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Monday, December 22, 2008

12/22/08 Take A Look At This Press Release: New York Law Firm Is Going After Mandoff Feeder Fund Guys Like Greenwich Resident Walter Noel


Press release from:

Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP


NEW YORK – The New York law firm of Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP, has been retained by individuals and entities that delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to investment adviser Bernard L. Madoff, who authorities say admitted to operating what amounted to a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.


Since the December 11 arrest of Mr. Madoff, 70, the list of companies and individuals facing steep financial losses based on their dealings with Mr. Madoff and companies affiliated with or controlled by him have grown to include individuals and institutions across the country. In addition, Mr. Madoff’s fund obtained money from some of Europe’s largest banks, including institutions in the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Italy, and their clients.


“If this were a traditional bank robbery, the eyewitness reports would say that Mr. Madoff walked out with billions of dollars as someone held the door open for him,” says Jeffrey Zwerling, a founding partner of Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling. “If it’s true, it’s just amazing in terms of the audacity, if nothing else.”


Mr. Zwerling and his firm represent investment partnerships, individuals and companies that may have lost significant amounts of money in Mr. Madoff’s scheme. In addition to targeting Mr. Madoff’s businesses, the firm will be taking a close look at third parties, including financial firms and other institutions that may have played a role in the scheme.


“There’s just no way that this happens without help of some kind,” says Robert S. Schachter a senior partner of the firm. “The evidence already shows that Mr. Madoff wanted ‘investors’ to come to him through other entities. Those will be the businesses that are going to find themselves answering a few questions now.”


Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP, is currently investigating the appropriate legal approaches available to its clients. The investigation and any litigation will be undertaken by the firm on a contingent fee basis, meaning the firm’s clients will pay no legal fees unless there is a financial recovery. The firm currently plays a leading role in numerous major securities and complex commercial litigations pending in federal and state courts and has offices in New York City, Garden City, N.Y., and Seattle. The firm has been recognized by courts throughout the country as highly experienced and skilled in complex litigation, particularly with respect to federal securities class-action litigation.

More information is available at http://www.zsz.com/.

For more information or to speak with Jeffrey Zwerling or Robert S. Schachter about the Madoff case, please contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 (office), 214-213-1754 (mobile) or mark@androvett.com.

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12/22/08 A Short Greenwich Roundup Editorial: Why Isn't Anyone Reporting On Getting Federal Stimulus Money For Greenwich



Only a fool would argue that the town of Greenwich

doesn't need Connecticut state stimulus package money


The town needs to get on it getting stimulus money pronto,


Please take a look at this link.....


http://ccm-ct.org/advocacy/2007-2008/ready_to_go_121108.pdf


Greenwich residents can see how the stimulus package is playing out.


Stimulus package money could help the single family homeowners in Greenwich contain potential tax increases while preserving vital town services.


The stimulus package is really important to Greenwich and one of the biggest advocates of the town getting it's fair share has been Cos Cob resident Frank Farricker.

It is time for Greenwich politicos and local media reporters to look into what Mr. Farricker says is potentially available to the town.

For far too long Greenwich has paid too much to Connecticut and Federal coffers and gotten little or nothing in return.

It is time for Greenwich to start getting more state and federal grants that provide relief to taxpayer while improving the town.

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12/22/08 Christmas Killjoys Attack The Most Wonderful Holiday



KILLJOY - A Short Animation
11.55 pm on December 24 th. Santa Claus is disturbed by a strange noise in his house. He finds some Christmas presents close to his cheminey. He is about to discover a cruel reality: a Santa Claus younger and more modern than him seems to do his job


The war against Christmas toys

International Herald Tribune

By Alex Beam
Published: December 22, 2008


Ah, Christmastime. Store tramplings, nervous breakdowns, prickly clumps of holly showing up where you least expect them. And the annual, mindless War on Toys. It makes a fella feel gosh-darned sentimental.

Every year, like clockwork, the family of Boston lawyer Edward Swartz stages a holiday-time press conference, decrying the "10 most dangerous toys" in the stores. Every year, like beaten, groveling, guileless dogs, the media give the Swartz's outfit, World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH), free publicity for its dubious claims. That must be because there is so little happening in the world.

This year is no exception. WATCH "fearlessly exposed potentially dangerous toys to the general public," the nonprofit's Web site proclaims.

What are the 10 toys to avoid this Christmas? Beware the Play-a-Sound Book with Cuddly Pooh! Shun the Spiderman Adjustable Toy Skates! For heaven's sakes, don't let your children play with Kenscott's 4-foot-wide inflatable Giga Ball! "Children as young as 4 years old are encouraged to 'crawl inside' this colorful inflatable ball, in order to 'spin, tumble, [and] bounce,"' the Swartzes write, adding: "WATCH out!".......

... A more welcome, albeit short-lived, Christmastime tradition was the full-page ad that the Greenwich, Connecticut-based rich guy Ray Dalio took out in major newspapers decrying Yuletide commercialism. "No sooner does Thanksgiving end, than the loathsome shopping season begins - a monthlong compulsion to buy something, anything, for anyone," read Dalio's ad in last year's Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune and other papers.

In lieu of mobbing the malls, Dalio urged you to "give people donations to their favorite charity. And request that they give donations to your favorite charities. A lot more money would go to people who need it."

Dalio, a Harvard Business School grad who captains the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, spent $2 million on his "redefining Christmas" campaign last year. This year, not so much.

