09/07/11 Joe Ross The Head Of The MISA Building Committee: Our plan is to continue what we started, and try to get quickly back on track"

PHOTO: PCBs are highly toxic compounds that were
banned years ago but not yet removed from all sources.

PCBs spontaneously enter the air and can be ingested through breathing. They pose particular health and developmental risks to children. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

PCBs at levels greater than 50 ppm “present an unreasonable risk of injury to health” and “must be removed.

Parents Don't Need To Worry About The Health, Safety And Welfare Of Their Innocent Children Who Attend Greenwich High School

ARE PCBs IN MILLBROOK TOO? -- "You haven't tested the groundwater yet? That's shocking," exclaimed one woman in the audience

Officials: Health not at risk from toxic soil at GHS

Lisa Chamoff, Greenwich Time Staff Writer

Greenwich High School open house draws more than 60: Residents air concerns on soil contamination, groundwater more »

Photo

...People are in danger only if they are in direct contact with the substances -- touching, eating OR INHALING IT -- FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, Rusnak said...

...Chris Koelle, a licensed environmental professional from New Haven-based Diversified Technology Consultants, Inc., gave an overview of the environmental testing that has been done, with approximately 400 soil samples collected.

Koelle explained that the short-term goals include developing plans to open each of the fields and evaluating the potential environmental impacts on the $29 million music instruction space and auditorium project, known as MISA ...

...One big question that remains unanswered is how the soil contamination affects groundwater. There is also worry among neighbors that contaminated WATER COULD RUN FROM A STREAM ON THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY INTO THE NEARBY MILBROOK COMMUNITY....

After the forum, one resident, Jim Carroll, said he was concerned about his daughter's exposure to the soil -- she plays field hockey for GHS -- and the danger to groundwater.

"I'm not really quite convinced that people in the surrounding area are not affected by any toxic runoff that originates from this site," said Carroll, 54, who lives in western Greenwich. "I'd like to have somebody test."

Greenwich High School PTA Co-President Laura Erickson, who helped organize the forum, said she thinks the district needs to do a better job of addressing the concerns of surrounding residents.

"We need to make sure WE'RE NOT SENDING ARSENIC DOWNSTREAM TO THE NIEGHBORS," Erickson said.

One outspoken neighbor, Bill Effros, did not attend the forum.

Read more:

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Officials-Health-not-at-risk-from-toxic-soil-at-2160137.php#ixzz1XKNR2nx7

PLEASE ALSO SEE:

09/07/11 QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED IN GREENWICH: What Is Steve Anderson And His BOE Buddies Hiding From Us? Where The Hell Is The Greenwich Time?

MORE INFORMATION:

Unbelievable Levels Of Mismanagement From Very Highly Compensated Greenwich Public School Administarors ....

Traffic, parking woes plague first day of school at Greenwich High

David Hennessey, Greenwich Time Staff Writer

Some Greenwich High School seniors had to take taxi cabs and walk through a... more »

Photo

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09/07/11 GOVERNOR MALLOY ANNOUNCES FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS OPEN ACROSS STATE

PRESS RELEASE:

Centers will assist individuals and business owners who have been affected by Tropical Storm Irene

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced today that FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will be opening in every county of the state – and two in New Haven County – on Thursday, September 8 to assist home owners and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Irene.

“I am urging any individual or business who has suffered losses or damages as a result of Tropical Storm Irene to visit a center and work with staff there to review what benefits to which they may be entitled,” said Governor Malloy. “These centers provide an opportunity to get answers to any questions you might have with regard to federal disaster assistance and assistance with application preparation.”

All of the Disaster Recovery Centers will open on Thursday, September 8 at noon. After Thursday, the regular hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 7PM and Sunday from 10AM to 3PM.

The Disaster Recovery Centers will be staffed with state and federal disaster recovery specialists, including representatives from the Small Business Administration, who will provide information and answer questions about disaster assistance programs.

Those with damage or losses as a result of the tropical storm are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting the recovery center by either calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by using any PDA device at m.fema.gov. For those with speech or hearing disabilities, the TTY number is 800-462-7585.

“Registering with FEMA is the first step in determining if you qualify for federal disaster assistance,” added Governor Malloy.

It is also important to note that residents who have already provided damage information to their towns, FEMA, state officials or 2-1-1 must still register with FEMA.

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09/07/11 SoundVision event in Greenwich

SoundVision At The

Indian Harbor Yacht Club

A photo of U.S. Rep. Jim Himes talking with two educators from SoundWaters at Tuesday's SoundVision event at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club.

