05/29/08 The Police Blotter Via The Greenwich Post

Police Watch: The following are released reports of May 28-29

POSSESSION

Michael Spirer, 24, of Wilton was arrested May 27 and charged with possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and sixth degree larceny. According to police, officers were called to the scene of Michaelangelo of Greenwich when store employees saw Spirer take a leather change purse from the shelves, place it in his bag and then attempt to leave without paying for it. Police retrieved the bag, which was valued at $22.50 from Spirer’s bag. During a search, police allegedly found a narcotic patch he didn’t have a prescription for, white powder that Spirer claimed was Ritalin, three broken pens which were being used as straws, seven green pills, one white pill and half a blue pill, all of which are controlled substances, and a one pound bag of Starbucks coffee. Spirer reportedly told police he had been in the store earlier to buy a cup of coffee and stole the bag of coffee at that time. Spirer was released on a $250 cash bond and is due in court June 4.

PROBATION

Darrell Anderson, 38, of New London was arrested May 27 and charged with violation of probation. Anderson was in custody at the Hartford Correctional Facility when he was brought to Greenwich to be charged. He was being held in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond and is due in court June 3.

EAVESDROPPING

David Weiss, 44, of 15 River Road was arrested May 28 and charged with eavesdropping. Police alleged that he had been recording conversations with another person without that person’s knowledge. The complaint had been filed on Oct. 29. Weiss was released on a promise to appear and is due in court June 11.

APPEAR

Allen Green, 26, of White Plains, N.Y. was arrested May 28 and charged with first degree failure to appear. Green failed to appear in court to respond to a May 12, 2002, charge of violation of probation. Green was being held in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond and is due in court June 4.

LARCENY

Bridgeport resident Alvaro Urbano-Bonilla, 28, was arrested May 28 and charged with sixth degree larceny, improper use of license, unregistered towing, not having any insurance and operating without a license. Police had reportedly discovered a stolen vehicle and pulled it over. Bonilla was reportedly identified by his passport and did not have a valid license, registration or insurance in his possession. He was released on a $1,000 surety bond and is due in court June 11.

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05/29/08 This month principals from all over the world have been suspendd and in each and every case the parents were told why, except in Greenwich

Challenging A Compliant Media:

So what happened?

What constitutes a "serious allegation"?

Typical local Greenwich media reporting.

With these facts, it's almost non news.


Why Ask Why

The High Paid Administrators Of The Greenwich School District And The Board Of Education Are Never Held Accountable, Because Of The Compliant Greenwich News Media.

When the Greenwich Board Of Education doesn't consider parents important enough to be informed about what's going in the schools, then local news reporters are supposed to get out on the streets and dig for details.

Shame on the Greenwich public school district spokeswoman Kim Eves for using spin doctor technique on the concerned parents of Glenville School. Local news outlets should just ignore Ms. Eves and go right to Betty Steinberg and the others responsible for the "serious allegation" that led to the school suspension.

All to often Greenwich school children suffer, because of
opportunistic school board politicians, compliant local media and an ineffective and passive PTA are not accountable the single family home-owners who pay the bills.

Information, news, ideas - that's the juice that gets
an accountable school district. When a few school board members
control all the juice, they decidehow the school system works.

Or how it won't work.

Greenwich doesn't have to worry that much about parents and
the single family home-owners doing the right thing if they have
the facts about what their school board is up to.

But if they don't get the facts, the whole thing falls apart.

The Hamilton Avenue School construction fiasco and the
Hamilton Avenue contaminated modular classrooms provides the
perfect example of how things fall apart when the local news media
fails to do it's job.

Who, What, When Where, But Not Why?

The parents and taxpayers in the Greenwich Public School system
are not told by their local news media why Glenville School Principal
Marc D'Amico was suspended.

Please See:

05/28/08 Greenwich Post And Greenwich Time Websites Have Breaking 
Glenville School News. Where's The Greenwich Citizen?

During the last month the local news media in school districts around
the world were fully informed as to why their school principals were
suspended.

However, the single family home-owners who pay the extravagant
salaries of failed school administrators are kept in the dark.

Greenwich School Superintendent Betty Sternberg and her failed
school board have placing the taxpayers on a "need to know" basis.

And Sterberg and her crownies will let the folks who pay the bills
whenand what they "need to know" 

Please see:

Hamilton County: Education board to vote on settlement for ..
Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN

May 20, 2008

Brainerd High School assistant The Hamilton County Board of Education likely will return suspendedprincipal Joshuah Barber to the
classroom as a teacher ...

Principal held for 'consuming liquor in school'
Hindu, India

May 18, 2008

District Magistrate Jai Prakash Tripathi suspended the principal Shyam Babu Sabita after some news channel aired the news of him having liquor in the school ...

Suspended Weinert principal resigns
Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, TX

May 16, 2008

By Jessica Sanders

SEGUIN — Weinert Elementary’s principal submitted her resignation this week after being placed on administrative leave. ...

