Saturday, August 27, 2011

08/27/11 First Selectman's Office Screw Up: Dustin Anderson Loses Greenwich Roundup's Press Release And Puts The Lives Of Town Residents At Risk

PAY FOR PLAY IN GREENWICH

If YOU ALLOW OTHERS TO CRITICIZE THE FIRST SELECTMAN YOU WILL NOT GET ACCESS TO PRESS RELEASES

LIVES OF GREENWICH RESIDENTS ARE PUT AT RISK FOR POLITICAL REASONS

THE FIRST SELECTMAN"S OFFICE TRYING TO CHERRY PICK
NEWS COVERAGE DURING A DANGEROUS NATURAL DISASTER

Dear Sir,

I am not sure if you are aware of the fact that Peter Tesei has removed you from list of persons who are sent press releases.

The First Selectman was not pleased that you posted the following item in your blog.

http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-you-wont-read-this-in-greenwich.html

The attached press release was sent to the other reporters in town.

Please don't use my name or email address when discussing this.

***************************************

from Greenwich Roundup greenwichroundup@gmail.com
to Dustin.Anderson@greenwichct.org
cc Peter.Tesei@greenwichct.org
date Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 10:39 PM
subject Press Release: August 27, 2011 1:45 p.m.

Dear Mr. Anderson,

It has came to my attention that the First Selectman's Office issued a press release at 1:45, but for some reason we were not sent a copy.

Do you know why this happened?

Did you remove us from the First Selectman's press release list?

sincerely,

Brian Harrod

Editor / Publisher
Greenwich Roundup

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08/27/11 Be safe Pemberwick...watch that Byram River

Gary Grabarz posted in Pemberwick (Greenwich CT).

Gary Grabarz

10:00pm Aug 27

...be safe Pemberwick...watch that Byram River

View Post on Facebook

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08/27/11 PRESS RELEASE: CL&P Opens Emergency Operations Center. Call 800-286-2000 Or 860-947-2000 To Report Outages

Customers are encouraged to report outages, avoid and report downed wires

MEDIA CONTACT:	CL&P Communications
Office:	(860) 665-5670
After Hours:	(800) 789-2290

BERLIN, Conn. - August 27, 2011 -

As Hurricane Irene makes her way to our state, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) has opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Berlin.

About 800 CL&P and contractor line and tree crews are ready to restore power to customers affected by outages. "Our CL&P crews are ready to go to work as soon as it is safe to do so and we have additional support crews beginning to arrive from as far away as Florida, Ohio and Michigan," said Jeff Butler, CL&P president and chief operating officer. "We continue communicating with town and state officials to make sure all of our efforts are coordinated."

“During the height of the storm, we will not have our crews out in the field. Their safety is as important to us as the safety of the public we serve,” said Butler. “Once conditions allow, we will begin responding to 911 calls to de-energize downed wires and make the area safe. At the same time, we will work with town public works crews to clear roads for emergency vehicles and begin restoring power to our customers.”

During the storm, CL&P is encouraging customers to:

Stay at least 10 feet away from all wires! Assume any downed, hanging or burning power lines are live and dangerous. If a power line falls on your vehicle while you’re inside, stay there. Don’t touch anything outside the vehicle and wait for emergency crews. Call 9-1-1 immediately with any emergency condition.
To report outages or check the status of an outage visit cl-p.com or call 800-286-2000. Our automated phone and on-line systems rapidly process your report and help us speed restoration efforts. They also provide restoration estimates as soon as they’re available.
Do you have a generator? Make sure it has been properly installed by a licensed electrician. Improperly installed generators can feed electricity back into power lines and pose a deadly situation for line and emergency restoration workers. Always operate generators outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide hazards.

For helpful tips and news updates, go to our website at cl-p.com, follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower and like us at Facebook.com/CTLightandPower. You can also get updates on outages in your town by texting “outage” and your zip code to 24612.

The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) has been part of everyday life in Connecticut for more than 100 years, providing safe and reliable electric service to homes, neighborhoods and businesses. With 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns, CL&P is improving the environments you live in, by offering programs in energy conservation, economic development and environmental stewardship. CL&P is a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE: NU). For more information, please visit www.cl-p.com and follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower.

