put Up Free Classified Ads For Items For Sell In Town.


Then The Greenwich Time Should Get Rid Of Those Annoying Pop Up Ads That Slow Up The Loading Of It's Home Page. The Greenwich Time Has One Of The Slowest Loading Home And News Pages In America.


Lastly, The Greenwich Time Should Meet With It's Cub Reporters Like Colin Gustafson And Tell Them To Grow Some Journalistic Balls Or Get Used To Filling Out Unemployment Forms.


These Simple Steps Will Bring About A Quick Fix That Will Start To Turn Around The Greenwich Time, But A Permanant Change Is Available At GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com For A Very Reasonable Fee.


But The The Corporate Suits At Hearst Newspapers Had Better Hurry, Because The Clock It Ticking At The Greenwich Time.


Here Is Another Love Letter For The Green Kitty Litter Liner
Bill Clarke Tells The Greenwich Time Don't Go Away Mad.
Just Go Away

Greenwich Gossip
The Countdown Begins... ......for the local rag, aka Yellowwich Time (all the fluff and non-news that's fit to print). Oh, and don't forget the yellow journalism that Bill Rowe began to publish some years ago, aided and abetted by the increasingly ridiculous and marginalized Joe Pisani. Joe has been fired, of course, but continues to spew forth his solipsistic nonsense at the equally marginalized Greenwich [Dumb as a] Post. And now it appears that the ax is hovering over most of what's left of the staff at the pathetic LR.


To add insult to injury, rumor has it that the LR plans to hike the newsstand price of its pulp from fifty to seventy-five cents. That's 50% more for just about 100% less. Anyone who takes out a long-term subscription to the rag these days might as well be buying stock in Lehman Brothers.


As a harbinger of things to come, the LR's former parent, the Tribune Company, has filed for bankruptcy under Chaper 11 today. Luckily, they took advantage of the "greater fool" theory by offloading the local mess last year to the Hearst Corporation. But the Hearst people are not as foolish now as they were then; they have marked Yellowwich Time for the death it has so richly deserved for lo! these many years. And few if any tears will be shed over its grave.


Such a pity that the grave is likely to be unmarked. The former offices on East Elm Street are filled only with ghosts, at least at the time of your scribe's last visit. Joe Pisani's whiny voice still echoes amidst the dust and ashes of the former home of the newspaper he so ably helped to kill with his slanted reporting and biased editorials. But alas, your scribe has no place to lay the bunch of wilted flowers he has been saving for just this occasion.


RIP, Yellowwich Time. Your days are numbered, and karma is finally catching up with you for all your past misdeeds. And remember, dear reader, just hang up if you get one of those spam calls asking you if you'd like to subscribe. You might as well toss your money down the nearest sewer grate...and with that not unapt analogy, your scribe bids you good day for the nonce.


On Second Thought Maybe Bill Clarke Would Not Be Willing To Have Greenwich Gossip Featured On The Greenwich Time Home Page.


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12/09/08 BREAKING NEWS: The Great Arch Street Flood Of 2008


A water main broke on Arch Street near Railroad Avenue.

(Helen Neafsey/Greenwich Time photo)
THE GREENWICH POST IS ALL OVER THIS BREAKING STORY
LIKE GREEN ON A WET AND MOLDY NEWSPAPER:

Breaking News
Updated 3:37 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008

A few hours after Aquarion announced a water main break at Arch Street would result in no water for a few hours for 250 households and businesses in that area of town, workers at the scene finally found the water valves to turn the water off in that area. The water is now off. Repairs will begin.
Aquarion is estimating four to six hours before water returns to that neighborhood. However, of the 250 customers, 13 of them are households. The rest are commercial and office space, not counting the 70 residents at The Mews.

"The Mews has been our focus in all of this," said Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager at Aquarion. She said an access valve is being installed near the assisted living facility so that residents there will be without water for only two hours, compared to the four to six for other customers. In the meantime, the water company brought 10 cases of bottled water to the facility to meet immediate needs of the residents.
PREVIOUS POSTING:

Breaking news
Updated 1:11 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008

As of half an hour ago water valves were still being shut off for homes and businesses on Arch Street and surrounding streets as Aquarion continues to repair a water main break in that vicinity.

