07/10/08 Reader Submitted Comments About Glenville School (Updated)

Why does the town want to put those poor Ham Ave kids at Glenville?

Are they begging for another lawsuit?

The building has mold, broken windows, leaks, asbestos, and probably couldn't pass a building inspection if the town went in.

They are moving Glenville kids out because the building is a metal shed not fit for livestock much less children.

It is, as stated by Sternberg, educationally unsound and they know the school academic programs do not work as well in that building as they do in other schools.

Ham Ave test scores are droppping and the board of ed wants to put them in a building where they can't be educated equally compared to other schools?

Please see:

07/09/08 Surprise!!! - "A lot of it wasn't ready," Town Building Official Bill Marr said, "Most of these areas will need a re-inspection."


07/08/08 Hamilton Avenue School has passed only one of the 18 final inspections


07/08/08 - Hamilton Avenue Project Manager Gerard Adam,"Let's not keep repeating the same mistakes


Comments From Others:

JM Linds says:

If these things are "not hard to correct" when you fail an inspection, why are they not completed correctly to begin with????

Way to go Mr. Head of the Hamilton Avenue School building committee! Nice Job!

esg says:

From the exterior, it looks great. The building committee may have gone through some struggles but the final product is impressive.

HAS Mom says:

I agree that the final product will be impressive, when it is FINALIZED. They still have a long way to go before that building is complete. If work is continuing, explain to me please how the building systems, such as air, heat, etc. are already cleaned. This shouldn't be done until the building is finished, in total. Before my kids enter that school, whenever that may be, they damn well better get an outside hygienist in to test each corner!

Fed Up says:

I just heard that Hamilton Avenue wants to move into Glenville School while Glenville goes to the modulars. The town will delay the Glenville School project by atleast 4-6 months, driving up costs by millions and destroying the town's Capital Improvement Plan. The first project that will be taken off or indefinitely delayed is the High School Auditorium and classrooms. If your neighborhood has a project on the CIP list, you can all kiss it goodbye too.
This needs to stop now. They need to get Hamilton finished, they need to demolish Glenville tomorrow so they can't make more excuses and they need to fix the high school mistakes made when the auditorium was first built.

Parent says:

My kindergartener was in Glenville while we were dispersed and that building is a sty. The only thing its good for is a wrecking ball. I was horrified at the condition the town let it deteriorate to and there is no way I'd let my child step foot in that building again. Please tell me Principal Rau isn't considering putting us there! Why would she want us at a building full of mold, leaks, disgusting carpet and broken things?!

So Tired of This says:

Well that is exactly what she is lobbying for

================================================= Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@Gmail.com

07/10/08 Greenwich Post News Links For Thursday

Longford’s opens in Old Greenwich

Written by Kristan Zimmer

Longford’s Own-Made Ice Cream, a franchise for 15 years with locations in Larchmont, N.Y. and Rye, N.Y., is opening a new location in Old Greenwich in honor of National Ice Cream Month, this month.

Field of dreams?

Written by Sam Cross, Post Correspondent

At the entrance of the Wiffle ball field between 96 and 100 Riverside Lane, rule No. 8 reads, “Do not annoy the neighbors.” The bottom of the page reads in bold, “If the rules are broken, there will be consequences.”

Congress to vote on money for dredging in Greenwich

Written by Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter

With the help of a new appropriations bill making its way through Congress, Greenwich could see some federal money to start its long awaited dredging process.

Camp director, founder retires from post

After more than 30 years of dedicated service, Sally Radford Love retired last week as director of the Old Greenwich Riverside Community Center (OGRCC) Sandpipers beach camp on Tod’s Point.

Award marks Marine's legacy, honors others

When 18-year-old Ryan Zimmerman was killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve 2005, it did more than take away a beloved son, sibling and friend to many. It also prevented a promising young man from beginning his career in the Marine Corps.

Injured sailor rescued at sea by cruise ship

Having learned to love sailing as a child, Greenwich resident Hillary Bercovici never expected that a simple trip from Bermuda would turn into a medical emergency for him, necessitating a rescue at sea.

Greenwich12U Redbirds take flight

Written by Lucy Cobbs, Post Sports Correspondent

With the addition of the 12U age group this summer, the rapidly growing Greenwich Lady Redbirds softball team is beginning to take flight. The three-year-old Redbirds program includes four age groups, the 12U being the youngest and 18U the oldest.

“It is still in its infancy and is very young compared to most of the competing teams in the league,” said Redbirds coach Frank DeNicola of the fledgling program.

The 12U team is expected to give younger players more experience in order to raise the level of play in the older age groups.

Greenwich 14s eliminated from Districts

Written by Paul Silverfarb

Although the Greenwich Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Star team grabbed an early 1-0 lead, it was short-lived, as Darien exploded with a combined five runs in two innings and cruised to a 9-5 lead Monday afternoon during the elimination game of the District I tournament at Stamford’s Cubeta Stadium.

With the loss, Greenwich was eliminated from the tournament, while Darien moved on to play Stamford East Tuesday afternoon.

