02/21/08 - Another Negitive National Headline About Greenwich. What Dose The Rest Of The Country Think Of This Town?

Ex-music director at Conn. church gets prison over child porn

From: KVIA-TV El Paso

An ex-music director at a Greenwich, Connecticut, church has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.

Sixty-6-year-old Robert Tate must also pay a $50,000 fine and participate in sex offender treatment.

Tate last year pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. He then spent several weeks at long-term treatment centers for sexually deviant behavior.

Tate was choir director for 34 years at Christ Church, creating a music program that gained an international reputation.

Former President George Bush -- who now lives in Houiston -- attended that church while growing up. Funeral services for the ex-president's parents were held at Christ Church....

Former Christ Church Greenwich Choir Master sentenced to 5 1/2 ...
Stamford Advocate, CT
BRIDGEPORT -- Robert F. Tate, the former Christ Church Greenwich music director who pleaded guilty last year to possession of child pornography, ...

Ex-music director at Conn. church gets prison over child porn KTRE, TX Tate was choir director for 34 years at Christ Church, creating a music program that gained an international reputation. Former President George Bush -- who ...

Authorities: Music director hired pedophile at Greenwich church Newsday, NY ... Robert Tate faces nine to 11 years in prison under guidelines when he is sentenced Thursday. Tate was choir director for 34 years at Christ Church, ...

Church Choir Director Hired a Pedophile, Prosecutors Say
New York Times, United States
Mr. Tate, 65, was choir director for 34 years at Christ Church, an Episcopal church, and he created a music program that gained an international reputation. ...

02/21/08 - NY Civil Liberties Union and Moxley Murder Blogger Files Lawsuit Against The New York Police Department

Former 'Newsday' Cops Reporter Levitt Suing NYPD On Denied Press Pass

By Joe Strupp - Editor And Publisher

NEW YORK The New York Civil Liberties Union and a longtime former Newsday police reporter have filed suit against the New York City Police Department seeking information related to the denial of a press pass for the reporter. Leonard Levitt, who claims he held a police press pass for 24 years as a reporter at Newsday, the New York Post, and Associated Press, contends he was wrongly denied a renewal in 2007. Although he left Newsday in 2005, Levitt has been reporting on police department issues at his Web site, NYPDConfidential.com, according to a press release.

Levitt also drew attention in the 1990's for breaking new ground in the famed Martha Moxley murder case in Greenwich, Conn. That case stemmed from the 1975 death of Moxley, a 15-year-old whose murder remained unsolved until the 2002 conviction of her neighbor, Michael Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy and a longtime suspect. Levitt also wrote a 2005 book about the case titled: "Conviction: Solving the Moxley Murder" (Regan Books).

"In May 2007, following the NYPD’s sudden revocation of…Levitt’s press pass, the NYCLU served the NYPD with a formal request under the state’s Freedom of Information Law to disclose relevant information about the Department’s policy to issue or deny press passes," the release stated. "It also requested information specifically related to the decision to revoke Levitt’s pass. Over the past nine months, the NYPD has ignored the NYCLU’s request, violated statutory deadlines for responding to such requests, and denied an administrative appeal asking for a timely response."....

....“We want to ensure that the NYPD is applying its press pass policy uniformly and fairly,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman stated in the release. “New Yorkers are entitled to know if the NYPD is stifling investigate reporting aimed at uncovering inappropriate, illicit or illegal behavior within the Department.” The plaintiffs claim that the revocation of Levitt's pass is in retaliation for his reporting, stating: "Through his site, Levitt has reported on the NYPD’s failure to pay its bills on time, the arrest of an NYPD narcotics officer who was involved in drug-smuggling, and police brutality." “I think we’re going to find that this was strictly retaliatory,” Levitt added. “The police department has issued press passes to all kinds of people who they shouldn’t have according to their policy, but not to those who are in need and deserving of a pass....

