05/26/08 - Greenwich Citizen Marks Memorial Day By Not Covering Teenagers Exercising Their Free Speach Rights That Have Been Paid For On A Battlefield

Who’s Afraid of Democracy?

A Day of Remembrance

Opinions differ about the exact origin of Memorial Day but there seems to be some consensus that it was first widely observed in 1868 to honor the estimated 360,222 who died serving the Union during the Civil War.

Note To Greenwich Citizen And The Chain Newspaper's Publisher And Editors:

Actions Speak Louder Than Mere Words !!!

It is so easy for the Greenwich Citizen's Chain Newspaper Publisher and Editors to sit behind a desk and pontificate about the the rights that Americans enjoy, because so many paid the ultimate cost.

But it was to hard for the Greenwich Citizen's Chain Newspaper Publisher and Editors to get off their butts and cover democracy in action.

The Greenwich Citizen turned a blind eye to Greenwich High School students who exercised their free speech rights and wore "Don't Tase Me Bro" T-shirts to school to protest a fellow 140 pound water balloon throwing student getting up to 50,000 volts three different times.

Greenwich Citizen ignored ignored the towns youngest patriots as they engaged in an act of civil disobedience and stagged a sit in in the Greenwich High School Student Center and refused to go to class wearing those, "Don't Tase Me Bro" T-shirts.

It is a shame that minor children are not afraid of the powers that be, but the Publisher and Editors of the Greenwich Citizen are to afraid of upsetting the establishment to cover the news.

Also take a look at Greenwich Citizen Reporter Laura Carlson's amateurish reporting. It looks like someone didn't pay attention in their high school journalism class.

Please see:

05/22/08 - Lost In Cyber Space: Greenwich Citizen Ignores High School Tasing Controversey For Nine Days. Greenwich Citizen Readers Don't Know What's Going On.

Concerned Greenwich Citizens can voice their views to

Brooks Community Newspapers Contact Information

Main Office
542 Westport Ave
Norwalk, CT 06851

Phone: (203) 849-1600
Fax: (203) 840-4844

The General Manager of Brooks Community Newspapers is:
Michelle McAbee <mmcabee@bcnnew.com>

Greenwich Citizen Editor is:

Don Harrison
(203) 625-4468
dharrison@bcnnew.com

Greenwich Citizen Managing Editor is:

Gary Jeanfaivre
(203) 625-4467
gjeanfaivre@bcnnew.com

The Webmaster is:
Carol Dauber <cdauber@ctpost.com>
===============================================
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05/26/08 - Greenwich Post Reports: 70 Grand Raised For Soldiers For The Truth's BEST Event

Greenwich Silver Shield Honor Guard, Caeterina G. Veronesi, Cameron Scott and Eilhys England joined together during a fund-raiser recently to honor Col. David Hackworth and raise money for equipment for front-line troops.

BEST event raised awareness and more than $70,000

Stormy weather didn’t deter 250 guests who came out for the Soldiers for the Truth (SFTT) Foundation’s BEST (Best Equipment in Support of the Troops) cocktail reception and benefit auction at Richards of Greenwich on May 9. BEST paid tribute to the late Col. David “Hack” Hackworth, by raising more than $70,000 to protect the troops ‘out at the tip of the spear’ that he loved and continues to fight for through his nonpartisan, apolitical, nonprofit legacy foundation SFTT.

05/26/08 - The Grenwich Time Editors Opines On The Use Of A Weapon At Greenwich High School

Should we give him a burning sensation in the head
or a shocking sensation in the scrotum?

Shining light on the Taser incident

With regard to the use of a Taser at Greenwich High School on May 13, arguments can be made on two sides of the issue:

Either a school resource officer overreacted by using an electrical device on a student that is designed to subdue individuals physically resisting police.

Or use of the device was justified in order to safely take into custody a student who was resisting a proper arrest and posing a danger.

That makes it vital for police and school officials to provide townspeople with all details possible regarding the incident, as well as background on the training of officers in use of Tasers and on the rules or polices regarding when they should be used, particularly in a school environment.

The relationship between the public and police is a two-way street. The community entrusts officers with the authority to physically protect it, with lethal force if necessary. But the police in turn are accountable to the community for the way they use that power.

According to information currently available, student Victor Londono, 18, was confronted by School Resource Officer Carlos Franco after Mr. Londono was suspended in another incident but refused to report to the assistant headmaster's office to be picked up by his parents. Police said he again declined to report and became verbally abusive and combative, kicking a chair that struck a chair in which another student was sitting. Police said other officers were summoned, and then the student resisted beinghandcuffed. As he was being shocked with the Taser, he allegedly tried to punch Officer Franco. Police said the Taser was used on low power to help subdue the student, who subsequently was arrested on charges of breach of peace and interfering with a police officer.

Mr. Londono said he was trying to leave the school after kicking the chair, but was stopped by police. He also denied trying to strike the officer.

Debate over the incident appears to have focused mainly on whether use of the Taser, rather than the arrest itself, was justified.

The device can either be pressed against its target, or darts can be fired from it for up to 20 feet. In either case, it is used to deliver electrical shocks causing muscle contractions that disable the individual.

A Greenwich police spokesman, as well as the officer himself, maintains that use of the Taser was justified, and less dangerous than grappling with the student.

However, critics say that use of such devices can cause injury and even death. Parents and students interviewed, meanwhile, expressed doubts that the Taser was needed, or that the situation, which began with Mr. Londono's suspension for throwing water balloons in the GHS student center, should have escalated to that point. Some parents suggested that should have been a way to defuse the situation. Trauma to other students because of the incident was also cited. However, the co-president of the GHS Parent-Teacher Association has said she supports the way the situation was handled and that most of the parents she's spoken with agree.

Incidents that have occurred in other school settings around the country justify prompt police action on potential threats. But questions clearly remain in this circumstance. Thus, the best course is to clearly establish for the town at large that training, good judgment and experience were sufficiently applied. The fact that the GHS headmaster and the officer involved spoke to the high school PTA about the situation is encouraging. Such efforts should be continued and expanded.

