POLICE & FIRE
Greenwich Police Win Battle Of Badges
The Greenwich Police Department won the Greenwich Battle of the Badges with a 6–5 victory over the Greenwich Fire Department. The game raised funds for the Ronald McDonald House, with all proceeds donated to the organization. The event drew community attendance and concluded without incident.
Two Officers Graduate State Police Academy
The Greenwich Police Department announced the graduation of Officers Ego and DiMaggio-Carolino from the 387th session of the Connecticut Police Academy. Officer Ego received the Trooper First Class Allan J. Truskowski Award for the highest overall performance across academy training categories. Both officers will begin their Field Training Program at department headquarters.
December Police Activity Report Released
The Greenwich Police Department released its December 2025 activity report, documenting 2,997 calls for service, including seven burglaries, nine motor vehicle thefts, three larcenies from vehicles, and 14 domestic violence incidents. Police recorded 204 motor vehicle collisions, issued 225 infractions—most commonly for speeding—and made 52 adult and three juvenile arrests; larceny was the most frequently reported crime, and four of the nine stolen vehicles have been recovered. Suspicious activity can be reported to 203-622-8004, or anonymously by calling 203-622-3333 or emailing TIPS@greenwichct.gov
Greenwich Police Honor Service Milestones
The Greenwich Police Department recognized Detective King for 25 years of service and School Resource Officer Reisch for 10 years of service. Both have served in roles supporting public safety, schools, and community operations. The recognition marked their career milestones within the department.
Greenwich Fire Department Upgrades Safety Equipment
The Greenwich Fire Department has received 10 Bullard XT Pro thermal imaging cameras as part of a three-year capital plan to replace existing equipment. Firefighters were trained in October, evaluated multiple camera models, and selected the Bullard XT Pro as best meeting operational requirements. The purchase was funded with support from the First Selectman, the Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the Representative Town Meeting.
FROM TOWN HALL
Town Hall Food Drive Supports Neighbors
The Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual food drive at Town Hall collected donations from town employees and visitors to support Greenwich residents during the holiday season. All donated items were delivered to Neighbor to Neighbor, a nonprofit that provides food assistance to local residents. Although the drive has ended, Neighbor to Neighbor continues to accept public donations, with details available on its website.
Greenwich Updates Recreation Fees for 2026
As of 2026, Greenwich Parks & Recreation has implemented a new fee schedule projected to increase department revenue by 8–10 percent, driven primarily by a $5 increase in annual park passes for residents ages 16–64, with higher rates applying after April 15. Several proposed increases were reduced following review, including lower-than-planned adjustments to synthetic turf rentals, golf course tournament fees, and non-member greens fees. Additional changes include higher fees for some instructional programs, revised pricing at the Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, and a new late-purchase surcharge for nonresident parking stickers.
Greenwich Parking Permit Renewals Underway
The deadline to pay for 2026 parking permit renewals in Greenwich is Dec. 31, according to the town. Applications require a multi-step review process that can take 10 to 15 business days, and all outstanding parking citations must be paid before approval. Payments made after the deadline incur a $245 fee and are accepted only in January.
Greenwich Advances George Bush Statue
The Greenwich Board of Selectmen voted to support the proposed placement of a privately funded statue of former President George H. W. Bush outside the Havemeyer Building on Greenwich Avenue, though the vote was not required for approval. The statue, funded by a donation from former state senator Scott Frantz, would be installed in a landscaped area near the building’s front entrance after earlier proposed locations were rejected by regulatory boards. One board member abstained due to the absence of a selected sculptor, finalized design, and review by the town’s public art committee.
AROUND TOWN
Route 1 Signal Improvements Move Forward
The Department of Public Works has completed final designs for the Route 1 Adaptive Signal Control Technology project, which will upgrade 27 intersections on Route 1 and two on Field Point Road with real-time traffic-responsive signals and ADA-compliant features. Pedestrian signal plans were revised based on public input, and construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 after CTDOT authorization, lasting about one year.
Holly Hill Continues Christmas Tree Recycling
Natural Christmas trees are accepted for recycling at designated Town locations, including the Holly Hill Recycling Center. The program is emphasized during the holidays and runs through January 31, but residents with a valid Holly Hill permit may recycle trees there year-round by placing them in the yard waste area with all decorations and stands removed. Wood chips are not available at Holly Hill this year.
Sidewalk Clearing Keeps Greenwich Safe
After a snowstorm, Greenwich homeowners and businesses are required under the Town Charter to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks bordering their properties. Failure to do so may result in a citation, and unsafe conditions can be reported to the Greenwich Police Department’s non-emergency number at 203-622-8006. Businesses must also clear paths from accessible parking spaces to sidewalks.
New Year Plunge Continues Greenwich Tradition
The unofficial New Year’s Day polar plunge at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich drew a large crowd. At noon, participants entered Long Island Sound during low tide, requiring a long walk through shallow water and a sandbar in below-freezing temperatures and strong winds. The annual event continued a longstanding local tradition.
