December 11, 2020

ECRWSS

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

December 11, 2020

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

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 COLUMN

What Would You Protect?

By Patricia Murphy We had the f irst of our family’s annual showings of It’s a Wonderful Life recently, and as always were moved to embarrassing tears by its poignant lessons about the immense power of a single life. This year, though, I found myself drawn to another of the film’s enduring messages, which felt timely, even urgent, as we look about our town at the close of this tumultuous, disorienting year.

The message was this: small towns like Bedford Falls, or Greenwich, or any of the quaint villages that we are so fortunate to be surrounded by don’t r et a i n t hei r d ist i nc t ive

own such places. Maybe for you, it’s McArdles and how they helped you with your very first Christmas tree; or Sophia’s and the great Halloween costume party where you met your true love; or Diane’s Books, where you can get lost for hours and never hurried out; or Sam Bridge and your child’s first visit to a pumpkin patch; or Steven Fox and a cherished family heirloom.

It could be anyplace – a restaurant, a hardware store, an ice cream shop anyplace that has heart and soul and individuality, created by brave people who conceived, built and nurtured a bricks and mortar something that has brought strangers and friends sustenance, usefulness, joy.

And that got me thinking.

What do we love enough to protect? local character and charm, their friendliness and traditions because of the intervention of a celestial, Clarencelike g uardian angel, but because of the purposeful daily choices of ordinary human beings who make it their priority to protect what makes them home. There’s nothing about this commitment that isn’t always Sisyphusian - it is a relentless struggle against the intox icating allure of all things big and fast and easy – a modern-day Pottersville. But the pandemic has dramatically raised the stakes, especially for the dozens of small businesses that function as the heartbeat of any town.

And that got me thinking. What do we love enough to protect? For me, it might be the gift shop, Splurge, which has been a welcoming, down-to-earth presence in my life since I first hobbled into its newly opened doors 13 years ago, pregnant with my daughter. Since then, its success has felt personal, its struggles threatening, its presence on its little corner of Lewis Street as reliable and reassuring as the morning sun. No doubt most people have their

SENTINEL SUBSCRIBE www.GreenwichSentinel. com/subscribe SUBSCRIBER DELIVERY ISSUES & REQUESTS Thomas@maninmotionllc. com or call 203-515-2288

Like George Bailey, many of those places are in the fight of their lives right now, and they need the community to rally around them until some sustained semblance of normal life can resume.

The community in It’s a Wonderful Life didn’t help George because they felt sorry for him. They helped him because he had been a force for good in their town and in their lives for so long, in his quiet, constant way, and it was their turn. That’s what this moment asks of us, as neighbors, customers and friends, to cast aside our own concerns, our own “saving this money for a divorce if ever I get a husband,” and to direct what little or much we can spare to help save the soul of Greenwich, our own little Bedford Falls.

This holiday season, and as the calendar turns from 2020 to 2021, I hope we’ll each ask ourselves, what do we love enough to protect? And then, wonderfully, go do it.

Patricia Murphy lives in Greenwich with her husband, daughter and dog.

She works in communications and tries to make her corner of the world a better place.

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 CORRESPONDENCE PO Box 279 Greenwich, CT 06836

This was quite the memorable season for the Greenwich High School girls’ crosscountry team. And it wasn’t because of the global pandemic that has altered the way high school sports were played this fall.

The Lady Cardinals had some lofty expectations heading into this fall season and didn’t disappoint. They won every regular season meet they competed in, finishing 5-0 overall, and took home the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference West Division championships with a score of 29.

“I am extremely proud of these girls and I don’t think that does it justice to how proud of the team I am,” said Evan Dubin, head coach of the girls’ crosscountry team. “Going into the season, I knew that we had our work cut out for ourselves. At the end of last season, we knew as a team that we needed to make

By Richard Kaufman W it h v a c c i n e s o n t h e h o r i z o n , Greenwich is preparing to receive its first round of doses.

On Wednesday, First Selectman Fred Camillo and Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly gave an update on COVID-19 in town. Kelly said the hospital is working closely with the state department of public health as the country awaits the first emergency use approvals for a vaccine from the Food & Drug Administration.

"We're hoping mid-next week we'll start to see those doses be available. We have our teams ready to go, our processes are in place. It's just simply about when [the vaccines] will be released to us," Kelly said on Wednesday.

Camillo said the town and health department is going to roll out public information about vaccinations in the next few weeks.

"Our department of health is not sure yet about how many [vaccine doses we'll get] or how it will be distributed. We will get that information out there very, very shortly. We will certainly alert the public every step of the way until we're done with this," he said.

In the meantime, from Dec. 2 through

Dec. 9, Greenwich saw an increase of 211 COVID cases. Active cases went down over that timeframe, from 110 to 98. COVID related deaths since March increased from 58 to 59 since last week.

Overall, 1,867 Greenwich residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

At Greenwich Hospital, there is good news. As of Wednesday, there were 34 patients being treated in-house, down from 38 on Dec. 4 with only two of those patients in the Intensive Care Unit on ventilators.

"I can't stress enough that, yes, we are hitting a small wave. It's nowhere near where it was six months ago, and we're discharging more patients sooner than we were," Kelly said, noting that the hospital may be hitting a plateau with numbers as they relate to gatherings from the recent Thanksgiving holiday.

"We are at a very important point in this juncture. People need to maintain social distancing, wear their masks and wash their hands. If we can just get through these next couple of months where hopefully we'll start to see the vaccine be available to more people in the population, we'll start to break the curve here."

Camillo said that while he continues

Calls to Action

the competition and came away with the championship and a top time of 14:25.1.

“This is, by no means, an insult to anybody else that she raced against this year, but she had no competition,” Dubin said. “For her to be able to find that internal drive for every single meet that she ran in this year really shows the degree of competitor that she is. Running by yourself and still being able to do it at that ability really shows how talented she is.”

Grace Collier, who ran indoor track for GHS in the winter, but has been a mainstay

continued on page 11

to monitor policies, g uidelines and restrictions related to COVID-19, the town is not at a point where closures to parks need to take place.

Camillo noted that according to Parks and Recreation Director Joe Siciliano, the town admitted 2,000 cars to Tod's Point last week and turned away 519. Right now, Tod's Point is only open to Greenwich residents.

"The trails are open, the tracks are open, the parks are open, it's just the playing fields that aren't open. So far, I see compliance, but we have to keep monitoring the beach," he said. "I feel bad, because a lot of people beyond Greenwich's borders look forward to coming to Tod's point on Dec. 1 every year [for dog season].

We look forward to having them back, but we just can't do it right now."

Camillo hopes that by the middle of January, with holiday gatherings in the rearview mirror, there will be stabilization in COVID-19 numbers.

"We may also see the effects of the vaccinations that are starting to weave their way through our towns and states, and that will only get better. But right now to think about that is foolish, because we have some tough times ahead of us in the next few weeks," Camillo said.

Radar Screen

The Greenwich Police Department needs you to bring toy for their "STUFF A CRUISER" Toy Drive on Dec. 12 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. to benefit Toys for Tots at 299 Greenwich Ave. The River House needs cards, art projects, word searches, flowers, etc. Please bring items directly to River House, 125 River Road Extension in Cos Cob during regular business hours. The staff at the River House will make sure to spread your generosity not only onsite but to those they are supporting at home. Call 203-622-0079 for more information.

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT No one intentionally t r ips a la nd m i ne , but we frequently do so by accident in relationships.

Partner A does or says something that tr ips a land m ine and blows up Partner B. Outraged, Pa r t ner B lob s b ack a verbal grenade and blows up Partner A. Grenades fly back and forth. Both lie bleeding on the ground, ex pecting the other to provide care: an apology, a hand up, a glass of water.

We c o n t i n u e t o b l e e d as we argue about who started it.

A marital fight is like wa lk ing into a f ield of land mines. Imagine that we could be immediately transported to a hospital’s I.C.U. as we would hope to be if we were hit by grenades. No one would

some improvements and a lot of that was going to come from the amount of running the girls did over the summer. Kudos to them because, for the most part, they all ran over the summer and came in to start the season in extraordinarily good shape.

It was just a matter of improving on that.”

Leading the way for Greenwich, and the rest of the competition this year, was Mari Noble. Last year she was golden in the FCIAC finals, as well as the CIAC class LL and state open finals and this year she didn’t disappoint. At the FCIAC West Division championships, Noble dominated

Preparing for First Vaccine Doses

Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry

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

Beth@GreenwichSentinel. com

ADVERTISING Peter@GreenwichSentinel. com; call 203-4850226; or buy online at GreenwichSentinel.com/ Advertise

By Paul Silverfarb

From Land Mines to the I.C.U.

EVENTS Editor@GreenwichSentinel. com

SPORTS Paul@GreenwichSentinel.com

Our Cross Country Champions

b e ye l l i n g . A m e d i c a l team would be caring for us. We’d ask each other g e n t l y, “ H o w a r e y o u doing?” We’d be grateful to be alive.

Jeff and Anita learned to go straight to the Intensive Care Unit with m i n i m a l d a m a g e wh e n an argument started.

They took turns saying, “I think I just tripped a land mine” or “Did I just trip a land mine?” Their teens adopted the same language to work things out with their parents and with each other.

G re e nwi c h re s i d e n t , 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.

Community Centers Inc. (CCI) needs 15 hams, holiday cookies, and 45 gingerbread house kits. They also need volunteers to deliver holiday food on December 21st and December 28th. Please help Community Centers Inc. (CCI) make the holidays special for the families they support in our town. If you can deliver or donate, please call or email Vanessa at (203) 869-1276, Vanessa.Cardinal@ccigreenwich.org.

Inspirica needs toys and gifts for children - the most requested items are: Anything Baby Einstein; Anything Sesame Street; Baby Dolls; V-Tech/Leap Frog; Large Legos; Toy Cars/Trucks/Trains; Play Tool/Shopping Set; Sports balls; Baby Dolls; Action Hero/Barbie; Art Supplies/Jewelry Kits; Anything sports-related; Board Game/Card Game; Legos; MP3 Player; Headphones/ Earbuds; Makeup/Nail Polish; Art Supplies; Anything sports related; Books; Musical Instruments; Word Games like Boggle Junior, etc.; IQ Challenge Book; Intro to Coding Puzzles; Dig up Gems; DIY Solar Power Building; Foldology (Origami); Soduko/Math Puzzle Book. Visits their website: https://www.inspiricact.org/holiday for their holiday wishlist.

Family Centers needs help with their Annual Holiday Gift Card Drive.

Family Centers is seeking monetary gifts in any denomination to purchase gift cards for those they have identified as most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Text FESTIVITY to 41444 to make a donation no later than 12/15/20.

Liberation Programs needs new winter coats for those living in their inpatient and residential care programs. Coats can be purchased through Amazon at https://www.liberationprograms.org/, click on donate and scroll down to their Amazon Smile link to visit their wish list. Liberation programs specializes in substance use disorder treatment with offices at the Greenwich YMCA and throughout Fairfield County.

Support the Bruce Museum by purchasing a membership. A Student/ Educator gift membership is $25 for a full year with promo code: HOLIDAY10! All memberships under $75 are 100% tax-deductible. Visit Brucemuseum.org or call membership manager Laura Freeman at 203413-6764 to join today.

Join in the Avon Auction 2020 and have fun selecting some unique gifts for the holidays while supporting the Avon Theatre. Bidding runs from December 1 thru December 15. The e-catalog will be updated daily as more auction items are added. Check out their website for more details: http:// avontheatre.org/

By Beth Barhydt On the radar screen this week: the CT legislature and our economy.

Connecticut State Senate President Martin Looney indicated that Connecticut’s tax code should be more progressive. He said he pushed for increased taxes in 2009 in a budget that then Gov. M. Jodi Rell refused to sign.

L o o n e y we nt o n to s ay m o r e progress with made Gov. Malloy. “We had a Democratic governor with Gov. Malloy," he explained. "We were able to build in some more progressivity into the income tax in 2011 and again in 2015. And, of course, that struggle c ont i nue s . H av i n g a D e mo c rat ic governor aligned with the legislature makes all the difference in trying to enact progressive policy.”

In spite of the 2011 and 2015 tax increases, Connecticut’s revenue has decreased by 17 percent since 2013, and the state has struggled to keep up with the rest of the country's recovery following the 2008 recession.

Before 2 02 0, Con nec ticut had on ly recovered 88 percent of the jobs lost during the 2008 recession and the 2020 pandemic and ensuing business closures have resulted in massive layoffs.

Getting the economy back on track after the pandemic will be a Herculean task. Lamont has told Connecticut agencies to prepare for cuts, but he is getting a lot of pressure to enact another tax increase instead.

2021 is fast approaching and the Connecticut state legislature will be taking up important legislation that should be on your radar screen.

Come and take your GELATO home for the Holidays! We are open throughout the winter and have Take-Home in 3 sizes as well as custom made Gelato cakes. Our products are made fresh daily with dairyfree, vegan, and nut-free flavors available.

Call us for pick-up orders or find us on GrubHub, Seamless and UberEats!

(203) 900-1288. 232 East Putnam Ave, Cos Cob. Mon-Fri 3pm to 9pm, closed Wed., Sat-Sun 12pm to 9pm.

Randy’s Wines is a boutique wine and spirits shop serving the Cos Cob community for over thirty years. Our expert team has curated a vast and varied selection of hidden gems from around the world. We offer top value on new and interesting wines we guarantee you’ll love. We have the best beer selection in Greenwich and craft liquors you’ll find nowhere else. We’d like to warmly welcome all patrons of Cos Cob Liquor and to wish our friend George the best in retirement.

Sign up for our newsletter on RandysWines.com and ask about our wine club! Monday-Saturday: 9-8 / Sunday: 10-5 (we deliver!)

Trovare Home offers a curated and collected look of both modern and vintage home décor. For over 20 years Trovare has been the “go-to” store for stylish home furnishings and décor. Visit our shop and learn about our design services.

245 East Putnam Avenue, 203-869-5512 Open daily 10:30am to 4:30pm.

Beam & Barre has everything you need for dance and gymnastics! They have something for dancers of all ages from your tiny dancer to the professional ballerina.

Tutus, wands and tiaras satisfy your little dancer’s imagination, while an impressive range of pointe shoes and dancewear will have every dancer excited for class and performance. Their staff has the expertise to find exactly what you need!

241 East Putnam Avenue, 203-622-0591, Monday - Friday - 10-6, Saturday - 10-5.

Take a step off the Post Road into The Drawing Room and you are transported to the perfect blend of a café (with hand blended teas, freshly baked treats, or an artisanal sandwich with daily soup), an interior design studio, a boutique with hand-picked items for your home, and an art gallery. Welcome to The Drawing Room.

5 Suburban Avenue, 203.661.3737. Open Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 5pm. Open Monday, December 20th for bonus holiday

You’re Invited to the Cos Cob Village Marketplace gifts

•

decor • furnishings • artwork

DRAPERIES & INTERIORS of Greenwich

Take 15% off entire online ordering, free delivery within Cos Cob area.

We are Open on Christmas Day 12/25 Friday 3:30pm-9:30pm, regular menu & special holiday menu $59 for 3 courses both are available.

Draperies & Interiors of Greenwich

Reserve Your Seats Now! 203-869-2339 We have indoor and outdoor dining with Covered and Heated patio www.coastseafoodrestaurant.com

interior design services personalized shopping experiences

_________________________ cos cob design district 234 east putnam avenue greenwich botanical center shop bib street 130 bible

habitatgreenwich.com

With the holidays in full swing, it's the season of givingand the First Bank of Greenwich (FBOG) is making sure that season lasts year round. The FBOG has launched a Charitable Checking Program to support area nonprofit organizations.

Giving has always been part of the bank’s mission, the whole bank likes to give back. As a true community bank, we want to be able to help as many people as we can and The Charitable Checking Program allows us to do that. Currently, over 40 organizations are enrolled in the program.

If you would like to learn more about Charitable Checking, contact Emily Newcamp at the First Bank of Greenwich at (203) 302-4382.

With 35 years of experience, we offer custom window treatments and full-service interior design – whether you need help in just one room or your entire home. We don’t believe in a “one-style fits all” approach and truly work with each of our clients to get them the results and style they want within their budget.

238 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob 203-489-3019 www.draperiesandandinteriorsofGreenwich.com

Page 3 | Greenwich Sentinel

Town Government

Updates from the Board of Estimate and Taxation

By Richard Kaufman The Greenwich Sentinel brings you updates from Greenwich's Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET).

The BET is responsible for the proper administration of the financial affairs of the Town, including the issuance of the annual recommended budget and setting the Town tax mill rate.

The Board also acts on requests for additional appropriations, transfers and allotments made during the fiscal year.

Halftime in December December is an important month for the BET, as it serves as a barometer for how the town is doing halfway through the fiscal year.

The monthly BET Committee meetings and the full BET meeting will take place next week.

"The next fiscal year begins on July 1. Jan. 1 begins the second part of the town's budget. This month gives us a pretty good idea on how much money has been spent versus the budget, and how many capital projects have been started on versus what we planned. It

also gives us a six month look at revenues," Mason said. "It's halftime for us. It's an important time."

This month is also one of the review times for the Transportation Authority of Greenwich (TAG) and Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS). "We have a contract for services with them, and this is going to be our midyear point where we do a second release of funding to them," Mason said.

Mason also added that the BET will look at the town's fund balance and debt policy this month, which are reviewed every two years.

South Stanwich Road Causeway Last month, the BET voted to appropr iate $2 , 500,000 to repair the South Stanwich Road Causeway.

The road runs between North Street and Taconic Road, crossing A q u a r i o n Wa t e r C o m p a n y 's Rockwood Lake Reservoir. In September, an approximate 55-foot portion of the causeway's southern face collapsed, undermining a portion of the roadway.

""[December is] halftime for us.

It's an important time," said BET Chair, Michael to review, discuss and likely accept a fire study that was conducted by Matrix Consulting Firm.

Last year, the BET budgeted money for the study, which aimed to look at town-wide fire response times. More specif ically, there has been concern for years about response times in the northwest part of town.

At the special meeting, Matrix is expected to present an executive summary of the study, and BET members will have a chance to ask questions. Mason said he was happy to see that the study was concluded, and that it touched upon where fire emergency calls were located, different types of response times, and standards for the fire department.

Special Meeting on "It's a very impressive report.

Fire Study Obviously, like anything else, The BET will hold a special different people will have different Zoom meeting on Dec. 15, at 7 p.m., t a k e a w a y s f r o m i t . T h e r e 's Repa i r work i nclude s t he construction of additional walls on bot h t he nor t h a nd sout h sides of the existing causeway to support the existing structure. The Department of Public Works has been working with an engineering firm for potential repair to take place this winter.

The Representative Tow n Meeting is set to hold its monthly meeting on Dec. 15 and is expected to take up the matter since the RTM has f inal approval on the appropriation. Mason said he has been speaking with RTM members and various RTM committees this week about the project ahead of the RTM meeting.

initiatives in there that public safety can really start addressing quite quickly," Mason said. "It could have some very positive impacts on the fire response times issues that led us to [conducting the study]. I'm very thankful for all of the participants, between the RTM, volunteer and career firefighters, Board of Selectmen, and our Town Administrator, Ben Branyan, and town Comptroller, Peter Mynarski."

Meetings with the First Selectman Mason and BET member Leslie Moriarty, who is the leader of the Democratic caucus, have had monthly meetings with First Selectman Fred Camillo, most recently right before Thanksgiving.

The meetings serve as a way to make sure the town's f inance board and the town's chief elected

official are up to speed on what's going on.