Instead of newspaper ads, "they opted for radio," publicist Marianne O'Hare tells me. "They had limited money to spend." Dalio commissioned six 15-second radio spots to run on some nationally syndicated shows and bought some sponsorship messages on National Public Radio.....

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12/22/08 Chris Fountain Reports: All Noel, all the time

The First Shoe Drops
Things are heating up for the Noels, even on this cold December day.
http://christopherfountain.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/the-first-shoe-drops/

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12/22/08 One Reason The Greenwich Time Website May Not Be Getting The Adverstising Dollars It Needs Is Because Visitors Are Reporting It As Dangerous


WEB SECURITY GUARD WARNING


greenwichtime.com is downloading code segments from interlock.com.


this website maybe connected with advertising networks, adware, spyware, viruses, popup flood and spam.


Domain Info: No Data Available


Server Location: Internap Network Services, Miami Fl 33103


Visitors Load: Heavy


User Rating Statistics:


50 -100 Reports Of Spam


50 -100 Reports Of Advertising Network


50 -100 Reports Of Adware Spyware And Viruses


50 - 100 Reports Of Pop Up Flood


Comments:


Reports Of Dangerous Website:


James says....


This website plays dirty and doesn't care at who's expence.


Aniello M. Giordano says .....


I Don't know if this website is safe. Software warns me in advance.


MVA says .....


Not a good site to allow.


When ever the pop up appears my desk top goes grey and everything stops.


Barbara2846@aol says .....


Suspicious website. Don't want Virus.


COMMENT:


Perhaps The Greenwich Time And Greenwich Hospital Should Get Rid Of That Annoying Pop Up On The Newspaper's Home Page, Because It Is Making Town Residents Mad At Both Institutions.


The Greenwich Time Webmaster Should Realize That Down Loading Code On Visitors Computers Is Bad For Business.
Does This Huge Pop Up Advertising Campaign That Downloads Code On Visitors Computers Violate Heart Newspaper Or Greenwich Hospital Privacy Policies
Greenwich Roundup Will Not Knowingly Download Code
On Your Personal Computer
Greenwich Roundup Will Never Ever Secretly Allow A Third Party To Down Load Code On Your Computer.
Just how Much Money Is Greenwich Hospital Giving The Local Rag For Those Huge Pop Up Ads That Freeze Personal Computers And Secretly Download Code.


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12/22/08 The Raw Greenwich Blog And RSS FEED


Bloggers Who Are From, Work In Or Used To Live In Greenwich .....


John Ferris Robben - T-shirt Philosophy Page At Our Greenwich
PreChristmas in Connecticut - [image: Connecticut December 2008 Cold Very Cold Windy Ice and Snow on the ground ... I took my buddy 'Wilcox' and 3 adorable Mrs. Clause costumes to my ...

The Daily Spurgeon
He became bone of our bone - Let us dream no longer in somber sadness that we cannot draw near to God so that he will really hear our prayer and pity our necessities, seeing that Jes...

EDDIE "Greenwich Native" ROSS
West Village Wreaths - On the hunt for a little holiday inspiration last week, Jaithan and I were out and about in the West Village snapping a few pictures of our favorite wreaths....

Exit 55 By Rob "WGCH" Adams - The Sports Voice Of Greenwich
OK, Enough With The Snow! - Roughly a foot of snow fell in the Putnam County area since midday Friday. My back has had enough. Shoveling...pushing the snow blower...sweeping...scrapin...

Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
Our Economic Katrina - Pets again the victims - We knew this was coming. With the economy worsening, we knew that pets would become early victims of the fear and uncertainty. This played out during Katrina...

Greenwich Diva
Mary dressed in drag in a Amsterdam Christmas celebration - From Huffington Post AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Amsterdam hosted a Christmas celebration for its ga...

Rock Star Diary
New Lens from Victoria - Victoria, my BFF, got me a new lens for my camera for x-mas. It was so desperately needed. So many of my pictures were coming out blurry with my old lens. No...

The Blonde Excuse
Is it Thanksgiving Already? - Yes, I'm behind, as always. I decided I should probably try to get my Thanksgiving entry done before Christmas, though! Sorry for the major back-up of entrie...

Cos Cob Blogger Iggy Makarevich At High Strangeness
Roy Buchanan's Cajun by John Paul Keith & The One Four Fives - The late and very lamented guitar genius Roy Buchanan is one of my heroes and I periodically check the web for videos of him playing Cajun, my favorite song ...


Greenwich Library Today's Events
Baby Lapsit Registration - *When:* Monday December 22nd, 2008 - All Day Open enrollment begins December 8 for Baby Lapsit for infants up to 12 months with a caregiver. Five-week...

Greenwich Forum
Why Ron Howard Prefers Greenwich Over Hollywood - 1 Comment, last updated on Sunday Dec 21 by Toady Rell

The New And Improved "For What It's Worth" (Wordpress Edition)
It can’t happen here, either - A New York resident looks at his Governor’s proposed budget and notices that, as always, state employees are immune from suffering. The Gove says he’s cut...

Tribune Company's Greenwich News Feed
Well-known former Greenwich chef dies in car fire - Authorities say a former Greenwich, Conn., restaurateur who gained local fame for his fancy cakes and pastries has died in a car fire in Virginia. Police ...


Greenwich Bloggers Who Are Missing In Action ......