02/21/08 - Another Greenwich Gossip Post From The Amost Amazing Bill Clark

Why the Town Fathers Won't Allow a Holiday Inn in Greenwich

by Bill Clark

Your scribe has a number of favorite blogs he enjoys visiting, and on one of them he found the following, which he hastens to share with his readership:

NO NURSING HOME FOR US

Guess what, Holiday Inn offers 24 hour service 7 days a week around the clock!!!!!

How is that compared to Nursing Homes rip off??????

No nursing home for us. We are checking into the Holiday Inn!

With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old & feeble. We have already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount, plus senior discount, it's $49.23 per night. That leaves $138.77 a day for: Breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap. $5 worth of tips a day will have the entire staff scrambling to help you. They treat you like a customer, not a patient.

There is a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up. It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you are not stuck in one place forever, you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city.

Want to see Hawaii? They have a Holiday Inn there too.
TV broken?
Light bulbs need changing?
Need a mattress replaced?
No problem!
They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they will call the undertaker or an ambulance. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life. And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The grand kids can use the pool.

What more can you ask for?

What more, indeed? Sounds like a great idea to your scribe! Unfortunately, there is no Holiday Inn in Greenwich, nor is there likely ever to be one. Why?

Well, just think, dear reader: all those retirees would jam the place and use the local address to get beach cards, vote in Town elections, and perhaps even run for the RTM! Or perhaps some political wannabe will get all his retired friends to move here and vote him in as First Selectman, or State congressperson, or even run against Chris Shays for Congress. Heaven forfend!

No, gentle reader, you may be quite sure that the Town Fathers will never allow a Holiday Inn here in Greenwich. The would-be interlopers will have to make do with Stamford or Mount Kisco instead, which are the only HI's in our immediate vicinity. Whew! Another crisis averted in Town!

Greenwich Gossip - http://greenwich-gossip.blogspot.com/

• The Silly Season Gets Sillier
• Valentine's Day Dilemma
• Elizabeth Watson 1944-2008
• Musical Magic at Christ Church
• Super Tuesday Comes to Greenwich / Update
• Manuscript Mavens Come to Greenwich Avenue! / Upda...
• Ave atque Vale, Cos Cob Food Mart
• Greenwich in Tampa
• I Had to Open My Big Mouth...//Update
• January Thaw

02/21/08 - Stop The Coverup - Since When Is Joesph Siciliano A Criminal Investigator?

Joseph siciliano And The Parks Department Are Now In Charge Of Felonies In Greenwich.

Who’s forging beach passes? Greenwich begins investigation

By Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter - Greenwich Post

An internal investigation is under way into what could be counterfeit beach passes, parking stickers and marina permits.

(Comment: The Criminals Have Been Tipped Off And Are Probably Destroying Evidence While Parks Director And Key Stone Cop Joesph Siciliano Screws Up This Felony Investigation.)

According to Joseph Siciliano, the town’s director of parks and recreation, the department was provided with a binder earlier this month containing copies of the allegedly counterfeit material and information that identified who is believed to be responsible. Mr. Siciliano said he reviewed the material and the department is proceeding with an internal look.

(Comment: Meanwhile The Felon Is Removing And Destroying His Computer Hard Drive)

“I have photocopies of what is supposedly a knockoff,” Mr. Siciliano said. “We’ve been investigating since these were provided to our office. There are photocopies in here of passes from 2005 and 2006, but none from last year. We are looking at the names and addresses on the copies and we will see where we go from here.”

(Comment: Why Is Th is Taking So Long? Maybe Mr. Siciliano taking on-line courses at the Gibbs School of Criminal Justice In Norwalk?)

Mr. Siciliano said the material was “delivered” to the office, but declined to provide any more information about who had brought it there and why.

(Comment: Some On Walked In To Mr. Siciliano's Office And Reported A Felony And Theft From His Employer, Why Didn't Mr. Siciliano Immediately Pick Up The Phone And Call The Greenwich Police Department?)

