2/2/09 Greenwich Time NewsLinks (Updated)

Dodd to refinance controversial loans
HARTFORD -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd said Monday he will refinance two personal home mortgages from a troubled national lender that are being investigated by a Senate ethics panel.

Bloomberg bit by Staten Island groundhog
NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg has battled union leaders, politicians and other tough characters during his two terms in office -- but it took a groundhog to actually draw blood.

Man pleads guilty in election-night assaults
NEW YORK -- A man accused of leading an election night rampage that left one victim in a coma told a judge Monday he organized the attacks because he was drunk and angry about Barack Obama's victory.

Revolutionary Valentines
Revolutionary Valentines The Mary Bush Society Children of the American Revolution and the Putnam Hill Daughters of American Revolution co-sponsored a fun family event, Valentine Social, on Jan.

Stair master: Greenwich woman set to compete in Empire State Building Run-Up
To make it to the top, Cos Cob resident Emmy Stocker isn't afraid to throw a few friendly elbows. She hopes that competitive streak serves her well when she races up a service stairwell of the Empire State Building against 300 competitive "stair climbers" Tuesday.

The fight over lights: Riverside residents debate illumination at Cos Cob Power Plant park
A plan to install lights in the parking lot and along a pedestrian promenade at a waterfront park being developed on the former Cos Cob Power Plant site has become a source of major unrest in Riverside.

Officials: Hiking juvenile status too costly
STAMFORD -- Municipal officials say a law to take effect next year that gives juvenile status to 16- and 17-year-olds in the criminal justice system will cost too much.

As layoffs loom, the Census is hiring
STAMFORD -- The phones have been ringing off the hook at the office for 2010 Census in Bridgeport. Office Manager Bill Gleason hopes it keeps up.

Incentives offered to those who carpool
The state transportation chief is touting an online program that links carpoolers and offers rewards to employees who share rides, join a vanpool, bicycle, or take a train to work.

Bonding returns to front-burner
Long taboo in Greenwich because of the unwanted burden of interest payments, the practice of bonding for projects made a comeback Wednesday during a public hearing on the town's watered-down capital spending program.

Tesei seeks cuts in town work force
First Selectman Peter Tesei will seek to cut as many as 70 jobs from the town's non-school work force of 1,020 employees -- some through layoffs and others by attrition -- to make up for declining revenues.

No. 1 UConn rolls by No. 5 Louisville 68-51
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - UConn looks pretty comfortable at No. 1. Jeff Adrien scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds and the Huskies celebrated their return to the top of the polls for the first time in three years with a 68-51 dismantling of No.

HERE IS ANOTHER HARD HITTING AND LOCAL EDITORIAL FROM THE GREENWICH TIME:

Expand the state's bottle law
Expanding the state's bottle law to non-carbonated products such as water, sports drinks and teas made sense before Connecticut started encountering severe budgetary problems ...... BLAH ..... BLAH ...... BLAH ...... BLAH ..... BLAH ....... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH .......

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