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Showing posts with label Board Of Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Board Of Education. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

04/29/09 The Raw Greenwich News Feed

Today's Top Greenwich News Story

The Headlines:

Journalistic Standards Upheld: Greenwich Representative Alfred Camillo And David Theis Caught Red Handed By The Greenwich Time

E-mail from Alfred Camillo to Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman David Theis Camillo wrote: "Copy and paste this below to your own email. Let me know if you have any problems with it."

The Quotes:

"I've written probably 100 letters in my life putting my name to it," Rep. Alfred Camillo said.

"Whatever the circumstance is behind how it came to exist or be sent, it's inappropriate on the part of a government official to take part in the creation of a letter that deals with him in any way if that letter is not going to have his name on it," caid Thomas Mellana, editorial page editor for Greenwich Time, "I don't doubt that this type of thing happens from time to time. But when we become aware of it, it would be wrong of us to run the letter, which is why we decided not to."

"I hit the wrong button and sent Freddy's draft," Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman David Theis said. "It was a good lesson for me to be careful when sending out communications."

The Reporter

By Neil Vigdor

The Story:

Officials issue mea culpa over misfired e-mail to newspaper

Samuel Clemens had Mark Twain.

Stephen King had Richard Bachman.

But Rep. Alfred Camillo, R-151st District, said he was not writing under a pen name when an e-mail he had recently authored was signed by another Republican and submitted as a letter to the editor of Greenwich Time and The Advocate.....

The Clasic Story Ending:

...."I'm a pretty good wordsmith, but I wanted to be accurate," Theis said. "I'm perfectly capable of writing my own response."

America's economy shrank at an alarming rate in the first quarter
Economist
It could be that the first quarter fall was a form of capitulation, with businesses rushing to cut all at once, muses Stephen Stanley of RBS Greenwich
...

WORSHIP @ home & on the road: Who's The Boss?
by Dan Macaulay

Whether you are a worship leader who travels and ministers itinerantly or one who leads primarily in one place there is one all-important concept you absolutely need to understand:
Authority.


Failing to understand the biblical concept of authority, especially as a worship leader, I believe, is a death-wish for your ministry; and poison in the place(s) you minister. How many church splits and conflicts have been rooted in worship leaders failing to submit to the vision of their pastors? Some would argue theologically that Lucifer himself is the precedent for this: Article: Is Lucifer Leading Worship In Your Church?


Here are the basics: The entire basis & root of sin is rebellion to God's authority. And as John Bevere writes so well in his book Under Cover (Highly recommended reading): "We cannot separate our submission to God's inherent authority from our submission to His delegated authority. All Authority originates from Him!" (U.C. pg.11) "For there is no authority except from God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)


So here's what this means for you and me: The authority of the pastor you serve under, whether you're visiting or resident, traces back to Jesus himself. .....

.....Dan Macaulay is both a part-time Worship Pastor at Harvest Time Church in Greenwich CT and an internationally known worship leader, artist, and composer with an expanding traveling ministry. This blog is about how those two hats compliment ...

HS Notebook -- Stamford girls lax squad wins pair, including ...
Stamford Times
It was a tough early schedule for the Knights, as well, as they had to face JV programs for both Darien and Greenwich
(twice), but regardless the squad's ...

Greenwich Student, Blogger And Receptionist krystle's Collection of things *not to forget* --- 911 Calls Show Plane Terror - *Video: 911 calls show plane terror 0:47* As a White House plane flew low over Manhattan, 911 operators fielded calls.

Hedge Funder Must House the Poor in Order to Build Mansion
Wall Street Journal Blogs

As for low-income housing in Greenwich, well, that is the government's problem. But in an age when the wealthy are getting excoriated for conspicuous ...

Greenwich Time: Local Sports - RSS Feed ----Scholastic summaries - BASEBALL Trinity 7, Danbury 5 Danbury 000 230 0 5 9 2 Trinity 101 032 x 7 8 2 Anthony Sabene (L, 0-1, 3BB, 3K), Nick Arconti (6, 1BB, 0K) and Mike Beers.

Edward Kristoff Jr.
St. Augustine Record
... Hospital, Baltimore, Md. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Kristoff; his mother, Alberta Kristoff, of Greenwich, Conn.; and his daughter, Tricia Kristoff, and two grandchildren, Michael and Krissy Lombardo, of St. Augustine, Fla. Memorial ...

For What It's Worth By Riverside Blogger Chris Fountain
Realtor speak - A client now working with me tells the story of viewing property with another agent some time ago when they pulled up to a listing. “Is that the Merritt Parkway...

GDP Down 6.1%, Reflecting Continuing Economic Woes - Economy
"There won't be positive growth until the second half of the year probably, but the fall in the second quarter, if it's negative at all, will be far smaller," said Michael Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners in Greenwich, Conn. ...

