11/04/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Tuesday

Is Lombardi Planning On Pleading

Not Guilty By Reason Of Temporary Insanity????

Lombardi ordered to undergo psych test
Standing before a state Superior Court judge Monday looking haggard and visibly shaking, Gerardo Lombardi was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial on the charge of first degree murder.

Lombardi, 75, is charged with killing his former daughter-in-law on Sept. 4 in the backyard of the next-door property in Pemberwick.

Lombardi's defense attorney, Public Defender Howard Ehring, said he traveled to the Bridgeport Correctional Facility last week to speak with Lombardi about whether or not he wanted to waive the upcoming probable cause hearing, scheduled for Monday. In a probable cause hearing, the state must present the elements of its case against the accused to demonstrate a legal basis for proceeding.

"My belief at this point is that he would like to waive the probable cause hearing," said Ehring.
However, Ehring said before that decision was made, he thought an evaluation should be conducted first, citing Lombardi's known medical conditions, which include multiple illnesses and disabilities, according to a document read in court during Lombardi's arraignment. Lombardi has no prior history of mental health issues, according to court records.

During his brief appearance in court, Lombardi told Ehring he could not hear what was going on, prompting Judge Richard Comerford to accept the request for an evaluation of his mental health.
"I would agree with that request based upon my observations," said Comerford.

Assistant State's Attorney Paul Ferencek said the state did not have any objections to the evaluation, but wanted to make sure the delay would be attributed to the defense.....

YMCA will not add ramp

Despite pleas from a family to put in a temporary wheelchair accessible ramp, the Greenwich Family YMCA said the new facility will likely not be handicap accessible until a $39 million renovation and construction project is complete in summer 2009.

In a statement released Monday,YMCA officials said that while they are committed to making the new facility completely accessible, including with an elevator and a ramp, an interim solutions while construction continues "are extremely restrictive."

The YMCA officials did not return calls Monday. Their statement did not say what interim solutions were considered or why they might be restrictive. The YMCA is continuing explore other options, the statement said.

The first part of the YMCA renovation project to reach completion was a new Olympic-size pool, opened to the public in November 2007 after a temporary certificate of occupancy was issued. It was one part of a four-year renovation of the 96-year-old building, which has never been wheelchair accessible.....

......In the statement, new President and CEO Rebecca Fretty, who took office two weeks ago, recommended individuals with disabilities use other wheelchair-accessible facilities until the entire construction project is complete.

"In speaking with my counterparts at the Greenwich YWCA, Rye, N.Y., YMCA and DarienYMCA, all three facilities are currently wheelchair accessible and available to serve Greenwich community members that are wheelchair bound now while we finish our construction project," the statement said. ......

COMMENT:

The Greenwich YMCA Is Morally Wrong.

The Greenwich YMCA Wants Handicapped Greenwich Residents To Leave Go To Darien In Order To Use The YMCA ?????

Is The Greenwich YMCA Going To Pay To Transport One Of These Handicapped Individuals Back And Forth From The Darien YMCA?

Is YMCA President and CEO Rebecca Fretty On Drugs?????

Personally My Son Recently Returned From Iraq And Has Used The YMCA For Years, But God Forbid If He Had Been Wounded Serving His Country, Because The Greenwich YMCA Would Be Closed To Him.

The Greenwich YMCA Doesn't Have A Problem From Accepting Tax Dollars, That Handicapped People Are Required To Pay To The Government.

If The YMCA Wants To Be Some Kind Of Exclusive Club That Doesn't Want To See The Crippled In Their Facility They Should Return All Of The Tax Funded Grants That They Get.

The YMCA's Failure To Provide Handicap Access Is A Violation Of The Laws Of The United States And Connecticut.

The Town Building Department Should Pull The Temporary Certificate Of Occupancy And Then Watch How Fast The YMCA Puts Up A Temporary Ramp To Comply With The Town's Building Codes.