“We are going to pursue this and we will either end up with something we can provide the police department to act on, or it will be a dead end,” Mr. Siciliano said. “We are continuing to pursue this to the best of our ability.”

(Comment: To The "Best Of Your Ability" !!! Hello, You Are Not Propperly Trained To Conduct A felony Investigation !!!! Call The Police Department !!!!)

As of Tuesday, the Greenwich Police Department was not involved in the matter other being informed about it.

“This is being handled by the Parks and Recreation Department,” Public Information Officer Lt. Daniel Allen said Tuesday. “They have spoken to me and we told them that we would assist them in any form or fashion if they require our assistance.”

Lt. Allen said the ball is now in the department’s court as to how it wants to proceed. However, there are already strong urgings from Town Hall that the police should get involved.

(Comment: The Greenwich Police Department Is Aware Of A Felony Being Committed Against The Town, And It Has Not Immediately Started An Investigation. Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg Should Immediately Send A Greenwich Police Detective To The Parks Department To Gather All Evidence Involving This Felony.)

When reached for comment on Monday, First Selectman Peter Tesei told the Post he felt this should be a police investigation and not something done internally by the department.

“Any offense of this nature, whether it involves beach passes or parking stickers, is an offense,” Mr. Tesei said. “Joe Siciliano should not be unilaterally undertaking an investigation. That’s not his job. He’s been made aware of something and this should now be turned over to the police. End of story.”
(Comment: Mr. Siciliano Is Being Insubordinate For Not Following First Selectman Peter Tesei's Directions. Why Is Mr. Siciliano Being So Stuborn? Is He Trying To Protect Someone?)

Mr. Tesei said he had been briefed by Mr. Siciliano on the matter and planned to meet with him again this week.

On Tuesday, Mr. Siciliano confirmed that Mr. Tesei had made his wishes clear. He said the investigation is still focused on background work he termed “homework” and that he was doing work the police would need to proceed with any criminal investigation. He said he would turn the investigation over to the police when there was something concrete to provide, and he believed Mr. Tesei understood.
(Comment: Please See Previous Comment. Mr. Siciliano Is Being Ridiculous.)

One factor hindering the investigation, Mr. Siciliano said, was that the passes were from 2005 and 2006 and it would be hard to track down the information needed because the department’s database is updated every year and the previous year’s data is eliminated.
(Comment: It Is Hard For Mr. Siciliano To Track Down Information, Because He Is Not A Trained Greenwich Police Investigator With Years Of Experience. The Greenwich Police Department Even Has Experience At Recovering Computer Data That Has Been Deleted.)

“We’ve been getting some dead ends on some information and we don’t have the information to go on for other leads,” Mr. Siciliano said.
(Comment: This Guy Is Siciliano Is Unreal. Stop The Coverup And Call The Proffessional Criminal Investigators At The Greenwich Police Department. The Phone Number Is 622-8000.)

PLEASE LOOK AT THESE PREVIOUS POSTS:

• 02/16/08 - Greenwich investigates fake copies of coveted beach passes (Updated)
• 02/18/08 - The Parks Department Has Another Beach Pass Scandal. Will The Police Be Called? Will the person reponsible be punished?
• 02/19/08 - Coverup? - Why Isn't This Felony Being Investigated By The Police Department?
• 02/20/08 - Is The Coverup Comming To An End? - Police Commisioner Tesei Lights A Fire Under Police Chief Ridberg's Rear End.

02/21/08 - Greenwich News Wire For Thursday

Featured Greenwich News Reports From

The Greenwich Post:

Second season or bust GHS hockey starts postseason run as No. 5 ...
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT
For boys hockey senior defender Brian Milazzo, something about the Greenwich High School team’s upcoming tournament feels vaguely familiar. ...