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08/27/11 Connecticut Light And Power: No Power Cut At Midnight

Connecticut's biggest electric company says there's no truth to the rumor they will cut power at midnight because of Hurricane Irene.

Connecticut Light And Power Company spokesman Mitch Gross says talk of a Saturday night power cut is an "ugly rumor" and it's "absolutely not true." He says the company is seeking to calm people who've been affected by it.

Connecticut Light And Power serves 1.2 million customers in 149 of the state's 169 towns, including Greenwich.

Geographically it covers 80 percent of the state.

The company says it has a comprehensive plan to respond to problems caused by Hurricane Irene, which is expected to make landfall in the Greenwich area Sunday morning.

It says all employees are on standby>

The parent company Northeast Utilities is coordinating with companies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to secure extra crews.

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8/27/11 Dumbest Editorial Ever: "Do We Really Need a National Weather Service?"

As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, news stations bombard our televisions with constant updates from the National Hurricane Center.

While Americans ought to prepare for the coming storm, federal dollars need not subsidize their preparations. Although it might sound outrageous, the truth is that the National Hurricane Center and its parent agency, the National Weather Service, are relics from America’s past that have actually outlived their usefulness.

The National Weather Service (NWS) was founded in 1870. Originally, the NWS was not a public information agency. It was a national security agency and placed under the Department of War. The Service’s national security function has long since disappeared, but as agencies often do, however, it stuck around and managed to increase its budget.

Today the NWS justifies itself on public interest grounds. It issues severe weather advisories and hijacks local radio and television stations to get the message out. It presumes that citizens do not pay attention to the weather and so it must force important, perhaps lifesaving, information upon them. A few seconds’ thought reveals how silly this is. The weather might be the subject people care most about on a daily basis. There is a very successful private TV channel dedicated to it, 24 hours a day, as well as any number of phone and PC apps. Americans need not be forced to turn over part of their earnings to support weather reporting......

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/27/do-really-need-national-weather-service/

08/27/11 THE HEARST NEWSPAPERS ARE A JOKE: Greenwich Time Editor David NcCumber Couldn't Be More Hopelessly Clueless If He Tried !!!!!

GREENWICH TIME ARTICLE LISTS EVERY EVACUATION IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, EXCEPT FOR THE EVACUATION ORDERED BY GREENWICH FIRST SELECTMAN PETER TESEI.....

Index

Shoreline, low-lying areas begin evacuations

Updated 06:39 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2011

Many towns and cities have ordered evacuations along the shoreline and inland areas that are low-lying or along streams and rivers as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Here is a list of evacuations. Check back for more information as it is made available.

-Bridgeport: Officials are advising evacuations for residents living in low-lying areas along the shoreline. The University of Bridgeport has moved students to the Pitt Center at Sacred Heart University. Shelters have been established at Bassick and Harding high schools. City officials said they have the ability to open every school as a shelter.

-Derby: Mayor Anthony Staffieri ordered an evacuation of McConnie's Grove Area along the Housatonic River. McGonnie's is directly across the river from The Maples in Shelton.

-Fairfield: As a result, evacuation of residents of the Fairfield Beach neighborhood and other shoreline communities in town has been ordered. Interim First Selectman Michael Tetreau ordered mandatory evacuations to Fairfield Ludlowe High School by noon Sunday.

-Milford: A mandatory evacuation order for streets along the city's shorefront was issued by Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. The streets include Beach Avenue and lower Merwin Avenue in Woodmont, Hillside Avenue, Point Beach Drive and adjoining streets, including Earle Street, all of the Bayview section, East Broadway, Shell Avenue, Broadway, Park Street, Ann Street, and all of the Laurel Beach neighborhood. The city's shelter has been opened at Jonathan Law High School.

-Norwalk: Mayor Richard Moccia has asked residents in low-lying and shoreline communities -- especially East Norwalk, South Norwalk and Rowayton -- to evacuate Saturday. The city's shelter has been opened at Brien McMahon High School.

-Shelton: Police and fire officials have asked residents living in the Maples section of the city to leave their homes by 6 p.m. The low-lying, flood-prone section has had many issues with flooding in the past. Authorities said emergency responders may not be able to respond to the area after 6 p.m.