The issue is no doubt complicated by the fact it is now a criminal court matter. But we hope even video recordings of the incident can be presented in a context that is truly illuminating for townspeople. That would promote continued public confidence in the Greenwich Police Department and especially its members who work with our young people.

We can understand if officers feel some resentment when their abilities and good intentions seem to be questioned. But that is the price that must be paid for the awesome authority they are given.

Other Greenwich Time Opinion Pieces:

Memorial Day sacred, then and now

He brought glory days to the Mets

Lack of insurance costs state too

We need to build on voter increase

More dental care for poor is welcome

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

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05/26/08 - Monday's Greenwich Time News Links

(Bob Luckey Jr. / Greenwich Time photo)

Coyote attacks spark fear

When Emily Samuels heard her Jack Russell terrier being attacked by two coyotes outside her house on Old Church Road, she was shocked and horrified.

Software helps Social Services parse data

After years of pressure from town officials, the Department of Social Services can finally provide hard figures for its client services.

Hundreds turn out for Byram, Glenville marches

For the veterans marching in the parades yesterday, honoring those who serve and died fighting for this country is an important American tradition.

Labor pacts, cut in revenue may force tax rise above 4 percent

With rock-bottom interest rates cutting into municipal investment revenues and costly new labor contracts expected to kick in, some elected officials said a nine-year streak of keeping local tax increases below 4 percent could be put to the test as the next town budget is crafted.

Doctors try out hospital's new robot

Looking into a video screen, Dr. Jonathan Bernie grabbed the master controls to move a robot's spindly arms towards the anesthetized patient.

Cops probe story of shooting victim

Police are investigating the shooting of a 30 year-old male, who arrived yesterday at Greenwich Hospital with a bullet wound to his leg.

Ham Ave. parent files civil rights claim

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Board of Education for possible civil rights violations against Hamilton Avenue School students, local and federal officials said.

=============================================
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05/25/08 - Hamilton Avenue School Parent Mina Bibeault Has Had Enough: She Files A Federal Civil Rights Complaint Against The Board Of Education

Headlines:

Betty Sternberg Gives More To Rich Kids Than Poor Kids

West Side Story - Wealthier Greenwich Students Get More School Resources Than Poor Disadvantaged Greenwich Students.

The Unfulfilled Promise Of Brown Vs. The Board Of Education In Greenwich - Rich And Poor Students Treated Differently In Greenwich

Quotes:

"It was only when our children were recently dispersed into other Greenwich schools that were gushing with beautiful resources like a fully stocked library and a computer lab, that I realized how much our children were robbed of a proper elementary school experience. I find myself wondering, 'Why us?", said Mina Bibeault,"The Board of Education likes to say that our children are 'resilient,' well we are tired of having to make our children be resilient. They are vulnerable little people who deserve just as much as the next kid."

“Connecticut has the largest achievement gap between the have and the havenots in school. The purpose of this No Child Left Behind law is to close that gap. I hope this is the beginning of a revolution,” said Scot Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP branches

News Links:

US investigates Greenwich Board of Education
Hartford Courant, CT

Local officials, citing mold and health concerns, shut the Hamilton Avenue School that served the town's largest number of minority students. ...

Ham Ave. parent files civil rights claim
Greenwich Time, CT

By Hoa Nguyen

The US Department of Education is investigating the Board of Education for possible civil rights violations against Hamilton Avenue School ...

US investigates Greenwich Board of Education
WTNH

... _ Complaints of disparities in Greenwich schools serving minority and white students have prompted an investigation by the US Department of Education.

Comments:

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court in Brown overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine and held that racial segregation in public schools violates the U.S. Constitution. Chief Justice Warren described education as “perhaps the most important function of state and local governments” and the “very foundation of good citizenship.” Where a state has undertaken to provide education, Warren continued, “it is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.” With this background, Warren addressed the central issue in the case: “Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though physical facilities and other ‘tangible’ factors may be equal, deprive children of the minority group of equal, educational opportunities? We believe that it does.”

The Supreme Court went on to recognize that separating students, particularly grade school and high school students, solely because of their race “generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to ever be undone.” Warren concluded that, “in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”

For far to long, the Greenwich Board Of Education has allowed disparities between Western Greenwich and other school children in the district.

Just last month the Connecticut NAACP, won another educational legal victory.

The US District Court of Connecticut rejected the Connecticut proposed "No Child Left Behind" plan for not applying the same academic standards to all students. The case highlighted the detrimental impact of low quality education on the future life outcomes of poor and minority students.

Greenwich was recently the subject of a civil rights complaint that was resolved through an agreement.

Now, once again The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has had to open a federal investigation and plans to visit the town and the public schools.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Education is now officially investigating the Greenwich Board of Education over accusations of racial discrimination.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that is primarily focused on protecting civil rights in Federally assisted education programs and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, age, or membership in patriotic youth organizations (ie. Boy Scouts).

The OCR is one of the largest federal civil rights agencies in the United States, with a staff of approximately 650 attorneys, investigators, and staff. The agency is located in twelve regional offices and in Washington, D.C., headquarters. The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring compliance by recipients of federal education funds with several federal civil rights laws, including:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
• Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972,
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
• the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, and
• the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

The Connecticut Constitution guarantees the all the children, rich and poor, a "Fundamental right to an education".

Superintendent Betty Sternberg and The The Board Of Education must recognize the detrimental impact that a low quality education has on the future life outcomes of poor and minority students on the west side of Greenwich.

Will Sue Wallerstein's Mold Problems Bring A Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit To The Greenwich School System?

Failed Greenwich school administrators have disenfranchised and radicalised Hamilton Avenue School Parents who have had to endure the original mold infestation that organized parents to fight for a new Hamilton Avenue School.

