GREENWICH TOWN PARTY
GTP Parade Approved
The GTP ’23 Parade has been approved with accompanying road closures. The parade is scheduled for May 23rd from 5:15pm to 6:00pm in order to promote the Greenwich Town Party’s mission of celebrating community and friendship. The parade will feature live music, floats, stilt walkers, and the involvement of community groups, non-profits, and local organizations. The parade route starts at Amogerone Parking Lot and ends at Bolling Place, with a post-parade ‘Party in the Park’ at Havemeyer Field from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Greenwich Town Party Goes Big with ‘Preservation Hall Super Jam’ Featuring New Orleans’ All-Star Lineup
The Greenwich Town Party is changing its format this year and hosting a “Preservation Hall Super Jam” with a lineup of musicians from New Orleans. The event will feature a collaboration of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Wyclef Jean, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Ivan Neville, Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, George Porter, Jr., Eric Krasno, Raymond Weber, Tony Hall, Celisse, and Tarriona “Tank” Ball. The Revivalists, Mavis Staples, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will also perform ahead of the big jam. The event will take place on May 27 at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, with a ticket raffle open from March 22 to April 7. The event will also have food available from nine local restaurants, drawing on New Orleans’ culinary style. The event will feature a parade on May 23, which will be free and open to the public, pending final permission.
POLICE & FIRE
FROM TOWN HALL
Mooring Renewals Due April 1st
The 2023 mooring renewals have been sent out via email and are also available on the Town of Greenwich Mooring website. Boaters are encouraged to check their inboxes and submit the renewals before April 1st to keep their boats afloat and their summer plans on track. The TOG Mooring website, www.greenwichct.gov/mooring, has been provided for all mooring needs.
Parking Meter Increase
The Board of Selectmen in Greenwich, Connecticut unanimously approved a revised proposal for parking meter fee increases to the Greenwich Avenue area. Currently, the meter rate for parking on Greenwich Avenue is $1 per hour, but after the new proposal, the rate will increase to $1.50 per hour or 50 cents per 20 minutes. Long-term 12-hour parking meters in central Greenwich will increase from 75 cents to $1 per hour. The revised proposal comes after the board expressed concerns about the percentage increase of the fees and the impact on those with fixed incomes, and received feedback from some residents. The changes could take effect as early as April 3.
AROUND TOWN
World Water Day
This past Wednesday was World Water Day. In the spirit of the holiday, Greenwich Residents are encouraged to make a difference by changing water usage and management practices. The Aquarion Water Company and the Town of Greenwich have adopted permanent water restrictions on all outdoor irrigation by automatic sprinkler irrigation systems, limiting watering to 2 days per week. The restrictions are in effect from April 1 to October 31 and apply to customers in Darien, East Granby, Fairfield, Granby, Greenwich, Groton, Mystic, New Canaan, Newtown, Simsbury, Stamford, Stonington, and Westport. Customers may use drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand-held watering at any time.
Greenwich to establish sister city connection with devastated Ukrainian town Izium to aid in its rebuild
Greenwich is looking to establish a sister city connection with Izium, a Ukrainian town devastated by Russia’s invasion, to help with its rebuild. Olga Litvinenko, a Ukrainian-born Greenwich resident, is driving the initiative and working to organize a fundraising campaign to start this summer. The sister city connection would be both symbolic and material, with the two cities exchanging cultural mementos and helping each other. The Board of Selectmen discussed the initiative at its meeting, and Viktor Marchenko, Izium’s mayor, addressed the meeting via Zoom and thanked the selectmen for their support.
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
Les Beaux Arts Gallery Exhibits Richard Levine
Les Beaux Arts Gallery is hosting an exhibit entitled “Light And Shadows” featuring a collection of landscapes and abstract artworks by Richard Levine through April 26, 2023. Levine’s artworks showcase his inspiration from nature and his use of vibrant colors and bold lines. The exhibition marks the evolution of his long career from landscapes to abstraction. Les Beaux Arts Gallery is located in the Round Hill Community Church in Greenwich and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The gallery is closed on Saturdays and Monday, April 10. For more information, contact Mirella Hajjar, Gallery Curator at 203-869-1091. The painting featured is Monhegan #4, Oil on Paper, by Richard Levine
Greenwich Based S.E. Minor Group Acquires Florida-based CES Engineering Inc. to Expand its Services in the Wastewater and Stormwater Management Industry
The S.E. Minor Group, founded in 1887 in Greenwich, has acquired CES Engineering Inc., a Florida-based wastewater and stormwater management engineering company, in a move to expand its services and expertise in the industry. The acquisition will also enable S.E. Minor to establish a state-wide service area for its clients, further growing its market share in Florida. The acquisition was completed in March 2023 and enhances S.E. Minor’s position as a leading provider of sustainable solutions in the industry. CES Engineering has a reputation for excellence in wastewater and stormwater management engineering, providing solutions for institutional clients across the United States for over 30 years.
