POLICE & FIRE
GFD Responds to Call for Mutual Aid
The Greenwich Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request from the Port Chester Fire Department on Monday morning for a multi-alarm structure fire in Port Chester, NY. Ladder 5, staffed by Sound Beach Volunteers, responded with a crew of 4, while other members stayed in town to cover Rescue 5. Mutual aid requests are crucial in the fire service as large or complex incidents like this fire can require the resources of multiple departments. The fire was extremely dangerous and required emergency personnel to shut down multiple streets in the vicinity while fire departments worked to get it under control. The fire was finally extinguished around 4pm
FROM TOWN HALL
Recycling Paint Cans
The Town of Greenwich is encouraging residents to recycle their empty paint cans. They can be placed in recycling bins at home for private pick up or brought to the designated recycling area at Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility (permit required). Residents can use the Waste Wizard tool on the town’s website to learn more about proper recycling, reuse, or disposal methods.
Greenwich Updates Town Emergency Alert System
Greenwich is launching a new alert system powered by Everbridge that will allow the town to quickly issue messages to the public during emergencies or potential safety hazards. The system will send messages via text, call, email, or through the EverBridge app. Residents can sign up online, by texting “Greenwich” to 888-777, or by downloading the EverBridge app. The new alert system was implemented by Greenwich’s Emergency Management Director Joseph Laucella and the emergency management team.
AROUND TOWN
Lights Out
The Audubon’s Lights Out program encourages people to help migrating birds by turning off exterior decorative lighting, extinguishing pot and flood lights, and reducing atrium lighting wherever possible. Participants are also encouraged to turn off interior lighting, especially on higher stories, and down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and all light directed upward. Additionally, installing automatic motion sensors and controls is recommended, and when converting to new lighting, it’s essential to assess the quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology. The program aims to reduce bird collisions with buildings during migration.
Proposed Mural Receives Public Comments
A non-profit group, RiseUp for Arts, proposed a 1,440-square-foot mural for the side of a commercial building in the village of Old Greenwich, Connecticut. During the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, it was explained that murals were considered signs under the town’s regulations and had applicable standards to be met. The mural proposal received mixed feedback from public commenters, with concerns about its size and impact on safety. P&Z Chair Margarita Alban said the commission was developing new signage regulations and would host a workshop for public input that includes the topic of murals. The proposed mural is on private property, and it was noted that murals on public property, such as the pollinator pathway mural on East Putnam Ave, were approved under the town’s Public Art Policy.
Car Crashes into Chopt
This past Sunday afternoon, a car crashed into the storefront of Chopt in Greenwich. As of Thursday morning, the driver was being treated for a possible broken leg with no other injuries reported. The building was assessed by the Greenwich Fire Dept and no structural damage was found
Bus Drivers Strike This Past Monday
Around 80 bus employees of First Student Inc., who transport students to Greenwich Public Schools, called out of work this past Monday to show support for a fellow driver, Nadia Micourt, who was recently cited for what the school district viewed as unsafe driving. A recent complaint filed against Micourt by Deputy Superintendent of GPS E. Ann Carabillo led to the mass call-out of drivers. The school district cannot fire any drivers since they are not GPS employees. However, the district’s contract with First Student states that GPS and the town have the right to require the company to remove a driver if they don’t meet qualifications, or if they pose a risk to students, without prior approval from the board of education.
Water Lines on Portion of Greenwich Avenue to be Replaced
Aquarion Water Company and its partner Snyder Civil Engineering expect to start work on repairing the water line under Greenwich Avenue this spring. The work is expected to take a year, with some intermittent road closures on Greenwich Avenue throughout the process. Crews will work at night as much as possible to reduce the impact of the repairs, but parts of the avenue will need to be closed to cars during repairs. The work will take place between Elm Street and Grigg Street on the avenue, running past the Havemeyer Building, many stores, and restaurants. The repairs will involve replacing old six-inch and eight-inch water mains with new 12-inch lines. The project area spans around 1,500 feet of the avenue.
Checking the Havemeyer Building for Structural Integrity
Structural engineers are checking the Havemeyer Building to determine whether it is still safe to use. The building was flooded two months ago after a water pipe failed. The building is currently undergoing repairs, and staff has been relocated to temporary spaces within the same building. The First Selectman’s Advisory Committee on the Havemeyer Building hired Pustola & Associates to evaluate the building’s structural integrity. The study is expected to take about two months to complete.