"When we meet, it's a chance to share different things that are going back and forth," Mason said. "[At our last meeting], we shared the budget process and the timeline; we talked about making sure there's an understanding of budget guidelines," Mason said.

"It's very important for the BET and the Board of Selectmen to understand what our concerns are and what our priorities are."

Mason added that both he and Moriarty continue to talk to Camillo about the town's Capital Improvement Process (CIP) and the ranking of projects in town.

"My personal goal for the CIP is, if a project is not approved t h is ye a r, where is it? W hen can residents see these projects working their way into the queue?"

Mason said.

The First Selectman usually presents his or her proposed budget in January.

Stay Up tp date. Check back here each week for alternating updates from the BET leadership and First Selectman Fred Camillo.

yourCOMMUNITYcalendar GREENWICH LIBRARIES: greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 11

622-6883.

1 p.m.

greenwichlibrary.org

7 p.m.

greenwichlibrary.org

Dec. 14

SCORE Webinar: How To Pivot and Elevate Your Small Business Through Social Media.

Free. Register. 203-622-7910. ywang@greenwichlibrary.org

7 p.m.

Virtual: Beethoven at 250: Apotheosis and Transcendence.

Free. Register. dwaring@ greenwichlibrary.org

5 p.m.

10 a.m.

2 p.m.

Virtual: Everyday Uses for the iPhone. Free. Register.

203-625-6560. csherman@ greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 12 10 a.m.

Virtual – Saturday Story Time (Toddler, Preschool).

Free. Register. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org

Virtual – Story Time (Toddler, Preschool). Free. Register. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org 6 p.m.

Virtual: Fiction Addiction Book Group. ghayes@ greenwichlibrary.org 7 p.m.

4 p.m.

Virtual: Peterson Concert: Young Beethoven, Trios Concert. Free. Register.

203-622-7917. dwaring@ greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 16

Virtual: STEAM Storytime from the Flinn Gallery!. econnell@greenwichlibrary.org

10 a.m.

Virtual – Story Time (Toddler, Preschool). Free. Register. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org

5 p.m.

Virtual: International Book Date with an Author: Club. 203-531-0426.

1 p.m.

Dana Thomas, Author of 6 p.m.

Virtual: Career Coach: Social "Fashionopolis". Register.

Networking For Employment.

Virtual – 3D Printed 203-622-7950. ehickey@ 10:30 a.m.

PUB/POST: Greenwich Sentinel (Stam- PRODUCTION: N/A CODE: HSS-2020-95 LIVE: None 203-625-6560. trainingcenter@ Keychains.

Free.

Register. ford) - 10/9 issue (Due Date: 10/1/2020) greenwichlibrary.org Virtual – Holiday Stories and DESCRIPTION: Dr. Hannafin WORKORDER #: 74939 TRIM: 11” x 10.5” greenwichlibrary.org 203-622-7979. innovationlab@ Dec. 15 Craft with Nicole & Miguel.

FILE: 03A-74933-07C-HSS-2020-95-V1.indd SAP #: HSS.HSSGEN.20005.B.011 BLEED: None greenwichlibrary.org 6 p.m.

203-531-0426.

11 a.m.

212.237.7000 7 p.m.

Virtual - Financial Wellness 1 p.m.

Virtual Drop-in Computer Lab. Wednesday: College Planning.

Virtual: Foreign Affairs Book 203-625-6560. trainingcenter@ Virtual: Cloak and Dagger ywang@greenwichlibrary.org Discussion Group. ywang@ greenwichlibrary.org Book Club. Free. Register. 203T:11”

Dec. 17 9 a.m.

Parent & Child Yoga for Tots (Ages 2-5). Via Zoom. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org

Virtual: Proust Club. 203-5310426.

7 p.m.

Virtual: Country Music Holiday Celebration with Gunsmoke.

203-531-0426.

7 p.m.

‘Fiesta de los Cuentos’ Bilingual Storytime. Via Zoom.

Virtual: A Night Out With Friends: Play With Your Food's Seasons Reading. 203- 622-7919. dsalm@greenwichlibrary.org

6 p.m.

Dec. 18

Virtual – Gaming in Virtual Reality. innovationlab@ greenwichlibrary.org

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

Virtual – Food Explorers: Make Your Own Cinnamon Sugar Knots. lmatthews@

Virtual – Senior Chinese Book Discussion Group. ywang@ greenwichlibrary.org

continued on page 4

U.S. #1 IN ORTHOPEDICS IS RIGHT HERE. T:10.5”

At HSS Stamford, patients receive the same famous level of care they get at our main location in Manhattan. We treat everything from minor injuries to chronic conditions both virtually and in person. As always, our commitment to safety protocols is unwavering.

“I am thrilled to lead the team at HSS Stamford in delivering the quality care HSS is known for in a location closer to home for our patients.”

— Dr. Jo A. Hannafin, Medical Director

Specialties Include: Foot and ankle care Fracture care Hand and upper-extremity care Interventional radiology Joint replacement Neurology Pain management

Services Include: Pediatric orthopedics Pediatric rheumatology Physiatry and nonsurgical spine Spine care Sports medicine Trauma (complex fracture care)

Physical therapy and hand therapy, in collaboration with Stamford Health MRI, digital X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound and ultra-sound-guided procedures Minimally invasive spine procedures and therapeutic injections

Now open Saturdays. To learn more, visit HSS.edu/StamfordGS or call 203-872-6923.

1 Blachley Road, Stamford, CT 06902 | Most major insurance plans accepted.

STAMFORD

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Dec. 18

GREENWICH HOSPITAL:

3:45 p.m.

888-305-9253

Virtual World Music with Anitra. lmatthews@ greenwichlibrary.org

Dec. 14

7 p.m.

Virtual – Film Reel Talk: ""The Man Who Invented Christmas" & Christmas Carol Storyteller." 203-6227910. friendsfridayfilms@ greenwichlibrary.org

greenwichhospital.org/events

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Support: “Managing My Diabetes: SMARTER Resolutions for 2021”. Via Zoom. Register. Free.

Christmas at CHRIST CHURCH GREENWICH

Celebrate the wonder and joy of the season with us on Christmas Eve!

Dec. 15 6 - 7 p.m.

Education: “Preventing Falls: Reliable Resources.” Via Zoom.

Register. Free.

Dec. 16 4 - 5 p.m.

Education: “Rest and Restore with Sound Healing Meditation.” Via Zoom.

Register. Free.

COS COB FIRE POLICE: ccfpp.org

Dec. 12, 13, 19 & 20 “Operation Santa” – a benefit in support of The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, Inc., celebrating 93 years of service to the Town of Greenwich.

GEMS (Greenwich Emergency Medical Service)

ABILIS

ARCH STREET

greenwichems.org

abilis.us

archstreet.org

Dec. 17

Every Tue. & Thu., 4-5pm

10 a.m.

Virtual Yoga Takeover. 7th-12th Grade Free. Online.

Dec. 12 EMT & EMR Refresher Course (remote/independent learning). $225. Register.

POLICE DEPT. TOY DRIVE Dec. 12 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Toys for Tots – Stuff a Cruiser.

299 Greenwich Ave.

BCA:

breastcanceralliance.org/events Dec. 14 12 p.m.

“Advances in Pain Management: A Multidisciplinary Symposium.”

OUTSIDE AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE:

12NOON | This service for families with

young children will feature familiar carols, Spiritual Communion, and a special Christmas story.

3PM | This service of Spiritual Communion for all ages will feature familiar carols and homily given by the Rector.

LIVESTREAM:

5PM | A Service of Lessons and Carols

featuring traditional carols, readings from the King James Bible, and sermon from the Rector.

10PM | A traditional midnight mass (Spiritual Communion) with festive choral music, readings from the King James Bible, and sermon from the Rector.

CHRISTCHURCHGREENWICH.ORG

203-869-2299 Free Delivery

‘Little Crafters & Mommies’ - A Mommy & Me craft class for 2-4 year olds. Abilis, 1150 Summer St., Stamford. Register.

Wednesday, By Appointment Only Open Studio. 7th-12th Grade.

Free.

continued on page 10

Top Local News Story Briefs GPD Protects "Dark Houses"

final approval, construction could begin as early as Going away? Notify the police department and next summer. officers will make periodic checks of your home GHS Bleachers Scrapped until you return. If you are leaving your home for The bleachers at Greenwich High School were more than three days please fill out the checklist at demolished on Tuesday, December 8. This demolition greenwichct.gov (https://www.greenwichct.gov/1613/ is the beginning of the planned upgrades to Cardinal Dark-House-Checklist?fbclid=IwAR0I9eXd9vo5Bu3u stadium, other upgrades include new bleachers, a akNQuynlb7EuHDlaDK2XSiyNJk38FthR5di1e_edV_ team room underneath, a press box/elevator, and A) online. toilet facilities.

Free Rides & Car Tows

Riverside Service and the Greenwich Police are partnering this holiday season to give rides to those who find themselves not sober enough to drive.

Through January 2 you can call the Greenwich Police Department’s Non-Emergency number (203) 6228004 to make arrangements for a ride home and for a free tow from Riverside Service.

Close Calls Prompt This Warning

$15k Matching Grant for Luke’s Wish Luke Meyers passed away in 2019 and his love for the environment and passion for combating climate change led to the Live Like Luke beach clean up last September. Luke contacted the Make a Wish Foundation about installing a climate change education center at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center. Working with the Meyers family and other community partners, the Bruce Museum has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help raise funds for the Luke’s Wish Climate Change Exhibit.

As a part of Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund, the first $15,000 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Sustainable CT. The goal is to raise $26,500 by January 15, 2021, to complete the exhibit and support future Seaside Center climatechange educational programs. Please visit https:// www.patronicity.com/project/lukes_wish_climate_ change_exhibit#!/ to donate and to learn more.

The fire department will like to remind residents of safe disposal procedures of fireplace ashes after several recent close calls. “Treat all ashes as hot, even when you think they have had enough time to cool.

When it is time to dispose of the ashes, put them in a metal container and wet them down. You should use an approved metal ash bucket with a tight fitting lid. NEVER dispose of ashes in a paper, cardboard or plastic container and NEVER leave the ashes inside of a structure and make sure they are away from decks, garages, porches, fences or other combustible $12 Million Donation to GCDS objects.” If you have any questions please call the NBA player Donovan Mitchell, from the GCDS class Greenwich Fire Marshal's Office at 203-622-3950. of 2012, has announced a $12 million donation to help the school achieve many of their goals. Mitchell Bids on Nathaniel Witherell Greenwich is starting to accept bids from firms that is excited to create the Mitchell Family Scholarship would like to take over the operations of Nathaniel Fund which will help GCDS remain a leader in Witherelll, the town-owned skilled nursing and providing need-based aid for students. Mitchell and rehabilitation center. The center has consistently his mother Nicole, a retired GCDS teacher, have operated at a deficit and whether the town is the announced the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund best owner and operator has come into question. which will provide a monetary award yearly to a No decisions have been made yet, they are waiting teacher in each division who has worked for GCDS to see the bids from both profit and not-for-profit for more than three years and has “demonstrated the passion, enthusiasm, optimism, and love for organizations before moving forward. children always shown by Nicole Mitchell.” The Fresh Trees at Augustine’s Farm donation will also allow GCDS to build the D.O.N, If you are still look ing for a Christmas tree, The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Augustine’s Farm located at 1332 King Street, has just Athletic Center, which will be a state-of-the-art got in fresh cut trees. The Augustine’s Farm Stand gymnasium that will have one full NCAA court with will be open until December 20, and has a variety of full stands on either side, as well two full courts fresh vegetables, holiday decor, raw honey, fresh eggs when the curtain is dropped. and fresh cider. They also have fresh cut wreaths but Camillo Congratulations to they ask that you call ahead for one at 203-532-9611.

All Animals Adopted!

Since the start of the pandemic, the Greenwich Animal Control has seen a surge of pet adoptions and they are glad to announce that they have found homes for all of their dogs. Greenwich Animal Control is located at 393 North Street. Its services include stray animal reports and adoptions. Stray animals may be reported to 203-622-8299. For more information please visit https://www.greenwichct. gov/1437/Animal-Control.

Merry Meals The Junior League invites you to join their Merry Meals on December 13 to support the Y WCA Domestic Abuse Services and provide meals to families in need. The meals are prepared by Simply Delicious and includes a bottle of wine from Cap, Cork & Cellar. For more information, to order, or to donate, please visit www.JLGreenwich.com (https:// www.jlgreenwich.org /merrymeals/?f bclid=IwA R 2ePZI5mYQG5ua-_19pg 9qiJ-zyNMyhE1sk n _ Czc8wTLogWl8eOQ51OHyk) online.

$8.4 Million to Improve the Sound Federal and state officials announced $3.8 million in funds will be made available to local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and community groups to help protect Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound Future Fund will allocate 38 individual grants to improve water quality and restore habitat in the Long Island Sound Watershed. The grants will be matched by $4.6 million in funds from grantees, bringing the total funding for projects to $8.4 million in the coming year.

Riverside Garden Club

First Selectman Fred Camillo congratulated the Riverside Garden Club on Tuesday December 1st for a century of volunteering to beautify the community.

One of the clubs biggest accomplishments was the train station that they got to beautify in 1920, and they continue to do so today, recently adding three pollinator gardens in 2018. For more information about the club and what they do please visit https:// www.riversidectgardenclub.org/.

Greenwich Excellence in Dementia Care

DISCOVER The Greens at Greenwich Your silver lining. Your answer for the best care for your loved one with memory impairment.

The Greens at Greenwich has been providing Excellence in Dementia Care for over 20 years. Whether you call it Memory Care, Alzheimer’s Care or Dementia Care, we are the silver lining for your loved ones new normal.

About Us • We are the recognized leader in creative arts therapies, the new best medicine, providing comfort and joy.

• We are unique in providing an all-inclusive monthly fee covering all levels of care.

• We are a small privately owned assisted living community for people with memory impairment located in a beautiful residential neighborhood on the Westchester/Greenwich border.

Our People and Our Home • Our staff is carefully selected for qualities of compassion, empathy and a passion for working with people with memory impairment.

• Our extensive training and support are reflected in the longevity of our staff.

Excellence In Dementia Care • We are dedicated to empowering and enriching the lives of our residents.

• New friendships, socialization and connections provide for self affirmation.

• We understand the diseases related to memory loss. We guide your loved ones as they change, helping them to develop coping skills and a sense of purpose

Neighbor to Neighbor Breaks Ground Neighbor to Neighbor has just had their Groundbreaking Ceremony for their new building.

Neighbor to Neighbor is currently operating out of Arch Street after moving there temporarily in response to the growing need for groceries due to the pandemic. Before that they were in very tight quarters underground. Their new building will be located at 248 East Putnam Avenue. For more information about Neighbor to Neighbor visit www.NtNGreenwich.org online.

All-State Boys Soccer Team The 2020 GameTimeCT All-State Boys Soccer Team has been announced and one of the players on the team is Greeniwch’s Santiago Borrego. He is a junior, plays defense, and has been named All-FCIAC.

All-State Girls Cross Country Team

The 2020 GameTimeCT All-State Girls Cross Country Team has been announced and one of the members is Greenwich’s Mari Noble. Noble is a Senior and will be attending Princeton University next year to run.

Noble was named last year’s GameTimeCT Runner of the year, and is a three-time All-New England, $27 Million Julian Curtiss Project three-time GameTimeCT All-State, and three-time The Board of Education voted to approve a $27 All-FCIAC. million renovation project for Julian Cur tiss Christmas Tree Recycling Elementary School. The project will include adding a science classroom, a new first-f loor corridor, a Starting December 26 through January 31, the courtyard, and two new pre kindergarten rooms.

Department of Parks and Recreation will be hosting collection sites to recycle Christmas Trees. The New Bridge in OG collection sites are as follows. From 8am to 4pm at A plan to replace a bridge on Sound Beach Avenue the parking lot by the concession at Byram Park.

by Binney Park was first proposed two years ago From 8am to 4pm at the parking lot by the Children’s and led to many angry residents. A revised plan playground at Bruce Park. From 6am to sunset at has now been proposed with residents offering the parking lot across from the Nature Center at support. The project has already received approvals Greenwich Point. And from 7am to 2:30pm weekdays from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the and 7am to 12 noon on Saturdays at the yard waste Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, and the area at Holly Hill Recycling Center. federal Army Corps of Engineers. If they get their

Is online shopping not working for you?

Let Rudy’s be your Holiday Helper.

SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL TOUR TODAY Call Maria Scaros, Executive Director 203.531.5500 mscaros@thegreensatgreenwich.com thegreensatgreenwich.com

First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich joyfully celebrates

CHRISTMAS EVE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! LIMITED SEATING

Call (203) 869-8686 or RSVP online at www.fpcg.org 3:00 PM - FAMILY SERVICE A Christmas Eve service designed with our littlest angels in mind. This time of worship includes a children’s message and plenty of joyful music to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

6:00 PM - FESTIVAL SERVICE With fanfare and joy, we hear the Christmas story accompanied by a brass ensemble, and Christmas message. This service culminates in a candle-lit meditation.

10:00 PM - REFLECTIVE SERVICE Communion, string quartet, piano and a sermon highlight the Christmas story with a candle-lit meditation closing our service and leading us toward Christmas day.

FACE MASKS REQUIRED. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TAKEN AT ENTRY. 1 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE GREENWICH, CT 06830 WORSHIP ONLINE www.fpcg.org/live

Page 6 | Greenwich Sentinel

Greenwich Library Bruce Museum

The Bruce Museum Store Holiday Shopping for Unique Gifts

Tod’s Point Town Hall

A treasure trove of seasonal gifts, one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories, stationery, fun and educational toys.

ON MY WATCH

Remembering Dave Brubeck

By Anne W. Semmes

Greenwich Ave

In honor of the December 6 centenary of the great jazz “Take Five” pianist and composer, Dave Brubeck, a Connecticut son, I have been reliving by music the extraordinary Christmas cantata Brubeck composed to open the Advent s e a s on of Ch r i st m a s celebrated in churches across the country. The cantata is called “La Fiesta De La Posada.” And to my surprise so many years ago, months af ter I moved to Greenwich, Brubeck premiered it at Christ Church Greenwich, courtesy the Greenwich Choral Society, on Sunday, December 7, 1975.

The sight of those Three Kings, all Metropolitan opera stars, in their regal costumes processing up the three aisles was as unforgettable as the whole church rock ing with the jazz-infused choral sounds. And there was Dave Brubeck playing the piano, plain to see.

Brubeck, who was Californiaborn, had conceived the piece to be performed in celebration for t he r e storat ion of a n old Spanish mission in California.

He was raised on a cattle ranch in California, a former Mexican land grant, and had long absorbed Mexican folk music. It is only now that I read in the CD cover of La Fiesta De La Posada, just how much that music spoke to him. It’s worth sharing his words: “The ethnic music ref lects those qualities I most admire in a people…dignity in moments o f t r a g e d y, i n f e c t i o u s h i g h spirts in moments of joy, and an unshakeable religious faith made evident in a strong sense of one’s own worth and a deep respect for the shared values of one’s own group-family, church, village. Those qualities, I think, are universal to people with a strong communal sense – an increasingly rare attribute in urban culture.”

Brubeck’s often-co-composing wife Iola then tells how the Posada is a custom depicting Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging on the eve of her confinement that is reenacted from December 16 to

"He was a very accessible man, which played its part in his ability to communicate his music around the world."

Remembering the presence and impact of jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck in our town and beyond, on his centenary.

