November 13, 2020

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The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, where we celebrate our hometown with Greenwich news, people, and events.

November 13, 2020

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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

Cos Cob VFW Celebration

Opening Hearts and Minds By Stuart Adelberg As I write, our nation lingers in the most divisive state that I can remember. I offer no opinions here on the politics of the day, as I have already done that, like millions of others, w ith my recent vote. Today’s issues are stark for so many of us and this ma ke s it se em a l most impossible to comprehend those who see things d i f f e r e n t l y. T h o u g h understandable, I worry about the lasting damage this situation has inflicted on personal relationships and our increasing inability to engage with those who have different points of view. I g rew up w it h t he idea that an open mind, the ability to listen and learn, and the desire to seek compromise were positive attr ibutes. I have fond memories of col le ge cla sse s a nd family discussions that challenged my preconceived notions, and of heated debates with re sp e c te d a nt agon ists with whom I might never agree, but whose arguments were at least as important, worthy and well founded as my own. To d a y, s o m a n y o f u s d e m o n s t r at e a n

unwillingness to connect with those with whom we d isag re e, a lack of interest in listening to unique and dif ferent p e r s p e c t i ve s , a s e n s e that it is unnecessary to consider anyone else’s opinion. We see debates devolve into altercations, disagreements become p e r s on a l at t ack s , a nd compromises def ined as weak ness. This is so unfortunate. It is my privilege to know many brilliant people, but not one of them is right 100% of the time, and I think most of them would agree that every day presents an opportunity to learn something valuable from someone else. Re cent ly, t he Avon Theatre Film Center showed a wonderf ul f ilm that demonstrated to me how even the most ingrained feelings and opinions can be changed by experiencing something from another p e r s o n’s p e r s p e c t i ve . THE KEEPER recounted t he t r ue stor y of B er t Trautma n n, a G er ma n paratrooper who is captured by the British du r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I . W h i le e xe r c i si n g i n a pr isoner of war camp, Bert’s extraordinary talent as a football goalkeeper is revealed. As the end of the war approaches, Bert is recruited by the revered Manchester City Football Club. As I watched t he f i l m i n t he Avon’s beautiful historic theatre, I experienced the same mixed emotions displayed by the British football

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fans as they struggled to decide whether a former Nazi can be forgiven and transformed from enemy to national sports hero. The Holocaust is personal to me and the idea that someone who participated, even on the p e r iphe r y of t he Na z i cause, might be worthy of forgiveness is difficult fo r m e to c o n s i d e r. I f presented w ith this as an academic question, I would have likely rejected the possibility out of hand. But this film introduced me to Bert as a human being, an imperfect man who struggled w it h t he me mor ie s of what he witnessed and the remorse over what he lacked the personal strength to do. According to the story, it was a Rabbi and leader of the local Jewish community who was the first to publicly encourage forg iveness and acceptance, a truly charitable and openminded act at a time when the wounds of the war were still incredibly fresh. I did not anticipate being so personally touched by THE KEEPER, but such is the power of a quality film. It doesn’t tell you what to think or feel – but the entirety of the theatrical experience inserts you fully into a world of new perspectives. One cannot help but be moved. After the year that we have all had – opening our hearts and minds to new perspectives seems like something we might all embrace. See you at the Avon!

ADVERTISING Peter@GreenwichSentinel. com; call 203-4850226; or buy online at GreenwichSentinel.com/ Advertise STORY IDEAS Publisher@ GreenwichSentinel.com COLUMNISTS Columnists and community impact. Jenny at CommunityImpact@ GreenwichSentinel.com JIM KNOX info@beardsleyzoo.org TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN GREENWICH: www.greenwichsentinel. com/community-event/ LETTERS Editor@GreenwichSentinel. com

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There were some 60 or more allowed to attend the sunny Saturday morning Cos Cob VFW Post 10112’s annual Veteran’s Day ceremony in the Cos Cob VFW Veteran’s Memorial Site on Strickland Road. Cos Cob Post Commander Joe Musich welcomed one and all, followed by the “Salute to Colors,” and singing of the National A nt h e m by n ote d tow n vo c a l i s t Stephanie Kies. Holding hands over hearts were town officials, First Selectman Fred Camillo, State Rep. elect Kimberly Fiorello, State Rep. Harry Arora, and former State Rep. Livvy Floren. In the crowd Police Chief Jim Heavey stood by a group of Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. The Ringing of the Memorial Bell tolled for the loss this year of three Post 1011 2 members, former Post Commander Joe Gregory, and Lou Caravella, both WWII veterans, as well as Frank Francis who served post Korean War. Membership in the Post now numbers, between 38-40 noted

Post Service member Tony Marzullo. Especially invited to the ceremony were a number of Cub Scouts from Pack 23 unable to participate in their annual Veterans Day ceremony at North Mianus International School of Dundee, due to the pandemic. Learning this Bill Cameron, Post Adjutant Off icer, had invited them. Seen amongst the group were the first female Cub Scout members. “Today, we confront Covid-19,” spoke Cameron. “Even without this plague, we are losing our honored veterans by the droves. Many of our older veterans are now again fighting for their lives. They may be weakened by advanced years, old injuries and past or present persistent illnesses in addition to the virus.” “What can we all do for these heroes of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East conf licts?” asked Cameron. “First, we can pray for them and for us. God removed the 1918 Flu, and He will do it again.” “Second,” he continued, “when we meet a veteran, we can thank him or her for their noble service and

Calls to Action

wish them good health. Third, we can honor our glad and the efforts of our founding fathers who created this beautiful country. Fourth, we can proudly standby our police forces, our health care workers and all our essential workers who daily are the selfless community heroes. “Fif th, just as the veteran answered the call to serve our country in the military, each of us following their example can right now volunteer our time and talents to help and serve within our own community.” Cameron then offered a hopeful image to those gathered. “When a short time from now a young child seeing an old cloth mask hanging on a wall will ask what is it? The child will be told that the face mask was a symbol of one of the worst global pandemics that the world has ever seen named Covid-19.” “Take a look around you at our ve t e r a n s g a t h e r e d h e r e t o d a y,” Cameron concluded, “and draw from their strength and bravery so that each of us can increase our own resilience."