LOCAL BUSINESSES & NONPROFITS
Orienta Partners with Alliance Française
Chef Adrien Blech at Orienta and the Alliance Française of Greenwich are collaborating to promote the independent film “Umami” directed by Gérard Depardieu during this year’s Focus on French Cinema festival. The restaurant is offering a special lunch prix-fixe menu exclusively to ticket holders during the festival. The film follows France’s leading chef Gabriel Carvin on a quest to find the flavor that has confounded him since he was young. The virtual film can be accessed with a festival ticket, which can also be presented at the restaurant for a limited-time deal. The festival runs from April 20th to 30th, with information regarding events available online.
Greenwich Hospital Celebrates National Volunteer Week
Greenwich Hospital held a special luncheon at Greenwich Country Club to celebrate National Volunteer Week and to honor over 70 of its 220 volunteers. In 2022, the volunteers provided 24,327 hours of service, playing an important role in various departments throughout the hospital. The Auxiliary Thrift Shop also had a successful fiscal year with record revenue, allowing for significant donations to adolescent behavioral health and midwifery programs. Director of Volunteer Services, Stacey Green, expressed her gratitude towards the volunteers for making Greenwich Hospital a better place.
Cos Cob Library Improvements Survey
Greenwich Library is seeking community feedback through a survey on potential improvements to the Cos Cob Branch Library. The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CosCob and will help identify community priorities for new and possibly expanded spaces at the branch. The survey will be available until May 7 and will be available in English, Spanish, and Japanese. Funding for the renovation of the Cos Cob Branch Library is expected to come from a combination of public and private funding, and the scope of the improvements will be based on counsel from the community survey, the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, and input from Library leadership and staff.
LWV Archives Moved to Greenwich Historical Society
The Greenwich Historical Society will be housing the archives of the League of Women Voters (LWV) archive, including meeting minutes, studies, posters, and educational brochures, which date back to 1921. The partnership between the LWV and the historical society came about when the latter was putting together an exhibit on the campaign for women’s right to vote that included materials from the LWV archives. The move allows the documents to be preserved in a more suitable location. The documents will be indexed more comprehensively, transcribed into a modern format, and digitized for further research.
Two Actors to be Honored by GIFF
Actors Brendan Fraser and Rudy Pankow will be honored at upcoming events by the Greenwich International Film Festival. Pankow will receive the #MakeAnImpact award for his portrayal of a domestic abuse victim on the Netflix series “Outer Banks” and will participate in a live Q&A on April 24. Fraser, a former Greenwich resident and Academy Award winner, will be honored at a celebratory event on May 3 with proceeds from ticket sales going to Abilis, a nonprofit that supports people with special needs. The film festival’s highest honor is awarded to artists who use their voices for positive social change.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
2023 Town Champion Recognized by Laurel House
Commissioner Demetria Nelson has been recognized as a 2023 Town Champion by Laurel House for making the community a better place to live and work.
Congregation Shir Ami Welcomes New Rabbi
Rabbi David Evan Markus has been appointed as the new spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Ami. He will take over from Rabbi David E. Levy, who held the interim position for the past year. Markus previously served as the spiritual leader and music director of Temple Beth-El of City Island in New York for 13 years. He is also a senior faculty member at the Academy for Jewish Religion and a fellow of Rabbis Without Borders. Markus has published writings in various publications and recently released his first book, A Year of Building Torah. He holds double ordination as a rabbi and spiritual director, a graduate certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship from Columbia Business School, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School
Michael Skakel Sues Greenwich Police Officer in Attempt to Recover Tapes
Michael Skakel has filed a lawsuit against the town of Greenwich and a Greenwich police officer, Frank Garr, in an attempt to recover a set of audiotapes that were used in his trial for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley. The tapes were acquired by Garr in 1999, but the book he was preparing was never published. Skakel is seeking the return of the seven audiotapes and other items, as well as unspecified monetary damages. Skakel was convicted of Moxley’s murder in 2002, but a judge granted him a new trial in 2013, and his conviction was vacated by the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2018. Prosecutors announced in 2020 that they would not retry Skakel.
Sam Buck First Selectman for a Day
Last Thursday, Sam Buck, a sixth-grader at Western Middle School, was named First Selectman for the day. Sam, who has Vanishing White Matter Disease, a rare genetic disease that destroys the brain’s white matter, was diagnosed at age two. The progressive disease is incurable, untreatable, and ultimately terminal. Children usually live five to ten years after a diagnosis is made. First Selectman Fred Camillo presented Sam with a certificate of special recognition to commemorate his day as Greenwich’s chief elected official, and Sam’s one policy was to have people at Greenwich Town Hall wear mismatched socks for a day. “It’s a huge upgrade for the town. We’re in good hands,” said Camillo.
