12/08/08 Greenwich Post Police Blotter

Police Watch, Dec. 8

POSSESSION

Daniel Upchurch, 33, of Bridgeport was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, interfering with an officer, reckless endangerment, engaging in a pursuit, not having insurance, failure to carry an insurance card, driving the wrong way in a rotary and traveling unreasonably fast. Police stopped his car after it was spotted driving faster than the posted speed limit on the Post Road. Police said Upchurch provided his license but could not provide an insurance card or registration and officers saw what appeared to be packaged marijuana in an open yellow bag on the floor in the rear seat. Upchurch and the passenger in the vehicle, Jake Riley, were asked to step out of the car, but Upchurch allegedly then drove away, disobeying the officer’s command. The vehicle was found soon after and pulled over. Police said officers found two small quart-sized resealable bags, but not the yellow bag officers initially saw. Police reports said the investigation determined the bag was thrown out the window onto Lockwood Avenue and that the total amount found was one pound and 8.2 ounces of marijuana. Riley, 33, of Bridgeport was charged with interfering with an officer, possession of more than four ounces of marijuana with intent to sell. Upchurch was released on a $10,000 bond and Riley was released on a $20,000 bond. They are due in court Dec. 10.

DUI

Stephen Pardo, 43, of 78 Northfield St. was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with driving under the influence, risk of injury to a minor and failure to carry a license. Police had been sent to Valley Drive on a possibly intoxicated driver after a call was received from a day care center saying he was driving erratically and might have a child in the car. The witness gave a description of the car and police responded to Pardo’s address. He was not there, but police reportedly saw Pardo drive up to the house, notice the marked police car and drive away. Police pursued Pardo and stopped the car on Deer Park Road at Skylark Road and he allegedly jumped out of the vehicle. When police told him to get back in the car several times Pardo reportedly had a confused look on his face and did not get back into the car until ordered several more times. Pardo allegedly failed field sobriety tests and arrested. He was released on a $50,000 bond and is due in court Dec. 12.

POSSESSION

Anthony Palmisano, 29, of 21 Gerry St. was arrested Dec. 4 for possession of marijuana under four ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police alleged that Palmisano had drugs in plain view in his bedroom when he was arrested for four outstanding warrants. He was being held in lieu of a $6,500 cash bond on the drug charges. He was also charged with violation of probation, failure to appear in the first degree and two counts of second degree failure to appear. He is being held in lieu of $10,000, $2,000, $1,000 and $500 cash bonds and is due in court on all the counts Dec. 12.

FORGERY

Michael Williams, 22, of Bronx, N.Y. was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with second degree forgery, third degree identity theft, conspiracy to commit third degree larceny and criminal attempt to commit third degree larceny. Police responded to a report that Williams tried to cash a counterfeit check on Railroad Avenue at Citibank. Police met with a bank manager who had a photocopy of the $1,500 check and Williams’ ID with him. According to police, the company listed on the check said it had never heard of Williams and that he was not issued a check by them. Williams was released on a $1,000 cash bond and is due in court Dec. 11.

INDECENCY

David Anderson, 38, of Mount Vernon, N.Y. was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with public indecency. Wilton police took him into custody on a Greenwich warrant for allegedly exposing and touching himself in the central Greenwich area. He was being held in lieu of a $20,000 cash bond and is due in court Dec. 12.

DUI

Charles Smith, 54, of Milford was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with driving under the influence. Police had been sent to the parking lot at the post office at 29 Valley Drive after postal workers reported an intoxicated co-worker. Smith allegedly had bloodshot eyes, glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol and was attempting to drive his car. Smith reportedly failed field sobriety tests. He was released on a $250 cash bond and is due in court Dec. 12.

APPEAR

Ben Mosley III, 19, of Stamford was arrested Dec. 5 and charged with second degree failure to appear. Mosley reportedly turned himself in on an outstanding warrant. He had allegedly failed to appear in court Aug. 16 on a charge of possession of less than four ounces of controlled substance. Mosley was released on a $1,000 surety bond and is due in court Dec. 12.

THREATENING

A 37-year-old Greenwich man was arrested Dec. 5 and charged with disorderly conduct and threatening. Police responded to a report of domestic violence and investigators determined he pushed his wife and threatened to harm her and their baby if she left the house after the argument. The man was released on a $1,000 cash bond and is due in court Dec. 8.

DISORDERLY

William McGoldrick, 59, of 63 Indian Harbor Drive was arrested Dec. 6 and charged with disorderly conduct. Police responded to a report of a dispute between a landlord and her tenant. McGoldrick had allegedly grabbed his landlord’s shoulders and pushed her out of the house. He was released on a $1,000 surety bond and is due in court Dec. 15.

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12/08/08 Former Greenwich Time Owner Is (Almost) Toast. Is The Greenwich Time Next?

Tribune Company Reportedly For Sale.

Flags wave along Michigan Ave. Bridge outside the Chicago Tribune Tower in Chicago.Tribune Co., owner of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, other newspapers and the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, has hired financial advisers ahead of a possible filing for bankruptcy-court protection, according to reports on Sunday

Tribune sold The Advocate and Greenwich Time in 2007

to the Hearst Corporation.

Tribune Co. Files for Chapter 11

Wall Street Journal



By DENNIS K. BERMAN, SHIRA OVIDE and MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG

Tribune Co. filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, in a sign of worsening trouble for the newspaper industry.


In recent days, as Chicago-based Tribune continued talks with lenders to restructure its debt, the newspaper-and-television concern hired investment bank Lazard Ltd. as its financial adviser and law firm Sidley Austin to advise the company on a possible trip through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, people familiar with the matter say.


Tribune owns eight major daily newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun, plus a string of local TV stations.


A Tribune spokesman said the company doesn't comment on rumors or speculation. A spokeswoman for Lazard didn't respond to requests for comment. Representatives of Sidley Austin couldn't be reached for comment.


Tribune's latest actions underscore the deepening distress enveloping Tribune and other newspaper publishers. Their businesses are being battered by dwindling advertising sales, and many are carrying debt loads that are unmanageable in current market conditions. Industry insiders expect some papers will need to fold in coming months or seek protection from creditors to reorganize.


Tribune has been on wobbly footing since last December, when real-estate mogul Samuel Zell led a debt-backed deal to take the company private. Tribune has stayed ahead of its $12 billion in borrowings with the help of asset sales. Now, however, shrinking profits are tightening the noose.

