Luc Hardy and his daughter Ainhoa, 14, in their kitchen with a map of the places they have traveled.
(Helen Neafsey/Greenwich Time photo)
Defrost cycleBy Colin Gustafson (colin.gustafson@scni.com and (203) 625-4428)Cos Cob resident Luc Hardy, 52, and his daughter, Ainhoa, 14, could hardly believe what they were witnessing when they stumbled across a gaping, seawater-filled fissure in the snowy terrain of the Canadian Arctic last month. The two had spent the afternoon of July 22 on an educational group-hiking expedition across the "Ward Hunt" ice shelf in northern Canada when they saw a crack in the ice and a huge chunk drifting away from the main shelf....
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This ice has become destabilized with cracks over the past six years, and recent open-water conditions (on) the ice shelf have facilitated the latest break off," Mueller said. "The group's observations will help me place exactly when" the split occurred. ...
....The travelers also flew to Resolute Bay, in northern Canada, where members of the Canadian Coast Guard whisked them in black helicopters across the snow-covered Arctic waters so they could enjoy aerial views of the glaciers.
Hardy plans to bring a new group to the Russian Arctic next year to study geopolitics and learn about the impact of oil pollution on the environment. He's currently compiling photos and video footage for a book and documentary about the group's travels this summer and, in September, will travel to Moscow to present his work to Gorbachev in hopes of gaining his support for another trip.
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Thieves targeting GPS unitsBy Neil Vigdor can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or at (203) 625-4436They can show you how to get from Point A to Point B. They can even talk you through the turns. But unless you want to take a detour to the police station or back to the electronics store where you bought the high-tech toy, Greenwich cops are advising motorists to safeguard their GPS devices when they leave their cars unattended....
....Jose Rodriguez, 35, of 92 Wilton Road, Hamden, and David Vega, 31, of 105 McCabe Ave., Bradley Beach, N.J., were both charged with one count each of third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and fifth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, according to an arrest report....
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Greenwich police spent Monday canvassing the town-owned Island Beach and Horseneck parking lots, as well as the first level of the Greenwich Plaza garage for vehicles with GPS units or equipment in view and placed warning notices on their windshields, saying, "Don't be a TARGET." They found about 25 cars parked with GPS equipment showing. Hiding a GPS unit under a seat or in the glove compartment won't discourage some brazen thieves, said police, who warned that leaving windshield mounts or wires visible is often an invitation for criminals.
Last week's bust brings the total number of people arrested for stealing GPS devices from cars in town to four in the past six months, said police, who are still investigating last month's break-ins.
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LARCENY
David Vega, 31, of Bradley Beach, N.J. was arrested Aug. 7 and charged with third degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third degree burglary and conspiracy to commit fifth degree larceny. Police were investigating car thefts in central Greenwich commuter lots and doing surveillance of the areas when undercover officers saw Vega and Jose Rodriguez, 35, of New Haven, try to break into a car with a GPS unit affixed to the windshield. According to police, a search of Vega’s car found several more stolen GPS units. Rodriguez was charged with conspiracy to commit third degree burglary and conspiracy to commit fifth degree larceny. Vega was held in lieu of a $5,000 cash bond; Rodriguez was held in lieu of a $1,000 cash bond. They are due in court Aug. 15.
Police blotterLayla Juma, 22, of 32 Fox Lane, was charged Thursday night with possession of hallucinogens, sale of hallucinogens, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a police report.
While investigating an unrelated incident on lower Greenwich Avenue, police received information connecting Juma to drug activity and detained her.
During a search of her vehicle, the report said police discovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Ecstasy pills were also found in the car, said police spokesman Lt. Daniel Allen.
Juma was released on $2,500 surety bond and scheduled to appear Aug. 15 in state Superior Court.
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A Byram woman was arrested by warrant Sunday after filing a criminal complaint on July 24 alleging that a man physically grabbed her while she was jogging on East Elm Street, according to a police report.
Keri Cavaliere, 25, of 9 Peck Ave., Apt. 2, was charged with making a false statement in the second-degree and interfering with a police officer, the report said.
She was released on $500 cash bond and scheduled to appear Aug. 18 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
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A homeless man was arrested for trespassing Sunday night after he was found sleeping in the former Howard Johnson motel site at 1114 E. Putnam Ave. in Riverside, according to a police report.
Jeffrey Borsk, 60, was charged with first-degree criminal trespassing, the report said.
He was discovered in an empty room around 9 p.m. by police, who the report said previously warned him he was not permitted on the premises.
Borsk was held in lieu of $500 cash bond and scheduled to appear Aug. 18 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
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Maria Rodriguez, 26, of 219 Wardwell St., Stamford, was charged Sunday night with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a police report.
Police detected the scent of alcohol in Rodriguez's car after responding to a motor vehicle accident at 1155 E. Putnam Ave. around 10 p.m. in which she was involved, the report said.
She failed a field sobriety test, the report said.
Rodriguez was released on $250 cash bond and scheduled to appear Aug. 25 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
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Geovany Alvares, 24, of 45 Stillwater Ave., Stamford, was charged early Friday morning with driving under the influence of alcohol and operating without a license, according to a police report.
Stopped for a nonworking headlight on Mill Street in Byram around 2:30 a.m., Alvares was confused and his speech was slurred, the report said.
He was unable to produce a driver's license and failed a field sobriety test, the report said.