First Gallery Exhibit at the New Bruce
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut is hosting a solo exhibition of artist Lois Dodd called “Lois Dodd: Natural Order” featuring around 80 paintings from her career dating back to the mid-1950s. The exhibition will be open from April 2 to May 28, 2023, and marks the first exhibit by a single artist to be hosted at the Bruce Museum’s newly completed expansion. The art galleries are currently closed due to extensive renovations, but the permanent science galleries are open with a “Pay As You Wish” admission policy. Admission tickets will begin on April 2, 2023, and reservations are recommended. The Bruce Museum Store is also closed until March 30, 2023, but will open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm after that. Admission prices range from free for children under 5 to $20 for adults. The museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities
Girl Scouts Celebrate 111 Years
Greenwich Girl Scouts led the Color Guard at the March Town of Representative Town Meeting to honor the founding of Girl Scouts on March 12th, 1912, by Juliette Gordon Low. The Girl Scouts included fourth, fifth, seventh, and ninth graders who shared a message about the organization’s mission to prepare girls for leadership roles. They also announced that Girl Scout cookies will arrive on April 1.
Annual League of Women Voters Essay Contest
The League of Women Voters of Greenwich is holding its fourth annual student essay contest, which is open to students in grades 3-12 who live or go to school in Greenwich. The deadline for submissions is April 3, and winning essays will be published on the league’s website and publicized in local press. Students can find more information, including rules, formatting, prizes, and judging criteria, on the league’s website at www.lwvgreenwich.org.
Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich Moves to New Location, Acquires Former Lutheran Church for $10.7 Million
Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich is moving to a new location for religious services after acquiring the former site of the First Lutheran Church at 38 Field Point Road. Chabad Lubavitch will have more space for religious observances and will also house a religious school for young people and adult education at the new site. The grand opening will be on April 2, and the Mason Street and Lincoln Avenue facilities will continue to be used for preschool education. The church building measures 36,100 square feet and was purchased for $10.7 million in February. The transaction was handled by Foundry Commercial, a commercial real estate firm specializing in deals for religious, nonprofit, and educational institutions.
Greenwich Library’s New Leadership Aims to Reconnect with Community and Assess Current State through Strategic Plan
Joe Williams and Kate Soboleva, the new director and deputy director of the Greenwich Library, respectively. Williams served as the library’s deputy director since 2014, while Soboleva began working at the library in 2017 as the information team manager. As part of the library’s 2023-25 strategic plan, Williams aims to reconnect with the community and assess the current state of the library. This plan will lead to another strategic plan in 2025, for which the library staff will be gathering data and conducting “foundational thinking” in the service areas.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Award-Winning Poet Jack Powers Releases Second Book of Poetry “Still Love” and Announces Reading Events
Poet and Greenwich native Jack Powers has released his second book of poetry, “Still Love.” The book features “broken sonnets” that follow characters through different stages of life. Powers, who is a fellow of the Connecticut Writing Project and has won multiple poetry contests and prizes, will be presenting readings of his work at various locations in the upcoming months. These include the Wilton Writers Salon, Eco Evolution in South Norwalk, the Fairfield University Bookstore, and the Norwalk Art Festival. “Still Love” is available on Amazon and through local bookstores.
SCHOOLS
2023 Odyssey of the Mind Competition Beginning
Southern Connecticut State University will host the 2023 Odyssey of the Mind Connecticut Tournament where students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade will compete for an invitation to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals being held at Michigan State University in May. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program designed to provide creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college, helping them develop creative-thinking skills that can be applied to real-life situations. Teams from throughout the US and more than 20 other countries participate in the program. The event will take place on Saturday, with teams representing several Connecticut communities, including Greenwich.
Connecticut Schools Julian Curtiss and Old Greenwich to Undergo Renovations for Accessibility to People with Disabilities
The Board of Education has approved renovations for Julian Curtiss and Old Greenwich schools in Connecticut to make them accessible to those with disabilities. Antinozzi Associates will lead the renovation project, which includes adding an elevator and ADA-accessible bathroom to the Julian Curtiss building, which was built in the 1940s. The Old Greenwich School will undergo a four-phase renovation, with the first phase costing $99,750. However, the first selectman’s proposed budget for 2024-25 does not include funding for the Old Greenwich School project, which could cost up to $38 million if delayed until 2025. The Board of Education also plans to request $1.08 million in funding if the project is not included in the finalized budget.
