ECRWSS
The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, where we celebrate our hometown with Greenwich news, people, and events.
November 6, 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
Close Races Everywhere
Veterans Day Challenge
By James Heavey N e x t We d n e s d a y, November 11, is Veterans Day, but it will certainly look a bit different this year in Greenwich. There will not be the traditional Vetera n s Wa l k dow n Greenwich Avenue, and the Redman’s Annual Veterans Luncheon is also cancelled due to COVID-19 limitations. But there will still be several ways to honor our US Veterans. Novem ber 11th is reserved to recognize and thank all the men and women who have ever worn the uniform of our military. While Memorial Day in May is reserved to recognize those who paid the ultimate sacrif ice defending our country, Veterans Day is different. It’s a day that reminds us to be tha n k f u l for all Veterans who have served, living and dead, and also for all those still on active or reserve duty, protecting our nation. When I returned from Desert Shield / D e s e r t Stor m n e a rly thirty years ago, I was eager to get back to my normal routine here in
Greenwich. Joe Rutledge, who worked for the Gas Company and whom I knew from his service as a Volunteer with the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, soon began to stalk me; he wanted me to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW.) I had been gone for nine months, done my duty and didn’t consider myself a “Veteran.” I kind of thought of Veterans as people who had been a soldier or sailor many years before and who had long ago retired. I was still active in the A rmy Reser ves and figured I would maybe have time to join a Veterans g roup when I was retired. Joe, who had served in the 77th Infantry Division in the Pacific in WWII, had a different take. He thought it was important to have Vetera n s r em a i n “on the team” and join one of the Veterans’ groups here in Greenwich. So in honor of Joe Rutledge, I challenge every G r e e nw i c h Ve t e r a n to re-engage with one of our Veterans’ organizations and help out at one of the many communit y events that the American Legion Post 29, Byram Veterans, Ninth District Veterans and VFW Post 10112 conduct during the year. Yes, I did take Joe’s advice to join the VFW and the American Legion, and I encourage
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you to join and help out with one of the Veterans groups in their efforts to support patriotism and community service. And to all Veterans and non-Veterans, I also challenge you to attend one of the ceremonies next week in town to show your appreciation for all that our Veterans have done for us and o u r c o u n t r y. E v e n during the current COVID -19 restrictions, you can still support and recognize a Veteran by making a phone call and sending a note, so they know they are not forgotten. On Satu rday, November 7 at 10:30 AM at the Cos Cob VFW Post 10112 Veterans’ Memorial on Strickland Road (adjacent to the Cos Cob Town dock), the Veterans of Foreig n Wars, Cos Cob, CT Post 10112 invites the public to attend a brief heartfelt ceremony to honor all Veterans everywhere who served a nd sacr i f iced i n t he defense of our country. O n We d n e s d a y, November 11 at 11 AM, there will be a town-wide ceremony in honor of Veterans Day conducted at t he Vetera n s Monument on Greenwich Avenue (opposite the S e n i o r C e n t e r, 2 9 9 Greenw ich Ave). The ceremony will be led by American Legion Post
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Another election has come and gone in Greenwich, and it featured several close races which were not concluded on election night, and instead stretched into the day on Wednesday. The tig htest race was bet ween Republican Ryan Fazio and incumbent Democrat, Alex Kasser, for the 36th District State Senate seat. On election night, Fazio held a slim margin with outstanding absentee ballots from Stamford still needing to be counted. But as of press time on Wednesday, unofficial results from the Connecticut Secretary of State website showed Kasser with 27,014 votes to Fazio's 26,583. In 2018, Kasser became the first Democrat to win the 36th State Senate seat since 1930. Republicans scored a victory in the 150th District, as incumbent Harry Arora defeated Democratic challenger, Hector Arzeno, by an unofficial tally of 53% to 47%. The race was too close to call on Tuesday night, but Arzeno conceded on Wednesday morning. Arora was elected earlier this year in a special election to finish out current
G r e e nw ich F i r s t S e le c t m a n F r e d Camillo's term in Hartford. Arora thanked his supporters on Tuesday night, and pledged to continue working for his constituents in Hartford. Greenwich Republicans gathered at their headquarters for a virtual event, and Democrats met at the Old Greenwich Social Club. “Our community has sent a strong message that the policies and the ideas that we have, the concept of serving our community well, and representing their interests, is what everyone in Greenwich w a nt s ,” A r ora s a id . “ Eve n i n t he minority party in Hartford, we’re going to bring change. The last 10 months, it’s been a great honor serving the community, and I can promise you that I’m going to leave no stone unturned to bring change and to put us on the path of good policy, and to make sure each one of us gets from the state what we deserve, which is good policy and good responsive government.” In the 149th District, Republican Kimberly Fiorello held an unofficial lead of 53% to 47% over Democrat Kathleen Stowe as of press time on Wednesday, as absentee ballots were still being
Calls to Action Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry
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By Richard Kaufman
The Rejection Coin
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Lines formed early Tuesday morning at many voting locations throughout town.
