POLICE & FIRE
Members of the Greenwich Police Department took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, carrying the “Flame of Hope” to the Stamford town line. This relay, involving over 97,000 law enforcement officers annually, supports Special Olympics events at all levels. For more information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit www.letr.org.
The Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund is hosting its 2024 Benefit Car Show tomorrow, Saturday, June 8, with a rain date of Sunday, June 9, featuring classic and exotic cars, motorcycles, and vintage fire trucks. Registration, which costs $20 per vehicle, is open until May 31, with proceeds supporting scholarships for children of Greenwich Police officers. The event will include a DJ, food trucks, and sponsorship opportunities, with more information available at https://www.gpdscholarshipfund.org.
The Greenwich Police Department is requesting $650,000 to address a shortfall in their overtime budget, primarily due to officers attending the police academy, mandatory field training, and being on long-term injury leave. This request will be reviewed during the Representative Town Meeting on June 10. The department anticipates that the return of these officers by September will help reduce overtime expenses in the next fiscal year.
FROM TOWN HALL
Greenwich Animal Control will offer a Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic for cats and dogs on June 8, from 10:00am to 12:00am Vaccines, administered by Dr. Rebecca Shumaker, cost $20 per pet, with a free option for those with state assistance ID cards. The clinic is limited to Greenwich residents and Town employees; pets must be healthy, with dogs leashed and cats in carriers.
The Greenwich Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a public meeting on June 11, 2024, at 6am The meeting will be hybrid, available in person at the Town Hall Meeting Room and online via Zoom, to discuss the Route 1 Corridor Adaptive Signal Control Technology Improvements Project.
The Town has mailed renewal forms for alarm registrations, which are mandatory for all alarm systems. The fee is $30 until July 31, then increases to $80 in August and $230 in September. Renew online at https://www.greenwichct.gov/1893/Alarm-Ordinance
Earlier this month, First Selectman Fred Camillo recognized Professional Municipal Clerks Week with a formal proclamation. According to First Selectman Camillo, under the guidance of Town Clerk Jackie Budkins, the office ensures the smooth operation of essential services such as managing land and vital records, overseeing elections, and issuing dog licenses. The efficiency of RTM meetings also relies on their work.
The 2024 Greenwich Public Works Boots & Shoes Program is now open for applications, offering DSW gift cards to schoolchildren aged 5 to 15. Eligibility requires living in Greenwich for six months and meeting specific income guidelines. Applications are due by July 25, 2024, and gift cards will be distributed in early August. For more information, visit the town’s website.
Starting July 1, 2024, residents need a new permit to enter the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility. Permits for July 2024 – June 2025 can be pre-ordered online and will be mailed by the end of June 2024. Each vehicle must display a valid disposal permit, and households are limited to one hanging tag.
On Sunday, Greenwich Town Hall hosted a Pride flag-raising event with speeches, live music, and activities. Organized by Allison Kahn and Karsen Vagner, and funded by the Leonard Litz Foundation Circle of Care Center, the event featured remarks from local officials emphasizing community support and the need to oppose anti-LGBTQ legislation.
AROUND TOWN
Greenwich High School student Thomas McKinney will lead a community cleanup at Bible Street Playground in Cos Cob tomorrow, Saturday, June 8, from 2pm to 4pm Sponsored by Greenwich Green and Clean, volunteers can sign up in advance and should bring gloves and wear long pants. For more information, contact litterfreeocean@gmail.com.
The playgrounds at Bruce Park and Cos Cob Park closed this past Wednesday, and will continue to be closed until tomorrow, Saturday, June 8th for maintenance on the safety surfaces. In Bruce Park, the play areas for children aged 2-5 and the upper rock climbing zones are closed, while the section for 5-12-year-olds remains open. The entire playground at Cos Cob Park is closed.
Greenwich Communities’ Executive Director Anthony Johnson and Board Chair Sam Romeo held a community meeting to discuss the proposed Strickland Road development, answering residents’ questions for nearly two hours. The meeting provided factual information about the project’s necessity for Greenwich and its potential to address State 8-30g law requirements. The recorded session is available on the GCTV YouTube page, with more public meetings planned before the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Greenwich will hold Independence Day fireworks displays at Binney Park and Greenwich Point on July 6, organized by the Department of Parks and Recreation with help from other town agencies. The town funds most of the event, with additional support from the “Bang for Your Buck” fundraiser. More information is available on the Town official website.