Eventually, the Hamilton Avenue children were sent to modular classrooms that became contaminated with mold. School administrators discovered the mold over a year ago and knowingly left the children in the contaminated classrooms until March of this year.

Greenwich Public Schools Assistant Superintendent / Business Services Sue Wallerstein's lack of experience and incompetence caused major construction delays that kept the Hamilton Avenue in the contaminated modular classrooms for an additional year and thus forced an expensive emergency relocation.

School employees who directly report to Assistant Superintendent Wallerstein eventually were forced to respond to complaints of classroom water leaks in the contaminated modular classrooms. Ms. Wallerstein's department recommended to close the contaminated modular building, when parents began to openly speculate that constant water leaks could cause another hazardous mold condition.

Little did the parents know that 90% of the modular overhand contained mold growth.

Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Betty Sternberg then ordered an emergency shut down of the contaminated modular classrooms and sent the Hamilton Avenue School children home for a week. The children were then disbursed to various schools all over the town.

Hamilton Avenue School Parents were shocked at the resources that other wealthier Greenwich School Children received in town.

Hamilton Avenue School parent Mima Bibeaul took the bold step to file a Federal Civil Rights Complaint. Her complaint cited how the other schools had a fully stocked library and a computer labs. These are resources that the poorer disadvantaged children from Hamilton Avenue School never had.

School Superintendent Betty Sternberg has been hiding the Federal Civil Rights probe from parents for quite a while. Hamilton Avenue School Parent Mina Bibeault filed the Federal Civil Rights complaint over two months ago.

Yeaterday , School Superintendent Betty Sternberg announced variuos Assistant Principal Transfers within the school district .

In April of 2007, New Lebanon School and Hamilton Avenue School in Greenwich were warned, by the state Department of Education, that their enrollments do not reflect the demographics of their communities and might violate the state’s racial balance law. Sixty percent of Hamilton Avenue School students are minorities, the highest percentage in the district.

Connecticut State Law says the proportion of minority students in any school must not be more than 25 percentage points above or below a district’s overall average.

Superintendent of Schools Betty J. Sternberg — a former state education commissioner — convened a task force to review the issue. After, one year no plan to resolve the racial imbalance has been formulated.

Hamilton Avenue School Parents must serve as effective advocates and partners with the Greenwich Public Schools to ensure quality educational opportunities for their children and communities.

Mina Bibeault, submitted the complaint on behalf of all parents and students. She said she has two children at the school, one in kindergarten and another in second grade.

Other Hamilton Avenue School and New Lebanon Parents can help support Mina Bibeault's complaint by contacting the OCR and submitting their complaints at:

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Customer Service Team
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1100

Telephone: 1-800-421-3481
FAX: 202-245-6840; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR@ed.gov

Or they can contact the regional office at:

Boston Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
33 Arch Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02110-1491

Telephone: 617-289-0111
FAX: 617-289-0150; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov

Or you can use the (or use OCR's online complaint form).

Take A Look At:

Washington, DC, 2008, Parental Empowerment workshop at the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) National Legislative Conference. The presentation included an overview of how parent and community organizations can train parents to advocate for school improvement and educational opportunities.

Click here for Parental Empowerment Power Point

Note To Betty "I Give Less To Disadvantaged Kids" Sternberg:

Western Greenwich Parents are no longer going allow their children to be cheated out of an education. If you continue to treat Western Greenwich Children differently from other children in town then get ready to have your butt dragged before a Federal Judge.

================================================
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GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

05/25/08 - Sunday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

The May 5, 1938 edition of Greenwich Time was 14 pages and sold for 3 cents. The front page headlines included: "Cos Cob Woman Hurt In Fall Down Stairs; Says She Was Shoved," "Asphalt Blaze Blackens Side of Apartment," "Builders Yield to Carpenters on Wage Rates" and "Rotary Holds Ladies Night." Some stories were less than politically-correct by today's standards, including the headline, "Negro is Held on Guns Charge." Another reported that despite the poor reputation of women drivers, men racked up three times more traffic summons in the previous month. Woman's press dress turns 70 Yesterday's news is today's fashion. As part of a Greenwich Time promotion 70 years ago this month, Lillian Healy was presented with a white cotton dress that had been run through the newspaper's printing press. Full Story Teen pill parties growing in town Placed next to the chips and salsa is a bowl filled with prescription pills. This is how casually some teens view using pain killers or mood-altering drugs at parties. Full Story Beach season opens under stunning skies More than 2,200 people went to Greenwich Point yesterday to kick off the summer season. "Since it's a holiday weekend, it's busier than ever," said Annmarie Smutney, gatekeeper at the popular park. Full Story

05/25/08 - Here is an idea Arrest a few parents, publish their names in the paper and see how fast the parties come to an end

Teen pill parties growing in town

Quote:

"We're not seeing it ourselves, but when we interview the kids, they are telling us there is a high volume of prescription drug use,"said Richard Stook, a town neighborhood resource officer.

Story:

Placed next to the chips and salsa is a bowl filled with prescription pills. This is how casually some teens view using pain killers or mood-altering drugs at parties.

And although "pharming" or "bowling" parties are not new, they have become a growing problem in town and throughout Fairfield County, according to Stephanie Paulmeno, community health planner for the town Health Department...

...Many prescription drugs labels state the dangers of taking more than one medication at a time, or using with alcohol, but most teens ignore this, Paulmeno said.

"Who knows what they are mixing at these parties. The interactions of these drugs can be catastrophic," Paulmeno said.

Teens readily have access to these drugs, either from their parents or friends' medicine cabinets. Many people keep old prescriptions, but this can have dire consequences.

"Parents should keep their prescriptions locked up and dispose of the bottles after use,...
...Despite the lack of specific data, statistics show that individuals in a higher- socioeconomic status are the ones most often abusing prescription pills, making Greenwich a community at risk, according to Gillespie.

The Health Department and other agencies are looking to survey teens on this issue and find out who and why they are engaging in this behavior. If officials can learn more than perhaps more can be done to prevent the rise of teens hospitalized for this emerging problem, Paulmeno said.