-Stratford: Mayor John Harkins has issued a town-wide, voluntary evacuation order, and stressed that residents of low-lying or flood prone areas should leave. The shelter at Bunnell High School opened at 3 p.m., and shuttle bus will bring people from the South End Community Center to the shelter.

-Stamford: Mayor Michael Pavia has ordered mandatory evacuations along low-lying areas, including Shippan and the Cove. The city's shelter is at Stamford High School.
No evacuations have been ordered as of now in Trumbull or Monroe.

08/27/11 Greenwich Hurricane Shelters Are Starting To Fill Up

Red Cross officials say that 30 persons have taken went to the shelter at the Western Greenwich Civic Center as of 6:00 pm.

There were 12 people at the shelter at the shelter located at the Eastern Middle School storm shelter.

The Red Cross is urging persons to go to the shelters as soon as possible, before the storm gets more intense.

This is a storm at the wrong place at the wrong time, it could be fatal.

Red Cross officials say that Greenwich residents should NOT be out on the roads during the Storm.

Everyone should be off Greenwich streets before 10 pm tonight.

Shelter Information:

Two emergency shelters are open in Greenwich.

The Western Greenwich Civic Center, 449 Pemberwick Road, opened at 10 a.m., while Eastern Middle School, 51 Hendrie Ave., open at noon.

Residents with special needs should call the Transportation Association of Greenwich at 203-637-4345 for pick-up.

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08/27/11 The Raw Greenwich News Feed - Hurricane Irene Coverage

Evacuations
NBC Connecticut
... be rescued later on, the deputy fire chief told NBC Connecticut They must also provide information on next of kin. Greenwich: Greenwich residents in low-lying areas should seek shelter on higher ground no later than 7 p.m. on Saturday. A list of ...
Need-to-Know Phone Numbers for Greenwich
The Daily Greenwich
The correct phone number for the American Red Cross is 869-8444. There are two shelters open, Eastern Middle School and Western Civic Center....
Malloy Wants Drivers Off Roads, May Mandate Statewide Travel Ban [VIDEO]
Patch.com
... at this point." He called the storm a "major risk facing Connecticut," particularly for shoreline towns from Greenwich to East Haven. "We are in the process right now of talking to all communities in the lower Sound a€¦ making sure all the necessary ...
Officials fear flooding on state's western shore; Obama declares state of emergency w/Photo
TheDay.Com
... Irene swirls toward an early Sunday landfall. Voluntary evacuations are underway in shoreline communities from Greenwich to East Haven. The governor said he pleads with residents who live near rivers and streams and low-lying areas to evacuate now ...
Governor Asks Obama for Emergency Declaration
7 hrs ago | Patch.com
... officials in his office are developing emergency evacuation plans for Connecticut cities along the coast, "from Greenwich to New Haven." Storm surges along the shoreline, he said, are expected to be about 4 to 5 feet high. The Connecticut National ...
Malloy Urges Residents to Take Cover
Patch.com
... officials in his office are developing emergency evacuation plans for Connecticut cities along the coast, "from Greenwich to New Haven." Storm surges along the shoreline, he said, are expected to be about 4 to 5 feet high. The Connecticut National ...
Hurricane Irene survival guide w/Photo
LoHud
... The American Red Cross will help local towns and villages operate at least 13 shelters in Westchester and nearby Greenwich, Conn., a spokeswoman said, adding several mobile trailers with cots and other provisions already have been placed in areas ...
Irene blows apart New England travel plans
Foster's Daily Democrat
... coping with high gas prices and a weak economy. Doreen Pearson, who owns the 21-room Stanton House Inn in affluent Greenwich, said Friday she had five multi-night cancellations and many more indecisive guests. Some callers from low-lying areas ...
Residents in Low-lying Areas Asked to Evacuate as Irene Approaches w/Photo
Patch.com
Greenwich town officials are urging residents in all low-lying areas along the coast - altogether about 10 percent of the town's population - to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Irene approaches, and Greenwich Police say they will be checking homes to make sure residents in those areas really do evacuate.
Tesei to Greenwich residents in low-lying areas: 'Get out' w/Photo
NewsTimesLive.com
Thousands of Greenwich residents who live in flood-prone areas are being strongly urged by town and state officials to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Irene approaches the state.
Greenwich Health Facilities Have Emergency Power w/Photo
The Daily Greenwich
Greenwich Hospital and the town's nursing center say they will be prepared for any emergency situations Hurricane Irene may present.
Travel plans blow away
SouthCoastToday.com
... coping with high gas prices and a weak economy. Doreen Pearson, who owns the 21-room Stanton House Inn in affluent Greenwich, said Friday she had five multinight cancellations and many more indecisive guests. Some callers from low-lying areas wanted ...
What to Do with Your Pet in a Hurricane
Patch.com
A hurricane is heading toward Greenwich. Does your pet have a disaster plan prepared? Whether a quick exit is necessary or you are housebound for several days, it is important to prepare ahead of time.
Greenwich Prepares to Clear Fallen Trees w/Photo
The Daily Greenwich
With Hurricane Irene moving up the coast toward Greenwich, the town is preparing to clear trees that may be downed by the storm.

