05/08/08 - Greenwich Post News Links For Thursday

From back left, Anthony Mullen, Arianne Haley-Banez, Karen Anderson, Rita Clair, Christine Kovac and Camille Fusco were honored as the 2008 Distinguished Teachers.

(Ken Borsuk / Greenwich Post Photo)

Featured Greenwich News Links

From The Greenwich Post:

Greenwich's Distinguished Teachers honored for work

In a ceremony marked by many happy tears, Greenwich honored its 2008 "Distinguished Teachers" Tuesday afternoon at Western Middle School. ...

Boy Scouts can't recruit during Greenwich classes

... PTA Council President Julie Faryniarz and Mike Robertson, scout executive for the Greenwich Council for the Boy Scouts of America. .

More From The Greenwich Post:

$356 million town budget up for vote

The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) will vote Monday to approve a town general fund of $356 million for 2008-09. Of that, $39 million is proposed for capital projects, including $2.1 million for the renovation of Greenwich High School’s auditorium and music classroom space.

Federal stimulus check scam targets Greenwich seniors

The good news for seniors is they have until Oct. 15 to file for their stimulus checks. The bad news is that there is a recent wave of telephone scams involving the checks targeting seniors.

North Mianus sewer project bills in contention again

The good news for seniors is they have until Oct. 15 to file for their stimulus checks. The bad news is that there is a recent wave of telephone scams involving the checks targeting seniors.

Probate judge upholds Smith widow’s deal with cruise line

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

04/21/08 - Monday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency Meeting Is Cancelled

Greenwich Time News RSS Feed For Monday April 21st

DEP approves Stanwich proposal Although Stanwich School appears to have solved a major point of contention standing in the way of its proposed $100 million campus, that success may spell further delays for the school project. The state Department of Environmental Protection last week told the school that it could move the location of its proposed on-site sewage system to a spot that would save acres of land and trees from being razed. But while that move may earn points with conservationists, the change means the school must return to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency for more scrutiny, prompting the Planning and Zoning Commission to postpone a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The project could face further delays if the agency decides that a new application is needed.... Full Story Western Middle School Students celebrate international night Western Middle School students, staff and family came together for International Night on April 3 to showcase their varied backgrounds. Full Story louvre curator to speak at school awards A curator who recently presided over an exhibit on Gustave Courbet at the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will be a featured speaker at the Alliance of Francaise of Greenwich's Schools' Prizes and Scholarships Award ceremony. Full Story school calendar April 21 Greenwich Academy book fair: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Board of Education work session: 7 p.m., Western Middle School Auditorium. Full Story Town tops in special education litigation Greenwich parents are the most litigious in the state when it comes to fighting for special education on behalf of their children, according to figures from the school district. Full Story The time is right for cherry blossom festival Timing is everything. So when Harry Sakamaki saw a row of cherry trees in full bloom yesterday in front of the Greenwich Japanese School, the lead organizer of the cherry blossom festival there breathed a sigh of relief. ======================================= Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

04/05/08 - School principal Stacy Gross was busy yesterday afternoon trying to respond to questions from parents and students and reassure them.

Quote:

"The container, it wasn't like it had shattered on the floor; it was pretty much intact, a lot of the product was still in the cabinet," said Deputy Fire Chief Keith Millette.

Story:

Sciencelab spill

Paramedics and firefighters responded to a chemical spill at Western Middle School early yesterday morning after a jar containing a deer fetus preserved in formaldehyde and water was knocked over, officials said.

While reaching inside a cabinet, a student knocked over the jar, causing it to crack and the liquid to leak, officials said. Firefighters, medics and the district's science safety officer responded to assess the situation at the school shortly after 10 a.m....

...students complaining of symptoms similar to that of formaldehyde exposure were taken to Greenwich Hospital, where they were treated and released, officials said.

Firefighters used a special cleaning solution called Speedy Dry to mop up the solution and special paper to make ....

Full Story

Please See Yesterday's Posts:

04/04/08 - (Update) Breaking News - The Chemical Spill At Western Middle School

04/04/08 - Formaldehyde Spill At Western Middle School

04/05/08 - The Latest From The Greenwich Time

Greenwich Time RSS Feed

Student starts his own business lecture series STAMFORD -- Andrew Kostin starts his days at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering. But by mid-afternoon, he's working for one of world's largest investment banks. Full Story GEMS head appointed to state post A career-long passion to support emergency medical services in town and across the state has propelled the head of the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service into a prestigious state appointment. Full Story Nursing home requests East Hartford-based Marathon Healthcare's decision to file for bankruptcy will not affect patient care at its Norwalk location or six other Connecticut nursing homes, a company spokesman said yesterday. Full Story Judge to decide beach suit A federal judge has agreed to decide a Stamford bicyclist's lawsuit challenging the town's beach access policy with little if any testimony, attorneys said. Full Story State reps approve payments for housing HARTFORD -- A months-long effort to restore property tax subsidies to Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich and municipalities statewide ended yesterday on a high note. Full Story Modern e-mail and tradition bring Hindu couple together Rishi Jaitly believes in fate, but it was only with the help of a colleague that he found the e-mail address of his future bride. Full Story Museum puts power of weather on display Carolyn Rebbert is the curator of science at the Bruce Museum. For the past six years, she has worked on a variety of exhibitions ranging from gems and minerals to flowers and robotics. Full Story

04/04/08 - (Update) Breaking News - The Chemical Spill At Western Middle School

This hand belongs to a victim of formalin contact
caused dermatitis of the nails.