Christmas Eve throughout Latin school and missed meeting him. drums and I could see the two America and our Southwest. The That came many years later in looking at each other, father and couple are turned away by many, Stamford at the Palace Theater son, and there was a real magic but finally a door is opened. Thus, after his concert when I managed that passed between them. the Prelude describes, “in the name to go backstage and have him sign I was sitting up front and could of heaven/I ask you for shelter/for a poster I purchased in the lobby. It see how he radiated gentleness my beloved wife/cannot walk. / is a prized possession. in his playing. He was a very Won’t you enter holy pilgrims, holy Then, lo and behold, Brubeck accessible man, which played its pilgrims? /Come into our humble returned to perform at Christ part in his ability to communicate home.”

Church in 2009, this time only his music around the world. “One So, many years ago Brubeck w ith his son Chris on drums of the reasons I believe in jazz,” he e n t e r e d m y b i g s i s t e r a n d accompanying him. He had ahead once said, “is that the oneness of husband’s Memphis home for a of him only three more years so man can come from the rhythm of post-concert party after Brubeck was looking fairly frail, but his your heart, and that heartbeat is had performed with his quartet fingers moved effortlessly across the same anyplace in the world.” for the Memphis Symphony Pops the keys. I’ll never forget watching That Brubeck heartbeat will Concert, but alas, I was away at him when his son was on solo on always be with me.

REVIEW: NICK'S FLICKS

The Trial of The Chicago Seven

By Nick Barile Rated: R Length: 2 hours 9min Written& Directed by: Aaron Sorkin Daily protests in the streets.

C l a sh e s b e t we e n p o l i c e a n d citizens. Political divide like never before. Yes 2020 was one for the history books. Winston Churchill paraphrased when he said, ‘those who fail to learn from history are

condemned to repeat it’.

The Trial of The Chicago Seven is a docu-drama about the anti-war uprisings at the 1968 Presidential Democratic convention. Eight protesters are charged with inciting a riot. What should have been a lawful, peaceful demonstration by mostly young people, quickly grew out of control with multiple people injured.

The movie centers mainly around six of the accused protesters, Abbie Hoffman, Tom H ayden , Jer r y Ru bi n , Rene e Davis, David Dellinger, along with accused Black Panther, Bobby Seale.

Flashing back and forth

between key events, conversations and behind the curtain planning, Sorkin gives us a glimpse of the d iverse cha rac ters a nd t hei r motivations. K nitted into the f lashbacks are actual black and white footage clips of the riots, which brings home the fact that this was a far too real event. Judge Hof f man (Langella) rules his court with an iron gavel. At times, a stickler for decorum and law, at other times wielding his own more inexplicable version of the courtroom rulebook. Although a largely one-sided perspective this is clearly a low point in American jurisprudence The all-star cast is brilliant as

the somewhat dysfunctional group of young activists.

Impossible to pick a standout performance. From the virtuous highbrow of Tom Hayden (Redmayne) to the indignation of Bobby Seale (Abdul-Marteen) to the conservative, somewhat con f l ic ted prosecutor Shu lt z (Gordon-Levitt), we are treated to a bev y of Oscar worthy accomplishments. Frank Langella is beautifully chilling as Judge Julius Hoffman.

There’s also a wonderful cameo from a beloved American actor.

A must see, I give The Trial of The Chicago Seven 5 out of 5 on the popcorn scale.

Barber shop 3 Lewis Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203/302.3408 nolandformen.com

open seven days a week

This message of universal peace, liberty and social harmony was penned by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneersohn, leader of the worldwide Chabad Lubavitch movement, exactly 40 years ago this Chanukah.

Never was this message more relevant, as we strive today to build a safe, healthy, productive, moral and peaceful world for ourselves, and for all generations to come.

Brought to you by Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich www.chabadgreenwich.org For more info, questions or comments: rabbi@chabadgreenwich.org

Editorial Page

Page 8 | Greenwich Sentinel

PUBLISHER Beth@GreenwichSentinel.com Elizabeth Barhydt

Thank You from Red Cross CEO

EDITORS & COPY EDITORS Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com Peter Barhydt, Daniel FitzPatrick, Stapley Russell, Anne W. Semmes

Whoville AKA Greenwich No doubt about it - this is shaping up to be a very different holiday season. The masks, the limit on how many people can be in a store at the same time, the plastic partitions between restaurant tables - it is all creating a holiday experience that is real but surreal at the same time. Sort of like if the famous actor Bing Crosby did a remake of the holiday movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” hosted by Rod Taylor of the Twilight Zone. I know, surreal.

The question is, how can we take some of the surreal out of what we are experiencing today?

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” actually offers some advice in this area. Ted Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, author of the classic holiday story is well known for liberally sprinkling his writings with advice and life lessons. It is almost a requirement for every college graduate to read “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.”

By Stephanie Dunn Ashley OPED

In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the main character, the Grinch, when we meet him, is a loathsome, grumpy, solitary character who attempts to steal Christmas from the nearby town of Whoville. The reason is he does not want others to be happy and if he steals all the presents and decorations, even the Christmas ham, then the Whos of Whoville will be as miserable as he is and that will make the Grinch happy.

S o, le t ’s a s s u m e t he G r i nch r epr e s e nt s everything we dislike about this pandemic and what the pandemic is doing to us. There’s a passage early on in the story that reads, “4:00, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, stare into the abyss, 5:00, solve world hunger and tell no one, 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me. I can’t cancel that again. 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing.

I’m booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling, and slip slowly into madness.”

Pretty grim, but we are certain we have all been there at some point during this pandemic and we also are just as certain we have not stayed there.

Just like the Whos in Whoville we cannot let the Grinch (AKA COVID) steal our Christmas.

It will try hard. We will not gather as we would traditionally. We will have to register for Church or may only be able to watch via Zoom. We may not see our elderly relatives in person. It will be different.

Even though it will be different, regardless of whether we are celebrating Hanukah or Christmas, the meaning of the holidays does not change. Yes, we may need to work a little harder at it but maintaining some semblance of our religious traditions is vital. If we don’t, then the Grinch is beginning to win.

So, Greenwich is Whoville and Whoville is Greenwich. While the original story may have been about the commercialization of the holidays, “maybe Christmas [he thought] doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” We are changing the narrative to make it about community.

While this holiday season we are faced with a pandemic, other generations have faced far greater challenges. World War II lasted six years.

It altered the world forever - however, people still found ways to be a community. And certainly, after it ended old traditions returned while new ones were created.

This holiday season do not let the Grinch win.

Draw those you can close. Keep the traditions you can and create new ones along the way. And in the words of Cindy Lou Who, the young child from Whoville; “No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be welcomed with holiday cheer.”

and relentless hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, many traveled far from home to deliver hope and help to thousands of families.

Thank you to our partners who share with us a common purpose and community spirt that extends our reach and helps connect more individuals with critical humanitarian support.

And thank you to our supporters who allow the Red Cross to deliver emergency relief 24/7, 365 days-a-year.

Wishing you all a happy holiday season and a safe 2021. Let’s continue to look out for one another.

Stephanie Dunn Ashley is the CEO of the American Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter

Mitigation Recommendations from Tropical Storm Isaias

By Fred Camillo

So, let’s assume the Grinch represents everything we dislike about this pandemic and what the pandemic is doing to us.

As we approach the end of this year like no other, I am f illed with gratitude for all our neighbors who make helping others a priority in their lives. Their commitment to service takes on added signif icance as our communities face this global pandemic together.

I extend a special salute to our region’s health care heroes who continue to sacrifice so much to help our region get through this crisis.

Daily, I am humbled by our Red Cross volunteers, who share of themselves to help the most vulnerable prepare for and recover from life-changing disasters—like fires, floods and other emergencies—locally and nationally.

This year, following historic wildfires out West

O n Tu e s d a y , A u g u s t 4 , Greenwich was in the direct path of Tropical Storm Isaias which caused sig nif icant damage to trees, and severely compromised the electrical power grid.

Numerous roads in town were blocked by fallen trees and debris, leaving many residents without power for days. While Greenwich LETTER

employees worked fervently with Eversource to clear roadways and restore power as quickly as possible, a task force was created in the aftermath of the storm to identify and recommend solutions so that the severity of the impacts from weather-related incidents can be mitigated to the highest degree for any future events.

First and foremost, I would l i k e to t h a n k t h e t a s k fo r c e members for volunteering their time and expertise. The task force was comprised of Town residents, Greenw ich employees, and representatives from supporting orga n i zations. Each mem b er prov ide d va lua ble i n sig ht i n identif y ing recommendations for future emergency planning.

These recommendations were synthesized and compiled into a report that is under review by the Office of the First Selectman.

O f p a r t ic u la r i mp or t a nc e is the danger that hazardous

trees or tree limbs pose on public safety. Both public and private trees caused major issues during Tropical Storm Isaias.

Residents and property owners should do their part to be a good neighbor and keep their trees trimmed. This ensures the health and v itality of the tree while preventing trees from causing an issue with downed power lines and road blockages. Staff also w ill be rev iew ing the Tow n’s tree maintenance and trimming policies to meet storm response objectives.

The administration will take these recommendations under consideration a nd deter m ine t h e b e s t c ou r s e o f a c t i on to improve the overall response to emergencie s l i ke Tropic a l S t o r m I s a i a s . We p l a n t o conduct quarterly meetings with representatives of key Town and First Responder departments and utilities servicing the Town.

To a d d r e s s c o n c e r n s regarding communications with residents, my of f ice will issue quar terly updates w ith guidance for preparing for various s e a s ona l we at her s cena r ios.

That is in addition to the updates that are provided in my weekly email newsletter, Community Connections from Fred. To sign up for those weekly newsletter, please use this link: greenwichct. g o v/ 5 3 0 / F i r s t- S e l e c t m a n . I st rong ly u rge r e sident s who have not done so, to use this link greenwichct.gov/list.aspx to sign up for the various weather and health emergency alerts.

The full report can be found on the Town of Greenwich website.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns by emailing me at selectmenoffice@ greenwichct.org Fred Camillo is the First Selectman of Greenwich.

Cobber North is an Oasis

Letter to the Editor: During these uncertain times, many in Greenwich discovered the incredibly calming oasis tucked away in a corner of our town as part of extremely well cared golf course. Many of us found the Cobber North.

Lots of us who have r e g u l a r l y v i s i t e d C a r i n ’s Cobber South have become

forever patrons. With that in mind, and lots of curiosity and anticipation, we joined the throngs headed north! Low and behold we found a new respite, from this very difficult time, for each and all of us! Same propr ietor, Car in Vizzo St. Phillip, had opened the doors to the newly named Cobber North.

The late spring and early

summer offered an opportunity to enjoy both the out of doors, beautiful views and real life comfort food. We became very regular patrons able to enjoy not only good food, great new f riends but also wonder f ul music. Autumn, often warm and comfortable out of doors, allowed us to continue to find pleasure in the Cobber North’s

food, music and friends. Heat lamps helped too as it got colder!

We, for two, look forward to the reopening of the Cobber North on March first!

We will be there for sure and hope you will be too!

Linda Moshier & Irene Dietrich

“Children’s Book Art” Humor

By Anne W. Semmes

T h i s we e ke n d a n e x h i b it entitled “Fun/No Fun” opens at the Bruce Museum with appeal for children and adults alike. It features the warm-hearted, witty, and humorous work of the late Cos Cob author-artist-illustrator, James Stevenson.

Stevenson’s New Yorker covers and cartoons amused readers for decades, along with his children’s books numbering in the hundreds.

In his lifetime, Jim, as he was called, could often be found capturing life of all kinds on Greenwich landscapes with his pen and sketch pad. Luckily, some of his drawings and books are not all locked away with the vast harvest of his work in Yale’s Beinecke Museum due to Covid.

Bruce Museum Curators Kathy Reichenbach and Kathleen Holko were invited by Stevenson’s widow, Josie Merck, to explore the James Stevenson Archives of what has yet to be given to the Beinecke. From that exploration came the theme of what they chose to exhibit. “When we looked at Stevenson's original work,” says Holko, “we realized that a lot of what he depicted in his children's books was very much activ ities and holidays and memories he had related to specific seasons. So, the exhibition is organized by the four seasons winter, spring, summer, fall.”

They chose the exhibit title, “Fun/No Fun” from one of Stevenson’s autobiographical books.

“It just seems to relate so well to Jim as a person,” says Reichenbach, “But then also its the fun things you can do in the seasons and maybe some of the not such fun things to do during the seasons.”

“Stevenson himself was a very funny person,” says Holko, “and that's really reflected in all of the work he did, not necessarily just his children's books. What's wonderful about his children's books in particular is he did an

continued on page 9

James Stevenson (American, 1929-2017), Brrr! New York: Greenwillow Books,1991, page 3.

Courtesy of the Estate of James Stevenson. Photo credit: Paul Mutino.

Page 9 | Greenwich Sentinel

James Stevenson (American, 1929-2017), A Village Full of Valentines. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1995, pages 38-39. Courtesy of the Estate of James Stevenson. Photo: Paul Mutino.

Book Art from page 8

excellent job with a lot of his characters - taking his adult humor but translating it for children in a way that's appropriate for them, and for the adults who end up reading these books with children in a way that's entertaining for them as well.”

Surprising to the curators is the fact that Stevenson grew up without any art education. “It's pretty amazing,” notes Reichenbach, “for someone who was not formally trained – he’s a self-taught artist - to have such a successful career. His line work is amazing and crisp. There's also the wonderful autobiographical books which are done in soft watercolor wash with hardly any line work at all.”

Add to that the exhibit has, she says, “a few pieces that have never been seen before by the public that are in a different style altogether that's a little bit more in line with the New Yorker style of cartoon work that he did.”

“When Kathy and I were at the archive looking at the original art,” says Holko, “we were really captured by his handwriting because he does do a lot of hand lettering of the text in his children's books. We were quite fond of it and I think we purposely selected some pieces just because it really highlighted his hand lettering.”

“He developed his charming lettering,” shares Josie Merck. “Everything was hand lettered by himself.”

She tells how the filmmaker of the documentary film, “Stevenson, Lost & Found” had created a font of Stevenson’s familiar handwriting. “It's as if he's got his own font anyway.” Merck expects the exhibit to “have done some fun stuff” with that font.

Merck has a theory of what formed her late husband’s sense of humor. “He had trouble in school.

So, one of the ways you can adapt and survive is to be funny. And he loved to make people laugh. And it would be his most favorite thing in the world. He was always working on that. You know, it might be a grim nurse or a grumpy doctor, and he would be determined to get them to smile or laugh. Which is a classic way to be. I obviously didn't see him in school, but I know some of his oldest friends and he had a way to keep people laughing.

“He grew up looking at the New Yorker from the get-go and looking at all those cartoons. He got his office job at the New Yorker when he was in high school, maybe age 16, because it's a year before he went to college. But in any case, he was a cartoonist for his school newspaper. It was a handy gift he had, and he was determined to be very good at it and he got better and better.”

What long intrigued Merck were his astute observations of “human mannerisms,” she says, “whether it was a walk, or stance, or posture of the classic old man.” An incident stays with her that explains that observant eye. “We were walking on the beach on Block Island… and coming at us, was a character. Oh my gosh, look at that,” she exclaimed. “‘That man is just like one of your old men.’”

That man she says was “Jim’s first boss” he had not seen for perhaps 50 years. “It wasn't that Jim used him it was just that he had the posture, the way the person walked, he just got it, memorized it, and practiced it.”

“But really,” adds Merck, “Jim's approach to his children's books was as if he were a movie maker, which is what he loved. He was really great at getting the different angles of the camera, and swooping in, coming in on a plane and swooping around. So, costumes, casting, sets, directing. That was a passion that would come through in making a children's book.

He would do all the parts.”.

“Fun/No Fun” will be seen in the Museum’s new gallery space, “with ways to get people to interact with the exhibition without actually touching anything,” says Holko. “We are scheduling virtual tours of the exhibition for school groups, and we're also working on creating a kit that people can pick up, as members of the museum, with activities that they can do related to the exhibition in the kit.”

Holko and Reichenbach are also hoping to show the film, “Stevenson Lost and Found” that gets its name from Stevenson’s long running column on the editorial pages of The New York Times. “We found it to be an immensely helpful documentary,” says Holko, “while we were working on this exhibition, so we are working on a way to show it.”

The “Fun/No Fun” exhibit may just be Act One of the art of James Stevenson. “He was so prolific,” says curator Reichenbach. “There's so many opportunities in the future for more exhibitions on his work for sure - this is just a jumping off point that we hope will reintroduce James Stevenson and his marvelously funny books to the reading public, and we think it's something fun for the community, that people can find a little wit and humor, a respite during these dark times.”

The Fun/No Fun exhibit at the Bruce Museum runs from December 13 to April 18, 2021. Two special exhibition previews for Museum members only will be on Friday and Saturday, December 11-12, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reserve a timed ticket to attend the limited-capacity preview days for members, or to join as a member, visit brucemuseum. org or call 203-869-0376, ext. 311.

Page 10 | Greenwich Sentinel

Local School News

Work Begins on Cardinal Stadium Project

By Richard Kaufman Work to improve Cardinal Stad iu m at Gre enw ich H ig h School is officially underway.

On Tuesday, crews began to demolish the home side bleachers as part of Phase 1A of the improvement project.

Phase 1A includes the construction of new home side bleachers that are ADA accessible with a press box, elevator, new bathrooms and a team room that will go below the bleachers.

Phase 1B includes the addition of new lights on existing poles, handicap parking, and an entry kiosk. Work in this phase still needs to be approved.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation had released funds for Phase 1A in stages as conditions wer e met over t he past few months: $4.6 million, $2 .7 million, and $1.9 million.

The Cardinal Stadium improvement project has been a hot topic around town since 2017, when a feasibility committee was formed. Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones tweeted her excitement about the bleacher demolition on Tuesday.

"Happy Dance! Old bleachers are coming down today. GPS is on our way to an updated Cardinal Stadium," she tweeted.

Joe Kelly, a former rugby coach at GHS and now a member

of the Board of Education, said the improvement is long overdue.

"The bleachers are over 50 years old, and it's good to take them down. It's just so great for t he st udent s , e sp e c ia l ly the ones now who have gone through so much trouble with their sports being delayed or canceled because of COVID. At least now we can promise some of the younger kids a state of the art, modern stadium for them to be performing their games in the very near future. It's very exciting to finally get this project moved forward," Kelly said.

As a former coach, Kelly said it was difficult traveling to other schools and seeing their updated facilities and stadiums. Now, it's the Cardinals' time to show off a

bit.

"We're excited we can now present ourselves in a proud way when it comes to teams visiting us here," Kelly said. "Our players, the coaches and our programs are top notch, and now our stadium will be top notch as well."

Kelly said the visiting bleachers will remain untouched while work continues on the home side, so the stadium can continue to be used. The goal is to have the new bleachers in place to accommodate graduation in spring 2021. Phase 1B, Kelly said, is expected to catch up to 1A at some point by the end of the school year.

Largest Single Gift in the History of GCDS highest levels of integrity.”

Mitchell’s mother Nicole was a Lower Elementary school teacher at GCDS from 2007 until just last year. Rohdie describes her as one of the warmest and most caring educators he has worked with.

Generations of Country Day’s youngest children have been impacted by her kindness.

