POLICE & FIRE
Greenwich Firefighters Quickly Contain Attic Blaze
Greenwich firefighters responded to reports of flames near Catrock Road and Old Stonebridge Road and found a structure fire on Old Stonebridge Road. Crews conducted an interior attack and extinguished an attic fire, limiting damage to the roof and part of the attic. No injuries were reported, and the Fire Marshal’s Division is investigating the cause.
Patrol Division Welcomes Two New Leaders
Sgt. Stook has been promoted to lieutenant and Court Technician Browne has been promoted to sergeant. Both will be assigned to the Patrol Division. In their new supervisory roles, they will oversee officers and support department operations, with the Patrol Division providing 24/7 response and community policing.
School Zone Cameras Improve Road Safety
In January 2026, Greenwich Police reported 7,225 school-zone speed camera violations, with 9,537 additional violations pending review; each citation is reviewed by Blue Line Solutions and the department’s Traffic Section before mailing. The first violation carries a $50 fine and subsequent violations cost $75. During the same month, police logged 3,205 calls for service, including five burglaries, eight larcenies from motor vehicles, five motor vehicle thefts, 23 domestic violence incidents, 14 DUIs, 245 crashes, one robbery, 60 adult arrests, two juvenile arrests, 282 motor vehicle infractions, and 367 warnings.
FROM TOWN HALL
Grand List Update Clarifies Taxes
The recent property revaluation increased the town’s grand list, but higher assessments do not automatically result in equivalent tax increases. Property taxes are determined by the town budget, the total grand list, and the mill rate, which adjusts downward when the grand list rises, all else equal. Homeowners whose assessments increased more or less than the townwide average of about 27 percent will see tax changes proportional to that difference, with the final mill rate to be set after the budget process is complete.
Greenwich DPW Crews Clear Roads Safely
Two weeks ago, a winter storm required a major response from Greenwich’s Department of Public Works Highway Division. Crews removed more than 970 truckloads, or nearly 17,000 cubic yards, of snow from business districts and plowed about 3,000 miles of roadway across town. Operations involved approximately 90 hours of field work, much of it overnight, with additional cleanup continuing this week.
Town Offers Discounted Radon Test Kits
The Town Department of Health is offering discounted radon test kits for air ($47 instead of $73) and well water ($53 instead of $84) during February. Kits are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Health Department laboratory, with more information at 203-622-7843. Radon is an odorless radioactive gas and a major cause of lung cancer; the EPA recommends mitigation if levels exceed 4.0 picocuries per liter.
Selectmen Review Ice Rink Proposal
The Greenwich Board of Selectmen will meet Thursday, Feb. 12, at 10:30 a.m. in the Cone Room at Town Hall with no virtual option. The agenda includes a first read referral of the proposed Hamill Municipal Rink to the Planning and Zoning Commission, a second read of the Safe Streets Greenwich Safety Action Plan, proposed road closures for the March 22 St. Patrick’s Parade, charter and ordinance changes, and several ceremonial flag requests. The meeting will also include a public hearing on a noise ordinance variance request from Burning Tree Country Club, followed by appointments and nominations.
Town Budget Hearings Begin This Week
The Board of Estimate and Taxation has begun hearings on a proposed $543 million budget for fiscal year 2027, which starts in July. The plan represents a 4.33% increase over the current $520 million budget and would raise the mill rate from 12.041 to 12.765, a 6.01% increase, adding about $724 in annual taxes for a $1 million home. Major items under review include $41.2 million for a new Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink and $10 million for improvements to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, with additional large school capital projects scheduled in subsequent years.
AROUND TOWN
Greenwich Residents Support Valentine’s Day Blood Drive
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive in Greenwich on Feb. 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., managed by Ross Ogden. Blood supplies are currently low due to winter weather, the holiday season, and a flu outbreak reducing donor turnout. Residents can register online with code FPCG or call 1-800-733-2767 for information.