Here At Greenwich Roundup We Wish Attorney Frank Peluso Much Success In Suing The Arrogant And Insensitive Greenwich YMCA.

Hopefully, The Greenwich YMCA's Repulsive Behaviour Will Cost Them Greatly In A Court Of Law, So That YMCA President and CEO Rebecca Fretty Will Think Twice About Discriminating Against Other Greenwich Residents.

Optical scanning machines get the once-over
A handful of people turned out to Greenwich Library Monday afternoon for a last-minute informational session on how to use the new optical scanning machines in today's election.

The session, presented by the League of Women Voters in Connecticut, was one of many conducted over the past year, since the state began using paper ballots with optical scanners, a change from the customary lever machines used previously.

"We wanted to address the apprehension in voters about the voting process," said Cheryl Dunson, vice president for public issues for the statewide non-partisan organization.

"The first important point to say is that check-in is the same as always. The second point would be to make sure you fill in the oval completely," said Dunson, noting that voters should not use a check mark or "x" to mark their ballots, as the machine may not count them.

Jara Burnett, president of the League of Women Voters in Connecticut, said the optical scanner machines will reject ballots if there are certain errors such as stray marks, over voting, or if a voter circles a candidate's name instead of marking the ovals.

"You have opportunities to correct it if you make a mistake," said Burnett. "And you can take as much time as you would like."

Burnett also explained how the machine counts the ballots. "The ballots are counted immediately. As soon as everyone has voted, they will close the machines and the machine will give a cash register-type tally," she said.......

Huge turnout expected at polls

Not since the 1960 presidential contest between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon has voter turnout in Connecticut reached the levels that election officials are predicting could be achieved today.

"I've been predicting 90 percent turnout based on the record numbers of new voter registrations and all the reports we're getting from town clerks around the state about record numbers of absentee ballots filed," Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said in a telephone interview Monday.

When Kennedy defeated Nixon in 1960, the statewide turnout was 93 percent according to Bysiewicz, who said that her office and local election officials have been working diligently together to make sure the process runs smoothly....

....Bysiewicz said it is important for first-time voters to bring identification or proof of residency such as a utility bill, government check or government document to their polling place.

"We want to make sure that people know what they need to bring," said Bysiewicz, who is deploying two staffers to the 4th District alone to oversee voting.

The state has set up a special hotline at (866) 733-2463 to handle voting-related questions and complaints.

In preparation for a possible record turnout, the secretary of the state's office also ordered and distributed about 2.3 million regular paper ballots for today's election, which is 10 percent more than the 2,097,635 total number of registered voters in the state.

Although it is too late to register to vote for Congress or General Assembly, individuals can obtain a presidential election ballot from their local town clerk's office with proof of residency on Election Day.

Police blotter
Police arrested three teenage girls following a fight at 3 View St., on Saturday morning. Two of the teens were charged with third-degree assault, police said. All three girls were charged with breach of peace after officers responded to the area on a report that a fight had occurred, according to the police report.

Police determined that two of the girls, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were engaged in a verbal argument that later turned physical, according to the police report. The names were not release because of their age.

All three girls were released with a summons and are scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 12.

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Richard Comeau, 18, of 17 Hendrie Ave., was arrested Saturday morning and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of liquor by a minor, police said.

Police responded to the area near 180 Stanwich Road on a report of a motor vehicle accident, where they founda small amount of marijuana, a glass smoking pipe and alcohol inside the vehicle, according to the police report.

Comeau was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court on Nov. 10.

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Mark Dushku, 27, of 73 E. Maple Tree Ave., in Stamford was arrested on early Friday morning and charged with driving while under the influence, police said.

Police observed Dushku traveling east in a westbound lane near the area of 711 W. Putnam Ave., when they pulled the car over.

Dushku displayed signs of intoxication and failed a series of field sobriety tests, according to a police report. Police also discovered he was driving with a suspended license, according to the police report.

Dushku was additionally charged with driving the wrong way, driving while on suspension and failure to turn in your license, police said.

