July 9, 2021

Page 1

ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2475 Providence, RI Postal Customer RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER

The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, Local, local, local.

July 9, 2021

Back Countr y | Banksv ille | Belle Haven | By ram| Chickahominy | Cos Cob | Glenv ille | Old Greenw ich | Pember w ick | R iverside | Bedford, N Y

The Local News You Need to Know LobsterCraft Opens LobsterCraft, a restaurant specializing in fresh-caught lobster rolls, bisque, chowder, and more, has opened at 107-109 Greenwich Avenue. The restaurant offers a unique second floor dining room, being one of the only three restaurants on Greenwich Avenue grandfathered in for this feature, and is available for dine in or take out, Tuesday through Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

iCapital to Open Greenwich Office iCapital Network, a financial technology company which connects advisors and investors, will be opening an office in Greenwich, creating 200 jobs in the state over the next two years. New Nursery School Proposal A new nursery school called “Kidz Korner” has been proposed by The Banksville Community House Board at 12 Banksville Road. The nursery school would be limited to 24 children, and there would be no interior or exterior changes planned for school, other than a temporary division wall. Children aged 3-4 would attend the school from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and teachers would attive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., leaving by 2:30 p.m. Drop off and pick up times would be staggered at 15 minute intervals, and the school would follow a similar calendar to that of Greenwich Schools. In response, the Planning and Zoning Commission has asked for a current site plan, and for state representatives to sign off on all plans. Recognizing the Need for a Revised Special Education Program After a full scale review to the special education program in Greenwich Schools this past year, there is recognition of the need for “full scale reorganization” of the program. Peter Bernstein, Board of Education Chair, noted that an action plan will be made to improve the special education program courses. North Mianus to Relocate Students to Stamford Beginning this fall, North Mianus students in grades 3-5 will be relocated to Trinity Catholic School, located at 926 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. Kindergarten through second grade will remain at North Mianus School. In regards to transportation, students will be able to be dropped off at North Mianus, where buses will take them to the alternate site. Heat Wave Cooling Centers Cooling centers were made available this past week as a heat wave passed through Fairfield County. Six cooling stations were made available at Greenwich Library, Perrot Library, Byram Shubert Library, Cos Cob Library, Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, and at The Greenwich Public Safety Complex. Bicycle Task Force Approved The Greenwich Board of Selectmen held a unanimous vote last week to enstate a bicycle task force to address cycling improvements and safety throughout town. The task force could potentially be made up of members from the Department of Public Works, the Police Department, Parks and Recreation, or Risk Management. According to First Selectmen Camillo, there could be future public forums to allow for community input. Board of Selectmen Discuss Potential Name Change The Board of Selectmen has discussed potentially changing the term “Board of Selectmen’’ to reflect Greenwich’s values of inclusion and equality. Selectperson Oberlander suggested changing the term to “Select Board”, with board members names “Selectpeople, Selectpersons, or Members of the Select Board”, and noted that adopting gender neutral titles can send an empowering signal to residents and young people that there is room for all, regardless of identity. The Board of Selectmen has noted that they are open to discussion, would like to hear more from the public on this topic, and are considering ways to get the public involved in this decision making process. Holly Hill Permits Beginning Thursday, July 1, all residents will need to display their new permit to enter the Holly Hill Facility. The permit fee is $25, and permits residents to dispose of all accepted materials, including municipal

See Page 9

New Bruce Museum Tops Out Bringing Awe and Aspirations By Anne W. Semmes Last Wednesday week they arrived with awe written on their faces, the Bruce Museum trustees, donors, and friends invited to see and celebrate the “topping off” of a last steel beam taking its place in the New Bruce construction. What they saw, on perhaps the hottest afternoon of the summer at 97 degrees, was a towering framework of steel girders, surpassing for many of the 50-plus onlookers, including Museum staffers, what they imagined would be. “On paper, we k new how big it was going to be, but seeing it now actually being put up, it seems so much bigger!” said Anne von Stuelpnagel, the Museum’s director of exhibitions who was first on the scene. von Stuelpnagel has watched how the steel workers “balance on the steel beams,” and was

The Susan E. Lynch Executive Director, Robert Wolterstorff welcomes attendees. Photo by Anne W. Semmes looking forward to seeing them install that celebratory steel beam. “It was always a little hard to envision it in full scale,” said arriving Peter Sutton, the Museum’s former executive director. Having lived with that “little model” for his 18 years he too was a bit in awe of the size of that William L. Richter Art Wing taking shape. Sutton’s dream for the Museum to become a

SENTINEL SUBSCRIBE GreenwichSentinel.com/ subscribe

world class regional museum was being realized for him with Richter’s $15 million gift of that 40,000-plus squarefoot Richter gallery. “It took a long time, but it got here,” said arriving Susan E. Lynch. Her 30-years of Museum support is evidenced in present Museum executive director Robert Wolterstorff’s full title as The Susan E. Lynch Executive Director. Richter was last to arrive, and hurriedly took his place to sign his name along with others on that celebratory s t e e l b e a m . “ I t ’s v e r y exciting,” he said, “because it's happening so quickly now, and the overall size is bigger than I imagined.” His hope is, “the institution lives up to its size.” Welcoming them all was Wolterstorff. “As you stand on this construction site you know it now—you can feel it now: the New Bruce is really happening! Sometimes dreams come true.”