Also included is the SoundVision logo.

Thanks again.

Tom Andersen

09/07/11` More About The SoundVision Event In Greenwich At The Indian Harbor Yacht Club

State and federal officials gathered at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club on Tuesday to announce that they were on board with a new action plan for helping to clean up and restore Long Island Sound.

The action plan, called SoundVision, is a product of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Long Island Sound Study, which has been overseeing the Sound cleanup since the late 1980s. SoundVision has four major components:

1. Protecting Clean Water to Achieve a Healthy Sound

1. Creating Safe and Thriving Places for All Sound Creatures
2. Building Long Island Sound Communities that Work
3. Investing in an Economically Vibrant Long Island Sound

You can find a link to the entire action plan on the LISoundvision.org website.

The event at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club was the last in a series of officials announcements of the SoundVision plan, and was organized by Save the Sound, the CAC and SoundWaters, among others.

At each of the previous events (in Mamaroneck, Bridgeport, Port Jefferson, New Haven and Old Saybrook) state and federal officials had all stepped to the microphone to announce their commitment to cleaning up the Sound.

But on Tuesday they took it a step further, saying that the Long Island Sound Study had now come up with its own action agenda that was consistent with the CAC’s action plan, and that they’d be working over the next several years to carry it out. The Long Island Sound Study is a cooperative effort funded largely by the U.S. EPA and involving researchers, regulators, user groups and others who are working together to protect and improve the health of the Sound.

“We’re going to be working to make the action agenda happen on a day to day basis,” the U.S. EPA’s Mark Tedesco, the longtime head of the LISS office, said yesterday, “and the CAC is going to hold us accountable.”

Other officials at Tuesday’s event included U.S. Representative Jim Himes; Dan Esty, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; EPA Regional Administrator Curt Spalding (out of Boston); State Senator L. Scott Frantz; State Representative Terrie Wood; and Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei.

Environmental organizations were represented by Don Straight, executive director of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound, which organized the event; Tom Baptist, executive director and vice president of Audubon Connecticut; Leigh Shemitz, executive director of SoundWaters; Bill Boysen, a board member of the Greenwich Land Trust; and Nancy Seligson, co-chair of the CAC.

“The citizens need the agencies to push this forward,” Seilgson said, “and I like to think the agencies need the citizens too.”

-- by Tom Andersen. Andersen is a communications and fundraising consultant to non-profits and is the author of This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound (Yale University Press). You can reach him at tandersen54@optonline.net

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09/07/11 Greenwich Harbor Yacht Showcase

Greenwich Harbor Yacht Showcase at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor

September 9, 10 & 11, 2011

The sixth annual Greenwich Harbor Yacht Showcase, one of the most prestigious boutique yacht shows in the northeast, will dock at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, 500 Steamboat Road, on September 9, 10 and 11, 2011. Spectacular yachts from renowned boat companies and designers will be on view and for sale. In addition, the showcase will feature a variety of complimentary family activities, along with unique land exhibits, ranging from fall fashion to a one-of-a kind $2 million 1963 Corvette Rondine Concept Car. Admission is FREE on Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors can catch the first look at the extraordinary yachts at a kick-off preview party, Friday, September 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., to benefit Audubon Greenwich and its efforts to protect and restore the Long Island Sound. Admission is $75 per person and includes entertainment, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres by top area restaurants and caterers. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to Audubon Greenwich and its Long Island Sound campaign. In addition, a silent auction of ten select items will also benefit the cause.

The showcase continues Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no charge to the public. Complimentary family activities include kayak and canoe excursions, fly fishing demos, Audubon's Nature Exploration Station and live animal shows sponsored by Audubon Greenwich.

Refreshments from some of the area's best restaurants and chefs will be available for purchase. On Sunday at noon, Greenwich High School student Stephanie Sandor will sing the National Anthem and representatives from Audubon Greenwich and Wildlife in Crisis will release a bird back to nature in honor of 9/11.

Visitors can view yachts for sale such as the Friendship 40, a luxury daysailer designed by Ted Fontaine, the new 25-foot Rembrandt, designed by Sparkman & Stephens, from Brooklin Boat Yard and the new jet-propelled, twin-engine Hinckley Picnic Boat MKIII. Other yacht exhibitors include The Sunseeker Club, Sarnico Yachts, Maestro Apreamare, J. Catalano & Sons, Marine Max, All Seasons Marine Works and Vanquish Boats of Newport, Rhode Island.