Greenwich Cal Ripken 11s reach District I finals against Norwalk

Written by Paul Silverfarb

Although the Greenwich Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Star team grabbed an early 1-0 lead, it was short-lived, as Darien exploded with a combined five runs in two innings and cruised to a 9-5 lead Monday afternoon during the elimination game of the District I tournament at Stamford’s Cubeta Stadium.

With the loss, Greenwich was eliminated from the tournament, while Darien moved on to play Stamford East Tuesday afternoon.

Greenwich Cal Ripken 11s reach District I finals against Norwalk

Written by Paul Silverfarb

The Greenwich Cal Ripken 11-year-old baseball team took one step closer to reaching the district championship on Monday, beating rival New Canaan 3-2. The team faced Norwalk in the finals yesterday.

New Canaan took a 1-0 lead when Willie Burger tripled and scored on a groundout by Matthew Toth, Greenwich came right back in the second inning.

Don't forget that you can Download Page One Of this weeks Greenwich Post

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

07/10/08 "It is not appropriate for him to speak for the Democratic majority as chairman of Homeland Security,"

Lieberman foes petition Senate Democratic leaders for his ouster as committee chair

WASHINGTON -- Opponents of Sen. Joe Lieberman delivered 43,000 signatures Wednesday to Senate Democratic leaders, urging them to remove him as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after the November elections.

Matt Stoller, a liberal blogger who helped deliver the signatures to members of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, blasted Lieberman as a turncoat for endorsing Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain...

... to push their agenda without fear of filibuster. In 2006, Lieberman lost a Democratic primary to Ned Lamont of Greenwich. During a primary debate, Lieberman stated that he wanted a Democrat to win the presidency in 2008 and argued that a Lamont ...

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

07/10/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Thursday

Teenagers enter the Wiffle ball field from Riverside Lane.
(Bob Luckey Jr./Greenwich Time photo)

Safety, flooding concern neighbor
Expressing concerns about her personal safety, the owner of one of the homes next to a controversial Wiffle ball field in Riverside said she has been forced to consider additional security for her home.

Neighbors oppose plans for Whitby
As one private Greenwich school struggles to overcome neighborhood opposition to its expansion plans, another is preparing to face a similar battle.

Blaze traced to weed whacker

A weed whacker charging up in a greenhouse attached to a Fado Lane home likely sparked the ferocious fire last Tuesday morning that destroyed the house, fire officials said.

Reading is fundamental at the beach
Behind shrieking children, waves crashing and teens flirtatiously splashing, Julie Stewert, 51, tended to her own beach romance yesterday.

United Way grants boost organizations

Raising money has been difficult in this economic climate, according to Family Centers president and CEO Robert Arnold.

Witherell golf tournament rescheduled
This time the bitter cold rain won't stop the game. After being canceled in May amid torrential rain storms, the first-ever Nathaniel Witherell Invitational golf tournament has been rescheduled for Monday, July 28, rain or shine, according to Charity Poth, director of development for the Friends of Nathaniel Witherell.

No. 1 in District 1: 13-year old All-Stars come from behind to claim title

The pressure didn't end for Liam O'Neil after he delivered a go-ahead three-run double in the sixth inning of the Greenwich 13-year-old All-Stars' Babe Ruth District 1 final against Stamford.

Juvenile facility's positive approach

A decided upgrade over the current facility, the state's new Juvenile Court and Detention Center is finally approaching completion.

A fledgling interest in feathered friends

We have checked out a book from the Cos Cob Library more times than we can count. We look for it and bring it home again whenever it is available.

Creation of ball field was a benefit for town

To the editor:

I agree wholeheartedly with the views well expressed by Charlene Prisinzano in her recent letter to the editor, commending all those involved - parents and children alike - in constructing the Wiffle ball field on Riverside Lane. I also commend Selectman Lin Lavery for having the courage as acting first selectman to calmly approach the situation and preserve the field.

In addition to creating valuable recreation space for our town's children, much in need as the recent debate over the Cos Cob Power Plant site revealed, the Wiffle ball teens and their parents also should be applauded for having reminded the town about an under-used, but valuable, piece of public pro-perty.

While I'm sure that the neighbors have enjoyed having a nice patch of wilderness in their back yards, it is also true, as Greenwich Time has well covered, that Greenwich lacks affordable housing for teachers, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other town workers and those who serve the public good. It seems that, if a 1Ú2-acre plot of land in the midst of a residential neighborhood is not suited for a recreation field for Wiffle ball, it could be well used by the Greenwich Housing Authority to build as much affordable housing as possible. A similar plot on River Road in Cos Cob on the Mianus River seems to be able to hold two-to-four nice units.

Using either route, recreation or affordable housing, the whole town should benefit from this wonderful piece of public property. For this, we all owe a debt of gratitude to these industrious and well-motivated teenagers and their supportive parents.