By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT We a r e h a r d-w i r e d t o d i s l i k e r e j e c t i o n . We ex per ience rejection in one of t wo ways: abandonment or criticism, two sides of the same coin. This rejection coin is what virtually every argument is about. We typically partner with someone triggered by the opposite side of the coin. Which side of the rejection coin triggers you more? Ask your spouse (or teen) the same question. We sometimes experience abandonment as being “not heard, unimportant, not seen, not cared about, or invisible” and criticism as being “judged, belittled, and never good enough.” People look at each other differently when they understand that no one likes the rejection coin. This is not pathology. It is our basic human desire to avoid abandonment and criticism. Nicole chased Caleb into his home office when he avoided their difficult conversations. Nicole thought that Caleb was uncaring and insensitive. Caleb perceived Nicole as aggressive and demanding. When they realized that Caleb hated criticism and Nicole feared abandonment, Nicole learned to say things more gently and Caleb learned to stay present in the room. Seeing each other’s sensitivities as opposite sides of the same coin enabled them to understand each other better in moments of stress.
Community Centers Inc needs brown paper grocery bags, volunteers to pack food and deliver groceries and Thanksgiving turkey donations. CCI’s goal is to get a Thanksgiving turkey to every family they serve. Reach out to Sydney Henck at sydney. henck@ccigreenwich.org or call 203-869-1276 for more details about how to help. Please note their new address: 2 St. Roch Avenue across from the Hamilton Avenue School. Website link: https://www.ccigreenwich.org/ First Congregational Church of Greenwich Women’s Fellowship is sponsoring a Veteran’s Day Drive to support female veterans living at ABRI-Homes for the Brave in Bridgeport. Join in supporting our veterans and drop off donations on Friday November 6 from 2–4 pm or Saturday November 7 from 10–12pm. Please pull around to the cemetery side of the church and drop items off by the ramp entrance to the Meetinghouse. Items most needed: ramen noodles, soups, fresh fruit, protein bars, peanut butter and jelly, headphones, prepaid phone cards, books, hand sanitizer, paper towels, hand soap and bath or bed linens. Please follow this link for a more extensive wish list: https://files.constantcontact.com/c01ee3dc001/ ad2e5a4e-c08e-43ef-a2a2-050c387e29f7.pdf New Covenant Center is collecting 500 Turkeys virtually. This year the New Covenant Center cannot accept turkeys in person but is accepting monetary donations. Please visit their website to see how your generosity can feed a family t h is Tha n k sg iv i ng. ht tps: //w w w.newcovena ntcenter.org / turkeydrive/?f bclid=IwAR 2 _7xILeLSD6S50qfsrZynGqIym_ HqbStfPHeoAOWbAaywRenjZjMFE4Y0 Inspirica’s Harvest for Hope Drive provides food for 800+ families in need each Thanksgiving. They are requesting the following non perishable items: instant mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, candied yams, string beans/peas, corn, mixed vegetables, apple sauce, coffee, tea and disposable aluminum roaster pans. You can drop off donations now through 11/19 at 141 Franklin Street, Stamford, CT. Check out their website for other ways to help: https://www.inspiricact.org/harvestforhope Family Centers is raising money to provide Thanksgiving meals to those most in need. Please help with a monetary donation to make a family’s Thanksgiving complete. Family Centers will provide Shop Rite gift cards to the families who need it most. Follow this link to get involved: https://www.familycenters.org/Thanksgiving
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.
Turkey Trot
November Fitness Challenge Register at: greenwichalliance.org/turkey-trot-2020
counted. The 149th District covers the backcountry of Greenwich and a section of North Stamford. On Tuesday night, Fiorello thanked her supporters, and said the process of seeking office had been "humbling." “I am proud to be a Republican, I am proud to be an American. I truly thank those who have faith in the Republican principles," she said. “We will still see [what happens with the results], but I am so grateful for all the people who came out to support this campaign. I am truly your voice.” Democrat Stephen Meskers will head back to Hartford to represent the 150th District. He beat Republican Joe Kelly, the former Greenwich High School rugby coach and current Board of Education member, 55% (6,714 votes) to 45% (5,512 votes). Kelly called Meskers on Tuesday night to concede the race, which had been very civil and competitive over the last couple months. "The whole experience was great. It was our first campaign, and it was good fun," Kelly said on Wednesday. "Our opponent was great. We decided
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Radar Screen
By Beth Barhydt On the radar screen this week: a new development in the works on the St. Michael's campus seems to be taking church members and neighbors by surprise. St. Michael’s church has evidently agreed to sell nearly three acres of land to LCB Senior Living (https:// www.lcbseniorliving.com/). The letter of intent was reportedly signed by the Diocese of Bridgeport and LCB Living in order to build an assisted living facility which would house about eightly residents and would be four stories tall. The facility would be located on North Street. Residents in the area, who found out recently about the agreement, are concerned that the large facility would significantly strain North Street’s ability to handle traffic. The main thoroughfare is already stressed at several choke points by traffic to and from several local schools and traffic from the Meritt Parkway to downtown Greenwich. During rush hour it can already take as much as ten minutes to get across Nor t h Street. COV ID has eased some of this congestion but that is temporary. It appears, from the schematic (dated Jan. 24, 2020) that the project is well on its way. The proposed building would be located at 471 North Street. A proje c t of thi s m a g nit ude should be something everyone sees coming and should definitely be on our radar screens.