He was released on a $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 14

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Lucas Moura, 24, of 180 Broad St. in Stamford, was arrested on Saturday evening and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis, police said.

Police discovered drugs in Moura's car after a motor vehicle stop at 200 W Putnam Ave., police said. The reason for the motor vehicle stop was not immediately available.

Moura was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 8.

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Larcenio Brown, 37, of 51 Issac St., in Norwalk was arrested on Oct. 30 by members of the criminal investigations division in connection with attempting to extort money from an ex-girlfriend and threatening acts of arson against properties owned by her family, police said.

He was charged with first-degree criminal attempt at larceny by extortion and threatening, police said.

Brown was released on a $5,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Oct. 31.

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Geimar Martinez, 23, of171 Infield St., in Bridgeport, was arrested Saturday morning and charged with breach of peace, police said.

Officers responded to North Water Street on a report of a fight, police said.

Police determined that Martinez was creating a disturbance at a residence and he was arrested. Martinez was given a bond of $1,500 and was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 3.

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Elizabeth Migliore, 41, of 28 Sherman Ave., was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and threatening following vandalism of a motor vehicle on Sherman Avenue on Thursday night, police said.

The car's owner told police that he believed one of his tenants had scratched the right side of his car, police said. Police questioned Migliore, who denied vandalizing the car and yelled a threat to the car's owner, according to the report.

Migliore was released on a $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 1x4.

Election could mark a shift in Greenwich
Will Greenwich get swept up by the prevailing political winds of change or will it buck the trend and deliver for Republicans as it has so many times in the past? ....

....Greenwich Republicans face a much different terrain on this Election Day than they are used to - a 2-to-1 advantage over Democrats in registered voters is evaporating and their rivals have shown a similar propensity for fundraising in town.

Raben downplayed the potential challenges facing the party.

"I think we're confident," Raben said in an interview heading into the final weekend of the campaign.

Greenwich Democrats, meanwhile, arrive at Election Day looking for sweet redemption from a string of past disappointments, from Al Gore's controversial loss to President Bush in 2000 and Diane Farrell's inability to get over the hump against Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., in 2006 and 2004 to 68 years of futility in local General Assembly races and Edward Krumeich Jr.'s near-miss in 2006.

"We're making a lot of progress. We've definitely had our share of frustrations," said David Roberson, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee....

....Himes, a Goldman Sachs investment banker turned nonprofit housing executive, is pitted against Shays, New England's lone Republican House member, in a nationally watched race.

"That race, I think, is going to be really, really close," Roberson said.

Raben, the GOP chairman, said he expecting a tight contest but predicted that Shays' would prevail in the end.

"I think people in town recognize Chris has been very bipartisan. He's been very independent and effective," Raben said. "I think Shays is going to be fine." ....

....Two Republican candidates - state Reps. Livvy Floren and and Lile Gibbons - are incumbents who face no opposition this year. Both are seeking a fifth term, Floren in the 149th District, which includes western and backcountry Greenwich, and Gibbons in the 150th District, which covers the shoreline.

According to the registrars of voters, there are 13,604 registered Republicans in Greenwich, 9,081 Democrats and 12,672 unaffiliated voters.

Ham Ave. funding may have to wait until June
School officials may have to wait until June for state lawmakers to approve the state aid needed to plug potential holes in the town's budget for the Hamilton Avenue School project.

To help offset mounting costs on the over-budget project, town officials are seeking millions of dollars in state reimbursements for demolition and abatement work done in 2005, as well as state grants for projects that exceed their initial budgets by 10 percent or more.

However, it could be months before state lawmakers get around to actually approving the funds, which could total as much as $3.7 million, according to David Wedge, chief of the Bureau of School Facilities.

While the state legislature almost always signs off on school construction grants every year, the bill is almost always scheduled for late in the legislative calendar, which means the legislation may not even be considered until a special session in June. .....