"If we have more information, than more can be done to address it," she said.

Full Story: Greenwich Time

==============================================
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05/24/08 Reader Submitted Greenwich Blog Links: Greenwich Diva's Post For Today

www.greenwichdiva.com

wrote: Stamford, CT own Stacey Tisdale will on the NBC 'Today' Show

Stacey Tisdale

Author and Financial Journalist Stacey Tisdale will be on NBC 'Today' Show on Monday April 26th, to talk about the emotional and psychological issues that come with a recession. She will be joined by psychiatrist Dr. Gail Slatz at approximately 9AM on both the East and West Coast.

05/24/08 PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Mike Horyczun For Immediate Release
Director of Public Relations May 24, 2007
(203) 869-6786, ext. 330

The Bruce Museum - A Century of Change
June 2, 2007 - August 19, 2007

Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT

Urn “International Centre Piece,” 1900
Modeled by Frederick Salter, made by the Belleek Pottery Ltd.
Porcelain, Parian ware, 27 ½ x 16”
Gold Medal Winner Paris exposition 1900
Gift of Mrs. Horace V. Steadman
Bruce Museum Collection 68.24

The new exhibition The Bruce Museum - A Century of Change highlights the Museum’s nearly 100-year-old history and joins in the celebration of the recent publication of the Greenwich Library Oral History Project’s book of the same name. On view in the Bantle Lecture Gallery will be photographs, fine art, and natural history objects associated with each of the seven Museum directors. Some of the Museum’s most valued pieces will be on display along with some of the more unusual specimens and artifacts. The exhibition is generously sponsored by The Charles M. and Deborah G. Royce Exhibition Fund,
- more -


- 2 -
When Robert M. Bruce bequeathed his home to the town of Greenwich in 1908, he stipulated that it should become a “natural history, historical, and art museum.”
The Museum began primarily as a natural history museum. According to the oral history of Paul Howes, “We decided that he [Robert Moffat Bruce] preferred natural history because it was first in the list in his will.” Mr. Howes was responsible for the collection and display of the majority of the natural history collection. Several mounted specimens on view were collected by Howes including a colorful toucan and the skeleton of a sloth. Interestingly, both of these specimens were live animals when first brought to the Museum. Once they had died, Mr. Howes, an expert taxidermist, mounted their remains for the permanent collection. Natural history items were not the only things Mr. Howes collected during his 48-year tenure as curator and director. Many of the Museum’s important paintings were acquired under his direction including John Frederick Kensett’s 14 Mile Island, Lake George, which will be on exhibit.
The Museum’s extraordinary urn “International Centre Piece,” created by Belleek Pottery, Ltd. of Ireland, will be on view for the first time in over 14 years. The urn came to the Bruce Museum under the directorship of Raymond Owen, whose specialty was Native American material culture; however, like all of the directors, he was responsible for the collection of many varied objects during his term. Owen collected a substantial portion of the Bruce Museum’s Native American collection including a stunning 19th-century Chilkat blanket from the Tlingit of Alaska, which will also be on view.
In addition to collection artifacts, animal specimens, minerals, and paintings on view, the exhibition will spotlight historical items such as the admissions sign from the 1960s that reads: “Closed on Saturdays and Major Holidays.” Mr. Owen instituted that policy because “During school vacations … I found that the kids would come with their lunch in a bag and be waiting outside when the museum opened, and they were expected to spend the whole day in the museum. We couldn’t do anything except try to look after these kids. We knew that Saturday would be the same thing - their mothers would dump them there so they could go shopping. So we were not open.”
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- 3 -

Showcasing a century of collecting, the exhibition also will feature art and science objects acquired under Directors John B. Clark, Hollister Sturges, III, Homer McK Rees, and current Executive Director Peter C. Sutton.
In conjunction with the exhibition and the publication of the Greenwich Oral History Project book, the Bruce Museum presents the public program “Museum Director’s Panel Discussion: Bruce Museum - A Century of Change,” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2007. Joining together to discuss the past, present and future of the Bruce Museum will be current and former Directors of the Bruce Museum, Peter C. Sutton, Homer McK Rees, Hollister Sturges, III, and John B. Clark. The program will be moderated by Catherine H. Ogden, Chairman of the Greenwich Library Oral History Project. The event takes place in the Bruce Museum’s Bantle Lecture Gallery, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT. Admission is free with Museum admission. Reservations are suggested by calling the Museum at (203) 869-0376.

The Bruce Museum is located at 1 Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. General admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and free for children under five and Bruce Museum members. Free admission to all on Tuesdays. The Museum is located near Interstate-95, Exit 3, and a short walk from the Greenwich, CT, train station. Museum hours are: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of eight or more require advance reservations. Museum exhibition tours are held Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Free, on-site parking is available. The Bruce Museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities. For information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376, or visit the Bruce Museum website at http://www.brucemuseum.org/.


- more -
Page 4
The Bruce Museum - A Century of Change
June 2, 2007 - August 19, 2007
Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT

These images are available in color as digital files (JPEG 300 dpi) for exhibition publicity only. To receive images via e-mail, contact: Mike Horyczun, Bruce Museum Director of Public Relations, (203) 869-6786, ext. 330, or mike@brucemuseum.org.