Task Force Advances Plans For 100 Arch Street
A new town task force met by Zoom to plan the future use of the former Teen Center building at 100 Arch Street and elected officers, with Sabine Schoenberg as chair and Icy Frantz as vice chair. Members discussed issuing an RFP within about 60 days, holding at least one public hearing, and pursuing a public-private partnership because renovations may exceed $1 million. Possible uses mentioned included a café, performance space, or health club, and the skatepark nearby would remain unchanged.
Eighty-Four Homes Proposed in Pemberwick
A proposal filed in late January seeks to build an 84-unit, five-story residential building at 0 Comly Ave., on an existing parking lot next to an office building on Pemberwick Avenue across from the Byram River. The 84,264-square-foot structure would include four floors of housing above a garage and is being submitted under Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing statute, which limits local zoning authority when affordability requirements are met. The site, owned by 200 Pemberwick Road REO and 0 Comly Avenue LLC, has faced past development challenges due to flooding concerns, and the Planning & Zoning Commission is expected to begin review soon.
New Housing Proposal Advances In Greenwich
A revised housing proposal for Home Place and Davis Avenue would add nine modular buildings and renovate two existing homes to create 18 units, including four affordable units, under Connecticut’s 8-30g law. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed concerns about required rock blasting, site conditions, and the need for affordable units to match market-rate units in size and materials. The application remains open for further commission review.
LOCAL BUSINESSES & NON PROFITS
Students Invited To Design Anniversary Swim Shirt
Swim Across America Fairfield County is holding a design contest for middle and high school students to create the back of its 20th anniversary T-shirt for the June 20, 2026 open water swim in Stamford and related summer pool swims. Entries are due March 15, 2026, must be original and not AI-generated, and include a reference to the 20th anniversary and the swim date. The winning design will appear on shirts used to raise funds for cancer research, and full contest details are available at https://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=FC_TShirt
Greenwich Tree Conservancy Welcomes New Leadership Team
The Greenwich Tree Conservancy elected Elizabeth Hopley as President of its Board of Directors and added three new board members: Matt Popp, John R. Conte III, and Betsy Vitton. Hopley has been involved with the organization since 2018 and has worked on projects related to utility wire undergrounding, tree preservation, and town beautification. The new board members bring experience in landscape architecture, civil engineering, conservation, and historic landscape restoration as the Conservancy continues its mission to protect and plant trees in Greenwich.
Soundview Mahjong League Expands Locally
Soundview Mahjong League is launching a six-week American Mahjong program at the Greenwich YWCA starting in March, with sessions Thursday evenings (March 5–April 9) and Friday mornings (March 6–April 10). Participants must already know how to play independently, though beginner tables will be available for slower-paced games. The fee is $220, includes weekly table prizes and a swag bag, and registration information is available through Soundview Mahjong or Mary Canaday at mary@soundviewmahjong.com
PEOPLE IN TOWN
Greenwich Founder Builds Safer Tween App
Greenwich resident Juliette Blake founded Moxies, a moderated social app for girls ages 8–12 that promotes well-being and healthy digital habits through private groups and built-in safety limits. The platform restricts interactions to known contacts, avoids addictive design features, and uses AI with human oversight to prevent harmful behavior. A PhD-led study found that 79% of users showed improvements in confidence, mood, and self-regulation.
Christine Lai Announces Leadership Transition At S.E.L.F.
Christine W. Lai will step down as Executive Director of the Special Education Legal Fund (S.E.L.F.) effective February 15, 2026, after serving in the role since co-founding the organization in 2018 with Ulrika Drinkall. During her tenure, S.E.L.F. distributed more than $1.3 million in grants to families seeking special education legal and advocacy support and established key programs including its Legal Aid, Attorney and Advocate Grant, Parent Education, and George H.W. Bush Advocacy Award initiatives. Stephanie Bilenker will succeed Lai as Executive Director, and Laura Sullivan will continue leading the organization’s legal aid services.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Greenwich Launches Townwide Invasive Species Initiative
The Conservation Commission and Sustainability Committee met with local garden clubs, Friends groups, and community partners to coordinate a town-wide invasive species education and outreach campaign in Greenwich. Participating organizations will share and promote related events throughout the year. The effort will culminate in a community-wide action day in the fall.