The town plans to upgrade Greenwich Avenue to meet ADA standards by modifying eight intersections, enhancing parking, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, curbs, landscape beds, and lighting. This project, discussed in a recent public hearing, aims to improve safety and accessibility while maintaining the current number of parking spaces. Despite some residents’ concerns about the proposed changes, others emphasized the necessity of ADA compliance for public safety.
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
The Old Greenwich Farmers Market at 38 West End Avenue is open every Wednesday through fall from 2:30 to 6am, offering local food, gifts, jewelry, food trucks, live music, and a prayer tent. The Greenwich Farmers Market at Horseneck Parking Lot runs every Saturday from 9:30am to 1am Attendees should note the rules on shopping times, pets, smoking, and parking, with detailed vendor information available online.
The upcoming episode of the PBS series “Museum Access,” airing throughout June, will showcase American Impressionist works from the Cos Cob Art Colony at The Bruce Museum and the Greenwich Historical Society. Host Leslie Mueller will guide viewers through these locations, highlighting paintings by artists such as Childe Hassam, John Henry Twachtman, and Elmer MacRae. The episode will be available on PBS, Amazon Video, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 visit to Greenwich, a display at Town Hall, designed by Greenwich High School student Riona McKersie, highlights his role in the American Revolution. The exhibit, supported by local organizations, was unveiled on June 4 with several town officials in attendance. Upcoming events on August 18 and 19 will include reenactments, keynote speeches, and other commemorations of Lafayette’s visit.
Residents, elected officials, and clergy gathered at Greenwich Town Hall to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and raise awareness about its public health impact. Speakers, including First Selectman Fred Camillo and Jonathan Perloe of CT Against Gun Violence, emphasized the need for responsible gun ownership and criticized lenient juvenile laws. The event highlighted recent legislative efforts to curb gun violence.
The Greenwich Tree Conservancy invites residents to nominate their valued trees for the Treasured Trees Program, which recognizes notable trees for various qualities. Selected trees will receive a nameplate and be listed in the Conservancy’s registry. Nominations can be submitted online by June 30th, with a reception for honorees on October 24th, 2024.
The 35th Annual One Mile Swim at Tod’s Point will be held on Saturday, July 13th, with proceeds supporting the YMCA of Greenwich’s Swim School Scholarship Fund. The event starts at 7:30am, featuring age-grouped heats and wetsuit-optional participation. Registration details and more information are available on The Greenwich Swim Committee website, or by contacting Jon Harnett at 203-253-2546.
After Mumford & Sons’ performance at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Greenwich Town Party organizers are already planning for next year’s event. Ray Dalio, who founded the party in 2011, announced he will match $5 million in donations to create a $10 million endowment fund to ensure the event remains accessible and well-funded. The nonprofit has already raised $2.5 million towards this goal, aiming to secure the party’s future with the endowment generating sustainable income. For more information about the Greenwich Town Party, past performances, or to make a donation, visit the Greenwich Town Party website.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Diane Kelly, President of Greenwich Hospital, announced her retirement at the end of this year. Kelly has led the hospital since June 2020 and also served as chief nursing executive for Yale New Haven Health since 2022, managing the hospital through the COVID-19 crisis and advancing its clinical growth. Under her leadership, the hospital launched the $125 million Arc of Care Campaign and achieved Trauma Level III designation.
The League of Women Voters (LWV) Greenwich announced the winners of their 5th Annual Student Essay Contest on voting. Winners include Jackson Lowe, Grade 5, with his cartoon titled, Carter The Cat; Adriana Bozza, Caroline Stowe, Adriana Pia Portolano Vergona, and Pauline Wells, all Grade 8, with their play, No Vote, No Choice: No Vote, No Voice; and Justin Qu, Grade 11, with his essay, Why Vote?. High School runners-up are Natasha Arakal and Keira Frascella, Grade 11, with her Public Service Announcement titled, Why Vote?; and Alexa Loera, Grade 10, with her poem, Preservation.
A Riverside resident won $50,000 from the Connecticut Lottery’s $1,000,000 Extreme Cash game, purchasing the winning ticket at a BP gas station in Old Greenwich. There are only 25 $50,000 winners among over three million tickets. Each ticket costs $30, with the grand prize being a $1 million annuity.