Strip-search of girls leads to principal’s suspension
Thaindian.com, Thailand

May 6, 2008

“The report has found the principal guilty in the stripping case. The principal has been suspended and a show-cause notice has been served to three teachers ...

Liberia: Several Schools Principals Penalized for WAEC
AllAfrica.com, Washington

May 20, 2008

The Minister of Education, Dr. Joseph Korto has suspended four Public School Principals and two other officials indefinitely for their failure to ensure ...

Board deliberates fate of Farrell, Pa., principal
Youngstown Vindicator, OH

May 24, 2008

He was suspended without pay in February pending the outcome of a dismissal hearing. That hearing before the school board covered three days in March and ...

Farrell Principal Hearing
WYTV, OH

May 19, 2008

Lee McFerren, has been suspended without pay from his job as Farrell High School Principal since February. McFerren was suspended do to allegations of ...

Gateway BOE suspends vice principal
Gloucester County Times - NJ.com, NJ

May 15, 2008

"For the period he remains suspended with pay, the district will incur additional expenses as we will also compensate Ms. Phelps," said Stumpo. ...

Elementary School Principal Under Investigation
KCTV5 News, Mo

May 21, 2008

Munson has been suspended from her job. She's worked at the school for the last three years. Regarding that, Wheeler-Linden said it was a human resources ...

Principal Allegedly Ignored Student Sex
WDIV, MI

May 16, 2008

The principal of the Pontiac Alternative Leadership Academy at Bethune School was suspended Tuesday while officials look into allegations that she knew ...

School Principle Beats And Injures 12 Students
Biamag, Turkey

May 15, 2008

The students are hospitalized and the principle is suspended until the investigation is completed. The school principal who ordered his students to clean ...

South Davidson principal indicted
Lexington Dispatch, NC

May 13, 2008

Overcash, who had been a principal at South Davidson since 2004, was initially suspended from Davidson County Schools with pay. The suspension changed to ...

Sussex Central High principal charged with rape of minor
The News Journal, DE

May 3, 2008

By TERRI SANGINITI

The principal of Sussex Central High School in Georgetown has been suspended without pay after his ...

Lake County vice principal out in fallout from sex case
State Gazette, TN

May 14, 2008

Pillow, a Dyersburg resident, was appointed vice principal in August 2007. LCHS science teacher Tracy Hinson, 38, of Newbern, was suspended without pay on ...

Prosecutor: Principal leveraged his power for sex
The News Journal, DE

May 9, 2008

Central High School's principal and a 17-year-old student Thursday as the suspended administrator's attorney successfully argued for reduced bond. ...

Accused of theft, former principal now fired in Colo.
Hutchinson News, KS

May 8, 2008

Great Bend Superintendent Tom Vernon said Atkinson was suspended without pay and was awaiting an administrative hearing when he resigned in November. ...

Board gets principal's resignation
Asbury Park Press, NJ

May 6, 2008

Although the resignation is effective June 30, Maria Iozzi, supervisor of bilingual studies, who has a principal's certificate, will serve as interim ...

Ex-principal 'driven by test scores'
Kentucky.com, KY

May 3, 2008

She said Petrilli had the option of being suspended with pay while the investigation was pending. The investigation was completed because the district had ...

McFerren removal hearing set to resume next week
Sharon Herald, PA

May 12, 2008

By Tom Davidson

Suspended Farrell High School Principal Lee McFerren’s removal hearing is set to resume next week. McFerren has been suspended without pay ...

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05/29/08 Real Estate Spotlight - $7.995 MILLION - To See This House Contact Renee Gallagher, Round Hill Partners, (203) 861-0050

GREENWICH, CONN. REAL ESTATE

New York Post

The cost to send a letter may have gone up again, but buyers in Greenwich know the price of a postage-stamp property (i.e., humongous house, tiny plot of land) has never been cheap. So all the more reason to appreciate the value of this estate, set on 4 "park-like" acres on a private cul-de-sac in "prime mid-country."

The renovated 8,180-square-foot Georgian Colonial is really something to write home about, too, with six bedrooms, 6½ bathrooms, traditional (but "huge") entertaining rooms, 10-foot ceilings, custom moldings, a home theater, a gym, a wine cellar and a wraparound terrace on the second floor.

First-class amenities include a heated swimming pool "enhanced" by flagstone patios, an elevator to all levels and a backup generator (in case of rain, sleet or hail).

ALSO:

Getting to the Bottom of a Russian's 26 Toilets: Michael Lewis

Bloomberg.com

...In 2005 Valery Kogan, a Russian whom no one outside of Russia had ever heard of, turns up in Greenwich and buys a five- acre lot with a 20,000-square-foot house on it.

Naturally -- he being Russian, this being Greenwich -- he expects to tear down this old house and erect his own new 54,000- square-foot place. Like me, Valery Kogan overcame great odds to become a capitalist success. (I went to Penn, for example; Valery was born in a police state, and given a girl's name, to boot.)

Having made it this far he clearly never imagined that anyone might try to stop him from going even further. But then he met the organized proletariat of Greenwich...