SCHOOLS
Cos Cob Students Learn Through Trout Program
First-grade students at Cos Cob School are participating in the “Trout in the Classroom” program through Trout Unlimited, raising trout in a classroom tank and observing their development. They record changes in science journals, monitor water conditions, and practice observation, data collection, vocabulary, and collaborative problem-solving. In the spring, the class will take a field trip to release the trout into a local stream.
Greenwich High Earns AP Gold Honor
Greenwich High School was named to the College Board’s 2025 AP School Honor Roll with a Gold distinction for the second consecutive year. Sixty-eight percent of seniors took at least one AP exam, 65 percent scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam, and 26 percent took five or more AP exams. The AP program offers college-level courses and exams that may qualify students for college credit or advanced placement.
Glenville Fifth Graders Lead With Pride
Fifth graders at Glenville School can join the Glenville Ambassador Program to practice leadership and responsibility before middle school. Ambassadors help with morning greetings, activities with younger students, school events, and hallway safety. Participants commit to one morning of duties each week, attend monthly meetings, and sign a contract to complete academic work, follow school rules, and serve as positive role models.
Eastern Middle School Wins Regional Math Competition
Students from Central and Eastern Middle Schools competed in the Southwest Connecticut Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition at Fairfield University. Eastern Middle School placed first overall, with six students qualifying for the state finals at Yale University and four advancing to the Countdown Round. Central Middle School’s Ted Carrescia and Morgan Schwartzstein also qualified for the state finals, along with teammates Misha Ignatiev and Bennett Wong.
New Lebanon Students Celebrate Radish Harvest
New Lebanon School in Byram held “Radish Day” as part of its seasonal farm-to-school program highlighting locally grown produce. Students harvested radishes planted in the fall in the school garden, then learned about pickling and fermentation from Riverbank Farm and participated in a tasting organized by the district’s Food Service Director. The program is supported by the New Lebanon School PTA.
Central Middle School Construction Advances
The Central Middle School project is a two-phase, 21-acre campus construction effort, with the new school building scheduled to open in August 2026. January work included exterior façade installation, interior framing and rough-ins, drywall, painting, ceiling work, and continued utility, storm infrastructure, auditorium, and corridor construction. February work will continue drywall and façade installation while starting first-floor painting, second-floor flooring and finishes, and ongoing utility, auditorium, and gym build-out, with some Saturday work allowed under temporary noise ordinance exemptions.
Greenwich Students Compete In State Finals
Greenwich High School students traveled to Hartford to compete in Connecticut’s We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution State Finals on January 24 at the Old State House. Teams from Greenwich, Trumbull, Wilbur Cross, and Staples participated in simulated congressional hearings and were scored on their knowledge and presentation of constitutional topics. Trumbull placed first, Staples second, Greenwich third, and Wilbur Cross received honorable mention, with the top two teams advancing to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
Brunswick Students Rally for Community Food Drive
Brunswick School’s Lower School turned the familiar rituals of Super Bowl season into something more enduring: a communal act of provision. In its annual “Soup”er Bowl Food Drive, organized in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor, students were invited to participate in a spirited, team-themed collection effort that ultimately carried real weight for families in Greenwich facing food insecurity. Those interested in volunteering or organizing a food drive can find more information at ntngreenwich.org
SPORTS
BGCG Fifth Graders Win League Championship
The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich travel basketball teams competed over the weekend. The fifth-grade team won the Milford Knights Basketball League Silver Division Championship with a 26–23 victory over Stratford Supreme. The team will next compete in the CT Hoops Fest State Championship.
