News Briefs: July 11

POLICE & FIRE

Photo credit: Greenwich Police Department

Officer Completes Probation Successfully
Officer Scofield has completed her probationary period and received formal recognition from Chief Heavey. She now holds full status within the department. The transition marks the end of her initial evaluation phase.

Photo credit: Greenwich Fire Department

Tom Lenart Named Assistant Chief
The Greenwich Fire Department has appointed Tom Lenart as the new Assistant Chief of Operations. He was officially sworn in during a department ceremony. Lenart will oversee operational responsibilities within the department.

Photo credit: Greenwich Police Department

Greenwich Police Welcome New Officers
Rosana DiMaggioCarolino and Kailey Ego have joined the Greenwich Police Department as new officers. DiMaggioCarolino holds degrees in Sociology and Women’s Studies and completed the GPD Citizens Police Academy. Ego earned a degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on Police Science and has prior experience with the Norwich Police Department and Connecticut State Police.

FROM TOWN HALL

Boots and Shoes Program Returns
The Greenwich Department of Human Services Fund has launched its 2025 “Boots & Shoes” program to provide DSW gift cards to children from low-income families for back-to-school footwear. The program supports children ages 5 to 15 and distributed cards to 166 students last year. Donations can be made online or through Amazon, with gift cards distributed in August.

Joan Lynch

Joan Lynch Appointed Greenwich CFO
Joan Lynch became the Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller for the Town of Greenwich on July 1, 2025, succeeding Peter Mynarski following his retirement. She has worked in several finance roles within the town since 2019 and was officially appointed by the Board of Estimate and Taxation in May. In her new position, she is responsible for managing the town’s finances, overseeing reporting and budgeting systems, and maintaining fiscal compliance.

Greenwich Launches Annual Photo Contest
The Town of Greenwich is accepting submissions for its 5th Annual Community Photo Contest through July 31. Entries must be original, high-resolution, unedited photos taken within Greenwich that feature parks, recreation programs, or events. Participants must be 18 or older to submit, with up to four entries allowed per person.

Riverside School Renovation Committee Formed
The Board of Selectmen has approved the creation of a committee to oversee renovations at Riverside School. Residents interested in serving can apply through the Selectmen’s Nominations Advisory Committee. Applicants must live in town and be approved by both the Board of Selectmen and the Representative Town Meeting.

Town Seeks Architectural Committee
Volunteers Greenwich is seeking volunteers to join its Architectural Review Committee, which evaluates proposed commercial and multi-family construction and renovations. Applicants must be town residents and have interest or experience in architecture, planning, construction, landscaping, or preservation. The committee provides advisory input to the Planning and Zoning Commission to ensure design consistency with town standards.

AROUND TOWN

Greenwich Celebrates Bastille Day Together
The Alliance Française of Greenwich will host Bastille Day events on Monday, July 14, to mark the anniversary of the 1789 storming of the Bastille, a key event in the French Revolution. A morning ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall will include official remarks, flag-raising, and a reception. Evening activities include a French jazz event at Bistro V and a dinner at L’Escale, both requiring reservations.

Greenwich Launches Summer Paving Program
Greenwich’s annual summer paving program began July 7, starting in Byram and moving east to Old Greenwich. Work will occur weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with police or flaggers managing traffic; access to homes and businesses will remain available. Driveway apron adjustments will follow paving where needed, excluding Belgian block or curbing.

Photo credit: Greenwich Shellfish Commission

American Oystercatchers Nest at Greenwich
A pair of American Oystercatchers is nesting at Greenwich Point for the first time in many years, indicating potential progress in local conservation. Their nesting area is fenced off and must not be disturbed, as the species is legally protected. Visitors are advised to avoid the area, remove trash, report disturbances, and consider volunteering for shorebird monitoring.

New Holly Hill Permits Available
Starting July 1, 2025, all vehicles entering the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility must display a valid 2025–2026 entrance permit. Permits can be purchased online or in person, with one hanging tag issued per household. Lost or undelivered permits must be reported within one month or replaced at full cost.

Water Service Restored After Disruption
On July 8, 2025, a contractor working at 151 Hamilton Avenue in Chickahominy damaged an Aquarion water main, cutting off water to the area for most of the day. The incident disrupted traffic, which was rerouted through nearby streets, and caused issues for local businesses and services. Aquarion replaced a six-foot section of pipe, restoring water service by evening.

Martial Arts Studio Gains Approval
Greenwich Planning & Zoning approved a coastal site plan and special permit for JED Martial Arts LLC to open a studio at 30 South Water Street in Byram. The property, formerly a Bank of America branch, is owned by the DiFilippo and Farina families, who also own the neighboring building at 2 South Water Street. The commission approved the proposal with conditions related to parking, building modifications, and a class schedule.

LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS

Greenwich Students Join Civic Effort
The League of Women Voters of Greenwich is forming a student committee for grades 7–12 who live or attend school in Greenwich. The committee will focus on learning about government and promoting voter access and education. Applications are open to public and private school students and can be submitted online.

GrahamBerries Return for Summer Season
GrahamBerries are organic blueberries grown in upstate New York and sold seasonally in Greenwich and Darien through Abilis, a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities. The sale of the berries provides employment training for Abilis program participants. They are available at multiple local locations through mid-August, while supplies last.