Mitchell, a champion of e duc at ion a nd of pr ov id i n g a c c e s s to t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e education for children from all backgrounds and from underserved neighborhoods, is excited to create the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund. This program will help GCDS remain a leader in prov iding need-based aid for students in grades Nursery t h r o u g h 1 2 . A d d i t i o n a l l y, Donovan and Nicole are pleased to announce the Nicole Mitchell Facu lt y Suppor t Fu nd. Th is monetary award will be made yearly at the opening faculty

meeting and will be given to a teacher in each division (4) in the school who have been at GCDS for at least 3 years, and have demonstrated the “passion, enthusiasm, optimism, and love for children always shown by Nicole Mitchell.” Head of School Adam Rohdie shared, “these two funds perfectly highlight Donovan’s understanding of the power of a great education. This gift will allow GCDS to reach an even broader cross-section of students and it allows us to celebrate those teachers that make the magic at our school every day.”

Finally, this gift will also allow GCDS to build the D.O.N.!

The Determination Over N e g a t i v i t y M i t c h e l l Fa m i l y Athletic Center will be a stateof-the-art gymnasium and will house one f u ll cour t (NCA A regulation court) with full stands on both sides. When the curtain

is dropped it will house two full courts running north to south.

This building will also provide the space for the entire campus to gather for school-wide assemblies and will be a focal point for our Old Church Road Campus.

Donovan shared, “I k now how lucky I have been to have the foundation of my education happen here at Country Day. This school has shaped who I am in so many ways, and I feel blessed to be able to give back and make the Country Day experience available for more kids especially those from inner-city neighborhoods or with backgrounds like mine.

Over the past few years on my NBA journey, I have made it my mission to champion the causes of equity, social justice, and equal opportunity, especially in education. There is no better school anywhere to carry forward this mission and my family is excited to make this happen.”

G r e e nw i c h C o u n t r y D ay School and NBA superstar Donovan Mitchell (GCDS class of 2012), are thrilled to announce the largest single pledge of support to the school in the history of the institution. Donovan and his family (mother Nicole and sister Jordan—GCDS Class of 2017) have pledged $12,000,000 to help the

school achieve ambitious goals.

Mitchell, an NBA slam dunk champion, runner-up in Rookie of the Year balloting, and a 20192020 NBA All-Star, attended Greenwich Country Day from third to ninth grade (the school has since added a high school).

A star athlete, Donovan was also an exceptional musician and as

Head of School Adam Rohdie describes, “as great an athlete as he was, Donovan was an even nicer young man. He is a man of the highest character and he has lived his life embodying the Country Day creed of TIGER PRIDE which asks our students to be kind, empathetic, respectful, thoughtful, and to act with the

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

virtual viewing. Free.

“We’re All in this Together” Dinner to Go: Spaghetti Creole.

The Club at SLS, 86 Valley Rd. Members: $15.95, non-members: $19.95. 203-618-9036.

8 p.m.

5 p.m.

BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE

Representative Town Meeting.

Zoom Webinar/Phone.

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. Virtual Zoom Meeting.

bedfordplayhouse.org

TOWN HALL MEETINGS: greenwichct.gov/calendar

BET HR Committee Meeting.

Greenwich Town Hall – Cone Room, 101 Field Point Rd.

Board of Human Services December Meeting. Via Zoom.

1 p.m.

12 p.m.

BET Budget Committee Meeting. Via Zoom.

Selectmen's Nominating Advisory Committee Virtual Web Meeting. Via Zoom.

BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE: breastcanceralliance.org/events

GREENWICH YMCA: greenwichymca.org

Dec. 10

5 - 8 p.m.

8 p.m.

BCA Virtual Livestream Poker Tournament. Host & Live Commentary by Professional Poker Player and Commentator, Jamie Kerstetter & Faded Spade.

Dec. 12 Kids’ Night Out. (Ages 3-10). 50 East Putnam Ave. Member, $25; non-member, $35. Registration is required. (Min. participants 4; max. participants 15). 203869-1630, ext. 283. dgonzalez@ gwymca.org

AUDUBON CENTER: greenwich.audubon.org/events

CT CERAMICS CIRCLE

Dec. 16

ctcsc.org

4 p.m.

Dec. 14

Conservation Conversations.

Facebook homepage. Free. All ages. 203-900-3349. Caroline.

Bailey@audubon.org

2 p.m.

Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency Meeting.

Town Hall - Meeting Room, 101 Field Point Rd.

Through Jan. 6

stlawrencesociety.com

The Flinn Gallery presents ‘Heidi Johnson, Animal Attraction’, for in-person and

Dec. 12 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

FOR SALE: STEINWAY PIANO $$19,995 29,995 or Best Offer!

7 p.m.

Dec. 16

Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.

Liz Callaway: Home for the Holidays. $20.

Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.

Lets Talk: Parenting in a Stressful World – A Glimpse at Sober Parenting. After the panel shares their experience, there will be a Q&A. Register.

Giving a Work of Art!

Make

FLINN GALLERY: ST. LAWRENCE SOCIETY

8:30 a.m.

Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.

African-Americans and Potteries in the Early 19th-Century New York Metropolitan Area. RSVP.

flinngallery.com

Dec. 15

Join us for our Holiday Sale!

The finest selection of stringed instruments for professionals, collectors, students and the customers who expect only the very best.

Luxury Goods of Greenwich is an enthusiastic buyer of new and gently used luxury items. We offer top dollar with immediate payment for brands such as...

Gucci Louis Vuitton Hermès & Chanel.

Great Gift Ideas for the Musicians on Your List: A valuable modern or old maestro instrument for the professional or serious student • A new instrument for the beginning student or a step up instrument for the advancing one • A superior bow or quality case • Accessories such as a shoulder rest or rosin •

• 1904 Steinway living room grand piano model L/O. 5’10”.

• Ebony finish.

• Excellent condition.

• One owner for 55 years.

• Completely restored in 1964.

• Action rebuilt by Steinway and Sons in 1993, • Includes “Certificate of Restoration”.

Contact info:

nickpanas@yahoo.com or call 203.561.7961

• •

A lesson package at our music school A gift certificate

REPAIRS, RESTORATION & BOW REHAIRING PERFORMED IN OUR WORKSHOP

Located inside The Happy Coin.

luxurygoodsofgreenwich.com 203-340-9778 25 Davenport Avenue Westport, Connecticut 203 227-9577

403 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich/Cos Cob, Connecticut 203 661-9500

e-mail: atelierstrings@aol.com • www.atelierconstantinpopescu.com

The Gift of Gratitude

By Shanta Smith

Everyone loves a great gift. One of the greatest gifts that we can give to each other during this time is gratitude. During this holiday season, I encourage you to express your gratitude in one or more ways recursively.

A s we e m b a rk up on t h i s holiday season in search of the perfect gift, it is oftentimes difficult to decide what gift we will give.

We work hard to select a gift that makes an indelible mark upon the recipient. Seeing the appreciation on the faces of those that we have bestowed gifts upon is rewarding and endearing. Everyone loves a great gift. One of the greatest gifts that we can give to each other during this time is gratitude. If you ask any “pandemic” educational leader what they value deeply, they will most likely say it is those moments when expressions of gratitude are shared with them.

Gratitude is a commodity that we should all treasure. When we

open an email or hear a kind word being shared, those moments are etched upon our hearts and it reminds us daily of the criticality of the work that we do to support our dynamic scholars, brilliant teachers and staff members, and collaborative families. Working through this new landscape has been challenging and we continue to put our best foot forward as educators. We educate, motivate, and encourage our students to develop their academic, personal, and interpersonal capacities daily while balancing our lives and roles as parents, guardians, siblings, caretakers and friends. We work hard each day to do the best that we can to achieve balance. It is not easy. Expressions of gratitude are precious to us.

This month at Hamilton Ave n u e S c h o o l , o u r v i r t u a l

community meeting’s focus was gratitude. We shared a quote by Alissa Marquess, the author of the book, Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating C o n n e c t i o n n o t Pe r f e c t i o n , who describes gratitude in the following manner: “Gratitude, like intelligence, is not f ixed.

There is always room for growth” (Marquess, 2018). We reviewed ways that we can show gratitude towards ourselves and others to learn about how we can grow as givers. We challenged each other to be “gratitude givers.” Imagine a world where individuals developed t he g i f t i ng of g rat it ude a s a habitual part of their lives. During this holiday season, I encourage you to express your gratitude in one or more ways recursively.

Here are five strategies that you can use to make gratitude a habit

in your life: Intentionally say something kind to someone in your life Do something nice for someone

from page 1

on the Greenwich High School girls’ soccer team in the fall, came out this year for cross-country and made an immediate impact. Not to Dubin’s surprise, but the GHS senior was lights out during the cross-country season.

“She enjoyed indoor track and found success there as well, so she decided that for her senior year she would switch over and do cross-country,” said Dubin. “Week after week, she was a very solid No. 2 runner for us.”

With only 50 yards to go at the FCIAC West Division meet, Colligan was poised to pick up the silver medal by a significant ma rg i n, tra i l i ng on ly Noble.

However Colligan wasn’t able to finish the meet.

“It would have really put the exclamation point on the season for her,” Dubin said. “She just ran so hard that her body shut down on her. She had to go to the hospital to get checked out. Fortunately, it was not a serious condition. She literally gave everything that she had and came up 50 yards short.

She was able to bounce back and qualify for the virtual national championship, so that was great for her.”

Elizabeth Anderson, Esme Daplyn, Amelie Daplyn, Adeine Clark and Catarina Gaspar were the nuts and bolts of the team, according to Dubin, and a l l cont r i bute d du r i ng t hei r championship meet.

Esme Daplyn took home the bronze at the FCIAC Western Division finals, finishing third overall with a time of 15:40.2. Not to be outdone was Anderson, who took home sixth place on the day with a time of 16:07.6. Right behind

her was Big Red’s fourth top 10 f inisher of the day, as Amelie Daplyn grabbed seventh overall and a time of 16:08.6.

“They were the girls that were three through seven on the team and were a great supporting cast for our team,” Dubin said. “They were strong and really had some outstanding times this year. But you can go down to 15 places or more of girls on the team who are literally right there.

And who knows what else they could have been victorious in if it was a regular fall season.

Fo r D u b i n , h a v i n g t h a t dynamic duo of Noble and Colligan, as well as an incredibly talented supporting cast, was like a dream come true. But it was also slightly frustrating.

With the pandemic affecting the sports world, the Lady Cards took to the cross-country course for the final time of the season at t he F CI AC We st D iv ision championships. There was no FCIAC, CIAC class LL, State Open, and New England championships.

In fact, the national championship meet usually held in California was turned into a virtual event.

“The frustration is not having those higher up meets at the state and New England levels,” Dubin said. “I think that with our top two, and to see who our three through seven are and the degree of talent that we have with them, I would certainly put us in the discussion to win the state championship. I’m not saying we would, but I challenge any team in the state to go out and beat us. It’s unfortunate that we won’t have the opportunity because I know our girls would have been ready for the occasion and would have loved the opportunity.”

And this year’s FCIAC West Division finals certainly had a

DINING

ORDERING

PICKU P

PHO N E & O N LI N E

CA RRYO UT & CU R B S I D E

WE EXPAN DED N EXTDOOR! New space for social distancing and private events.

203.992.1888 2 8 0 R a i l r o a d A v e nu e G r e e nw i c h , C T 0 6 8 3 0 be lla n on na g reenw i ch . co m

Download the Bella Nonna App

TM

www.GreenwichDentalGroup.com

Write a positive social media post If you implement these five strateg ies each day, you w ill give the gift of gratitude freely.

I am sure that there are many additional gratitude strategies that you can think of to develop a habit of gratitude. Please share them with others and practice them. Join the Hamilton Avenue School community as we endeavor to be daily “gratitude givers.”

Show gratitude each day. I look forward to observing and hearing about the gifts of gratitude being shared throughout our town and communities.

Shanta M. Smith is the principal of Hamilton Avenue STEAM Magnet School in Greenwich, CT. Hamilton Avenue STEAM Magnet School is a K to 5 elementary school.

203.869.3984

18 Field Point Rd. Greenwich, CT 06830 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE • 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ON-CALL SERVICE EVENING & WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

O R T H O D O N T I C S

different feel to it. Knowing it was the last meet of the year and the only championship meet taking place, it had all the emotions and energ y of a state open championships.

Ty p i c a l l y w h e n t h e championship season starts, the athletes know they can get a good feel for how a championship meet is run at the f irst event and still have at least two more ch a mpion sh ip s to f i ne t u ne everything. That wasn’t the case this year.

“It felt like the State Opens where you have one shot for this to be the last race,” Dubin said.

“There’s no tomorrow and you’re most likely not going to get another opportunity. There was definitely unseen tension in the air, which I was interpreting it as the girls taking it seriously. They knew the gravity of the moment and when the gun went off, they rose to the occasion.”

For Dubin, this cross-country season had all the markings to be as strange as strange could be.

The challenge was how to find the thread of normalcy and sort of walk that tight rope of how to make lemonade out of all the lemons this year has given people.

“How to br i ng a ny sense of nor ma lc y a nd fa m i l ia r it y and continuity from previous years into 2020 was going to be a challenge,” Dubin said. “This season could have easily spiraled out of control and into it being drastically different. Being able to have some degree of balance and knowing the task at hand sort of kept us moving forward in a positive way and ended up giving us the results that we were ultimately looking for.”

Despite all the adjustments that needed to be made, Dubin and his cross-country team still

kept the same training philosophy and format. Meets were still on Tue sdays, so t hat me a nt Monday was a meet-prep day and Wednesday was a long run and recovery day. Thursday was another speed workout.

“It was the same type of format we wanted to keep in, but we did it in a way to try to keep everybody safe and healthy because that’s really the mantra of the year,” Dubin said. “It was to think beyond yourself and assume everybody was positive with coronavirus, so keep your distance and wear a mask when you’re not running.”

To try and keep things even sa fer, Du bin split h is crosscountry team into two groups.

The theory behind it was that if there was somehow any kind of spread amongst the team, that the entire team wouldn’t be infected or affected by the result of a positive case.

“I didn’t want the entire team to be put on quarantine because of one person that was impacted,” Dubin said. “If one group needed to be quarantined, the other group could still function, theoretically.

One group practiced on Mondays and Fridays and the other group p r a c t i c e d o n Tu e s d a y s a n d Thursdays. Since there was no school on Wednesday, we decided to have no in-person practice.

It was training on their own, wherever and whenever they could get it done.”

And despite the obstacles, Dubin couldn’t have been more thrilled with his team’s dedication and adaptability.

“They did the hard work when no one was watching them in the summer and that allowed them the opportunity for them to shine this fall when we got to the starting lines,” Dubin said.

LET BON TON MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON SAFE & SPECIAL

I N S I D E & OU TSI DE

We’re Dedicated to the Health of Your Smile ...

Express gratefulness for the things you have been given

HAPPY HO L I DAY S

SERVI NG QUALITY DINING OPTIONS

COSMETIC, GENERAL AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY

Thank someone for doing something for you

Sports

CROSS COUNTRY

Page 11 | Greenwich Sentinel

Outdoor Furniture Restorations and Sales

It’s that time of year to restore your furniture to it’s original elegance.

Powder Coated Finishes Restrapping Welding Sandblasting Sling Replacement Teak Restoration

Commercial & Residential!

Brown Jordan, Tropitone, Woodard, Winston and Salterini

OFF-SEASON DISCOUNT Pick-up and Delivery Available

FAST TURNAROUND!

140 Highland Street, Port Chester, NY 10573

pattysportico.com • 914.935.8839

Obituaries

Page 12 | Greenwich Sentinel

Lillian Landy

Lillian Landy, age 105, of Greenw ich, CT, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. Born in Bridgeport, CT, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Sarah Breiner.

To a n y o n e w h o h a d t h e privilege of meeting her, Lillian was a f irecracker, k nown for her warmhearted personality, independent spirit, red lipstick, q u ick w it, a nd sp ont a ne ou s dancing and singing. Her love of life, adventure, and family was inspiring and contagious.

Her heart was in everything she did, from her early days as a cosmetician (she only stopped working at 87 because the store closed), playing a weekly Mahjong game with the residents at the Jewish Home for the Elderly (she was older than they were), to teaching her great-grandchildren her favorite recipes (chicken feet and all).

Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her, may it forever be for a blessing.

She is survived by her devoted children, Sandra Oster, David Landy and his wife Linda, adored g ra ndch i ld r e n , S a ra h O s te r Shasha and her husband Roy, Aaron Joseph Oster and his wife Alexandra, Lauren Dara Zvida and her husband Boaz, and her cherished great-grandchildren, Samuel Lavi Shasha, Benjamin Gour Shasha and Maya and Adam Zvida. Lillian was predeceased by her beloved husband Samuel Landy, dear siblings Charlotte Lobe, Sylvia Berkowitz, Arthur, Mitchell, Otto and Edward Breiner, and devoted son-in-law Stephen Oster.

A graveside service was held on Dec. 8, 2020 in Fairfield, CT. A live stream recording is available at g r e e n s f u n e r a l h o m e .c o m .

Memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Senior Services jseniors.org

was an accomplished attorney, 10 years as a partner at Baker Leshko, Saline & Blosser Law Firm in White Plains, New York and five years providing pro bono work advocating for women who were victims of domestic violence in Illinois and Michigan.

M ichele was an amazing, devoted and loving mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She was a kind and caring person, and everyone who knew Michele loved her. She touched all our hearts, and the world is a better place because Michele has been in it.

Michele was a ferocious reader and found libraries and book stores to be the most comforting places on earth. She was a fabulous cook and a wonderful piano and classical guitar player. She loved traveling, having visited 48 out of our 50 states and many countries.

Most of all, she loved being with her family.

Michele is survived by her loving husband, Todd; children, Audrey (14), Olivia (13), Grant, and Hudson (both about to turn 12). She is further survived by her parents David and Darlene Starr of Cornelius, NC, and a brother Tyler (Miki) Starr of Davidson, NC. Michele was preceded in death by her grandparents.

S er v ice s w i l l b e pr ivate .

Interment will take place at Cedar Cemetery in Cedarville, Michigan.

Maura Errico

Rhuben Brown

Rever end R hu b en Hen r y Brown, resident of Stamford, CT - member of First Baptist, Greenwich, CT, passed away on Dec. 5, 2020. He was 82 years old.

Calling hours will take place on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch St., Greenwich. Funeral Service will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home. This is limited to family only. Interment will follow at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.

Lauren Powers

Michele Blosser

Michele Lee (Starr) Blosser, 50, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died after a courageous 18-month battle with breast cancer on Nov. 19, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. Michele was born Aug. 18, 1970 in Hartford, CT to David Lee and Darlene (Mabee) Starr.

She graduated from South Windsor, CT High School in 1988.

Michele continued her education a f te r h ig h s cho ol e a r n i n g a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Western Connecticut State University, a Master of Business Administration from University of Con ne c t ic ut , a M a s te r of Library & Information Science f r om S out h e r n C o n n e c t i c ut State University and f inally a Juris Doctor of Law from Pace University.

Michele married Todd Michael Blosser on October 8, 2005 in Norfolk, Connecticut.

Michele was a resident of Grand Rapids for the last three years. Prior to moving to Grand R apids, she l ived i n Way ne, Illinois; Greenwich, Connecticut; as well as a few other locations in Connecticut.

For the last 15 years Michele

of humor, and her gift to deliver brilliant one-liners served as a constant reminder to those around her to never take life too seriously.

Her warm and welcoming spirit were well known by everyone in her community, as she made total strangers feel like a friend.

Lauren was predeceased by her mother, Janet Hamilton, and survived by her husband Fred, son Matthew, daughter Brooke, father John Hamilton of Wilmington, Delaware, brother Keith Harvell of Natick Massachusetts, and stepbrothers John Hamilton of B oston, Massachuset ts, a nd David Hamilton of Severna Park, Maryland.

