$2.3M settlement in fatal accidentBy Debra Friedman
Staff Writer
Posted: 12/02/2008 02:31:59 AM EST
The estate of Justin Brown, the Greenwich teenager killed in a drunken driving accident in 2005, has been awarded $2. .3 million in a settlement reached in state Superior Court in Bridgeport.
The civil suit was brought by Brown's parents against the driver in the fatal accident,
Evan Kimia, who was convicted of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle and is currently serving a four year term at the Webster Correctional Institution in Cheshire, according to court records. The charge is specific to fatal motor vehicle accidents involving drinking and driving.
Brown's parents filed the suit seeking retribution for the damages caused as a result of the accident, including emotional pain and suffering and medical and funeral expenses, according to the complaint filed in court.
Brown was a passenger in Kimia's car when Kimia struck a tree on Round Hill Road before striking a stone wall. Brown, who lived at 83 Strickland Road, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering serious head injuries. Police said Kimia's blood alcohol content at the time of the accident exceeded the legal limit of .08.
Kimia and Brown met at Greenwich High School and attended Norwalk Community College together in 2005.
Bridgeport attorney William Bloss represented the parents, David Brown and Susan Supple, who filed the suit in September 2007. "It was agreed to by all of the parties and it was reached by the mediation involving Judge Michael Riley," said Bloss......
Full StoryNow Here Are More Of The Greenwich Time's "Hyper - Regional" News And Editorial Stories .....Stocks fall sharply on consumer spending worriesNEW YORK - The reality that the nation is indeed in recession and that the downturn may well be prolonged sent Wall Street plunging Monday, hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 700 points and wiping out more than half of last week's big gains.
Full Story
HARTFORD - Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell is among a group of governors who will be meeting with Barack Obama to discuss economic problems with the president-elect.
Full StoryMutual appeal: Money managers find optionsBy Michael C. Juliano
Staff Writer
Posted: 12/02/2008 02:44:55 AM EST
With problems besetting the hedge fund industry, some money managers may consider setting up mutual funds as an alternative for investors.
Thomas Kirchner, a chartered financial adviser, founder and manager of
Brooklyn, N.Y.-based mutual fund Pennsylvania Avenue Funds, explained the intricacies of "How to Start a Mutual Fund" at a recent networking event held by the Stamford CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Society.
"If you're starting up a fund, you're a money manager and a CEO of a money management firm," he said, to about 25 money managers at the
Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa.
A mutual fund is easy to start with a master trust and comes with an immediate ticker symbol and the backing of an experienced team, but it also has fees and restrictions, said Kirchner,
Full StoryTesei forms group for disabledBy Meredith Blake
Staff Writer
Posted: 12/02/2008 02:31:56 AM EST
When lifelong resident Carol Kana, who relies on a scooter to get around, arrived at Town Hall yesterday for the announcement of a new committee to advocate for people with disabilities,
she had trouble getting through the electronic handicapped accessible doors, which were not working.
"This has always been an issue," she said.
And one, she hopes, the newly appointed First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, which is charged with advising town officials on the rights and needs of people with disabilities, will be able to address, she said.
First Selectman Peter Tesei introduced the nine members who are to represent various groups of people with disabilities in the community, from mental health and special needs advocates to individuals with physical disabilities.
"I wanted to be on this committee because I hope to bridge the gap between the world of disability with the world of ability," said Jacky Schofield, who is visually impaired and works as a disability inclusion associate.
"
There are so many people who have sympathy for people with a disability but have no idea what to do beyond that. I'm hoping this committee can work on giving people with a disability a voice in this town," she said.
The idea for the organization began when Kana, who has limited mobility after a bout with polio , first approached Tesei with some of her concerns about handicapped parking and the lack of curb cuts in town. She was frustrated by what she saw as a lack of compliance by the town to the American with Disabilities Act, 18 years after it was first enacted in 1990.....
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The group is considering holding a town forum to hear from the community about what their needs are, said Schofield.
"I anticipate that as this group goes forward more people will find their way to them for support," Tesei said."
Other members of the group include: Ron Arvoy, a mental health advocate who is bipolar and is in recovery; Mike Beloff, a financial planner whose son has special needs; Lise Jameson, executive director of the nonprofit At Home in Greenwich, which offers seniors a flexible plan to age in their homes; Paul Morell, who participated in the Special Olympics in ice skating, swimming and golf; Tina Northrop, who has a disability and is assisted by Abilis, which provides support for people with disabilities; and Lolli Ross, the executive director of Abilis.
The committee can be reached at 861-3191 or at disability@greenwichct.org
Full StoryBe TrueBy Kim Kat KristoffSpecial Correspondent
Posted: 12/02/2008 07:27:02 AM EST
"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what Light I have."
-- Abraham Lincoln
I read this quote and began to reflect on my journey as the founder and director of the Greenwich Associates for Well-Being.
In 2004, I held a meeting at the Greenwich YWCA and presented a proposal to two dozen local holistic well-being practitioners for a Holistic Healthcare & Arts Center and Community Outreach Program in Greenwich. The mission was to bring holistic ideas and practices into the heart of Greenwich by providing a nurturing, creative, spiritual environment where people of all ages could experience and learn wellness, love and laughter.....
She says the perfect gift can be the one that always stays with youBy Howard Schneider and Vicky Hallett
The Washington PostPosted: 12/02/2008 07:28:56 AM EST
On Christmas morning 2006, Roger Bischoff didn't find his biggest present waiting under the tree. Instead, his wife, Susan, teased him with packages of related goodies. There were socks, rain gear, a water bottle ... and finally, travel documents saying he was headed on an REI Adventure to the Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks in Utah. The next day. ....
