12/25/08 The Greenwich Time's New And Improved Regional Coverage Means Less Greenwich News

U.S. Army Capt. Marko Kostovic is home to celebrate the holidays with his sweetheart Ana Filipovic. Kostovic is stationed in Germany where he will return in two weeks. He will move to Greenwich in March.

(Helen Neafsey/Greenwich Time photo)

Army captain receives hero's welcome home

One soldier isn't only home in his dreams this Christmas.

Following a 15-month tour of Iraq, Army Capt Marko Kostovic, 27, returned home on leave this week to catch a glimpse of the life he'll share with his girlfriend, Greenwich native Ana Filipovic, 26, when he leaves the Army this spring.

That includes being a homeowner, as Kostovic - with Filipovic's help - purchased a condominium in the Fairfield House complex on Lafayette Place during his deployment.

Old friends and new neighbors greeted him there Tuesday night with a party in his honor.
"It's really flattering that they put this together for me," said Kostovic, among about 20 people gathered in the lobby of his building to share wine and neighborly advice. "I didn't think there would be this many people here."

"If you need quarters for laundry, beer, vodka, wine, anything, I'm there," said resident Liza Sutliffe, pointing out her apartment across the courtyard.

Kostovic, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., who was born in Croatia and raised on Long Island, smiled in appreciation.

Fairfield House Condo Assocation President Sue McClenachan said it was her idea to host a party for Kostovic.......

......Kostovic, who grew up in Seaford, N.Y., and met Filipovic in college, is already thinking about getting involved in Greenwich life.

"It's a pretty nice area," he said. "Connecticut's pretty good at lacrosse, so I'm looking forward to getting involved with that here."

In the meantime, Kostovic and Filipovic are enjoying their time together. And as for an engagement?

"He already knows what ring I want," said Filipovic, smiling at Kostovic.

Marshal probes New Canaan mansion blaze
NEW CANAAN - The cause of the fire that destroyed a $3.9 million house in New Canaan on Tuesday was still under investigation Wednesday, town Fire Marshal Fred Baker said.

Body found on New London beach

NEW LONDON, Conn.—Police are trying to learn the identity of a a man whose body was found on a beach in New London.

Police say the man's remains were found Wednesday morning at Ocean Beach Park. They also found a Philadelphia Eagles shirt and jacket which they believe belonged to the man.

Authorities say there were few walkers on the boardwalk Wednesday. They were checking nearby vehicles to see if any of them belonged to the man.

Inspectors from the New London State's Attorney's Office were also called to the scene.

Postal workers lend Santa a hand
Santa Claus has his work cut for him this week as he loads up his sleigh and readies his reindeer to deliver gifts to millions of jubilant children.

Lucky for him, though, the task of responding to countless wish-list letters has been made a little easier thanks to the holiday help of postal employees.

Throughout December, mail carriers have sent more than 200 letters, found in mailboxes and the special drop-box at the central office on Greenwich Avenue, to St. Nick in the North Pole.

The children's wishlists - some scribbled in crayon on construction paper, others neatly typed and printed from a computer - are being delivered to Chris Kringle so that he knows exactly where to send his replies and, later this week, deliver his gifts, said Greenwich Postmaster Doreen Reichard. ......

.....One recent letter, for instance, came from a young girl writing to Santa on behalf of her 8-year-old brother, Aaron, who is autistic and cannot write on his own. While action figures would be nice, she writes, Aaron also needs necessities, like boxer shorts and T-shirts.

"I know things are hard now, but please can you make him happy on Christmas morning?" the letter-writer pleads. "I know I should be asking for toy[s], but sometimes it [is] better to get what you need and not what you like, and anything would make Aaron happy. Like I said before, [he's] a unique child and I love him very much."

For needy children like this, Palmer co-organizes a "Toys for Tots" drive with the U.S. Marines, which this year has collected more than 1,500 donations for Santa to bring to Greenwich-area families in need, he said. Toys can be dropped off at Old Greenwich's post office.

"When you get those letters" around Christmas, "it moves you," he said.

COMMENT:

May God Bless These Postal Workers And Marines Who Are Looking After The Less Fortunate Children Of Greenwich On The Day We Honor The Birth Of Jesus Christ.

Let's Hope That The Rest Of Us Follow Their Lead And We Try And Look For Ways That We Can Help The Less Fortunaye Children And Families Of Greenwich In The Comming Year.

We Always Here The Question,"What Would Jesus Do?'

Well, He Probably Would Stop Look Around And Find Ways To Help The Poor Like These Postal Workers And Marines Have Done For Greenwich Children This Christmas.