...His desire for a 26-holer is the thing no ordinary person, even in Greenwich, seems capable of understanding.

``Who needs that many toilets?'' one of the protesting nimrods of Greenwich put it to Bloomberg News, speaking for the whole miserable rabble.

Well, for a start, Valery Kogan needs 26 toilets. He also needs someone to explain the need. Allow me.

To begin with -- and it depresses me that I find myself instructing citizens of Greenwich on the special needs of the very rich -- the seriously wealthy don't use their houses as ordinary people do....

...Bowl Superiority

Put this way you can see the true genius of Valery Kogan. Virtually every other form of conspicuous consumption in America has been bought and paid for; in the brain space that ordinary people reserve for the obsessive contemplation of the rich, there was hardly any real estate left.

Cars, houses, animals, furs, jewels, islands: From the point of view of the ordinary person looking for something to envy all are ``been there, done that.''

``Toilets!'' I can imagine Valery saying to himself, late on one cold Russian night, ``I will buy more toilets than any man on earth and the American people will speak of me with wonder.'' And they do.

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05/19/08 At the fishway, we've had a tremendous herring run this year. We've passed about 82,000 river herring so far

The Fish Are Spawning in the Mianus in Greenwich Again This Year
by Tom Andersen + Gina Federico

About 90000 anadromous fish -- alewives, mainly, but blueback herring as well -- made it over the fish ladder on the Mianus River in Greenwich in the spring of 2007. That number amazed fisheries biologists, because river herring ...
sphere - http://thissphere.blogspot.com/

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05/29/08 Times are definitely tough when Greenwich is starting to feelhe sting

Wall Street Woes Hit Greenwich, CT
by The Huffington Post News Team

Sylwester Lemanski was this close to selling a $400,000 Lamborghini to a Wall Street investment banker.

The customer had been eyeing the car for months at the dealership Lemanski manages. He had decided on the model and color -- a titanium Murcielago -- and needed only to sign on the bottom line.

Then, as financial markets teetered in March and layoffs mounted on Wall Street, the customer started getting cold feet. Lemanski could feel the deal slipping away.

"After a little bit you just have to ask someone the question: 'Are we, or are we not?' " Lemanski recalled. "He said, 'Sorry, not.' He said what's going on with all the investment banks was stopping him from making the purchase....

Business on HuffingtonPost.com - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/feeds/verticals/business/index.xml

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05/29/08 Thursday's News Links From The Greenwich Citizen

The WGCH News Anchor Reads From Today's Greenwich Citizen's News Links

The Greenwich Citizen Website Has Not Been Updated For 6 Days

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05/29/08 Thursday's News Links From The Greenwich Post

Not fair?

Parents file civil rights claim against schools

Quote:

“It’s just so frustrating to be constantly fighting, fighting, fighting for the basic educational resources that all children should get and you’re just never heard,” Ms. Bibeault told the Post Tuesday. “You get to the point where you have to say enough is enough.”

The Story:

The federal government is investigating Greenwich Public Schools for discrimination after one parent reported that Hamilton Avenue School students were not supplied with the same supplies and opportunities that students in the other district schools have received...

... “There’s a laundry list of complaints,” Ms. Bibeault said, adding that there was discrimination against the school’s teachers as well as the students because they were placed at a disadvantage without proper teaching supplies and often forced to buy items with their own money.

“The Board of Education had plenty of opportunities to right itself, but it just continued to squash the disadvantaged,” Ms. Bibeault said....

... “It varies from case to case,” Mr. Bradshaw told the Post. “All the information in the case that is needed to reach a determination about the facts will be collected. If we determine there has been a violation, we will work with the school district to get it to come into compliance with the civil rights laws.

Mr. Bradshaw said in most cases, th OCR is able to resolve the matter without enforcement, which could mean anything from taking the school district to court to withholding funding. Mr. Bradshaw called those “last resorts” and "rarely" used.

Hospital benefits from robotic surgery tools

That’s the No. 1 benefit for patients at Greenwich Hospital who undergo surgery using robotic technology, said Dr. John Clark, anesthesiologist and a prostate cancer survivor himself.

Sail & Power Squadron casts off, promoting boating safety

About 90% of those who drowned in 2006 were not wearing a life jacket, according to the latest available national statistics. Drowning was reported as the cause of death in two-thirds of all fatalities, and, consistent with previous years, 70% of reported deaths occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

With Greenwich’s official boating season more than a month under way, the Captain Harbor Sail & Power Squadron and the Marine Division of the town’s police department are hoping captains and their crews will follow the rules and have a safe summer.

Selectmen want one field for park site

Plans for the Cos Cob power plant site have come full circle now that the Board of Selectmen has narrowed options for a future park to two — both with one athletic field and either a meadow or an area for passive recreation.

ALSO:
Excitement in the air

For a slideshow of photos from the
Greenwich Academy graduation, click here.