The company's cash flow may not be enough to cover nearly $1 billion in interest payments due this year, and Tribune owes a $512 million debt payment in June......


......Tribune's hiring of Lazard, meanwhile, brings it a firm experienced in debt restructuring, and one that has become a go-to adviser for newspaper companies in financial distress.

Even as its financial performance worsens, Tribune has some options. A sale of its Chicago Cubs baseball team is under way, and Tribune owns valuable stakes in businesses including the cable-TV channel Food Network.

Tribune already has auctioned off pieces of the company, including the Long Island, N.Y., daily Newsday to raise cash. Now, frozen credit markets have depressed sale prices.

Selling off more newspapers may not be a viable alternative because buyers are scarce and Tribune may be better off holding onto the profits from its papers.

—Jeffrey McCracken contributed to this article.

Write to Dennis K. Berman at dennis.berman@wsj.com, Shira Ovide at shira.ovide@wsj.com and Matthew Karnitschnig at matthew.karnitschnig@wsj.com

MORE:

Tribune Co. Files for Bankrupcty Protection

Washington Post



Tribune files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

MarketWatch



Tribune Co. files for bankruptcy

CNNMoney.com



New York Times



Bloomberg



Keeping calm about a possible Tribune bankruptcy

Chicago Tribune



So Tribune Co. is now reported to be at least flirting with the idea of filing for bankruptcy to gain protection from creditors. (I can't claim any inside ...



UPI NewsTrack TopNews

United Press International



Report: Tribune hires bankruptcy advisers

Times of the Internet



Nation briefs: Tribune Co. reported eyeing bankruptcy

Newsday, NY



Tribune Co. has hired financial advisers ahead of a possible filing for bankruptcy-court protection, according to reports yesterday. ...

PLEASE ALSO SEE:

12/07/08 Greenwich Roundup Exclusive: Local Daily Newspaper Will Lay Off More Staffers And Will Hike Prices

INORDER TO HELP OUT OUR FRIENDS AT THE GREENWICH TIME WE HAVE COLLECTED A BUNCH OF TRIBUNE BANKRUPTCY DOCUMENTS>

ALL GREENWICH TIME EDITOR HAS TO DO IS ERASE THE WORDRS "Tribune Company" AND REPLACE THEM WITH THE WORDS "Greenwich Time"........

Bankruptcy Petition

Tribune statement

But There Is At Least One Guy Who Thinks The Greenwich Time Is The Greatest Thing Since The Pop Up Toaster Was Invented.....

EDDIE ROSS SAYS: Check Out Greenwich Time!

The holidays are upon us, everyone, so let's start entertaining, shall we? For a little inspiration, here's an article from Friday's Greenwich Time about a few holiday table settings I did last month at Consign It, one of my favorite...

EDDIE ROSS - http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/

Maybe we should add Eddie to the Raw Greenwich Blog Feed.

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

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12/08/08 Greenwich Post Press Releases For Monday

PRESS RELEASES:

Riverside School to hold holiday concerts

Two events next week help Riverside students and local families get festive with music.

On Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m., the Riverside PTA is sponsoring a "Holiday Sing" to ring in the season......

Bank serves as drop-off center for toy collection

For the holiday season, particularly a time for giving, The Bank of Greenwich at 165 Mason St., is serving as a drop-off center for Toys for Tots to help provide toys for children in need throughout the area. Donations of new, unwrapped toys for newborns through teens may be dropped off at The Bank of Greenwich through Dec. 23......

================================================================
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12/08/08 Reader Submitted Comments: YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!

Brian -

Thanks so much for this wonerful blog. You are a true asset to the citizens of this Town! Don't ever stop what you are doing!

Margi

COMMENT:

No Margi, It Is Readers Like You That Are Awsome

Sunday We Had 791 Unique Visitors.

That Was Our Second Best Sunday Ever.

Personaly, I Would Like To Thank You And Everyone Else For Being Such Loyal Readers Who Come Back Day After Day To Read Greenwich Roundup.

My Wife And My Two Children Don't Even Read Greenwich Roundup, Yet You And So Many Others Do And I Sincerely Thankyou For Your Readership.

Of Coarse, My Wife And Children Would Counter That You The Fortunate Ones, Because They Have To Endure The Audio Versions Of My Rants About Incestious Relationship Between Greenwich Politicians And It's Newspaper Reporters.

Greenwich Newspaper Reporters Are Not Reporting That The School-less And Stuggling Children Of Hamilton Avenue School Are Going To Suffer Budget Cuts. Just When They Need More Help To Catch Up.

The Greenwich Citizen, Greenwich Post And Greenwich Time Reporters Are Waiting For A Board Of Education Press Release Telling Them What To Write.

---

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12/08/08 GREENWICH TIME NEWS LINKS: Will Glenville School Be Opened At The Same Time As Hamilton Avenue School?

Glenville work on schedule

Reconstruction work at Glenville School is moving forward on schedule, putting students on track to being able to return to the renovated facility by January 2010, according to the school's building committee.

However, it remains unclear where those students will attend class when they return from holiday recess next month.

Glenville students have been attending class at four other schools across the district this fall as they await the reconstruction of their school, which is being rebuilt because ofa lack of natural light, problems with the heating and cooling systems, and a leaky roof.

Since work began in mid-August, construction crews have demolished the older facility and removed asbestos-contaminated materials from the site.....

.....The same cannot be said of the Hamilton Avenue School project,......

.....Meantime, it remains uncertain whether Glenville students will continue to be dispersed or begin attending class in the temporary modular facilities that have been used by Hamilton Avenue students for more than three years.

Hamilton Avenue students are slated to move out of the modulars and into their newly-renovated building after holiday recess ends on Jan. 5.

But with still no temporary certificate of occupancy for the Chickahominy school, district officials say it's too early to tell whether there will be enough time for Glenville students to get situated in the modulars before classes resume next month.

Moving Glenville students into the modulars will take four to seven days, said Assistant Superintendent Susan Wallerstein.

But without a TCO at Hamilton Avenue School, "it's premature at this time" to commit to a timeframe for that move Glenville students, she said.

Glenville mother Alicia Budkins said she believes students will make the best of either situation, whether dispersed or in the modulars.

"It woldn't be the worst thing if we were dispersed" for now, she said. "The question is are the kids going to be happy and get a good education? And I think the answer to both is 'yes.'"