1_Kensett
John Frederick Kensett (American, 1816-1872)
Fourteen Mile Island, Lake George, 19th century
Oil on canvas
Gift of George N. Morgan, 1946
Bruce Museum collection
2_Bruce Portrait
M. D. Holt
Robert Moffat Bruce (1822 –1909), 1882
Chalk and charcoal on photograph
Bruce Museum collection
3_ Browne
Matilda Browne (American, 1869-1947)
August Morning
Oil on canvas
Museum purchase
Bruce Museum Collection

4_Silva
Francis A. Silva (American, 1835-1886)
Low Tide, 19th century
Oil on canvas, 19 1/2 x 35 1/2 in.
Gift of George N. Morgan
in memory of Ethel Boies Morgan, 1946
Bruce Museum Collection

5_Beleek Urn
Urn “International Centre Piece,” 1900
Modeled by Frederick Salter,
Made by the Belleek Pottery Ltd.
Porcelain, Parian ware, 27 ½ x 16”
Gold Medal Winner Paris exposition 1900
Gift of Mrs. Horace V. Steadman
Bruce Museum Collection
6_Blanket
Chilkat Wool Blanket, Alaska
Dyed mountain-goat wool and braided cedar bark fiber; totemic design, fringe. Worn at ceremonial dances and funerals.
Gift of Mrs. W. A. Davies
Bruce Museum Collection
7_Toucanet
Emerald Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Male from El Roble, Colombia
Gift Paul G. Howes
Bruce Museum Collection
8_Rabbit
Eastern cottontail rabbit
Sylvilagus floridanus
Stamford, Connecticut
Purchase from John Schaler, 1919
Bruce Museum Collection
9_Sloth
Southern two-toed sloth skeleton
Choloepus didactylus
Museum purchase, 1969
Bruce Museum Collection
- more-
10_Shrunken Head
Monkey Head
4 in. high
Obtained in Lima, Peru by donor
Gift of Mrs. Edward F. Smith
Bruce Museum Collection
11_Simkhovitch_Early Morning
Simka Simkhovitch (1893-1949)
Early Morning in Connecticut, 1940
Oil on canvas, 35 1/2 x 26 1/2 in.
Bruce Museum Collection
12_GroundSquirrel
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus
Mound City, Ohio
Museum Purchase, 1946
Cincinnati Museum of Natural History
Bruce Museum Collection
13_Powers
Hiram Powers (1805-1873)
Proserpine, modeled in 1844
Marble, 25 x 19 x 11 in.
Museum purchase
Bruce Museum Collection

14_Motherwell
Robert Motherwell (American, 1915-1991)
America - La France Variations III, 1984
Color lithograph and collage
Museum purchase
Bruce Museum Collection
15_ MacMonnies
Frederick William MacMonnies
(American,1863-1937)
Nathan Hale, 1890
Bronze
Museum purchase
Bruce Museum Collection
16_Bellows
George W. Bellows
(American, 1882-1925)
Portrait of A.F. Lundberg, ca. 1906-07
Oil on canvas
Bruce Museum Collection
17_Bougereau
William-Adolphe Bouguereau
(French, 1825-1905)
Faun and Bacchante, 1860
Gift of Steven A. Cohen and Alexandra M. Cohen Bruce Museum Collection

Page 5 The Bruce Museum - A Century of Change
June 2, 2007 - August 19, 2007
Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT

These images are available in color as digital files (JPEG 300 dpi) for exhibition publicity only. To receive images via e-mail, contact: Mike Horyczun, Bruce Museum Director of Public Relations, (203) 869-6786, ext. 330, or mike@brucemuseum.org

************************************************************************
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05/24/08 - Saturday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

(Meredith Blake / Greenwich Time photo)

Man keeps watchful eye on fishway Brian Eltz, town conservation assistant, works with the conservation commission on a variety of projects, including data management at the fishway on River Road. Full Story Rape victim sues Stamford hotel over attack A woman raped at gunpoint in front of her children in a Stamford hotel parking garage has filed a lawsuit accusing the hotel of failing to prevent the 2006 attack. Full Story JROTC teacher to lead Norwalk parade NORWALK - David Ellis always knew he wanted to teach high school students. It just took him three decades to finally do it full-time. Full Story Country Day plans to rebuild campus After several years of planning, Greenwich Country Day School is moving forward with plans to modernize its campus. Full Story Parade's planner gets chance to lead units STAMFORD - Using plaster, chicken wire and old bedsheets, Pat Battinelli has created an homage to the ... Full Story Newman drops directing role, cites health issues Associated Press Citing unspecified health issues, Paul Newman will not direct the fall production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse, the theater's artistic directors announced yesterday. Full Story Golf cart fire extinguished Greenwich firefighters extinguished a golf cart burning inside a storage shed late Friday afternoon at the Fairview Country Club at 1241 King St. Full Story Magnet motif: IB is New Leb's way New Lebanon School is seeking to start the town's second International Baccalaureate magnet program. Following in the footsteps of the highly popular International School at Dundee in Riverside, New Lebanon School in Byram is asking to become an International Baccalaureate school. Full Story Medical help on the waves: Paramedics ride with marine patrol Greenwich police boats will carry a fully equipped paramedic during marine patrols on weekends and holidays to provide emergency treatment to victims of boating accidents and sick beach-goers, officials announced yesterday. Full Story

05/23/08 - Last Wednesday Bill Clark "The Scribe Of Greenwich" added his comments about the Greenwich High School Taser Incident

The "Scribe Of Greenwich" At Work In The
Public Library's Technology Department

Shocking Developments at Greenwich High School

Your scribe has followed with interest the top local news story of the past several days, namely the use of a police taser gun on an 18-year-old senior at the high school.

The student, Victor Hugo Londono, was under a one-week suspension for throwing water balloons as a senior prank. Wow. Pretty serious stuff. Certainly a worthy reason to suspend the malefactor for a full week less than a month from graduation.

When your scribe was in high school, water balloons were an inescapable part of the rites of spring. Walk out a doorway, get doused from above. Swallow your chagrin, put on a smile, and deal with it. And then turn the tables on your oppressor. Faculty members knew better than to get involved with such pranks, just as students knew full well there was no point in running to them for assistance. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and water-balloon training was just another part of the educational experience provided to all students in those halcyon days.

And so, upon reflection, your scribe finds himself faulting the school for issuing such a harsh punishment for such a trivial event. Does the unspeakable Betty Sternberg's code of student conduct now criminalize water balloons? Kinda makes one yearn for the old days, when some right-thinking student might have concocted an indelible-ink balloon and lobbed it in the direction of a particularly unpopular faculty member or administrator. Now that might have called for some form of punishment, not to mention economic reparations; but the lobber would have become an instant hero, and a legend in his or her own time.