Kennedy's pursuit of Senate snared in NY politics
ALBANY, N.Y. - Caroline Kennedy's bid to get appointed to the Senate and extend the Camelot dynasty has run into the bare-knuckle world of New York politics, where a backlash appears to be building against her.

Receiver to take over Marathon nursing homes

HARTFORD, Conn.—A state-appointed receiver has been appointed to oversee the company that runs six nursing homes in Connecticut and filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

East Hartford-based Marathon Healthcare failed to find a buyer by Wednesday's deadline, triggering a default with the company's debtor. As a result, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office says Marathon cannot meet its operating expenses.

A superior court judge granted Blumenthal's request Wednesday morning to appoint a licensed nursing home administrator, Phyllis Belmonte, as receiver.

Firefighters rescue Christmas for hospital-bound children
Armed with gifts and greeted with smiles, nearly a dozen members of the firefighters union dropped off presents to the pediatric wing of Greenwich Hospital Tuesday night.

From a giant stuffed animal to the popular Webkinz toys, men and woman of the fire department were hoping to spread holiday cheer to those children bound to a hospital bed this time of year.

"We really wish there were no children here, but if there are, we like to bring them something," said firefighter Dan Natalecq, 35, who organized the event. "A lot of us work on the holidays, so we know what it is like not to be home."

COMMENT:

Again, May God Bless These Greenwich Fire Fighters Who Have Gone Into The Local Hospital To Help Children On The Day That Jesus Christ Was Born.

Let Us Learn From These Greenwich Fire Fighters Who Seek To Help Us Each And Everyday Of The Year, But hoose To Go The Extra Mile And Bring Gifts To Sick Children On Christmas Day.

One Thing That I Have Learned At Harvest Time Church In Greenwich Is That Helping People In Need Comes Naturally To People Who Truly Love Jesus. Greedy People, However, Are Filled With Fear When They Face The Consequences Of Their Selfishness.

It Is Easy For Greenwich Residents To See That Unmitigated Greed Has Led To An Unparalleled Fear In The Local State And American Economy.

Jesus Clearly Says That There Will Come A Day When The Authenticity Of Ou Individual Faith Will Be Proven By How He Sees Us Minister To "The Least Of These My Brothers."

While Jesus Tells His Followers To Help People With The Simple Needs In Life, The World Tells Us To Isolate Ourselves And Let Government Or Social Welfare Agencies Handle The Poor.

Many Residents In Greenwich Are guilty Of Building Up Walls Where We Never See Those Type Of People Any More – And These Members Of Greenwich Society Don’t Want To See Those Less Fortunate Members Of Greenwich Society Any More.

These Greenwich Residents Have Succumbed To Our Modern-Day Society’s Notion That Winners Ought To Be The Ones Who Receive The Good And Losers Deserve What They Get Anyway.

Once In A While, We Attempt To Assuage Our Guilt By Handing Out Some Money, With A Quick-Fix, Guilt-Removing Inoculation By Helping Out In A Soup Kitchen

Maybe We Throw Out Some Clothes We Don’t Like Any More.

But Jesus Says We Are To Help Others "In The Simple Things Of Life.”

If You Carefully Study The Ministry Of Christ, You Will See He Had A Special Affinity For The Poor. He Might Talk To Rich People Once In A While But He Spent Most Of His Time Ministering To The Poor.

If You Truely Want To Be A Person Who Follows Christ, You Will Need To Have A Special Affinity For The Poor Because Of Our Love For Jesus Christ.

Members Of Harvest Time Church Are Engaged In A Variety Of International And Community Ministries – In Fact I Think Last Year They Quiey Raised $500,000 To Help The Poor – They Did Not Do It To Improving Their Public Image.

In Fact, For 25 Yaers They Have Had An Excellent Public Image In Greenwich.

Harvest Time Church Didn’t Help The Poor Just To Win People To Christ, But That Happens Too. Harvest Time Church Helped The Poor Because It Was The Right Thing To Do ... And Ministries Or Missions That Help The Poor Are A Personal Ministry To Jesus Christ.

Ministering To Jesus Personally Is A Great Way To Please His Father.

If You Want To Make A Parent Happy, Minister To The Child. If You Want To Make The Father Happy, Minister To His Son.

Jesus Said, "When You Do It For The Least Of These, You’ve Ministered Unto Me.

Greenwich Christians Need To Start A Ministry To Jesus.

We Ought To Be Ashamed That, In The Richest Town, In One Of The Richest States In The Richest Country In The World, We Are Giving Chump Change To The Poor In And Around Greenwich.