Church Housing Expansion Plan Proposed
An application has been submitted to Greenwich Planning & Zoning to combine the properties at 30 and 38 West End Avenue in Old Greenwich, which include a church and a 1900-built house. The proposal includes retaining both existing buildings and constructing two new residences for clergy, along with increasing parking capacity from 76 to 102 spaces. The application, submitted by Joe Pecora on behalf of LHCC, includes requests for site plan, coastal site plan, and special permit approval.

Greenwich Library Announces 2025 Selection
Greenwich Library has selected The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck as the 2025 Greenwich Reads Together title. The book is a collection of twelve interconnected short stories set in New England across three centuries. Shattuck will speak at the library’s Berkley Theater on October 28, with the event also available via livestream.

Do It All Dudes Thrive
Three college students from Greenwich launched a summer business called Do It All Dudes, offering manual labor and event support services across Fairfield and Westchester Counties. The business began after one of them purchased a used pickup truck and was asked to help with odd jobs. They now operate regularly, providing services such as junk removal, lawn work, power washing, and event staffing.

Swimmers Raise Funds For Safety
On July 19, swimmers will participate in the 36th Annual One Mile Swim at Tod’s Point, organized by the Greenwich Swim Committee and YMCA of Greenwich. Proceeds support the YMCA’s swim safety programs and scholarships for children who need financial assistance. The event includes a one-mile swim in Long Island Sound, age-grouped heats, and awards for top finishers.

Greenwich Hospital Cancer Center Approved
Greenwich’s Planning & Zoning Commission approved the final application for Greenwich Hospital’s Smilow Cancer Center to renovate existing buildings rather than build new ones. The plan consolidates services within the hospital’s current footprint and shifts other medical functions to satellite locations. The hospital must report back on traffic, parking, and pedestrian safety one and two years after opening.

St. Roch Festival Returns
St. Roch’s Church in Chickahominy will hold its annual summer feast on church property from August 15-17, 2025, due to ongoing construction at the adjacent Hamilton Avenue School. The event will include rides, games, food vendors, live entertainment, and a religious procession. This change in location has occurred before during previous school construction.

Bruce Museum Offers Kids Free
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich will offer free weekend admission for up to four children under 18 with each paying adult from July 5 through August 31, 2025. The program is funded by an anonymous donor and aims to increase access to the museum’s exhibits and programs. Weekend activities include art and science sessions, a sustainability-themed Family Day on July 19, and two exhibitions: one on Indigenous basketry and another on climate change in Alaska.

Cos Cob Library Services Continue
The Cos Cob Branch Library is temporarily closed for renovation and expansion. During this time, library holds can be picked up at The Reading Room, 5 Suburban Avenue, Cos Cob. Pickup hours are Tuesday to Friday from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Riverside Garden Club Celebrates Community
The Riverside Garden Club concluded its 106th year with a luncheon recognizing members for contributions in horticulture, design, and civic work. The club also hosted 85 North Mianus School students at Binney Park for educational sessions on native plants, bees, and wildlife. Activities included expert-led talks and a scavenger hunt to reinforce learning.

Off-Beat Players Present Pippin
Off-Beat Players, an inclusive theater group based in Greenwich, will stage the musical Pippin on July 31, August 1, and August 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kerrick Performing Arts Center at Greenwich Country Day School. The organization includes about 40 teens and young adults with and without disabilities and was founded in 2007 as a nonprofit. Tickets and details are available at www.offbeatplayers.org

Greenwich Students Lead Civic Simulations
The American Legion and its Auxiliary created the Girls and Boys State programs to teach high school students about state and national government through simulation. In 2025, six Greenwich High School students participated, taking on roles such as legislators, town officials, and candidates within fictional towns. The program includes elections, party affiliations, and legislative processes to build understanding of civic systems.

PEOPLE IN TOWN

Peter Mynarski Retires After Distinguished Service
Peter Mynarski retired after nearly 21 years as Greenwich’s comptroller, concluding a career that began with the town in 1981. He led the Finance Department through multiple budget cycles and economic challenges, working with 11 Boards of Estimate and Taxation. Joan Lynch has been named the new comptroller.

Bethany Fuscaldo. Contributed photo

Fuscaldo Honored With Teaching Award
Bethany Fuscaldo received the 2025 Joseph Mitchell Kaye Award from the Greenwich Kiwanis Club at the Havemeyer Building. She was 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 orchestra at Greenwich High School.

SCHOOLS

Jessica McEvily

GPS Appoints Wellness Coordinator
Greenwich Public Schools has appointed Jessica McEvily as the district’s new Coordinator of Student Wellness and Support. In this role, she will oversee mental health services and coordinate efforts among school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. McEvily previously served as assistant principal and school psychologist within the district.

Sacred Heart Educators Complete Pilgrimage
Six educators from Sacred Heart Greenwich walked over 120 kilometers of the Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. They attended a Mass led by Archbishop Julián Barrio and witnessed the botafumeiro ceremony. The group also visited a network school in Seville and concluded their trip at Finisterre. Photo credit: Sacred Heart Greenwich

SPORTS

Greenwich Youth Sparks Yankees Win
A youth baseball team from Greenwich, Connecticut, introduced the Yankees’ starting lineup during a Sunday broadcast on the YES Network. That day, the Yankees broke a six-game losing streak by defeating the Mets 6-4, then won again against the Mariners after a rest day. The team’s recent wins followed the youth team’s appearance.

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