Greenwich Honors September 11 Together
Greenwich will hold two Sept. 11 memorial services this year to mark 25 years since the 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, including 32 with ties to Greenwich. The Cos Cob ceremony will begin at 8:46 a.m. at Cos Cob Park, with attendees asked to arrive by 8:30 a.m., while a second service will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Glenville Firehouse. Both locations include memorials connected to the attacks, including a World Trade Center steel artifact in Glenville.
POLICE & FIRE
Cos Cob Patrol Strengthens Readiness
The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol responded last week to a basement smoke condition in Riverside, a motor vehicle rollover in backcountry Greenwich, and several storm-related calls. Patrol members also took part in annual hazardous materials training with FDNY HAZMAT specialists focused on lithium-ion battery risks and response procedures.
Greenwich Promotes School Bus Safety
The Greenwich Police Department is reminding drivers to follow school bus safety laws as students return to school. Motorists must stop for buses displaying flashing red lights and remain stopped until the lights turn off and the bus resumes moving, while flashing amber lights indicate drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Drivers should remain alert for children entering, exiting, or crossing the roadway.
Podmokly Completes Police Motorcycle Training
Greenwich Police Officer Podmokly completed an 80-hour Police Motorcycle Operator Course hosted by the Westport Police Department. The training covered precision maneuvering, braking, motorcycle control, and other skills used in police motorcycle operations.
Greenwich Officers Join SWAT Challenge
Greenwich Police officers participated in the annual Connecticut SWAT Challenge in Hartford, where tactical teams completed exercises focused on communication, teamwork, physical endurance, and operational skills. The event brought together law enforcement personnel from across the region for training and competition.
Mason Joins Greenwich Police Department
The Greenwich Police Department has added Mason, a facility dog assigned to the Community Impact Section with handler Officer Paladino. Mason is trained to detect cortisol associated with stress and will assist during community outreach, public events, and interactions with children, families, and other residents.
Whitney Welch Retires After Decades
Whitney Welch retired from the Greenwich Fire Department at the end of July after 37 years of service. During her career, she worked in emergency response, fire prevention programs, and child car seat safety. She also remained active in the community through swimming coaching and therapy dog programs.
Rivera Earns Promotion To Sergeant
Greenwich Police Detective J. Rivera has been promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division. In the new role, he will supervise officers and take on additional leadership responsibilities within the department.
Greenwich Firefighters Complete Emergency Training
Greenwich Fire Department members completed ladder and water supply training this week. The exercises covered ladder placement and use, hydrant locations, tanker operations, water shuttles, and water supply planning for larger incidents. The training was part of the department’s regular emergency response preparation.
FROM TOWN HALL
Cos Cob Parking Safety Advances
The Greenwich Board of Selectmen considered a proposal to prohibit parking near 216-232 East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob after a town review identified traffic and pedestrian safety concerns. The review found that parked vehicles can extend into the westbound travel lane and create problems for drivers entering or leaving parking spaces. The proposal remained open through the Aug. 27 meeting for public comment before a vote.
Bush Statue Proposal Moves Forward
Greenwich is advancing a proposal to place a statue of former President George H.W. Bush behind Town Hall in the courtyard overlooking Havemeyer Field and Greenwich Common. The Cultural Arts Advisory Committee unanimously endorsed the location, but the proposal still requires review by the Historic District Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission. Town officials plan to bring the proposal back to the Representative Town Meeting in October.
Renters Rebate Program Offers Assistance
Connecticut’s Renters’ Rebate Program is accepting applications through Sept. 30 from eligible elderly and totally disabled renters, including qualifying residents who rent apartments or rooms, live in cooperative housing, or own mobile homes. Applicants must meet 2025 income limits of $46,300 for individuals and $56,500 for married couples, with rebates of up to $700 for individuals and $900 for married couples based on income, rent, and eligible utility payments. Greenwich residents may contact the Greenwich Department of Human Services at 203-622-3800 for information or application assistance.