Agency helps to 'Feed the Pig'By Michael C. Juliano
Staff Writer
Posted: 12/02/2008 02:42:35 AM EST
A
Westport advertising agency is trying to spread the word on how to fill piggy banks during these uncertain economic times.
VGS Creative, founded in Westport in 1993, has created four public service announcements free of charge for the Ad Council's "Feed the Pig" campaign.
Police blotterA 17-year-old from the Bronx was arrested Friday night and charged with possession of cannabis under four ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
Police pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 95 for a motor vehicle violation, at which time the officers saw marijuana and paraphernalia in plain view, according to the police report. Her name wasn't released because of her age.
The youth, who was a passenger, posted $500 bond and was released, police said. She is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Dec. 5.
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Robert Redfern, 71, of 8 Stevens St., in Methuen, Mass., was arrested Thursday night and charged with driving while under the influence, police said.
Police responded to a report of a black Jeep traveling the wrong way on Greenwich Avenue. Police found the car on Milbank Avenue, parked with its engine running and the front passenger tire missing, according to a police report.
Redfern was approached by police, at which point he failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said. Redfern was released on $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court Dec. 11.
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Arielle Blume, 19, of 33 N. Hawthorne St., and Corey Peterson, 22, of 999 High St., Port Chester, were arrested Saturday night and charged with disorderly conduct, police said.
Officers were dispatched to Hawthorne Street on report of a male threatening a female, according to the police report.
During the investigation, police.determined both parties were involved in an argument, police said.
Both parties were issued a misdemeanor summons and were released on a promise to appear. Blume and Peterson are scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford Monday, Dec. 8.
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James Melaugh, 20, of 884 North St., was arrested Sunday night and charged with second-degree forgery, possession of cannabis under four ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
Police observed Melaugh and a female sitting in a vehicle at the end of Ferris Drive at which time he detected the odor of burnt marijuana, according to the police report.
A search uncovered a "grinder," which is commonly used to grind marijuana, police said.
Police also found that Melaugh was carrying a fraudulent California driver's license, according to the police report.
Melaugh was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford Dec. 8.
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Joseph Targowski, 31, of 264 Flax Hill Road, in Norwalk, was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with third-degree assault and first-degree burglary, police said.
Police went to Lewis Street to investigate an assault that occurred eariler that morning, according to the police report. An investigation revealed that a male victim was assaulted while sleeping by Targowski, the report said.
Police said Targowski received a phone call from his girlfriend at 5 a.m. and heard a male voice in the background. He went to Greenwich to speak with his girlfriend, police said, entered the home through an unlocked door and found the man in her bed. Targowski then grabbed the sleeping male and hit him, police said.
Targowski was released on a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Monday, Dec. 8.
Former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky attempted to dispel the belief that strong religious, cultural or national identities threaten democracy rather than bolster it Monday night.
"To fight for a better future for the world you must be strong in your identity," said Sharanksy, 60, speaking to 100 people at the Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy.
The author and activist, who lives in Israel, was recruited by the school's board to speak at its annual fundraiser.
Full StoryRibbons of remembranceBy hanging hundreds of red ribbons all over town, one organization hopes to raise awareness about a disease that many people don't like to talk about: AIDS.
Full StoryBrunswick squash chasing national titleFour straight years of finishing second nationally has left a bad taste in the mouth of the Brunswick School squash team.
Full StoryThe "Local" Hard Hitting Greenwich Time Editorial For Today Is: State Tax amnesties could boost revenueThe state General Assembly augmented its actions to plug an increasing shortfall in this year's state budget with a few modest but contentious attempts to aid municipalities also facing fiscal distress.
Lawmakers made the right move in approving legislation permitting municipalities to enact their own one-time tax amnesty programs despite some opposition. The initiative is embraced by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities but opposed by the Connecticut Tax Collectors Association, which said it is unfair to taxpayers who make timely payments. The group also said it could backfire, encouraging late payments or nonpayment......
BLAH ..... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ....... BLAH ....... BLAH ........ BLAH ........Airport can blame itself for complaintsTo the editor:
Excuse me for listening, but why is the Westchester County Airport complaining? ("Airport changes complaint policy," Greenwich Time, Nov. 28.) Is it true that the complaint department is in existence to deal with issues?
We that live in Greenwich and the surrounding area are victims of air traffic noise that starts at 4:15 a.m. and some days earlier. Is it absurd that the complaint department is disturbed by that?
The complaint department should deal with the flight schedule/flight patterns at fault rather than mock residents for exercising their right to exist in peace and reasonable quiet.
I don't get airport officials' right to sound off. Change the flight pattern/schedule and there will be fewer complaints. Less work for them would seem to make them happy.
Laura Gunn
Greenwich PLEASE SEE:
......Officials would not identify the chief complainant because of a privacy policy, other than to say the person lives in Valhalla, N.Y., which is located along the airport's westerly departure route and is near a helicopter route.
In June 1997, two homeowners in Greenwich, which borders the airport to the east, logged an estimated 1,500 of the 1,902 total complaints for that month between them, prompting the airport to take similar action, according to the noise abatement office. ......
....Erica Purnell, co-chairwoman of the Selectmen's Advisory Committee on Aircraft Noise in Greenwich, said the situation has gotten out of hand and takes away from investigating complaints from other citizens such as herself.
"They're abusing the system," said Purnell, who lives on Bedford Road in northwest Greenwich near the airport and files complaints with the noise abatement office from time to time.The airport's noise abatement office typically receives complaints through a telephone hot line, though some citizens choose to do so by e-mail.
Each complaint is logged into a computer database, which then tries to match the noise event with a specific flight using archived radar readings. The process, Inserra said, can take anywhere from a minute to a half-hour, depending on the volume of air traffic over a fixed point at a certain time. ....
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