For a slideshow of photos from the
Brunswick School graduation, click here. ================================================ Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

05/29/08 Thursday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

James Clyburn Says Jim's The Man

House whip endorses Himes

NORWALK - James Clyburn of South Carolina, the majority whip and third-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, was upfront yesterday about endorsing Jim Himes of Greenwich in his bid to unseat longtime Republican Christopher Shays in the Fourth Congressional District.

Glenville principal suspended

Glenville School Principal Marc D'Amico was suspended pending an investigation into serious allegations, school officials said yesterday.

The nose knows

Like the many who came before and after her, Utsi was born and raised in the Netherlands with a nose for explosives.

Work starting this summer

A major project to upgrade the vast network of power cables beneath Greenwich Avenueis expected to start this summer, rebuilding an aging yet heavily-burdened energy grid that experts say is vulnerable to a major failure like the one that left much of downtown Stamford in the dark two years ago.

Residents stay close to home for the holidays

Forget Nantucket or the Hamptons. With the price of a gallon of gas flirting with the $5 mark, Greenwich is starting to show signs of becoming a backup summertime destination for stay-at-home tourists.

Abilis group prepares for performance

Dennis Waring looked around the circle last Sunday, his padded drum stick hovering above the long, red drum he carried around his neck.

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05/28/08 With the spectacular job the Corps has done with the Mississippi, maybe Byram can do without the help of the army engineers

Town wary of Corps return

Quotes:

"What happened in the past, while it's important to moving forward, we're still moving forward and developing a whole new alternative," Jodi McDonald, the chief of the rivers and lakes section of the corps's planning division in New York, said. "We'll essentially have public meetings and ask for public input.

"You're really starting with a new slate," Mark Weller, a Pemberwick resident and member of the Byram River Working Group said. "There's new things you can do that's less obvious to the homeowners and the town that would mitigate flooding."

Story:

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last presented ideas for preventing floods along the Byram River nearly two decades ago, the town flatly rejected the recommendations.

Now that the corps has returned to again study the problem of flooding along the Byram River, some town officials are greeting the federal agency's return with skepticism.

"Let's make sure the results are better than the last outcome," Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency chairman Tom Baptist said, adding that the last time the corps examined flooding along the Byram River was in 1990, when he was then Greenwich's conservation director.

At the time, he successfully lobbied the town to reject the corps recommendations because the proposed measures were too drastic and unnecessary, Baptist said. For instance, engineers recommended excavating 3,000 feet of the Byram River channel, condemning and demolishing scores of structures near the river, removing 1,000 trees and building several concrete structures, such as an 8-foot height and 3,200-foot long levee, he said.

"We had no chance to discuss with their engineers alternatives," Baptist said. "The town made the correct decision, there's no doubt in my mind."

Following the destructive April 15, 2007, nor'easter, which forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents living near flooded waterways, including 100 in Greenwich, the U.S. House of Representatives asked the corps to investigate conditions at the Byram River and nearby Westchester....

Full Story: Greenwich Time

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05/28/08 Greenwich Resident Ned Lamont On WNPR: Where We Live: The Rise of Populism

Ned Lamont and author David Sirota talk to “Where we Live.”

Sirota talks about the populist revolt he says is scaring Wall Street and Washington, highlighting Ned Lamont’s 2006 senate campaign. His book, THE UPRISING, traces the historical roots of populism, from its start in the rural West in the 19th Century all the way through Lamont’s 2006 race. Sirota asks the question – Will a real movement emerge from all this rage?

Listen here:

http://www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live/episode/rise-populism

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05/28/08 Greenwich Post And Greenwich Time Websites Have Breaking Glenville School News. Where Is The Greenwich Citizen?

Glenville principal suspended

By Ken Borsuk,
Greenwich Post - Staff Reporter

Marc D’Amico, principal at Glenville School, has been suspended with pay pending an investigation of what the district is terming “serious allegations.” Former Western Middle School Principal Don Strange has taken over for Mr. D’Amico on an interim basis.

Parents and Glenville School staff members were briefed about the suspension today and the district administration released a statement saying that the suspension was effective today and was taking place “without prejudice.” A letter was sent home today with all Glenville students and all Hamilton Avenue students assigned to the school stating that the suspension was in effect and saying Mr. Strange, who retired in 2006 after 19 years leading Western, “...Would provide ongoing support to Glenville School during this difficult time.”

Kim Eves, the district’s director of communications, said the district would not comment on the matter and would not discuss what triggered the suspension.
Glenville School PTA co-president Celia Fernandez spoke to the Post today and said the organization “respected the right to due process” and wanted to see where the investigation led before commenting on it.....

Glenville Principal Suspended

Hoa Nguyen
Greenwich Time Reporter

Marc D'Amico has been suspended as principal of Glenville School while school officials conduct "an investigation of serious allegations," according to a letter sent home to parents today.

Officials would not comment on the investigation or D'Amico's suspension, calling it a "personnel matter" involving human resource officials, district spokeswoman Kim Eves said. She declined to say whether other town agencies are involved.

"I can't say anything else," she said. "It's an H.R. issue."