Rick D'Avino

Riverside

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

Pleae send your comments and news tips to

GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/10/08 The Mortgage Forclosure Mess Happens On Steel's Watch. Thousands Of CT Families Lose Thier Homes. Is He Fired? No He Gets A Better paying Job

In this Nov. 2, 2007 file photo, Greenwich Resident and Treasury Undersecretary Robert Steel, left, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Brian Montgomery testify on Capitol Hill in Washington before the House Financial Services Committee hearing to discuss progress in preventing mortgage foreclosures.

Who is Robert Steel, Wachovia's new chief?

Charlotte Business Journal

Robert Steel is a North Carolina native. He grew up in Durham near Duke University east campus. He attended Durham public schools and then Duke, graduating with a bachelor of arts in history and political science in 1973.

After college, Steel relocated to Chicago for his first job in asset management. In 1976, he joined Goldman Sachs & Co. in institutional sales in the Chicago office. While at Goldman, Steel earned a master in business administration from the University of Chicago. He graduated in 1984 and became co-head of institutional sales in Chicago.

In 1986, he transferred to London, where he founded Goldman European equity capital markets group and was extensively involved in privatization and capital raising efforts for European corporations and governments. He later became head of equities for Europe. In 1994, he moved to New York and was head of the equities division from 1998 to 2001, when he was named a vice chairman of Goldman. Steel retired from Goldman in 2004 but still serves as an adviser to the firm.

He also is a nonexecutive director of Barclays plc and Barclays Bank plc.

In October 2006, Steel became Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance. In that role, he was the principal adviser to the U.S. Treasury secretary on matters of domestic matters. He also led the department activities with respect to the domestic financial system, fiscal policy and operations, governmental assets and liabilities, and related economic and financial matters.

He has maintained ties to North Carolina through his involvement with Duke University. In 2000, Steel was named to the university board of trustees, and he was elected chairman of the board in 2005. He led the search committee that chose Duke ninth president, Richard Brodhead.

From February 2004 to September 2006, Steel taught at Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also serves in roles with organizations that include the National Humanities Center, The After-School Corp. and the Aspen Institute.

He and his wife, Gillian, and three daughters live in Greenwich, Conn., and Washington, D.C. They will relocate to Charlotte.

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

Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/09/09 The Latest Greenwich Time News Links

Weed whacker blamed in fire

Martin B. Cassidy

Article Launched: 07/09/2008 03:31:54 PM

A weed whacker charging up in a greenhouse attached to a Fado Lane home likely sparked the ferocious fire last Tuesday morning that destroyed the house, fire officials said.

Investigators determined based on the intense fire damage to the 8-by-10 foot greenhouse connected to a rear door of the two-story ranch home that the fire probably started there, before spreading to the rear part of the home, Fire Inspector Larry Roberts said...
Cold front, storm possible

Temperatures will likely cool down by this afternoon, according to meteorologist Jim Connolly of the National Weather Service. "The weather will be more of the same, but a little cooler," he said. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. A cold front is predicted, dropping temperatures to a more comfortable 80, with low humidity, said Connolly. Currently, the temperatures are in the mid 80's.
Effort boosts number of minority candidates

Martin Cassidy

Staff Writer

Article Launched: 07/09/2008 10:24:01 AM

An effort to diversify the pool of candidates for Greenwich firefighter has brought in a combined 50 black and Hispanic candidates and a handful of other minorities, town human resource officials said.

Of the 437 total candidates, 352 were white. In addition to the black and Hispanic candidates, there were three applicants identified as American Indian and one as Asian. Some applicants identified themselves in the "unspecified" or "other" category....

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

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

07/09/08 Greenwich Post Newslinks For Wednesday

Grace Hirshorn, at right,
smiles with her second place trophy for problem solving.

Sacred Heart student wins for problem solving

Grace Hirshorn, a rising tenth grader at Convent of the Sacred Heart, returned home with a second place trophy from the Future Problem Solving Program International. The conference was held at Michigan State University May 29 to June 1, where Grace competed with students from all over the world.

ALSO:

• Longford’s opens in Old Greenwich

• Campers relive Revolution

• Hoops tourney raises money for autistic children

Please Also See:

Police Watch, July 8

The following are July 8’s released arrests:

LARCENY

Nilcilene Flores, 39, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. was arrested July 6 and charged with first degree larceny and second degree forgery. Flores, who had worked as a housekeeper for a local family, allegedly stole checks from them and wrote them to cash, using the money for her own personal benefit. Police said about $24,000 was taken. Flores was released on a $10,000 surety bond and is due in court July 14.

POSSESSION

Cesar Gomez, 41, of White Plains, N.Y. was arrested July 7 and charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. He was arrested as part of a joint operation between the Greenwich traffic division and the state police at the Interstate-95 North weigh station. Gomez’ truck didn’t stop at a stop sign and police pulled him over just before exit 3. Police said officers saw a package of rolling papers in plain view in the driver’s seat and Gomez told the officer that there was marijuana in a small white bag next to the papers. Gomez was also cited for failure to stop at a state weigh station. Gomez was released on a $219 cash bond and is due in court July 14.

