Why Wasn't Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Jim Zebora Able To Get This Much News Up Online At The Local Hearst Newspaper?TODAY'S GREENWICH TIME TOP STORY:
Ronald Reagan's budget director, David Stockton Is Off The Hook.
Even Though four other former Collins & Aikman executives, including then-Treasurer John Galante, have pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, admitting they falsely represented the company's health in reports.
QUOTE:
"David Stockman committed no crime," Stockman's Manhattan attorney, Elkan Abramowitz said. "The case against him and his co-defendants was dismissed and there was never any criminal conduct or fraud committed."
Stockman charges dropped: Prosecutor says evidence disproves accusations
By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer
Federal prosecutors dropped a case against Greenwich resident David Stockman, a former budget director under President Ronald Reagan, that alleged he swindled investors while serving as chief executive of an auto parts company that later went bankrupt.
U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones in Manhattan dismissed charges against the 62-year-old Stockman and his three co-defendants after prosecutors filed a motion stating additional evidence disproved accusations Stockman dramatically overstated earnings of the now bankrupt Collins & Aikman, the auto parts company, to investors, according to court documents.
"The government has concluded that further prosecution of this case would not be in the best interests of justice," said Lev L. Dassin, acting United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office in a Friday statement.
Stockman and three fellow Collins & Aikman executives were indicted in March 2007 and pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, conspiracy, securities fraud, and obstruction of justice, according to court documents.
Reached Friday, Stockman's wife, Jennifer Stockman, said her husband was relieved, but that the prolonged investigation and prosecution had tarnished the reputations of her husband and the company's workers.
"This is a huge vindication, especially for all those people who have been so unfairly prosecuted and unfairly treated by the law for 3 1/2 years," Jennifer Stockman said. "É Many lives have been destroyed in this process."
Authorities alleged Stockman and his three co-defendants conspired to file false financial accounts about Collins & Aikman's performance that were used to convince investors and banks that the ailing company was sound, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleged that Stockman and those executives, Paul Barnaba, a vice president at the company, J. Michael Stepp, a former chief financial officer, and David Cosgrove, a former controller, exaggerated the company's performance to attract capital and avoid defaulting on credit agreements.
The men were accused of using false documents that improperly showed rebates received from vendors as profits, according to the indictment.
Stockman was fired by the company in 2005 following an internal probe just before the company filed for bankruptcy......
Full Story
Town readies for first storm of 2009
The new year's first major snowstorm is on its way, with the National Weather Service predicting up to 8 inches by Sunday morning.
Full Story
Nurturing customer relationships key to business survival
In this challenging economy, the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce is helping local merchants get by with a little help from their friends - some old and many new.
Full Story
Parents Should Not Worry - Failed School Administrators Sue Wallerstein And Anthony Byrne Say Western Middle School Students Can Breathe Easy
Western Middle School Principal Stacey Gross Says That She Will Not Be Like Hamilton Avenue School Principal Rau And Endanger Her Students, Her Staff Or Herself
Sam Romeo, a former Representative Town Meeting Member Says The Greenwich Board Of Education Should Address Asbestos At All Schools, No Matter How Non-Threatening Failed School Administrators Say The Materials Are Said To Be.
QUOTE:
"If there's any doubt, take it out," Sam Romeo Says. "When it comes to children, asbestos and mold, it should all come out. It shouldn't even be a question."
Western officials: Asbestos on pipe not a health risk
By Colin Gustafson
Staff Writer
While public school officials take extra precautions to fix a leaky pipe at Western Middle School believed to contain asbestos, the school's principal says repairs won't create a health risk to students or staff.
With a specialist called in to ensure that the repairs proceed safely, WMS Principal Stacey Gross said Friday that parents, teachers and students should have no concerns about exposure to airborne asbestos particles.
"There are absolutely no issues with asbestos, and nothing that is airborne," she said. "Believe me, if there was an asbestos threat, we'd be out of here. I'm not going to endanger my students, my staff or myself."
The leak was discovered after a teacher reported a lack of heat in one of the classrooms after returning from holiday break, Gross said.
To fix it, district officials have hired a licensed environmental contractor to identify and repair a leak in the heating pipe in the service tunnels below the school's gymnasium, said Anthony Byrne, director of school facilities.
Under district policy, school maintenance staffers are not allowed to make the repairs because of concerns that their work could cause the toxic particles to become dislodged, creating a potential hazard in schools.
"This is routine maintenance that happens all over town," Sue Wallerstein, assistant superintendent for business services said Friday.
Asbestos fibers are not viewed as hazardous when encased in floor.....
Full Story
WWE to lay off 10 percent of workers
STAMFORD - Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. announced Friday it will lay off 10 percent of its staff - about 60 of its 600 total employees, according to the company.
Full Story
Police blotter
Jillian Schwabe, 18, of 4 Dempsey Lane, was arrested early Friday morning and charged with criminal trespassing, police said.
Schwabe admitted to police that she was in her grandparent's house at 39 Vista Drive without permission and that her guests were not aware she was there unlawfully, police said.
Police said Schwabe was initially unable to post the $500 bond and was later released. She is scheduled to appear Friday in state Superior Court in Stamford.
********************************************************************************
Jesus Fernandez, 37, of 229 Valley Place, Mamaroneck, N.Y., was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Thursday and charged with violation of a protective order after an incident at 34 Harold Ave., police said.
Fernandez was unable to post his $5,000 bond and was scheduled to appear Friday in state Superior Court in Stamford.