He was held in lieu of $750 cash bond and scheduled to appear Aug. 25 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
Twins win in BeijingBy Tommy HineSpecial Correspondent To The Greenwich Time BEIJING - Less than 250 meters into their bid to extend their Olympics another day, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss were dead-last.
No worries.
They still had 1,750 meters to row. By the time they crossed the finish line in the second-chance repechage race in men's pair Monday, the Greenwich twins led.
"Being fifth at 250 meters isn't necessarily an alarming position, especially in the pair," Cameron said. "We tried to keep our heads in the boat the whole time and find our rhythm and just chip away.
"We weren't really concerned at all."
They had no reason to be, beating Croatia by 1.43 seconds and Denmark by 1.46. All three advanced to the semifinals Wednesday....
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Sternberg back at workBy Colin Gustafson, who can be reached at (203) 625-4428 or Colin.Gustafson@scni.com.
Returning from a two-month medical leave, Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg was thrust into the middle of a lengthy discussion yesterday about how to move thousands of displaced elementary-level students into temporary facilities this fall.
With the Hamilton Avenue School building not yet ready for occupancy, the Board of Eduction on Friday decided to move forward with a contingency plan to shift that school's students into modular classrooms while also dispersing students from nearby Glenville School.
Now school officials have less than three weeks before the Aug. 27 start of the school year
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We've been through this drill once before, and it was on the fast-track, when nothing was pre-thought or pre-planned," she said of the district's hastily organized efforts last spring to relocate Hamilton Avenue School students to six other schools after mold was discovered in the modular classrooms.
"This, time we have experience and preparation," she said...
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Light turnout seen for Democratic vote
By Neil Vigdor, who can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or at (203) 625-4436After mustering record-setting turnouts for a number of high-profile primaries, Democrats could be poised for a letdown when they go to they polls Tuesday to pick between Jim Himes and Lee Whitnum for Congress....
...43 percent of registered Democrats in the state turned out two years ago this month to vote in the Senate primary between incumbent Joe Lieberman and Greenwich's Ned Lamont.
Then earlier this year, a whopping 51 percent of Democrats statewide went to the polls to choose between U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois for the party's nominee for president. In Greenwich, home to both Himes and Whitnum, 63 percent of Democrats voted in the presidential primary.
Sharon Vecchiolla, the town's Democratic registrar, said don't count on a repeat...
....The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Gary Rose, professor of politics at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, said those hoping for a larger-than-expected turnout have some factors working in their favor.
For example, he pointed out that the majority of the estimated 101,000 state residents who have signed up to vote for the first time this year are Democrats....
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Cannnons capture first-ever Junior American Legion state championshipFresh off a perfect run in the Connecticut Junior American Legion state playoffs, the Greenwich Cannons are primed for more success...
...Win or lose Friday, Abate is proud of how far the Cannons have come.
"The team chemistry is just ridiculous," Abate said. "On and off the field, these guys have really gelled together. It's showed on the field. It's been awesome so far."
In addition to Coffey, Dunster and Henkel were named to the all-tournament team. Dunster.
Please See The Full Greenwich Time StoryFish store puts its best fin forwardBy Peter Healy, who can be reached at peter.healy@scni.com or at 964-2276.
Fjord Fisheries will be more than an average fish store when it relocates to 158 E. Putnam Ave. in Greenwich's Cos Cob section this month.
"We will have more prepared foods and take-out, and of course a full range of high-quality fish," said Jardar Nygaard, owner of Fjord Fisheries. "We will also start offering a complete selection of local and natural meats, as well as sushi."
The fish market had been at 137 River Road in Cos Cob, an old wood-frame building near Cos Cob Harbor, since 1991...
...The Nygaard family, which is of Norwegian descent, also operates Fjord Catering & Charters. The service operates the Cayah Michele and Cayah Sarita excursion yachts in Greenwich and bus charters
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To the Greenwich Time editor:
Fred Camillo's accusations that I was spreading "half-truths" about the campaign finance program and making "baseless and provocative" statements about the reason Fred is taking money from the program he so vehemently opposes ("Campaign finance letter was misleading." Greenwich Time, Aug. 8) is based on a misunderstanding.
When Fred announced he was running as a Republican for the state House in the 151st District, I spoke to his treasurer, Rich DePreta, and asked whether Fred was going to participate in public finanacing. Rich told me Fred would be forced to enter the program or else, in effect, raise money for his opponent. That was the basis for my belief Fred entered the system because I did. Fred said the same thing in his letter.
When Fred said he "had on idea what my opponent was doing in March when I decided to accept the public funding option," that is not the whole truth. He knew I was likely to run, having lost to Dolly Powers last time by only 132 votes, and as a strong supporter of public financing would participate. He certainly knew that when he recently applied to participate in the program.
As to Fred's point that public financing affects tax revenues, I agree. Nothing is free. As a member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation's Budget Committee, I know that you have to consider the expenses and revenues in a budget and make difficult decisions about where to set priorites. That is why I oppose Freds' proposed tax cuts that would predominantly benefit the wealthy and raise taxes for the rest of us.
In these challenging economic times, when budget deficits are looming and priorties like health care, traffic and transportation, energy, the environment and education are becoming more expensive, we cannot afford to sacrifice revenues to benefit the priviledged few.
I look forward to vigorous debates with Fred as the campaign progesses, but see no reason to personalize the debate. There are plenty of issues on which we disagree. We do not need to engage in personal attacks.
Edward Krumeigh
Greenwich
The writer is the Democratic nominee for the state House of Representatives in the 151st District.
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