Brunswick Remains Unbeaten In FAA
Brunswick School’s varsity basketball team improved to 5-0 in the FAA with a 65-58 Senior Night win over St. Luke’s at Dann Gymnasium, moving to 10-9 overall. Connor Robinson scored 17 points, Rhaki Lum added 15, and Brandon Jean contributed 14 as the Bruins built a 15-point second-half lead before holding off a late run. St. Luke’s, led by Tyler Newsom’s 16 points, fell to 4-3 in league play.
Sacred Heart Sweeps FAA Swim Meet
Sacred Heart Greenwich, Greenwich Academy, and School of the Holy Child competed in an FAA varsity swimming and diving meet at Brunswick School’s Natatorium on Feb. 4. Sacred Heart won six events and defeated Greenwich Academy 54-48 and Holy Child 75-26, while Greenwich Academy also beat Holy Child 79-22. Event winners included Emma Beaty in diving for Sacred Heart and multiple individual and relay victories shared between Sacred Heart and Greenwich Academy.
Greenwich Students Win National Squash Title
Greenwich Squash won the Middle School National Team Championship Division II title last weekend in Philadelphia. The team, made up of students from Eastern and Western Middle Schools, was the top seed in a 16-team tournament and defeated four private high schools to secure the championship. The program’s high school team will compete in a championship tournament in three weeks.
Brunswick Wrestling Takes Third Place
Brunswick School’s varsity wrestling team placed third at the 2026 WNEPSWA Championships at Avon Old Farms School, with all 13 wrestlers finishing in the top five of their weight classes. Senior co-captain Jack Degl won the 165-pound title and earned the Ray Sparks Trophy as the tournament’s outstanding wrestler for the second straight year. Greens Farms Academy won the team championship, while Greenwich Country Day had several top finishers including Grayson Ross in second and Toby Dubner in third.
Brunswick Rallies Past Lawrenceville, Wins 6-3
Brunswick School trailed Lawrenceville 2-0 early in the second period but responded with four goals in the period and went on to win 6-3 on Feb. 4 at Hartong Rink. The Bruins outshot Lawrenceville 56-12 overall, including 15-6 in the first period, and were led by Mason St. Louis (two goals, one assist) and Jack McCullough (one goal, two assists). Evan Akerman made nine saves in goal as Brunswick earned its 15th win of the season.
Greenwich Girls Basketball Earns Home Win
Greenwich High School’s girls basketball team beat Stamford 51-36 at home on Feb. 3 after leading 23-22 at halftime. Greenwich outscored Stamford by 14 points in the second half and improved to 12-2 overall and 8-1 in the FCIAC. Madi Uzinger and Zuri Faison scored 16 points each for Greenwich, and Taylor Roncoroni scored 15 for Stamford.
LOCAL POLITICS
OUR NEIGHBORS
Stamford WWII Trucks Preserved for Posterity
Two World War II Army utility trucks owned by the City of Stamford were saved from being scrapped through an agreement with the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, New York. The trucks, believed to have been manufactured by Dodge before the attack on Pearl Harbor, were part of the early U.S. military buildup and were later used for civilian purposes. The museum will inspect and restore at least one of the vehicles, which will display “City of Stamford” on its cab after restoration.
ACROSS CT
Connecticut Unveils New Snowplow Names
Thousands of Connecticut residents voted on snowplow names submitted by DOT employees for the 2025–26 winter season. The winning names include Plowsaurus Rex, Snow-Be-Gone Kenobi, Truck Norris, Clear-A-Pathra, and The Saltfather, among others. CTDOT will display the names on plows this winter and will use its fleet of about 650 trucks and related equipment to clear state roads and highways.
FROM HARTFORD
State Extends Cold Weather Protections
Governor Ned Lamont extended Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol through at least noon on Sunday, February 15, 2026, due to continued below-average temperatures and single-digit wind chills. The protocol, first activated January 23, is the state’s longest continuous activation since 2015 and keeps shelters and warming centers available statewide with coordination through 2-1-1. Residents can call 2-1-1 or visit 211ct.org to find locations and request transportation if needed.