The Mews, the town-run assisted living facility on Bowling Place, has requested bottled water for its residents while water is turned off today until about 8:30 tonight. Aquarion will be delivering 10 cases of bottled water to The Mews. First Selectman Peter Tesei also has responded to the scene to see if there is anything the town can do to help. He cannot be reached by phone at this time. The director at The Mews is also unavailable for comment at this time.

Lorraine Bukowski of Aquarion said excavation hasn't begun, which will determine the cause of the break, but experts at the scene say it's not unusual to have such a break when there has been a dramatic change in weather.

"A freeze and thaw environment, that's hard on the water mains," Ms. Bukowski said. "The ground shifts and causes the water main break."

Aquarion notified all 250 households and businesses in the Arch Street area from Greenwich Avenue to Soundview Drive through its rapid notify system, an automated phone messaging system through which Aquarion can contact any group of customers to notify them of problems or emergencies.


Previous Posting:



Staff Writer

Posted: 12/09/2008 11:30:13 AM EST

Utilities officials will cut off the water supply to an estimated 250 municipal, commercial and residential properties in the heart of downtown Greenwich Tuesday in order to repair a broken water main.
Starting at noon, the officials will shut down the water supply to properties along Arch Street, from Greenwich Avenue to Soundview Drive, as well as on Bolling Place, said Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager for Bridgeport-based Aquarion Water Co.

The shutdown will last for six to eight hours, while crews excavate and repair a roughly six-inch break in an underground pipe, believed to have ruptured around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, she said.

"This will affect a lot of customers" Bukowsi said.

Aquarion officials won't know what caused of the break until the pipe has been excavated, though Bukowsi said they do not believe work by any contractors in the area is the culprit. She added that cold weather may be the cause.

Previous Posting:


Written by Kristan Zimmer, Editor

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:15

Breaking News

Published 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008


About 250 households and businesses including The Mews assisted living facility and a day care center will not have water for about six to eight hours today, said a spokesperson for Aquarion Water Company at 11:20 this morning.

A water main broke on Arch Street at about 9 a.m., impacting 250 Aquarion clients from Greenwich Avenue to Soundview Drive. The cause of the break is unknown at this time.
Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager at Aquarion, said the company will not be able to determine the cause until the water is shut off and they can excavate.

"We do know it was not any outside factors," Ms. Bukowski said, citing, for example, a contractor working in the area.

Right now, no flooding problems have been reporter. Only a small stream of water flowed down the curb as commuters arrived at work this morning. It did not cause traffic problems. However, beginning at noon today, water will be shut off for six to eight hours while the problem is fixed.

"We have been shutting down valves that let the water into the main because we can't do anything to repair it until the water is off," Ms. Bukowski said. "Our main concern is getting that up and running as soon as possible."

UPDATE:
WATCH THE CABLEVISION NEWS 12 VIDEO
Hundreds of Aquarion Water customers in Greenwich are without water due to a water main break.

The break occurred on Arch Street Tuesday morning at around 9 a.m. Customers from Arch Street to Bolling Place are affected by the water main break.

A spokeswoman for Aquarion Water says customers may be without water for up to eight hours as crews try to make the necessary repairs.

Customers are being advised to run their faucets for a few minutes when service is restored and that it probably won’t be necessary to boil their water.
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12/09/08 Budget Cut Update - Hamilton Avenue School Parents Organizing Via Email To Protect Their Children


Hamilton Avenue PTA Wakes Up And Takes Action After Greenwich Roundup Posts A Local Hard Hitting Editorial

The Greenwich Board Of Education is going to get a kick out of this.


AFTER Greenwich Roundup posted an editorial regarding the cuts for Hamiliton Avenue School, then and only then did the following email get sent.


Look out BOE, here come the mad mothers of Ham Ave and you have pissed them off again.


When are these boneheaded educrats on the Board of Education going to stop trying to hurt the small little children of Hamilton Avenue School?






Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 23:57:48 -0500



Subject: IMPORTANT / Budget cuts update please read! English and Spanish version


To: mandi_perna4@msn.com; bica621@aol.com; andrea@gamesportswear.com; cades4@hotmail.com; arisawyer@yahoo.com; rtb1300@aol.com; jabdo67@optonline.net; rdequeker@hotmail.com; cheryl1021@optimum.net; chlrussell@optonline.net; claudiaarcilalo@hotmail.com; Bert319@aol.com; donna.conti@rbsgc.com; donnaf4@optonline.net; bkmunnelly@optonline.net; dortoli@yahoo.com; datigano@verizon.net; donnad61@optonline.net; DoreenPmay@aol.com; elicanotoro@hotmail.com; elisa_gonzalez@aon.com; greenlady1310@yahoo.com; eginman@yahoo.com; caliche7@optonline.net; hildamruiz@yahoo.com; mikenjacki@aol.com; jcapozza@optonline.net; jetlinH@hotmail.com; Joanna_michael@hotmail.com; jbxport5@aol.com; jona2000@aol.com; MMpmjam@aol.com; Jude0927@aol.com; freckles76@aol.com; Kjordan@greenwichct.org; Lauradibella@msn.com; gabrielel@raveisre.com; lisejameson@athomeingreenwich.org; maexmae@aol.com; mariasiecola@hotmail.com; martha.maldonado@pharma.com; Maceitun@byramhealthcare.com; bortot3@optonline.net; mandresz@hotmail.com; bob-nancymccarthy@verizon.net; shortcakes1020@aol.com; priggans@nebco.net; rita40@optonline.net; Ryan3pej@aol.com; sdaoud@optonline.net; sheilaz914@earthlink.net; soozeg226@optonline.net; sturpin@optonline.net; tbiela@optonline.net; vincent.demartis@kodak.com; Wjohnson86@bww.com






IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE HAS COMMUNITY


MENSAGE IMPORTANTE A LA COMUDIDA DE HAS / POR FAVOR VEA VERSION EN ESPANOL BAJO LA VERSION DE INGLES




Hello Has Community,



As most of you are aware, with the financial situation going on the town is looking to make cuts in all areas. One area being looked at is the school budget, we were told that Peter Tesei has asked that approx, $295K be cut from next years school budget 09/10. It is our understanding that each school is making recommendations on what they are willing to sacrifice.



We feel, that no school in town should have to be cutting anything, that our children's education across the board is one of the most important if not the most important thing that the district gives. We as tax payers expect this.



We are in need of your assistance, it is our understanding that features of our Magnet Program may be on the chopping block for next years budget. Examples- such as the PE portion (swimming/skating), Spanish k-2 and Suzuki. We don't want any of it cut, our children deserve these magnet features. They enrich their daily lives, and the teacher's are educating the whole child, not just the academic portion.



We are asking for parents to join us at this Thursdays, Dec. 11th BOE budget meeting at 7:00 pm at Cos Cob school. Please feel free to speak, and we would especially like those magnet parents to make statements. If you are unable to join us, please email members of the Board, there email addresses are a attached and can also be found on the Board of Ed website.



Thank you and we hope to see you there.



Dawn and Rose



HAS PTA Co-President's




******************** VERSION EN ESPANOL *******************


Saludos Comunidad de HAS,



Muchos de ustedes ya se han enterado que debido a la situación financiera la ciudad esta contemplando cortes en su presupuesto. Un área que será afectada el presupuesto de la escuela. Se ha reportado que Peter Tesei ha pedido que $295K se corte del presupuesto del próximo ano escolar 2009/10. Es nuestro entendido que cada escuela esta haciendo recomendaciones en donde están dispuestos a sacrificar.


Nosotros sentimos que las escuelas de esta ciudad no deben ser afectadas por este corte, que la educación de nuestros niños es lo más importante que el distrito puede ofrecer. Como pagadores de impuestos contamos con esto.



Nosotros necesitamos su ayuda, entendemos que características de nuestro Programa Magnet están en la lista de los cortes para el ano próximo. Ejemplos tal como: una porción del programa de Educación Física, (natación/patinaje), clases de Español entre los grados k y 2 y el programa de música Suzuki. Nosotros no queremos que estos cortes ocurran, nuestros niños merecen estos programas que caracterizan el programa Magnet. Estos programas enriquecen las vidas de nuestros niños y las maestras se han dedicado a educar los niños no solo en la porción académica pero en todos sus niveles.