Hamill Rink Task Force Recommends Forward Path
The nine-member Dorothy Hamill Rink Task Force unanimously recommended a modified “flip” option at Eugene Morlot Park in Byram, involving construction of a new rink adjacent to the existing one followed by demolition of the old facility. The task force evaluated more than a dozen sites over nine months, eliminated alternative locations including two parking lots near I-95 Exit 3 based on environmental, logistical, and planning constraints, and concluded that a modified flip best met its criteria. Preliminary cost estimates exceed $40 million, the proposal must still receive Planning & Zoning and RTM approval, and the project would enter the capital budget process no earlier than 2027.
LOCAL BUSINESSES & NON PROFITS
Greenwich Hospital Welcomes First 2026 Baby
Greenwich Hospital reported the birth of its first baby of 2026 at 5:11 a.m. on Jan. 1. The newborn girl, Sakina, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, measured 20 inches long, and is the daughter of Mazhar Khan and Salma Tahir of Shelton.
Joe Studio Café Celebrates Years of Service
Joe Studio Café in Old Greenwich closed permanently on Dec. 31 after more than six years in business, shutting its location at 185 Sound Beach Ave. at 2 p.m. The owner cited ongoing financial strain as the reason for the closure. Opened in 2019, the café sold coffee made with locally roasted beans along with espresso drinks, juices, baked goods, and crepes, and will continue selling its coffee through wholesale accounts and Etsy.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Haydn O’Shea Named Parade Grand Marshal
The Greenwich Hibernian Association has named Haydn O’Shea grand marshal of the 50th annual Greenwich St. Patrick’s Day parade, which will take place March 22 at 2 p.m., following his installation at the organization’s March 7 Dinner Dance. O’Shea is a longtime member and former president of the association, has served for years as the parade’s emcee, and is also active in several local civic and religious organizations. Born in London to Irish parents and raised in County Cork, O’Shea emigrated to the United States in 1988, became a citizen in 1995, and now lives in Greenwich with his family.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Greenwich Student Conducts Marine Research
Xavier Tishler, a junior at Greenwich High School, participated in the SoundWaters Research Intensive, a program based at the Cohen SoundWaters Harbor Center in Stamford that engages students in field and laboratory research on Long Island Sound. He conducted a project examining the spread of the invasive parasite Loxothylacus panopaei on native mud crab populations, alongside other students studying environmental conditions and human impact. The program provides college-level research experience and is supported by scholarships from private foundations to expand student access.
SCHOOLS
Campus Chickens Enhance Hands-On Student Learning
Sacred Heart Greenwich established a campus chicken coop at Sophie’s Farm in 2025, housing ten hens hatched by students and integrating them into the school’s agricultural, science, and sustainability programs. The coop extends a long-standing campus tradition of hands-on farming and allows students to continue embryology and animal care learning beyond hatching, supported by existing gardens and outdoor classrooms. Faculty and students share responsibility for daily care, and the project is intended to grow gradually while remaining focused on student learning and environmental stewardship.
Superintendent Announces January Difference Makers
Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones announced the January 2026 recipients of the district’s “Difference Makers 2.0” recognition on January 5. The monthly award honors full- and part-time employees from each school and district department who were nominated by principals and senior leadership for making significant contributions to the school community through sustained effort or notable service.
Student Magazine Earns National Recognition
Perspectives, the Upper School art and literary magazine at Sacred Heart Greenwich, received an All-American rating from the National Scholastic Press Association. The publication earned distinction in all five evaluation categories: content; writing and editing; photography, art, and graphics; design; and concept. The rating reflects performance across editorial and visual standards set by the association.
SPORTS
Cardinals Push Xavier To Overtime
Greenwich High School’s varsity boys ice hockey team lost 3-2 in overtime to Xavier High School on Jan. 5 at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink after leading early and forcing extra time with a third-period tying goal. Junior John Meehan scored both goals for Greenwich, and junior goaltender Will Salib made several key saves to keep the game close. The Cardinals played with a shortened roster due to injuries and were tied 2-2 late in regulation before Xavier scored the game-winner in overtime.
Cardinals Defense Fuels Strong Start
Greenwich High School’s varsity girls basketball team opened the 2024–2025 season with a 4–1 record, holding opponents under 40 points in all four wins. The Cardinals defeated Notre Dame Prep at home on Jan. 2, leading throughout in a 66–39 non-conference victory highlighted by balanced scoring and strong man-to-man defense. Greenwich entered the game off a state finalist season and continued its early stretch of decisive wins heading into FCIAC play.
Cardinals Earn Overtime Conference Victory
Greenwich High School’s varsity girls ice hockey team defeated Wilton-Norwalk-McMahon, 4-3, in overtime on Dec. 29, 2025, at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink, earning its first FCIAC win of the season and improving its record to 2-3. After trailing twice, Greenwich tied the game in the third period before Alexa Kwasniewski scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Cardinals Capture Bethel Holiday Title
Greenwich High School’s varsity girls basketball team won the Bethel High School Holiday Tournament, defeating New Canaan 44-16 in the championship game after a 54-36 first-round win over Oxford. Senior Madi Utzinger was named tournament MVP and earned All-Tournament honors, while sophomore Zuri Faison was also named to the All-Tournament Team. The Cardinals, coached by Megan Wax, improved to 3-1 and will host Notre Dame Prep on Jan. 2.