Greenwich Time: Columnists - RSS Feed --- Ex-Greenwich Time Managing Editor Bernie Yudain --- Speculating on the future fate of Chris Dodd - The pundits -- state-based and national -- are hyperventilating with theories about what's going to happen to Chris Dodd.....


Obama Loves The Rich
MSN Indonesia
New Orleans hasn't been rebuilt, but the government is hard at work on Greenwich, Conn
., and Abu Dhabi. Michael Maiello is editor of Markets and Intelligent ...

Greenwich Time: Food - RSS Feed
Naturally Savvy: Cauliflower soup - This soup gives the illusion of being cream-based even though it has very little dairy. The recipe is egg free and gluten free.

Today's Greenwich Time Letters To The Editor
Letters frin Readers - Gay marriage no threat -

Gay marriage law only added to basic rights

To the editor:

The April 27 letter to the editor ("Tampering with foundation," Greenwich Time), was written with such rage and hatred that the author apparently had no time to include any reason. I feel obligated to respond to the writer's hysterical claims.


To begin, the letter says, "The very definition of marriage -- the foundation of families and the cornerstone of civil society -- has been tampered with by the state of Connecticut." This is absolutely false. What S.B. 899 did was guarantee equal access to civil marriage for all Connecticut residents.


What this bill did not do is force any house of worship to offer religious marriage ceremonies to anybody. In fact, the bill was specifically amended to make sure that no religious organization would have to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies if it did not wish to (although it is still not clear to me why any organization that benefits from the tax dollars of all citizens has a legal right to discriminate against any one of them).


To state Rep. Lile Gibbons, who said that her "generation is not ready to vote 'yes' on this": Please take credit for your own intolerance, and do not blame it on an entire generation of Connecticut residents, many of whom have long been denied the dignity of equal access to the benefits of citizenship because legislators whose salaries they pay were not "ready" for equality under the law.

The only people for whom this is a "life-changing piece of legislation" are the thousands of couples who have been denied access to the rights they are entitled to under our constitution. The writer said that this legislation "will affect each and every person of our great state" and that this law will "injure marriage and families." I submit that if one's marriage is threatened by legislative language coming out of the Connecticut General Assembly, that individual is not qualified to lecture the rest of us on the sanctity of that institution.


I look forward to the day when such anger and rage is a relic of a less enlightened past.
Justin Horton
Old Greenwich

Cityfile: Marisa Noel Brown Takes a Hit on East 78th
Marisa Noel Brown, the daughter of disgraced Fairfield Greenwich Group founder Walter Noel, and her husband Matt, are officially putting their townhouse at 12 East 78th Street on the market. The Indiana limestone–faced manse, ...

Exit 55 By Rob "WGCH" Adams - The Sports Voice Of Greenwich
Wow...Don't Change the Channel! - I went over to YES to check on the Yankees (10 runs in the seventh, lead 10-0) and by the time I returned, the Devils, once leading 3-2, fell 4-3. Adios....


Old Bags event approaches
YWCA Board member and Old Bags co-chairwoman Lynne Wheat with co-chairwomen Lucy Day and Cathy Dann recently came out ro support the Old Bags Luncheon held at Neiman Marcus Westchester. The YWCA will hold its fourth annual “Old Bags Luncheon” to benefit its Domestic Abuse Services on Thursday, May 7, at the Belle Haven Club. It will feature live and silent auctions of “old bags” and new bags, donated by designers, retailers and private donors.

The YWCA’s YNet youth philanthropy leadership program, in partnership with Greenwich High School, will be recognized at the event. YNet works to prevent teen dating violence and promote healthy relationships through grant making, public awareness, volunteer work and social change campaigns. YNet, made-up of about 35 male and female students, operates through the school year. For information, sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, call 869-6501, ext. 102, or e-mail s.conetta@ywcagreenwich.org.

Greenwich Blog : The Blog of Greenwich, Connecticut :: USA
Morning Bird Walk - Fairchild Garden Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM Rise and shine for this annual tradition. No fee or RSVP required. Bring binoculars.

Captain Jack's Blog: Marine paintings at Bruce Museum capture ...
by Captain Jack Richards

A large detail of "Magic," which is part of the exhibit, "Illuminating the Sea: The Marine Paintings of James E. Buttersworth, 1817-1894," at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Conn., through July 5. ...

Greenwich Time: Life And Family - RSS Feed
Physician's reference: Norwalk doctor authors guide for cancer patients - As director of Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital and medical director of the Mid-Fairfield Hospice, Dr. Richard Frank is reminded daily of the ...

Greenwich Police question fire department drill
It's fire season in Greenwich
-- sort of. Trying to build up data on response times, fire trucks were sent out last week on mock calls throughout town with their lights and sirens activated to see how far they could get in four minutes, a nationally recognized standard for firefighting.

411mania.com: Wrestling - Ask 411 Wrestling
by Mathew Sforcina

Connecticut: Triple H (Greenwich) Delaware: The Briscoe Brothers (Sandy Fork) Florida: Terri Runnels (Palatka) Georgia: Jake Roberts (Stone Mountain) Hawaii: Ricky Steamboat (Honolulu) Idaho: Torrie Wilson (Boise) ...