Les pedimos que se unan con nosotros este jueves, Diciembre 11 en la reunión de la Junta del Departamento de Educación a las 7:00 PM en la escuela Cos Cob. Esa noche les pedimos tome la oportunidad de hablar frente a la junta acerca de estos cortes que afectaran la escuela, especialmente los padres que participan en el programa Magnet. Si usted no puede atender, por favor escriba a los miembros de la Junta con sus opiniones y preocupaciones con este tema tan importante. Por favor abra el documento para adquirir las direcciones electrónicas de los miembros de la junta. Tal información también se encuentra en la Web site del Departamento de Educación.



Gracias y esperamos verle en la reunión,



Dawn and Rose



HAS PTA Co-President's













Please send you comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

12/09/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Tuesday (Updated)


Attorney Tim Quinn said the Y has already spent more than $20,000 creating temporary spaces for its current members, including a temporary fitness room.
Why would the cost of a temporary ramp be prohibitive?????????


YMCA battles discrimination claim
A temporary handicapped access ramp can be built at the Greenwich Family YMCA, but the cost of it could delay renovations and hurt finances at the non-profit, according to an officer at the organization.

....since construction started membership has declined more than 10 percent. The facility must stay open to generate revenue......

....."I don't see why I have to be discriminated against in a place that without my disability, I would be allowed to use," said Gonzalez-Bunster.......

..... expert witness Jerry Sarnelli, owner of Sarnelli Construction in Stamford, who testified that a temporary ramp could be built where there is currently a deck, next to the new aquatics facility at the Y. He said it would cost $15,000 to $20,000 and take 30 days to complete.

Although Robert Brunetti, director of construction services for Pecora Brothers, inc., who is overseeing the Y project, agreed that the ramp could be built there, he testified it would take 60 to 90 days, cost more than $20,000 and ultimately delay the overall renovation, set to be complete by July 2009.

"It would be a distraction," he said.....
Full Story

COMMENT:
Wasting YMCA funds on an expensive and unnesssry lawsuit that they are going to loose is a distraction.
Maybe the YMCA should change contractors and get a bigger bang for their donor's buck.


Library close to naming director
After six months of searching, the Greenwich Library could name a new director by Friday. "The search committee has a recommended candidate," said Board of Trustees President David Brownwood, Monday.
Full Story

AND AN UPDATED STORY:

Library homes in on new director
A female candidate will travel to Greenwich this week for a final interview for the job of director of the Greenwich Library.
Full Story

Record 12 students picked for regional choir
Most high-school choir directors would be happy to have just three or four of their students selected for an elite regional choir, said Greenwich High School music teacher Patrick Taylor. Full Story

Tesei calls for spending cuts

By Neil Vigdor
Staff Writer

Posted: 12/09/2008 02:31:22 AM EST

Greenwich is going on a diet and it has nothing to do with New Year's resolutions.

Bracing for a second consecutive quarter of shrinking revenues from tax receipts, building permit fees and bank interest, the town is looking at a broad regimen of belt-tightening measures prescribed by First Selectman Peter Tesei.

In a Nov. 26 memo to all municipal department heads and appointing authorities, Tesei called for a 10-percent minimum reduction in nonsalary expenditures across-the-board by the town.

Tesei also wants to limit overtime, saying it should be reserved for when public safety warrants it or a potential liability emerges. All overtime requests are to be vetted by Tesei's office.

"We want to keep a lid on that," Tesei said. "It's another layer of approval aside from your typical, 'It's budgeted for, therefore we'll use it.' "

The town budgeted $4.5 million this fiscal year for overtime, an increase of 0.7 percent from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Tesei said some overtime is unavoidable, including the recent decision to give public works employees additional hours to help with leaf collection.

"We want to get the leaves collected because of the potential hazard those pose once snow and ice materialize," Tesei said.

Members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation and the Representative Town Meeting, to whom copies of the Nov. 26 memo were sent, commended Tesei for his efforts to rein in spending during difficult ......

.....Michael Mason, chairman of the BET Budget Committee, said he wouldn't be surprised if Tesei looked to cut back hours of nonessential municipal programs and on the town's utility usage.