LARCENY

Carmine DeVita, 19, of 34 Boulder Brook Road was arrested July 7 and charged with sixth degree larceny. According to police, DeVita had come to visit Tom’s Driving School on East Putnam Avenue, where he had once been a student. While he was there, DeVita allegedly took $250 from a woman’s purse and left. Officers found him at the East Putnam Avenue McDonalds with a portion of the stolen money. DeVita was released on a promise to appear and is due in court July 14.

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

07/09/08 Surprise!!! - "A lot of it wasn't ready," Town Building Official Bill Marr said. "Most of those areas will need a re-inspection."

Construction work continues at Hamilton Avenue School in Chickahominy.
(Bob Luckey Jr./Greenwich Time photo)

Headline:

Hamilton Avenue School Building inspection visits find additional problems that need fixing and conditions that don't meet building codes.

Quote:

"Everyone is kind at the end of their rope," said Dawn Nethercott, co-president of the Hamilton Avenue School PTA, who declined to speculate on whether the project would be completed on time."It's a cross your heart, pray to the novenas, hold your breath kind of thing,"

Story:

Project limps home

By Hoa Nguyen
Greenwich Time Staff Writer

Article Launched: 07/09/2008 02:31:10 AM

...The Hamilton Avenue School project, which began in 2005, has encountered many delays, stretching an estimated 18-month completion period to one that has taken three years. While parents recently received assurances that the project would wrap up before the start of next school year, they also have been disappointed in the past by interim deadlines that have been missed.

For instance, officials said the building would be substantially complete in May, which then stretched into June, and now is slated for end of July.

The frequent delays have disheartened school parents, many of whom have stopped attending meetings in which Mazza and other members of a building committee meet with project manager Middletown-based Pinnacle One and contractor Bethel-based Worth Construction to talk about the project.....

...Since June, town building officials have been making biweekly inspection visits to the school. During each visit, building officials focus their attention on one part of the building, examining the work completed in those particular zones to make sure it meets building safety codes.

For instance, on July 1, inspectors looked at the second floor of the west wing, on July 3, it was the first floor of the west wing, yesterday, it was the second floor of the east wing and tomorrow it will be the first floor of the east wing....

Please Read The Full Greenwich Time Story

Meeting Alert:

Glenville and Hamilton Avenue Parents Mark Your Calendars

The Failed Greenwich Board of Education leaders have will conduct a meetings to discuss and reviewing contingency plans in case the project is delayed at 7 p.m. July 22 at Town Hall.

Then the Failed Board of Education leaders will conduct a second meeting to decide what to do, including moving forward with contingency plans in case the unfinished school is delayed once again. This meeting will be held on 7 p.m. July 29 at Greenwich High School.

Please see yesterdays article:

07/08/08 Hamilton Avenue School has passed only one inspection of 18 final inspections - Only Sprinkers In The Garage Get A Thumbs Up - Maybe Frank Mazza Can Set Up Temporary Classroom Partitions In The Garage, Because The Rest Of The School Has No Fire Coverage

Frank Mazza's project delays are impacting Glenville School parents, who hoped to move into the contaminated modular school classrooms in August so that thier school building can undergo mismanaged reconstruction. But, failed school administrators Susan Wallerstein has said that she does not want to start screwing up Glenville school until Frank Mazza finishes the disaster known as Hamilton Avenue School.

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

Please send your comments and any pictures or reports of town or fire officials cutting any corners at Hamilton Avenue School to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com.

Never again, should Hamilton Avenue children be put at risk.

They have suffered enough!!!

07/08/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Wednesday

Suzanne Carlin and her dog, Mikey, in front of the animal control shelter which is set to relocate to a larger building on North Street.
(Keelin Daly/Greenwich Time photo)

North Street animal shelter approved

The town will move ahead on building a long-awaited new animal shelter facility after receiving a final OK from state officials.

Shore Rd. stop sign may stay

A controversial experiment to turn the intersection of Shore Road and Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich into an all-way stop could be made permanent by the town as early as next month.

Bond lowered for suspect in slaying

STAMFORD - A judge lowered the bond yesterday for a Bridgeport man charged with killing a New York man and dumping the body on a backcountry Greenwich road in January.

Ham Ave. fate uncertain

Hamilton Avenue School has passed only one of 18 final inspections done on the new school project in recent weeks. Sprinklers in the garage got the thumbs up, while other inspections yielded problems that needed to be fix.

Making a Racquet: Swenson's RBI hit in seventh propels Rink & Racquet to Babe Ruth crown

Hitless in his first three at bats, all Mike Swenson wanted was another chance to come through in the clutch....

At least past Congresses were less bad

We're half way through the year, my friends. Hard to believe. The old order is about to change, giving way to the new.

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

07/08/08 Sever Pain Complaince Techniques - Wrong Headed Teacher Thinks It's OK To Tase Greenwich High School Students

Satar Jabar, who was told that he would be severely shocked if he fell off the box. Satar is lucky, because he would have only gotten one shocked one time instead of three times.