Byram Dog Park Proposal
The Greenwich Board of Selectmen reviewed a proposal on Aug. 27 to create an approximately 11,000-square-foot off-leash dog park at Byram Park, with an estimated $30,000 cost to be funded privately. The project would require Planning and Zoning Commission review before moving forward.
Greenwich Half Marathon Plans
The Greenwich Road Runners Club sought approval for temporary traffic restrictions in Old Greenwich for a half marathon scheduled for Sept. 27, with the race beginning and ending at Greenwich Point Park. The event is expected to draw 800 to 1,000 runners, with one-way traffic restrictions planned on portions of several roads between 7 and 10 a.m. Proceeds are expected to support Kids In Crisis and other local nonprofit and volunteer organizations.
AROUND TOWN
Greenwich Services See Welcome Updates
The Cos Cob Post Office is temporarily closed for repairs, with retail and P.O. Box services transferred to the downtown Greenwich branch at 44 Amogerone Crossway; USPS has not announced a reopening date. The Steamboat Road staircase at Greenwich Train Station has reopened after a delay related to emergency repairs on the Track 3 platform. Work on the Greenwich Crossing redevelopment, including station, retail, and restaurant improvements, is continuing.
Greenwich Advances Bridge And Utilities
The full closure of North Street ended as the school year began, though bridge replacement work will continue with alternating one-way traffic and temporary delays during the workday. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2027. Greenwich will also hold a public utilities forum Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall with representatives from Eversource Energy, Aquarion Water Company, and Connecticut Natural Gas to discuss local infrastructure capacity and answer questions.
Greenwich Housing Proposal
Putnam Green Holding LLC has proposed replacing four multifamily buildings at 7 and 9 Western Junior Highway with a six-story, 176-unit apartment building and about 200 parking spaces. The project would use Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing law, with 30 percent of the units above the number allowed as of right subject to affordability restrictions, and would exceed current zoning limits for height, unit count, and floor-area ratio. The proposal remains in the pre-application stage and has not yet been scheduled for Planning and Zoning Commission review.
Greenwich Reviews Cos Cob Tree
Greenwich held a virtual public tree hearing Aug. 20 regarding the proposed removal of a pin oak at 22 Sound Shore Drive in Cos Cob. The removal is tied to Connecticut Department of Transportation work to replace a substation, and the hearing was required after a public objection. The project also includes a new retaining wall, landscaping, and a replacement tree.
St. Paul’s Advances Riverside Subdivision
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside is seeking final approval to subdivide its 8.65-acre property into two residential lots along Indian Head Road while retaining about six acres for existing church uses. The revised plan reduces an earlier four-lot proposal and places both new lots outside the wetlands review area, with a separate 1.3-acre open-space parcel containing three wetland areas. The Greenwich Land Trust and Riverside Association are considering purchasing the two lots for preservation as open space.
East Putnam Housing Proposal Advances
A proposed development at 1205 East Putnam Ave. would replace an existing house and garage with two three-and-a-half-story buildings containing 13 rental units, including two affordable apartments. The project would use Greenwich Zoning Regulation 6-110 to allow a building height of about 40 feet and is under preliminary review for design, landscaping, and traffic impacts near East Putnam Avenue and Neil Lane. A formal application is expected to be submitted for additional town review.
Court Upholds Greenwich Housing Development
A Superior Court judge upheld Greenwich’s approval of the Mason Street housing development, including requirements governing the size and distribution of affordable units and the removal of proposed retail space. The project, approved under the state’s 8-30g law, will include 78 residential units across two buildings at 275 and 290 Mason St., with 32% designated as affordable. Demolition and preliminary site work have already been completed.
Greenwich Approves New Affordable Apartment
The Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved an application to designate one of three apartments at 241 Hamilton Ave. as affordable housing under Connecticut’s 8-30g law. The ground-floor unit will be restricted to households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and must be comparable to the two market-rate units in finishes and amenities. The approval also legalizes the building’s third apartment, which had previously been cited for removal.
