POLICE & FIRE
Teddy Minchin Joins Fire Patrol
Teddy Minchin was sworn in by Chief Brian Kelly as the newest member of the Greenwich Fire Police Patrol. He will undergo probationary training focused on fire ground operations and the Patrol’s specialized functions. Minchin is now officially part of the team.
Greenwich Fire Quickly Contained Blaze
Greenwich Fi re Department crews responded to a confirmed structure fire on East Elm Street on the afternoon of June 15th. Multiple engines, trucks, and volunteer units were deployed. Once the fire was extinguished, crews conducted overhaul, managed traffic, and supported the Fire Marshal’s investigation.
GFD Extinguishes Car Blaze
On Saturday, June 14th, Greenwich Fire Department’s Engine 1 and Engine 2 responded to a car f ire on East Putnam Avenue. The fire was extinguished without reported injuries. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
FROM TOWN HALL
Greenwich Celebrates Food Waste Progress
Greenwich marked the f ifth anniversary of its Food Scrap Recycling Program at Holly Hill. The event included a proclamation by First Selectman Fred Camillo declaring June 16 as Stop Food Waste Day. The program aims to reduce food waste and promote local sustainability.
Islander II Returns This Week
Ferry service to Island Beach began as scheduled on Saturday, June 14, from the Arch Street dock. Service to Great Captain Island was delayed due to ongoing engine replacement work on the Islander II ferry, which is expected to be completed by the end of this week. The upgrade is part of a multiyear program to modernize all town ferry engines.
AROUND TOWN
Spat Collectors Boost Oyster Habitat
Spat collectors have been placed in Greenwich Cove to support oyster population growth. These devices help juvenile oysters, called spat, attach and grow in targeted areas near Greenwich Point Park. Oysters improve water quality, provide habitat, and strengthen shoreline resilience.
Dingletown Church Property Secures Preservation
Greenwich Land Trust has acquired the Dingletown Church property at 376 Stanwich Road to preserve its historical and environmental features. Legal preservation restrictions and a conservation easement were established to protect the site. The Trust is considering transferring long-term stewardship to the Greenwich Tree Conservancy.
Havemeyer Building Meeting
The Havemeyer Building in Greenwich, a historic former school and longtime Board of Education office, is the subject of a redevelopment proposal recommending its conversion into a boutique hotel with added event space and parking. The proposal, selected by a town committee, includes a possible new office building for the Board of Education on the property. A public hearing was held to present the plan and collect feedback as the beginning of the town’s review process.
Catering Business Proposed for Greenwich
A catering business has been proposed for the former New England Cleaners site at 169 W. Putnam Ave. in Greenwich. The applicant, Alex Gurevich, plans to use 29 additional parking spaces from a nearby property he owns to meet zoning requirements. The proposal has been submitted to the town’s Planning & Zoning Department and awaits a pre-application review.
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
Mothers for Others Exceeds Goal
Mothers for Others held its first virtual Diaper Derby and raised over $55,000, surpassing its goal. The funds will support the distribution of more than 500,000 diapers in 2025 to families in need across Fairfield County. The organization works with local partners and directs nearly 90% of donations to purchasing diapers and wipes.
Bruce Museum Offers Free Admission
The Bruce Museum will offer free weekend admission for children under 18 from July 5 to August 31, 2025, funded by an anonymous donor. Up to four children per paying adult can participate by obtaining tickets at the museum’s main entrance. The program includes access to drop-in activities and special exhibitions on basket weaving and climate change in Alaska.
Garden Catering Supports Addiction Recovery
Tyler Gwozdz was a Greenwich native whose sports-related injury led to an opioid addiction that ultimately shaped his life. His family established the Tyler G. Foundation to support addiction education, recovery, and community resources. On June 18, Garden Catering donated all proceeds from sales of Tyler’s favorite sandwich to the foundation.
Abilis Reopens Island Beach Concession
Abilis, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities, is operating the Island Beach Concession Stand for the fifth consecutive summer which began June 14. The stand will be open daily through August 31 and on weekends through September 14, following the Island Beach Ferry schedule. It offers food, drinks, and beach items, with updates posted on social media.
Cancer Survivors Celebrated at Greenwich Smilow Cancer Hospital
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich held its first in-person Cancer Survivorship event since 2019 to recognize individuals who have completed cancer treatment. The event highlighted advancements in survivorship care and ongoing support for patients after treatment. It took place at Greenwich Hospital and included personal reflections from those affected by cancer.
SCHOOLS
GHS Music Teacher Reinstated
Greenwich High School planned to reduce its music department staffing due to lower projected enrollment, resulting in the reassignment of teacher Michael Breaux to a middle school. Students and parents objected publicly at a Board of Education meeting. Following the feedback, the district reversed the decision and announced Breaux would remain at the high school.
GPS Schools Honor Outstanding Staff
Greenwich Public Schools recognized 63 employees in June with the “Difference Maker” award for significant contributions to the school community. The award is given monthly to full- or parttime staff who demonstrate consistent or exceptional impact. Over the past nine months, more than 650 nominations were submitted for 512 employees across the district.