SCHOOLS
This year, Greenwich Country Day School bids farewell to retirees Palmer Sloan, Anna Munoz, Leslea Walker, Michele Ross, and Shaun Kelly. Their significant contributions to the school were acknowledged at a gathering this past Friday attended by alumni, faculty, staff, and families.
SPORTS
Big Red Day, held this past weekend, saw generous contributions from the Greenwich community, which will fund summer camps, meals, and gear for over 200 athletes. The first home game of the upcoming season will be held on September 28, and Homecoming on October 5.
Greenwich Crew excelled at the 2024 USRowing Northeast Youth Championships, winning the Overall Points Trophy and collecting 29 medals, including 12 golds. The Women’s and Men’s Teams secured multiple victories, with several teams advancing to the USRowing Youth Nationals. Coaches praised the athletes’ dedication and teamwork, reflecting the program’s commitment to rowing excellence.
The Tod’s Point Sailing School, a non-profit, opened its third season over Memorial Day weekend and will operate daily through Labor Day, offering sailboat and paddlecraft rentals, private lessons, and classes for both juniors and adults. Registrations and reservations for courses and rentals can be made online or via phone at 203-637-2022 and email at info@todspointsailingschool.org, with additional information available at www.TodsPointSailingSchool.org.
Unseeded Greenwich High School juniors Yume Inagawa and Cameron Sowter have advanced to the championship match of the CIAC Invitational Tennis Tournament’s doubles bracket, achieving a 4-0 record so far. They will face senior Phoebe Shostak and sophomore Paige Seaver today at Conard High School in West Hartford.
Greenwich advanced to the Class LL Tournament semifinals with a 10-8 victory over Ridgefield, and faced top-seeded Darien next. The Cardinals, led by standout performances from Emma Abbazia and Dillon McFerran, have won nine of their last twelve games and boast a strong scoring record.
Greenwich High School boys lacrosse team defeated Stamford 13-6 in the first round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament after a tied first half. The Cardinals dominated the second half with strong performances from players like Mike Brescia and Conrad Burki, setting up a quarterfinal match against New Canaan.
Greenwich High School’s girls golf team secured second place for the third consecutive year at the FCIAC Golf Championship, with Junior Ally Bauer leading the team with a round of 80. New Canaan won the championship, while Trumbull, Darien, and Fairfield Ludlowe placed third, fourth, and fifth respectively.
Greenwich High School’s girls lacrosse team secured a decisive 15-5 victory over Stamford in the first round of the CIAC Class LL Lacrosse Tournament, with standout performances from senior attack Emma Abbazia and sophomore Giselle DiPietro. The Cardinals will face Ridgefield in the quarterfinals, having previously triumphed over them in the FCIAC Tournament.
The Greenwich High School girls tennis team won the CIAC Class LL Tournament title with a 4-0 victory over Staples, marking their first championship since 2009 and finishing the season with a 21-1 record. This win adds to their total of 11 state championships, demonstrating their strong performance and determination throughout the season.
The Greenwich High School boys tennis team completed a second consecutive 22-0 season, winning both the FCIAC and CIAC Class LL championships. This victory marks their 15th state championship and extends their winning streak to 44 matches.
The Greenwich High School girls tennis team advanced to the CIAC Class LL Tournament final after sweeping Fairfield Ludlowe 5-0 in the semifinals. The team is led by standout performances from senior Kyra Dybas and the doubles team of Malena Schraa and Emily Weinstein.
Greenwich High School boys tennis team remains unbeaten, advancing to the CIAC Class LL championship match after defeating Darien 4-1 in the semifinals. They will face Staples in the final, aiming for their second consecutive state title.
LOCAL POLITICS
On Tuesday, a judge at Stamford Superior Court ruled in favor of Fred DeCaro III, rejecting a lawsuit by Susan Schieffelin, George Hritz, Michael DeVita, and Gail Lauridsen to invalidate primary petitions and nullify the March RTC Primaries in Districts 2 and 8. The court found no violation of Connecticut General Statute 9-410(c) and affirmed DeCaro’s actions. Despite the plaintiffs’ allegations, the ruling confirmed that the procedures followed were compliant with state law.