Controversy draws more people to Greenwich Library talk
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT
Last week’s speaker at Greenwich Library drew more than 300 attendees but only in part because of the topic. After controversy surrounding the scheduling, ...

Bird's eye view As Greenwich project goes to hearing, players take ...
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT
Sitting on a 37-acre parcel it leases from the Greenwich Reform Synagogue, the new buildings’ total floor space will be 171993 square feet. ...

Who’s forging beach passes? Greenwich begins investigation
Greenwich Post - Greenwich,CT
As of Tuesday, the Greenwich Police Department was not involved in the matter other being informed about it. “This is being handled by the Parks and ...

Other Featured Greenwich News Reports:

Frantz to run for Nickerson Senate seat
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT
By Neil Vigdor GREENWICH - In a passing of the torch for Greenwich Republicans, L. Scott Frantz announced his bid last night to replace longtime incumbent ...

Bridgeport man admits being robber in botched Greenwich heist
Newsday - Long Island,NY
A former Bridgeport man admits he was the gunman behind the botched robbery of nearly $5 million from a Greenwich jewelry store. Thirty-seven-year-old ...

Featured Greenwich Blog Posts:

SUNY-Greenwich Pt.-Banksville 47
Description: Combination of two good routes +includes rest stops at Arcadia Coffee and Banksville Deli/IGA details: Distance: 47.471 mi Gain: 3808.08 ft Location: Purchase, , US. open route.
- http://veloroutes.org

Restraunt/Clubs in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk
What are the positive and negatives of some that people have been to that serve food?
Chowhound's Latest » Tristate Region - http://www.chowhound.com/boards/20

Great Books II
When: Thursday February 21st, 2008 - 09:30 AM Where: Greenwich Library at The Jewel Discussion Series.
Greenwich Library | Today's Events - http://www.greenwichlibrary.org

---

Please send comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com
====================================================

The Raw Greenwich News Feed For Thursday

1. An easy choice for Reed Elsevier

   SNL Financial

   ... company's current focus is on a "more integrated synergistic and cohesive" operating model. Investors, including Greenwich, Conn.-based Blue Harbour Group LP , a private equity firm that owns about 4.6 million shares, or 6.5%, of ChoicePoint stock, ...

   
   

   Tags: Publishing, Media, Alpharetta, GA,Reed Elsevier,

2. Boeing Suspends Some Work on Short-Haul 787 to Focus on Long-Haul Version

   Bloomberg

   ... this point it seems more of a drag on the program than a benefit,'' said Douglas Runte, managing director at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut. Runte said the short-haul model now accounts for less than 5 percent of Boeing's orders for ...

   
   

   Tags: France, Midi-Pyrenees, World News, Toulouse

3. Former 'Newsday' Cops Reporter Levitt Suing NYPD On Denied Press Pass

   Editor & Publisher

   ... Levitt also drew attention in the 1990's for breaking new ground in the famed Martha Moxley murder case in Greenwich, Conn. That case stemmed from the 1975 death of Moxley, a 15-year-old whose murder remained unsolved until the 2002 conviction of ...

   
   

   Tags: New York Metro, Drugs

4. Asian Equities In 2007: Growth, Uninterrupted

   Securitization.Net

   Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Greenwich, CT USA - The rest of the financial world may have been preoccupied with the global credit crisis throughout the summer and fall of 2007, but equity markets throughout ...

   
   

5. Blue Harbour Group Comments on Choicepoint Acquisition

   PR Newswire

   GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Harbour Group, which owns about 4.6 million shares of Choicepoint Inc.

   
   

   Tags: Financial Services, Choice Point, Insurance
   
   Chris Russo, Chris Shays and the steroid politics of Mike and the Mad Dog

6. Minuteman

   ... 2008 election working to
   

7. unseat Shays and pledged his support to Shays' probable Democratic opponent, Jim Himes of Greenwich. "Here's the thing about Shays," Russo told his audience Feb. 12. "I'm gonna go out of my way in November. We're gonna get ...