Spin Control:
Don't Call The Chemical
Formaldehyde
It's Formalin, Damn It,
It's Formalin !!!!


Fluid spill at Western sends two students to hospital

A Formalin spill today in science classroom 22 at Western Middle School resulted in two students being taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to a Greenwich Public Schools press release.

A student reached for something in a cabinet and accidentally knocked a jar containing the fluid (a Formaldehyde solution significantly diluted with water) into another object in the cabinet, thereby cracking the jar containing the Formalin.

Safety protocols were immediately deployed. Students and staff were removed from the classroom; the fire department was dispatched to the school, and the school district’s Science Safety Officer was consulted. The situation was assessed, and the material was cleaned using appropriate safety measures.

The cleaning protocol includes cleaning with a special solution three times, a PH swab over all surfaces that came in contact with the solution to detect any residue, air monitoring and ventilation. Deputy Fire Chief Keith Millette has determined that the room is now safe for occupancy.

The school nurse and paramedics examined every student and staff member involved. The two students taken to the hospital had complained of symptoms that may have been related to exposure to the Formalin. Both students have been treated and released.

Let us look at formalin.

Formalin is a saturated solution of formaldehyde, water, and typically another agent, most commonly methanol. In its typical form, formalin is 37% formaldehyde by weight (40% by volume), 6-13% methanol, and the rest water. A quick glance at any commercially available formalin product will confirm these numbers. Formaldehyde provides the disinfectant and bacteriacide/germacide effects of formalin. The water content of formalin provides a dilution of formaldehyde. And the methanol content stabilizes the naturally chemically unstable formaldehyde compound.

See The Video At The Previous Post About The

Western Middle School Chemical Spill:

04/04/08 - Formaldehyde Spill At Western Middle School

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Please send comments to
GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

04/04/08 - Formaldehyde Spill At Western Middle School

A Chemical Spill Causes A Haz Mat Scare At A Greenwich Elementary School.

Two Quarts Of Formaldehyde Spilled

Greenwich Fire Department's Haz Mat Unit Responds To The Emergency At Western Middle School.

Deer Fetus Specimen Jar Was Broken In A Science Classroom.

Some Students And Janitor Exposed To The Chemical . Formalyhyde Is An Irritant And Can Be Fatal If Swallowed.

Watch The News 12 Video Here:

Chemical spill in Greenwich class prompts evacuation

Greenwich Emergency Medical Sevices Is On The Scene.

More Greenwich Formaldehyde news:

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

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

04/03/08 - Independent? - Word Is That Fairfield Based Architect John Brice Recommended Navigant Consulting, formerly known as The Metzler Group

03/02/08 - Another Administrative Screw Up - "They let it happen again. Shame on them. They should be fired," said Laura Dibella past PTA president.

MOLDS FLOURISH, ILLNESS PREVAILS

Your Tax Dollars NOT At Work
Parents Are Infuriated And Outraged

Current PTA co-chair Dawn Nethercott says, "I'm appalled!"

Ham Ave. modulars shut over mold fears

By Christine Hall
Greenwich Time Staff Writer

Hamilton Avenue School will close for a week starting tomorrow, and relocate completely for the rest of the school year, because of mold found inside the walls of the temporary classrooms the school occupies at Western Middle School....

... The Hamilton Avenue School students and staff will be relocated for the remainder of the school year, a statement released by the schools yesterday states, but it isn't known where yet...

... The school has been operating in the temporary buildings for 31Ú2 years -- what was supposed to be 18 months -- while its old Chickahominy building is rebuilt because of its mold problems. The construction project has had numerous setbacks and is now well behind schedule. The most recent addition to the delays was just announced at Thursday night's Board of Education meeting....

...The temporary classrooms have had problems with water pooling and snow piling up on their flat roofs, Sue Wallerstein, assistant superintendent for business services said Friday....

...a special Board of Education meeting has been called for 7 p.m. tomorrow night at a location still to be determined, at which the public will be allowed to comment and ask questions.

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.

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

The Western Middle School Bucket Brigade

Greenwich Public School Mismanagement:
New School Structures Are Leaking !!!!

Parents Are Complaining That Temporary Classrooms Are Leaking.

Parents want to know why that new classrooms are leaking water.,

Are problems due to improper installation by the school board or have the classrooms leaking, because of improper maintenance.

Da Ju Vu

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 !!!

Parents say they have been complaining about the leaking water for over one year, but they have been ignored by arrogant school administrators.

The children in these temporary classrooms are the very same children that were displaced by improper maintenance at Hamilton Avenue School.

This is another failure for the Incompetent Sternberg Administration.