POLICE & FIRE
Community Toy Drive Continues Through December
The Greenwich Police Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for local children through December 22. Donations may be dropped off in the lobby of Police Headquarters at 11 Bruce Place. The program supports families in need during the holiday season.
No Injuries Reported In Morning Fire
Five days ago, at 6:12 a.m., fire units responded to a report of a detached garage fire at 43 Byfield Lane, which had spread to the main residence by the time crews arrived. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 40 minutes; the garage and house sustained severe damage, and no injuries were reported. The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating, with assistance from multiple Greenwich fire units, mutual aid partners, Greenwich Police, and Greenwich EMS.
Greenwich Firefighters Complete State Academy
Firefighters Kevin Millea and Aaron Jed graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy recruit program on December 5 after completing 15 weeks of training as members of Recruit Class 76. They are probationary firefighters with the Greenwich Fire Department and will now begin a six-week in-house training program. The program is a joint effort between the Town of Greenwich and the Connecticut Fire Academy.
Kennel Fire Contained With Animals Safe
Bedford firefighters responded at 5:42 a.m. Friday to a structure fire at Northwind Kennels on Old Post Road, where limited driveway access allowed only one engine to reach the building. The fire involved the rear and roof of the kennel, required animal removal assistance from Bedford and Mount Kisco animal control, and was controlled in about an hour with additional mutual aid crews responding on a second alarm. All animals were accounted for, and the fire, believed to have been caused by a dryer, remains under investigation by the Westchester County Cause and Origin Team.
FROM TOWN HALL
Pumpkin Recycling Participation Rises Locally
Pumpkin recycling at Holly Hill is seeing high participation, with drop-off bins filling quickly. Recycling pumpkins reduces landfill waste and supports composting of organic material. Pumpkins must be free of paint, glitter, decorations, and candles to be accepted.
Holiday Lights Recycling Available at Holly Hill
Old or broken holiday lights can be recycled at Holly Hill in Greenwich. All lights and outdated electronics may be dropped off at the electronics area next to the Yard Waste Area without an appointment. Recycling these items reduces waste and supports local sustainability efforts.
Two Students Serve as First Selectman
Greenwich held a First Selectman for a Day event last Friday, appointing two students—Julie Mulcare, 6, and Andrew Mulcare, 9, of North Street School—to the role. The children visited Town Hall, learned about the responsibilities of the position, and participated in the Town Hall tree lighting.
Public Feedback Continues On Multi-Use Path
The Greenwich Department of Public Works is collecting public feedback through December 31, 2025, on proposed routes for a multi-use path connecting Binney Park in Old Greenwich and Boccuzzi Park in Stamford. The planning and feasibility phase, conducted by consulting firm Tighe & Bond, evaluates four route alternatives using an interactive StoryMap that includes maps, conceptual designs, and a public comment form. The project is funded through a Connecticut Recreational Trails Program grant, with no construction funding or schedule established at this time.
AROUND TOWN
Greenwich Residents Support Winter Safety
During winter storms in Greenwich, residents must clear sidewalks within 18 hours of snowfall under town ordinance. Fire hydrants should be kept free of snow so emergency services can access them. Driving should be avoided during severe conditions unless necessary.
Holiday Shopping Safety Tips Shared
The Greenwich Police Department advises residents to take basic precautions while shopping during the holiday season to reduce the risk of theft or harm. Recommendations include staying alert in parking lots, securing vehicles and valuables, shopping with others when possible, using secure online shopping practices, and ensuring packages are delivered safely. Suspicious activity should be reported to 203-622-8004, with confidential tips accepted at 203-622-3333 or TIPS@greenwichct.gov
Wreaths Across America Honors Greenwich Veterans
Wreaths Across America was held nationwide on Dec. 13 to honor U.S. veterans. In Greenwich, the Horseneck Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed wreaths at the Old Burying Ground on Byram Shore Road, including on the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers Sgt. Daniel Lyon and Private Daniel Sherwood. The observance also took place at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 2,100 other locations in the United States and abroad.
Bush Statue Approved for Veterans Plaza
The Greenwich Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved plans to install a statue honoring former President George H.W. Bush in Veterans Plaza Park after multiple revisions to the proposal. The statue will be placed in a circular planted area in front of the Havemeyer Building, with reduced overall height, simplified lighting, and design changes including the removal of a plinth. The privately funded monument will include a maintenance fund, and a sculptor has not yet been selected.
