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The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, Local, local, local.
March 19, 2021
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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
Twin St. Patrick's Day Birthdays
Local News Briefs You Need to Know COVID/GPS UPDATE According to the school districts online tracker, as of Tuesday, 8 new Coronavirus cases had been reported. There are 27 active cases. Of those, 22 are students, 4 are teachers, and 1 is a service provider, according to the tracker. Eight of those cases are from Greenwich High, four are from Glenville, Hamilton Ave, and Western Middle. Two from Easten Middle and Old Greenwich, and one each are from Cos Cob, IS at Dundee, and Julian Curtiss.
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE This past Monday, Governor Lamont announced that Connecticut will be receiving 200,000 weekly vaccines. Around 85,000 people in the qualifying age brackets have already gotten at least one vaccine dose. The new tentative vaccine schedule has changed. Residents between the ages of 45 and 54 will now be able to make vaccination appointments on March 19 instead of March 22. All Connecticut residents ages 16 and older will most likely be eligible to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5.
GREENWICH POLICE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES 125 YEARS The Greenwich Police Department is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year, and will be partnering with local businesses to put on various events throughout the rest of 2021. The theme of this year will be “Honoring our Past and Embracing our Future”. Throughout the year, GPD will be raising funds to support the Greenwich Police Department’s Scholarship fund, which grants financial assistance to undergraduate students of active GPD officers.
On St. Patrick’s Day there were two family birthdays being celebrated in Town, Pat Chrusz of Glenville, born and raised in Greenwich who turned 95, and her Stamford son-in-law, John Zaleski, turned 65. To commemorate their joint birthday they have marked together for 45 years there was a surprise parade last Sunday, March 14! Fire engines proceeded from the parking lot on the corner of Comly Avenue and Pemberwick Road, across from the Castle Deli to the unexpecting home of Pat Chrusz with daughter, Joann and son-in-law Zaleski in attendance. Amidst much honking and merriment there was a mighty fine and early Happy Birthday!
RESTORING THE BENJAMIN MEAD FARM
Congressman Jim Himes, a Greenwich Democrat who represents the 4th Congressional District in Jeffery Bingham Mead, a descendant of the Connecticut, spoke briefly on Monday founders of Greenwich, has announced plans for a morning to First Selectman Fred new initiative meant to restore and reopen the Mead Camillo's Advisory Committee for family farmstead to the public. The Benjamin Mead People with Disabilities. Farm, a ten-acre farmstead, is one of the town’s The committee's mission is to oldest original homes, dating back to 1728. If you serve as a resource to the Greenwich are interested in joining Mr. Mead's effort, he can be community addressing accessibility, contacted at jeffreybinghammead@gmail.com. equal rights, removing barriers and promoting opportunities for individuals COS COB LIBRARY GIVES TALK ON with disabilities. TRAFFIC CONGESTION Himes discussed the latest on what to expect from the recently passed On March 24, Cos Cob Library and the American Rescue Plan, as well as what Greenwich Conservation Commission will be to expect from President Joe Biden's Please turn to page 7 administration and their commitment
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If You Need an Answer Now, It’s No
By Kate Noonan
Last chance to bid in the Greenwich Alliance for Education Silent Auction! Don’t wait ~ the Auction closes tonight Friday March 19th at 8:45pm! Visit their website to bid on great items: https://greenwichalliance.org/
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Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry
ANNOUNCEMENTS Weddings & engagements; promotions, achievements; births; letters to the editor; obituaries. These are free. Beth@GreenwichSentinel. com
By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT Children, and e s p e c i a l l y te e n s , c a n badger parents w ith requests. “Can I have ice cream? Can you take me to Arielle’s house? Can I have 20 dollars?” Such requests can be over whelming, especially if we have more than one child. Assuming that a request is reasonable, a simple way to keep our sanity is to reply, “If you have to have an answer now, it’s ‘no,’ but if you c a n w a i t a n h o u r (o r until tomorrow) it might be ‘yes.’” This response keeps us calm and teaches ou r ch i ld r e n to delay gratif ication. They may also f igure out another solution during the wait. Often, we worry that not meeting our children’s ne e d s w i l l s c a r t he m for life. In fact, we are
of ten helping them by giving them space to be resourceful. Especially i n t he a re a of sel fentertainment, downtime is vital to creativity and imagination. “Kevin, if you can wait until I finish this phone call, I will be happy to help you with your Legos. If you keep bothering me now, I won’t.” “Dustin, the only answer I can give you now is no because I need some time to think about it. Your mother and I will talk it over and let you know tomorrow.” 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.