Building served as Quakers' base
Poughkeepsie Journal
... to settle in the region. The area was part of the Oblong, an 80-mile-long, three-mile-wide tract that ran from Greenwich, Conn., to the Massachusetts border and included sections of New York. 'During that time Quaker Hill was a community unto its ...

Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery - Rick Rosen, M.D.
by Evan Langsted

We serve patients in Fairfield County and the areas of Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Darien, New Canaan, New Haven, Fairfield, Stamford, Greenwich, Bridgeport, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. ...

Genesee & Wyoming Q1 profit up 34 pct
Forbes

... new acquisition opportunities,' he added. Shares of the Greenwich, Connecticut-based company closed at $26.78 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Old Greenwich steps into the spotlight « For What It's Worth
by christopherfountain

Old Greenwich steps into the spotlight. I expressed my disappointment yesterday that Thomas Athan, A.I.G. executive now being investigated for fraud, didn't show up on the property rolls, ...

Friends of Autistic People celebrates town proclamation
Friends of Autistic People (FAP) recently celebrated the Proclamation by Selectman Peter Tesei that April is FAP Autism Awareness month in Greenwich. The Proclamation emphasized that every person, including adult children with autism, is a valued member of our community. Everyone contributes in their own way. Attendees, from left, included Senator Scott Frantz, Brita Darany von Regensburg, FAP founder and president, State Rep. Livvy Floren, First Selectman Peter Tesei, and State Rep. Alfred Camillo, Jr.

Today's Top 5/Predictions/Score updates LAX with JOE
by jlombardi

An FCIAC showdown between Ridgefield and Greenwich highlights today's slate. Last year, the Tigers beat the Cardinals not once, not twice but three times. Though Ridgefield, an offensive juggernaut, has been steamrolling, Greenwich is ...

Traffic officer cut brings in savings
Just months after police removed the Lewis Street traffic officer from Greenwich Avenue, the police chief said the change has already saved the department thousands of dollars and enabled it to shift officers to central Greenwich and Byram.

Three hosts to become two « TopOfTheCircle.com
topofthecircle

Greenwich Academy head coach Angela Tammaro, the only coach in American scholastic history to have breached the 500-win mark in both field hockey and lacrosse, knows how much of a carryover there is between the field hockey and lacrosse ...

Wreckers fall short against old rivals
The Hour

By STEVE GEOGHEGAN
The Staples-Greenwich boys tennis rivalry doesn't get old but it's been one-sided recently. The Cardinals, who have captured the last ...

Potent voice of change
Denver Post
... banking sector. And President Barack Obama walks with 2009 National Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullen of Greenwich, Conn., center, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, rear, to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 28, ...

Blue Wave Sports Blog: Another Crushing from Blue Wave Girls Lacrosse
by JMcCauley

They are yet to play the always strong Wilton team but have played Greenwich and New Canaan and have come out with two solid wins. Greenwich (14-4) and New Canaan (17-6). So be sure to catch them play Wilton at 4pm next Thursday May 7 ...

A tree grows in Bruce Park
Peter Malkin, State Rep. Livvy Floren and Vice President of Greenwich Tree Conservancy Cheryl Dunson were among those who came out to plant a new tree at Bruce Park Friday, April 17 as part of the conservancy’s Commemorative Tree Program. The program goal is to plant 370 trees in town by the town’s 370th anniversary in 2010. So far, 60 have been planted.

Ms. Floren was recognized as the first donor to the program. She has donated Katsura, Shadblow and Magnolia, which have been planted in Bruce Park near Bowling Green. For more information, e-mail JoAnn Messina at treeconserv@optonline.net or visit Greenwichtreeconservancy.org

The Cool Justice Report: YOUNG WRITERS IN THE NEWS:
4 hours ago by andy thibault The poetry county champions are: Jhyde Ryals, 18, of Fitch Senior High School of Groton, for her poem, "To Jhyde: From Daddy;" Yarelis Rivera, 14, of Windham High School, for her poem, "I Said No;" Amanda Ball, 17, of Greenwich Academy, ...

Greenwich unions considering wage freezes
Still stinging from the pain of layoffs, the unions that represent a majority of non-school town employees are considering a series of money-saving concessions, including a wage freeze.

Where Promoting The Arts Is A Way Of Life: Bruno Lucchesi in ...
by Cavalier Galleries

Now in our 23rd year, Cavalier Galleries continues to offer the finest in contemporary painting, sculpture and photography from around the world at two premier exhibition spaces in Greenwich and Nantucket. ...

Presstek wins patent cases in federal, German courts
Danbury News Times
By Richard Lee

A Greenwich-based printing technology company has won an international patent-infringement battle that forces one of its competitors to halt ...