The suspension caught parents and town officials by surprise.

"This is a really critical time in the school year," said First Selectman Peter Tesei upon learning the news.

Marc D'Amico has been suspended as principal of Glenville School while school officials conduct "an investigation of serious allegations," according to a letter sent home to parents today.

Also:

The Greenwich Citizen Is Lost In Cyberspace

The Greenwich Citizen News Website
Has Not Been Updated In 5 Days

Please see:

05/26/08 Tuesday's News Links From The Greenwich Citizen

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05/28/08 Wednesday's News Links From The Greenwich Post

New Lebanon looks to magnet future

Saying that the program presented the best chance to improve student performance while getting new student involvement, New Lebanon School officials have embraced an International Baccalaureate (IB) course of study....

For Older Americans Month, seniors get the facts on strokes

Strokes are the second leading cause of death among Greenwich residents and across the United States, according to the town health department.

It’s why last week the town organized a lecture with cardiologist Dr. Glenn Gandelman at the senior center in honor of Older Americans Month.

The lecture is part of an ongoing series, which wraps up today, presenting lectures on various senior issues.

Last Wednesday, Dr. Gandelman educated seniors on the health factors associated with strokes. Dr. Gandelman addressed issues regarding causes, symptoms and prevention techniques of strokes.

ALSO:

Skate park is 5 years old

On May 31, The Junior League of Greenwich will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Greenwich Skate Park.

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05/28/08 Wednesday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

Triathlete keeps focus, despite cancer

Being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer has not slowed down five-time all-American athlete Karen Newman.

Beach card arrest nixed

Prosecutors have denied a police application for a warrant to arrest a town man in an alleged beach card counterfeiting scheme.

Dems fail to find candidate

Democrats in the state's 150th House District failed to meet a deadline yesterday for nominating a candidate in the race, making GOP incumbent Lile Gibbons a virtual lock for a fifth term.

Town wary of Corps return

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last presented ideas for preventing floods along the Byram River nearly two decades ago, the town flatly rejected the recommendations.

Students run meetings with teachers, parents

Although his nonfiction essays and math and spelling skills need work, International School at Dundee fourth-grader Henry Wheelock has gotten better at writing stories....

================================================
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05/26/08 Checks And Balances - A Greenwich Broadcator's Blog Is Watching The Bloggers Who Are Watching The Mainstream News Media (Updated)

Greenwich Board of Ed Investigated for Racism; Bloggers Collective Heads Explode

by Ron Adams Sprorts Director At WGCH

This should be a fun one to watch. The Greenwich Time has the story here, while even The Journal News (via the AP) jumped on the bandwagon with a story...

...So I'll just sit back and watch as this develops; once again leaving the hand-wringing and mud-slinging to the folks at Greenwich Gossip, Greenwich Roundup, and the other blogs from the "wealthy town."

Personally I always like it when they call Greenwich "tony." Sounds more aristocratic to me. While here in Carmel, or other non-Greenwich places, I just watch people roll their eyes at the mention of the town that I spend a great deal of time in.

Y'all just don't know....

Comment From Greenwich Roundup:

Dear Rob at Exit 55.

The proof is in the pudding.

It is what it is. The children at Hamilton Avenue either had a computer lab like the other Greenwich school children or they didn't have a computer lab like the other Greenwich school children.

Unfortunately, it might take a Federal Judge to get the powers that be to fairly share resources with the members of Greenwich Society that live on the west side of town.

Riverside and Old Greenwich don't have these complaints.

signed,

Brian originally from the "show me state" now a
Western Greenwich Resident

Or as Harry "Give Em Hell" Truman might have said, "If Betty and the failed Greenwich Board of Education can't stand the heat maybe they should get the hell out of the kitchen."

PS:

Rob, I am a big fan of the local sports coverage that you provide to Greenwich, you are truly practising the lost art of in depth and insightful local sports coverage. I am never upset when your excellent broadcasts pre-empt Sam Romeo's show or goes into national broadcast of Craig Crossman's Computer America.

Rob you are passionate about fully utilizing the resources of WGCH to bring Greenwich residents the best sports coverage possible. However, the news department doesn't seem to have that same fire in their belly.

The folks in the news room, while very nice and hard-working, should stop reading Greenwich Time news clips and calling the same 20 town officials over and over. They need to get out on the street like you do. They need to discover that their are thousands of other voices in Greenwich.

While the news team does a good job on election nights, and provides a valuable public service with a weekly radio interviews with the folks at Greenwich Hospital and with First Selectman Peter Tesei, there are many more people and stories in town.

The WGCH news team needs to show up at some Town meetings instead of reporting about them third hand.

The WGCH news team needs to start holding very well paid school and town officials accountable to the single family home-owners of Greenwich.

WGCH news crew needs to start filling some Freedom Of Information requests and start breaking some news stories instead of reporting everything through the prism of the Greenwich Time.

News 12 is often in the field breaking news stories in Greenwich.