Joe Pisani's Our Greenwich Page
Greed and journalism - When Tribune Company bought Times Mirror in what was called “The Deal of the Century” by Editor and Publisher magazine, everyone thought the revenue would...
1 week ago

Sarah Darer Littman - Politics Above the Parapet At Our Greenwich
Shays’ former campaign manager suspect in fraud - The AP is reporting that Michael Sohn, Chris Shays’ campaign manager for the last several elections is the target of suspicions that money was misappropria...
1 week ago

Publicani By Dr. Zak Maymin Of Greenwich
Publicani has been nominated for the Prometheus Award for Best Novel! -
1 week ago

Greenwich Guy
A Wake up Call - I am sitting here thinking about the terrorist attacks in India and the prospect of the liberals running our defense. They are more worried about the right...
3 weeks ago

Joy Haenlein's Our Greenwich Page
Mr. Himes goes to Washington - In introducing our new congressman in South Norwalk last night, Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy talked about the decision Jim Himes made two years ago to ...
1 month ago

Susie Costaregni's Our Greenwich Page
OUR JOE PISANI - Out there … The Toast and Roast Dinner to honor Joe Pisani, former editor of the Greenwich Time/Stamford Advocate, took place last week at the Greenwich Hy...
1 month ago

Ed's First Blog
Hey Film Buffs! Look What Turner Classic Movies Is Offering! -
My colleague *Catherine Tynes* pointed out this terrific site offered by the cable station Turner Classic Movies . Basically, TCM has a collection of * down...
1 month ago


More Greenwich Bloggers Who Are Missing In Action .....


Frank Trotta's Page At Our Greenwich
The Power of No Power - Early Friday morning, there was a storm-related blackout in and around “the Hub,” as the downtown Cos Cob neighborhood is known locally. “Back country Cos ... 1 week ago

Greenwich Gossip
Holiday Choral Concert at Greenwich High School - This annual event is always a favorite with your scribe. The talent of our local students, under the direction of Patrick Taylor, is truly awesome to hear ...
1 week ago

Saramerica
Yay for feisty Irish broads! - I just got back from doing some poll standing for local Democratic candidate Ed Krumeich and I met this wonderful lady stopped to speak with me on her way ...
1 month ago

The Greenwich Blog
Vigil at YWCA to raise awareness of domestic violence - The YWCA of Greenwich invites the community to attend a Candlelight Vigil to raise awareness of domestic violence on Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m. Octobe...
2 months ago


Another Greenwich Blog That Is Missing In Action .......


Greenwich Roundup
12/20/08 The Our Greenwich Blog May Be Expanding With More Failed Greenwich Time Employees - *The Greenwich Time Still Continues To Go Down In Flames* We Are Starting To Get Tired Of Saying This...... We Hate To Say We Told You So, But We Told You So...
2 days ago


COMMENT:


The Town Snow Storms Have Gotten The Publisher Of Greenwich Roundup A Bit Behind In His Work. However, Several Exciting And Shocking Blog Posts Are Saved In Draft Form Waiting To Be Edited And Provided With Pictures Or Graphics.


Please Check Back For Read These Drafts That Will Be Published Very Soon.


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12/22/08 Greenwich Post News Links For Monday


Jenny Byxbee Angela Valentine, Natalie Queen and Liliana Herrera




On Dec. 9, in a ceremony at Town Hall, 17 adults graduated from the 10-week People Empowering People course designed by the Parent Leadership Training Institute and supported by the Department of Social Services, United Way of Greenwich Youth Services Council, Greenwich Public Schools, the Graustein Memorial Fund and The Children's Trust Fund.




Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) in the diocese of Bridgeport will welcome Paul Scarbrough at its initial 2009 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m., to be held at the First Congregational Church on the Norwalk Green. Mr. Scarbrough, co-president of Call to Action/USA will speak on "The Changing Face of Catholicism: Opportunities and Challenges for Reform Movements."




BREACH OF PEACE


A 20-year-old woman and a 24-year-old Greenwich man were both arrested Dec. 20 and charged with breach of peace after police responded to a report of a woman screaming for help. Police reportedly learned of a domestic violence incident between the man and woman, who are a live-in couple. The woman claimed the man had pulled her hair and pushed her to the ground, causing a bruise and small cut on her right knee. She allegedly showed officers hair that had been pulled out of her head. The man claimed the woman had struck him in the face and scratched his right hand. They were both released on promises to appear in court Dec. 22

.
DISORDERLY


A 26-year-old Waltham, Mass., woman was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with third degree assault and disorderly conduct. Police had been sent to the scene of a reported fight between a brother and sister, and said they found both had become intoxicated and started fighting. The woman allegedly bit her brother and struck him with a phone while also preventing him from calling 911. She was released on a $1,000 cash bond and was due in court Dec. 22.


DISORDERLY


A 52-year-old Riverside man was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with disorderly conduct after an alleged domestic violence incident. Police responding to a reported incident were met with the woman who had called them. She alleged that after returning home from buying groceries, her husband had approached her in a violent manner, yelling and screaming at her and forcefully removing her from the car. She told police that the man pushed her head against the roof of the car before she was able to run inside and call police. The man reportedly told police that he had confronted his wife because he believed she had been drinking and driving, and claimed he never hit her. Police reports state that officers observed the man to be in an “extremely agitated state” and that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The woman did not appear to be under any influence of alcohol, they said. The man was released at the scene on a promise to appear and told by officers not to return to the home or have any contact with his wife. The man was due in court Dec. 22.