FLITE School: Our Next iLife PLP is Wednesday, April 29th
by FLITE School Finding,

Learning, Integrating Technology Encounters at Schools in the Greenwich Public School System Greenwich.....


Somers man honored by Obama as teacher of the year
The Patent Trader
... at the White House as the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. Anthony Mullen, 49, an educator at the ARCH School in Greenwich, Conn., and a former police officer, was chosen for the honor by the Council of Chief State School Officers, which cited his ...

Hearing scheduled for development plan
Town residents have another chance to review the town's proposed Plan of Conservation and Development
before it goes to the Representative Town Meeting in June.

Area stocks
Connecticut Post
... Partner Re, an international reinsurer with its U.S. headquarters in Greenwich that serves more than 2,000 clients in 150 countries, gained $2.66 to close at $66.13. Emcor Group, a Norwalk-based provider of ...

GHS grabs constitution competition awards
If the threat of the swine flu virus mounts, should the United States seal its border with Mexico, and if so, should state or federal officials have the decision-making power?

Greenwich boys tennis tops rival Staples
Stamford Advocate

By David Fierro WESTPORT -- Though Tyler Kratky is just beginning his tennis career at Greenwich High School, the freshman already knew the significance of ...

Farmers market, Maypole in Provo
Deseret News
... she learned the Maypole dance as a child at Joaquin Elementary. She went on to live in the East and teach dance at Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, Conn., where she became known as the Maypole Queen of the East Coast. Luke's enthusiasm for the dance ...

BLT takes over 8 buildings in Stamford from Antares
Norwalk-based developer Building and Land Technology on Tuesday took over management, leasing and construction services of the last set of Stamford office buildings that belonged to Antares Investment Partners....

Malia and Sasha Obama Urged to Join Veggie Campaign
US News & World Report
... "We want as much support as we can get on this," says Williams, an eighth grader at Central Middle School in Greenwich, Conn. In the letter to the Obamas, provided to Whispers, Wyntergrace writes: "My name is Wyntergrace and I'm a big fan of yours. ...

Noel, Fairfield Greenwich accused of fraud in Madoff case
Stamford Advocate
By David Glovin

Fairfield Greenwich Group, the hedge fund that steered $7 billion to Bernard Madoff, faces new claims of fraud by investors who previously ...

Autism awareness
Autism awareness Friends of Autistic People recently celebrated the proclamation by Selectman Peter Tesei that April is FAP Autism Awareness month in Greenwich.
============================================
Please send your comments, news tips and press release to
GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

“In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs for ever and ever”
- Oscar Wilde

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2/17/09 Here Is How The Courant Reports On It's Building School Committee.The Difference Is The Harford Paper Has Blogs And Hearst Newspapers Don't

Helen Ubinas At The Harford Courant


Notes from HeL


Hmmm...Is El Jefe on his way out?: Helen Ubinas


By Helen Ubinas


2:11 pm UPDATE: Why whispers should never be ignored.


1:05 pm UPDATE: City hall whispers are now adding that the big guy might be doing the same with the School Building Committee. But those are just rumors right now. An email seeking comment to Spokesperson Sarah Barr was met with an automated response:


"City Hall is closed Monday, February 16th in honor of President's Day."


XXXXX


There's an interesting item on the agenda for Tuesday's Hartford Board of Education meeting: Election of new officers.Hmmm...Wonder if that means Mayor Eddie Perez, reigning King of the Board, will step aside?


It certainly wouldn't be in the mayor's NEVER BACK DOWN nature, but hey, you never know.

Now That's Newspaper Blogging With An Attitude


MORE NOTES FROM HEL:

WHY ISN'T GREENWICH TIME MANAGING EDITOR BRUCE HUNTER SMART ENOUGH TO PUT LOCAL BLOGGER'S ON THE GREENWICH TIME WEBSITE:
If Hunter Put Claudette Rothman (Greenwich Diva) , Bill Clarke (Greenwich Gossip) Or My Favorite Mad Blogger And Town Gadfly Chris Fountain (For What It's Worth) On The Greenwich Time Website He Would Increase The Paper's Web Traffic Dramatically.


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Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com or click on the comments link at the end of this post.

Friday, January 16, 2009

1/16/08 Greenwich Citizen News Links


North Mianus School Principal Bonnie Butera is visited by third grader Kara Bittman, who shares her readers response journal with Butera. The readers response effort employed by Butera was key to raising the students CMT scores this year. (Anne W. Semmes / for the Greenwich Citizen)




... response effort employed by Butera was key to raising the students CMT scores this year. Bonnie Butera, 35-year Greenwich educator and four-year principal of North Mianus School, is retiring on July 1. ...


N.Y. chancellor calls for accountability to close achievement gaps

A room full of educators, town leaders and elected officials at Greenwich High School were privy on Wednesday morning to a call to action and accountability by the powerful oratory of Joel Klein, chancellor of ...