Full Story

MORE SCHOOL NEWS:

12/07/08 More Bad News For Hamilton Avenue School: Ham Ave Budget Cuts Get No Input From The Parents.

Cooking up a pilot
When firefighters aren't battling blazes, they're serving up sizzling meals in the fire house kitchen.

Full Story

Town briefs

UJA collects clothes, food for needy in NYC

UJA Federation of Greenwich will be collecting winter coats, jackets, suits, dresses and dressy clothing for adults and children from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the federation parking lot at 1 Holly Hill Lane.

Met Council, a recipient agency of UJA Federation of Greenwich, is sending a truck to collect items for needy people in New York.

The following food items are needed as well: cans of tuna, salmon, canned fruit, plastic jars of peanut butter and plastic bottles or cans of juice.

People are asked to bring donated items in bags or boxes.

For more information, call Sheila L. Romanowitz at 552-1818.

**********************************************************************

YWCA Preschool holiday concert

The Greenwich YWCA Preschool, 259 East Putnam Ave., will host a holiday concert featuring family entertainer Jeffrey Friedberg and his Bossy Frog Band at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13.

Tickets are $25 per family in advance and $30 at the door.

For more information or tickets, call 869-6501, ext. 221 or 222 or pick up a form and drop off checks at the YWCA Member Services Desk. Checks for the holiday concert also may be mailed to the attention of Haifa Bautista, YWCA of Greenwich, 259 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830. Include the number of family members attending.

**********************************************************************

Battle of Badges blood drive

The Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross is asking all eligible blood donors to sign up to donate blood at the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Dec. 13 at Greenwich Senior Center, 299 Greenwich Ave.
This drive honors emergency responders and challenges each service to compete to give the most units of blood. People are asked to join members of Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS), Greenwich Police Department, Greenwich Fire Department, and Greenwich Department of Public Works and help add to their totals by donating a pint in honor of a town service. The winning service will receive a plaque commemorating its achievement.

Coffee and gift bags will be offered to donors.

To schedule an appointment, call the Greenwich chapter at 869-8444. To donate blood and platelets through the American Red Cross, people must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.

**********************************************************************

Audubon bird count scouting trip

Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, will offer its annual bird count scouting trip from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 13.

The trip, open to ages 8 and older, will survey good coastal and inland birding areas in preparation for the Dec. 14 annual Christmas Bird Count.
Participants are asked to meet at the Audubon's Kimberlin Nature Center and bring binoculars and warm clothes. Loaner binoculars and field guides will be available.

For more information or to sign up, call Ted Gilman at 869-5272, ext. 230.

********************************************************************

Bush-Holley offers candlelight open house

The Bush-Holley Historic Site's annual Candlelight Open House, sponsored by David Ogilvy & Associates, Christies Great Estates and The Bank of Greenwich, will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at 29 Strickland Road.
The event, which is free, will feature entertainment, children's crafts, costumed guides and refreshments.

For more information, call 869-6899, ext. 12.

*********************************************************************

Ensemble to play at Cole Auditorium

The Musicians from Marlboro, the touring extension of the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, will return to Greenwich Library's Cole Auditorium at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 as part of the Friends of Greenwich Library's Cole Concert Series.

Eight musicians will play works by Janacek, Mozart and Mendelssohn.
The performance is free. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.; show begins at 4 p.m.
The Musicians from Marlboro will return to Greenwich Library for two additional concerts Feb. 15 and May 3.

For more information, call the Friends office at 622-7938.

**********************************************************************

Center for Hope offers luminary kits

Luminary kits for the Center for HOPE's annual "Hope Lights Lives" fundraiser are now on sale.

"Hope Lights Lives" luminary kits are $25 and benefit the Center for HOPE and The Den for Grieving Kids - Family Centers' programs offering bereavement and critical illness support. Each kit contains 12 tea light candles, 12 white paper bags and 12 plastic candle holders.

Kits can be purchased online at www.familycenters.org and at the following retail locations: In Greenwich, McArdle's Florist, 48 Arch St.; in Darien, The Gardener's Cen ter and Florist, 1396 Post Road, Nielsen's Florist and Garden Shop, 1405 Post Road, Michael Joseph's Catering, 188 Heights Road, Aux Delices Foods, 25 Old King's Highway North, Goldenberry, 110 Post Road, and Palmer's Market, 246 Heights Road; in New Canaan, Elm Street Books, 35 Elm St., M Milestones, 120 Main St., Walter Stewart's Market, 229 Elm St.; Rowayton Market; Weston Hardware Housewares; Weston's Peter's Market and the Village Market in Wilton.

Neighborhoods in Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Stamford, Norwalk, Wilton and Weston will light the luminaries to celebrate the holiday season and provide support and hope to people living with an illness or grieving the loss of a loved one at 5 p.m. Dec. 14. Rain date is Dec. 21.

For more information, visit www.familycenters.org or call Gloria Veeder at 869-4848.

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

Dinosaur Day at Bruce Museum

The Bruce Museum presents "Dinosaur Family Day," which celebrates the opening weekend of the Bruce Museum's newest exhibition, "Digging for Dinosaurs," from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the museum at 1 Museum Drive.

The event will feature gallery hunts and special crafts activities. The Marshmallow Masquers will present an interactive children's theatre show called "The Mystery of the Fabulous Fossil Find!" at 3 p.m.
All activities are suitable for ages 5 years and up and for people of all abilities.

All activities are free with Museum admission. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and free for children under 5 and members.
For more information, call 869-0376 or visit http://www.brucemuseum.org/.

********************************************************************
Girls Inc. invites applications for awards

Girls Inc. of Southwestern Connecticut is accepting applications for The Girls Inc. National Scholars Program.

Multiple scholarships ($2,500 and $15,000) are awarded each year and may be applied to tuition and expenses at any accredited two- or four-year college or university. It is a private scholarship, open only to young women who are in the 11th or 12th grade and who are members of a Girls Inc.
affiliate.

For more information, call Jen Kannengeiser, program director, at 536-3322 or e-mail JKannengeiser@girlsincswct.org .

**********************************************************************
YWCA seeks scholar nominations

The YWCA of Greenwich is seeking nominations for its sixth annual Racial Justice Scholarship.

Two $500 scholarships will be given to two high school seniors who have demonstrated a special effort to encourage people to respect differences and promote equality in their school or community.