LOCAL BUSINESSES & NON PROFITS
St. Roch’s Feast Unites Greenwich
The annual St. Roch’s Feast was held Aug. 12 through Aug. 15 on St. Roch Avenue in Greenwich’s Chickahominy neighborhood. The event included food, music, amusement rides, children’s activities, and a raffle for a $20,000 American Express gift card. St. Roch Church, the Feast Committee, and volunteers organized the four-day event.
DiCicco’s Market Nears Glenville Opening
DiCicco’s Market in Glenville is expected to open within three weeks, pending resolution of an issue involving a retaining wall behind the building. The store, located in the former Stop & Shop space, has stocked nonperishable items and is preparing to open once the remaining property matter is resolved. A specific opening date has not yet been announced.
St. Catherine’s Drive Supports Students
St. Catherine of Siena Parish is collecting healthy snacks and recreational items for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at P.S. 85 in the Bronx. Donations may include puzzles, board games, playing cards, Legos, Magna-Tiles, Matchbox cars, and other similar items. Contributions can be placed in collection boxes at Lucey Parish Hall or purchased through the parish’s online Amazon wish list.
Sound Beach Band Returns Sunday
The Sound Beach Community Band will perform a free concert, “Wicked Good: The Music of Stephen Schwartz,” at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 in Binney Park. The program will include music from Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Prince of Egypt as part of the Greenwich Parks and Recreation Department’s Summer Concert Series. For weather-related updates, attendees can call 203-861-6100 after 4 p.m. on Aug. 30.
Temple Sholom Holds Challah Bake
Temple Sholom hosted a challah bake on Aug. 7 ahead of Shabbat, drawing more than 50 participants to its Social Hall. Attendees mixed, kneaded, and braided challah as part of the congregation’s focus on Kehillah, or community, ahead of the High Holidays, including Rosh Hashanah.
Greenwich Food Drive Supports Neighbors
Neighbor to Neighbor reported a 13 percent increase in Greenwich residents using its services compared with last year, citing higher living costs and changes to SNAP eligibility. More than 11,000 Fairfield County families could lose some or all of their SNAP benefits. The nonprofit will hold a virtual food drive in September for Hunger Action Month.
Greenwich Realtors Support Local Nonprofits
The Greenwich Association of Realtors Community Foundation is accepting applications from local registered nonprofits for its 2026 grant program. The foundation will award one $25,000 grant, with possible additional discretionary grants, to support projects in areas including housing, resident services, public safety, conservation, education, and youth development. Applications are due Sept. 30 and must include a one-page project proposal, organizational background, and contact information.
Medical Equipment Donations Support Greenwich Community
Greenwich residents can donate gently used wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, and other medical equipment at Holly Hill through the Wheel It Forward program. Donations are accepted in the designated area near the Operations Field, next to the attendant’s shed, and the equipment is redistributed for reuse.
Art in the Park Returns
Art in the Park will be held Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Binney Park, with a rain date of Oct. 4. Organizers are accepting up to 50 artists working in mediums including painting, photography, mixed media, ceramics, and handmade crafts. Registration closes Sept. 5 or earlier if all spaces are filled.
BGCG Alumni Return to Camp
Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich alumni returned to Camp Simmons on Aug. 21 to serve lunch as part of the camp’s Celebrity Chef program. Participants included Domenica Echeverria, Freddie Schiro, Kenny Santoro, Kevin Duffy, Peter Hughes, and Carter Hughes. The visit connected current campers with former Club members.