Provisional beach policy adopted by Board of Selectmen

It's just a rumor that one needs a Philadelphia lawyer - the BEST, according to legend - to navigate the ins, outs, ups, downs, circles in the 2009 Town of Greenwich Beach Policy adopted recently by the Board ...

De Csepel's Uganda Diary: Part III

... This is the third installment of Dr. John de Csepel's Uganda Diary. The Greenwich-raised and-educated physician is volunteering with the organization, Mission Doctors Association. He had undertaken medical ...

Mullen steps closer to national honor

Tony Mullen, 48, special education teacher at ARCH School in Greenwich, is among four finalists for the nation's top teaching honor -National Teacher of the Year.


... to an abrupt end at 15 years old when he broke his leg in an All-Star game against 17-18 year olds. Atkinson, a Greenwich native and former Avon Old Farms prep school hockey star, wouldn't accept the prognosis. He had a vision - going to play ...

Recruiting haven: colleges calling on town's athletes

Cam Atkinson had the privilege of growing up in Greenwich. Later, he had the further privilege of attending and playing his chosen sport - ice hockey - at Avon Old Farms prep school.

Big Red swim team working toward ultimate goal ... again


... little bit of pressure can bring out the best in people. Pressure can also make you better. It's no wonder why the Greenwich High boys swim team is chasing its 17th straight Class LL state title. Big Red, the defending FCIAC champion, has also won ...

Crucial stretch ahead

Two minutes into its game against start-up program Staples of Westport the Greenwich High's girls hockey team knew it had a breather on its hands.

Despite economy, town commercial properties should hold their own

While the country may be heading into the worst segment of the recession, Greenwich commercial real estate probably won't be as hard hit


================================================================

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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

04/30/08 - One Million Reasons That Shays Is Sucking Wind


Jim Himes Is Tanned Rested And Fully Funded To Take On Tired Old Shay's And His Horribly Expensive Iraq War

Quote:
"He's the only Republican representative left in all of New England," said Howard L. Reiter, head of the Political Science department at the University of Connecticut.

Headline:

Maura Keaney, Himes' campaign manager says she believes Shays is vulnerable because families are hurting economically.

Story:

Cook Report: Shays at risk

The Stamford Times, CT

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays will be facing another difficult reelection campaign this fall, according to a Washington-based political report.

Shays, R-4, tops the list of incumbent Republican congressman most at risk to be unseated in the November elections, according to The Cook Political Report...

....The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan political newsletter, based Shays' vulnerability on factors such as past election results, party registration in the district and current cash on hand totals for Shays and his challenger, Democrat Jim Himes.

Reiter agrees with the assessment that Shays could be in trouble this fall. Over the last 50 years, New England, which had a strong Republican base, has been become Democratic territory.

Reiter said that as the Republican party began to grow stronger in the south, and moved to the right on social issues, Republican appeal waned in the northeast. This shift has put moderate Republicans in bind, Reiter said....

...Reiter said the issues that are driving the upcoming election are the usual suspects: the war in Iraq, health care, education, the housing market and the economy, which he believes will be the most important issue in congressional races across the board.

Shays support for the Iraq war has cost him some support in the 4th district, Reiter said, noting that Shays had two close reelections in 2004 and 2006.

However, it is still hard to say definitively whether or not this is the year Shays is defeated.

"It's been a balancing act (for Shays) in a swing district," Reiter said. "Sooner or later, I believe a democrat is probably going to win that seat."

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Monday, April 21, 2008

04/21/08 - Group wants to shift school funding from property taxes to the state o Connecticut


Education funding gets day in court

NewsTimesLive.com

DANBURY -- A coalition of town leaders will take a big step in a lawsuit against the state to garner more education funding with an appeal of a lower court ruling Tuesday before the Connecticut Supreme Court.

The ruling decided that students don't have a right to an adequate education, according to the state constitution.

Appellate courts in more than 20 states, including those from New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, have recognized the existence of such a right.

It's the new theory in education funding -- that states should adequately fund schools to meet the needs of children so they can reach the goals expected of them rather than satisfy the more familiar -- but less encompassing -- requirement to provide an equitable education.

The lawsuit was filed more than two years ago by 15 students and their families and the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding. The coalition wants to lessen the reliance on local property taxes and substantially shift the school funding burden to the state.

The plaintiffs charged that the state's failure to suitably fund its public schools has irreparably harmed thousands of children. Three of the complaints address adequacy of funding and one is on equity in funding....

... also an equitable one, so the kids in Danbury would have the right to the same high-quality education as those in Greenwich." Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, which is expected to be decided by the fall, the coalition will continue to ...

For more information, visit:

www.ccjef.org/about.htm

Contact: Eileen FitzGerald

at eileenf@newstimes.com

or at (203) 731-3333

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Oral arguments before Connecticut Supreme Court

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Supreme Court, 231 Capitol Ave., Hartford

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

04/16/08 - Frank wants to step back and learn from mistakes made in the past. He says the contaminated Hamilton Avenue Modulars are not an ideal site


Letters To The Greenwich Time



To the editor:

I would like to comment about a meeting I recently attended regarding the mold issue with the modular buildings at Western Middle School. The meeting, which was held at Glenville School, was designed so the building committee could present facts and findings about relocation options for Glenville School, and then have a question-and-answer session with parents.