Mr. Londono, however, was punished for tossing garden-variety water balloons. The "damage" probably dried within 30 minutes, after which it was basically a case of no harm, no foul. But no - he was publically humiliated and disciplined by the high school administration.

Would that it had all ended there. Alas, it did not. Mr. Londono, in a scene straight out of his namesake's great novel of social injustice, Les Miserables, had the temerity to kick a chair. And that led directly to his being tasered by the "school resource officer", a bureaucratic euphemism for the Greenwich cop who has been assigned to the school full-time since last year.

Tasered in front of his friends. Tasered in front of a crowd of fellow students. Tasered not once, not twice, but three times - in the shoulder, the abdomen, and the thigh. A burly cop against a 140-lb. teenager - was the use of a taser necessary? The cop says yes. Common sense says no.

What kind of message does this incident send to our kids? Play a prank and expect to be taken down by brute force and electroshock in the middle of the student center? Kick a chair and be handcuffed and arrested for breach of the peace? Lord only knows what the students who witnessed this scene must have thought. What kind of message do you read into this, dear reader?

And what kind of judgment did the highly-trained adult police officer show when he tasered an unruly teenager three times? Might he have lost his cool, too? Might he have overreacted?

Your scribe was not a witness to this incident, and so he has no anwers to offer. Only questions.

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Update 5/22/08

Your scribe was as shocked as Mr. Londono to read that the latter's bail was set at $50,000. Fifty thousand dollars! One almost never sees a bond set that high in this Town. Here are some examples from today's paper:

11 counts of credit card theft, 11 counts of identity theft, 11 counts of forgery, and a bunch of other charges related to thefts and illegal use of credit cards: $10,000.

Smashing a woman's cell phone, shoving her into a car door, putting her in a headlock and choking off her air supply, and throwing her to the ground: $2,000.

Slamming a woman's car door on her hand, jamming her thumb in the door and breaking her nail while screaming obscenities at her on Greenwich Avenue: no bond at all - just a PTA (promise to appear).

It would seem to any disinterested observer that the Greenwich Police Department has a vendetta going against Mr. Londono. Fifty thousand dollars! Unbelievable!

What do the students at Greenwich High School think? The paper reports sit-ins in the student center where the incident took place, boycotting of classes, tee shirts supporting Mr. Londono, and a lot of emotional distress. One student, Meghan Kerwin, said, "If there is a gun or something, by all means protect us. When it's a water balloon, the circumstances do not call for a Taser."

Go to the head of the class, Meghan. You sure got that one right.

This Greenwich Gossip article received 5 comments:

Sarah Darer Littman said...

I have to say that the "don't Tase me bro" incident made me very glad that my son isn't attending Greenwich High, and rather nervous that daughter is scheduled to be there in only three years time.

AnonymousBob said...One of the problems with tasers is that they are marketed to police and security professionals as being "non-lethal", but in fact they can be very lethal in some circumstances, as various news stories from around the world have borne out, and the circumstances are not always predictable or identifiable. If security people are under the false impression that tasers can't kill people, they may be more apt to use them as something less than a "last resort", and more frequent taser use could mean more injuries and deaths. Personally, I have never heard of anyone dying from a good old-fashioned shoulder or arm lock. If the student had been directly threatening another person with physical harm, then I might be more inclined to let the tasering go, but I'm sure the chairs think nothing at all of the physical affront they "suffered".

Another problem that could arise in relation to taser injuries and death is that if criminals (or even regular people) come to understand that the taser could in fact kill them, there may be increased instances of people defending themselves more aggressively against taser-wielding police and security guards. Human Nature dictates that if I think that what you are about to do to me could kill me, I'm going to go to whatever lengths necessary to defend my life, most especially if I think that *you* are more likely to actually use the weapon because you believe it *won't* hurt me. I can only say that if *anyone* points a taser at me or my family, they had better have health and/or life insurance, because I'm going to treat them as if they were pointing a firearm, but with an overly-itchy trigger-finger. And I wouldn't blame anyone else for doing the same.

Barrie said...What happened to diffusing a situation? Instead of letting it escalate to the point of tasering. In these days of drugs and alcohol and guns on our high school campuses, a water balloon looks very tame indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Malicious Intent said...

I have seen to many incidents across the country of folks being tasered and the officials abusing it. Despite poplular belief, a taser can kill.

As far as why this young man was tasered, repeatedly....it was flat out wrong. This kid was not caught raping a student, dealing drugs on the corner or vandalizing property. He was punished for being a kid trying to have fun and create some memories from high school to take with him.

I keep saying we should be waving a red flag over our state/country. We scream human rights in this country and demand that our prisoners or suspected terrorists not get water boarded, but we taser an 18 year old 3 times for throwing a water balloon and then *gasp* show emotion when he gets angry for being punished for such a childhood prank.

Honestly, some people need to put their big girl/boy panties on and get a grip. Go find the real bad guys.

Oh wait, that would require hard work, woulndn't it?

Bill "The Scribe Of Greenwich" Clark reponded...

Wow! I guess this post touched a few nerves!

Yes, tasers can be lethal, especially if someone has a medical problem such as a circulatory or heart condition. Anonymous Bob - who are you, by the way? Give me a hint! - has given us a lot to think about.

Sarah, my first reaction was that if I had a kid about to enter the high school I would start looking at private schools PDQ.

Barrie, as usual you are the voice of wisdom and common sense. Yes, the cop and other administrators present should have tried to defuse the situation. Had I been the cop in question, I might have lined up a few more chairs and told the kid to take his best shot at them, too. Then, when everyone had stopped laughing, I would have asked him to accompany me somewhere private and told him that a different kind of cop might have arrested him, but that I merely wanted his solemn assurance that he would behave himself until graduation.