Brown Nosing Ken Lyon Kisses Up To Failed School Administrators And Tries To Defend Using A Weapon On A Human Being Who Is Down On The Ground. This Boy Was Tased In The NECK, CHEST AND LEG - Forget About A Ruler To The Knuckles This So Called "Teacher" Thinks That It Is A Good Idea To Torture Students With Multiple Electronic Shocks

To the editor:

The Taser incident has surfaced again ("GHS taser case: Tapes still not available," Greenwich Time, July 3). The Greenwich Time coverage of this incident has bothered me from the start, as it appears the Time did not investigate the situation completely. Shouldn't the Time have investigated beyond the immediate incident to see what the total picture might reveal?

Let's take a look at student Victor Londono's senior quote that was handed in to the yearbook staff long before the Taser incident took place. "These four years have been the best of my life and I barely passed high school. I annoyed all the teachers.".....

...There is a small group of students in Greenwich High School who need to be the center of attention so badly that they will create situations flouting authority figures in the classroom, the student center and around the campus in general just to try taking control of a situation and feel a sense of power. Is this what this incident was all about?....

Ken "Let's Blame The Victim" Lyon

Stamford

The writer is not the highest performing teacher at Greenwich High School. Maybe we should start using the taser on Ken as a performance compliance method.

Did the school resource officer, Carlos Franco, security head Thomas Bobkowski, Assistant Headmaster Richard Piotrzkowski and another police officer try to calm the situation?

We don't know because Greenwich High School Headmaster Alan Capaso refuses to release the video tapes.

The Greenwich Time owes it to the general public to report the complete picture, rather than the stilted, one-sided version printed so far.

Did the Time ever look at Police Officer / School Resource officer Carlos Franco's legal history with the town of Greenwich?

Please see:

05/20/08 - School Resource Officer Carlos Franco Says Greenwich Police Department Is racist. Officer Franco might not be a happy camper at GHS.

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

07/08/08 Hamilton Avenue School has passed only one of 18 final inspections (Updated)

GLENVILLE AND HAMILTON AVENUE PARENTS ONCE AGAIN ARE PROVEN RIGHT

Ham Ave. fate uncertain

Hoa Nguyen

Article Launched: 07/08/2008 04:19:47 PM



...Sprinklers in the garage got the thumbs up, while other inspections yielded problems that needed to be fix.

Still, with weeks of inspections and additional work needed for the project to reach a completion point, building committee officials said they are hopeful about meeting their end of July deadline.

"We'll be tugging and screaming but we'll get it done," said Frank Mazza, head of the Hamilton Avenue School building committee...

It looks like the Greenwich Building Department is starting to understand that Hamilton Avenue parents will never again allow their children be placed in unsafe educational facilities.

06/17/08 The Greenwich Building Inspector Had Better Not Illegally Issue A TEMPORARY Certificate Of Occupancy For Hamilton Avenue School

07/02/08 The Greenwich BOE Is A Total Mess !!!

06/11/08 - Breaking School News - The Parent's Test Results Are In - The Greenwich Board Of Education Is Put Under A Microscope

05/09/09 - Hey Greenwich Time - Glenville School Parents Want To Know Why??????

MORE WARNINGS ABOUT THE BOE:

06/10/08 Sue Wallerstein's Poor Planning And Mismanagement Is Rewarded With A Gift Of Over One Million Dollars From The Representative Town Meeting

06/05/08 Are Hamilton Avenue School Parents Getting Screwed By The Greenwich Board Of Education

06/05/08 Are Glenville Parents Going To Be Screwed By The Greenwich Board Of Education? Parents Better Start Connecting The Dots.

06/05/08 Reader Submitted Comments -When Is The Greenwich Board Of Education Going To Get Rid Of High Paid And Failed Administrators Like Susan Wallerstein

Will Hamilton Avenue Students Be Sent Back To The Contaminated Modular Classrooms On August 27th?

Please listen to what Mr. Carbino's wise advice.

Reuse of modular buildings would be the wrong move

To the editor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frank Carbino

Greenwich

Please see:

06/03/08 - Poor Dorothy Gets So Confused By Misleading Greenwich Time Headlines

Please also see:

05/31/08
Sometimes Greenwich Time Reporters 
Remind One Of The BushAdministration 
Before Nine Eleven. They Just Can't Connect The Dots.


05/30/08
Serious "Cup Cake" Allegations? With Ten School Days 
Left In The Year
It Is A Disgrace That School Spokesperson Kim Eves 
Is Withholding Vital
Information From Parents.

05/29/08
This month principals from all over the world 
have been suspended and
in each and every case the parents were told 
why, except in Greenwich

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

Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/08/08 Poorly Organized League Of Women Voters Lacks Resources And Skills To Conduct August Democratic Congressional Debate (Updated)

League rebuffs Whitnum on debate request

Says difficult to muster resources with people away for summer

Article Launched: 07/08/2008 04:29:16 PM EDT

The League of Women Voters of Connecticut has declined a request by candidate Lee Whitnum to sponsor a debate prior to the Aug. 12 Democratic primary in Fourth District congressional race.