There were five options presented. The building committee quickly ruled out four of the options, and remediation of the old modular buildings was the only one left for discussion.

I strongly believe remediation of the modular buildings is not an option. I don't think the question is whether the mold can be removed. The question is whether anyone can make this site a school.

The Hamilton Avenue School students just spent the better part of four years in this modular school. This building committee needs to learn from them. Let's ask them: If the mold can safely be removed, would you like to go back into the modular buildings at Western? From discussions I've heard, the definitive answer would be no! So why should I, as a Glenville parent of two, send my children there?

Let's step back and learn from mistakes made in the past. This is not an ideal site. And four years without a gym or cafeteria is unacceptable.

Let's put new modular buildings on the Western Greenwich Civic Center site. The building is newly remodeled, and was once a functional school. It's located in the heart of Glenville and has a cafeteria and gym available for use.

The problem surrounding this option is cost and delays. The question becomes: What's been the cost with doing it wrong? I'm sure the Hamilton Avenue community can speak volumes about that.

With regard to delays, what's more important -- getting the new building started on time, or building an improved interim school for our children to attend for at least two, and most likely three, years?

A student conceivably could spend a third of his or her Glenville elementary education (with building delays, it could be half) in modular buildings. Let's wait and do things right!

Frank Carbino

Greenwich

Please see:

04/15/08 - Greenwich RTM Report - RTM Member's Postpone High School Building Committee Appointments, Because Of Heavy Opposition (Updated)


More Letters To The Greenwich Time Editor:


==========================================

Please send comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”


Monday, April 14, 2008

04/14/08 - BOE To Spend 1.7 Million To Put The Smallest Glenville Students In The Molded Modulars - Older Students Will Be Dispersed All Over(Updated)



Why Is The Greenwich Board Of Education Doing This To Me?

Glenville Students Better Enjoy Their Gym Time While They Can


The Three Younger Grades Will Have No Gym Next Year, While They Are Stuffed In The Moldy Modular Classrooms

The Older Grades Will Have To Try Squeeze Some Gym Time At Other Schools Around Town


First Selectman Peter Tesei And The Other Selectmen Wanted to temporarily give the Glenville Children The Old School At The Western Greenwich Civic Center

Please See:

04/11/09 - You Have To Dig For Information - Oh, and by the way the Greenwich Public School System is taking over the Western Greenwich Civic Center


04/10/08 - Ken Borsuk Of The Greenwich Post Hits The Web With A News Scoop


But The Whacky Greenwich Board Of Education Has Other Plans For The Children Of Glenville.

The Board Of Education on Friday night voted not take over the Western Greenwich Civic Center Or Any Other School Building.

Now the Board Of Education Wants To Break Up The Glenville School. Younger Children Will Be Placed In The Retrofitted Moldy Modulars And Older Children Will Be Squeezed In To Over Crowed Schools Around Town.

The BOE wants to rip out the molded roof overhang and then place small children in the contaminated modular space.

Now lets see if we can get this straight, if the Hamilton Avenue School Parent's independent tester even gets near the mold, then the contamination is going to spread exceptionally and cause all kinds of additional contamination.

Please see:

04/11/08 - Greenwich Spotlight: Greenwich School District's Facilities Director Anthony "Tony Two Face" Byrne And The Ham Ave School Coverup (Updated)


But if a bunch of construction contractors in space suit rip out the roof overhang then the small children of Glenville school will be just fine.

The Greenwich Board Of Education is just as silly as it looks if it thinks a responsible Glenville mother will even consider putting her children into the contaminated space.

How dose the BOE expect a Glenville mother to go along with plan to split up Glenville School when Greenwich School Supintendent Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg won't even let Greenwich Parents independently test the modular classrooms, especially in the contaminated soffis - or overhang - of the modular classrooms.

The Facts are the facts:

Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system replaced molded ceiling tiles at the modular classrooms over one year ago and KNOWINGLY left the small children in the contaminated classrooms with out informing their parents.

03/05/08 - The Unionized (Teamstewrs) School District Custodial Staff Are Suggesting That There Might Be A School District Coverup At Ham Ave School.


03/09/08 - Town Employees: Sternberg's Crew Knew - Mold Covered Tiles Replaced Over One Year Ago.


03/12/08 - Why Was It Ok To Remove Dumpsters Of Contaminated Plywood, But Not OK To Remove School Desks And Chairs?


Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system ignored parents complaints about their children's health problems for over one year, while KNOWING that the classrooms were contaminated.

Please see:

03/13/08 - Former PTA president Laura DiBella said parents had reported that their children having frequent headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, and ......