Guess that's why I'm not a cop.

M.I., as usual, you say exactly what's on the scribal mind, and as usual you say it much better than I could.

Leigh Russell said...

common sense Bill? What is that, pray?

Bill "The Scribe Of Greenwich" Clark reponds...

Hi, Leigh! Common sense is a vestigial character trait of the human race that is in increasingly short supply in these latter days. It refers to an ability to think and act logically in accordance with commonly-received experience. However, since everyone now seems to be running off in all directions in pursuit of their own solipsistic goals, common experience and by extension common sense are pretty much a thing of the past.

I remember learning a lot of common sense when I lived in England. Do they still have any left over there, one hopes?

Here are more of Mr. Clark's recent posts at Greenwich Gossip:

• Bye, Bye, Mario
• EdforRep.com
• The Local Rag Starts to Clean Up Its Act
• The Unspeakable Betty Sternberg Strikes Again
• Pictures!
• Rape and Pillage, Part II
• The Next Survivor Series
• Announcing AutoBlogger!!
• Bye, Bye, Michele

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05/23/08 - Greenwich Citizen Still Refuses To Cover The Fact That A Weapon Used At Greenwich High School. What Is The Editor Afraid Of? (Updated)

Dose The Greenwich Citizen Publisher Support Using A Taser In Public Schools As A Behaviour Management Tool?

Why do Greenwich Citizen Readers have to get the Greenwich Post and Greenwich Time to learn what is really going on in Greenwich.

Is the Greenwich audience unable to appreciate quality journalism?

There, there. Have the "so-called" journalists at the Greenwich Citizen failed the people?

At the Greenwich Citizen, "news stories" are often press released-centred explanations of what is going on in town, and these establishment press releases are the tail that wags the dog.

All too often, the Greenwich Citizen over looks the disenfranchised, poorer, weaker, and younger members of Greenwich Society, because they don't send out press releases.

Some people in town are wondering why the police use of a taser on a mouthy - water - balloon - throwing Greenwich High School teenager, who weighed just 140 pounds, was not newsworthy at the Greenwich Citizen.

Others in town wonder if the Greenwich Citizen would find it news worthy if the Greenwich Police Department went into Eastern Middle School and tased a hyper 85 pound seventh grader.

Still others in town wonder if the Greenwich Citizen would find it newsworthy if the Greenwich Police Department went into Julian Curtiss Elementary School and tased a bad little 55 pound fourth grader.

Would the Greenwich Citizen even notice if the Greenwich Police went into a nursery school and tasered an unruly pre-schooler?

Maybe, the Greenwich Citizen might cover one of these news stories if the students would write the story up and fax it in as a press release.

Does any one remember the Greenwich Citizen ever doing an investigative report?

Please See:

05/22/08 - Lost In Cyber Space: Greenwich Citizen Ignores GHS Tasing Controversey For Nine Days. Greenwich Citizen Readers Don't Know What's Going On...

05/19/08 - Beat The Press - The Greenwich Citizen has it's head in the sand

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UPDATE:

Now That The Greenwich Post Has Been
Caught With It's Pants Down, There Is A
Last Minute Attempt To Cover Their A**.
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After much pressure the Greenwich Citizen finally did post a news story about the High School Tasing Incident.

The story is not on the home page: http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/

However, if you navigate to the local news page at: http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/localnews

Then read through all of the five news links with brief descriptions you will find a small line at the bottom that says:

More Local/Regional Headlines:

Police Say Tasing Incident at High School Justified

If you can find this link, you will clearly see that it is a half hearted attempt looks likes a half hearted attempt by the Greenwich Citizen to save face.

Clearly, the Greenwich Citizen Publisher and Editor is ashamed of their initial failure to cover this important news story, and they should be ashamed.

For over a week The Associated Press, Bloggers, Cablevision News 12, The Greenwich Post, The Greenwich Time, The Hartford Courant, The Fairfeild County Weekly, The Stamford Advocate and many others immediately found the story news worthy.

In fact, just about every local and regional media outlet covered the High School taser controversey except for the Greenwich Citizen and the free Penny Saver ad paper that comes in Greenwich mail boxes.

However, the Greenwich Citizen had to be shamed into covering the story and that is why the Greenwich Citizen was the only news outlet that buried the story on their website. All of the other blogger, cable and newspaper websites had the story up front on their home page.

Worse yet, when you read the hastily prepared Greenwich Citizen Article only Greenwich Police Captain Pacewicz is quoted. There is no reported attempt to contact Greenwich High School administrators, Greenwich High School students, parents, teachers, the boy that was tased or his attorney or anyone else for that matter.

This is not a news story it is a Greenwich Police Department Press Release. Please read the story with our comments and judge for yourself.

Police Say Tasing Incident at High School Justified

By Laura Carlson

Article Last Updated: 05/23/2008 01:01:02 PM EDT

Laura Carlson writes:

The tasing incident at Greenwich High School on May 13 has sparked controversy in the realm of student safety.

While misinterpreted information has caused parents to grow skeptical of the type and extent of enforcement administered in the student's surroundings, it is important to understand why the police remain justified in their actions, Capt. Michael Pacewicz of the Greenwich Police Department said during a press conference Tuesday.

The student in question, senior Victor Hugo Londono, 18, was told to report to the school's administrative office after throwing water balloons in the campus student center, police said. When Londono's behavior elevated to a level of disorderly conduct, police interference was deemed necessary by the four administrators who were present at the scene of the arrest.

(Comment: source needed for this statement could it be Captain Pacewicz?)

"His arrest was not due in part to his violation of student center rules, but to his interference and aggression toward the officers after the incident occurred," said Pacewicz.

Once Londono was told to leave the student center to file for his suspension, he refused to be removed and even kicked a chair into another student's chair upon leaving, noted School Resource Officer Carlos A. Franco.