North Street Home Advances Historic Designation
The owners of a house at 352 North St. in Greenwich have requested a local historic property designation for the residence, which was designed by architect William B. Tubby and completed in 1918. The Greenwich Historic District Commission has asked to be appointed as the study committee, a required step in the designation process that would place future exterior changes under commission review. The Board of Selectmen is expected to vote on the request at its Dec. 23 meeting.
LOCAL BUSINESSES & NON PROFITS
Hassam Pastel Joins Historical Society Collection
The Greenwich Historical Society has acquired Tidal Dam and Bridge, Cos Cob, a pastel by American Impressionist Childe Hassam, donated by a Greenwich family in memory of their son André. Created in 1902 during Hassam’s extended stay at the Holley Boarding House, the work depicts the Lower Landing along the Mianus River and complements an existing etching of the same scene in the Society’s collection, providing visual documentation of an area with no surviving photographs. The pastel is now part of the Society’s holdings related to the Cos Cob art colony and is on view in conjunction with the exhibition The Holley Boarding House: Inspiring American Impressionism through March 8, 2026.
$25 Million Gift Advances Cancer Care
Greenwich Hospital announced that an anonymous donor plans to recommend a $25 million grant from a donor-advised fund to support construction of the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital, honoring oncologist Dickerman Hollister Jr., MD. The project will expand oncology services, clinical trials, and access to Yale Cancer Center expertise through renovated and new facilities within the hospital campus. Community members are invited to contribute to the building fund.
Health System Guides Winter Care Choices
As winter begins, hospitals in the region are seeing increased cases of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. Yale New Haven Health advises patients to use emergency departments only for life-threatening symptoms, seek primary care or urgent care for non-emergency illness, and consider virtual visits for minor conditions. Masking, vaccination, hand hygiene, and staying home when sick are recommended to reduce the spread of infection.
Perrot Library Launches Library Of Things
Perrot Library has launched a Library of Things, a collection of nontraditional items available for borrowing in addition to books and media. The collection includes equipment, games, and technology intended for short-term or occasional use, supporting access without the need for purchase or storage. Items circulate under defined lending periods and policies, aligning with a broader library practice focused on shared resources and sustainability.
Taco Restaurant Approved For Railroad Avenue
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a proposal to convert the former Greenwich Cigar Store at 91 Railroad Ave. into a Taco Project fast-casual restaurant. The plan includes 20 indoor seats and access to eight rear parking spaces, with exterior signage and design subject to Architectural Review Committee approval. The building, constructed in 1898, is located across from the Greenwich train station, which is currently undergoing a $30 million renovation.
Jen Hatmaker Visits Greenwich January 21
Jen Hatmaker, a New York Times bestselling author and speaker, will appear in Greenwich on Wednesday, January 21, to discuss her memoir Awake. The event, hosted by the Courage & Faith Speaker Series at Christ Church Greenwich, will focus on themes of personal change, faith, and resilience drawn from the book. Tickets include a copy of Awake and a post-event reception, with the program held at Christ Church, 254 East Putnam Ave.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Dalios Expand Child Investment Program
Ray and Barbara Dalio, through Dalio Philanthropies, announced they will contribute an additional $250 per child to Trump administration investment accounts for about 300,000 children in Connecticut, supplementing a $1,000 federal deposit available to all newborns in the state during the administration. The additional funds will initially go to children in Connecticut ZIP codes with median household incomes below $150,000, following the model used by the Dell family. The initiative marks the Dalios’ second partnership with the Dell family and adds to more than $280 million they have donated to Connecticut nonprofit organizations.
Greenwich Student Selected For Senate Program
A Greenwich High School senior, Esther Nabisere, was selected for the United States Senate Youth Program, a competitive national program that brings two students from each state to Washington, D.C., to study the federal government. She will serve as Connecticut’s 2025 delegate alongside Rania Das, a senior at Hopkins School in New Haven, and each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship funded by The Hearst Foundations. Established in 1962, the program provides direct exposure to federal institutions and public service.