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Sunday, December 21, 2008

12/21/08 Why Ron Howard Prefers Greenwich Over Hollywood


RON HOWARD says it's no accident he lives in Connecticut, not California. For his kids, all grown, his Greenwich home "has really become this great gathering place for the holidays and again in the summer or around Easter," he says.
(JAY L. CLENDENIN / LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Ron Howard loves living in Greenwich for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason is that Greenwich isn't Los Angeles.

"We wanted to raise our kids beyond the magnetism of Hollywood as a state of mind or a way of life," Howard says. Who needs a ZIP code that begins with a "9" anyway?

Howard won an Oscar for directing "A Beautiful Mind" (2001) and shepherded "The Da Vinci Code" (2006) to box office heaven. Now he has the Oscar-hyped " Frost/Nixon," about the 1977 interviews between Watergate-disgraced President Richard Nixon ( Frank Langella) and the unctuous chat host David Frost ( Michael Sheen), opening Christmas Day in Connecticut. Then comes the May release of " Angels and Demons," the "Code" sequel, with Tom Hanks reprising his role as Robert Langdon.

Whether Howard's projects are Academy catnip or popcorn for the masses, Greenwich always plays a supporting role. "Spending as much time on the East Coast as possible is artistically stimulating," Howard, 54, says in an interview at a Central Park hotel in New York City. "It stimulates ideas that are not born out of the industrial side of the film world."

Greenwich is also a place devoid of a certain pecking order. "In Los Angeles, you can feel an indexing of people's viability and clout," he says. "It's present when you walk into a meeting or restaurant or screening or movie. You don't feel that as much here."

Plus it's a safe haven to finish a film away from prying industry eyes.

Howard has long used a small building in Greenwich to edit his projects. "It's great to take it there and discover what the movie really is," he says.....

....While he was shooting the 1984 mermaid comedy "Splash" in New York City, its star, Daryl Hannah, suggested Howard check out the Connecticut suburbs. The Howards fell for Greenwich. Their brood eventually grew to four, all of whom are now in their 20s: " Spider-Man 3" actress Bryce, the twins Jocelyn and Paige, and son Reed.

"Our house has really become this great gathering place for the holidays and again in the summer or around Easter," Howard says.

"It's a place the kids want to go back to and reconnect. So the family home really carries a lot of importance to them still, and that means a lot to me."

"Bryce's wedding was there," he adds. "I think it's going to remain an important aspect of our lives for many years."

One of these days, he might even shoot a movie in Connecticut. .....

.....His favorite restaurant in Greenwich at the moment is a "fairly new" wine bar on Greenwich Avenue, across the street from Richards Clothing.

He conveniently forgets the name."It's street-level," he says. "You can have a glass of wine and have a nice meal and watch the people moving around Greenwich Avenue. We love that place.

"Posh country living suits Howard. Just don't count on him to advertise it to his show-biz brethren."I'm a really good spokesperson whenever somebody brings it up," he says.

"But I'm not sure I want the Hollywood film community to come to Greenwich."

Full Story: The Hartford Courant

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The Movie Trailer For Ron Howard's Frost/Nixion




12/21/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Sunday


Connecticut Governor M.Jodi Rell answers questions about how she is handling the budget crisis in her office at the Capital.

(Phil Noel/Hearst Newspaper Staff photo)


HARTFORD - By the time Gov. M. Jodi Rell finished her latest deficit-reduction plan last week, she was enmeshed in budget numbers and having trouble sleeping.



Greenwich employees warned over gifts
It's the season of giving, but town employees are under strict instructions not to accept anything of value during the holiday season and throughout the year.


If only the town of Greenwich could write a check for $100 million - la the New York Yankees. Officials say it could take an infusion of close to that amount of money or perhaps even more to make the town's pension fund whole again after several months of staggering losses.



Greenwich lawyer returns to work after probation
After a year spent barred from practicing law, Greenwich Attorney Philip Russell is back in the game and looking straight ahead.


All families are feeling the effects of the current economic crunch. Conditions have only worsened for those scraping to make ends meet.



Town briefs
Chabad holds family Hanukkah Party Chabad of Greenwich will hold its family Hanukkah Party at 4:30 p.


GREENWICH - A proposal to charge $10 just to appeal a parking ticket, regardless of the outcome, innocent or guilty, didn't stand a snowball's chance of getting approved Friday by the Board of Selectmen.
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Saturday, December 20, 2008

12/20/08 The Our Greenwich Blog May Be Expanding With More Failed Greenwich Time Employees

The Greenwich Time Still Continues To Go Down In Flames


We Are Starting To Get Tired Of Saying This......


We Hate To Say We Told You So, But We Told You So

Hearst to cut staff at area papers: Advocate, Greenwich Time are on the list

The Hearst Corp. joined other Connecticut newspaper owners in seeking to reduce costs in a tough economy, telling employees of its Fairfield County properties there will be job losses next year.

In a letter to employees sent Friday, publishers of the various Connecticut newspapers wrote, "The current economic downturn has exacerbated an already challenging year for our newspaper and our industry, forcing us to eliminate duplication of work across the Connecticut Media Group. As a result, there will be a reduction in staff in the first quarter of 2009."

Hearst owns The Advocate, Greenwich Time, Connecticut Post and The News-Times of Danbury, all daily newspapers. It also owns Darien News-Review, Greenwich Citizen, Fairfield Citizen-News, New Canaan News-Review, New Milford Spectrum, Norwalk Citizen-News and Westport News, all weekly newspapers.


Hearst Newspapers Is Being Tight Lipped


They Are Too Embarrassed To Say

How Few Employees They Currently Have

Hearst spokesman Paul Luthringer said the company was not disclosing information beyond the letter to employees at this time, including how many positions Hearst is looking to trim or the total employment within the Connecticut group.