Instead The Fear That Some Greenwich's Greedy People Will Feel When They Stand Before God, Let Us Pray That They Become Selfless People Who Will Be Filled With Joy.

Let Us Pray That All Members Of Greenwich Society Will Be Able To Stand Before The Father Some Day And Say With Joy, "I Helped Your Son !!!!"

Let Everyone In Greenwich See Thier Ministry As A Ministry To Christ, Even If It Means Sacrifice. That Is The Example Of Our Lord Jesus, And It Should Be Our Ministry Here In Town.....Day After Day After Day.

One These Last Seven Days Of The Year Go Out In Town And Find Some Way To Help Someone Less Fortunate Than Yourself.

I Know There Are A Few Greedy Greenwich Residents

Who Are Saying Who Died And Made

Greenwich Roundup Pope Anyway

Well The Pope Says

Greenwich Roundup Is Right About

This Dangerous Greed Thing ......

Pope: Greed to make world 'fall apart'

Inquirer.net, Philippines

VATICAN CITY

Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday issued a dire warning against greed, saying in his Christmas message that the world was headed toward ruin if selfishness prevails over solidarity during tough economic times for both rich and poor nations.

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on the day Christians commemorate Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Benedict declared that the “heart of the Christian message is meant for all men and women.”......

.....“Wherever the selfishness of individuals and groups prevails over the common good … may the light of Christmas shine forth and encourage all people to do their part in a spirit of authentic solidarity,” Benedict said.

“If people look only to their own interests, our world will certainly fall apart,” he warned......

......Wearing a crimson mantle against a damp chill, he told tens of thousands of people at St. Peter’s Square that God’s saving grace could “alone transform evil into good” and “change human hearts, making them oases of peace.”......

Greenwich Time's News Links Continue.......

Movie Clock Thursday, Dec. 25
BEDFORD, N.Y. Clearview's Bedford Playhouse, Route 22, (914) 234-7300 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7, 9:15 The Tale of Despereaux: 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7, 9:15 BETHEL Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave.

Sewer report overdue

"The deadline has passed," said state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Cyndy Chanaca. "The DEP has been attempting to contact the Public Works Department of the town of Greenwich."

Chanaca said Greenwich had until Dec. 17, five days after the break, to file the report. It is now late, and the amount of raw sewage that was diverted into the Long Island Sound via the Mianus River over the four days it took to fix the leak is still unknown.

Repairing the high-pressure main, which normally carries effluent from eastern Greenwich to the Grass Island wastewater treatment facility, was complicated by the discovery of a nearby natural gas pipe.

The town and Connecticut Natural Gas communicated about removing the dangerous section of the pipe over the weekend after the rupture, which occurred on a Friday, and the pipe was not removed until the following Monday evening.

The sewer main was repaired by midday Tuesday.

Over the four-day period, wastewater from eastern Greenwich was diverted into the Mianus River at three points in Riverside and Cos Cob.

DEP spokesman Dennis Schain has previously said the amount was "in the millions of gallons."

Executive Director of the Interstate Environmental Commission Howard Golub said last week he believed the amount was two to three million gallons.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also contacted the town of Greenwich asking for the report......

....."Rich Feminella (Wastewater Divsion Manager) is pulling together the data," Tesei said. He's had productive conversations with the DEP."

Feminella did not return calls for comment.

BBB alerts consumers to possible mortgage scam
If a woman named "Betty" calls offering low mortgage rates, you may want to pass. According to the Connecticut Better Business Bureau, consumers across the nation are reporting an alleged scam whereby Betty is calling from a New Canaan number to offer to "drastically reduce mortgage rates" or cut credit-card debt by at least 50 percent.

Queen Elizabeth gives somber Christmas broadcast
(AP)

LONDON—Britain's Queen Elizabeth II delivered a somber Christmas broadcast Thursday, acknowledging how the economic crisis has cast a shadow over the traditional festive season and calling for people to show courage in the tough times ahead.

Public pools get more time for safety
The town health department has given four public pools more time to comply with a federal law requiring facilities to install new drain covers to prevent entrapment under water by suction from a drain.

The new law, which was passed last December and went into effect on Friday, mandates public pools to install certified anti-entrapment covers and other devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapments. Facilities that don't face fines or closure, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"This law is aimed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries associated with pools, spas and hot tubs. It's very important," said Alan Korn, director of public policy for Washington, D.C.-based Safe Kids USA, the organization that was instrumental in getting the law passed.

There are 11 public indoor pools in town, as well as approximately 50 outdoor pools, which must be compliant when they open in late spring. Of the 11 indoor pools, six complied by the deadline and one is currently being renovated, according to Michael Long, director of environmental service for the town health department.