A wake took place Dec. 7 at Graham Funeral Home, Rye, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial funeral service was held Dec. 8.

A celebration of Lauren's life will be held at a future date in the Summer 2021.

In lieu of f lowers, gifts in memory of Lauren may be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Lauren J. Powers Fund in support of Pa ncreatic Ca ncer Resea rch online, or by check, payable to: MGH Cancer Center Development Office, Attention: Meagan Coons, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.

Lauren J. Powers of Greenwich, CT passed away on Dec. 1, 2020, surrounded by her loving husband F r e der ic , s on M at t hew, a nd daughter Brooke, following a yearlong private battle with pancreatic cancer. Lauren was 53 years old.

Born April 14, 1967, Lauren was a proud native of Wilmington, Delaware, where her fondest m e m o r i e s i n c lu d e d b e i n g a competitive horseback rider and attending the Wilmington Friends School. Lauren later went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and from the University of Delaware, and a master's degree in English from Lehigh University. Lauren was the ultimate bookworm, and she later moved to New York City to work for various publishing houses.

Lauren and Fred were married for nearly 27 years and raised t hei r ch i ld r en M at t hew a nd Brooke in Scarsdale, New York and Greenwich, CT. She always maintained that her proudest achievement was being a mother to her children.

Lauren will be remembered for her infectious smile, generous heart, and impeccable style. She was also known for her sense

Answers to Suduko Puzzles Found on Page 16 Easy Easy

Maura (Spero) Errico, 87, of Middletown CT, wife of the late, Vincent N. Errico, Jr., died peacefully in her sleep early Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 at Water's E dge Ce nte r for He a lt h a nd Rehab. Maura was born in Mount Vernon, NY, daughter of the late, Charles and Mary (Collins) Spero.

She resided in Mamaroneck and then Peekskill, NY. Prior to her retirement, Maura worked as food service worker at Walter Panas High School and later Peekskill Hospital. She finished her career as an administrator with Westchester County District Attorney's office.

She retired to Greenwich, CT. Maura is survived by two daughters, Sharon Proper and her husband Doug of NY, Mary Anne Ring and her husband Tom of NY, two sons, Vincent Errico of Meriden, Charles Errico and his wife Robin of Switzerland, a granddaughter, Mira Errico, and a sister Charlotte Bruning of NY. Funeral services were held Nov. 25 in Middletown. Burial will be held in the family plot in Westchester County at a later date. Those who w ish may make memorial contributions to Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Theresa Bria

Theresa A. Bria, 100 years old, a lifelong Greenwich, CT resident died peacefully at the I nova L oudou n Nu rsi ng a nd Rehab Center in Leesburg, Va. on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. She was born on July 14, 1920 in Greenwich, CT to the late Umile and Rose Montimurro Roberto. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bria was predeceased by her husband of seventy-two years, Joseph J. Bria Sr., her daughter Patricia Case and her siblings Pasquale Roberto, Joseph Roberto, and Mary Roberto Capalbo.

Theresa is survived by her

Hard

up, from the age of 12, in Silver Spring, MD. He graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC and Fordham University in New York before enlisting in the United States Air Force where he rose to rank as Captain. Following his military service, he spent his 35-year career as a financial executive at General Electric, opening their foreign offices in Milan, Rome, Geneva and Rio de Janeiro before settling in Greenwich in 1978 with his young family.

A n except iona l hu sba nd, father and grandfather, Bob will be missed deeply by Isabel, his loving and dedicated wife of 45 years, who was unwavering in her care for him in his final years of life. He was a man of intellectual curiosity who had a passion for travel, books, cooking, opera, sports, politics, history and The New York Times. In addition to his kindness and generosity of spirit, these are just some of the many interests that made a lasting impression on all that knew and loved him.

In addition to Isabel, he is survived by his three children: Monica Courtney of Coral Gables, FL, Maria Isabel Lydon (Colman) of Howth, Ireland, and Robert Joseph Courtney (Amelita) of Key Biscayne, FL; five grandchildren: Madison Altamirano, Antonia and Mariella Lydon and Benjamin and John Courtney; and siblings Mary Foley and Thomas Courtney. His extended family includes many nephews and nieces in the U.S., Brazil and New Zealand, who all loved and admired their "Uncle Bob." He is predeceased by his Nancy Theis brother John Courtney and sister Crescence Kilcoyne.

A private Mass is planned at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Key Biscayne, FL. A celebration of his life for extended family and friends will be planned for later in 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Bob's memory to Gonzaga College High School: gonzaga.org/supportNancy Ann Theis passed away gonzaga on Nov. 29 at Nathaniel Witherell Residence following a lengthy Paul Low, Jr. illness and complications from COVID. Born in Greenwich, Nancy was the daughter of the late Robert M. and Lillian N. Theis. She attended Gre enw ich H ig h S cho ol a nd became a member of the Eastern Star, chapter of the Masonic Society, to which she dedicated many hours outside school. Nancy attended Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing from which she graduated Paul Revere Low Jr. (b. 1933) with her RN degree in 1961. Nancy passed away on Nov. 25. began her career as head nurse Paul was born and raised in at New York Hospital, Psychiatric South Hero, VT. He attended the Division, in White Plains, NY. In University of Vermont, receiving the following years, she held many a B.S. in Electrical Engineering nursing leadership positions in and an M.S. in Physics in 1957.

New York City, after which she He went on to earn a Ph.D. in developed and operated a position Electrical Engineering at Stamford recruitment business for people University in 1964. transitioning within the medical I n 1957, Pau l joi ne d I BM field. She obtained a BSN, MSN for a 35-year career. He held and near completion of a Doctorate a w ide va r iet y of p osit ion s, in Nursing at Columbia University. including President of the General Na n c y h a d m a ny t a l e nt s Technology and Storage Products a nd i nter e st s i nclud i ng a r t , D i v i s i on s , G r oup E xe c ut i ve photography and home interior and General Manager of The desig n. A n av id ath lete, she Technology Group, and member of enjoyed skiing, squash and tennis.

The Corporate Management Board.

She always had a fond affection for His colleagues and contemporaries dogs and owned Weimaraners for considered Paul a pioneer in several years. semiconductor engineering and She was predeceased by a manufacturing. brother, David, and leaves behind Paul established PR L a sister, Virginia, (Ginny) and Associates, a technology consulting many cousins. Services will be company and worked with Silicon private. Donations may be made Valley start-ups and top highto: Nathaniel Witherell. tech companies. He served on the of Directors of both private Robert M. Courtney Board and public companies.

Dr. Low served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Engineering School of Stanford University and the University of Vermont. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Rensselaer Poly technic Institute, the University of Vermont, and Marist College.

Paul married Anne G. Low in 1974 and together they raised their Robert M. Courtney, 89, of Key Biscayne, FL, and a former 35- blended family. Flying was one year resident of Greenwich, CT, their greatest passions, as well as died peacefully at home on Nov. skiing, sailing, scuba diving and 26, 2020. He was born in St. Paul, golf.

Paul served on the board of MN on Oct. 11, 1931 to John and the Indian Harbor Yacht Club Crescence Courtney and grew sister Francesca Roberto Digiorgio ( Joseph) of Los Angeles, Calif., son Joseph J. Bria Jr. and his wife Francine Galasso Bria of Ashburn, Va., and son-in-law Dr. Donald J. Case of Stamford, CT. Six loving g ra ndch i ld ren; Je ssic a L ove (Gary), Joseph J. Bria III (Susan), Allyson Davis, (Steve), John Bria (Amy), Betsy DiSantis (Michael), and Megan Loop (Mark). Eleven great-grandchildren; George, Bria, Jake, Logan, Tyler, Emma, JosephHenry, Patience, Kimmy, Katie, and Mia. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1938. God, Family, and Country were paramount throughout her lifetime. She survived the Great Depression a nd ex per ienced World Wa r II. Her last employ ment was a Medical Secretar y at the Greenwich Medical Laboratory, Greenwich, Connecticut Theresa (Tess) was the Matriarch of a warm and loving family, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and caring friend.

The fa m i ly wou ld l i ke to extend its heartfelt thanks to the dedicated and compassionate staff at the Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehab Center in Leesburg, Va. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: Sacred Heart Church, 95 Henry Street, Greenwich, CT 06930 or Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehab Center, 235 Old Waterford Rd. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176. A Memorial Service will be held in Greenwich, CT at a later date.

Hard

Very Hard

in Greenwich, CT. They lived in Greenwich for 35 years before they moved to Fairhope, AL where he was active in the Point Clear Rotary and Mobile Symphony, in Mobile, AL. Paul is survived by Anne, his brother Peter, and their four children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

A private family service will be held in 2021.

Viola Kiley Viola C. K iley, a long time resident of Huntington, CT, passed away on Nov. 15, 2020. She was 82 years old.

Born in Greenwich, CT, she was the daughter of Anthony (Goldie) and Grace Carvette. She was a graduate of Greenwich High School where she played basketball and other sports. She was employed for nearly 30 years at Peoples United Bank where she held various positions in support of branch operations.

She was a mem ber of St. Lawrence Parish since 1964 and after retirement she volunteered at the church. More than anything she loved being with her family.

She is sur v ived by her brother Tony and his wife Lynn, her children Jerry Kiley and his wife Gay Williams, Liz Brantley and her 5 grandchildren whom she always delighted in, Joshua Kiley, Kira Brantley, Joseph Kiley, Lara Brantley and Elizabeth Grace Kiley and of course her great-granddaughter Haley. She was predeceased by her loving husband Gerard J. Kiley.

Calling hours were Nov. 19 in Monroe. A funeral service was celebrated at the funeral home.

Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull.

In lieu of f lowers, please consider mak ing a memorial donat ion to t he A l z hei mer's Association of Connecticut, 200 Executive Blvd S #4b, Southington, CT 06489 or a charity of your choice.

In efforts to keep our community safe, masks will be required and guests are asked to be mindful of social distancing guidelines.

Raymond Johnson

R ay m o n d ( R ay) T h o m a s Johnson, 83, of Greenwich, CT, peacefully passed away at home on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Ray was born on April 22, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY to Edward Johnson and Elizabeth (nee Rice) Johnson as the sixth child of nine. Ray enlisted and proudly served in the United States Navy from 1954 to 1957. Shortly after serving in the Navy, Ray met his beautiful wife to be, Patricia. They married in 1960 and moved to Queens, NY to raise a family. He spent his last 30 years in Greenwich, CT. Ray was a very active person a n d l ov e d t o vo l u n t e e r. H e coached so many, including his sons in CYO basketball and Little League baseball, and he was also a Boy Scout leader. He always wanted to try new things. In his 50's, 60's and 70's he became a very good golfer, a certified scuba diver and earned several belts in karate. Family was everything to Ray. He made every grandchild event he could. Whether it was at a sporting event, dance recital, a birthday party or just fishing with them on his boat, there was nothing he loved more than being around his grandkids.

R ay is sur v ived by his beloved wife, Patricia Johnson (nee Murray), their three sons and daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren: Raymond Johnson (Reinalda), Flushing NY; Sean Johnson (Regina), Chatham NJ;

Very Hard

Page 13 | Greenwich Sentinel

The Unconquerable Desire to Light Up the Neighborhood!

By Drew Williams Speaking for home stores, across the US, a store manager at a local Handyman Ace said, “We’ve really had a lot of customers coming in look ing for lights and extension cords a nd t h i n g s l i ke t h at . T h e s e have been extremely popular items this year.” Bill Adams, a senior economist with PNC Financial Services, corroborates this current national trend for bringing increased sparkle to the neighborhood, “What we…know is that spending [at] building material stores [and] hardware stores…has b een g row i ng at double digit paces.” Another home store manager commented, “[Folk are] putting a lot of emphasis into something positive because there’s been so much negativity going on…in our communities [and] in the world in general.

So…they come in and a lot of

Christmas lights, a lot of exterior decorations…just fly off the shelf really fast…” A customer (who had called by the store for additional tree lights to illuminate a fifteenfoot star suspended on the roof of his house) added, “Just because of all the craziness, we needed some kind of extra happiness around here. Normally I wait until the third week of November, but I had the first section of lights turned on

by Nov. 8 this year. My neighbors were happy to see them light up the skies!”

It has been an interminably long and dark season and the advent of fifteen-foot illuminated stars and the LED luminescent fusion that is taking place in our neighborhoods would all testify to the truth that we are sick and tired of living amid darkness and we are very, very eager to break into the light! For the Apostle, John, darkness is not merely the absence of light but a power in and of itself. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.

It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter.”

It is said that the most precious light is the light that finds us in our worst darkness. Waiting in the darkness, this would have

Is it possible that the evidence we seek of such a victory over darkness is closer than we think? What if the fifteenfoot LED star points to an inconsolable secret in each one of us. to be a light that comes to us from the outside. Such a light would have to condescend to come to us in the midst of turmoil, chaos, sickness, grief and disorder. This light could not be static (like a Christmas tree or a fifteen-foot LED star) but it must have power, purpose and motion. It would have to grow and expand. Such a light must have the capacity to strategize and mobilize, even and especially in the darkness. It is not enough that it should come as a moral code in ancient text, to be read by torchlight, but it must come as the light of life. And such a light, if it was to truly get to the heart our inner darkness, would have to be deeply, deeply personal.

The apostle John’s thesis is that the light of life is the person of Jesus. He tells us, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” ( John 1:4). And His light will always be triumphant over darkness. How can we be sure?

John writes, “Through Him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). The point here is that this energetic, purposeful, increasing life that shines in the darkness, is the life of the One through whom all things were made. A nd as the Creator, if you can make something out of nothing, you can always turn that something into nothing. Therefore, the Creator will always have the upper hand in His world. His light will always triumph.

Perhaps it does not feel or look like that? Certainly, the disciples would have struggled with idea of light overcoming darkness on Good Friday as they watched Jesus take His last breaths from the agony of the Cross. Luke r e c or d s , “ It w a s now a b out the sixth hour and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed.” And yet we know that

on the first Easter morning the light triumphed. “And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb” (Mark 16:2). “And the angel said to them, “Do not be alarmed.

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen” (Mark 16:6).

Is it possible that the evidence we seek of such a victory over darkness is closer than we think?

What if the fifteen-foot LED star points to an inconsolable secret in each one of us. A secret that not even a year like 2020 can suppress. A secret that aches so much, we try to tame it by calling it nostalgia, romanticism or reminiscence. Is it possible that home-stores across the nation are evidencing a kind of common home sick ness? We laugh at ourselves in an attempt to misdirect our hearts, yet the ache stubbornly refuses to shift. Is it possible that this cry of the heart for light is because we are made in His image? And being made in his image, His unconquerable light, somehow, still burns within us? Maybe it is the smallest flicker, the tiniest trace of a glow – and yet, there it is, obdurately refusing to be quenched. And it is always enough light to stir in us a homesickness for a greater love that we know is somehow

Let the Light Shine in Your Darkness

By Marek Zabriskie In his play, Murder in the Cathedral, T.S. Eliot has a chorus of working people cluster around Canterbury Cathedral as Advent approaches.

They sing: The New Year waits, breathes, waits, whispers in darkness…

Some malady is coming upon us…

Ill the wind, ill the time, uncertain the profit, certain the danger.

O late late late is the time, late too late and rotten the year…

we can sense our mortality. In his recent biography of Thomas Edison, Edmund Morris writes, “In his thirty-third year Edison embarked on what he afterward called ‘the greatest adventure of my life… akin to venturing on an uncharted sea.’ His challenge was to take the small incandescent thing he had just perfected – history’s f irst… electric bulb – and turn it into a vast urban illumination system...”

Now, people around the world must do something similar. We must create space for God’s light to enter our lives darkened by this pandemic, which in our country alone has killed over 270,000 of us and where blindness to racism and climate change cause us to walk in the dark.

William Holman Hunt painted three portraits of Jesus, entitled “The Light of the World,” based on the words of Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Each portrait shows Jesus carrying a lantern, knocking on

a wooden door of an old cottage covered with vines. If you look carefully, you will see that the door has no handle. It can only be opened from the inside. Fifty years after he painted it, Hunt explained that the door represents “the obstinately shut mind.”

We all know someone who has given up on God, disdains religion or who won’t take the first step to dispel the darkness from their life.

The door is shut. Jesus knocks, but no one opens. God will never take us by storm. We alone can let Christ, the Light of the World, enter our lives.

A woman in Minnesota, whose son was dying in a hospital in New York City, recently wrote to thank me for visiting her son, reading psalms aloud w ith him and anointing him with oil before he died. She wrote, “You brightened my darkness.”

Isn’t that what Christians try to do? Our mission is to shine God’s light in the darkness and brighten the lives of others, who are groping in the dark. Early in John’s Gospel we read: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome

married Allen Flanagan, the son of Thomas Francis and Margaret Estelle Flanagan in Harrison, NY. He predeceased her in 1980.

She was also predeceased by her brothers William and Robert Abendroth and their spouses Emily and Marion, respectively.

Cordelia attended Rye Country Day School and Wheelock College in Boston, MA where she graduated in 1947 with a degree in Childhood Education and made many lifelong friends.

She was then employed at Rye Home School in Rye, NY as a pre-K teacher. She did volunteer work throughout her life. This included patient care at United Hospital in Port Chester, NY and at New York Hospital in White Plains, NY and at a food and clothing bank held at Christ Church in Greenwich, CT. Cordelia was the beloved mother of Martha Allen Flanagan, A r thur A llen Flanagan, and Margaret Abendroth Gregory

who survive her. She is also survived by five grandchildren Stacy (Wood) Humbard, Richard E. Wood, Thomas Collar, Jennifer (Gregory) Hart and Kimberly (Gregory) Barss; eleven great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Cordel ia i n st i l le d i n her children a love of nature and to view people openly. We will miss her wry sense of humor.

At her request, there will be no services.

it. (John 1:5) Without Christ’s light there would be no Handel’s Messiah, no Gothic cathedrals, no hospitals, universities or charities to care for the poor. Without God’s light, we would have no hope in an afterlife.

Without Christ’s light, we would be alone in the darkest chapters of our lives.

Joh n Hen r y New ma n was only thirty-two when his life fell into turmoil and he fled on a sea voyage to escape and find peace with God. His ship was moored in the Bay of Salerno for sweltering days and nights. One night, as the water lapped against the ship’s hull, he wrote:

Chu rch, M ichael Cu r r y, once served as the Rector of an innercity church in Baltimore.

For s eve ra l s u m m e r s , h e led revivals to share his faith in heavily drug-infested areas of the city. Later, someone suggested that they go caroling before Christmas.

So, they did. He recalls, As we sang, old people frightened into their homes came out and sang. Children joined the parade and sang.

Then we came to this one alley. It was like a black hole.

There seemed to be no light going in or coming out… The only light that you could see was the faint light of one of the crack pipes lighting up with death. There were people there, but no voices were heard… If ever I saw Dante’s Inferno, or looked the devil in the face, it was there. Death!

Hell! And it was there that we sang, ‘Silent night, holy night, all is calm all is bright.’

AGE HE THINGS ARE FORObituaries

ce

out there, but we have yet to experience. It is enough light to cause us to rise up against the darkness and say, “I just know there has to be more than this!”

One night, in the cold, in the dark, among the wrinkled hills of Bethlehem, the kingdom of light burst upon the kingdom of darkness at a dramatic point of intersection. Jesus’ birth is really a story of invasion— His Kingdom of light breaking into and ultimately overcoming the kingdom of darkness. And when His Kingdom of light breaks in, the most wonderful things happen.