The award will be presented at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at the YWCA.

To request an application, call Peter DiLeo at 869-6501, ext.104, or go to http://www.ywcagreenwich.org/ . Click "Programs" "YWelcomes" and "Racial Justice Scholarships."

Knapp's Tavern hosts holiday party
Dressed in a Colonial-style mop cap, apron and simple blue and white cotton dress, Anna Heavey, 9, fit right in at the annual Christmas celebration at Knapp's Tavern yesterday.


Full Story



Town man recalls attack on Pearl Harbor


Greenwich resident and naval officer, Joe Muskus, 87, was stationed at Pearl Harbor the day before the historic attack on Dec.


Full Story




Lions Club is devoted to an important cause
To the editor:





I am writing to tell your readers about my experience with the Lions Club of Greenwich.





The direct reason I became involved with this volunteer group is because of its work to help better the lives of people with vision impairment and blindness, and to help them better integrate into the community around them.



Over 125 years ago, Helen Keller, deaf and blind from infancy, played a leading role in many of the significant political, social and cultural movements of the 20th century, working unceasingly to improve the lives of people who were blind and deaf. In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions International Convention, challenging members to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." From that time, Lions clubs have been actively involved in service to the blind and visually impaired.





I found my way to the Lions Club three years ago. Being a member has provided me the opportunity to share my story of being a visually impaired member of the community. It was through the Lions Club and its generous support of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation that I received my guide dog, Fia. Through the Voluntary Service for the Blind of Fairfield County, another program supported by the Lions, I am helped weekly by a volunteer to do my grocery shopping.



The Lions Club helps support scientific research efforts at Yale and the University of Connecticut to eradicate blindness in our lifetime by our contributions to the Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation. The Lions Low Vision Center at Greenwich Hospital, of which I am a client, helps people with vision loss deal with a visual world by offering adaptive devices like magnifiers and electronic readers.



Through the support of the Lions Club, I am able to lead a fulfilling life. I have a civic involvement in my community, contributing wherever I can help. It has given me great personal satisfaction to look the world straight in the face while holding my head high.



Causes to support this time of year are many. Remembering the Lions Club of Greenwich would assuredly help expand our reach.



Alan Gunzburg
Greenwich





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12/08/08 Volunteers Needed To Help Joseph Siciliano At Parks And Recreation

Proposed Greenwich Trees, Shrubs And Vegetation Ordinance Once Again Is Pulled From The Representative Town Meetings (RTM) Call For The Second Month In A Row.

The RTM Land Use, Legislative & Rules, as well as, the Parks and Recreation committees say the Siciliano's proposed Greenwich Municipal code change STILL is not ready for prime time.

Just before the last RTM meeting various committee members complained that Siciliano's proposed ordinance was vague, unclear and many parts just did not match up.

Now once again these RTM committee members are complaining that the proposed ordinance is still woefully inadequate, despite the many revisions Sicilano made.

If you would like to volunteer to help Greenwich Parks and Recreation Director Joesph Siciliano this much need town conservation ordinance properly prepared, then please call Mr. Siciliano at (203) 622-6472. Or you can email him at jsicilano@greenwichct.org .

Mr. Sicilano would appreciate any assistance that town residents might be able to provide, because he doesn't want to embarrassed by having his proposed ordinance pulled from the RTM call for a third time, just before the January meeting.

Let's help Joe get things matched up and properly written.

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12/08/08 Town Employee Thomas J. Greco Says Town Realizes We Are Not Going To Make Next Years Budget

A looming landscape of budget cuts in Greenwich

Town Hall Insider Tom Grecco Reports That Town Reserves Have All Been Spent Over The Last Year Or So. There Is No More Rainy Day Fund In Greenwich.

Quotes:

"The town has just realized that it is not going to meet next years budget."

"The mill rate will probably be held under 3% next year, because it is an election year. But who knows how high it will go after that if things don't improve."

- Thomas J. Greco,

Greenwich Town Management Employee and RTM Member

Deep cuts loom across the board in the town of Greenwich. They will affect us all.

Connecticut's richest town is cutting back on education for its children, services for those in need, and infrastructure.

Town employee Thomas J. Greco says Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei has ordered a non-salary budget reduction of 10% on the current budget which still has 7 months to go.

Part -time, temporary and seasonal positions have all been cut.

Travel must now be pre-approved by the first selectman's office.

All Over Time must also be pre-approved by the First Selectman's office.

CIP projects are going to be reviewed and possibly delayed by First Selectman Tesei. CIP requests currently exceed requests by 6 - 7 Million according to Greco.

There will be an increase in fees at Parks and recreation. Parking will be charged at Tod's point.

There will be a new process for the town ferry and beaches.No more day passes are going to be sold at the town dock. Parking Meters are going up at Horseneck lane. Plus two new parking enforcement officers will be hired on the weekend.

Greco also says the December First Selectman's meeting Will have even more draconian changes, because building permits have dried up as well as other sources of revenue.

Plus, Greco says the Nathaniel Witherall Board will be taken out of the town budget and set up with a revolving fund in the 2009 - 2010 budget much like the towns public golf coarse is set up. So it will be up to the Nathaniel Witherall Board to determine if the nursing home sinks or swims on it's own. There will be no town subsidy.

The next revaluation of all Greenwich real estate currently being planned for the October 1, 2009 Grand list. The last Greenwich Revaluation was conducted for the October 1, 2005 Grand List.

However, Mr. Greco is most troubled by the fact that pension fund investments have went south.

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12/08/08 The Raw Greenwich News Feed

Risk redux
Pensions & Investments
... be put out of business," said Clifford S. Asness, managing and founding principal of AQR Capital Management LLC , Greenwich, Conn. Indeed, as Leslie Rahl, president and founder of New York-based Capital Market Risk Advisors Inc., pointed out: "I ...

Town Says No
Wiscasset Newspaper
... to come up with a $250,000 payment got a quick thumbs down at Tuesday nights selectmens meeting. Point East, a Greenwich, Conn. firm which bought 400 acres of land from the town for the park several years ago, had plans to develop the park under the ...

Harmony Development Signs Mou with Florida State University to Develop Energy R&D Facility
Osceola County News Feed
HARMONY DEVELOPMENT, A STARWOOD CAPITAL AFFILIATE, SIGNS MOU WITH FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TO DEVELOP ENERGY R&D FACILITY GREENWICH, CT/HARMONY, FL December 4, 2008 Harmony Development Company, an affiliate of ...