Jara Burnett, who is president of the statewide nonpartisan organization, said Tuesday that the league would have difficulty lining up a moderator and mustering its resources for a summertime debate....

Please Read The Full Greenwich Time Story

The League Of Women voters appears to be in decline, because two years ago, they sponsored a summertime debate between Democratic candidates in a primary for the party's nomination for governor.

It looks like tax free donations to the league were wasted on a non-profit organization that can't pull off a summertime debate.

Is the League becoming a partisan organization?

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

Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/08/08 - Hamilton Avenue Project Manager Gerard Adam: “Let’s not keep repeating the same mistakes”

Hamilton Avenue School's completion date is still uncertain.
(Ken Borsuk photo)

Completion date for school still cloudy

Breaking news

Posted 7:35 p.m., July 8, 2008

With a deadline looming for the Board of Education to make a decision, uncertainty over the completion date of Hamilton Avenue School continues to cloud the picture.

At a meeting of the project’s building committee Tuesday morning, town building official William Marr said some of last week’s final inspections of the building’s west wing passed, but other parts still weren’t complete to town requirements, and other areas needed corrections.

“We’re going to have to re-inspect some of the areas in that wing,” Mr. Marr said. “We’re hoping [project contractor Worth Construction] learned what we are looking for, what needs to be completed, at which stage it needs to be, and the violations that were pointed out last week in the west wing are corrected ahead of time in the east wing.”

The east wing inspections were scheduled for Tuesday. Mr. Marr spoke to the Post Tuesday afternoon and reported that not all the inspections for the east wing could go as planned because “some of the items that needed to be completed weren’t completed.” An inspection of the north wing is scheduled to take place next week. It is up to Worth to reschedule inspections for the areas that weren’t ready or had issues.

Project manager Gerard Adam said if the issues were not addressed, the committee would have to sit down with Worth and discuss it....

....The inspections are needed for the project to receive a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO), which means children could occupy it. In order to get one, it must pass electric, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and overall building inspections from the town. The project must also pass muster with the town’s fire department, health department and highway department, as well as with special inspectors hired by the building committee.

“We’re at the mercy of the contractor here,” Mr. Marr told the committee. “We can only inspect what’s completed. How long it takes them to do that is really beyond our control.”

“It’s very clear what they need to do,” committee member Thomas Heagney said at the meeting. “They just need to do it.”......

....The committee is still awaiting the delivery of steel panels for the construction, which might not arrive until early August. However, Mr. Mazza said, that wouldn’t have any impact on whether the building is open at the start of the school year since the building has already been “aired out” of all toxic residue from paint and construction and it will be safe for children as soon as the TCO is in order. Mr. Maher indicated the delivery delay wouldn’t impact the inspections negatively as long as the building is watertight.

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

Please send your comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/08/08 Palazzo Pilfers Portchester Pocketbook

Cops: Old Greenwich woman, 21, nabbed with stolen pocketbook in Port Chester

By Leslie Korngold
Journal News

PORT CHESTER - She comes from well-to-do Old Greenwich, Conn., but police said the 21-year-old carried a stolen pocketbook while she strolled through Port Chester's Fourth of July celebration.

Port Chester police said Bridget Palazzo of 27 Richmond Drive was seen walking with the pocketbook that was stolen from people setting up on Neuton Avenue to watch fireworks at the Port Chester High School football field at 9:10 p.m. The bag contained credit cards and cash, police said.

The victim saw a woman disappearing into the crowd carrying the pocketbook and ran after her screaming "my pocketbook," police said.

Police in the area caught Palazzo with the bag, police said. She was charged with felony fourth-degree criminal possesson of stolen property.

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

Please send your comments and crime reports to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/08/08 An Injured Rev. Bercovici says, "I was hearing things, and seeing monsters and goblins. I was pretty crazy."

Rye vacationer recounts cruise-ship rescue

By Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Journal News

RYE - Cliff Jaeger, a longtime city resident, had just finished lunch on his second day aboard the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship to Bermuda when he heard the news.

The 965-foot cruise ship was diverting course after receiving a distress call from the U.S. Coast Guard to align itself alongside a 40-foot sailboat and rescue an ill sailor....

...Within 12 hours of rescuing Giglia, the cruise ship was notified of another, potentially more serious, injury on the sailboat Misty, approximately 260 miles south of Montauk.

The Rev. Hillary Bercovici, 55, of Greenwich, Conn., a crew member aboard the Misty, which also was coming back from the Bermuda race, sustained a head injury and was losing consciousness. The Norwegian Dawn, 32 miles away, was the closest to the ship.

The cruise ship found the vessel, lowered a rescue boat with the same three crew members manning it, and took Bercovici onto the ship, where he received immediate medical attention, including five stitches to the forehead.

"I was hearing things, and seeing monsters and goblins," said Bercovici, an Episcopal priest and a psychotherapist in private practice. "I was pretty crazy. I had a big gash on my forehead, and I was hallucinating."....