********************************************************************************
Brian Jendraszek, 44, of 7 Cypress Lane, Ridgefield, was arrested Sunday night and charged with third-degree assault, risk of injury to a minor, disorderly conduct and interfering with a 911 call, police said.
Jendraszek assaulted a victim at 400 Valley Road early Sunday and prevented them from calling 911, police said. Jendraszek was later found at his residence and taken into custody by Ridgefield police, according to the police report.
Jendraszek was charged by Greenwich police and released on a $10,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford.
********************************************************************************
Billy Jo Johnson, 45, of 2-32 Armstrong Court, and a 17-year-old girl were arrested at 10:33 p.m. Wednesday and charged with disorderly conduct following an incident at the Armstrong Court address, police said.
Johnson and the girl were issued misdemeanor summonses and released on promises to appear Thursday in state Superior Court in Stamford.
Skakel files new appeal
HARTFORD - Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel's lawyers have filed a new appeal of his murder conviction, claiming police and prosecutors failed to provide them with evidence that pointed to another suspect and discredited a key state witness.
Full Story
PLEASE SEE:
New film industry to defend tax credits
HARTFORD - Former Speaker of the House James Amann, D-Milford, officially retired from the legislature to focus on a gubernatorial bid.
Full Story
Nephew accused of slaying uncle, Stamford and Danbury restaurateur, seeks lower bond
DANBURY - Accused murderer Marash Gojcaj appeared briefly in state Superior Court on Friday wearing an orange prisoner's jumpsuit and shackled in chains.
Full Story
Mianus school head to retire
The principal of North Mianus School, whose 35-year education career began as a Greenwich public schools reading specialist, announced Friday that she plans to retire at the end of the school year.
Bonnie Butera, 58, a Greenwich resident, said she decided to close her service at the school in order to spend more time with her husband, Dominic, who retired seven years ago as head of Cos Cob School.
"I love the North Mianus community so much, but it's just a great time in life to do this," Butera said. "I've had a target retirement date of 2006, but have not wanted to let go. I kept saying 'one more year, one more year.' "
Her goal now as a soon-to-be-minted retiree, she said, is to beat her husband at golf.
Starting as a town schools reading specialist in 1975, Butera went on to become a teacher at Western Middle, Glenville and Julian Curtiss schools before being hired as an assistant principal at North Mianus in 1997. She became North Mianus' principal in 2005, following a one-year stint as interim principal at Parkway School.
"Ms. Butera has been a leader in our school-improvement efforts over the past two years," said Deputy Superintendent of Schools Kathy Greider. "While we will certainly miss Bonnie, we congratulate her, wish her all the best, and thank her for her incredible contributions to the district."
Butera has earned plaudits for helping boost student scores on the 2008 Connecticut Mastery Test, with her school emerging as the only elementary program in the district to post gains in proficiency in the math, reading and writing sections.
Those improvements come on the heels of lackluster results in some areas in 2007, when about half of her students performed at "satisfactory" levels on that test's reading comprehension and reader-response sections, she said......
Full Story
Train worker killed on track
RYE, N.Y. - A train struck and killed a Metro-North employee Friday night just west of the Rye station, a railroad spokesman said.
Full Story
Greenwich High School boys swimming team shows depth
Until Danbury came to town Thursday the Greenwich High School boys swimming team hadn't competed in a meet since it opened its season against Trumbull and Fairfield on ....
MORE SPORTS REPORTS:
Bruins awaken in time
Greenwich High School girls basketball team wins big
Greenwich wrestling falls at Stamford
Florida's Pouncey twins rebound from dad's tragedy
Greenwich boys basketball tops Bassick to stay undefeated
Movie Clock Monday, Jan. 12
BEDFORD, N.Y. Clearview's Bedford Playhouse, Route 22, (914) 234-7300 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: 3:30, 7:15 Gran Torino: 3:15, 5:45, 8:15 BETHEL Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave.
Full Story
Hedge fund gets its start at home
Two 25-year-old Harvard graduates from Greenwich are bucking the trend that has sent hundreds of hedge funds to their graves and have started their own fund, investing primarily in currencies, fixed incomes and commodities.
Full Story
TODAY'S "LOCAL" AND "HARD HITTING" GREENWICH TIME EDITORIAL: "Raise for Congress leaves bad taste
We should expect better, but Congress has let us down. By virtue of a long-standing backdoor move, the new Congress will receive a healthy raise this session without needing to vote for it.
If ever there was a period when Congress should take care to avoid even the appearance of excess, this is it. Spurred by the collapse of the housing market, the nationwide economy is staggering, and the worst likely hasn't arrived. Rates of foreclosures, unemployment and requests for assistance continue to rise.
It's not as though the extra $4,700 each member of Congress will receive could do much to change the economic picture. But in certain cases, public image matters as much as anything. And with the economy in trouble, accepting a pay raise does nothing to help lawmakers' standing.
With almost two years before any of them is up for re-election, legislators may be counting on voters forgetting about this slight when they go into the voting booth. And that's probably a safe bet, given how the world could change between now and November 2010. But it would be a good idea to change the law, regardless of the political outcome at that time. This simply isn't the right time for national politicians to accept a raise.
There is a chance for reform. A bipartisan group of 29 lawmakers is looking to the incoming freshman class to put a stop to the next automatic ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ...... BLAH ...... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ....... BLAH ........
=================================================================
Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment