Hyper Local News Pages

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

04/13/10 Recession Buster - Save A Buck - Read Friday's Greenwich Time On Thursday Night For Free

Hearst Newspaper Editor David McCumber
Is Just Giving The Greenwich Time Away For Free

Bysiewicz takes the stand - GreenwichTime

lawyer for the Republican Party attempted to poke holes Wednesday in Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz's arguments that she is qualified to be attorney general. Bysiewicz spent most of the day Wednesday ...

Judge stiffens bail provisions for landscaper charged with murder - GreenwichTime

A Greenwich landscaper charged with killing his daughter will face strict conditions if he attempts to post a $1.2 million bond using newly freed-up assets obtained in a divorce settlement earlier this week. ...

Teamsters file grievances with town over storm response - GreenwichTime

While the specific contents of the grievances were not available Wednesday, Taranto said they involve the town lacking a clear protocol on who is called in when a disaster of this magnitude strikes. First ...

Ham. Ave. community room opens to neighborhood group - GreenwichTime

The school district has agreed to waive rules that would have forced a civic group seeking access to the community room at the rebuilt school to pay a custodial fee and hold liability insurance. School officials rethought these requirements for community groups after some residents complained. ...

Investigation into crash that injured Greenwich pilot continues - GreenwichTime

Federal investigators are continuing to probe a single-engine plane crash in upstate New York Sunday that sent a Greenwich man to the hospital. According to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim ...

Bond reduction sought in Farren attempted murder case - GreenwichTime

Attorneys for a former White House lawyer accused of attempted murder said they want a judge to lower their client's $2 million bond so he can admit himself into a mental health center for treatment. The ...

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04/14/10 New York Times Bestselling Author Anna Quindlen to Visit Greenwich Library

Number One New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen will kick off AuthorsLive@GreenwichLibrary, the Library's author visit series, on Monday, April 19, at 7 pm, in the Cole Auditorium.

Quindlen will discuss her latest book, Every Last One, an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions. Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother whose three teenage children come before anything else-- before her career as a landscape gardener and before her role as the wife of a well-liked doctor in town. Taking care of her kids and preserving their everyday routines are paramount. And so, when one of her sons, Max, becomes depressed and Mary Beth focuses her attentions on him, she is blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman's love and determination.

Every Last One is a novel about facing every last one of the things we fear most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel, to live a life we never dreamed we'd have to live but must be brave enough to try.

Quindlen's novels Black and Blue, Blessings and Rise and Shine were all on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Her work has appeared in some of America's most influential newspapers, many of its best-known magazines, and her novel Black and Blue, was chosen as one of the first Oprah Book Club selections. As a columnist at The New York Times for 13 years, Quindlen became one of the first women in the paper's history to write a regular column for its influential Op-Ed page when she began the nationally syndicated "Public and Private." She earned a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992.

Free and open to all. Quindlen will sign copies of Every Last One, which will be available for purchase. For more information, please call Marianne Weill at 622-7933.


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04/14/10 Coney Island comes to Greenwich for Family Centers’ annual benefit

Nathan’s world famous hot dogs, thrilling amusements and long days at the beach are just a few things synonymous with the old-fashioned fun of Coney Island. So, throw on your boardwalk attire and celebrate the magic the “Playground by the Sea” on Friday, June 4 as Family Centers brings the sights, sounds and excitement of Coney Island to Greenwich for its 2010 benefit. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the Greenwich home of Arlene and Reuben Mark.

Featuring a midway full of challenging carnival-style games, an authentic sideshow and tasty seaside treats, co-chairs Pam Caffray, Leigh Carpenter, Laurie Grauer, Laurie Host and Susan Yonce have planned a classic summer evening that evokes all the charm of Coney Island’s heyday.

Since the 2010 benefit is the biggest fundraising event of the year, Family Centers has created a number of sponsorship opportunities to ensure its success. For sponsorship information, visit www.familycenters.org or contact Jim Vivier at 203-869-4848 or jvivier@familycenters.org.

Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 1000 professionals and trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs. A United Way and Community Fund of Darien partner agency, Family Centers is a member of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies and the Alliance for Children and Families and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The agency is licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. Visit www.familycenters.org for additional information.

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04/14/10 Greenwich driver charged with drunken driving on I-95

Brodie C. Johnson, 51, of Greenwich, Conn., was stopped on Interstate 95 in New Rochelle around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday for speeding and other infractions and was taken into custody after failing field-sobriety tests, police said.