SCHOOLS
Greenwich Schools Lead State Distinction Rankings
Greenwich Public Schools had 10 schools named Connecticut Department of Education “Schools of Distinction” for the 2024–25 school year, the highest total of any district in the state and the most in the district’s history. All three Title I elementary schools—Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss, and New Lebanon—were included for the first time, and all 10 schools earned the Highest Performing designation, placing them in the top 10% statewide with accountability index scores of 83 or higher. North Mianus School had the highest score among Greenwich schools at 94.1, while Hamilton Avenue had the lowest at 84.1.
School Zone Speed Cameras Show Strong Results
At a special Board of Education meeting, Greenwich Police presented an update on the school-zone speed camera program, which was implemented under a new state law, installed at no cost to the town, and funded through fines that support safety-related education, engineering, and enforcement. Data showed that after a 30-day warning period, speeding violations at monitored schools dropped by nearly 90 percent, with fines now issued for repeat violations and multiple appeal options available. Police said the cameras operate during defined school hours, data is retained for limited periods, and locations may be adjusted as traffic patterns change.
Board Reviews Expectations for Effective Governance
At the December 11 Greenwich Board of Education meeting, the chair reported that he, the superintendent, and the vice chair had reviewed board norms, including expectations for attendance and preparation. The vice chair cited existing board policies on ethics and member expectations, which require professionalism, advance preparation, respectful listening, and timely circulation of proposed motions. She also emphasized the importance of paying attention during public comment and guest presentations.
District Advances Search For Bus Facility
On Monday morning, muddy and icy conditions at Western Middle School, where Greenwich school buses are temporarily parked, contributed to a bus driver slipping and being taken to a local hospital, as Greenwich Public Schools operated on a two-hour delay after a weekend snowstorm. The district moved buses to the site after a planned off-campus location became unavailable and has acknowledged the arrangement is temporary and not ideal, with parking restricted to paved and designated grass areas. Greenwich Public Schools stated it is continuing to search for a permanent bus parking location, with no timeline yet established.
SPORTS
Greenwich Repeats As Class LL Champions
Greenwich High School defeated Southington 45–6 on Dec. 14 at Veterans Stadium in New Britain to win the CIAC Class LL state football championship. The Cardinals, a third seed, led 29–0 at halftime, forced four turnovers, and received four touchdowns from Jack Kelly while holding Southington to 26 rushing yards. The victory marked Greenwich’s second straight Class LL title and the 14th state championship in program history.
Sacred Heart Opens Season With Authority
Sacred Heart Greenwich opened the 2025–26 season 2–0, defeating Hotchkiss School 72–30 and Greenwich Country Day School 72–48 in its FAA opener on Dec. 10. In the win over GCDS, freshman Addy Sipkin scored 19 points and senior Eva Wilkerson added 18 as Sacred Heart built an 18-point halftime lead and controlled the game throughout. Greenwich Country Day, now 1–2, was led by Lara Young with 12 points and continues to develop a young roster early in the season.
Greenwich Advances To Class LL Final
Greenwich High School defeated Fairfield Prep, 31-10, in the CIAC Class LL semifinals on December 8 to advance to the state championship game. Hector Lopez rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Phil Tarantino accounted for 179 total yards and two scores as Greenwich controlled possession and outgained Prep, 340-199. The Cardinals will face fourth-seeded Southington in the Class LL final Saturday at Veterans Stadium in New Britain.
FROM HARTFORD
Connecticut Erases Millions In Medical Debt
Governor Ned Lamont announced that nearly 40,000 Connecticut residents will receive letters this week informing them that some or all of their medical debt has been eliminated through a state initiative launched in 2024 in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. This third round removes more than $63 million in medical debt, bringing the total erased to $198 million for nearly 160,000 residents since the program began. The initiative uses $6.5 million in state ARPA funds to purchase and cancel qualifying medical debt in bulk for residents meeting income or debt thresholds, with no application process.
State Moves To Protect Housing Stability
Governor Ned Lamont announced that he will submit a plan to Connecticut legislative leaders to use at least $5.2 million from the Emergency State Response Reserve to support homelessness prevention providers after federal Continuum of Care funding was paused nationwide. The reserve, created under Special Act 25-1 with $500 million in surplus funds, allows the state to offset federal cuts to health and human services, and the plan will also include funding to partially address the loss of enhanced federal health insurance tax credits. Legislative leaders have 24 hours to review and potentially disapprove the proposed expenditures before the funds are released.