03/31/08 - "What irks me about the formaldehyde is it could be a good five years before my kids get diagnosed,"

Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system ignored parents complaints about poor maintenance procedures.

Greenwich Roundup became involved with this story when a concerned Hamilton Avenue School parent was upset that the Hamilton Avenue School parent was upset that water was leaking in her child's classroom.

This parent said that school officials, BOE members, local politicians and media outlets ignored the water leaks in the modular classrooms

Please see:

02/14/08 - Which High Paid School Administrator Is Responsible For Maintaing The Temporary Classrooms At Western Middle School?

Day after day the Hamilton Avenue School parents have been proven right and Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system is shown to be less than honest

On February 14th we reported that the Hamilton Avenue School Parents were saying that the modular school roofs....

Quote:

It was water leaking that caused the sever mold problems at Hamilton Avenue School that put these little children in temporary classrooms at Western Middle School.

School parents are blaming school custodians for not removing snow from the temporary classroom roofs, in an effort to prevent the leaking water.

These temporary classrooms are not even
two years old !!!


Weeks latter
Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system shut down the contaminated modular classrooms and repeatedly tried to give the impression that the contaminated modular classroom were only because of design flaws and not lack of maintenance.

Please see:

03/13/08 - Just How Much Are The Taxpayers Of Greenwich Paying Superintendent Betty Sternberg And Her Failed Administrators To Lie To The Public?

HEADLINE:

An environmental consultant hired by the school district has said the ceiling of one of the classrooms affected by the roof leaks had mold growth.

LIE OF THE DAY:

Sternberg and other officials said design and construction flaws rather than maintenance shortcomings caused the mold problems at the modulars. They said roof leaks reported months earlier at the modulars were properly addressed and not connected to the mold found inside the walls and in the roof eaves.

STORY:



Greenwich Time - Staff Writer

Five years ago, when mold problems began surfacing at the old Hamilton Avenue School and other buildings, school district officials implemented a program to help identify and prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.

But now they admit the program was not uniformly put into practice across the district....

Greenwich Roundup says.... But, school officials did identify the mold in the modular classrooms over one year ago. The problem is that they hid the mold from Glenville and Hamilton Avenue School parents.

Now Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's School System's structural engineer Steve Susca now says that school officials must take extra care to keep ice off the roof and take preventive steps to keep moisture from entering the building and classrooms.

Now Structural Engineer Susca told parents at a public hearing that, "This is a high maintenance roof." and that the contaminated modular roof is "Going to reqire a high degree of maintenance".

It looks like the Hamilton Avenue Parents were right all along about the maintenace problems at the contaminated modular classrooms and Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg's school system is trying to manage a coverup that is unravelling right before our very eyes.

Please see:

04/12/08 - Greenwich Spotlight: Greenwich School District's Facilities Director Anthony "Tony Two Face" Byrne And The Ham Ave School Coverup (Updated)


How in the world can the Mother's of Glenville let Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg put their children in those contaminated modular classrooms?

Please see:

04/12/08 - Would Someone Please Call Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Because This Is Unbelievable


MORE INFORMATION:

The problems with mold usually stem from the symptoms and health effects resulting from indoor mold exposure. There is public awareness that exposure to mold can cause adverse health effects, symptoms, and possible allergic reactions. Health professionals are often tasked with the investigation and/or assessment of these health effects on employees and/or the public.

The most common form of hypersensitivity is caused by the direct exposure to inhaled mold spores that can be dead or alive or hyphal fragments which can lead to allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis. The most common effects are Rhinorrhea (runny nose), watery eyes, coughing and asthma attacks. Another form of hypersensitivity is hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). This is usually the direct result of inhaled large spores or fragments in an occupational setting. About 5% of individuals are predicted to have some allergic airway symptoms from molds over their lifetime.

Toxic effects from mold are produced by exposure to the mycotoxins of some mold species, such as Stachybotrys chartarum (S. chartarum). These are often referred to as “Toxic molds” These toxic molds are often implicated as a potential cause of Sick Building Syndrome.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

04/12/08 - State Of The Town Turns Into A Rock And Roll Event (Updated)


"Oh, Mommy, Everything is great in town, but those Hamilton Avenue School blues are bringing me down. Yeah, yeah yeah."

The Latest



Reporter:

Hoa Nguyen

Quote:

"Simply stated, the state of the town is terrific," First Selectman Peter Tesei said. "At the end of the day, we are a strong and vibrant community."

Story:

With 133 days in office under his belt, First Selectman Peter Tesei took to the podium this afternoon to deliver his first State of Town address at the Milbrook Club...

...Before taking office, Tesei was a banker and member of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce who was in the audience as prior first selectmen delivered their State of the Town addresses. Today, he was relishing in his new role in front of the microphone. "Mary Ann Morrison asked me to hold this microphone like a rock star," he said of the chamber's executive director. "I'll try my best." Tesei shared the podium with Town Planner Diane Fox, who is heading the effort to create a new Plan of Conservation and Development....