10,000 Meals: JTAC, the Jewish Teen Action Club, located at Carmel Academy on Lake Avenue, has the goal of packing 10,000 meals for local food pantries. Be a part of this huge generous undertaking by donating any amount of $ to help the group get to their goal. You can also sign up to help pack up the meals on March 29 from 1-3pm. Go to their website to donate or find more ways to help: https://www. ujajcc.org/ Enjoy and support local: The Greenwich Audubon is offering their first IN-PERSON programs since last year. The Woodcock Watch programs are on the evenings of March 26th and 27th from 6:45 -8:00 pm! TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE on the website AND CA PACIT Y IS LIMITED to 15 people for each program - don’t wait because tickets will sell out. **All participants are required to wear face-masks for the duration of the program as well.** Visit their website for more details: https:// greenwich.audubon.org/ Calling all Greenwich students! Are you creative and passionate about the environment? The local chapter of the United Nations Association, of Southwest Connecticut, is hosting a Mother Earth Day Student Creativity Contest now through April 16th.
By Richard Kaufman
show Greenwich will receive about $21 million from that municipal bucket. Himes noted that these funds are "fairly broad" in their potential use. "There are sewer projects, broadband projects, and other things that qualify for use. In combination with the educational money, much of this money will be able to be used either to address issues that arose specifically to the disability community in the last year or so, or to actually improve things like accessibility in our municipal facilities. That's obviously a decision that will be taken at the local level," Himes said. At the federal level, Himes said there wasn't much to report on about
Please turn to page 13
Please turn to page 13
Calls to Action
SUBMIT EVENTS Editor@GreenwichSentinel. com
to serving people with disabilities. "For the first time, and for arguably for the last time in quite a period of time, there is going to be a major federal infusion of funds into states, counties and towns, including the Town of Greenwich," Himes said of the latest COVID-19 stimulus package. "The numbers are pretty staggering. It's up to town leaders and others to make sure in particular the monies that go to the state do find their way down to our towns and our cities." Connecticut will receive billions of dollars, and since the state does not have county government, roughly $280 million that otherwise would have gone to counties will go to municipalities. Himes said that current estimates
A public hearing before the state House’s Planning & Development Committee in Hartford heard from over 340 people about legislation which seeks to impose state zoning laws on Greenwich and all CT towns. Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo and other Greenwich residents pushed back against several proposed housing bills that would impose statewide zoning laws. The hearing, held on Monday before the state House’s Planning & D e ve l o p m e nt C o m m i t t e e , focused on several bills. Camillo testif ied before the committee about SB-1024: an act concerning zoning authority, certain design g u idel i nes, q ua l i f ic at ions of certain land use off icials and certain sewage disposal systems. Specifically, the bill would: “(1) Allow municipalities to require that land use applicants pay the costs of any technical review of applications, (2) make several changes to the Zoning Enabling Act, (3) establish requirements for zoning regulations concerning accessory apartments, mixed-
Himes Meets with First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities By Richard Kaufman
Camillo Pushes Back Against Proposed Housing Bills
Students can submit any piece of art or product related to Earth Day. Students can create a website, flyer, poem, drawing, or any item inspired by Earth Day to win a cash prize. For more information visit https://www.unaswct.org/ Looking for a fulfilling and exciting vo l u n t e e r j o b? J o i n G E M S : Greenwich Emergency Medical Service. GEMS takes great pride in their volunteer staff. Their volunteers work shifts on duty, participate with the career staff in regular call reviews, can participate in continuing medical education opportunities, focus groups and staff meetings. Check out their website for more information and volunteer training opportunities: https://www.greenwichems.org/ Join Inspirica’s mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness by signing up for one of their inp e r s o n o r v i r t u a l vo lu nte e r opportunities at https://www. inspiricact.org/ online. Fill The Van! St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Riverside hosts a food collection for Neighbor-toNeighbor every Thursday from 10-11:30AM (weather permitting) in their parking lot. It is "contactless" drop off. All you need to do is bring your non perishable foods especially proteins including beans, canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, for donation and they will get them to Neighbor to Neighbor... Have a CA L L TO ACT ION? E-mail Kate Noonan at the Greenwich Sentinel Foundation with the details: kate@ greenwichsentinelfoundation. org
Radar Screen By Beth Barhydt This week there can be only one issue on our radar screen. Like Godzilla on radar in a movie, the issue of legislation that removes local control and puts the state in control seems to be everywhere. It is not about the merits of this onslaught of legislation, which are debatable, it is about not being trusted to think for ourselves, it’s about having local decision-making authority systemically removed and given to a state bureaucracy that "knows better" than we do. One political party has complete control of state government right now and they are using that overwhelming authority to put forward a lineup of legislation that will change Connecticut forever. New England has a long tradition of local control over local issues. If this legislation is allowed to pass, local control over local issues may very well end. If you are unaware of the legislation being put forward in Hartford, then it is time to pay attention. The list includes requiring that all children's vaccinations are on a specific schedule that is state mandated; regionalizing control of schools; and taking over planning and zoning decisions. In the Sentinel, we have had remarkably prolific interest in this topic. You will see the most recent iteration, statewide zoning regulations, addressed throughout this week's issue. Read more above and on pages 3, 8 and 9.