Shopping at the Plaza
JoongAng Ilbo English News
... Joel Warren and hair stylist Edward Tricomi, shops are each located at the Plaza, in West Hollywood and in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Rolls-Royce Phantom, loved by the super rich around the world, is the official vehicle to serve the top guests at ...

High-flying developer faces loan deadline
CrainsNewYork.com
... this cycle.' Mr. Lawlor declined to comment, but sources say that Broadway owes large sums to Lehman Brothers, RBS Greenwich Capital and many others. It's unclear how Lehman's bankruptcy will affect Broadway and its founder, who until recently was ...

Horsefolk
TIME.com
... and her team of two bays and a brown placed second. Surprise of the show was 15-year-old Joan Dixon of Greenwich, Conn. Miss Dixon, mounted on Colonel Vadim Makaroff's old chestnut mare, Melody Girl, jumped in the touch-and-out sweepstake, ...

Not much needed to get a good cardio workout in racquetball
Democrat & Chronicle
... History: Pro tennis and handball player Joe Sobek is credited with inventing the sport in the 1950s in Greenwich, Conn. The first games were played on existing handball courts. Hall of Famer Marty Hogan, the sport's first pro millionaire, is ...

For Workers, Medical Bills Add to Pain as Firms Fail
StartupJournal
... that is exacerbating health and money problems for tens of thousands of people nationwide. Catterton Partners, a Greenwich, Conn.-based private-equity firm that owned 72-year-old Archway, scrambled to find financing as it struggled with surging ...

Former Olympian helps budding show jumpers
The Knoxville News-Sentinel
... riding and the skills he has to teach them." Leone, a member of the United States Equestrian team, owns a farm in Greenwich, Conn., and spends most of his time competing in events, riding and training horses, and teaching riders how to compete at ...

Spike Scores a Goooaaalll!; Ain't the Taint Grand?; Gangsing Up on ...
New York Press
... who told me to call the taxi and limo office. Frantic and exhausted, I decided to take the express train to Greenwich, which left right away. I had some change left from the taxi, which I had stuffed in my coat pocket. The nice train conductor ...

Palm Beach 911: Thefts, Lost Property, Suspicious Incident, Arrests, Fire-Rescue
Palm Beach Daily News
... LOST PROPERTY Bracelet missing - A woman called police Tuesday from Greenwich, Conn., to report she had lost a custom made 14-karat gold bracelet while visiting her mother in Palm Beach. Cab permit gone ...

12/08/08 Reporter Anne Semmes Considers Leaving Hearst Newspapers To Work For Abu Dhabi Newspaper

As many as 270 editors and reporters produce the new English-language daily newspaper, The National, in Abu Dhabi

(Anne W. Semmes/ for the Greenwich Citizen)

The National: An Upsizing Newspaper Story

in Abu Dhabi

By Anne W. Semmes

Imagine a world where newspapers are growing instead of shrinking, where a deep pocket assures that a daily paper will be there this year and the next, and the next. This is the story of Abu Dhabi's eight-month-old newspaper, The National, its first English-language daily.

A visit to the editorial offices of this broadsheet with big color pictures and endless sections found its managing editor, Laura Koot, to be an attractive 32-year-old pioneering journalist from Toronto.

"We're growing very quickly," she said, from her glass enclosure overlooking a newsroom of some 270 editors and reporters. "We've had a terrific response to our new Saturday (Nov. 15) issue." It featured seven sections. "We're sold at newsstands and .......

....A Who's Who column would not work at The National, she said, "Emerati culture is not as open as in the West. They protect their privacy."

And there wasn't a lot of environmental reporting, she said, as there were "not a lot of environmental initiatives."

Koot had recently attended a newspaper conference in the U.S. where the talk was of asf's - alternative story forms. Newspaper reporting had been reduced to boxed briefs with "an intro and bullet points, for people with no attention span." But with her broadsheets, she had so much space she didn't need lines to separate photos from copy.

A recent boon for Koot and The National would be future access to archival footage of those early days of the "Father of the Nation," Sheikh Zayed, with the new plan to digitize 80,000 hours of archival footage owned by Abu Dhabi TV, the local Arabic television channel, which is housed along with The National and El Etihad, the city's 40-year-old Arab daily in the parent headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Media Group.

Postscript: When I was announced as a visitor keen to see The National newsroom, I was mistakenly taken for a prospective job-seeker. The idea has set me pondering.

Full Story: Greenwich Citizen

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12/07/08 Greenwich Roundup Exclusive: Local Daily Newspaper Will Lay Off More Staffers And Will Hike Prices

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12/08/08 The Raw Greenwich Blog And RSS Feed

This cat has had enough
Bloggers Who Are From, Work In Or Used To Live In Greenwich....


Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
Choose Your Poison: Necessary creativity, soul-eating affluence - We economically challenged who'vee been bleeding creativity into everything we do have confirmation that necessity, particularly dire financial straits, fuel...

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The Blonde Excuse
New York City - If you've been wondering where I've been, once again I'm sick. It might seem impossible that a person could get the flu twice, followed by a bad cold all ove...

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Check Out the Links - They sit over there on the right...kind of down the page. Admittedly, it's not something I update often, but I threw a few new ones up there today. You kno...

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BLU the Cat Found at Tod’s Point Story… - [image: Emma Robertson, Rani Connor, Blu 'the Cat' Connor, Bailey Robben, Mike Henry.] Emma Robertson, Rani Connor, Blu 'the Cat' Connor, Bailey Robben, Mi...


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Baby Lapsit Registration - *When:* Monday December 8th, 2008 - All Day Open enrollment begins December 8 for Baby Lapsit for infants up to 12 months with a caregiver. Five-week Winte...

Greenwich Forum
Doctor in sex sting case out on bond - 12 Comments, last updated on Sunday Dec 7 by Berken is a Criminal

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What price, recycling? - Prices paid for garbage plunge, jeopardizing municipal recycling programs.

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12/07/08 Thomas Ketchum of Greenwich has been named as a new member of Yale-New Haven Hospital's board of trustees.

PRESS RELEASE:

Ketchum is a retired as vice chairman of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., where he held several positions with the firm in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Belgium. In addition to serving as vice chairman, he served on the firm's executive committee and steered its technology council.