Undies Project Expands Dignity Drawers
The Undies Project is holding a back-to-school drive through Sept. 21 to collect new, packaged boys’ and girls’ underwear for its Dignity Drawers program, which supplies schools with underwear for students who need a change during the school day. After a pilot at New Lebanon School and Central Middle School, the organization plans to expand the program to additional schools in Greenwich and nearby communities during the 2026-27 school year. Donations can be made through the organization’s Amazon Wish List, by mail to 521 E. Putnam Ave. in Cos Cob, or at www.theundiesproject.org
Greenwich Welcomes Fifth Element Academy
Fifth Element Academy has opened at 30 S. Water Street in Greenwich, offering martial arts programs for children and adults, including striking and grappling. The facility plans to add boxing conditioning classes, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a massage therapy room after completing its second floor. The academy is currently offering a free trial class for prospective students.
Van Leeuwen Adds Frozen Yogurt
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream began offering frozen yogurt at its Greenwich location on Aug. 13, with plans to expand the product to other Connecticut stores. The frozen yogurt is made with organic A2 Bulgarian yogurt and is available in tart, matcha, passion fruit, and coconut flavors, with several topping options. The company, founded in 2008, opened its Greenwich Avenue shop in 2022.
YWCA Greenwich Welcomes New Leaders
YWCA Greenwich elected Krissy Schmitz as vice chair and Angela Chambers as chair of the Governance Committee, with both leadership changes taking effect July 1. Six new directors also joined the board: Ophelia Ceradini, Vanessa Darvish, Chase Haynes English, Alejandra Espinosa, Cecilia Lieberman, and Elgida Volpicelli. The organization provides education, recreation, youth programming, and services related to domestic violence and sexual assault.
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Don Palmer Marks 35 Years
The Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich recently celebrated Don Palmer, who has entered his 35th year with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. During his tenure, he has worked with generations of Club members and supported youth programs in the Greenwich community.
Greenwich Physician Earns Magida Nomination
Dr. Linda Renee Mitchell, a palliative care physician at Greenwich Hospital, has been named the hospital’s 2026 nominee for the Dr. Melville G. Magida Award, presented annually by the Fairfield County Medical Association. Mitchell provides inpatient and outpatient palliative care, serves on Greenwich Hospital’s Bioethics Committee, and previously held teaching and fellowship leadership roles at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She will be recognized at the association’s Annual Dinner Meeting on Oct. 8 at The Patterson Club in Fairfield.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Greenwich Osprey Monitoring Engages Residents
Greenwich Conservation Commission staff monitored local bird populations, including ospreys, earlier this week. Residents can submit osprey observations through Osprey Nation, a citizen science program that collects public data to support population monitoring and research.
Greenwich Launches Community Tide Tracking
The Greenwich Conservation Commission is asking residents to help document high tides in the area this week. Participants can sign up for high-tide notifications and submit photographs and observations through the tracking program at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Help-Us-Track-High-Tides-This-Month.html?soid=1139823598440&aid=wRmvujrIwDM
Clean Vessel Grants Support Boaters
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is accepting applications for 2026 Clean Vessel Act grants through Sept. 4. The federal matching grants can cover up to 75 percent of eligible costs for purchasing, installing, repairing, upgrading, operating, and maintaining recreational boating pump-out facilities and vessels. Application information is available through the DEEP website.
Tour de Veggie Draws Hundreds
More than 300 people attended the fourth annual Tour de Veggie on July 30, visiting eight vegetable gardens across Greenwich. The self-guided event was organized by Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Community Gardens with several community partners, and some participating gardens regularly donate produce to Neighbor to Neighbor. The fifth annual Tour de Veggie is scheduled for July 29, 2027.
SCHOOLS
Central Middle School Opens Doors
Greenwich Public Schools held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 24 to mark the opening of the new Central Middle School at 9 Indian Rock Lane. The approximately 125,000-square-foot, two-story building can accommodate up to 660 students and was designed with safety, flexibility, and sustainability considerations. Sixth-grade classes began Aug. 27, followed by seventh- and eighth-grade classes Aug. 28.
Old Greenwich School Renovation Advances
Construction continued this summer on the Old Greenwich School renovation project, which is scheduled to run through January 2029. Current work includes a new kindergarten addition and playground, renovations to music, art, cafeteria, kitchen, mechanical, and bathroom spaces, and installation of a new elevator. The Old Greenwich School Building Committee said the building was being prepared to reopen for staff and students at the end of August.