But the Greenwich Family YMCA, the YWCA of Greenwich, the Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Greenwich High School pools were allowed to miss the Dec. 19 deadline and remain open because their drainage systems are considered low-risk.....

.....Town building department officials inspected the pools and deemed them safe for continued use without the new certified covers. The health department required that while the pools remain open, pool operators must insist everyone wear a swimming cap to ensure hair doesn't get caught, and that no flotation devices be used, according to Long.

Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the Washington-D.C.-based Consumer Product Safety Commission, said although Congress gave public pool operators a year to comply with the new standards, even some who acted promptly have had to wait months to get the new equipment.

"The law is the law," he said. "I understand that there are those with good intentions but we must ensure that this law is being abided by."......

.....Another incidence occurred on July 28, 2007, in Greenwich. Zachary Cohn, 6, drowned in his family's backcountry swimming pool when his arm became stuck in an intake valve on the wall of the deep end.

From 1997 to 2007, there were 74 reported incidents associated with suction entrapment, including nine deaths and 63 injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"I think the thing people need to realize is that these deaths are preventable," said Korn. "One thing that we can all do is remind parents to tell their children to stay away from drains."

New England Lottery Roundup
CONNECTICUT Play 3 Day
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP)—The winning combination picked Wednesday in the Connecticut State Lottery's "Play 3 Day" drawing was: 9-5-7 (nine, five, seven).......

Greenwich track coach Mongovan receives Presidential Award
Every day is an adventure for Greenwich High School track coach Bill Mongovan. And his recent trip to Reno, Nevada, where he received a Presidential Award from USA Track & Field was no different.

TODAY"S LOCAL HARD HITTING GREENWICH TIME EDITORIAL: "Inspiration to find common ground"
They called it "The War to End All Wars," but history proved them very wrong. Still, for a few hours near the end of 1914, on the freezing landscape of Western Europe, the spirit of Christmas was able to, if not end World War I, at least stop it for a while.

The story of the Christmas Truce has been told so many times that it has become legend, making it hard to sift fact from fiction. But it did happen. On Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day, British and German soldiers forgot about the uniforms their adversaries were wearing and saw the people beneath.

The battle lines in Ypres, Belgium, were close, at some points only 30 yards apart, and soldiers shivering in the freezing mud that winter would often call out to each other.

Then, German soldiers on Christmas Eve erected small, candle-lit Christmas trees, and what happened next, at different points along miles of fortifications, can only be described as miraculous.

Shouts became songs. At one spot, Brits singing "O Come All Ye Faithful," or "Silent Night," depending on the telling, were joined by Germans across the way who sang in the original tongue. The first brave souls stood up, and gradually, men from each side climbed out of their trenches and walked across No Man's Land to greet each other.

COMMENT:

I Saw This Story On The History Channel Yesterday.

It Is A Wonderful And Lovely Story.

But What Does It Have To Do With Greenwich At The End Of 2008?

School board was wrong to cut from academics

Dear Greenwich Time Ediror,

I would like to publicly voice my disappointment with how the Board of Education handled the budget cuts for the Advanced Learning Program.

Specifically, at the board meeting on Dec. 18 ("$127M budget approved," Greenwich Time, Dec. 19), the board completely ignored the budget cuts that were made directly to academic curriculum for the ALP interdisciplinary science program for the third grade. While many parents spoke about the importance of the program, the board did not even have the respect to bring it up for even brief discussion. Meanwhile non-academic programs like swimming and ice skating were discussed at length.

I'm at a loss to understand how an oversight committee that is supposed to be focused on "education" could support cutting an academic curriculum, even if for a minority of special-needs kids, when there are administrative and non-academic programs that could have been cut. This is an embarrassing oversight.

The students in the ALP program have special learning requirements that are at least worthy of consideration. ALP students learn differently and have distinct educational needs. In fact, a study proved that the "uniqueness of these students renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parent, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally."

What I'm trying to understand is why it so easy to dismiss this program. Perhaps it's because these kids are often labeled as "gifted," or they might be perceived as "privileged," so maybe it's easier to reconcile cutting from this group without remorse. Whether it's called a "disability" or "ability," or "special needs" or "gifted," these kids are entitled to have an educational program that doesn't sell them short on academic requirements to support their unique needs.

Once we set one bad precedent to cut an academic curriculum for our students, it opens the door to further cuts as budgets are challenged yet again next year. We need to do a better job holding the line on the budget for academic programs that will raise the bar for the educational excellence of the Greenwich Public Schools.

Lance Porigow
Greenwich

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