....Tesei also credited himself with helping the Board of Education in its land-use process, setting up meetings and asking town regulatory officials to cooperate with educators as they explore options for relocating students from Hamilton Avenue and Glenville schools.

"I need to intervene and take leadership," he said....


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

Thursday, April 3, 2008

04/03/08 - Greenwich Post News Headlines



Pesticide ban to come early in Greenwich?

With the state poised to extend the ban of pesticide use from elementary schools to middle schools in summer 2009, Greenwich is considering getting a year’s head start.

Blue skies ahead for Greenwich after studio move is set

Blue Sky Studios’ move from White Plains, N.Y., to Greenwich is a go after the state Bond Commission approved an $8-million loan last Friday.

Parents demand independent review of mold in modulars

Hamilton Avenue parents, charging that the Board of Education and district administration have not been open and transparent, are demanding their own mold expert be allowed to thoroughly examine the modular classrooms their children used for close to three years.

Monday, March 31, 2008

03/30/08 - School Parents Are Excited That The Delayed School Satisfaction Survey Is Comming Out Next Week


Hey Betty, What Would We Do Without U?

Will Betty And Her Failed School Administrators Make The Grade?


Some Hamilton Avenue School and Glenville School parents are worried that School Superintendent Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg will once again delay the Harris Survey.

A lot of Hamilton Avenue School parents are unhappy that Betty Sternberg and the Board Of Education did not keep their promise to allow independent testing of the contaminated modular classroom buildings.

Please See:

03/07/08 - Delayed - The Harris Survey, a bi-annual satisfaction survey of parents, teachers and students, which was to be sent out this month.

************************************************************************

This Just IN.....

Who you calling ’failure’?

For Greenwich’s worst public schools administrators, failure is not an option.

Literally.

Believe it or not, the Greenwich Board Of Education is considering a request to drop the label “underperforming” for failing school administrators . Instead the Greenwich BOE would declare these failing school administrators “Greenwich Priority” administrators.

For those administrators that truly excel at incompetence, currently known as “Chronically Underperforming,” the new title would be “Priority One” administrators.

You can just imagine the delight in the hallways of Greenwich School Buildings. “I am a high paid ‘Greenwich Priority One" administrator !’ I wish I could spell that.”

High paid "Priority One" School bureaucrats, like Betty Sternberg, hate standardized testing. They hate academic standards even more. But most of all, they loathe accurate reporting of their results.

“When high paid administrators are labeled as underachieving, I don’t see what it serves other than just to call them out,” said School Board Of Education Chairman Nancy Weissler. “When the single family home owner hears ‘underperforming,’ school superintendent the average taxpayer thinks the students might be underperforming too.”

Gee, Nancy, I can’t imagine why.

If we could just keep Betty "You Can Trust Me" Sternberg around for at least ten more years, then we can have an entire generation of students being graduated who can’t read their own arrest reports or calculate their own bail, and then the single family home owners and taxpayers just might get the crazy idea that this is some sort of failure.

"It’s just not fair!", Nancy and Betty were heard to scream in a Board Of Education conference room.

Why dosen't School Board Of Education Chairman Nancy Weissler understand that these failed administrators screwed up Hamilton Avenue School, the modular classrooms and now they are screwing up Glenville School.

And don't even get me started about what has happened at the high school.

Everyday people in what failed school administrators call the “dreaded private sector” can only shake our heads.

If only our job performance were judged by standards this low. If only we could get our boss to reclassify “losing the company’s top three most valuable clients” as “an opportunity to look forward in a positive manner.”

Alas, no. We’re stuck in the real world, where results matter far more than labels.

The world where, theoretically, our public school students will one day be expected to get jobs and pay their own bills. If not, they may end up on the unemployment line.

Or as it’s known at Greenwich Board Of Education, the "Opportunity To Look Forward In A Positive Manner" Line.

Maybe School Board Of Education Chairman Nancy Weissler Should Keep Our Incompetent School Superintendent And Her Failed, er, "Priority One" administrators around a little longer.

The word around town is that these high paid "Priority One" school administrators are refusing accept failure. Their strategy is for kids who can’t do basic math, will be refered to as “non-traditionally enumerated.

There are now rumors that Greenwich "Priority One" administrators are developing new alternative testing strategies - commonly known as “cheating”.

Next the "Priority One" school administrators will want to create a new and improved grading system.

Advanced (“smart”); Proficient (“competent”); Needs Improvement (“good enough for government work”) and Warning (“Fries with that?”).

Like a fish a school system rots from the head down.

If School Board Of Education Chairman Nancy Weissler continues to refuse to punish school administration failures, then the children of Greenwich will be the ones to pay the price for Nancy Weissler and her boards failure to act.


It Is Time To Stop This Madness......

Let Hamilton Avenue School Parents Independently Test The Modular School Buildings.

AND

The time has come start firing Betty Sternberg and her failed school administrators
.

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