Hillary Bercovici is the Scholar-in-Residence at Trinity Church

Hillary is a native New Yorker and former NYC-EMS Paramedic who worked in Harlem and the South Bronx before entering seminary and graduate school. An Episcopal priest in parish ministry since 1984, he holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Psychology & Theology and maintains a part-time private practice of pastoral psychotherapy here in Greenwich.

Hillary and his family live in Greenwich, where his wife, Cilla, teaches math, and they have two daughters, Caitlin & Elizabeth. An avid sailor and scuba diver, Hillary also enjoys fresh and saltwater fly-fishing.

Click here to learn more about Hillary's work with Trinity Institute.

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

Please send your comments and reports of hallucinating Reverends to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com.

07/08/08 - Steven Cohen Of Greenwich Has No Class, He Wastes His Money On Dictator Style

L-R: Palazzo Chupi (Brown Harris Stevens), Jeffrey Epstein's townhouse (Scott Wiseman/The New York Times/Redux) Kanye's compound (Newscom), and Damian Hirst's shark (Getty Images).

Rush Limbaugh's House, and Other Egomaniacal Estates

New York Magazine

Like probably many of you, we were absolutely entranced by the description of Rush Limbaugh's home in the New York Times this past weekend. It reminded us of this great book we have called Dictator Style, which showcases the flamboyant interior-decorating styles of some of the world's biggest despots. Limbaugh is, ironically, a member of the Saddam Hussein school of interior design. Like Saddam, he likes things opulent and luxurious— crystal chandeliers, lush carpets—and favors an oversized heirloom look...

... 3. Steven A. Cohen, chairman, SAC Capital
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
The layout: A Georgian "colossus" that contains its own beauty salon, theater, ice rink tended by its own Zamboni, and art gallery, which contains pieces by DeKooning, Manet, Degas, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Pollack, to name but a few.
Dictatorial flourish: A glass tank containing a tiger shark injected with formaldehyde, a work by the artist Damien Hirst. ...

07/08/08 The Daily Real Estate Report From Chris Fountain

June Inventory

Courtesy of my friend John Cooke, here are the latest numbers for our June inventory of single family homes (click on the image and it should enlarge for easy reading - hope you're as impressed as i am that I figured out how to upload this as a jpeg).

Look at the homes between $7,000,000 - $8,000,000. Up 128%. If I were a mansion seller, new or old, I'd be nervous. In fact, anything priced over $4,000,000 would have me checking my bank's lending policies.

Please also see:

• Daily Rant I heard a perfectly rational-sounding f...
• More on pricing per square foot A reader asks (see...
• Price per square foot A reader asked me to comment...
• Fireworks! I wasn't going to attend the Binney Par...
• Ada's Ada Cantavero, who ran a little candy store ...
• More on moderate housing Something many of us don'...
• Price Drop? One of our commentators asks, "is a ho...
• 580 Lake Avenue This house came on the market in ...
• How Not To Sell a House A house in "the Golden Tri...

=================================================
Please send your comments and real estate news to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

07/08/08 Greenwich Time Newslinks For Tuesday

John Marullo and Scott Atkinson head to the Wiffle ball field yesterday
in Riverside. The neighbors with the white picket fence have
complained about the field.
(Helen Neafsey/Staff photo)

Neighbors cry foul over Wiffle ball park

A major league dustup over a Wiffle ball field built by a group of teens on a vacant town lot in Riverside appears headed toward extra innings, with the town backing off its threat to evict the youths tomorrow.

Grads ready for college
When Bridget Bauer starts the College of Charleston this fall, she is looking forward to a whole new set of classmates and a totally different way of life.

Workout regiment drives firefighter

More than four years have passed since Ray Little was forced to jump from a fiery attic window, breaking six ribs, four vertebrae, his hip and his forearm.

Town to charge boats ashore
To think that other boaters still have not put their vessels in the water yet for the summer is unfathomable to Chris Antonik, who took his 35-footer No Bru out of dry-dock in April.

Greenwich rolls in Babe Ruth opener

Solid fielding, masterful pitching and timely hitting led the Greenwich Babe Ruth All-Stars to a 10-1 victory over Darien yesterday in the opening round of the District 1 Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Star tournament being hosted at Greenwich High School this week.

An intriguing picture of Havemeyer's future

In the rarefied atmosphereof Greenwich Avenue real estate, where a square foot rents for $100 and sells for $1,000, it seems strange that the highest and best use of a property is not one that will most fatten the owner's wallet.

Teens' 'stadium' represents a positive activity

To the Greenwich Time Editor:

All too often we open Greenwich Time to read about underage drinking, drug use by teens, assaults by teens, unruly behavior by teens congregating on Greenwich Avenue and teens disrupting schools, etc.

Recently, we opened the newspaper to read that a group of teens is being "evicted" from a vacant lot on which they play Wiffle ball ("Little field of dreams," Greenwich Time, July 3). My entire family is outraged but not surprised. Our society will not permit kids to be kids. One would think the sound of neighborhood kids having legitimate fun is obscene!