Radar Screen

Friday November 13, is the American Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside. Please go to www.redcrossblood.org/give. html/find-drive and type in 06878 for the zip code to sign up for your time slot to donate blood between 9am and 1:30pm.

Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry

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By Anne W. Semmes

The Marriage Castle

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Weddings & engagements; promotions, achievements; births; letters to the editor; obituaries. These are free. Beth@GreenwichSentinel. com

The Veterans Day ceremony included invited Cub Scouts from Pack 23 with a couple of the first female members. Photo by Anne W. Semmes

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT We build our invisible marriage castle together on a patch of bare ground beginning on our wedding day. The building blocks are the traditions from our childhood, our behaviors, our routines, and the people we decide to welcome inside. It’s important to talk about people and behaviors that we don’t want in our castle, too. Our relationships need to be defended and protected against invasion. The old images of marriage as a garden or a safe haven aren’t strong enough. Demanding work schedules, the Internet, inlaws, and extended time apart are just a few of the challenges that are lobbed regularly into our castles. We need strong drawbridges to close the door for family time. We need to stock the moat with piranha to protect against unwelcome guests. Everett and P r iya both g rew up in dif f icult families. They were afraid of committing to a longterm relationship. Designing their castle helped them intentionally build walls against yelling and excessive alcohol use that had hurt them as children. They included things that they wished they’d had as kids such as family dinners and community service projects. Greenwich resident, Jill Woolworth is author of the book, The Waterwheel, which is available locally at Diane's Books (203-869-1515) or info@dianesbooks. com) or at Amazon.

Close up the computers and register for the Greenwich Alliance for Education's TURKEY TROT FITNESS CHALLENGE! T-shirts and gaiters are still available in most sizes! Prizes for posting your fitness activity to #GreenwichAllianceTurkeyTrot2020. $500 prize to the school with the greatest participation! Participating in this community event helps raise critical dollars for the Greenwich Alliance for Education programs for public school students. REGISTER NOW: www.greenwichalliance.org Boys & Girls Club wants you to join in the Gingerbread House Wars! Order your $50 gingerbread house TODAY, decorate the Gingerbread house and post a photo by Friday, December 11. Ask family and friends to “vote” for your creation with their donations. Go to sign up at e.givesmart.com/ events/jj1/ or contact Michele Smith, Special Events Manager, msmith@ bgcg.org or call 203-962-6567. Liberation Programs needs PPE donations: Masks: N95, Medical and Homemade, Disposable Gloves, Hand Sanitizer (Purell or 60%+ Ethanol), Disinfecting Wipes and Sprays, Protective Gowns and Disposable Shoe Coverings. Liberation programs have remained open helping hundreds in recovery from addiction. Help them stay open by donating much needed PPE. Please contact Fiona Wilkes at fiona.wilkes@liberationprograms.org or call 203 354-6918 to arrange a safe, contactless donation drop off or PPE pick up. Community Centers Inc. is collecting donations of fresh or frozen turkeys, yams, vegetables, and baked pies to continue their efforts against food insecurity. Donations can be brought to CCI, located on the second floor at 2 St. Roch Avenue in Greenwich on Monday November 23 or Tuesday November 24 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call 203-869-1276 for more details. The YWCA Greenwich is asking for your unused gift cards or cash donations. Grab your extra gift cards to empower victims and survivors of domestic violence to purchase their own fundamental supplies like food and medication. Stop by the YWCA Greenwich Member Services to drop off a gift card. You can also donate online at https://ywcagreenwich.org/ or call 203 869-6501 to find out more. St. Mary Church is holding their Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Go out and grab an Acme, ShopRite, or Stop & Shop gift card to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for those in need. Purchase the cards and drop them off at the St. Mary Parish Center at 178 Greenwich Avenue, anytime from November 2-21. You can also place them in the collection box at Mass or call 203 869-9393 for more information.

By Beth Barhydt On the radar screen this week: our charities, non-profits, and loved local institutions are in real trouble. Greenwich residents may well want to pay attention and take steps to help the organizations they cherish here in town because many of them are in trouble and you may not know until they are closing their doors. It is a good time, before the end of the year, to take a look at what we gave or spent locally in 2019 and try to match it in 2020. Whether it is Smart Kids for toys or an Avon Theatre membership or your place of worship, there are dozens and dozens of places we will want to return to when the pandemic is over. There may not have been big galas, dress up events, invitations with our names on them, gift bags, or in person events with live auctions, but the organizations that typically survive because of those events are still in need of support. For instance, I just realized that we let our family membership to the zoo lapse this summer. If we expect to go back next summer, then skipping a year is a bad idea. At the Sentinel, we initiated the CALL TO ACTION on the front page because we have heard from so many local people that help is needed. Our future selves will thank us for putting what we love on our radar screens now.


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November 13, 2020 by Greenwich Sentinel - Issuu