Hope breaks into the kingdom of despair. Love overturns hatred.

Healing overcomes sickness. Unity displaces division. The miraculous breaks into the mundane. And His light in us, more than making us a kind of living electric light bulb, His light in us kindles the kind of melancholy that leads us home, back to the very heart of God. The Rt. Rev. Andrew Williams ( D r e w) i s th e B i s h o p of Ne w England's Anglican Church. He previously served as the Senior P a s t o r o f Tr i n i t y C h u r c h i n Greenwich. You can receive daily devotionals (Watchwords) from Drew, and subscribe to a brandnew video devotional series – “The Faros” at www.andrewwilliams.org online.

Eliot was writing about the impending murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket, but he could just as well have been writing about this annus horribilus and COVID which enshrouds our lives like a deep, dark fog.

Even in privileged Greenwich,

and Christian Johnson (Wendy), Westport CT; as well as seven grandchildren; Rebecca, Rachel, NY; Nora, Fiona, Aidan, NJ; and Hailey and Madeline, CT. A mass was held Dec. 1 at St. Mary Church, Greenwich, followed by a military burial at State Veterans Cemetery in 317 Bow L a ne, M idd letow n.

Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may b e made i n memor ia m for R ay mond Johnson at St. Jude Ch i ld r en's Re s e a r ch Hospital. giftfunds.stjude.org/ rayjohnsonmemorial

Cordelia Flanagan Cordelia Willets Abendroth Flanagan, a resident of Wesley Health Care in Saratoga Springs, NY passed away on Nov. 17, 2020, after a long battle with dementia.

She was born in Port Chester, NY on Feb. 2, 1924 to the late William P. and Mabel Willets Abendroth. On May 17, 1945 she

Mary Corrigan Mary C. Corrigan, was born on Oct. 28, 1929, in Stamford, CT to Nora (Greene) and Patrick O'Hagan. Mary was married on Nov. 28, 1948 to John F. Corrigan for 30 years until his passing in 1978. They had four children and one grandson, Maureen Hans of Massachusetts, her son Michael Hans, Karen Corrigan of New Hampshire, and was predeceased

Joseph Barragan Your Local Agent 203 E PUTNAM AVE 2nd flr Cos Cob, CT 06807 JBARRAGAN@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/jbarragan

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene – one step enough for me.

We learn to walk in the dark by taking one step at a time. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal

Th e n s o m e th i n g s t r a n g e happened… maybe someone in an apar t ment back in the alley turned on a light.

by her son Donald Corrigan and retirement community where daughter Kathy Corrigan. Mary he and his late wife, Mary Otto was also predeceased by her Jackson, had moved in 2003. brothers Patrick and Michael Born April 18, 1926, to William O'Hagan (Judy), sisters, Teresa and Florence (MacLeod) Jackson, (A l ber t) Bel mont, Ma rga ret Bill grew up in Scarsdale. He met (Patrick) Plescia and Eileen Mary in fourth grade, they started Corrigan. Mary leaves behind dating in high school, and they several nieces, nephews, and celebrated their 69th wedding cousins most notably, Mar y anniversary in 2017, a few days Savage of Stamford, CT. before she died. Bill and Mary Mary worked for over 40 lived in Boston; Levittown, NY; years at Manero's in Greenwich, and Scarsdale before moving to CT. She retired to Stuart, Fla., Allentown, PA, in 1957, where they then came back to Greenwich to were active in the community for care for her ill sisters. She loved, more than 46 years. In Stamford, reading, playing Bingo and going Bill headed the Edgehill Residents to the Casino. She was a devout Council.

Catholic and resided at Parsonage Bill graduated from Deerfield Cottage, passing on Nov. 20. She A c a d e m y a n d P r i n c e t o n is greatly missed. Mary will have University; he also attended ■ Automobile insurance a private burial at St. Mary's M I T th roug h the Nav y V-1 2 Cemetery in Greenwich.

■ Home insurance program and served in the Naval Reserve (1943-46). Upon finishing ■ Renters insurance college, he joined Bonney Forge William Jackson as a sales engineer, patenting William MacLeod Jackson several products to improve died in his sleep Nov. 19 at home m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s e s , in Stamford at Edgehill, the

However it happened a ray of light literally pierced that darkened alley for a moment.

Then, at about the same time, someone in that valley of the shadow of death sang back to us, ‘Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.’

Curry said, I know that the [drug] dealing continues. I know that the powers of hell are still raging. I know that death still deals its demonic destruction. I am no fool.

But this much I know… for a brief moment, the light did shine in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. For just a moment, like the twinkling of an eye, you could see through the shadows of our sickness to a shining city not made with human hands.

For just a moment you knew that there is a kingdom called heaven... and a promise land.

Open the door to God, and let the light pierce your darkness.

The Rev. Marek Zabriskie is the Rector at Christ Church

starting international operations, and rising to be group president of what had b e come Gu l f + Western Industrial Products.

After retiring, he ran his own consulting business for more than two decades.

Bill is survived by his sister, Miriam Jackson Curran of Seattle; ch i ld r en St ua r t of Toronto, Frederick (Michelle) of Branford, Allen (Lori) of Old Greenwich, and Susan (Eric Pomerance) of NYC; grandchildren Bill (Nicole), Katie, Carl (Monica), Harry, and Mary Alice Jackson, and Henry Pomerance; and three greatgrandsons.

A celebration of life will be held once it's safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Dudley, Mianus River Gorge Preserve, or National MS Society. The family thanks the dedicated staffs of Edgehill and Thomas Real Care.

COVERAGE FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE FOR

COVERAGE FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE FOR Joseph Barragan

Your Local Agent 203 E PUTNAM AVE 2nd flr Cos Cob, CT 06807 JBARRAGAN@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/jbarragan

■ Automobile insurance ■ Home insurance Call 203.900.1977 today!

■ Renters insurance

Let me help you get the most value out of your insurance coverage.

Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details. Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies.

Visit farmers.com for a complete listing of companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states.

Joseph Barragan

Worship Services Information

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Harvest Time Church 1338 King St., 203-531-7778 www.htchurch.com In-Person Worship Services: Sun, 8:30, 10 & 11:30am (meeting on a limited basis in accordance with CDC guidelines and Connecticut’s executive orders). All services are streamed on the church’s website and social media outlets.

BAPTIST First Baptist Church 10 Northfield St.; 203-869-7988 www.firstbaptistgreenwich.com Sunday Servings: 11:30am, Facebook Live or for Devotion: 11-11:25am (Dial in 701802-5355, Access code 360922).

Greenwich Baptist Church 10 Indian Rock Ln; 203-869-2807 www.greenwichbaptist.org Online Worship - Sunday, 11am, streamed through Facebook and website (greenwichbaptist.org/livestream).

Sunday Morning Prayer: Sun, 8:309:15am, via Google Meet.

CATHOLIC Sacred Heart Church 95 Henry St.; 203-531-8730 www.sacredheartgreenwich.org In-person Mass: Mon-Fri: 7am (in Chapel); Sat: Vigil, 4pm (also live streamed); Sun: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (in Sanctuary). (Only by registration - call or text: 203-559-9256 or email: sacredheartgrn@optonline.net).

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Church) by appt.; Sacrament of Baptism: Sun, 12:30pm (call the parish office in advance). The 2021 Mass Book is open for Mass, Altar Flowers and Altar Bread & Wine requests. Angel Tree: gift cards or cash donations (please put in an envelop and drop it off in the Sunday collection baskets or drop it off at the Rectory or mail it to 38 Gold St, Greenwich, CT 06830 by Dec. 13).

St. Catherine and St. Agnes St. Agnes: 247 Stanwich Rd; St. Catherine: 4 Riverside Ave; 203-637-3661; www.stc-sta.org Masses: Mon-Fri: Daily Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 7am; Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required: 5:155:45pm. Sat: Confessions at St. Agnes Church (specific dates in the bulletin), 3-4pm; Vigil Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 5pm.

Sun: Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required, 7:30-8am; Mass at St. Agnes Church – in-person, 8:30am; Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 10:30am; Language Masses at St. Agnes Church – in-person, 11am (French: 2nd Sun of the month; Spanish: 4th Sun of the month); Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required, 5-5:30pm. Ongoing: Food & Essentials Drive for Neighbor to Neighbor (there will be a car or SUV with an open trunk in the parking lot across from St. Catherine’s church on Tuesdays, 9-11am for drop-off donations.

Donations can also be dropped at the Sign-in table at Sat, Sun or Daily Mass at St. Agnes).

St. Mary Church 178 Greenwich Ave.; 203-869-9393 www.stmarygreenwich.org Public Mass: Mon-Fri, 12:05pm (no reservations are needed - limited to 50 people). Sat: Vigil, 4pm; Spanish (call 203-912-0246 for reservations), 7:30pm.

Sun: 9, 10:30am & 12:15pm, (must make reservation in advance by calling the Parish Office, Thu or Fri, 9am-3pm and speak to the receptionist). Confessions: Sat, 2:45-3:45pm, on the patio. Virtual Mass: Sun, 12:15pm, with Fr. La Pastina on Facebook. Visit EWTN.com for daily Mass at 8am with encore at 12pm.

Sunday Family Rosary: Sun, 7:30pm (No registration is necessary), live-streamed on YouTube (also listen by phone). Rorate Mass: The Votive Mass in Honor of The Blessed Virgin Mary: Dec. 12, 6:30am, Saint John. Calling All Christmas Baking Elves for December Soup Kitchen on Dec. 16 (cookies, brownies, and candies would make an excellent finish to the meal. Just bring the treats to the Parish Center office on Dec. 15, 9am-3pm or by 10am on Dec. 16). Annual Giving Tree: please consider purchasing a gift card (drop them off at the Parish Center anytime through Dec. 20. You can also place them in the collection box at all Masses).

St. Michael the Archangel 469 North St.; 203-869-5421 www.stmichaelgreenwich.com Sunday Mass: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (All masses are Live Streamed on Zoom. Log

onto the website at stmichaelgreenwich. com to access the Zoom Link or the LIVE Stream Masses and the Mass Reservation System).

St. Timothy Chapel 1034 North St.; 203-869-5421 Daily Mass: Mon-Sat: 7:30 & 9:30am.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Wed, 10am-4pm; Live-streamed, 10-11am.

Confessions: Wed, 10-11am & 3-4pm.

St. Paul Church 84 Sherwood Ave.; 203-531-8741 www.stpaulgreenwich.org Public Mass Celebration: Mon-Thu: 9am; Sat: 4pm (Vigil); Sun: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (Reservation is required only for Sunday Mass by visiting the homepage or by calling 203-531-8741, ext. 4). Holy Days: Vigil: 5:30pm, 9am & 12:15pm.

Online daily Mass at EWTN.com, 8am with encore at 12pm. Daily Mass also available on Bishop Robert Barron’s website at wordonfire.org/daily-mass.

Confessions by appointment only – call 203-531-8741, ext. 2.

in). Weekdays: Mon-Fri, Morning Prayer on Zoom, 8am; Tue: Eucharist & Healing Prayer, 10am (Chapel)*. Thu: Choral Evensong, 6:30pm (Church)*. Giving Trees – benefiting Family ReEntry: through Dec. 14. Dec. 13: Sunday Forum: ‘Micah: Prophet for a Precarious Age’, 11am, on Zoom; Lessons and Carols, 5pm. Women’s Book Study - Fire & Wine: Dec. 17, 7-8pm, behind the Tomes-Higgins House. Christmas Eve: Dec. 24: Carols around the Christmas Tree (outdoor service), 12pm; Festival of Lessons and Carols, 5pm; Midnight Choral Eucharist, 10pm. Christmas Day: Dec. 25: Eucharist Christmas Celebration, 11am.

program: Snacks & Crafts, 3-4pm; Bible Stories & Catechesis, 4-5pm; Community Dinner, 5:30pm (all are welcome); Bible Study on Romans (adults), 6:30pm.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 954 Lake Ave.; 203-661-5526 www.stbarnabasgreenwich.org

First United Methodist Church 59 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-629-9584 www.fumcgreenwich.com

Sunday Worship: Spoken Eucharist, 8am, Church; Holy Eucharist with music, 10am, Church and Livestream; Family Eucharist, 10am, Parish Hall. (sign up for in-person service: signupgenius.com/ go/4090e4aadac2ea3ff2-sunday1).

Virtual Sunday Worship, 9:30am, via Zoom (203 629 9584). Virtual Daily Gathering: Mon-Fri, 3pm, Zoom. Talking with Your Hands: Mon, 3pm. Reading this World as a Christian: Tue, 3pm. Back to Rock – music with Mr. Bruce: Tue, 3pm, via Zoom. Reading the Shape of Scripture: Wed, 3pm, via Zoom. Spring Bible Study: Thu, 3pm, via Zoom. Tea & Talk: Fri 3pm, via Zoom.

St. Roch Church 10 St. Roch Ave.; 203-869-4176 www.strochchurch.com

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 200 Riverside Ave.; 203-637-2447 www.stpaulsriverside.org

Mass: (Reservations and/or for viewing via live streaming): Mon-Fri: 7:30pm; Sat: 5pm; Sun: 7:30am (Concelebrated for Previously Scheduled 9:30am Mass Intentions), 10:30am, 12pm (Spanish). Mass Intentions: consult the bulletin for time.

Worship: Sun, 8am, indoor, register.

Discovery Hour - Conversations on Racial Reconciliation: Sun, 9:30am, outside the library. Faith At Home - crafted devotional materials for families and individuals available at dofaithathome.org. Ongoing: Neighbor-to-Neighbor Food Drive: Every Thu, 10-11:30am, in the parking lot. ​ Inspirica Harvest of Hope: Thanksgiving basket food and donation collection for Inspirica, contact Paul Lindemeyer plindemeyer@gmail.com or Deacon Liz - liz.skaleski@stpaulsriverside.org.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE First Church of Christ, Scientist 11 Park Place; 203-869-2503 www.christiansciencect.org/greenwich Sunday and Wednesday services via live tele-conference: 203-680-9095, code is 520520*.

COMMUNITY First Church of Round Hill 464 Round Hill Rd.; 203-629-3876 www.firstchurchofroundhill.com (If you need to reach Rev. Leo W. Curry, pastor, or any other personnel, call 203-629-3876 and leave a message or email fcroundhill@outlook.com).

Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Rd.; 203-869-1091 www.roundhillcommunitychurch.org Worship, Children’s Ministries and Youth Fellowship: Sun. 10-10:30am, in the Church, registration is required. Weekly service also available online. Thrive: biweekly high school gathering, Wed, 6pm. Foundations: biweekly middle school gathering, Fri, 6pm. November Bible Study: Stories of Advent, Mondays at 11 am, registration required. Dec. 13: Annual Christmas Pageant, 10am; RHCC Youth Group Service Project: Abilis, 12pm; Hanukkah & Christmas - Similarities and Differences, 6:30pm. Pacific House Meal Preparation and Service: Dec. 14, 4pm.

THRIVE - High School Youth Group Gathering: Dec. 16, 6pm.

CONGREGATIONAL The First Congregational Church 108 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org Worship: Outdoor Service: Sun 8-9am, Memory Garden (sign-up online or call the church office); Virtual Worship: through live-streaming on YouTube and Facebook, and broadcast on WGCH (1490 AM or 105.5 FM). Connect during the week: Wednesday: Wisdom on Wednesdays (sent by Rev. Patrick Collins); Thursday: Faith Formation at Home for All and Faith Formation for Children (sent by Rosemary Lamie). 54th Annual Messiah Concert (Live Stream): Dec. 12, 7:30-9pm.

North Greenwich Congregational 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-869-7763 www.northgreenwichchurch.org Online Worship Service: Sun 10:30am, via Zoom (email Rev. Halac at Pastor@ northgreenwichchurch.org or call the church).

Second Congregational Church 139 E Putnam Ave.; 203-869-9311 www.2cc.org Services available online, details at 2cc.org. Contemporary Worship: Sat, 5pm. Traditional Sunday Service: 10:30am.

EPISCOPAL Anglican Church of the Advent 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-861-2432 www.churchoftheadvent.org Service: Sun, 9am, Holy Eucharist.

Sunday School during academic year.

Christ Church Greenwich 254 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-6600 www.christchurchgreenwich.org Worship: Sun: Eucharist 8am, (Chapel)* & 10am (Church)*; Ceremony of Carols, 5pm (Church)*, registration required to attend in-person; Compline, 8pm (Tune

St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 350 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-2262 www.saintsaviours.org In-person Outdoor Service: Sun, 11am. Online Worship Services available on Youtube.

JEWISH Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich 75 Mason St.; 203-629-9059 www.chabadgreenwich.org Services available via Zoom. PJ Library Zoom Storytime: Mon-Thurs, 3pm & Fri, 2pm. Outdoor Mommy & Me Chanukah Party: Dec. 11, 9:15am, 270 Lake Ave. Chanukah Car Menorah Parade: Dec. 13, 3pm.

Congregation Shir Ami 1273 E. Putnam Ave, PO Box 312, Riverside; 203-900-7976; www. congregationshirami.org All services, programs and celebrations are available online via Zoom. Chanukah Live: Dec. 11, 6:30-9pm. Rosh Chodesh: Dec. 14, 7:30-9pm.

Greenwich Reform Synagogue 92 Orchard St.; 203-629-0018 www.grs.org Online programs streamed virtually on Zoom.us: Tot Shabbat with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri, 5pm. Shabbat services with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri, 7pm. Religious School: Sun, 9:30am. Hebrew School: Wed, 4:30pm. Online Chanukah Events: Dec. 11: Tot Chanukah shabbat and candle lighting, 5:30pm; Family Chanukah Shabbat celebration service, 7pm. Dec. 12: Chanukah candle lighting, 6pm; Nefesh Mountain Concert, 8pm. Dec. 13: Candle lighting and latke making class, 6pm. Dec. 14: Candle lighting and Chanukah story, 6pm. Dec. 15: Chanukah meditation, 6pm. Dec. 16: Chanukah trivia night, 6pm, all ages.

Dec. 17: final candle lighting plus concert, 6pm. For Zoom info, please call the office or email info@grs.org.

Temple Sholom 300 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-7191 www.templesholom.com Services – live-streamed via Zoom and Facebook: Fri 6:30pm; Sat 10am; Sun 8:15am. Rashi with the Rabbi: Tue, 121pm, via Zoom. Limited in-person Friday night Shabbat service, registration is required, lori.baden@templesholom.com.

Dec. 13: Virtual Chanukah Celebration 3-4pm; “Hanukkah And Christmas Similarities And Differences”, 6:30-8.

Lunch ‘N Learn: Dec. 15, 12-1pm.

LUTHERAN First Lutheran Church 38 Field Point Rd.; 203-869-0032 www.firstpaul.com Indoor Service: Sun, 10:30am. Bible Study: Sun, 11:45am.

St. Paul Lutheran Church 286 Delavan Ave.; 203-531-8466 www.firstpaul.com Indoor Service: Sun, 9am. Bible Study: Sun, 10:15am. Wednesday After-School

METHODIST Diamond Hill United Methodist 521 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-2395 www.diamondhillumc.com Online Worship followed by a time of Fellowship, 10-11am, via Zoom (us02web. zoom.us/j/635272316?); via phone: Dialin: +1-929-436-2866 US (NY), Meeting ID: 262 529 082. ‘What Happened to the Disciples?’, Wed, 7:30pm, via Zoom (or Dial-in: +1 929 436 2866 US. Meeting ID: 940 2222 0303, Password: 516742).