Before that, Ketchum was chief financial and administrative officer of J.P. Morgan before its merger with Chase Manhattan Corp. in 2000.

He has a bachelor's degree from Yale University. He also served as a member of the executive committee of the Yale Capital Campaign, the President's Council on International Activities and the board of the Yale Hockey Association.

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12/07/08 More Bad News For Hamilton Avenue School: Ham Ave Budget Cuts Get No Input From The Parents.

A Suzuki Graduation Recital

Tax Dollars To Be Wasted On New Age Suzuki Crap

Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”

“When love is deep, much can be accomplished”

“Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill.”

“It is necessary to be concerned about the importance of educating a really beautiful human spirit”

“Beautiful tone, beautiful heart”

“I am mentally preparing myself for the five-year-old mind. I want to come down to their physical limitations and up to their sense of wonder and awe.”

“Tone has the living soul”

“Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.”

“Wrong education and upbringing produces ugly personalities, whereas a fine upbringing and good education will bring forth superior sense and feeling, as well as nobility and purity of mind.”

“Children learn to smile from their parents.”

“Man is a child of his environment”

“Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer.”

- All quotes from Shinichi Suzuki, who never attained any formal education past his high school diploma

You Wont Read What's Happening With The Budget For Hamilton Avenue School For Next Year.

When parents and teachers complained to Hamilton Avenue School Principal Damaris Rau that water was leaking in the modular classrooms she refused to go to a Board Of Education meeting and demand safe and sanitary conditions for the school children and her staff members.

In fact, Ms. Rau, who was the Chief Executive Of Hamilton Avenue School, turned a blind eye to the leaky modular school building costing Greenwich taxpayers millions of dollars.

If Ms. Rau had listened to the Hamilton Avenue School parents and took action Hamilton Avenue School could have avoided many problems.

But Ms. Rau has not learned from her expensive mistakes that has hurt the small children she is entrusted to look out for.

Now Hamilton Avenue School budgetary decisions are being made by Damaris Rau, with no input from the general parent population, but lots of input from the cowed PTA Leadership.

First, Rau is doing away with Spanish for the Kindergarten through Second Grades.

Do you think being bilingual and learning learning a language that uses Latin verbs and nouns might be helpful when these students take the fourth grade CMT tests?


Obviously Hamilton Avenue School Educrat Rau doesn't, she is making Suzuki violin mandatory for all students, K-3.

In a time of limited school funds she wants to take the focus off reading, writing and asthmatic and flush precious tax dollars down the toilet with Suzuki method (スズキ・メソード)

Which is also called Talent Education, mother-tongue method, or Suzuki movement) is an educational philosophy which strives to create "high ability" and "beautiful character" in its students through a nurturing environment. Its primary vehicle for achieving this is music education on a specific instrument (often a violin)

The 'nurture' involved in the movement is modeled on a concept of early childhood education that focuses on factors which violinist Shinichi Suzuki has observed.

Let me tell you about the Suzuki program. This program is not only expensive, but very time consuming for Hamilton Avenue School parents, most of whom work two jobs.

There will be before school parent/child lessons and homework.

This New Age Suzuki Crap was shoved down Hamilton Avenue School parent's throats as a "magnet draw" and no one listened to those that were already there who didn't want it.

Hamilton Avenue School children don't need fancy new age fiddle classes. They need tutoring and remedial help in educational basics so that they can be on par with other children in Greenwich and the rest of the state and nation.

If Principal Rau wants to better integrate Hamilton Avenue School with a so-called "Magnet Draw" then she should set up programs that give struggling students extra help with reading, writing and arithmetic.

The only true magnet draw is higher test scores and smaller classes.

The reality of Suzuki is that maybe one, if any, of our students will go anywhere with it far into their future.

However, Spanish is a life skill these kids need if they wish to be able to succeed in their futures.

If you tell a future employer you are bilingual and you have probably increased your chances of being employed.

Tell a future employer that you have a "beautiful and nurturing character", because you can play twinkle twinkle little star and you will be shown the door.

Damaris Rau has also stopped fighting to cut out real big Magnet Draws "Hamilton Avenue Schools Skating and Swimming programs, which we were promised would remain as a magnet program when the children returned to their finished school (whenever that may be).

Hamilton Avenue parents pretty much all agree and understand that some sacrifices need to be made for the budget and all must make some.

However, Hamilton Avenue School parents believe that Suzuki should go, but want to keep the Spanish skating and swimming programs.

If a choice must be made between skating and swimming, then most Hamilton Avenue School parents think that the swimming program that they currently have is important, because we live in a town that is virtually surrounded by water and dotted with lakes and ponds throughout.

Many of Hamilton Avenue School kids don't have the financial access for private swim lessons, so getting them through our magnet program has been a safety blessing.

If swimming is cut and a Hamilton Avenue School child drowns at Byram beach it will be because Damaris Rau wanted them to learn "Tone has a living soul" by playing twinkle little star, instead of how to swim.

Isn't it bad enough that Damaris Rau has taken the joy out of teaching for Hamilton Avenue School teachers and the joy out of learning for Hamilton Avenue School students?!

The taxpayers of Greenwich in general and the parents Of Hamilton Avenue School in particular should email, call and write to the members of the Greenwich Board Of Education and the Superintendent Betty Sternberg to keep the important programs and do away with a program that will not bring immediate results to Hamilton Avenue School test scores.

Next year Damaris Rau could treat the town's taxpayers to a hundred Hamilton Avenue School children playing twinkle twinkle little star in mass. Or she could proudly announce to the taxpayers that their money was well spent, because her bilingual 4th graders students excelled the CMT tests.

Greenwich Taxpayers Want These Failed School Administrators To Stp Fooling Around And Get Back To Basics. It Is Time To Stop Wasting Money On Rau's "One Fiddle Per Child Program" And Get Test Scores Back Up To Where They Belong.

Instead of taking an expensive fiddle home, wouldn't be better if the Hamilton Avenue School kids took an inexpensive open source laptop home that was loaded with educational software?

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12/07/08 Reader Submitted Comments: NEW EDITOR

Joe "I Ordered An Investigative Report Of The Moxley Murder And Then Refused To Publish It For Over A Decade" Pisani Is Too Much Of A Censor To Ever Be Seriously Considered For An Newspaper Editor Position Again

To the Editor:

I think this news about merging papers became GREENWICH ROUNDUP NEWS months ago when someone brought it up here. This is the place for news...