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04/14/15 Brewing tensions between Greenwich Tea Party members and The Greenwich Republican Town Committee


Photo: Fellow Tea Party "Patriots" In Syracuse NY


As The "Tea Party Express" Caravan Rolls In Front Of Greenwich Town Hall Some Local Republican Insiders Say They Are Very Concerned



Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei Ignores Party Leaders Who Advise Him To Avoid Being Lumped With The Tea Party Crowd.

As Tax Day approaches, local Tea Party activists are uniting to voice the message they've been honing for more than a year: It's time to reduce the size of government, and honor the Constitution.

The Tea Party Express' third cross-country tour brings activists to Greenwich Town Hall on Thursday.

The "Just Vote Them Out!" tour is now going to roll into Greenwich.

So far, the local movement's success is in the eye of the beholder.

Some Greenwich Republican Town Committee leaders are disturbed that some members have had contact with a gentleman named Stewart Rhodes.

Mr. Rhodes does not seem like an extremist. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and a former U.S. Army paratrooper and congressional staffer. He is not at all secretive.

Often he can be found sitting at Connecticut Tea Party rallies , handing out fliers and selling T-shirts for his organization, the Oath Keepers.

Mr, Rhodes says he has 6,000 dues-paying members, active and retired police and military, who promise never to take orders to disarm U.S. citizens or herd them into concentration camps.

Mr. Rhodes recently told a Newsweek reporter, "We're not a militia." Oath Keepers do not run around the woods on the weekend shooting weapons or threatening the violent overthrow of the government. Their oath is to uphold the Constitution and defend the American people from dictatorship.

But by conjuring up the specter of revolution or counterrevolution is Mr. Rhodes adding to the threat of real violence?

The Oath Keepers are "a particularly worrisome example of the 'patriot' revival.

Many of the Oath Keepers think that the federal government as part of a plot to impose 'one-world government' on liberty-loving Greenwich residents.

These right wing Connecticut "Patriot" groups are "roaring back" after years out of the limelight.

These Connecticut and national "Patriot" groups were notorious in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the patriot groups seemed to fade away under the shadow of 9/11, but hard times and the nation's first African-American president seem to have brought about a revival in the state of Connecticut.

PLEASE SEE:

Tea Party flag will not fly at Connecticut Capitol

(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, Conn.) - It's the flag that won't fly. Tea Party Patriots in Connecticut are fuming over their on again/off again plans to fly their flag over the state capitol. They say state lawmakers' objections are treading on their rights.

This is the Gadsden flag and it has a rich history. It was among the first symbols adopted by the US Marine Corps in 1775. It has also been taken up by Tea Party Patriots across the country as their symbol. Tea Party Patriots in Connecticut got permission to fly the flag over the state capital on April 9. That permission has now been rescinded because of the political nature of the Tea Party Patriots.

Tanya Bachand, CT Tea Party Patriots: "It's not a political statement. It's a statement of honoring the military. Honoring the scrappy American spirit that... Don't Tread on Me... its more than a motto. It's a way of life for the American people. In fairness, though, it did become coupled with candidates announcing their candidacy. It did."

The patriots planned to introduce some 30 candidates for office after the flag raising. Since permission was pulled they offered to drop that portion of the program but the Capital Police still say 'no'.

Bill Shields, CT Tea Party Patriots: "I just can't come up with any other explanation other than Mickey Lawlor not liking the Tea Party flag."

That would be state representative Mike Lawlor who says he is not saying the flag should not be flown. After all... the Te Party Patriots did do their homework on flying flags at the capital.

Rep. Mike Lawlor, D-East Haven, CT: "I think its a little bit inappropriate given the significance of that particular spot but, I mean, it apparently fit within the rules. Its fine with me. I mean, they played by the rules. Going forward we may have to rethink the rule because I think the whole point it do avoid controversial, partisan statements being run up the flag pole at the state capital."

The Tea Party Patriots are a persistent bunch. Permission or not a Gadsden Flag will be flying on the capital grounds on Friday.

Tanya Banchand, CT Tea Party Patriots: "We're going to go anyway. We have another flag that's a sister flag of the one that the Capital Police have that we supplied to them and we're going to go up anyway. We're going to raise the flag ourselves on our own flag pole and we're not going to let this one go."