Despite the mantle of being one of Connecticut's most prosperous towns and one of the wealthiest in the nation, Mason said Greenwich has also been hit by the weak economy.
"We're not different than any other community," Mason said.

According to preliminary budget documents prepared for the BET, the town needs to shed about $10.5 million in spending from the projected $364 million budget to avoid an estimated 7.4 percent spike in property taxes for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Cutting $10.5 million from next year's overall budget would put the town on pace to match the previous nine years, when taxes increased at a rate of 2 to 4 percent annually as prescribed by the bipartisan finance board.

"Obviously, the first order of priority is to be reduction of expenses, and I want that to be crystal clear," Tesei said.

To help the town close the budget gap, the BET has called for the elimination through attrition of 15 positions from the town's work force of 1,024 non-school employees.....
Full Story

We Hate To Say We Told You So,
But We Told Yo So .....

Posted by Greenwich Roundup at 12/08/2008 01:44:00 AM

Town Hall Insider Tom Greco Reports That Town Reserves Have All Been Spent Over The Last Year Or So. There Is No More Rainy Day Fund In Greenwich.
Quotes:

"The town has just realized that it is not going to meet next years budget."

"The mill rate will probably be held under 3% next year, because it is an election year. But who knows how high it will go after that if things don't improve."
- Thomas J. Greco (Greenwich Town Management Employee and RTM Member)
Deep cuts loom across the board in the town of Greenwich. They will affect us all.
Connecticut's richest town is cutting back on education for its children, services for those in need, and infrastructure.

Town employee Thomas J. Greco says Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei has ordered a non-salary budget reduction of 10% on the current budget which still has 7 months to go.
Part -time, temporary and seasonal positions have all been cut.

Travel must now be pre-approved by the first selectman's office.
All Over Time must also be pre-approved by the First Selectman's office.

CIP projects are going to be reviewed and possibly delayed by First Selectman Tesei. CIP requests currently exceed requests by 6 - 7 Million according to Greco.

There will be an increase in fees at Parks and recreation. Parking will be charged at Tod's point.

There will be a new process for the town ferry and beaches.No more day passes are going to be sold at the town dock. Parking Meters are going up at Horseneck lane. Plus two new parking enforcement officers will be hired on the weekend.
Greco also says the December First Selectman's meeting Will have even more draconian changes, because building permits have dried up as well as other sources of revenue.

Plus, Greco says the Nathaniel Witherall Board will be taken out of the town budget and set up with a revolving fund in the 2009 - 2010 budget much like the towns public golf coarse is set up. So it will be up to the Nathaniel Witherall Board to determine if the nursing home sinks or swims on it's own. There will be no town subsidy........
COMMENT:
Actually, Mr. Greco gave us this story last Wednesday, but we were almost as inefficient as Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Joe Pisani, who was known for sitting on news stories for years. It took us 5 days to confirm and post Mr. Greco's claims.
But with in 25 hours of our post about what Mr. Greco knew. Greenwich Time reporter Niel Vidgor is interviewing First Selectman Peter Tesei and getting copies of the the town memos that were the basis of Mr. Greco's claims......
WOW, Way to go Niel. Greenwich Roundup tosses up a breaking news story and the next day you hit the ball out of the park with a front page Greenwich Time news story.