SCHOOLS
2023 Distinguished Teachers Awardees
The Distinguished Teachers Awards Committee (DTAC) has announced the six 2023 Distinguished Teachers in Greenwich, Connecticut. The honored educators are Erin John, New Lebanon School, Grade 1; Gaspare Lipari, Western Middle School, English/Social Studies/Tech Grades 6-8; Aaron Lofaro, Central Middle School, Music Grades 6-8; Joan O’Day, Greenwich High School, Social Worker; Carol Pugliano-Martin, New Lebanon School, ALP/Language Arts Grades 2-5; and Maria Woodward Central Middle School, Mathematics Grade 7.
2023 Fleishman Service Award
GHS senior Stephanie Chang has been selected as the winner of the Fleishman Service Award, which recognizes GHS students who have made significant contributions to their school and community. The award ceremony is being held this coming Monday, April 24th at 5pm at the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center.
NSS Briefly Closed due to Gas Odor
North Street School was briefly evacuated this past Monday, April 17th due to a gas odor detected by a police officer assigned to school security. The Fire Department responded to the scene and located the source of the odor, which was an HVAC issue. The problem was rectified quickly, and students were able to return to school and start their day without any reported illnesses or injuries.
GHS Hand & Paw Club Partners with OPIN
The Greenwich High School Hand and Paw Club partnered with Outreach to Pets in Need (OPIN) Stamford to give away donations to the greater Stamford community, including free dog and cat carriers, bowls, leashes, and other pet merchandise. The GHS Hand and Paw Club works to raise awareness and resources for animal shelters and rescue groups through educational events, donation drives, and animal-related outreach and activism.
BoS Unanimously Approves Submission of Municipal Improvement Status to OGS
The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the submission of Municipal Improvement status to Planning & Zoning for the Old Greenwich School project. The school has several overdue needs, including flooding, security, HVAC, ADA compliance, and space shortage. The approved $1.1 million will be used to complete Architecture & Engineering work, and the funds cannot be accessed until the BET’s independent estimator completes work in June. In addition, the project must be approved through the RTM appeal process.
Proposed New Athletic Facility for GCDS
Greenwich Country Day School plans to build a new athletic facility at its Old Church Road campus. The school administration hopes to break ground this fall, subject to approval from the town. The construction of a new basketball court, which meets NCAA requirements, and a renovation to the South Gym will be funded through a donation from NBA player Donovan Mitchell, an alumnus of the school. The project will be located in a central portion of the site and will not add new venues, increase the number of existing athletic teams, or enlarge the summer program. The application will be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.
SPORTS
Six GHS Students Participate in Signing Day
Six students from GHS participated in a signing day event on April 18. The students are Emma Gustafsson (Water Polo, University of Michigan), Jake Kiernan (Football, University of Connecticut), Jack Konigsberg (Football, University of Michigan), Jack Roach (Crew, Stetson University), Laura Smego (Rugby, West Chester University), and CJ Weigel (Water Polo, Princeton University). The event was attended by staff, parents, and friends.
Brunswick School baseball eyes FAA Championship
The Brunswick School baseball team has won 10 of its 10 games and is aiming for the FAA championship this season. The team has a strong pitching staff and powerful lineup, and senior starting pitcher/outfielder Player Crosby expressed his desire to win the championship this year and not repeat last year’s loss in the semifinals.
GHS baseball loses 2-1, Senft shines on mound
The Greenwich High School baseball team lost 2-1 to Fairfield Ludlowe in an FCIAC game. Senior Tyler Senft pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four. Despite the tough loss, Greenwich coach Adrian Arango praised the team’s effort, saying that Senft was “awesome on the mound” and “deserved to win.”
Brunswick School lacrosse dominates with 17-10 victory
The Brunswick School lacrosse team won a game against St. John’s Preparatory School on Saturday, with a final score of 17-10. Eleven different players scored, and six different athletes made assists. Junior attack Payton Anderson started the scoring, receiving a pass from senior attackman Jackson Wolfram.
Sacred Heart lacrosse team 7-1 and on a roll
The Sacred Heart Greenwich Varsity A lacrosse team has a record of 7-1 and is improving with each game. The team has won games by convincing scores and has also shown the ability to win close games against tough opponents. Their most recent close game was against Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child on Saturday.