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08/27/11 Greenwich Board Of Education Update Regarding Hurricane Irene

FYI - this is the notice we sent to GPS staff and posted to the web site today

HURRICANE IRENE UPDATE

To the Greenwich Public Schools Community:

As of today, Saturday, August 27, 2011, Greenwich Public Schools staff is expected to report to work on Monday, August 29, 2011. If the impact of Hurricane Irene requires us to close school buildings on Monday, then any scheduled student activities for that day would also be cancelled.

Please check the GPS web site, your email, and local media on Sunday evening and Monday morning for information on school closings and cancellations.

Please reference the materials available on the Greenwich Town web site as you prepare for this storm; and please take all necessary precautions to remain safe.

Click HERE for the Closing/Delay Notification Protocols and a list of the media outlets notified in case of a closing or delay.

--
Kim Eves
Director of Communications
Greenwich Public Schools
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT, 06830

www.greenwichschools.org

Phone: 203-625-7415
Fax: 203-869-8003
kim_eves@greenwich.k12.ct.us

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08/27/11 HURRICANE IRENE ALERT

Beginning at 1pm today, Norwalk has issued a MANDATORY evacuations for low-lying coastal areas and OTHER waterways.

They are also doing mandatory evacuations in New York City, shutting mass transit at noon and may have to cut power off in some areas..

I know one Greenwich resident who is a Fox News employee who took the train in this morning but has to take a car service home from work.

So, now you’ve got about 8 hours.

Greenwich emergency management officials said from the beginning, your risk potential depends on the track of the storm and its intensity.

That’s why you need to follow the forecasts and town news releases closely.

Some of us will be lucky, and some of us will be unlucky.

But everyone will be affected in one way or another.

As the storm approaches, Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei and his emergency management officials say it is important for anyone in vulnerable coastal areas to make plans to get out.

If you are in the path of the storm, and in an area of town with lots of trees, you are in potential danger, too. You will likely lose power and will be unable to leave your home for hours—or even days, in some places—due to downed trees.

This storm is being compared to Hurricane Ike (a Category Two storm at landfall), which hit Galveston, Texas in 2008.

The storm surge there nearly wiped-out the barrier island community of Boliver.

Some others mention Hurricane Wilma. She came ashore as a Category Two storm, as well, and ravaged South Florida in 2005.

People lined up for gasoline, propane and ice. Power was out for weeks, in some areas after the storm.

Other areas had lesser impacts, of course.

Today say a little prayer that no one loses his or her life in this dangerous storm that is headed for Greenwich. And reach out to your neighbors who maybe elderly, disabled or alone for any reason.

You are your brother's keeper.

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08/27/11 The Greenwich Topix News Message Board: (21 Greenwich News Items) TOP STORY: Residents In Low-lying Areas Asked To Evacuate As Irene Comes In

Greenwich - News August 27, 2011

See Greenwich Weather

Residents in Low-lying Areas Asked to Evacuate as Irene Approaches
(Patch)
Greenwich town officials are urging residents in all low-lying areas along the coast - altogether about 10 percent of the town's population - to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Irene approaches, and Greenwich Police say they will be checking homes to make sure residents in those areas really do evacuate.

Police Blotter: Woman with suspended license charged with DUI
(NewsTimesLive)
A Greenwich woman whose license was suspended from three prior driving-under-the-influence arrests failed three field sobriety tests Friday morning, resulting in another DUI citation, police said.