Lets see who will become the new editor.???

We had some parties that looked like PR HYPE...or MARKETING MANURE. Parties at Deilenschneider's with the Stamford Mayor, owner of the Greenwich Times, and Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport????? And the Blumenthal and the Mayor again, in Greenwich....and all these party details are showing up written by Joe Pisani's highly immature and hysterical gorgeous wanna-be-girlfriends??????

This is very strange!!!!

JOE PISANI???????

Joe "it's all about me, screw you" Pisani??? It would certainly answer the question of why he is obsessed with visibility in a town he doesn't live or work in.

Then again, maybe he is known in his own town but people ignore him.

The more people I run into, the more people I meet who can't stand him or his STUFFY SELF CENTERED COLUMNS. He can't even write one without adding a self-tribute.

This week he praises some well-known literary figure.....but needs to go on about how this man came to his GORGEOUS GREENWICH HYATT PARTY and then about visiting the man in the hospital on his death bed. I almost had tears.....but not quite :)

I suppose everyone wants to be a hero but they keep it private (I wanted to be Speed Racer) BUT JOE'S BUSINESS IS WAY TOO PUBLIC. In fact, he is trying to be the Greenwich AMERICAN IDOL. And that is laughable to most of us.

I guess he could be the new editor of the Greenwich Posters of Poor Publications and fit right in!!!!!!! I won't pay a dime for those papers anyway. They should be free, based on content.

If this happens, Joe Pisani can hire his mindless JOeTOWN piperettes as new staff, who are also EX EMPLOYEES, bc they are, apparently, still out of work waiting for their mentor. Especially his favorite (and mine), Susie,the dishette, Costaregni. Mmmmmm.

Oh boy this will be fun to watch!!!!!!

JC Old Greenwich

COMMENT:

Please Don't Worry To Much About Joe "The Greenwich Time's Circulation And Web Traffic Shot Up 22% After I Was Fired" Pisani Being Hired By A Local Publisher Any Time Soon.

Right now Mr. Pisani is religated to his low traffic blog page and his to working for free with Suzie At The Greenwich Post.

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12/07/08 Greenwich Time News Links (updated)

Family of beloved Riverside woman determined to keep candy emporium open

The candy shop on Riverside Avenue that has satisfied the sweet tooth of generations of residents is hanging on by a thread, only months after its beloved owner died.

But despite mounting economic challenges, family and friends are determined to keep Ada's Variety Shop open and the traditions created by its proprietor, Ada Cantavero, alive.

Ada's Variety Shop has remained open since Cantavero, who ran the shop for nearly 60 years, died at the age of 88 in July.

It is now run by her nephew, Riverside resident Kelly Romaniello. Although he works as a self-employed contractor, he wanted to help the family fulfill Cantavero's wish to keep it open, he said.

"That's what she wanted," he said. "We're doing whatever we have to do."
But with fewer customers, oil and heating prices going up and a slumping economy, it has been difficult, he said.....

Full Story

Car dealers keeping fingers crossed

As auto executives returned to Capitol Hill asking for $34 billion to help bail out the ailing American auto industry, local dealerships said they are taking things one sale at a time and hoping for the best.

"It's so up and down," said Anthony Granchelli, general manager of the Jeep Chrysler Dodge City, located at 631 W. Putnam Ave..

"This has never happened before, so everyone is up in the air." However, despite the uncertainty of the industry, Granchelli said their dealership, which is independently owned, is doing better than one might expect."We are maintaining, we are strong and we are not going anywhere," said Granchelli, who noted that his dealership has been able to pull in more business as surrounding dealerships close.

Granchelli also said being in Greenwich, where many people have good credit, has helped their the dealership, as does having a solid customer base - something which has allowed it to stay afloat in tumultuous times.
Yet, Granchelli admits, things have been better.

"It has not been easy," said Granchelli. "There has been a tremendous decline in sales from six months ago," he said. Earlier this year, Granchelli said the dealership was selling an average of 75 cars a month. Now, the dealership, which has six sales professionals and two managers, averages around 50 cars a month......

Full Story

In Town

Friends of Witherell offer boutique

The Friends of Nathaniel Witherell will hold the second day of its "Holly Days Boutique" from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. today in the auditorium of The Nathaniel Witherell, 70 Parsonage Road.

Proceeds from the boutique will benefit residents of Nathaniel Witherell, the town-owned nursing home.
For more information, call 618-4227.

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DAR offers colonial Christmas

Putnam Hill Chapter of DAR presents "Knapp's Tavern by Candlelight," a glimpse of colonial Christmas at Putnam Cottage as it was in 1734, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Putnam Cottage, 243 East Putnam Ave.

The event will include hot cider and gingerbread, uniformed Revolutionary soldiers and guided tours by costumed docents.

Suggested donation is $5 per person or $20 per family.

For more information, call Bea Crumbine at 629-1687.

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Preschool book sale to be held at YWCA

The Scholastic Book Fair to support YWCA Preschool programs will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the YWCA, 259 East Putnam Ave.

Books are for children through age 7. Books for adults and gift items for children will also be available.

For more information, call 869-6501, ext. 221 or 222.

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United Way to host legislative breakfast

The United Way of Greenwich Community Planning Council will host its annual Legislative Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor Cone Room at Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road.

Sign-in is at 7:45 a.m. The breakfast offers an opportunity for those with stakes in human-service issues to raise concerns and ask questions of local legislators.

Registration is required.

For more information or to RSVP, call 869-2221.

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Bush-Holley offers No Strings puppet show

The Snowmaiden Puppet Show, presented by the No Strings Marionette Co., will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday at the Vanderbilt Education Center of the Bush-Holley Historic Site, 39 Strickland Road.

Nineteen handcrafted marionettes will perform a wintry Russian folktale. Seasonal refreshments and family tours of Bush-Holley House and gallery will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 per person. Reservations must be made in advance.

For more information or tickets, call 869-6899.

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Clover Hill to hold Christmas Bazaar

The Clover Hill School's Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ridges Roxbury Methodist Church, 2975 High Ridge Road, Stamford.

The bazaar will feature children's activities, home-made baked goods, handmade toys and gifts and a puppet show.

For more information, visit http://www.thecloverhillschool.org/.