COMMENTS:


Here Is A Sign That The Ugly Rumor Is True....


Hearst Newspapers Wont Need So Many Employees If The Advocate, Greenwich Time, and The News-Times of Danbury Are All Folded Into To The Flagship Connecticut Post


Virtually everyone in town is waiting to see if Greenwich Time Managing Editor Jim "I Like Our Letter Writers Better Than Nasty Bloggers" Zorba will take the voluntary buyouts, giving those who choose that route two weeks of severance for each year of employment - up to a maximum of 52 weeks - health and dental coverage under COBRA, payment for all accrued 2009 vacation time and a company-sponsored outplacement program.


If Managing Editor Zorba decides to jump ship we will all miss his DAILY LOCAL HARD HITTING EDITORIALS IN THE GREENWICH TIME .


Will Cub Reporter Colin "King Of The BOE Press Release" Gustafonson Be Joining Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Joe Pisaniani And The Other Failed Greenwich Time Employees At The Lackluster "Our Greenwich Blog".


PLEASE SEE:













Greenwich Time, R.I.P? - Greenwich Round Up says so. I have my issues with this particular blog’s antipathy toward the paper and its former editor, Joe Pisani,whom I like, but but its editor seems to have a direct line into the organization and several former and currentemployees. His previous predications about the GT have proved accurate - his latest include a raise in the newsstand price from fifty to seventy-five cents, layoffs of still more staff (there aren’t many left so what are they going to do, fire the custodian?)
MORE:
With all due respect to bloggers, people who write to newspapers are just the best. Our letter writers show the courage to share their views with the world - whether opining about the financial bailout, the presidential election, downtown parking or Henrietta the turkey - and they do so with their identities known to all.
Comment To Jim Zorba:

With all do respect to editorial suits who are just now beginning to recognize the power of Bloggers and citizen journalists. Jim Zebora is being less than genuine in his editorial. Jim Zorba knows damn well who Greenwich Diva is and how Neil "I Won't Publish The Fake Beach Passes In My Desk Drawer" Vigdor screwed her over in the Greenwich Time.

Jim Zorba knows damn well knows who Greenwich Gossip is and how former Greenwich Time owner Bill Rowe placed a ban, that is still honored today, on any of his letters every appearing in the Greenwich Time.

Jim Zorba knows damn well who StationStops is and how his comments were removed from and he was locked out of Hearst Media message boards, because he complained that news websites had did a poor job of reporting on the mugging at the Riverside Walgreen's.
Jim Zorba knows everyone at Our Greenwich, because he was involved in firing most of them from the Greenwich Time newsroom.

Jim Zorba knows that For What It's Worth was fired because a bunch of real estate advertisers came into the Greenwich Post wanting him fired, because he said the Greenwich Real Estate market is going to hell in a hand basket. Jim Zorba would never consider hiring the best real estate columnist in Greenwich, because he is afraid he will have to meet with angry advertisers from Coldwell Banker.

Jim Zorba damn well knows who Greenwich Roundup is. We have had more than a few talks with Mr. Zorba.

Jim Zorba knows that as of January of this year the Greenwich Police Department had 80 Civilian Complaints in the previous 24 Months. That's about one complaint every 8 0r nine days.
Jim Zorba knows that more that 98% of the complaints are routinely found to be unfounded.
Jim Zorba knows that this were getting so bad that the so-called "GPD Internal Affairs Investigator" also known as, Captain Michael "The Judge Says I Was Illegally Appointed" Pacewicz was finding the cases unfounded without even bothering to talk to complainants or their witnesses.

Jim Zorba at first started to do the right thing and assigned a Greenwich Time Crime Reporter Martin Cassidy to investigate how civilian complaints are handled at the Greenwich Police Department, but cowered under his desk in fear when Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg went ballistic.

Jim Zorba sits on the Civilan Complaint Process investigation in much the same way that Joe Pisani sat on The Martha Moxley Investigation.

Please See:
Jim Zorba Continues:

It's a more civilized way of making a statement than hiding behind a conjured-up screen name.
Writers to Greenwich Time tend to be pretty intelligent folks, too, and I learn something from them every day. It's especially heartening to see the informed, thoughtful give-and-take on this part of the editorial page.

Reasonable people can and do disagree, and in their letters to the editor they do so in what I believe is an extraordinarily civilized way.

Unlike many blog-posters.

Comment To Jim Zorba:

Jim Zorba Seems to confuse civilized with complacent.

Jim "If I Can't Beat The Bloggers - Then I Will Attack Them" Zorba, probably thinks that it is uncivilized when Bill Clark calls his paper the "Yellowich Time", but you never hear of blogs being complacent.

No one says things like Greenwich "Yellow" Diva, Greenwich "Yellow" Gossip, Station "Yellow" Stops, For "Yellow" It's Worth, Our "Yellow" or Greenwich "Yellow" Roundup.

Jim Zorba knows that before anyone goes to the weekly newspapers or the bloggers with a story they go to the "Yellowch Time" first.

The "Yellowich Time" gets first shot at virtually every news story in town and they often bungle thier chance.

When Hamilton Avenue mothers went to Jim Zorba's crew complaining that the modular classrooms were leaking they were REPEATEDLY ignored.

When those same Hamilton Avenue Mothers came to Greenwich Roundup we started publishing posts like this in February until Betty Sternberg was forced to shut down the modulars in March.