Bethany Fuscaldo Earns State Nomination
Greenwich High School’s Bethany Fuscaldo has been selected by Greenwich Public Schools as its nominee for the Connecticut State Department of Education’s 2026 Teacher of the Year Program. Fuscaldo has worked in the district since 2007 and currently directs the high school’s orchestra program. The state program recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence and serve as representatives of the teaching profession.
Chris Bortot Earns Paraeducator Honor
Chris Bortot, a paraeducator at North Street School, has been named Greenwich Public Schools’ 2026 Paraeducator of the Year and will advance to the state-level Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year selection. He was chosen from 15 candidates, each representing a different school in the district. The state award recognizes one paraeducator annually for demonstrating exceptional skill and commitment.
GA Students Explore Europe
Students from Greenwich Academy traveled over 4,000 miles to visit Paris, Madrid, and Toledo at the start of summer. The trip was led by Ms. Chiamale and a team of chaperones. They shared photos of the experience before returning home.
Claribel Michilena Named Assistant Principal
Claribel Michilena has been appointed assistant principal of Julian Curtiss School, effective July 1, after serving as interim since September 2024. She brings 18 years of experience, including roles in the New York City Department of Education as a district administrator and classroom teacher. Michilena holds degrees in psychology, elementary education, and school leadership.
GCDS Computer Science Team Triumphs
Greenwich Country Day School’s Computer Science team earned a perfect score in the American Computer Science League Senior Division for the third consecutive year. The team was led by faculty advisors Gordie Campbell, Annette Iversen, Samantha Marciano, Diego Abanto, and Doug Carr. This marks a sustained period of top performance in national computer science competition.
Whitby Students Achieve Environmental Milestone
Fourth-grade students from Whitby School visited the Ashokan Center, where they participated in activities such as hiking, canoeing, blacksmithing, and archery. They achieved zero food and liquid waste during their stay and were recognized by signing a designated paddle. The trip emphasized environmental responsibility and group cooperation.
GHS Seniors Celebrate Graduation Success
Greenwich High School’s Class of 2025 held its graduation ceremony on June 17. Commencement speaker Ben Van Leeuwen described his unconventional path to founding a national ice cream company, emphasizing persistence, risk-taking, and following personal interests. School leaders highlighted the importance of work ethic, lifelong learning, and adapting to uncertainty after graduation.
Hamilton Avenue Celebrates Student Achievements
On June 12, Hamilton Avenue School held an end-of-year assembly recognizing students for exemplifying district values and maintaining perfect attendance. The event concluded with administrators being slimed, fulfilling a promise tied to academic performance goals. Retiring teachers and perfect attendance students participated in the sliming, followed by a fifth-grade tugof-war and a school-wide photo.
Students Explore Nature at Binney
Eighty-five fifth grade students from North Mianus School attended an educational event at Binney Park organized by the Riverside Garden Club. They participated in sessions on native trees, reptiles, and bees, and completed a scavenger hunt to identify local plants and animals. The program, started during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues annually for North Mianus students.
SPORTS
GHS Seniors Commit To College
On June 11, Greenwich High School held a ceremony recognizing seniors who will compete in collegiate athletics. The event acknowledged the students’ commitment to sports during their four years at the school. A total of 27 student-athletes were honored across various disciplines.
Greenwich Doubles Team Repeats Victory
Greenwich High School’s top doubles team, Yumi Inagawa and Cameron Sowter, won the CIAC Invitational Girls Tennis Tournament doubles title for the second consecutive year, completing an undefeated 2025 season. They defeated fellow Greenwich teammates Emme Pecorin and Maddie Wilber in the finals, marking an all-Greenwich championship matchup. The Cardinals also had a flawless season overall, winning FCIACs, the CIAC Class LL title, and dominating in both singles and doubles competitions.
Greenwich Lacrosse Finishes Strong Season
Greenwich High School’s varsity boys lacrosse team began its 2025 season with a notable upset win over nationally ranked Staples, but was later eliminated by the same team in the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals in a 10-2 loss. Despite strong defensive efforts and several key victories throughout the season, the Cardinals concluded with an 11-8 record and a first-round FCIAC Tournament exit. Seniors Mikey Brescia and Colin Zeller were highlighted as standout leaders in what head coach Bobby Lutz described as a competitive and meaningful season.
FROM HARTFORD
Nationwide Opioid Settlement Agreement Reached
All 55 U.S. attorneys general have agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to resolve litigation over their role in the opioid crisis. The settlement ends the Sacklers’ control of Purdue, bars them from selling opioids in the U.S., and requires payments over 15 years, with most funds delivered in the first three years. If approved by the bankruptcy court, the deal will also make millions of internal Purdue and Sackler documents public.
States Challenge Federal National Guard Order
Twenty-two state leaders filed a legal brief supporting California’s effort to block the president’s federalization and deployment of its National Guard. The brief argues the deployment violates constitutional limits on military use within the U.S. and undermines state authority. It also raises concerns about the impact on public safety and the availability of National Guard services.
ACROSS CT
USPS Promotes Safe Mail Delivery
USPS Marks Dog Bite Awareness Month to Promote Safer Deliveries. Dog owners are urged to secure pets to prevent injuries and ensure uninterrupted mail service. Mail delivery may be halted if a dog is deemed a threat, with owners potentially liable for associated costs.