Greenwich Expands Student Meal Access
Greenwich Public Schools will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students at New Lebanon School during the 2026-27 school year through the federal Community Eligibility Provision, with no household application required. Students at other district schools may qualify for free or reduced-price meals or free milk based on federal income guidelines or participation in programs including SNAP, TFA, HUSKY A, and Summer EBT. Applications are available through the district and individual schools and may be submitted at any time during the school year.
SPORTS
Greenwich Nationals Claim Two Championships
The Greenwich Nationals 8U and 10U Red travel baseball teams won Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League Summer League championships in Ardsley, New York. The 8U team defeated Pomperaug, 6-0, for its second championship of the year, while the 10U Red team beat the New Paltz Knights, 7-0. The 8U team was coached by Jeff Natale and TJ Ostruzka, and the 10U Red team was coached by Mike Mora and Will Ostruzka.
Barracudas Welcome Swimmers For Tryouts
The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich will hold tryouts for its Barracudas competitive swim team in September. Returning swimmers will attend Sept. 1–3 from 6 to 7:15 p.m., while new swimmer tryouts will be held Sept. 9–10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the club. Space is limited, and advance registration is encouraged.
BGCG Staff Gather For Olympics
Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich staff participated in a Staff Olympics event led by former staff member and Club alumnus Cam Ferrara. Two teams competed in activities including cup stacking, egg-and-spoon races, mazes, and a hula-hoop challenge. The event was held ahead of the start of the new school year.
LOCAL POLITICS
Greenwich Voters Select November Nominees
Greenwich voters participated in Connecticut’s Aug. 11 Democratic and Republican primaries, with Gov. Ned Lamont receiving 1,767 votes to Josh Elliott’s 280 in the Democratic gubernatorial contest. In the Republican primary for the 4th Congressional District, Michael Goldstein received 730 Greenwich votes to Daniel Miressi’s 138. Lamont and Goldstein advanced to the Nov. 3 general election.
OUR NEIGHBORS
Beardsley Zoo Celebrates Monkey Birthdays
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo marked August birthdays for two black-handed spider monkeys, Janet and her daughter Charlotte. Janet’s birthday was Aug. 13, and Charlotte’s was Aug. 23.
ACROSS CT
Dolly Parton Leaves Lasting Legacy
Dolly Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, following months in which health problems had limited some public appearances. Born in Tennessee in 1946, Parton built a decades-long career in music and film, recording songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Islands in the Stream,” and receiving honors including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She also founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995, which has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children internationally.
FROM HARTFORD
Connecticut Secures Major Youth Protections
Connecticut joined a multi-state settlement with Meta Platforms Inc. that could reach $17.1 billion and requires new youth safety measures on Instagram and Facebook. Connecticut is expected to receive up to $265.4 million, with at least half directed toward programs addressing youth harms associated with social media use. The agreement includes time limits, nighttime access restrictions, age verification measures, parental controls, content safeguards, and independent oversight, and remains subject to federal court approval.
Zillow Redfin Restore Rental Competition
Connecticut, four other states, and the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Zillow and Redfin over a 2025 agreement that restricted competition in multifamily rental advertising. Under the settlement, Redfin will rebuild its apartment advertising business, resume listing units independently, and end provisions requiring it to rely on Zillow listings. The companies will also pay $2 million to the participating states and are prohibited from entering similar agreements in the future.
Connecticut Charts Future Transportation Priorities
The Connecticut Department of Transportation released its Connecticut 2055 Long-Range Transportation Plan, outlining goals, policies, performance measures, and investment priorities for the state’s transportation system over the next 30 years. The plan focuses on safety, community connections, emerging technology, infrastructure resilience, sustainability, and economic activity, and will guide future transportation planning and funding decisions.