Please See:

There was not one previous article in the Green

When Glenville Parents came to the Zorba crew with pictures and stories about the conditions inside thier school the Zorba crew could not be bothered with such trivial matters.

Please See:

When the "New And Improved" Hamilton Avenue Modulars were leaking AGAIN, the Zorba Crew once again could not be bothered.

Please See:

When a Greenwich parent got pictures of three heavily damaged classrooms in the "NEW" 30 Million Dollar Ham Ave School the Zorba crew was not interested and still has not fully reported whats going on inside that building.

Please See:

Perhaps Jim Zorba is right that we are a bit edgy and somewhat rude when Greenwich Roundup publishes a post like......

But isn't rude for Colin Gustafson to put up an August headline that insults the intelegence of every taxpayer in Greenwich?

August 08, 2008

A variety of unresolved facilities issues - most of them easy to fix - are preventing the Hamilton Avenue School from receiving sign-offs from inspectors necessary for students to return to the building, the school board told parents last night.

Broken glass needs to be repaired, as well as cracks in some of the floor-level surfaces that must be patched. .... Blah ..... Blah ...... blah ..... Blah ..... Blah ..... Ham Ave Is Opening On Time !!!!!!!
What does Jim Zorba want us to do, say something nice and polite like......

"Excuse me dear kind Sir , If I may Mr Zorba, I beg to differ with Colin and think that he might be only posibly getting one side of the story, because there are no quotes from parents, students,teachers or taxpayers who must pay for this 3o Million Dollar fiasco."

"Wouldn't it be prudent for Colin to first listenen to the BOE and then start listening to other voices in this civilized community, oh dear Sir Zorba."
Jim Zorba Continues:

Local-level discourse reveals the fabric of our community. This year, we have seen voluminous dialogues on subjects such as the ad hoc Wiffle ball field in Cos Cob, the cupcake controversy in the Greenwich school system, and of course dear Henrietta, the Tod's Point personality recently relocated under the state Department of Environmental Protection's turkey - or is it citizen? - protection program.

"That turkey has just as much a right to live there and play as any of us do; that is her home," one man wrote, urging that Henrietta be left alone.

"This turkey came running at me and attacked me," the letter directly below read. "It had me backed up against a rock wall." She vowed to stay away from Tod's Point until Henrietta was gone.

Comment For Jim Zorba:

Greenwich Roundup and other bloggers will admit that we found it hard to get worked up about "Henery/Henrietta" the turkey. Jim Zorba's news crew clearly owned this important earth shattering story that is affecting all of the taxpayers of Greenwich.

Clearly on stories that really matter to the single family home owners of Greenwich the so-called newspaper was "Behind The Times" to the point that many in town said Zorba's news crew was clueless.

To this day Jim Zorba and his crew referes to the "cupcakes controversy" while Bloggers say things like "lack of integrity"

When the Board Of Education Press Release went out Zorba's crew ran it through the spell checker and published it as news. Like most BOE press releases it was published without any questions being asked.

Here Is How The Greenwich Time Reported The So-called "Cupcake Controversey"
This Is How Greenwich Roundup Reported The "Lack Of Integrity Issue" from day one:

For the Record Greenwich Roundup and a few other bloggers have repeatedly asked to be placed on the Board Of Education's Press Release Email List, just like the Greenwich Citizen, Greenwich Post and the Greenwich Time.

The Board Of Education has not honored these public document requests, because Greenwich Bloggers are not complacent.

Is the Board Of Education being civilized to Greenwich Bloggers?

There is a strong long held tradition in Journalism that if a reporter or a news gathering organization is excluded from a press conference or press kit, then all reporters would report on the exclusion and boycott the offending groups press conference.

Public officials who wanted to manipulate news gathering and reporters were exposed and told, "Guess what if you exclude this reporter, then there will be no press conference, because no reporter will show up."

It was the only honorable and civilized thing fellow reporters to do.

Greenwich Roundup exposed how reporter Chris Fountain was let go over first amendment issues. The Greenwich Time was very brutish and uncivilized to turn a blind eye to the troubles of a fellow reporter.

When Sarah Littman was let go at the Greenwich Time, the uncivilized Greenwich Bloggers were there supporting this reporter.

Maybe, Jim Zorba should go ask citizen journalist Bill "I Was The Only Reporter Asking For The Two Month Old Document" Clark how many hoops he had to jump through to get a copy of the school survey rating Betty Sternberg's performance.

Jim Zorba has forgotten the number one rule in Journalism.

"A great reporter afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted."

The Greenwich Time is Way Too Comfortable And Is Now Crying Because They Are Being Afflicted By The New Media Consisting Of Citizen Journalists And Bloggers.

David Warner thouht he would enjoy a comfortable 30 years in complacent Greenwich and then retire with a big swan song like Joe Pisani did.

But the one thing that Ex-Greenwich Time Editor David Warner didn't count on was a bunch of feed up bloggers in complacent Greenwich.

Mr. Warner was only able to take the heat of Citizen Journalists for about 100 days.

Please See:
Greenwich Roundup Exclusive
Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Creates Controversy Where Ever He Goes.
More On The Ferguson's Library Funded Dan Malloy Political Event

* Fergouson Libray Director And Employees Working For Malloy
*Taxpayer Fergouson Computer Server Used For Political Event
*Ferguson Library Tax Dollars Used To Pay For Pisani And Malloy's Private Party.
"What really struck me that night was the selflessness and sacrifice of the people who labored for months to put this affair on, starting with the major domo, Ernie DiMattia, head of the Ferguson Library in Stamford" - Joe Pisani (Our Greenwich - Oct 21st, 2008 )
by joyhaenlein

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12/20/08 Greenwich Time News Links

Storm forces school closings, makes driving hazardous for many
Winter arrived Friday via the skies if not yet the calendar, with the season's first major snowstorm.