.....That delay would throw into question for more than seven months how the town will pay for the project, which has stretched from an estimated 18-month work period to more than three years, with the costs growing from $24 million to more than $30 million.....

....Assistant Superintendent Sue Wallerstein said the change was due to language in an earlier report by the project's engineer that was not sufficient to warrant the renovation classification, which, to date, has allowed the town to reap more than $2.7 million in reimbursements.

She also noted that even if the language had been correct, the growing cost of the project has made it ineligible for the higher reimbursement rate guaranteed under the renovation classification.

With state officials now considering whether to limit funding in light of this change, town officials, who have already written the higher reimbursement rate into their forecasts, worry that the town could now face an ever wider budget gap for the project that previously thought.

Wallerstein said she is awaiting word from state officials this week as to whether the reimbursement rate will be changed - and if so, to how much - because of the reclassification.

COMMENT:

Can Someone Please Explain To Me Why Failed Assistant Superintendent Sue Wallerstein Still Is Collecting A Big Fat Board Of Education Pay Check????

Strong showings for Gators, CSH at finals
NEW CANAAN - Monday's cold, damp weather did little to affect the runners at Waveny Park as the Hopkins school easily captured the FAA girls cross country championship.

Ofcoarse The Out Of Touch Greenwich Time

Gets This Election All Wrong:

Our choice for president: McCain
On January 20, 2009, one man will stand on the steps of the Capitol and take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America..... Blah .... Blah ..... Blah ......

Shays' qualities are right for the time

It's fitting that in an election season like this one, in which most of our contested races for the state Legislature each are being waged by two highly qualified candidates, that our contest for Congress is no different.

True, the battle for the 4th Congressional District has turned a bit nasty at times. But after closely studying platforms, interviewing the two candidates and watching their debates, we have good news to report: Voters in Fairfield County really can't go wrong this year. We can't tell you who will win, but we can say for sure that we will send a good congressman to Washington.... Blah .... Blah ..... Blah ......

Frantz has what state Senate needs

Given the extraordinary challenges our new legislatures will face - on state and national levels - we have put a premium this year on experience when making our endorsements for next week's elections.

That brings us to L. Scott Frantz, Greenwich resident and the Republican candidate for the state Senate seat from the 36th District, which is being vacated by longtime incumbent William Nickerson.... Blah .... Blah ......Blah .....

COMMENT:

The Tired And Complacent Grenwich Time

Wants More Of The Same Ole Same Ole Crap

The Biased Greenwich Time Has Left So Many Greenwich Residents Uniformed.

Just Look How Uninformed Greenwich Time Reader Bernard Schneider Seems To Be About Who Is Going To Be Next President Of The United States.

Doubtful polls

To the editor:

There is a well-known and true gloss on history regarding Truman's upset over Dewey in the 1948 presidential election.

In 1948, significant portions of the population did not own a phone. The people who were overlooked, being poorer, overwhelmingly favored Truman.

It now seems that pollsters are making the same mistake. In 2008, pretty much everyone has access to a phone, but polling remains in most cases limited to owners of land-line phones. The people who are being ignored are those who do not have, and see no reason to own, a land-line phone (which does not give you e-mail, instant messaging, photographs and a host of useful applications). It is estimated that about 30 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24, and 15 percent of the population generally, only own a cell phones.

It is undisputed that this demographic, being younger, favors Barack Obama. One hopes that the candidates themselves have accounted for this in their own internal polling.

On the other hand, the cacophony of polls which bombard us incessantly must be viewed with skepticism as not reflecting the candidates' true levels of support.

Bernard G. Schneider
Riverside

Comment:

Bernard Schneider And The Greenwich Time

Seem To Be Living In 1948.

I Am Sure That Mr. Schneider Is At Home Praying That The Bradley effect Will Rule The Day.

For The Record Greenwich Roundup Is Officially Cally The Election At

11:09 Am On November 4th, 2008.

Barack Obama officially declared

winner of everything !!!!

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