Brunswick Hockey Off To Strong Start
Brunswick School’s varsity ice hockey team opened the 2025–26 season with a 6–3 record through nine games, highlighted by several decisive wins against NEPSAC opponents while playing primarily on the road. The Bruins earned notable victories over St. George’s, Exeter, Kent, Westminster, Williston Northampton, and Albany Academy, with their three losses coming in tightly contested tournament play. Through the first half of the season, Brunswick allowed 13 goals (excluding empty-netters), reflecting a consistent defensive performance under head coach Mike Kennedy.
Greenwich Academy Honors Division I Athletes
Greenwich Academy held a ceremony in November recognizing 13 senior student-athletes who have committed to compete in Division I collegiate sports. The students, representing a range of sports including rowing, lacrosse, field hockey, sailing, and track and field, will continue their athletic careers at universities such as Boston College, Brown, Cornell, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Cardinals Split Opening Basketball Games
Greenwich High School’s varsity boys basketball team opened the 2025–2026 season by splitting its first two games, losing 70–48 at home to West Haven High School before earning an 83–16 road win over JM Wright Technical School in Stamford. The Cardinals were led by senior Sandro Scott, who scored 25 points against West Haven and contributed to a balanced scoring effort in the win over Wright Tech, leaving Greenwich with a 1–1 record.
Cardinals Open Season With Strong Effort
Greenwich High School’s varsity girls basketball team opened the 2025–2026 season with two road games, losing 56–40 to defending CIAC Class LL champion Sacred Heart Academy before earning a 65–31 win over Masuk High School. Senior Madi Utzinger led Greenwich in both games, scoring 14 points against Sacred Heart and a game-high 31 points in the victory at Masuk. The Cardinals began the season with a 1–1 record following the two matchups.
Sacred Heart Tops Greenwich Academy
Sacred Heart Greenwich defeated Greenwich Academy, 75–26, in an FAA varsity basketball matchup on Dec. 17, improving to 3–0 overall and 2–0 in league play. Eva Wilkerson led all scorers with 23 points, while Ava Curto added 13 and Addy Sipkin scored 10 as Sacred Heart built a large first-half lead. Greenwich Academy, led by first-year head coach Jimmy Cassidy, was paced by captain Mirabel Rodgers with six points and continues league and tournament play on the road.
LOCAL POLITICS
Greenwich Democrats Set Local Caucuses
The Greenwich Democratic Town Committee will hold its 2026 local caucuses to elect members to two-year terms. Registered Democrats in Greenwich may attend the caucus for their voting district on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m., at one of 12 designated locations listed on the committee’s website. Participants must attend the meeting for the district in which they reside.
Greenwich Republicans Schedule January Caucus
The Greenwich Republican Town Committee announced a caucus for all registered Republican voters in Greenwich on January 12 to endorse candidates for the Republican Town Committee. The caucus will be held by district at designated Town Hall and school locations at times ranging from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Each district will meet separately to conduct endorsements.
OUR NEIGHBORS
Neo-Typesetters Wins National PBS Broadcast
Neo-Typesetters, a short documentary by Darien High School Class of 2020 graduate Kieran Sheikh Blunnie, will air Thursday, January 8, on New Hampshire PBS and stream nationwide on PBS.org after winning Best Documentary Short at the 2025 New York Documentary Film Festival. The film documents the decline of letterpress printing after the late 1970s shift to computerized publishing and shows that traditional presses and techniques remain in use in a New England print shop. Made on a $197.73 budget, the debut film has screened at multiple U.S. film festivals.
FROM HARTFORD
Justice Department Seeks Stronger Election Oversight
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it has filed federal lawsuits against Arizona and Connecticut for failing to provide complete statewide voter registration lists as requested. The department said the actions are part of broader enforcement of federal election laws, citing the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 as legal authority. With these filings, the Justice Department has now sued 23 states and the District of Columbia over access to voter roll data.
Governors Reaffirm Commitment To Offshore Wind
The governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island said the current administration’s pause on offshore wind leases would raise energy costs, reduce jobs, and weaken grid reliability, particularly for projects already underway. They stated that the decision creates uncertainty for investors and could make it harder to finance large infrastructure projects even after regulatory approvals are completed. The governors said they will continue efforts to allow the offshore wind projects to proceed.
CT Acts To Protect Essential Services
Governor Ned Lamont submitted a plan to Connecticut legislative leaders to withdraw $167.9 million from the state’s $500 million Emergency State Response Reserve to offset recent federal delays and reductions affecting health and human services programs. The funds would support food assistance, health insurance subsidies, homelessness prevention, reproductive health services, and increased demand for social service access, impacting more than 150,000 residents. Legislative leaders have 24 hours to review or disapprove the plan, and $332 million would remain in the reserve if the transfer proceeds.