Greenwich ferry parking appeal fee rejected
GREENWICH
- A proposal to charge $10 just to appeal a parking ticket, regardless of the outcome, innocent or guilty, didn't stand a snowball's chance of getting approved Friday by the Board of Selectmen.

Boiler firm won't OK Ham Ave modification
The Hamilton Avenue School's building committee failed to secure a temporary certificate of occupancy for the reconstructed school Friday, after the manufacturer of the school's boiler system refused to sign off on safety improvements to its equipment.

Officer hit by car to return to work
A town police officer who was struck by a car while directing traffic on Greenwich Avenue is expected to return to work today, officials said.

Power line energized
The United Illuminating Co. and Connecticut Light & Power Co. energized the 69-mile Middletown-to-Norwalk electric cable this week, wiping out many of the transmission constraints that plagued Fairfield County for the last decade.

Town briefs
Santa goes skating at Dorothy Hamill Santa Claus will join ice skaters during public sessions from 2 p.m

Police Blotter
Emmanuel Garcia, 19, of 7 Chestnut St., was arrested by warrant Wednesday afternoon and charged with second-degree breach of peace stemming from an incident on Cambridge Drive in August, police said.

Intensity, hustle fuel Brunswick basketball's win over King
Desire and effort. Those are the intangibles that have been the cornerstone of Brunswick basketball throughout the last half decade as they've they've stood atop the FAA.

Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): This might be your best chance to find a perfect gift for that special someone in your life.

Hearst warns employees of job cuts
The Hearst Corp. joined other Connecticut newspaper owners seeking to reduce costs in this tough economy, telling the employees of its Fairfield County properties there will be jobs lost next year.

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12/20/08 WCBS Reports From Greenwich


Meteorologists have forecasted sub-zero temperatures for many portions of the nation, as travelers scramble to avoid delays during this holiday season. Priya David reports from Greenwich
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12/20/08 Some Of The Good Works That Come Out Of Stanwich Congregational Church in Greenwich

Stanwich Sunday morning worship ...


Giving the spiritual gift of a second chance

Connecticut Post

BRIDGEPORT -- James Worde was driven to the Pivot Ministries Crisis Center in a red 18-wheeler after friends staged an intervention to help him overcome a life-long battle with alcoholism that recently led him to experiment with drugs.

Steven Johnson came to the Jane Street in-house rehabilitation program of his own accord, looking for a fresh start overcoming a 20-year drug addiction, but then suffering a relapse.
Despite their different situations, the men had one thing in common: an incapacitating, overbearing addiction that completely took over their lives.

Before arriving at Pivot, "I had been praying to God to help me overcome this crazy addiction," said Worde, a New Jersey native and administrative assistant at the center.....


....The men also go through a detox program at Norwalk Hospital -- if necessary -- and are given weekly checkups by a doctor from the Southwest Community Health Center in the crisis center's second-floor examination room.

Once a person's body is entirely cleared of addictive substances, "then everything breaks down," said Smith.

The program's second phase -- which lasts another four months -- takes place within the Norwalk Induction Center in South Norwalk. Then the men go on to the Teen Challenge program, where they have the opportunity to obtain their G.E.D. or get some vocational training.

"It's proven that long-term programs work," said Smith. Short-term programs are like "putting a band-aid on a gaping wound." Of the 4,500 men who have completed the program over the years, 35 percent have managed to stay clean, compared to a 15 percent success rate for many short-term programs, Smith said.

The program is entirely funded by private donors and area churches, including the New Canaan Congregational Church, St. Paul's Church in Darien, Stanwich Congregational Church in Greenwich and Gospel Light Community Church in Bridgeport.

Despite the program's nearly 39-year success, there has been one area of a man's life the program has not been able to address.

"We see couples come in. We have three men here right now that when their wife came in with them," they also needed help to overcome a drug or alcohol addiction, Smith said. "There is a need for more programs such as this for women." .....


....The men at the Pivot re-entry house helped Smith convert the large home, which has two full baths, several offices and large backyard, into a safe haven for women "who have problems [and] don't have a place to stay until they can go back into society," she said.

Last month, Smith received zoning approval from the city for the program, and she is now awaiting the approval of the state Department of Public Health.....


....Once the women's center is open, it will operate much like Pivot. The women will have chores, participate in group activities and daily sit-down dinners, and receive counseling and rehabilitation services. There will also be an emergency bed so that the center never has to turn away a woman in desperate need of shelter.

Gloria Smith's ultimate hope is that the women's center provides a place where women can find what men at Pivot find: a reason to go on living.

"We recognize these are human beings just like the rest of us. This is a need," she said.


For information about Pivot Ministries call 416-5468, and for information about the Act of Christ Ministries call 540-5055

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12/20/08 Walter "Feeder Fund" Noel's Road To Riches

"The lazy person's road to riches"
160 Million A Year For Allowing Madoff To "Handle" His Investors Money


Walter Noel’s road map to success


— Founder of Fairfield Greenwich, a hedge fund based in New York but run out of Connecticut

— Fairfield Greenwich has lost $7.3 billion in the fraud, slightly more than half of its funds

— In 2007 Fairfield Greenwich raked in $160 million for turning over his investors money to the Madoff fraud fund

— Mr Noel owns at least three homes in the US – a flat on Park Avenue in the Upper East Side area of Manhattan, a home in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a villa in Palm Beach, Florida. Plus there are reports of a home in the Caribbean.