Hey Maybe, the corporate suits at Hearst Media should have us team up to cover Greenwich Town Hall like it has never been covered before.
What do you think Neil ?
Or Maybe Neil Should Just Go Directly To The Horses Mouth And Speak Thomas Greco Directly:
Work: 622-6480
Home: 531-8201
Or Neil Could Send Mr. Greco An Email at tjgreco@optonline.net
Because Tom Greco is ready to spill the beans about what is going wrong in the Town in general and at the Parks and Recreation Department in particular.
For Example:
Mr. Greco was disgusted that an Old United States flag that was in shreds was being taken down and disrepectfully put up everyday at Byram Shore.
Further, Mr. Greco is an RTM member who go to the local district meeting at the Byram Library. But for nearly two years he has had to leave his district to go to a middle school to have his meeting. Since early summer he has been asking Greenwich Library borad members when will the Byram Library be finished so that his meeting can return where it belongs.
Right now, he says he can't get a straight answer on if next months district RTM meeting will be at the Byram Library or not !!!!!! It's Time For The Greenwich Library Board Of Directors To Stop Pussy Footing Around And Get The Byram Library Built And Open Already !!!!!! Otherwise, Mr. Greco will spill the beans on all of the screw ups at the Byram Library Building Project. Including the second floor window fiasco.
Moreover, Mr. Greco is upset that Town positions will not be filled, because the Park's Department Director Joe Silisano wont charge the correct about to ride the Town ferry.
Mr. Greco says that it costs well over $32.00 per person to take a person back and forth on the ferry. Plus, Mr. Greco says that 8,000 - 10,000 person's ride the ferry a year and at $32.00 that would be more than enough to save 5 Town positions that are slated to be eliminated.
A plan that Greco has is to charge $25.00 for each Greenwich resident to use the ferry and $40.00 for each out of towner to use the ferry. This would greatly cut back on out of town usage, while saving 5 town hall jobs.
Mr. Greco contends that this is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to wasteful spending decisions at Greenwich Town Hall. In fact, Greco says he could single handily find a million dollars in lost and uncollected revenue in the town.
For example:
The town is not collecting fines for false alarm tickets that the Greenwich Fire Department writes. In fact, Mr. Greco says that the town of Greenwich has no system in place to collect for unclaimed false alarm fines. Basically, Greenwich property owners and commercial tenants are on the honor system when it comes to paying for false alarms.
According to Mr. Greco is that the "dirty little secret" in Greenwich is that only fools pay for false alarms, because the town has no method of collecting unpaid alarm fines. Greco also contends that the town is owed between $450,000.00 to $550.000.00 in past due alarm fines over the years and that is more than enough to save 10 more town hall jobs.
Greenwich Time Reporter Neil Vidgor Is Probably Calling Or Emailing Tom Grecco Right Now To Find Out About The Town's Inability And Failure To Collect Outstanding False Alarm Fees.
While it is hard to believe Mr. Greco's claim that years of uncollected alarm fees equal hundreds of thousands of dollars, one must admit that Mr. Greco's has not been wrong to date.

Cos Cob resists wider street

Residents of a private lane in Cos Cob do not want the town to widen their road if the number of homes grows from six to seven.
Full Story

Filmmaker finds the merit of the Merritt
After several pleasurable late-night drives on the Merritt Parkway three years ago, documentarian Lisa Seidenberg was inspired to make a film about the historic road.
Full Story


Greenwich girls hockey aiming for retrun trips to FCIAC, state playoffs
The young, new-look Greenwich High School girls ice hockey team doesn't exactly have the luxury of easing into the season.




Hey, Cherie!
Hey, Cherie! This is very embarrassing. I am a 16-year-old girl who has a reputation of not being a good kisser.

They drove this time - the top executives of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors - knowing they better not repeat the embarrassing misstep of flying private jets to Washington to ask for a $34 billion rescue. ...... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ....... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ........ BLAH ...... BLAH ........ BLAH ........
Nations must fight for their own democracy

To the editor:


We now understand that we are introducing a new strategy in Afghanistan (again) to protect Kabul from the Taliban.
When are we going to stop warring for other people's causes - however justified those causes may be? When will we understand that permanent, lasting freedom, liberty and democracy cannot be secured with other people's blood and treasure? These noble pursuits can only be attained when the people themselves unite and resist with purpose and sacrifice those who choose to deny them these God-given rights, just as our forefathers did in 1776.

At some point we have to decide that our own soldiers and our own resources can only be put at risk when our own safety, security and legitimate interests are directly threatened. We can offer those who resist tyranny our moral example, our political support and perhaps other resources that do not deny our own citizenry their rights, but there we must draw the line.

Ollie James Akel
Cos Cob
COMMENT:
Dear Ollie,
I think part of the problem was that our original "stategy" was that we were going to try and keep a lid on Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan, while we spent 3 Trillion Dollars locating and destroying "weapons of mass" distruction in Iraq.
Don't get me wrong I was initialy supported President Bush and the war and to destroy weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Now I am not to pleased that my president and those that worked for him lied to me, my family and my nieghbors.
Personally, I wished I had listened to those protestors at the Greenwich Post Office who warned all of us that Iraq was going to be a big mistake that the country would pay dearly for.
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