Londono had to be escorted to the administrative offices, and upon arrival, Pacewicz recalled, he became vocally offensive and threatening toward the officers. Pacewicz noted that once he refused to place his hands behind his back for arrest, his actions became a criminal issue rather than a school conflict.

Londono remained unrelenting to authority rule, even after Franco's many warnings of using the stun gun if he failed to comply with orders. Londono continued flailing his arms and making threatening remarks, even after warnings were given, stated Pacewicz.

Franco used the drive stun mode of his X26, the least intrusive mode that would motivate Londono to obey. It took three shocks that were less than a second duration each; one to his shoulder, the next his mid-section and the last to his thigh, for the stun gun to make contact and for Londono to place his hands behind his back.

(Comment: source needed for this statement could it once again be Captain Pacewicz? Is the so-called "Greenwich Citizen Journalist" Laura Carlson being led around with a police department nose ring?)

GHS students are aware of student center rules, as they are addressed on the first day of school, written in the student's daily planners and even posted on the wall of the student center where the incident occurred.

(Comment: once again source needed for this statement could it once again be Captain Pacewicz? Is this a news article or is Laura Carlson helping Captain Pacewicz write a letter to the editor?)

While last Tuesday was the first time a taser was used on a student, the introduction of the stun gun has had its benefits, stated Pacewicz. The taser has been used 31 times, of which 14 were only displaying the gun without usage before a suspect would comply.

Franco has carried this stun gun in the school since 2004, and it was understood by the administration that Franco used the least amount of force necessary for a response, said Pacewicz.

Londono was released on a $50,000 cash bond and told to appear in Stamford Superior Court on May 21.

Where in the hell did the "so-called" Greenwich Citizen journalist Laura Carlson go to school to learn to be a journalist?

Greenwich Citizen readers should be sceptical of Greenwich Citizen articles in General and Laura Carlson's articles in particular.

Here are this weeks press release generated stories at the Greenwich Citizen:

In New Role, Former School Boss Talks About Race

Wearing a different hat, Dr. Larry Leverett, Greenwich's former and first black school superintendent, by invitation discoursed Sunday morning on race and education during a "sacred conversation" at the Second Congregational Church.

Congress Aims to Help Consumers at Gas Pump

President George W. Bush continued to play dead this week when it came to throwing a lifeline to millions of consumers suffering from fiscal strangulation as gasoline prices rocket past $4-a-gallon...

Ham Ave. Girls Told to Follow Their Passions to Success

Women have yet to break the highest glass ceiling in the land - the presidency - but from the witness of a host of women achievers last Wednesday, there's been an impressive shattering of glass, primarily by Superintendent of Schools...

Honoring Greenwich's Rich Architectural History

Framed photographs of stately residences dotted the elegant rooms in the equally grand Greenwich home.

Julius Caesar Coming to Town; Local Student to Debut

Come July 4-13, Shakespeare is coming to town again to take over the green sward of Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.

GHS Crew: Cut Above the Rest

Greenwich High's crew program rowed into the record-book last weekend, claiming first-time state championships for both the girls and boys varsity.

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05/23/08 - Friday's News Links From The Greenwich Post Greenwich

In honor of Memorial Day, the Mary Bush Society Children of the American Revolution (CAR), with the help of the Mathew Mead Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), placed small flags recently at Greenwich's Revolutionary War soldier gravesites at the historic Tomac Burying Ground in Old Greenwich. The Tomac Burying Ground in Old Greenwich has 27 known Revolutionary War patriots buried there. Many of the soldiers buried at Tomac Burying Ground were men who fought at the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 under Captain George Peck, ninth regiment of the Connecticut militia. The Tomac Burying Ground is believed to be the resting-place of Greenwich's oldest settlers, dating back to the 1660's.

Stamford attorney seeks to replace Nickerson

Greenwich Democrats have thrown their enthusiastic support behind Stamford resident Mark Diamond in his race for the 36th District’s state senate seat.


Greenwich residents awarded for helping fight addiction

Substance abuse crosses all boundaries and touches all lives — affecting the wealthy, the poor, the young and the old. As longtime friends of Liberation Programs Inc., an organization that helps those struggling with addiction, Louis and Virigina Bantle of Greenwich know that all too well. Their support and efforts will be recognized Tuesday, June 3 when they will be presented with the “Spirit of Hope” award at the Hilton Stamford Hotel.

Historical Society seeks volunteers

The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich is seeking volunteers to fill two roles: one or two telephone receptionists to answer the phones for two to three hours a day, to direct callers to appropriate departments and provide information on activities and events at the Bush-Holley Historic Site; and someone to update on-line community calendars with current Bush-Holley Historic Site events and activities. The work may be done from home and requires about six hours a month. To volunteer, call Michele at 869-689.

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05/23/08 - Local Greenwich Photos

Greenwich Photo Blog Post:

Gone Fishing, Indian Harbor, Greenwich
ByBob Luckey

Greenwich Time.
Greenwich Time Photos - http://greenwichtimephotos.com

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Please send your blog links, photos and your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

05/23/08 - Friday's News Links From The Greenwich Time

Greenwich Time RSS Feed

Greenwich Academy celebrates commencement Katherine Szeto went to two shops and tried on eight dresses before she found the right one for her Greenwich Academy graduation. Full Story Dems tap Krumeich And the nominees are: Edward Krumeich Jr. and É ? Unable to come up with a state House candidate in the 150th District but not willing to concede the race, Greenwich Democrats adjourned the last night's nominating caucus until Tuesday in hopes of recruiting a candidate. Full Story New dome placed on Bowman Christina Hennessy Staff Writer Reduced to nothing more than a heap of scrap metal, the original dome of the Bowman Observatory sat in direct contrast to the gleaming silver top that rested on cinder blocks about 10 feet away. Full Story Selectmen peruse park plans The Board of Selectmen yesterday got a look at revamped plans for a waterfront park at the Cos Cob Power Plant site that replaced one of two playing fields with open space to satisfy clamoring for more greenery. Full Story =============================================== Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com