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04/14/10 A Major Issue Was Before The Greenwich Board Of Taxation And Estimate Last Night

Greenwich BET Budget Committee Fails To Approve Nathaniel Witherell - 32 Million Dollar Project Renew

Will The BET Budget Committee Aporove The Project Renew Program, Or Will Greenwich Have To Start The Process Of Clossing Down Nathaniel Witherell.


The $36.8 million renewal project at Nathaniel Witherell nursing home, an undertaking that supporters said is long overdue at the aging facility.

The current $36.8 million price tag doesn't include an estimated $2 million in additional financing and interest costs associated with bonding for the project.

First Selectman Peter Tesei and the other selectmen signed off on the project last January, But BET Member Michael Mason's Budget Committee has been dragging its feet on this vital town project.

The town will be lucky to start construction by Thankgiving of this year.

The three major structures on the nursing home's 20-acre campus range in age from the 35-year-old tower and nearly 50-year-old west building to the 107-year-old administration building.

At the present time, the Nathaniel Witherell is like some of our elderly citizens. It needs somesome intensive care.

The renovation and expansion, known as Project Renew, will include replacing a wing, adding space for short-term rehabilitation services and overhauling the current administration building.

Construction on the 202-bed Parsonage Road facility. is expected to take 28 to 30 months.

Plans call for the buildings' interiors to be completely gutted and modernized with warm colors and code-compliant rooms that are homey and not institutional.

The new facility will feature 72 private rooms, as opposed to the current 27, and will move away from the old ward-style configuration of four beds in some rooms.


MORE INFORMATION:

For Nathaniel Witherell - Project Renew's architectural studies for the long term renewal of services, facilities and amenities is now online.
Click here.
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04/14/10 Greenwich Representative Town Meeting Approves Arch Teen Center Lease

The Arch Teen Center Got A New Lease Extension Until The Year 2025

The Original lease was from 1990 until 2005.

The RTM previously approve two five year lease extensions that allowed the teen center to stay until 2015.

The new ten year lease extension will allow the teen center to stay on Arch Street and provide a safe and alcohol and drug free environment that keeps the town's teens off the street.

Vote on the renewal the of the lease between the Town and the Teen Center was 167 For - 8 Against - 7 Abstaining

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04/13/10 Mianus River Pond Fishway Open House

Sponsored by The Town of Greenwich Conservation Commission.
Saturday April 24, 2010 10 a.m. – Noon

125 River Road Extension
Cos Cob

As part of its ongoing education and outreach program, the Conservation Commission will hold two open house sessions at the Mianus River Pond Fishway this year. Staff and volunteer fishway monitors will be on hand to answer questions about the fishway and the fishes that utilize it. The public is invited to drop in anytime during the hours posted above to view one of the truly amazing natural resource wonders in Greenwich – the annual river herring migration.

For more information contact Brian Eltz, Conservation Assistant, at 203-622-6461 or brian.eltz@greenwichct.org

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04/13/10 It Is Time To Be Heard: CL&P investigation comes to Greenwich on Thursday

The final public hearing to be held as part of the governor’s investigation into the actions of the state’s two largest electric utilities during and after the March 13-14 storm will be held in Greenwich Thursday, April 15.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Greenwich Town Hall.

After the March Nor’easter, Gov. M. Jodi Rell directed the Department of Public Utility Control and the Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security to conduct a joint investigation into complaints about the actions of Connecticut Light & Power Company.

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04/13/10 If You Blink You Will miss It: Once the cherry blossoms bloom, it only lasts a short time

The upcoming weekend will provide several opportunities to engage in the Japanese tradition of viewing the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The Greenwich-based Japan Society of Fairfield County will host its Sakura Festival on Sunday on the grounds of theGreenwich Japanese School.

During Sunday's festival, as part of the admission, participants will get a chance to eat outdoors with a prepared lunch from an area restaurant. Advance reservations are requested.

The event also will include Japanese folk dancing and martial arts demonstrations, including yagyu shinkage-ryu, or traditional Japanese swordsmanship. There also will be a Japanese tea ceremony planned and origami events for children.

The society has been sponsoring a cherry blossom festival for about 18 years.

The Greenwich Japanese School is at 270 Lake Ave., Greenwich. Sunday noon-4 p.m. $28 members ($14 children); $45 nonmember ($25 children), which includes membership. Admission includes lunch, reservations necessary by April 15.

Call 203-431-0697.

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