National Merit
Scholarship Program
The 2021 National Merit scholarship Program has announced its semifinalists and thirteen Greenwich High School students are among them. They are: Meredith Blanchard, Chelsea Cleary, Claire Dobbins, Samuel Florin, George Gilfond, Joseph Hirsch, Anjali Kishore, Skyler McDonnell, Genevieve McQuillan, Wyatt Radzin, Iris Shi, Artemis Shung, and Colin Speaker. The Board of Education will be formally recognizing them soon.
New Fields Approved for GCDS
Planning & Zoning has approved the improvements for Greenwich Country Day School’s playing field at their new campus on Stanwich Road. The proposed changes include renovated playing fields, stadium seating, a new field house, a new storage building, and additional parking. The changes come after GCDS added upper grades this past year and now has a high school. There were concerns about traffic, congestion, and parking, so the approval came with many conditions to help alleviate these concerns.
GHS Interim Pupil Personnel Services Admin
Matthew Hartigan has been appointed the Interim Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Administrator for Greenwich High School (GHS) for the 2020-21 school year, effective immediately. Mr. Hartigan replaces retiree Carleen Wood.
Mr. Hartigan will be responsible for the PPT/IEP process, supporting students within the Academic Lab classes, RTI/SAT process to ensure consistent application of interventions and data collection, social and emotional learning, supporting at risk students, and collaboration with GHS Leadership, including the Principal, Assistant Deans, Director of Student Life and Director of Guidance, on various programs and student activities. Most recently, Mr. Hartigan served as the Interim Special Education Program Administrator for the District and a Special Education/Resource Room Teacher at GHS.
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Binney Park Scenic Route
Binney Park has been given a scenic road designation by Greenwich Planning and Zoning commission. This designation means that the public has more input on any proposed changes to this loop of roads around the park in Old Greenwich. Community members will be notified about any new construction or infrastructure projects and will have an opportunity for ongoing input into the process.
RTM Openings
The Representative Town Meeting currently has four vacancies that they are planning on filling over zoom on Thursday, September 17. District 1 has one vacancy, District 5 has two vacancies, and District 11 has one vacancy. More information can be found at https://www.greenwichct.gov/721/Representative-Town-Meeting-RTM.
Recycling Program Updates
Over the course of the last three months, the amount of food scraps dropped off has risen from 450 lbs to almost a ton. There have also been more than 300 starter kits sold at Holly Hill for residents to start to compost their own scraps. The other recycling program that the town has recently started, the textile collection bins, has also been successful with 4,400 lbs of donated materials in August. There has been positive feedback from residents about both the food scrap recycling program as well as the textile collection program.
Hazardous Waste Day
Greenwich has postponed hazardous waste day until further notice, but New Canaan’s is open to Greenwich residents. The event will take place on September 12 from 8am – 2pm at the Wastewater Plant at 394 Main Street, New Canaan. A list of what can be brought and what can’t can be found at https://www.newcanaan.info/departments/public_works/transfer_station.php#:~:text=September%2012%2C%202020%20%2D%20Household%20Hazardous,no%20cost%20to%20the%20residents.
SPORTS
CIAC Updates on Sports
Governor Lamont recently stated that the decisions with regards to interscholastic football would be the local districts decision. This comes after a massive protest on the steps of the State capital against the CIAC decision to cancel and not reschedule the season. Among them were members of the Greenwich football team.
HEALTH
Greenwich Hospital Receives Donation
Greenwich Hospital has recently received a $14 million donation from Lynne and Richard Pasculano to be used to establish the Pasculano Radiation Oncology Center at the Smilow Cancer Care Center. The hospital announced that the donation will be used for the construction of the care center pavilion and healing garden.
West Nile Virus in Town
The Connecticut Department of Public Health notified the Greenwich Department that a resident from Greenwich tested positive for West Nile Virus. The individual became sick in late August, was hospitalized, and is recovering. This is the fourth case reported in Connecticut in 2020.
Closer to Free Event
Closer to Free is an event where hundreds of bicyclists bike across Connecticut to support Yale New Haven Health System’s fight against cancer. This year, however, it was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Greenwich Hospital teamed up with Equinox of Greenwich to host a spinning event in the hospital’s Community Garden. Equinox donated ten spin bikes and instructors who held 30 minute sessions for the participants who took classes in shifts this past Friday. Since the Closer to Free event started in 2010 they have raised $19 million dollars for the fight against cancer, $25,000 of which Greenwich Hospital is solely responsible for raising and this year Greenwich Hospital raised a record $8,000 for the team. You can donate through the end of September at www.rideclosertofree.org, just search for Greenwich Hospital Freedom Riders.
POLICE DEPT.
GPD Awards
Two members of the Greenwich Police attended the annual MADD Award Ceremony, Sergent JD Smith and Officer Frank Solomon, at Mohegan Sun to receive awards. Sergeant Peter Scmitt was also awarded but wasn’t able to attend. Sergeant Schmitt and Officer Solomon led the department with its DWI enforcement and Sergeant Scmitt received a five-year recognition award.
CHARITY WORK
Proudly Supporting the GPD
Signs are IN
Although the first 500 yard signs which read “Proudly Supporting Our Greenwich Police” were all distributed, another shipment arrived to The Greenwich Sentinel Foundation on Tuesday.
These are available through The Greenwich Sentinel Foundation with support from Edward Dadakis. If you would like to place a sign in your yard, please email Beth@GreenwichSentinelFoundation.org online or call 203-485-0226.
Hawkwatch Season
Raptor migration is upon us. Their migration takes place from August to November and will be at its peak in a few weeks. One hotspot for watching the migration is at Greenwich Audubon Center. You can find more information at https://ct.audubon.org/hawkwatch
Finn Gallery at Library
The Finn Gallery located on the second floor of Greenwich Main Library has its first exhibition of the 2020-21 season, Material World, which will run from September 10 to October 28. The exhibit will feature three artists – Leeah Joo, Stephanie Serpick, and Jennifer Davies. There will be 44 pieces of art featured and all except three pieces will be for sale. The gallery will be open to three people at a time by appointment from Tuesday through Saturday 11am-3pm. You can learn more at https://flinngallery.com/ and can watch a virtual tour of the gallery on Youtube by searching Finn Gallery 2020 Material World.
OTHER NEWS
Connecticut Utility Shut-off Moratorium Ends October 1
The suspension of water service disconnections will end on October 1. Aquarion Water Company encourages customers with unpaid balances to contact its Customer Service Center to determine a payment solution that best meets their needs.
Customers can learn more about this by contacting Aquarion customer service at 1-800-732-9678, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., or by visiting www.aquarionwater.com/assistance.