He traced that dream: “Thirty years ago, a Bruce Auxiliary formed which included some people who are still involved to this day— Susan Lynch, Bruce Cohen, Chuck Royce, and others. They believed that the people of Greenwich deserved a better museum…that the Bruce could be so much more and do so much more. “They knew the Bruce really needed a restaurant and community spaces…the Bruce needed five galleries for the permanent Art Collection… the Bruce needed much more space for changing science exhibitions. And they knew the Bruce really needed three classrooms for education. The dream they had led inevitably to this New Bruce. Greenwich at last is getting the Museum it deserves, and today the Bruce comes of age.” Museum board chair Jim Lockhart next spelled out

See Page 13

Take a Sabbatical

SUBSCRIBER DELIVERY ISSUES & REQUESTS Thomas@maninmotionllc. com or call 203-515-2288 SUBMIT EVENTS Editor@ GreenwichSentinel.com ANNOUNCEMENTS Beth@GreenwichSentinel. com SPORTS Paul@GreenwichSentinel. com ADVERTISING Peter@GreenwichSentinel. com; call 203-485-0226 STORY IDEAS Publisher@ GreenwichSentinel.com COLUMNISTS Columnists and community impact. Jenny at CommunityImpact@ GreenwichSentinel.com JIM KNOX info@beardsleyzoo.org LETTERS Editor@ GreenwichSentinel.com CORRESPONDENCE PO Box 279 Greenwich, CT 06836 PLEASE NOTE Free copies of this newspaper are often sent through the U.S. mail to rotating areas of town. These contain an envelope for subscriptions.

Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT Do you ever wonder if you are addicted to a certain behavior? Can you live without your cell phone for an afternoon, alcohol each night, your shopping habit, video games? If not, experiment w ith tak ing periodic “sabbaticals.” (One woman refers to hers as “spa vacations.”) These timeouts— when framed in positive language—make a change in behavior feel like a privilege, rather than a deprivation or punishment. Also, share your intent with one trustworthy friend. Talking honestly about the behavior that bothers you reduces its power considerably. The old adage is true: “we are only as sick as our secrets.” If periodic sabbaticals aren’t sustainable, you’ll have a clue that you need more support to “let go”

of the behavior. Remember, you’re choosing to “let it go,” rather than to have it “taken away,” or “giving it up.” Sabbaticals from behaviors g ive us impor tant information about ourselves while open- ing up productive space to focus on other interests. James takes periodic sabbaticals from alcohol, Susannah from spending money, and Justin from screen time. Know- ing that they can successfully and happily put boundaries around their behaviors is a gift they give themselves. Greenwich resident, Jill Woolworth is author of the book, The Waterwheel, which is available locally at Diane's Books (203-8691515) or info@dianesbooks.com) or at Amazon.

By Anne White

John Blankley believes he can win as a petition candidate in the special election for the 36th state Senate seat. If he gets enough signatures on his petition before Monday, he will face Democrat Alexis Gevanter and one of three Republicans: State Rep. Harry Arora, Ryan Fazio, or Leora Levy. When state Senator A lex Kasser (D-36) announced her resignation from the thirty sixth Senate District, which covers all of Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan, it set off a series of events necessary to fill her vacated seat. In this situation, Democrats and Republicans must reconvene their conventions and choose new candidates from their parties to run for of f ice in a special election. The timing of Sen. Kasser's resig nation meant that both parties would have to reconvene their previous conventions with the same delegates. Delegates that previously endorsed Ryan Fazio for the Republicans must now choose between Fazio, Levy, and Arora. That convention will be held this coming Sat, July 10 virtually. Delegates that previously voted to endorse Alex Kasser for the Democrats have now unanimously endorsed her pick for the seat, Alexis Gevanter who worked for the San Francisco based law firm Sheppard Mullin before moving to Connecticut two years ago. J o h n B l a n k l e y, w h o h a s served on the BET as well as being a candidate for the 36th state Senate seat previously, is petitioning for the right to be on the ballot and let voters decide for themselves. Democrats have said they have concerns that if Blankley i s on t he b a l lot it w i l l on ly serve to take votes away from their candidate. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could win," Blankley said. He will need to collect the signatures of almost 600 registered voters before July 12 in order to appear on the ballot. Voters interested in signing his petition may contact him at 203 249 7797 (cell phone) and john@ blankley.com. Visit the Greenwich Sentinel a t w w w .G r e e n w i c h S e n t i n e l . c om /s pec ialelec t ion for more information on the race.

JULY 8, 9,10,11

New Labor Contract Consultant Hired First Selectman Camillo has announced that effective July 1, Michael Mason has been hired to serve as Greenwich’s labor contract consultant. Mason is a Greenwich native, has been a member of the Representative Town Meeting for 12 years, and was on the Board of Estimation and Taxation for 17 years, where he held the positions of Chairman as well as the Republican caucus leader. Mason resigned from the Board of Estimation and Taxation, of which he was chair and Republican caucus leader in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

The New Bruce extension of steel beams, to hold the William L. Richter Wing. Photo by Anne W. Semmes

GreenwichChamber.com

RTC Amends Bylaws The Greenwich Republic Town Committee has amended its bylaws in order to promote more flexibility in how meetings are conducted in the future. The new bylaws state that “all meetings of the Town Committee may now be held in person, by video communication, or by a hybrid of in-person and video communication”.

Can A Third Party Candidate Win?

#GreenwichSidewalkSales #GSS2021

Pemberwick Road Closure A portion of Pemberwick Road, between Comly Avenue and Halock Drive will be closed as of June 28 in order to reconstruct and install concrete retaining walls, as well as code compliant guide rails. Construction is projected to be complete at the end of August. There are detours available via Moshier Street, Weaver Street, Grey Rock Drive, and Hawthorne Street North; signage will be posted by the Highway Division, who asks that drivers stay alert, slow down, and drive the detoured routes.

John Blankley


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
July 9, 2021 by Elizabeth Barhydt - Issuu