GHS Boys Lacrosse Loses 9-3 to Wilton
The Greenwich High School boys lacrosse team lost to Wilton with a score of 3-9 at Cardinal Stadium. Wilton had a seven-goal lead by the time Greenwich began to settle into the game. Greenwich had difficulty generating shots on goal and scoring opportunities against Wilton’s defense.
GHS baseball team wins 6-2 against Brien McMahon
Greenwich High School’s baseball team secured their first win of the season against Brien McMahon with a score of 6-2. Junior right-hander Tommy Passamano pitched effectively for 5 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs. This win was especially important for the team after losing their first four games, including a 19-3 defeat against Fairfield Ludlowe.
GHS Girls Tennis Team Sweeps Past Staples
Greenwich High School’s girls tennis team has won all four of its matches this season, including a 6-1 win over Staples on Thursday. The win was significant as the Wreckers had defeated Greenwich in the regular season and the CIAC Class LL Tournament quarterfinals last year. Greenwich won three of the four singles matches and all three doubles matches against Staples. Senior Ivanna Diez de Bonilla won her second singles match 7-6 (4), 6-3 against Staples senior Audrey Kercher.
GHS Boys Volleyball Falls 3-1 to St. Joseph
Greenwich lost to St. Joseph in a close 3-1 match during FCIAC boys volleyball action. Seniors Ricardo Prado and Ben Bowers played well, with Prado recording 12 kills and eight blocks, and Bowers registering 13 kills, 14 digs, and one ace. The Cardinals are now 0-2 and will face Fairfield Warde next on Monday.
Sacred Heart lacrosse team shuts out Westminster 14-0
Sacred Heart’s Varsity A lacrosse team defeated Westminster 14-0 in a game played on Thursday. The Tigers created an 11-goal halftime lead and eight different players scored goals. Senior attack/co-captain Kelly Haggerty recorded a hat trick with one assist for the Tigers, who raised their record to 6-1 on the season.
GHS Girls Lacrosse Wins 4th Game
The Greenwich High School girls lacrosse team defeated Simsbury 12-4 in a non-conference game on Thursday, bringing their record to 4-0. This marks the fourth game in a row in which the team scored more than 10 goals. Greenwich held a small lead of 4-3 at halftime but extended their lead in the second half.
Brunswick School Lacrosse Falls to Lawrenceville School
The Brunswick School lacrosse team lost to Lawrenceville School on Wednesday. The Bruins held a one-goal lead at halftime, but Lawrenceville School dominated the third quarter to secure a win.
LOCAL POLITICS
RTM Discusses Proposal to Allocate Funds to AHTF
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in Greenwich, Connecticut discussed a proposal to allocate half of a $5 fee for Fire Dept review fees of building permit applications to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). However, the town legal department deemed the proposal illegal. Some members suggested the fees should go to the General Fund or the Fire Department instead. The committee ultimately did not bring the amendment, but a different motion from Cheryl Moss proposed a $2.50 fee and a $2.50 surcharge to allocate funds to the AHTF while retaining funds for the General Fund. The town attorney stated that the proposal was also out of legal order. The RTM voted to appeal the ruling of the Town Law Department. The required majority vote was achieved, and the motion passed.
RTM Votes to Keep Hybrid Meetings
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in Greenwich, Connecticut, voted against a proposed resolution that would have ended hybrid meetings in June. District 11 Chair Susan Fahey presented the request, which was based on complaints of delays, distractions, and extra costs associated with remote participation. However, the motion failed, with 132 members voting against it, 53 in favor, and five abstentions. Some members spoke in favor of keeping the hybrid option to increase participation and promote diversity in the legislative body. The RTM decided to keep the hybrid option and acknowledged the need to pivot to fully virtual or hybrid in the event of future pandemics or severe weather.
FROM HARTFORD
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal on Rosado v. Pruitt
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal in Rosado v. Pruitt, ending years of litigation over the lawful selection of the Eastern Long Island Sound Disposal Site for dredged materials. Connecticut defended the site selection made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and major employers and stakeholders including Electric Boat, the Connecticut Port Authority, and the Cross Sound Ferry all supported the dredged material site. The United States Army Corps of Engineers had found that without dredging, the ability to launch and build submarines in Groton would be eliminated.
Texas Ruling on Mifepristone Will Not Affect CT
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement clarifying that medication abortion remains legal and accessible in Connecticut, despite recent court orders from Texas. The statement came after the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington issued an order clarifying that restrictions imposed by a panel of judges in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on access to mifepristone do not apply to the 18 states, including Connecticut, that filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Washington. Tong said that the injunction protecting access to mifepristone in Connecticut and other states remains in full force.