   
   

8. The Opening Bell

   CJR Daily

   ... 2000s has come to an end," said Michael Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners, a research and trading firm in Greenwich, Conn. "That is over." The Los Angeles Times reports that the Fed's openness about its tilt toward promoting growth instead of ...

   
   

9. Man indicted as suspect in arcade theft

   Asbury Park Press Online

   ... where, police allege, he tried to use the theft victim's bank card later the same day. Twomey was arrested in Greenwich, Conn., Sept. 29 after a manhunt. He waived extradition and was returned to New Jersey to face charges in connection with the ...

   
   

   Tags: Seaside Hieghts, NJ, Ocean County, Bergan County, Teaneck

10. Boys playoff pairings set

    Norwalk Advocate

    ... Central (11-7). Trinity meets Danbury (11-7) at 7 p.m., while No. 4 New Canaan (15-3) meets No. 5 Greenwich (14-4) at 5 p.m. Bassick (15-3), the No. 3 seed, tips off against No. 6 Harding (13-5) at noon followed by St. Joseph-Central at 2 p.m. ...

    
    

11. GHS basketball ends regular season with eight-game win streak

    Norwalk Advocate

    The Greenwich High School boys basketball team closed out the regular season with a 51-41 win at Trumbull last night.

    
    

12. Antares sued for $19.4M by former partner

    Norwalk Advocate

    ... did construction work on condominium projects in Armonk, N.Y., and two of the company's troubled projects in Greenwich - the conversion of the Putnam Green and Weaver's Hill apartment complexes into condominiums, according to the suit. The suit ...

    
    

13. Restaurant review: B.J. Ryan's

    Norwalk Advocate

    Foodie predictors say this is the year of Japanese fusion, French bistro and nuevo Latino - all in established dining meccas like Greenwich's Greenwich Avenue, SoNo and Stamford's Columbus Park.

    
    

14. State urged to dump bottled water

    Norwalk Advocate

    HARTFORD - Lawmakers yesterday urged the state to break its three-year contract with Nestle Waters North America Inc., a Greenwich company that supplies Poland Spring bottled water to offices.

    
    

    Tags: Stamford, New Haven Metro

15. Reliving history of the Revolution Putnam Cottage plans special events for Sunday

    Norwalk Advocate

    ... General Israel Putnam took a treacherous ride on horseback down a steep hill to rally American troops and save Greenwich from a British attack. 'It's part of Greenwich history,' said Sue Jayes, a member of the Putnam Hill Chapter of the Daughters ...

    
    

    Tags: Stamford, CT

16. Grand List gains surpass forecast

    Norwalk Advocate

    ... this year than there were at this point last year,' Gwartney said. Commercial assessments totaled $4.3 billion. Greenwich Plaza, a 2.8-acre office complex next to the train station and Interstate 95, maintained its perch atop the commercial ...

    
    

    Tags: Real Estate

17. Brunswick hockey nips Rye for fourth straight

    Norwalk Advocate

    ... a better road trip and you couldn't script better timing.' However, it was the script for Brunswick's return to Greenwich that had some kinks to be worked out. In the Bruins' first game back at Hartong Rink they outlasted Rye Country Day 3-2 ...

    
    

    Tags: Ice Hockey, Winter Sports

18. Maya Way

    Hartford Courant

    Over the course of the next month, coaches and media voting for Big East and national player of the year awards will tackle the interesting problem of what to do with UConn freshman Maya Moore.

19. Venice Little Theatre offers program for young thespians

    HeraldTribune.com

    ... Venice, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays. Payment is by cash or check. Call 486-2487. The 24th annual Greenwich, Conn., Florida reunion is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 1 at Jacaranda West Country Club, 1901 Jacaranda Blvd., Venice. ...

