Behind The Times:
Greenwich Time Editor David Warner Is Still Clueless About School Board Member Michael Bodson's Hamilton Avenue School Email Concerning Mold
Please See Greenwich Post Story:
PLEASE ALSO SEE:
It looks like Bill Clark at Greenwich gossip was right to call the local daily rag the "Yellowich Time". Just read these "so-called" news stories that sound like reguritated Town Hall press releases:
Ferry policy roils waters
Ferry policy roils waters
By Neil Vigdor
Yielding to complaints from residents about overcrowding at Island Beach, the town is rethinking its ferry policy as it applies to nonresident passengers.
Overall, ferry ridership increased by about 16 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to figures released this month by the parks department, which reported 47,836 passengers from the start of service on June 15 through Aug. 31.
About one out of every four ferry passengers was either a nonresident, a guest of a resident or a resident without a season beach card, the figures show. The town does not distinguish between the three groups.
Members of the Board of Selectmen are calling for changes to the town's ferry policy, saying they have been inundated with complaints from residents about the loss of tranquility and solitude at Island Beach and nearby Great Captains Island.
"The feedback has been all negative. Nobody is happy with the current policy," Selectman Peter Crumbine said.....
Translation: Don't You Worry About A Thing Peter Crumbine And The Board Of Selectmen Are Going To Fix The Problem They Created. They Are Doing A Great Job!!!!
District hopes school choice will ease overcrowding
By Colin "Rah !!! Rah !!!! Rah !!!! Go BOE !!!" Gustafonson
School officials may allow families to send their child to an elementary school outside their neighborhood, in hopes of that redistributing students would help the district meet class size caps.
Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg asked school board members at a Thursday workshop to consider a "school choice" option she said would help the district prevent overcrowded classes, while saving money by avoiding adding an extra section when classes are too big.
Under the board's current guidelines, the district is required to add a section and hire a new teacher - usually at about $75,000 per year - every time a school exceeds class-size caps by even one or two students.
Under the proposed system, the district could grant a transfer to parents who want their children taken out of an overcapacity school and placed in a school where space is available.
The system, which would only be open to elementary school families, would be voluntary. The number of transfers would be limited to the number of students that exceed the cap.
"A hard cap sets a very hard limit," said John Curtin, the district's superintendent of research and evaluation. For reasons of efficiency, the district needs to have the "flexibility to move children to schools where there's extra space," he said.....
Translation: Don't You Worry About A Thing Betty Sternberg And The Board Of Education Are Going To Fix The Problem They Created. They Are Doing A Great Job!!!!
Ham Ave., borrowing on RTM agenda
By Colleen Flaherty
Members of the Representative Town Meeting will officially trade in beaches and barbecues for appointments and appropriations tonight, with their first post-summer huddle.
The Hamilton Avenue School building project, into which the town has pumped $30 million since 2005, will likely receive an additional $700,000 appropriation to pay for additional change orders - albeit grudgingly, said Joan Caldwell, moderator pro tempore. "As disgruntled as people are," she said, "if we don't pay the contractor, the job won't get finished."
"I believe the money will be appropriated," she added.
"Let's not even go there," said District 8 chairman James Boutelle, asked to comment on the appropriation request, which last week increased from $500,000 to $700,000.
But, he said, "It's inevitable. Our priority is getting the school open. At this point, it's not the money, it's the delay."
The school renovation project is several months behind schedule, with Hamilton Avenue School students now dispersed to other schools until work is complete.
Both cash and time bothered RTM moderator Thomas Byrne enough to predict some sort of formal review of the debacle, whether by the RTM or another body.
"I don't think we've experienced a construction project quite like this," he said. "Certainly some effort has to be made within the town to understand it."
Translation: Don't You Worry About A Thing One Day In The Future The Sheepole Of The RTM Are Going To Stand Up To The Hamilton Avenue Building Committee. This $700,000 Is Going To Fix Hamilton Avenue School And The Children Are Going To Be Be In Ham Ave In Early October !!!!!!
The RTM And The Building Committee Are Doing A Great Job!!!! The Building Committe Asks For Exhorbanant Sums Of Money And The RTM Overwhelmingly Approves Frank Mazza Flushing The Money Down The Toilet !!!!!!
Republicans gear up for November races
By Meredith Blake
Overlooking the Sound, feasting on lobsters and fried clams, town and state Republicans gathered to get energized for a contentious election season.
More than 100 Republican leaders, such as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, Lt. Gov. Mike Fidele, and, Rep. Livvy Floren, R-149th District, and supporters met yesterday at Greenwich Point for the 73rd annual GOP Clambake, the longest running political event held in town.
"This is typically the kick off to the political season," said State Senator William Nickerson, R-36th District "And this is a particularly important year."
With Shays, up for re-election, and Nickerson, and Rep. Dolly Powers, R-151st District, not seeking reelection, there are many seats being challenged.
Riverside investment chief L. Scott Frantz is running for Nickerson's seat and longtime Greenwich resident Fred Camillo is running for Powers.' Shays is being challenged by Greenwich resident Jim Himes for the Fourth Congressional District.
"It all starts here," said Chris Healey, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party.
And with the national election heating up and the recent Republican convention, state Republicans said there is a lot of excitement within the party.
" I haven't seen the Republican party this energized in many years," Healey said.
Translation: Don't You Worry About A Thing !!!!! The Republican Party Is Energized By The Financial Crises They Created !!!!! Forget About That 401k You Really Didn't Need It Anyway !!!!! Social Serecurity Will Take Care Of You And Your Family !!!!! Everything Is Just Fine !!!!!
Racers speed down Avenue in soapbox derby
By Meredith Blake
The town's first soap box derby in 23 years drew hundreds of fans to Greenwich Avenue Sunday, to watch 24 budding racers take their small handmade cars from Starbucks to Richards.
The event was part of the kick-off for the 75th annual United Way campaign event, Septemberfest. The racers, who were each sponsored by a business and raising money for a charity, spent weeks building the cars and practicing.
"It was a lot of work, but so much fun," said Gabrielle Liflander, who was racing for the Jewish Family Services.
Wearing helmets, each contender entered their car, painted in bright colors from pink to tiger stripes, ready to roll down the Avenue, with only a small steering wheel and brake.
"It was actually a lot of fun and exhilarating driving in the car," said Shamiek Tomoney, 13 who came in third place.
Getting used to maneuvering the vehicle was pretty difficult initially.
"It felt weird at first. It took some time to get used to," said Riverside resident Nick Lacey, 10. "It felt like you were driving and having never driven a car before, but I really liked it."
Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, friends and family made buttons with the driver Sean Thomanen, 11, on them as they chanted his name in the final race. Boys and Girls Club was the charity that he was sponsoring.
"It was absolutely amazing," said his mother Cathy Landy. "It was so cool seeing all of the people cheering."
Translation: The Town's Non-Profits Show The Recreation Department How To Bring New, Inovative And Exciting Family Programs To Greenwich !!!!! Maybe We Should Let Non-Profits Take Over A Few Recreational Programs.
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