Hyper Local Hurricane Irene News From Greenwich Roundup
(greenwichroundup.blogspot)

Hurricane Irene Release # 2 From The Town Of Greenwich Connecticut http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-hurricane-irene-release-2-from.html

Hurricane Irene Press Release From The Town Of Greenwich Connecticut http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-hurricane-irene-press-release.html

First Selectman Peter Tesei: Greenwich residents in low-lying areas should evacuate by sunset Saturday http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-first-selectman-peter-tesei.html

The Greenwich Topix News Message Board: Western Greenwich Civic Center to Serve as Shelter During Irene And A Map Shows Hurricane Flood Risk
http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-greenwich-topix-news-message.html

Greenwich News Alert: Hurricane Watch Just Upgraded To Hurricane Warning http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-ct-news-alert-hurricane-watch.html

BREAKING NEWS: Power Outages Could Last "A Week Or More" http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-breaking-news-power-outages.html CL&P Securing

Extra Line, Tree Crews For Irene And More From AOL's Greenwich Patch News Website http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082611-cl-securing-extra-line-tree.html

Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

Greenwich Prepares to Clear Fallen Trees (The Daily Greenwich)
With Hurricane Irene moving up the coast toward Greenwich, the town is preparing to clear trees that may be downed by the storm.

CT Governor Asks Obama To Declare State Of Emergency (Patch)
Gov. Dannel P. MalloyA has asked President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency in Connecticut before Irene strikes the state on Sunday.

Backcountry Jazz: reaching kids with music (The Wilton Bulletin)
"If it wasn't for the public school music programs in Chattanooga, Tenn., when I was a kid, I wouldn't be where I am today," says tenor saxophonist and composer Bennie Wallace of Greenwich.

Greenwich Boaters Batten Down the Hatches
(The Daily Greenwich)
GREENWICH, Conn.-With Hurricane Irene threatening to flood coastal towns like Greenwich this weekend, boaters are preparing for the worst.

Radio vet Ausfeld retiring; former...
(Business Journal)
Ausfeld, 61, will leave his position as market manager for Townsquare Media on August ...

... He will be succeeded by Dan Austin , who is returning to the area after three years. Townsquare, which is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, owns country station WGNA, 107.7 FM; the "Q 103" simulcast of WQBK, 103.9 FM and WQBJ, 103.5 FM; WQSH, 105.7 ...

More Greenwich News

More Greenwich News...

The Raw Greenwich News Feed: This Just In ......

Hurricane Irene survival guide
(LoHud)

Marco Ruballos, a cook at Hudson House in Nyack, stacks sandbags alongside the restaurant Friday to keep them ready to be used in case of flooding from Hurricane Irene....

... The American Red Cross will help local towns and villages operate at least 13 shelters in Westchester and nearby Greenwich, Conn., a spokeswoman said, adding several mobile trailers with cots and other provisions already have been placed in areas ...

Greenwich Health Facilities Have Emergency Power
(The Daily Greenwich)

Greenwich Hospital and the town's nursing center say they will be prepared for any emergency situations Hurricane Irene may present.

Consumer review website Angie's List readies $75 million IPO
(NJ)

Angie's List Inc., the Indianapolis- based operator of the eponymous consumer-review website, is seeking $75 million in a U.S. initial public offering as the pace of IPO filings picks up....

... possible these companies are being overly ambitious," said Nick Einhorn, an analyst at Renaissance Capital LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based IPO research and investment firm. "We saw the market volatility take a toll on IPOs earlier in the month ...

Investors Seek to Move Venue ...
(BusinessWeek)

An investor group challenging Bank of America Corp.'s proposed $8.5 billion mortgage-bond settlement seek to move the case to federal court from state court....

... their efforts and strengthen their objections, according to Bill Frey, head of investment and brokerage firm Greenwich Financial Services LLC in Greenwich, Connecticut, who advises mortgage-securities investors. Under the proposed settlement, Bank ...

No Room at the Inn: Rye Area Hotels Completely Booked
(Patch)

So you've been watching the Weather Channel all morning and started thinking the idea of riding out the hurricane and its aftermath might not be such a good idea.

... s you may have to drive as far as Stamford, CT to find a hotel room for under $100 a night. Listings for hotels in Greenwich and White Plains show rooms are scarce in neighboring areas.....