Special land attractions include the $2 million 1963 Corvette Rondine Concept Car, courtesy of Carriage House Motor Cars, and artwork from the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery, Inc., the nation's largest gallery specializing in fine marine and sporting art. Artist Leonard Mizerek, known for his colorful seascapes, will be painting scenes on site throughout the weekend. Saks Fifth Avenue of Greenwich will show highlights from its fall collection.

"This year's showcase will provide an incredible experience," said Cristina Kelleher, Director of Sales of the Delamar Greenwich Harbor. "In addition to the magnificent yachts, visitors and their families will enjoy both in-water and on-land activities, plus learn about the efforts of Audubon Greenwich to restore and protect the Long Island Sound, which the Delamar is pleased to support."

Audubon Greenwich has been providing environmental programs since 1942 and was the National Audubon Society's first education center. Its mission is to engage and educate people to conserve, restore, and enjoy nature, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. The center is committed to its Long Island Sound campaign to support marine wildlife and help restore water quality.

Sponsoring the 2011Greenwich Harbor Yacht Showcase are the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, Carriage House Motor Cars, The Sunseeker Club, Maestro, Apreamare, Sarnico Yachts, Trump Parc Stamford and Vinylume. Media sponsors include AM 1490 WGCH, The Advocate/Greenwich Time, Brooks Community Newspapers, Quest Magazine, Serendipity Magazine, Venu Magazine and WindCheck Magazine.

With its picturesque setting, the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, which was named "one of the best new hotels in the world" by Condé Nast Traveler, provides a blend of European elegance and refinement and prides itself on personal services. The Greenwich Harbor Yacht Showcase is produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment LLC.

For further information about the event or to purchase tickets for the preview party, call TMK Sports & Entertainment at 203-531-3047 or visit www.thedelamar.com

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09/07/11 Come To The Pemberwick Section Of Greenwich For Food, Games, Prizes, Vendors, Jumping Castles ....

Pastor Jim posted in Pemberwick (Greenwich CT). Pastor Jim 3:12pm Sep 7 Food, Games, Prizes, Vendors, Jumping Castles at St. Paul's 9-3:30 Sat Sept 24th King Street and Comly. Fall Fling View Post on Facebook

09/07/11 QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED IN GREENWICH: What Is Steve Anderson And His BOE Buddies Hiding From Us? Where The Hell Is The Greenwich Time?

Dear Leslie,

Thank you for your kind offer to ask my questions for me.

I will not be able to attend the open house because of restrictions that have been placed on me by the town of Greenwich. I have three court orders in which the town stipulated I could gather data on the high school grounds, but that wasn't enough. I was arrested for asking to see a building permit. I won't be fooled again.

I would like to see the restraining order, or arrest warrant, or any other legal basis for preventing me from attending public meetings at the high school.

If I could attend this meeting there are many other documents I would like to see and questions I would like answered. Maybe you will be more successful than I. At the very least, you probably won't get arrested.

• I would like to see the PCB remediation survey prepared by a registered Connecticut land surveyor having meets and bounds, dimensions of all buildings, parking and drives, setbacks of all structures from property lines, setbacks between buildings, and certification that building dimensions shown thereon are the same as the approved architectural plans with architectural and drainage plans referenced by title dates and sheet numbers.

• I would like to see the Environmental Impact Statement prepared by The Town of Greenwich for the MISA Project.

• Is a new Environmental Impact Statement required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• I would like to see the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan prepared by the town of Greenwich for the MISA Project.

• Is a new Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• I would like to see all Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 (Dredge and Fill) permits obtained for 10 Hillside Rd (Greenwich High School).

• Is a new dredge and fill permit required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• I would like to see the Notice of Intent to remediate PCBs discovered at the high school sent to abutting property owners as evidenced by submission of a certificate of mailing or certified or registered mail receipts pursuant to the Clean Water Act.

• I would like to see the schedule of notified property owners as shown on the survey approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to Town of Greenwich Municipal Regulations.

• I would like to see the MISA scoping notice posted to The State of Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality indicating the scope of the MISA Project pursuant to the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act.

• Is the MISA scoping notice posted to The State of Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality required for state aid? If not why not?

• I would like to see the MISA Preliminary Site Plan filed by the Board of Education with the with the Town of Greenwich Conservation Commission for review and approval prior to the submission of the site plan to any other Town of Greenwich agency pursuant to Greenwich municipal regulations.

• Is a preliminary site plan required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• I would like to see the MISA notification affidavit certifying abutting property owners were notified two weeks prior to the scheduled hearing date of the Conservation Commission MISA preliminary site plan review pursuant to municipal regulations.