    
    

    Tags: Family, Teenagers, Sarasota, FL

20. Wall St rallies on optimism about tech, rate cuts

    Theedgedaily.com

    ... but (the Fed) appears willing to go down that path," said Michael Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners LLC, in Greenwich, Connecticut. "They basically suggested that policy is likely to remain easier for a while." The Dow Jones industrial average ...

    
    

    Tags: IBM, Jones Apparel Group, Apparel, Financial Markets, Hewlett Packard

21. Culture Cash

    Hartford Courant

    ... and 'Robots,' announced that it was moving its headquarters and 300 jobs from New York 's Westchester County to Greenwich . The 'Hollywood East' task force, set up by House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, is involving local universities to ...

02/21/08 - Dellasorte claims Cabrera and Beninati owe him for construction work, management fees and his share of profits on their joint projects

NAMES: Joseph P. Beninati and James P. Cabrera
COMPANY: Antares Real Estate
TITLES: Co-founders & Managing Members
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 8
TOTAL PORTFOLIO SIZE: $500 million
KEY PROPERTIES: Pickwick Plaza in Greenwich; Delamar Hotel in Greenwich; new 9-acre estate in Greenwich off Round Hill Road, surrounding Lake Carrington; Seaview House in Stamford; CiderMill gated community in Westchester.
CLAIM TO FAME (Beninati): I met my wife, Rhonda – the most wonderful woman in the world – at Choate Rosemary Hall 22 years ago.
CLAIM TO FAME (Cabrera): My family.
BIGGEST DEAL: Growing a $200 million residential development division to complement elite commercial assets such as Pickwick & Delamar.
LIVE IN: Beninati, Armonk, NY; Cabrera, Old Greenwich, CT.
WORK IN: Greenwich, CT, at Pickwick Plaza. Other offices are located on our properties.
HOW THEY GOT INTO REAL ESTATE: Beninati began doing real estate deals with Cabrera during
the ‘90s.
BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB: The family team atmosphere.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE COMPANY: Opportunity fund guys tend to emphasize financials and lack Antares’ operating/construction infrastructure. Builder/developers lack Antares’ team of Ivy League MBAs to be financially sophisticated.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Keeping up with all of our opportunities.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Having customers, employees and investors whom we have done business with and became friends with over the years.

From: Panache - Real Estate
Source URL: http://www.panachemag.com/Archive/9_04/Features/Real_Estate/Real_Estate.asp

Antares sued for $19.4M by former partner

By Monica Potts
Staff Write

STAMFORD - The developer of 80 acres in the South
End is being sued for $19.4 million by a former partner, according to documents filed in state Superior Court in Stamford.

In a nine-count lawsuit filed in December, William Paul Dellasorte, president of William Paul Inc., a Danbury construction company, accuses Antares Investment Partners, its co-founders, James Cabrera and Joseph Beninati, and subsidiary companies of violating the terms of an oral agreement and committing fraud and deceit.

"This complaint is completely without merit and we are disappointed in the plaintiff, who was, in fact, overcompensated for his contribution to the venture at issue," John Freeman, general counsel for Antares, said in a statement. "This action may require us to consider our own legal recourse against the plaintiff."....

02/21/08 - News Reports From Greenwich Time

Frantz gears up for campaign

In a passing of the torch for Greenwich Republicans, L. Scott Frantz announced his bid last night to replace longtime incumbent William Nickerson in the state Senate during a packed rally at the Arch Street teen center.

Man pleads guilty in jewel heists
A former Bridgeport man has pleaded guilty in federal court to being the gun-toting motorcyclist who stole nearly $5 million in jewels from Betteridge Jewelers in September 2006, according to the authorities.

New rail cars get the once-over
The M-8s sound like they belong to a class of secret agents, but they are, in fact, a fleet of new Metro-North trains that received their first showing yesterday.

Grand List gains surpass forecast

The assessed value of vacant land in town decreased nearly 4 percent overall during the past year because of new construction, according to the assessor's office.