Most times I feel that the talents of the WGCH news team are wasted, because they play it a little too safe in the studio. It is clear that their is talent in the news crew, but it is greatly under utilized.

When was the last time that WGCH did an investigative report?

Has WGCH ever done an investigative report?

This is one of the many reasons Bill Clark at Greenwich Gossip refers to WGCH as the "World's Greatest Communication Hoax".

If WGCH wanted to they could limit sports reporting to the studio and you could read Greenwich Time sports reports over the air. You could even provide a valuable public service by having an in studio sports interview show, but things just would not be the same.

Their would not be that spark in the air. That sence of excitement that you bring out on the field at a live event.

That's why the management of WGCH needs to let the reporters go out in the field and break some stories for a change. The WGCH news department needs that same spark that the sports department has.

Rob it is nice to see that the you and the folks at WGCH enjoy Greenwich's Most Influential News Website, but I knew this already because WGCH shows up in my web stats almost every day except Saturday and Sunday.

====================
MORE FROM ROB ADAMS
EXIT 55
====================

Of Tasers and Water Balloons (Or Greenwich's Version Of "Don't Tase Me Bro")

I work in Greenwich, and I'm involved with Greenwich High School quite a bit. I like the people of Greenwich, who have been thoughtful and kind to me for over a decade now.Publish Post

Sometimes Greenwich can be quite silly (OK, quite often). Much has been made of a case last week where a GHS student was tasered on campus by a Greenwich Police Officer. In fact, there are a few other blogs that deal with Greenwich specifically, so I'll let them pontificate wihtout me adding opinions to the fire. I wasn't there.

Greenwich Roundup has been leading the charge. They describe their mission statement as:

We offer online news, multimedia, blogs and complete digest of the events and issues that effect the people of Greenwich. Our goal is to promote critical reading and evaluation of news and blog postings. We strongly encourage our readers to send feedback to reporters, webmasters and to write letters to the editor. We hope that visitors to Greenwich Roundup wiil express their views by commenting on blog posts.

In the process of their coverage, they have been bold critics of the Greenwich Time and the Greenwich Board of Ed.

Full disclosure - I saw my name on there just once, but it was part of a blog that somebody else wrote about me. Plus it was positive. So there. I have, however, seen WGCH get criticized. Whatever. Nature of the beast. I would like folks to understand that the days of 24 hour local radio are gone, but I can't go crazy. I'm just a small player in this game, as I've said before.

Criticism about WGCH has also come from Bill Clark, the humble scribe at Greenwich Gossip. Mr. Clark has own thoughts regarding the taster incident.

So read these and other blogs with regard to this story at Greenwich High School. I'm a sports reporter who fills in anchoring the news occasionally. I think I'm better served staying away from this one.

I did once host a general talk show on WGCH, and this would have been a dandy topic, but time moves on...

More Posts From Rob Adams
Excellent Blog - Exit 55

• Daddy's Not the Only Celebrity in the Family!
• Bill Murray, Baseball, and Beer (aren't the three ...
• Girardi Gets Suspended/Umpire Gets Nothing
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• Happy Memorial Day Eve
• Hockey Hype
• More General Mets-Fan Stupidity
• A Great Music Montage and Other Airchecks
• This is Just Ridiculous
• Adios, Mike
• Crap-tastic!
• It's May...So Let's Talk FOOTBALL!!
• Bobby Murcer - in Book Form!
• Death Cab For Cutie
• On Music: Trust WFUV, Zach Braff, Stephanie, and M...
• Off the Bench (The "One of Those Moods" Edition)
• Oh. My. Freakin. God.
• Embarrassing
• Ring-a-Ding-Ding!
• Another Bobby Murcer Item
• Another Vin Scully Item
• Warm and Fuzzies
• Best. News. Today.

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UPDATE FROM EXIT 55
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I Knew I'd Get Noticed

After writing about some of the latest items of note in Greenwich, I figured that it was just a matter of time before Greenwich Roundup posted the links on their site. They not only did so, but had a few thoughts regarding WGCH. There was some criticism, and also some praise. I thank them for the kind words about me and our sports coverage. It's no secret we work hard. I've also said that covering news in Greenwich is not like it used to be.

Let me put it to you this way - it's a question of the economic realities of radio in the year 2008. WGCH has a news staff of two, and they do a fine job. Not long ago, it was at least three, with the potential to freelance (that's where I would sometimes come in).

I can't offer much more than that. We're doing our best on WGCH to keep local news, sports and talk alive in a tough time for radio.

As I wrote in response, I will post links to what's going on, and some witty remarks, but will skip the opinions for two reasons. One - I often serve as a fill-in news anchor. That doesn't always keep me from saying what's on my mind in my own blog (or off the air), but the more important reason is number two:

I don't have the facts. Case closed. So I continue to be an observer.

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For the record Greenwich Roundup has not only been very critical
of the Greenwich Time and WGCH. Greenwich's Most Influential
Website has also heavily criticized the Greenwich Citizen and the Greenwich Post.

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05/26/08 Why Wont The Greenwich Board Of Education Listen To The Single Family Home Owners Of Greenwich?