• Is a Conservation Commission preliminary site plan review required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• I would like to see the MISA narrative submitted to the Conservation Commission.

• I would like to see the PCB remediation narrative submitted to the Conservation Commission.

• I would like to see the MISA National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) section 402 permit application for the MISA Project.

• Is a new NPDES permit required for PCB remediation? If not, why not?

• Does PCB remediation require Municipal Improvement status? If not, why not?

• I would like to see all permits issued by the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, along with agenda notification, all staff memos, the minutes, and all voting records for the MISA Project including the PCB remediation.

• The School's environmental consultants have submitted documents finding PCB contamination levels of greater than 50 and 100 ppm on the edge of the playing fields. Have tests been scheduled for the playing fields themselves? If not, why not? Skin contact, after all, is one of the known ways PCBs enter the body. Tests virtually surrounding the fields have already found levels of PCBs.

• There has been written speculation that the source of the PCB contamination is the 10 to 15 feet of vertical fill material used to fill in the wetlands which now is the site of the artificial turf playing fields. When will that fill, at depth, be tested to determine if PCBs and excessive levels of other man-made contaminants were in fact dumped in "the swamp" in order to create the playing fields? What must be done if such contamination is found?

• Especially given the recent hurricane and severe rain we are experiencing, have any of the experts on this panel reviewed the Town's storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) for the high school construction and remediation? Is it adequate to prevent further pollution? If you have not seen it, why not? Why has it not been available in any public file?

• Has the water draining through the tons of artificial shredded-tire petroleum landfill placed on the fields been tested? It drains directly onto neighboring property and then into Long Island Sound. Studies done for the State of Connecticut indicate that these shredded rubber tires, especially when heated by the sun, leach numerous different chemicals into the storm water. Is any testing being done to determine if the water being drained by the school through point-source discharges into Brothers Brook is safe, not just regarding PCBs, but other contaminants as well, and consistent with environmental law?

• The Town and BoE have publicly stated that they have gotten all the required licenses and permits for the MISA and remediation construction now under way, yet many of those certified notices, licenses and permits do not appear to be in the public files, as required. Why not? Have any of the experts on this panel actually seen them? Have they been told they exist?

• Banks and mortgage companies require that applicants divulge whether there are any outstanding environmental issues regarding the property being mortgaged. Do all adjacent and downstream property owners now have to make such a statement, and if so, is the Town going to assume financial responsibility for any monetary damages incurred by abutting and downstream property owners? How much do you think that will cost the town?

• Given that PCB contamination has been found in soil surrounding, and probably under the playing fields, and we have yet to learn what other man-made contaminants may also be present, does the BoE or the Town have any estimate of what the ultimate cost of remediation will be? If not, and without any budget for those costs, how can any present construction plans go forward?

Leslie, please treat this as a formal Freedom of Information Act request. You have advised that The Board Of Education will tape this meeting, and that you will ensure that all of my questions will be answered. Please send me the tape Thursday morning. If any of the documents I have requested do not exist, a simple statement to that effect, on the tape, is sufficient. Please send me via e-mail full resolution PDF copies of all requested documents that do exist.

I'm sorry to have to put you through this, but the town has left me no choice.

Bill

Hello All,

In case you were unaware, attached is a flyer announcing a forum to be held at GHS on Wednesday to provide information to the public on the status of the site and programs. There will be representatives from the state department of public health, department of energy and environmental protection, Federal EPA, building committee, and GHS athletics among others.

If you cannot attend but have specific questions that you would like answered, please e-mail with them, and I will get the answers for you.

Best,

Leslie

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09/07/11 CT NEWS ALERT: Former Hartford Whaler Feared Among Dead In Russian Plane Crash

Ex-Whaler Brad McCrimmon Feared Among Dead In Russian Plane Crash A Russian jet carrying a top ice hockey team crashed while taking off Wednesday in western Russia, killing at least 36 people and leaving one critically injured, officials said.

09/07/11 The Greenwich Topix News Message Board - (6 stories) TOP STORY: Thank You President Obama!!! Disaster Relief Offered for Jobless in Greenwich