— He is believed to have known Bernard Madoff for 19 years and regularly introduced his clients to Mr Madoff’s investment business via his feeder fund.

— A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is married to a wealthy Brazilian socialite called Monica. They have five daughters who help attract fresh suckers to Daddy's feeder fund.

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12/20/08 Illegally Appointed Captain Michael Pacewicz Milked The Town For All It Was Worth, While Cheating An Officer Out Of What Was Rightly His


Illegally Appointed Captain Pacewicz's Favorite Place To Feast
Pacewicz In A Rush To Jump Before He Is Pushed



Greenwich police captain steps down following lawsuit



By Debra Friedman

Staff Writer
Posted: 12/20/2008 01:00:00 AM EST

The Police Department's second-in-command is stepping down.

Captain Michael Pacewicz, 48, of Greenwich, said that his last day will be today or Tuesday.

Pacewicz joined the department in 1983 as a patrolman and was promoted to sergeant in 1992.

He was promoted to detective sergeant in 1994, and ran the parking and traffic division for several years after 1995. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2001 and captain in 2003.....

.....Pacewicz's resignation comes after four years of litigation that started when Lt. Gary Honulik sued the town after it failed to promote him to the open captain's position. Pacewicz got the job instead. Honulik argued he should have been promoted because he received the highest score on the police promotion exam, a long-standing department policy used until former Police Chief James Walters implemented an interview process.

A Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Honulik in 2007, but the town was granted an expedited appeal from the state Supreme Court, which heard the matter in April after deeming it a matter of public safety.......

......the litigation has created a strain in the department's top levels, handcuffing the town from promoting officers to fill two deputy chief positions and another captain position until the state high court hands down a decision. With Pacewicz stepping down, there will now be four open positions, leaving the chief the only remaining ranking official above lieutenant. .....

Please Read The Incomplete Greenwich Time Story That Only Interviewed Police Chief David Ridberg And Failed To Seek All Sides Of The Story By Seeking Quotes From Police Commissioner Peter Tesei, Cheated Officer Gary Honulick, As Well As, Those Who Had Been Involved In The Illegal Promotion Such As Former Greenwich Police Commissioner Jim Lash And Former Police Chief James Walters. But Armature Greenwich Time Reporter Debra Friedman Did Not Know Who To Interview About The Story, Because She Was Not Here In 2003. Clueless Friedman Was Probably Unaware That Peter Tesei Was Police Commissioner Of The Town Of Greenwich.


PLEASE SEE:
Illegally Appointed Greenwich Police Captain Micheael Pacewicz who's legal mess is costing the single family home owners of Greenwich over 1 Million Dollars.
PLEASE ALSO SEE:
DUMBEST OF THE DUMB
When it came to selecting the New York Knucklehead of the Year, however, all distractions were put aside, the nominees were carefully reviewed and the vote was unanimous. Alas, we cannot inscribe the award with an actual name, because there were multiple winners involved in this
Greenwich Police Department disaster.....
Oh, how we would like to actually name all the political geniuses involved in violating civil service rules for the Greenwich Police Department's Captains position. But that is not to be. All those involved can pick up the prize, though, by coming to the rear door of 161 North Water Street in Byram at midnight, knocking three times and whispering the secret password, which is"Ridberg Is Incompetent."
The Morons Who Did Not Follow The Civil Service Rules And Illegally Appointed Michael Pacewicz Captain once again got the Greenwich taxpayer involved in another expensive lawsuit that the Town lost.
Pacewicz can not even properly conduct a simple internal affairs investigation.
Every time Pacewiez cashes his big fat Captain's paycheck the taxpayers are being cheated.
The taxpayers of Greenwich are paying top dollar and deserve better than the bungling Pacewicz who trys to solve police department performance and discipline problems with amateurish attempts at two bit cover ups.
With boobs like Pacewicz in charge - No wonder murders go unsolved in Greenwich.
HEADLINE:
STORY:
Republican and Democratic nominees for first selectman in this fall's election said challenging a court decision forcing the promotion of a policeman to captain will hurt public safety and cost more than legal fees.
First Selectman Jim Lash intends to seek an appeal of the verdict in the case of Lt. Gary Honulik if attorneys cannot reach a settlement in the case.
Two weeks ago, State Superior Court Judge Michael Shay ordered Honulik to be promoted, and slammed the town for illegally manipulating its hiring policies to deny the 34-year veteran a promotion to captain in 2003.
The ruling also directed that Capt. Michael Pacewicz, the man promoted instead of Honulik, be returned to his former rank, with Shay ruling that Pacewicz was promoted illegally.
The appeal would negatively affect the police force by extending a block on promoting senior police commanders, worsening a leadership void and threatening public safety, Republican nominee Peter Tesei and Democratic nominee, Frank Farricker said.
'I think the situation is a very sad saga for the individuals involved, the Greenwich Police Department, the town, and I don't think we should exhaust further resources appealing the decision,' said Tesei, chairman of the Board of Estimate and Taxation. 'We need to move forward.'
Farricker, a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, said the appeal would be another in a line of ill-chosen battles, part of a wider pattern of the town aimlessly taking cases to trial when settlement would appear wiser, and alienating employees by disregarding town poliies.
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