Betty must Go...
by greenwichguy

Greenwich school superintendent Betty Sternberg came to Greenwich for two reasons.

First for the money. Greenwich residents shower money on her. Between her salary, car allowance, housing allowance and bonuses, she makes somewhere in the neighborhood of $300,000.

Second, she thinks she is here to straighten out the elitist/racist attitude that she perceives to be in Greenwich. She sees herself as a champion of the less fortunate and those who disagree with her, as a cancer. The irony is that she is least regarded among the very people she believes she is the champion of.

The BOE is now being sued by a Hamilton Ave parent who saw the light when her children were shipped off to other town schools when mold was found in their modular classrooms. According to the parent, Mina Bibeault, she discovered that other schools in Town had superior library facilities and computer labs. She is fed up with the double standard in the Greenwich school system on Ms. Sternberg's and this BOE's watch.

It is time for the BOE to stand up and stop this insanity. Ms. Sternberg has shown that she is not up to the task of running a school system. It is time for her to go.
Eye on Greenwich Connecticut - http://eyeongreenwich.blogspot.com/

ALSO:

US investigates complaints of disparities among whites, minorities ...

GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) - Complaints of disparities in Greenwich schools serving minority and white students have prompted an investigation by the US Department of Education...
Lohud.com: Latest News - http://www.lohud.com

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05/26/08 The Shiny Apple Comments About Mina Bibeault's Fedreal Civil Rights Complaint Against The Greenwich Board Of Education

Greenwich Discrimination?

This weekend, one of the popular news stories was the complaint that Greenwich Board of Education might be discriminating against minority students using a comparison of the quality of schools in the town to support the claim. Is it still possible in this day and age that within a town, a schools systems could be purposely discriminating against a portion of the community? One would like to hope that this is not the case, but then again, if you look at Hartford, one school might not even have enough money to provide a cart to a teacher moving from room to room, while another might have state of the art SmartBoards glistening in each classroom. How is that possible? How is that fair? Did the town of Greenwich simply put the needs of this school aside, or did these problems form over time and it took the movement of students from their old world to a new for them and their parents to take a step back and see all the differences.

I wish the news story included more details about the differences. If you know some of the differences between the schools...
The Shiny Apple - http://theshinyapple.org

Please see:

05/25/08 - Hamilton Avenue School Parent Mina Bibeault Has Had Enough: She Files A Federal Civil Rights Complaint Against The Board Of Education

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05/26/08 Greenwich Concours has brought together enthusiasts and collectors for two days of friendly competition in a garden party atmosphere

Bonhams’ First Motorcar Auction at Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

Racers from McLaren & Maserati, Grand Tourers from Bugatti & Rolls-Royce, 1950s & ‘60s American Classics at Auction

World-renowned auctioneers Bonhams have amassed an exceptional collection of rare motorcars to go on auction Sunday, June 8th, at 10:30 am, as part of its first offering at the annual Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. This important sale of motorcars features rare marques with impressive racing history, classically elegant Rolls-Royce and touring cars, and American classics such as a turquoise ’54 Buick Skylark, in addition to a notable array of automobilia.

“Bonhams is delighted to be working with Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom, organizers of the Greenwich Concours, and enhancing our US auction schedule with a presence at one of the foremost events in the country,” says Rupert Banner, Bonhams V.P. of Business Development.

“The quality of this offering is excellent,” Mark Osborne Motoring Department Director, from the San Francisco gallery expounded. “A nice selection of extremely rare pre-war marques, with distinguished history and pedigree, combined with a selection of nearly 50 important motorcars, makes this a ‘must-see’ event for collectors world-wide.”

Since 1995 the Greenwich Concours has brought together enthusiasts and collectors for two days of friendly competition in a garden party atmosphere at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, overlooking Greenwich Harbor in Connecticut. In addition to being an important date in the concours circuit for more than a decade, the early summer event has become known for its collector car auction that has seen millions of dollars change hands. This year the auction is being conducted by Bonhams, the world’s largest all-encompassing auctioneer to hold scheduled sales of motorcars, motorcycles and related automobilia.

Highlights featured in this inaugural sale include:

The Ex-A.J. Lees circa 1931 Maserati Tipo 8C-2800 Two-Seat Sports/Formula Competition Car, a glorious-looking, exceptionally well-crafted replacement Maserati based upon the legendary Bologna-based family company’s original 8C-2800 model. (est. $600,000/850,000).

Racing aficionados will also be thrilled to see The ex-Ralph Salyer 'Cro-Sal' Special 1965 McLaren-Elva M1A Sports Racer, renowned for its period race history and accomplishments (est. $250,000/300,000).

The 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Double Cabriolet Stelvio, with coachwork by Gangloff, a rare example of a largely unrestored Bugatti Type 57, emblematic of the very earliest series conceived and styled by Jean Bugatti, estimated in the $250,000/350,000 range. A 1928 Vauxhall 20/60 Hurlingham Speedster, a sixty-horsepower model, formerly from the famed Abba Kogan Collection, refurbished with new paint and fresh leather interior and thorough engine detailing, an uncommon offering, and anticipated to fetch $160,000/200,000.