Greenwich - News September 7, 2011 See Greenwich Weather Disaster Relief Offered for Jobless in Greenwich (The Daily Greenwich) Unable to get out of the house or get to work because of damage from Hurricane Irene? There may be help on the way. Shoplifter Beata Boman gets slap on wrist for stealing scarves worth over $17,000 (theoriginalgreenwichdiva) A Connecticut judge gave thirty-eight year old Beata Boman a slap on the wrist for stealing two very expensive scarves at Richards. Stamford Superior Court Judge Robert Genuari ordered shoplifter Boman to continue with her mandated therapy and community service. If she can find a way to stop stealing until March 2013, all charges will be dropped against her. LI Sound protection plan announced (WTNH) Environmental officials have announced new efforts to reduce sewage and storm water dumped into Long Island Sound and to improve habitats in the waterway shared by Connecticut and New York. More Greenwich News... Greenwich Local Sports New Canaan Sports Digest Sept 7 (Patch) It did not take long for former New Canaan standout wide receiver Kevin Macari to make an impact at Georgetown... ... a 34-1 record and three Class C New England titles. Registration is ongoing for the The Volvo of Stamford Tour de Greenwich XXVII, a 20-mile bicycle race set for Sept. 18 at 7:30 a.m. The race starts at Greenwich High School. The pre-entry ... Read Greenwich Local Sports... Greenwich Local Business Big City Fashion Hits Greenwich Ave This Thursday (Patch) In typical Greenwich fashion , the town's inaugural foray into the glamorous world of runways and models will take place this Thursday evening on the Ave, on our very own Boulevard of Dreams .A Fashion's Night Out is actually a two-year old concept first created in NYC to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost the industry's ... Greenwich Nurse Convinced Irene Rushed Births (The Daily Greenwich) Hurricane Irene left more than downed trees in Greenwich. Patricia Bierne, program director for Women's and Children's Services at Greenwich Hospital , thinks it may have been the reason for a spike in births at the hospital the weekend of the storm. Read Greenwich Local Business

06/07/11 NJ Official Tapped to Lead Connecticut Department of Education and more from Greenwich Patch

Today 67° 65° Tomorrow 75° 65° September 7, 2011 Your News September 7, 2011 NJ Official Tapped to Lead Connecticut Department of Education | Sep 7, 2011 | 0 Comments Stefan Pryor, deputy mayor of Newark, will be recommended by the state Board of Education on Tuesday. Man Gets DUI After Allegedly Driving Wrong Way on The Ave. Patrick Barnard | Sep 7, 2011 | 0 Comments Greenwich Police Reports for Sept. 3-6 Greenwich Scores and Standings, Sept 7 Bob Birge | Sep 7, 2011 | 0 Comments Your interactive, daily digest for all Greenwich scores, schedules and standings — and a place for you to add information and images for all youth sports Big City Fashion Hits Greenwich Ave This Thursday Meg Nolan van Reesema | Sep 6, 2011 | 0 Comments Greenwich's first ever Fashion Night Out will premiere this Thursday Evening from 6 to 11 p.m. Keep That Summer Camp 'Momentum' Going into the School Year Marisa Iallonardo | Sep 6, 2011 | 0 Comments This summer, your child not only learned how to swim underwater, but got over her crippling stage fright as well. Here's how to keep that inertia going, even as September starts. See more News »

08/07/11 Greenwich's Whitby School Rolls Out iPads And More News In The Daily Greenwich

Main Street Connect Your Home Town Online

News from The Daily Greenwich

Greenwich's Whitby School Rolls Out iPads
by Anna Helhoski | 09/07/11
	GREENWICH, Conn. — Whitby students joined high-tech schools across the nation in trying out iPads in the classroom on their first ... READ MORE

Like The Daily Greenwich on Facebook!
by Anna Helhoski | 09/07/11
	GREENWICH, Conn. — Did you know TheDailyGreenwich.com is on Facebook? Get the most up-to-date Greenwich headlines on news, sports, ... READ MORE

Malloy Details $135M in State Cuts
by Richard Weizel | 09/07/11
	About $135 million in state budget reductions were announced Tuesday by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy — part of $700 million in ... READ MORE

Disaster Relief Offered for Jobless in Fairfield
by Richard Weizel | 09/06/11
	FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Unable to get out of the house or get to work because of damage from Hurricane Irene? There may be help on ... READ MORE

How Do You Start the School Year, Greenwich?
by Anna Helhoski | 09/06/11
	GREENWICH, Conn. – School starts Wednesday morning for all Greenwich Public Schools and we'd like to know about the ... READ MORE

09/07/11 The Countdown Continues At Greenwich CT.com - Fashions Night Out takes on Greenwich Avenue!

Greenwich CT.com

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THING 205: Fashions Night Out takes on Greenwich Avenue! Posted: 06 Sep 2011 07:28 AM PDT From the street of Greenwich to the boulevards of Paris, Fashion will take on the world the evening of September 8, 2011. This special evening highlights the best styles of the fall season and participating stores will stay open late for a shopping extravaganza! Here in our own lovely town ....