The kids should be commended. A bunch of obviously good neighborhood kids found a place to gather with a purpose. They are having good, clean fun, and even leave equipment so that others can avail themselves of the "stadium."

Would the complaining residents of the Riverside Lane area prefer the kids play in the street, or perhaps they would like to see the kids gather clandestinely in the vacant lot at night to drink and/or do drugs?

Charlene Prisinzano

Riverside

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

07/08/08 - Today's Blog Spotlight - Fairfield County Child - An Excellent Resource For Parents

It's Always Halloween at Sophia's Costumes in Greenwich

I know it might seem premature to be discussing Halloween on the tails of July 4th, but I must tell you about my recent experience at Sophia's Costumes in Greenwich. When my husband and I were invited to a 70's themed birthday party a few weeks ago, I considered hitting Goodwill or my mom's closet for some good authentic duds. Then my friend told me to head straight to Sophia's to rent costumes. Now I see why.... this place is jam packed with the most amazing costumes for kids and adults. And I'm not talking plastic Party City junk. I'm talking real vintage clothing or beautiful reproductions. In fact, among my choices for my costume party were a few Diane Von Furstenberg dresses and jumpsuits (yes, jumpsuits..more on that later) that were older than I am and in great condition.

I peeked at the kids' costumes and found plenty of rental options for boys and girls. For those of you with kids who take Halloween very seriously, Sophia's should be on your radar because I'd imagine that it must get pretty busy there around that time.

Make sure you ask for Glen when you visit. He deserves a special shout out for outfitting me and my husband and for keeping my daughter entertained while I tried on all my costume options in the dressing room. He's sweet and helpful, but very honest at the same time about what looks good on a person. Think Carson Kressley or Tim Gunn minus the emphasis on good taste - Glen just wants you to have fun! I ended up in a mint green polyester jumpsuit that took some convincing to even try on, but Glen was right. It was a blast to wear.

Thanks to Sophia and Glen for the great customer service and overall fun experience. If you pay them a visit, just note that Sophia's is not easy to find. It's located off a parking lot behind Saks and NY Sports Club, near Smart Toys, not exactly an area where you might just stumble upon it.

Sophia's Costumes
1 Liberty Way, Greenwich
203.869.5990
www.sophiascostumes.com

-------------------------------------------------------------
by Meg Robustelli
Founder, Fairfield County Child, LLC

Get the FREE Fairfield County Child Newsletter!

Stuff You Should Know About

• Aetheria Relaxation Spa
• Aux Delices
• Bearly Grown Keepsakes
• Billington Designs
• Bobby Valentine's Sports
• Bruce Museum
• Burger Bar
• Candy Nichols
• Centro Ristorante
• Chocopologie
• Cricket Photography
• Danbury Rail Museum
• Darien Sport Shop
• Design Solutions/DS
• Devon Fleming
• Dr. Kathleen Keily Gouley
• Euro-A-GoGo
• Family Coach
• Fat Cat Pie Company
• Femme Fatale Fitness
• Gift Garage
• Giggle
• Great Play
• Greenwich 1-on-1
• Greenwich 1on1
• Honeyspot Art
• Jennifer Butler
• Kaleidoscope
• Kids Think Big
• KidsU
• Kitchen Cabinet
• LOVE
• Maclaren
• Manager Mom
• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
• Mary Grace Designs
• Michele Shirley Photography
• Music for the Planet
• New Canaan Library
• New Canaan Nature Center
• Organized Playgroups
• Petite Palate
• Pineapple Parties
• Post Partum Depression Group
• PPD Connect
• Quick Center for the Arts (Fairfield Univ)
• Sensory Kids
• Sound Directions
• SoundWaters
• Sphere
• Sprout
• Stamford Toys
• Stepping Stones Childrens' Museum
• Stroller Strides
• Sweet Retreat Granola
• Sweet Rexie's
• The First Time Father
• Westport Country Playhouse
• Westport Kids
• Westport School of Music
• Whitney Shop
• Write on Kevin! McKeever Communications
• Yogabilitation
  

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

07/08/08 Greenwich Post News Links For Tuesday

From left, Richie Nelli, Kyle Christensen and Ryder Stahl are the winners of Brett Hartley’s basketball tournament

Hoops tourney raises money for autistic children

Almost 50 boys 4 to 11 years old, turned out for Brett’s three-on-three basketball tournament, to raise money for the North Star Foundation, a non-profit organization out of Storrs that trains and places assistance dogs with autistic children. The tournament was held in Brett’s driveway, as well as two other driveways on Brett’s street in Riverside. Sponsors for the tournament included Chillybear, Upper Crust Bagels of Old Greenwich, Garden Catering of Old Greenwich, Ed Clarke Trophies, and the Burton Family/University of Connecticut. With the help of his friends, Brett raised about $2,200 for North Star in the name of Seth Whynot, 13, of Maine.

ALSO:

• Greenwich residents ‘BaRock’ the vote

• Golfers help fight cancer

• Red Ribbon event goes 'green'

• Deadline for 2007 flood relief approaches

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