The first internal combustion engine automobile that performed with any degree of success, was Karl Benz’s Patent Motorwagen. Since the centenary of his invention, replicas of this historic car have been built and Bonhams offers one such car for sale. The Ex-Jacqueline de Rothschild and the late John Webb de Campi 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Convertible Sedan, with coachwork by Hibbard & Darrin, restored in 1998, with an enviable concours record including “Most Elegant Car” awards, and “Judges Choice” at several premier events, is anticipated to draw bidding in the $300,000/400,000 range.

American classics, including the 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible with hardtop, turquoise in color, with the 312 cubic inch Thunderbird Special engine, automatic transmission and power steering, seat and windows (est. $50,000/60,000), and the 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible, the rarest 1954 Buick, with only 836 built, estimated at $125,000/175,000 are well represented at the sale, along with a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Pick-Up (est. $35,000/45,000), and several other examples.

Over 180 lots of Automobilia will open the sale, beginning at 10:30 EST, on June 8th, featuring vintage racing posters, sculpture, hood ornaments, books, motoring-themed movie posters, catalogs and publications. Top lots of Automobilia include: 'Le Petit Poucet' by Max Blondat, French, 1920, signed bronze, cire perdue cast by Valsuani, depicting a running boy with huge boots jumping over a ball, mounted on a turned marble base (est. $15/17,000). This rare mascot is believed to be the first example appearing at auction for 40-years. Max Blondat was a noted French sculptor, born at Crain, France on 30th November 1872. Several glass mascots by René Lalique are on offer, as well, a signed, watercolor and gouache on board, mounted, framed and glazed by artist Peter Helck (1893-1988) titled 1952 Le Mans, twenty-four hours: The Cunningham Challenge, estimated at $15/17,000.

Previews for the Greenwich sale are open to the public on Saturday, June 7th, at 10:00 am, under the great white tent, located at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT 06830. The illustrated catalog for the Greenwich sale is online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com/us . Catalog purchase ($35.00) admits two to both the Concours and the auction events. For information on the Greenwich Concours event, visit:www.greenwichconcours.com. For more information on the sale, please contact Mark Osborne at 415-391-4000, or Rupert Banner in New York at 212- 461-6515.

Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally - http://www.classicrallies.com/blog/

For more information please visit:

Greenwich Concours d ' Elegance

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05/26/08 Greenwich Developer Pulls Plug On Port Chester Project, Because He Can't Get Financing.

Condo developments stall in Port Chester

Journal News

... once envisioned two dozen condominiums priced for middle-class professionals. In late 2006, Nick DiFilippo, a Greenwich, Conn.-based real estate developer, proposed tearing down the dilapidated buildings at 417-425 and replacing them with 1,100 ...

...While DiFilippo has completely abandoned his project, other planned developments in the village have stagnated.

It's been 2 1/2 years since Starwood Capital Group bought the 14-acre site of the former New York United Hospital Medical Center on Boston Post Road.

The village is still waiting for a proposal. Bruno J. Gioffre, an attorney representing Greenwich based, Starwood, said the delay is about finding the right project for the site, which may include a hotel and condominiums....

...The Wellington Greene, a five-story complex of two-bedroom condos at 410 Westchester Ave., opened a little more than a year ago and has remained mostly vacant....

....Down the block at Brookchester Court, a large banner in front advertises the 39-unit complex, which opened its doors at the end of 2006 and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom condos that start at $276,500.

Peg Fisk, who lives next door at 360 Westchester Ave., said the building is never bustling with people and she often wonders how many people live there.

A spokeswoman for Houlihan Lawrence Project Marketing said she did not know how many units are filled...

Are these troubles going to come to Greenwich?

Was Chris Fountain fired by the Greenwich Post for telling the truth?

Here is the latest "postings" from Chris Fountain's blog.

Here is an example of one of Mr. Fountain's posts:

More Market Blues, or, Apples to Apples

1 Brookside Park in Greenwich came on the market in May 2006 asking $4,895,000 and sold in November for $4,250,000. Whether because of buyer's remorse or a change in circumstances it was returned to the market by the new buyers in February, 2007, for $4,650,000 (nothing having been added or changed), lingered for 408 days and finally sold this past May 12th for $3,800,000. Rumor has it that the owners turned down an offer that would have brought them close to break-even and then ended up sitting on the place for another year. True or not, in this market, it probably pays to keep would-be-buyers talking.

Chris also says that:

"I was in negotiations with my former publisher, Greenwich Post, about returning as a paying advertiser, rather than a paid columnist. They wanted far more (5X) what they paid me for my column and, frankly, I couldn't see why I should invest in what is essentially a dying business. I can pay a smart young college kid I know a fraction of that fee to design and maintain a website, with links, photos, etc, and make this a better column, so that's what I've decided to do. Check back in soon and see what we've done."

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