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Pancake breakfast at Boys & Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, 4 Horseneck Lane, will host a pancake breakfast with Santa for children and the Greenwich community from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Visiting hours with Santa will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Greenwich Academy Singers will perform at 10 a.m.

The cost is $5 per person.

For more information, call the club at 869-3224 or visit http://www.bgcg.org/.

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Westfair Singers presents choral concert

Westfair Singers, a women's chorus, will present its annual Holiday Concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich, with reception to follow.

Featured works will be two "Magnificats," by Antonio Vivaldi and Niccola Popora, as well as distinctive seasonal songs. The soloist roles will be performed by Corinne Baker and Maria Failla. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door.

For more information, call Jinny McGinnis at 629-9814.

Town may charge to throw trash

Greenwich is considering implementing a new waste disposal program that officials say could save the town $2 million annually and reduce waste by charging residents for each bag of trash they throw away.

The town Department of Public Works is looking into a pay-as-you-throw program, in which residents would be charged for waste disposal by being required to use special garbage bags that can cost between $2 and $3 each, depending on the size, according to Amy Siebert, the town public works commissioner.

"The overall goal is get people to reduce waste. (Paying for bags) gives people a great incentive to recycle more," she said.

If people purchase the bags, which would be available at grocery stores and municipal locations, they will likely use them more frugally, she said.

"If you go out to buy a special bag, you want to make sure that you pack it full," she said......

Full Story

By George!: Brunswick hockey defeats Division II rivals in OT
Last season the Brunswick hockey team stunned the then No. 1 St. George's School in overtime. Coming into this years game the question in everyone's mind was could the Bruins do it again?

Full Story

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12/07/08 Greenwich Roundup Exclusive: Local Daily Newspaper Will Lay Off More Staffers And Will Hike Prices

50 Cent Is Being Shown The Door In Greenwich

Inflation Strikes Home: G-Unit (Greenwich Time) Is Going To 75 Cent

Before Being Merged With Other Local Hearst Newspapers

You Won't Read This In The Greenwich Time

Soon the price of a single copy Greenwich Time newspaper will jump 50 percent

to 75 cents from it's current 50 cent price.

Greenwich Residents Will Have To Pay More For The Crappy Reporting In The Local Rag.

Sources Tell Us The Greenwich Time / Stamford Advocate Will Shed Even More Jobs In Response To Deteriorating Local Advertising Market.

It looks like even more fired Greenwich Time reporters could be joining the ranks of Ex-Greenwich Time Editor Joe Pisani's Blog called "Our Greenwich"

Although the two newspapers have been through numerous rounds of cutbacks over the years it just not has been enough to stop the bleeding at the Greenwich Time.

The Greenwich Time had a significant head count reduction in the newsroom when many jobs were chopped, but apparently that was not enough.

As the Greenwich Time and Stamford Advocate begins its 2009 budget process the corporate suits at Hearst Media are expecting a tough year.

Insiders say that Greenwich Time staffers appear shell-shocked.

In addition to another pending head count reduction the paper is cutting back on travel, entertainment and supply budgets.

The Greenwich Time maybe going forward with a considerably smaller news desk. The source says that some soon to be laid off reporters work may still appear in the paper as freelancers.

This is fueling rumors that the Greenwich Time, Norwalk Advocate and Stamford Advocate will be folded into the Connecticut Post sooner rather than later.

Greenwich will no longer have it's own paper, but a Connecticut Post news page supported by a few local advertisers.

The Greenwich Time News Paper Offices Will Become A Connecticut Post News Bureau

The Insider says that the newspapers are planning to hike their newsstand price. The price of a single copy will jump 50 percent to 75 cents from 50 cents.

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12/07/08 THE GREENWICH TIME FINALY TAKES A STAND BUT EDITOR IS AFRAID TO PUT HIS OR HER NAME ON EDITORIAL

Here Is A "Local Hard Hitting Greenwich Time Editorial" From The Hearst Newspaper's Mystery Editor.

Keep the arts center idea alive

Staff Reports
Posted: 12/07/2008 01:00:00 AM EST

We have long supported the concept of a center for the arts in downtown Greenwich. But recurring concerns about the plans for a center in the Havemeyer Building have converged with events to frustrate the sincere efforts of committed backers. Bowing to the inevitable last week, they made the right decision in withdrawing their proposal.

A statement from the Greenwich Center for the Arts directors said in part: "[W]e are tremendously disappointed that this vision, which would have offered opportunities for enrichment to every child, adult and senior in Greenwich, will not become a reality." But the organization's board, donors and other supporters should not abandon their dream, and should be prepared for the time when conditions are more favorable.

The idea of converting the town-owned building, which does not seem too well suited for its current use by the Greenwich Public Schools administration, was creative, attractive and on its face doable. The plan was to create a privately funded $30 million center that would include a children's art center, pottery and arts studios, a cafe and two theaters. The GCA would then have leased the building from the town for $1 per year.

However, persistent concerns about the proposed arrangement undermined the possibility of a consensus for it among both town officials and residents. Those concerns included worries that the town could incur substantial financial liability under the deal, questions about the required relocation of the school administration staff and uncertainty over whether it could be assured that town arts organizations and residents would always get first priority.

A significant number of residents also seemed to feel that a $1-per-year lease would be a financial mistake for the town.

Given the fact that the proposal still had not gained approval after being initiated in 2004, the organization set a deadline of Dec. 31 for a town decision on the building. That move established a "make or break" situation that ultimately turned out to be "break." The Board of Education was not going to move up its plan to consider relocation sometime early next year, while the plunge in the economy put a damper on Greenwich capital spending that would have been needed to make the arts center possible.

Vince DiMarco, a Representative Town Meeting member and a proponent of the center, after the GCA announcement commented:

"I think it was a worthwhile proposal and I would hope that all the work that all those folks did doesn't go to waste. I hope we can build on it in the near future."

Those are our hopes too.

Even though the arduous effort to create a new asset for the town did not come to fruition this time, there are some positives to take away. Arts supporters now should have a clear picture of the concerns they would have to address and how they would need to proceed within the sometimes complicated framework of town government.

Those advocates cannot be blamed for feeling keen disappointment that their campaign fell short this time. But their concept was good and their motives admirable. And they should anticipate a time when they can help create what could be an invaluable addition to the town's cultural life.

signed,

Anonymous Editorial Writer

IDidNotWriteThat@ItWasNotMe.Com

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