Former Broadway Star Kyle Wrentz Teaches Acting Clinic for “Frozen” School Play at Cos Cob School
Last week, Kyle Wrentz, a former member of the original cast of “The Lion King” on Broadway, conducted an acting clinic for fifth-grade students at Cos Cob School. The clinic focused on helping students tap into their emotions and improve their choreography for the school play, “Frozen.” The play is scheduled to take place on April 3-4 at the same school.
Greenwich High School’s Secure Entryway Project Gets Final Approval from Board of Education
The Board of Education has approved the final plans, estimated cost, and educational specifications for the new secure entryway at Greenwich High School. The next step is to submit the project plans to the state Office of School Construction Grants and Review for approval to go out to bid on the project. The project will expand the vestibule to the exterior of the main lobby and incorporate security accessibility features. The total budget allocated for the project is $3.5 million, and the project is estimated to cost $3.28 million, including a 10% contingency. The committee is meeting with the state Office of School Construction Grants and Review on March 22, and if approved, the project could go out for bid in April.
SPORTS
Greenwich High School’s Xavion Faison named to All-FCIAC Boys Basketball Team for 2022-2023 season
Greenwich High School’s 6-foot-7 forward, Xavion Faison, has been selected to be part of the 2022-2023 All-FCIAC Boys Basketball team. He was recognized for his contribution as one of the team’s leading scorers during his junior season, and he received All-FCIAC Third Team honors.
Greenwich High School’s Boys Swimming Team Clinches 37th State Open Championship Title, Maintaining Winning Tradition Since 1967
Greenwich High School’s boys swimming team won their 37th State Open Championship title on Saturday, continuing their longstanding success since coach Terry Lowe took over the program in 1967. The Cardinals team dominated at the CIAC State Open Swimming Championships held at Yale University’s Kiphuth Memorial Exhibition Pool, which marked the team’s first appearance at the venue since 2019. Despite a new team, Greenwich High School continued to excel and maintain their winning tradition.
Greenwich High School Boys Swimming Team Claims CIAC Class LL Championship with 7 Event Wins and 924 Points
Greenwich High School’s boys swimming team won the CIAC Class LL championship in impressive fashion, with seven event wins and multiple top-eight finishes. The Cardinals dominated the 18-team meet at the Cornerstone Aquatics Center in West Hartford, accumulating 924 points and adding yet another state title to their collection.
Greenwich High School Boys Ice Hockey Team Stages Dramatic Turnaround to Reach State Tournament Semifinals
Greenwich High School’s boys ice hockey team experienced a remarkable turnaround in their 2022-2023 season, going from 0-5 to reaching the state tournament semifinals. Despite facing challenges and difficulties throughout the season, the team maintained their belief in their abilities and hoped to reach their full potential at some point.
LOCAL POLITICS
Greenwich Board of Education Discusses Request from St. Roch Church for Annual Feast Use of School Field and $29K Donation for Irrigation System
The Greenwich Board of Education met to discuss two items, the first being a request from St. Roch Church to use a school field for their annual feast, and the second being a $29,000 donation for an irrigation system. The church’s request had been declined by the Parks & Rec Dept and was being discussed by the BOE instead. There was debate among board members about whether they had the authority to issue permits for the field and accept donations. Some members suggested tabling the motion and returning to it during the next meeting, while others pushed for a vote. The motion was ultimately withdrawn. The discussion about the irrigation system donation was also postponed due to questions about water and electricity costs.
FROM HARTFORD
AG Tong Joins Attorneys General Regarding Kia/Hyundai Anti-Theft Issue
A nationwide coalition of 23 attorneys general, including Attorney General Tong, is urging Kia America and Hyundai Motor Company to take swift action to address the crisis of car thefts due to the companies’ failure to equip vehicles with anti-theft immobilizers. The letter notes that Kia and Hyundai chose not to include anti-theft immobilizers as standard equipment on several vehicle models sold in the United States during a period when every other car manufacturer was doing so, despite the same models being equipped with immobilizers when sold in Canada and Europe. While Kia and Hyundai have announced a campaign to provide software upgrades for some affected models, the attorneys general urge the companies to do more to remedy the issue.
CTDOT awarded $2m grant to develop statewide public transit information system for mobile devices
Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has received a $2m grant from the US Department of Transportation to develop a unified, statewide public transit information system for mobile devices. The grant will be used for the Connecticut Integrated Transit Mobility Project (CT-ITMP), which aims to integrate public transit information across Connecticut and allow users to pay fares directly from their smartphones. The system will also incorporate real-time arrival information for Connecticut’s entire public transportation system. Connecticut’s public transit system provides over 43 million annual passenger trips on bus and Americans with Disabilities (ADA) service and more than 41 million annual passenger trips on rail service.