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 42 Lake Ave.; 203-661-3099 Worship via teleconference: Sun, 11am and until further notice (Dial-in number: 425-436-6380, Access code:​​ 612220).

NONDENOMINATIONAL Revive Church 90 Harding Rd., Old Greenwich (Old Greenwich Civic Center) www.myrevive.org Worship Service: Sun, 10am, Holiday Inn 2703 Summer St. Stamford. Online Sermons available on Facebook (facebook.com/ myrevivechurchgreenwich) and on Youtube. All groups are online. Direct any prayer needs to the prayer chain at 203-536-2686 or revivecfm@gmail.com.

Stanwich Church 202 Taconic Rd.; 203-661-4420 www.stanwichchurch.org Events marked by an * require registration at: stanwichchurch.org/event Sunday Service: 10am, Online. *Art & Advent: Waiting for Hope: Dec. 16, 12pm, Online. *Outdoor Christmas Eve Service: Dec. 23 & 24, 5 & 7pm, In-Person.

The Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-4615 www.albertsonchurch.org Sunday Service held online via Zoom.

Trinity Church 1 River Rd.; 203-618-0808 www.trinitychurch.life In-Person Services: Sun, 10:45am, Hyatt Regency Greenwich, 1800 E Putnam Ave. Online Services: Sun, 9:45am, youtube. com/c/TrinityChurchLife/live. House Churches: Sun, 9:45am, Fairfield County, CT & Westchester County, NY. Alpha (online): Tue, 7:30-8:45pm. Christmas Tailgating at Rye Playland: Dec. 12, 10am-12pm, 1 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY. Fall Zoom Intercession: Dec. 17, 7pm.

PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 1 W. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-8686 www.fpcg.org Sanctuary Worship: Sun, 10am (Traditional Service); 5pm (Contemporary Service), register. Online Worship: Sun, 10-11am at fpcg.org/live. Sunday School online, 10:15-11am. The Prayer Room: Tue, 11am & Thu, 8pm. Dec. 13: Advent Fair, 3:30-4:30pm, Collyer Center; Tree Lighting & Chapel Service, 5pm, outdoors at Collyer Center (Rain Date: Dec. 20), RSVP to childrenandyouth@ fpcg.org. Christmas Concert Viewing The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Dec. 18, 7pm, Sanctuary, RSVP, RSVP@ fpcg.org. Christmas Pageant Viewing: Dec. 20, during 10am & 5pm worship, Sanctuary, RSVP. Grace Church of Greenwich 8 Sound Shore Dr., Suite 280 203-861-7555 www.gracechurchgreenwich.com Worship: Sun, 10am, Woman’s Club of Greenwich, 89 Maple Ave. (Outside.

Please bring a mask and a chair or a blanket). All are welcome.

Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Ave; 203-637-3669 www.LivingHopeCT.org In-Person Worship: Sun, 10am, Sanctuary (tickets available at EventBrite

by Friday 10am). Worship Service online: Sun, 10-11:15am (YouTube or Facebook).

Coffee & Fellowship: Sun, 11:30am-12pm, via Zoom. Wednesday Prayer: Wed, 8:30-9am, online. Tree Lighting & Carols: Dec. 12, 5-6pm, Outside.

What Got Me Through 2020

By Nathan Hart I c a n p oi nt to one m a i n thing that sustained me through t he cha l lenges of 2 02 0: t he inexhaustible grace of God. On my own, I would have become over whelmed, desperate, or unable to cope. But by the grace of God, I am still standing, whole and hopeful as ever. I sensed the presence of God with me in the gauntlet hour by hour.

The reality of God’s gracious presence was conveyed to me through the music, books, and programs listed below. (For the complete list, along with links to the resources, visit my website: www.nathanhart.org).

Music: I can’t imag ine enduring 2020 without the worshiping

community of Stanwich Church and the songs we sang together.

In March and April, when the panic of the pandemic landed on our shores, Katie Nelson Troyer (our Praise Team Leader at Stanwich) led the congregation in a song entitled Reign Above It All. In the chorus we sang, “You [God] reign above it all, you reign above it all. Over the Universe and over every heart.” These words were such a comforting reminder that even though we all were surprised by the pandemic and what it wrought, there is a divine authority who sovereignly reigns over every twist and turn of human history. While the earth shakes, God is still upon his throne and right here among us.

Another song that sustained me is called Graves Into Gardens.

The lyrics really helped me see some redemption amidst the turmoil. That’s how things work for people of faith—they have eyes to see how God can “turn mourning to dancing, give beauty for ashes,” and “turn shame into glory.” With his resurrection, Jesus turned a grave into a garden.

And even now, he can offer that same kind of redemption in our worst-case scenarios. If you look

On my own, I would have become overwhelmed, desperate, or unable to cope.

But by the grace of God, I am still standing, whole and hopeful as ever. for them with the eyes of faith, redemption stories are happening all around us.

Books: New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp. This devotional pointed me to the never-ending love of God with profound and accessible daily reflections. On some days Tripp’s writings hit me like a ton of bricks; on others, like a gentle breeze.

A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism a nd R ace by Br enda S a lter McNeil. Obviously racial reconciliation was a huge topic in our nation in 2020. There were many secular/partisan books on the subject, but this one richly describes racial reconciliation as an outflow of the reconciling power of the gospel and near to

Paul David Tripp's daily devotional entitled New Morning Mercies

the heart of God. Amen to that.

The Diary of a Young Girl

by A n ne Fra n k . Du r ing the springtime quarantine period, my family gathered each evening as I read a chapter or two from

Anne Frank. My twelve-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter are the perfect age to hear about you n g A n ne’s e xc r uc iat i n g experience. Learning about her “lockdown” and what followed, which was far worse than our pred ica ment, gave us some much-needed perspective. It bonded us as a family.

Television and Film: Ted Lasso. What if a truly noncynical, gracious person was placed into our world of revenge a nd self ish ness? Ted L asso answers that question. On the surface it’s a farce (be warned about the cussing) but deep down I believe Ted Lasso is some sort of (imperfect) Christ figure showing us the world-changing power of grace and kindness.

Formula 1: Drive to Survive. It took me a while to figure out why

my wife and I have become so engrossed in this documentary, even to the point of following current Formula 1 races. I think it’s simply because it brings us out of the pettiness of U.S. politics and reminds us of some the wonder and drama in the rest of the developed world.

The Social Dilemma. It might seem strange that such a disturbing documentar y would be included on this list of examples of God’s sustaining grace. But this movie offers hope, on some level, in the form of a proper diagnosis of two of the major ailments of our society: isolation and division. I consider this movie to be required viewing for all Americans. With a proper diagnosis we can hopefully begin the collective cure.

May God’s grace continue to sustain and redeem us all through this winter and beyond.

Rev. Dr. Nathan Hart is the Senior Pastor at Stanwich Church.

Nathan received his Masters from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Doctorate from GordonConwell Theological Seminary. He and his wife have two children and live in Greenwich, CT.

Greater Good

Choosing Compassion Amid Grief

By Julie Hall MBA MS LMFT

“ Hold on a mom e nt .”

Our doctor had a concerned expression on his face as he moved closer to my fetal ultrasound image. My husband and I had been working with him for almost two years in an effort to become parents, and on that cold December day we entered his office expectantly and full of an unfamiliar hope.

Yet i n a mat ter of m i nutes, that excitement turned to fear and then dread as the doctor realized and revealed that I was miscarrying. I would need emergency surgery that very same day. I was overcome with grief and could not make sense of what had just happened.

While now I am able to tell this story nine years later from a place of perspective, the grief remains with me, albeit less acute.

The American Psychological Association (APA) identifies grief as the powerful, multifaceted and natural response that we experience after loss. This loss is often tied to bereavement or experiencing the pain of the death of a loved one. Grief can also manifest in the experiences of in fer tilit y/m iscar r iage, a significant change in lifestyle or financial status, the ending of a relationship/marriage, a serious i l l ness or d isease, whet her personal or affecting someone we love, losing our physical mobility or independence, or a trauma that violates our sense of safety and security.

Some of the more common experiences of grief include anger at those responsible, at the deceased, at ourselves, at God, at any target that seems feasible. We can also blame ou r s elve s w it h a n i nter na l dialogue that says if only I had done something dif ferently; maybe things might not be this

Amid this pandemic, we are collectively grieving the loss of lives, health, jobs, normalcy and interpersonal and community face to face interaction. If this is your story, I honor you. Be gentle and compassionate toward yourself, reach out and allow your pain to be seen by a loved one. You are not alone. way. Often, we see impacts on our sleep or changes in appetite.

We can feel incredibly tired and lack ing energ y. We can have trouble concentrating or focusing on a task. Also, not uncommon is irritability or isolation. Particularly in the early space of grief we can even question life’s meaning.

The holidays can be particularly difficult because it is a time where previously we had experienced so much joy.

The holidays brought about e xc ite m e nt a n d t h r i l l . T h e holidays livened up each one

of our senses… from the touch of a pine cone, to the smell of peppermint, to the sweet taste of hot chocolate, to the sight of a beautiful candlelit church, to the sounds of holiday classics.

For many people entrenched in grief, the experience of loss is heightened in these moments.

How can togetherness be celebrated when there is none?

The world loses its celebratory qualities. The sadness feels sadder and the loneliness goes deeper.

Bringing attention to the thoug hts, emotions and

behaviors that are bubbling up can create an opportunity to move forward with intention.

A l m o s t a ye a r a f te r my surgery and miscarriage, which was a rou nd t he hol idays, I remember an incident where I passed a young woman who was quite pregnant on my walk to the local deli. Immediately, I felt a shortness of breath and a sense of dread. After completing my e r r a n d , I i nt e nt i o n a l l y paused to give myself space to acknowledge the pain that was manifesting physically. I would describe this pause and curiosity as an expression of self-compassion. I had been doing my own therapy at the time and was encouraged to not just disconnect or distract from pain, but when appropriate, really g ive myself a chance to give it voice. The practice of self-compassion g ives us permission to experience our pain w ithout judg ment or criticism, and in that space we can often f ind relief. In these self-reflective moments, we have an opportunity to talk about our grief with a confidant, write in a journal, pray or simply sit and

breathe through the feelings.

My husband and I are now the most grateful parents of a precocious fun loving little girl and yet the grief experience still shows up periodically. Megan Devine, a grief expert and the author of a book called It’s Ok that You’re Not Ok, states so eloquently, “Grief lasts as long as love lasts”. Our circumstances may change and evolve, but ongoing grief, while less acute, is normative and worthy of our attention.

Amid this pandemic, we are collectively grieving the loss of lives, health, jobs, normalcy and interpersonal and community face to face interaction. If this is your story, I honor you. Be gentle and compassionate toward yourself, reach out and allow your pain to be seen by a loved one. You are not alone.

Julie Hall is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the Greenwich Center for Hope and Renewal. Julie is licensed in the state of Connecticut and can be reached at 203 998 5460 or julie@ hopeandrenewal.org.

Paying it Forward

By Stephanie Fox It was Month 2 of complete s o c ia l i s olat ion - for mo st .

For me, I’d already been on a secluded maternity leave since Thanksgiving 2019. The only souls I’d seen in the past six days, not including morning Zooms with my first grade class, were my husband and f ivemonth-old. The walls of our tiny one bedroom apartment seemed to be closing in. When did a baby come with so much stuff? From the unopened pacifier wipes, to the baby laundry detergent – it just kept multiplying. I either had to get out of the apartment, or get some of the apartment out. I moved quickly and piled clothes, toys, accessories and more on the k itchen table. I snapped some photos, took a breath, and offered these goods that were once so necessary, completely for free in a local Facebook mom’s group. Then, I took a much needed nap.

I woke up an hour (or two?) later to a screen of Facebook alerts from moms mak ing claims to my offerings. Within an hour, everything was packed, labeled in bags, and sitting in the lobby of my building, waiting to be picked up and brought to a new home.

I couldn’t believe how easy it was, and more importantly how good it felt. These possessions not only cluttered my family’s space, but they took up time and energy that could have been spent on more worthwhile tasks.

Organizing, cleaning, f itting them into our small apartment was draining. Assembling the

once vital bassinets and baby swings (many of which baby hate d) sucke d up t i me a nd caused unnecessary bickering between me and my husband.

Once baby arrived, he spent months indoors in zip up onesies and swaddle blankets. He could care less about a wipe warmer.

I also began to realize how little he/we actually needed.

The purging escalated as we prepared to move to our new home in Greenwich. Moving company prices surged due to the pandemic, so the Facebook giving continued. I posted small pieces of furniture, kitchenware and even a bed frame that was beautiful, but too clunky and expensive to move. Giving away what we no longer needed was therapeutic. I felt physically liberated and mentally cleansed.

For those who took my stuff, a need was met. There was value i n re-usi ng somet h i ng t hat would have otherwise sat in our new garage, or be put into the trash. I met very few receivers face to face. Yet, we were able to forge a connection, which is what so many of us craved during this time of isolation.

I joined Greenwich Fa c e b o ok g r oup s w h e n we got into town, again looking to connect to others. It was hard to get involved in a community during a time when we were supposed to be staying away from each other. So, I hung out with my baby and my virtual students, and pieced together our new home. I soon found that furniture from the apartment d id n’t a lw ays work i n t h i s house, and that my infant was now almost a toddler and had

help me declutter during the long days of lonely stir craziness, has grown into a virtual connection of members of my community focused on giving. For me, I don’t feel as alone anymore. Do these virtual connections replace a “Mommy and Me” toddler class?

No. I am still unable to be with my community in person. But their families… and who knows for now, posting about my latest what other acts of k indness Calico Critter giveaway or group will be there by the time this is chatting about the Coffee, Cards & published.

Kindness Drive will do just fine.

What started as a way to

We (the Facebook Group) began to prove that anyone can Pay it Forward, by just asking before buying or offering before trashing. no use for some of his stuff. My apartment purge led me to see that we as a family needed less.

My mindset had shifted. Maybe others could be enlightened, too.

A l a s , P a y i t Fo r w a r d – G r e e nw i c h ( T h e Fa c e b o o k Group) was born. I hastily threw it together and invited the few people I knew in town. I shared the group on other Greenwich pages. It grew. Then it grew some more. I gave away more baby stuf f. Household stuf f.

Other members started to post.

We began to prove that anyone can Pay it For ward, by just asking before buying or offering before trashing.

Soon, we were at over 1,400 members in a little over two months, and the g iv ing got bigger, and the community connections grew along with it. Baby clothes were passed from family to family; school shoe drives received over 300 pairs of donations; a teacher on family leave offered zoom tutoring sessions; a clothing drive gathered hundreds of items for domestic violence safe houses; thank you notes were written to essential workers. The group receives countless anonymous post requests from members in need who reached out to their community for help to make the holidays a little brighter for

Stephanie Fox proudly joins the Greenwich Sentential Columnists as an elementar y s c h o ol te a c h e r, a n e w c o m e r to Greenwich and a new mom. Receptive to any and all feedback, her innate capacit y for organization keeps Pay It Forward – Greenwich moving and grooving productively. Stephanie has a background in education, marketing & public relations, and writing/editing.

JSJ WINDOW TREATMENTS Serving Greenwich since 1989

HUNTER DOUGLAS ♦ GRABER® ♦ CONRAD SHADES ♦ DESIGNER FABRICS BLINDS

Free measuring & installation DRAPES SHUTTERS CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY

311 Hamilton Ave., Greenwich | 203-661-5123 | www.jsjwindowtreatments.com Showroom hours: Monday – Friday 10 – 5pm, Saturday 10 – 2pm

Wildly Successful

Unapologetic Might in this Tiny Song Bird

By Jim Knox

Would you believe me if I told you there is a pretty little songbird-an occasional visitor to Connecticut-which preys upon snakes (more than twice its size) and fellow songbirds alike? I know...it sounds like a bad sci-fi movie. As outlandish as it may sound, it’s absolutely true.

This animal causes us to rethink everything we thought we knew about wild creatures. Overlooked due its small size, and similar in appearance to a common native species, it is simultaneously baffling and amazing.

It would be hard to imagine a more incongruous pairing in nature than the fierce and bloodied reputation of raptors with the melodious song and beautiful plumage of songbirds. Yet, The Log gerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is nature’s chimera, incor porating the ag g ressive cunning of a true ambush hunter with the innocuous appearance of an attractive little perching bird.

Upon closer inspection, some of

Would you believe me if I told you there is a pretty little songbird--an occasional visitor to Connecticut--which preys upon snakes (more than twice its size) the shrike’s highly-specialized adaptations come into focus, revealing a creature with a very specific and highly effective design.

At a quick glance, it resembles a common Mockingbird. It even “mocks” or mimics other songbirds, but that’s where the similarities abruptly end. With a signature black “bandit’s mask”, gray cap and shoulders, black wings with

a white “handkerchief spot” and a bright white chin and underside, the Loggerhead Shrike is a striking bird.

Along with its slightly larger cousin, The Northern Shrike, which ranges to Canada and Alaska, this North American duo comprises 2 of the world’s 30 shrike species. Wherever they are found, shrikes distinguish themselves as sur prising yet exceptional predators. What defines

Astrology for Week of Dec. 13, 2020 SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec A Solar Eclipse in your sign indicates better times ahead. The crucial thing is that you believe you’re capable of anything as the one thing that might hold you back is self-doubt.

Forget past failures. It’s your future successes that count.

GEMINI 22 May-21 June Even a Gemini cannot be totally independent so if you feel you’re dancing to someone else’s tune you must accept this is one of those occasions when others are calling the shots. Just don’t automatically assume their decisions will be bad for you.

CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan This is a critical week for you as the Eclipse falls in the most sensitive area of your chart. It means you’ll be thinking about the direction your life is heading. Change is needed.

Change will bring success. But first you must get over your natural self-doubt.

CANCER 22 June-23 July If you get an offer this week you must snap it up. It will mean more work and more responsibility but you’re big enough to handle it and smart enough to know that if you don’t take it someone else will. But are you hungry enough to make a success of it?

AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb Friendships you make this week will last a lifetime, and make possible things that may not have been possible in the past. Even an Aquarius needs to be inspired and the people you meet in the days ahead will urge you to go further and higher than ever.

LEO 24 July-23 Aug Make sure the world knows who you are and what you are capable of. This week’s Eclipse is so well placed in your chart that even the tiniest effort at self-promotion will bring big opportunities – so think what might happen if you really sell yourself.

PISCES 20 Feb-20 March You’ll come under great pressure in the days ahead but it will inspire you to fight harder and accomplish great things. A midheaven Solar Eclipse indicates celebrity status.

The idea may alarm you now but you will thoroughly enjoy it in the future.

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept A Solar Eclipse in the home area of your chart makes this the time to smooth out any family issues.

But don’t wait for others to move first – it’s up to you to get things started, and people talking, and all bad feeling into the open where it can be dealt with.

ARIES 21 March-20 April If you have been thinking of following a different direction, this is the time to make serious plans. An Eclipse in your fellow Fire sign Sagittarius will help you to see that your dream is both possible and desirable – and closer than you think.

LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct You must make the effort to put your point of view across this week, especially in social situations where your way with words could open doors. They may either be doors you didn’t know were there, or ones that have been closed to you in the past.

TAURUS 21 April-21 May You know that if you are to reach your objective you’ll have to be ruthless with others and yourself.

Tomorrow’s Eclipse will help you focus on the big issue and make tough decisions. What you achieve next year depends entirely on what you do now.

SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov Scorpio is a money sign, and with this week’s Eclipse focussing on what you earn and own there’s a chance your wealth could increase in the days ahead. But don’t take anything for granted as this influence could also result in major losses.

Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com

them as hunters without peer?

Lacking the powerful killing feet and razor talons of its larger raptor cousins, the shrike boasts other adaptations which makes it every bit a predatory beast as far larger eagles, hawks, owls and falcons.

Though topping out at just 9 inches in length and a mere 2 ounces in weight, the shrike is compact and muscular with a proportionately larger head (Loggerhead) and beak than its songbird kin. It is the bird’s beak which confers a tremendous advantage in subduing prey. Possessing a pair of pointy projections known as “tomial teeth”, the bird puts them to use by seizing small vertebrates by the nape of the neck and crimping or severing the prey’s spinal cord, inducing paralysis.

According to zoologist and educator, Samuel Ansaldi, an expert who has reared these regionally endangered songbirds, the origin of the Loggerhead Shrike’s success as a peerless predator can be found in its physical adaptations, yet its behavioral strategy is what propels this fierce little beast to the top.

This behavioral strategy is one of sheer ferocity. Taking the fight to intruders to their nest sites regardless of size, a shrike pair is a force to avoid. The shrike’s Latin name, Lanius ludovicianus translates to “Louisiana Butcher”, referring to the bird’s behavior of impaling its prey conspicuously on thorns, spines and barbed wire, where it is voraciously consumed.

And this prey is not confined to the occasional cricket. Described

by Ansaldi as “calculating and bold”, the shrike’s ambush attacks and terrier-like shaking quickly overwhelm larger insects such as grasshoppers and mantids, as well as a long list of vertebrates including: salamanders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, shrews, voles, mice and even ground squirrels. Ounce for ounce, shrikes have few rivals and have been known to carry off prey larger than themselves.

Even within their strategy of ferocity, the shrike’s employ sub themes which speak to intelligence and innovation. They have been recorded: flashing their “handkerchief spots” to flush hiding prey into the open and hunting o n c o l d m o r n i n g s w h e n l ow temperatures slow their insect prey.

Even more calculating, they have been recorded impaling poisonous prey for up to three days--allowing the toxins to break down--before consuming them, and mimicking the songs of fellow songbirds, to lure them into range for a lightning ambush strike!

Yet, shrikes are more complex than their ruthless tactics may hint.

They are protective parents which tend to their large broods of up to 6 young with great diligence. Males will often present their mates with a variety of prey items, offering them both sustenance and choice.

They also store what their high metabolisms don’t immediately

demand, for future use in cache larders or “pantries”.

Yet, for reasons which are still unclear, this creature--an environmental indicator species-is suffering a population loss of 3% each year. With their preference for open habitat across the American south, it’s suspected that conversion of agricultural lands and the decadeslong buildup of pesticides in the food chain may be factors.

With the Loggerhead Shrike’s skill in balancing insect populations and culling sick and injured prey, their role in halting the spread of disease and parasites is an invaluable function which confers health to the ecosystems and species around them.

With unapologetic might and a seamless marriage of physical and behavioral adaptations, the Loggerhead Shrike fulf ills its role as an agent of balance and health to the world around it. With gifts they confer to our planet, some bold and some discrete, each creature offers something magnificent. With no finer teacher than the shrike, our challenge, and our treasure, is to discover what lies hidden between the bat of an eye and the beat of a wing.

Jim K nox is the Curator of Education at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and serves as a Science Adviser for The Bruce Museum. Jim has a passion for working with the world's wildlife and for sharing that work with audiences everywhere.

Sudoku: each row, column, and nonet can contain each number only once. Answers on page 12.

Easy

Easy

Hard

Hard

Very Hard

Very Hard

Page 17 | Greenwich Sentinel

Leisure Time

Our Winter Holiday List of Great Reads

By Emma Barhydt The air is frosty and snow is on its way. Slippers and blankets are everyday items and almost everyone curls up at the end of a long day by the fire or heater, waiting and longing for the perfect book to read. Well wait no more -- the Greenwich Sentinel has the perfect books for you to read this Holiday season!

the Hanukkah Goblins. Before Simon sails to A merica, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother k nows he w ill need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear.

Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night.

7 to 13

6 and Under

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

by Dr. Suess “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot . . . but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” Not since "'Twas the night before Christmas" has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable.

This heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit will grow even the coldest and smallest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is the perfect gift for readers young and old.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers.

Un iver s a l i n it s app e a l , t h i s story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter’s small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day.

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama

by Selina Alko Holiday time at Sadie's house me a n s golden gelt sp a rk l i ng under the Christmas tree, candy canes hanging on eight menorah branches, voices uniting to sing carols about Macabees and the manger, and latkes on the mantel awaiting Santa's arrival. Selina A l ko's j oyou s c e l e b r at i on o f blended families will make the perfect holiday read for the many Americans who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.

Dream Snow by Eric Carle F r om t he c r e at ive gen iu s who made The Ver y Hu ng r y Caterpillar comes an enchanting tale of a farmer on Christmas Eve who dreams of having a White Christmas with his animal friends.

Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale by Eric Kimmel Enjoy a Hanukkah tale full of wonder and miracles from the author of the classic Hershel and

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S Lewis Four adventurous siblings— P e t e r, S u s a n , E d m u n d , a n d Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

Nutcracked by Susan Adrian Georgie has waited for this moment her whole life--to dance the part of Clara in The Nutcracker ballet. And when she finally gets the part, it's like a dream come true… Literally. Every time Georgie dances with the Nutcracker doll, she leaves the ballet studio and enters a world where everything around her is larger than life. It's so magical, Georgie can't wait to return again and again. Then the Nutcracker's magic seeps into the real world, putting Georgie's friend in danger. Everything is falling apart, and it's almost Christmas!

Ca n G eorg ie save her f r iend, the Nutcracker, and most of all, herself?

Truce by Jim Murphy On July 29th 1914, the world's peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War. But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their "enemies"?

endearing Christmas tradition that would continue for the next 23 years. Tolkien began to write his four children letters from Father Christmas. These North Poles tales chiefly concern Father Christmas’ struggles against the north’s bat-riding goblins, as well as the mischievous hijinks of his helper, North Polar Bear.

previous experience with Victorian Christmas ghost stories has been Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Ca rol” w i l l b e su r pr ised a nd delighted at the astonishing variety of ghostly tales in this volume.

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Ro m a n c e s b y J o h n G r e e n , Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train, setting off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives.

Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle Ho u s e (a n d t h e h a sh b r ow n Hot Cocoa Holidays spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig

by Suzanne Nelson falls into the hands of a lovesick Emery Mason is not a fan of barista. the holidays. She's so over the tinsel, the shopping, and all the other trappings of the season.

Unfortunately, this year, Em is forced to work -- as an elf! -- at her parents' Santa photo booth at the mall. There, Em meets Alejandro Perez, who works at the hot cocoa shop next door and is always full of holiday spirit. Alex is cute, but he's nothing like Em's real crush -- the brooding and artistic Sawyer Kade.

But the more time Em spends with Alex, the more she realizes that she may not be the Grinch she always thought she was.

One Way or Another 14 - 17

by Kara McDowell The average person makes 35,000 decisions every single day.

That's about 34,999 too many for Paige Collins who lives in debilitating fear of making the wrong choice. That's why when Paige is presented with two lastminute options for Christmas vac at ion, she's pa ra ly z e d by indecision. Just when it seems like The Snow Queen by Hans Paige will crack from the pressure Christian Andersan of choosing, fate steps in -- in the One of Andersen's best-beloved form of a slippery grocery store tales, The Snow Queen is a story floor -- and Paige's life splits into about the strength and endurance two very different parallel paths. of childhood friendship. Gerda's However, before Paige gets her search for her playmate Kay–who happy ending in either destiny, was abducted by the Snow Queen she'll have to face the truth about and taken to her frozen palace– her struggle with anxiety -- and is brought to life in delicate and learn that you don't have to be evocative illustrations. "perfect" to deserve true love.

Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker Hiddensee imagines the back stor y of t he Nutcracker, revealing how this entrancing creature came to be carved and how he guided an ailing girl named Klara through a dreamy paradise on Christmas Eve. At the heart of Hoffmann's mysterious tale hovers Godfather Drosselmeier-the ominous, canny, one-eyed toy maker made immortal by Petipa a nd Tcha i kovsk y's fa i r y t a le ballet-- who presents the once and future Nutcracker to Klara, his goddaughter.

Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell is a beautiful gift edition containing two wintery short stories, decorated throughout for the first time with gorgeous black and white illustrations by Simini Blocker. Midnights is the story of Noel and Mags, who meet at the same New Year's Eve party every year and fall a little more in love each time . . . Kindred Spirits is about Elena, who decides to queue to see the new Star Wars movie and meets Gabe, a fellow fan.

One Day in December by Josie Silver Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one.

Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away. Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him.

College But she doesn't find him. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the #All IWantForChri st ma s by route to happiness.

Yesenia Vargas With Christmas Eve just around The Greatest Gift the corner, the perfect Christmas is by Phillip Van Doren Stern looking more impossible than ever.

Una ble at f irst to f ind a Ella’s prince charming is caught publisher for his evocative tale in a snowstorm. Lena is SO over about a man named George Pratt the holidays, she should change who ponders taking his own life her name to Scrooge. Harper’s a until he receives an opportunity hundred dollars short of making to see what the world would be ends meet for a family in need. like without him, Stern ultimately Rey’s forever alone while Tori’s published the story in a small more wrapped up in balloon colors pamphlet and sent it out as his than her own boyfriend. Will their 1943 Christmas card. One of those first Christmas as friends end up 200 cards found its way into the being a giant flop, or will Harper hands of Frank Capra, who shared prove to her friends that Christmas it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film miracles happen in more than just that resulted became the holiday Hallmark movies? tradition we cherish today.

Adults

unleashed and unnerving savagery of Ralphie’s duel in the show with the odious bullies Scut Farkas and Grover Dill; and, most crucially, Ralphie’s unstoppable campaign to get Santa—or anyone else—to give him a Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle. Who cares that the whole adult world is telling him, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”?

The Adults by Caroline Hulse Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that it would be best for their daughter, Scarlett, to have a “normal” family Christmas.

They can’t agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners.

But someone did—and it’s too late to pull the plug. Claire brings her new boyfriend, Patrick. Matt brings the new love of his life, Alex. Scarlett, who is seven, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He’s a giant rabbit.

Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Forced Fun Activities, drink a little too much after Scarlett’s bedtime, overshare classified secrets about their pasts . . . and before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends where this novel begins—with a tearful, frightened call to the police.

Winter Street

by Elin Hilderbrand Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can't get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley's second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus, utter chaos descends.

Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce In the early months of World War I, on Christmas Eve, men on both sides of the trenches laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. Despite orders to continue shooting, the unofficial truce spread across the front lines. Warring soldiers sang carols, and men on both sides shared food parcels from home.

They climbed from the trenches to meet in "No Man's Land" where they buried the dead, exchanged gifts, ate and drank together, and even played soccer.

A The Golden Compass

by Phillip Pullman Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal—including her friend Roger.

North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion Letters from Father Christmas as Roger or Asriel could want. But what Lyra doesn't know is that to

by J.R.R Tolkien In 1920, after Tolkien returned help one of them will be to betray from World War I, he began an the other...

T h e Va l a n c o u r t B o o k o f Victor ian Chr i st m a s Ghost Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle During the Victorian era, it became traditional for publishers of newspapers and magazines to print ghost stories during the Christmas season for chilling winter reading by the fireside or candlelight. Now for the first time thirteen of these tales are collected here, including a wide range of stories from a diverse group of authors, some well-known, others anonymous or forgotten. Readers whose only

A Christmas Story

by Jean Sheppard A Christmas Story gathers together in one hilarious volume the gems of autobiog raphical humor that Jean Shepherd drew upon to create the enduring film.

Here is young Ralphie Parker’s sh o c k i n g d i s c ove r y t h at h i s decoder ring is really a device to promote Ovaltine; his mother and father’s pitched battle over the fate of a lascivious leg lamp; the

Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens To end our list, we recommend Dickens's classic story, A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD Deborah Ference-Gray

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD MASTHEAD DASHBOARD EDITOR

Mark Pruner | Mark@GreenwichStreets.com | mark@bhhsne.com

DASHBOARD CONTRIBUTORS

One Pickwick Plaza Greenwich, CT 06830

Robert Pulitano | RobertPulitano@bhhsne.com Cesar Rabillino | CesarRabellino@bhhsne.com Pam Toner | PamToner@bhhsne.com

Office: 203.618.3155 Mobile: 917.584.4903

For Market Updates and Listings Visit deborahferencegray.com

FEATURED OPEN HOUSES

deborah.ferencegray@sothebyshomes.com

Data Compiled by Rob Pulitano [203] 561-8092

NEW LISTINGS

Address

Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address

1525 Putnam Avenue 107 98 Valley Road 2

List Price

Price/SqFt

SqFt

AC

BR

FB

Area

$295,500

$422

700

0

1

1

Old Greenwich

$549,000

1,204

0

2

1

Cos Cob

1,400

2

2 South of Post Road

0.16 4

4 Putnam Hill 1F

$595,000

$456 $425

16 Weaver Street 3 Georgetowne North 3 58 Moshier Street

$949,000

$545

1,740

$989,000

$425

2,328

$1,150,000

$357

2 Walker Court

$1,175,000

$452

99 Loughlin Avenue

$1,175,000

51 Forest Avenue 30

2

Pemberwick

3

2

Glenville

2

Glenville

3

Glenville

$519

3,223 0.24 4 2,599 0.28 5 2,264 0.19 3

2

Cos Cob

$1,225,000

$539

2,271

0

3

2

Old Greenwich

8 Norias Road

$1,520,000

$698

2,178

0.46

4

2 South of Post Road

14 Patricia Lane

$2,395,000

$555

4,312

1

4

3

Cos Cob

4 Keofferam Road

$2,495,000

$734

3,398

0.37

5

3

Old Greenwich

341 Shore Road

$2,975,000

$1,015

2,932

0.42

5

4 South of Post Road

124 Lockwood Road

$3,375,000

$689

4,895 0.32

5

5

Riverside

11 Deer Park Court

$6,495,000

$901

7,209

2.3

6

6

South Parkway

0

Featured House of the Week 70 Old Mill Road

Area

Price

Day/Time

Broker

301 River West Greenwich $3,400 Sat 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 301 River West Greenwich $3,400 Sun 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 25 Indian Harbor Dr, #7 Greenwich $4,900 Sat 11-12:15 PM Douglas Elliman 58 Moshier St Greenwich $5,950 Sun 1-3 PM Coldwell Banker Realty 1525 E Putnam Ave #107 Old Greenwich $295,500 Sun 1:30-3:30 PM Sotheby's 98 Valley Road #2 Cos Cob $549,000 Sun 1-3 PM Coldwell Banker Realty 301 River West Greenwich $695,000 Sat 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 301 River West Greenwich $695,000 Sun 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 58 Moshier Street Greenwich $1,150,000 Sun 1-3 PM Coldwell Banker Realty 10 Brook Drive Greenwich $1,265,000 Sun 1-3 PM Sotheby's 84 Hunting Ridge Road Greenwich $1,499,000 Sat 12:30-2 PM Douglas Elliman 20 Shore Road Old Greenwich $1,695,000 Sat 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 20 Shore Road Old Greenwich $1,695,000 Sun 1-3 PM Berkshire Hathaway 27 Linwood Avenue Riverside $2,650,000 Sun 1-3 PM Sotheby's 3 Juniper Lane Riverside $2,845,000 Sun 1-3 PM Houlihan Lawrence 282 Round Hill Road Greenwich $3,750,000 Sun 1-3 PM Sotheby's 70 Old Mill Road Greenwich $4,695,000 Sun 1-3 PM Sotheby's 702 Steamboat Road #3 Greenwich $4,950,000 Sun 12-2 PM Coldwell Banker Realty 18 Lower Cross Road Greenwich $6,995,000 Sun 11-2 PM Berkshire Hathaway

NEW SALES

Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866

Bordered by conservation land and handsome stone walls, this immaculately maintained property provides much coveted privacy and peaceful green space. This gracious stone front colonial is surrounded by the beauty of nature on 5 acres of level, park-like grounds. There is so much to enjoy both inside and out, from the gourmet kitchen and sunny family room to the flagstone patio and sweeping deck with tree top views - a picture perfect backdrop for all your entertaining! Four levels of living space boast high ceilings, custom millwork, oversized windows and mahogany wood f loors. This bright, inviting home is a turn-key treasure! Visit www.70OldMillRd.com

Offered by: Ellie Sullivan Ellie.Sullivan@sothebyshomes.com 845-304-8630 & Jill Tighe Kelly Jill.Kelly@sothebyshomes.com 203-536-6280 $4,695,000 | 6 bedrooms | 8 baths | 3 half baths 11,000 square feet Public Open House Sunday December 13th from 1pm to 3pm.

Address

Original List

List Price

Sold Price DOM BR FB Acres

SqFt

75 Cos Cob Avenue 2 5 Putnam hill Road 2C 36 Greenwich Hills Dr 112 Pemberwick Road 11 Seton Lane 9 Cottage Place 34 Greenwich Hills Dr 59 Summit Road 6 Pleasant View Place 20 Church Street B61 261 Cognewaugh Road 2 Sound View Terrace 7 Gerald Court 20 Scott Road 37 Stag Lane 19 Azalea Terrace 51 Hidden Brook Road 38 Taconic Road 67 Circle Drive 9 End Avenue 3 Lockwood Avenue 4 Sound Shore Drive 2A 26 Meadow Lane 99 Park Avenue 135 Milbank Avenue East 8 Hill Lane Avenue 20 End Avenue 11 Turner Drive 29 Doubling Road 100 Meadow Wood Drive 31 Rock Ridge Avenue

$535,000 $759,000 $769,000 $759,000 $749,000 $839,000 $859,000 $929,000 $1,100,000 $1,190,000 $1,125,000 $1,395,000 $1,195,000 $1,349,000 $1,435,000 $1,445,000 $1,780,000 $2,199,000 $1,999,999 $2,050,000 $2,495,000 $2,850,000 $3,400,000 $3,895,000 $3,295,000 $3,995,000 $4,295,000 $6,295,000 $6,750,000 $8,550,000 $10,750,000

$539,000 $759,000 $749,000 $759,000 $749,000 $815,000 $859,000 $929,000 $1,100,000 $1,095,000 $1,125,000 $1,370,000 $1,195,000 $1,349,000 $1,435,000 $1,445,000 $1,680,000 $1,899,000 $1,999,999 $1,990,000 $2,395,000 $2,850,000 $3,010,000 $3,450,000 $3,295,000 $3,500,000 $4,295,000 $5,845,000 $6,750,000 $8,550,000 $9,500,000

$540,000 $705,000 $719,000 $743,000 $749,000 $792,000 $847,500 $870,000 $975,000 $1,000,000 $1,135,000 $1,175,000 $1,195,000 $1,349,000 $1,375,000 $1,445,000 $1,550,000 $1,800,000 $1,900,000 $1,920,000 $2,200,000 $2,500,000 $3,010,000 $3,270,000 $3,300,000 $3,500,000 $3,900,000 $5,800,000 $6,100,000 $8,550,000 $8,700,000

1,362 1,300 1,408 1,550 1,643 1,001 1,971 1,436 1,513 1,858 2,631 2,520 2,399 2,864 2,403 2,728 2,175 4,868 4,386 4,201 2,461 3,072 6,996 4,144 5,000 4,419 6,586 9,185 9,026 7,963 11,105

270 70 343 153 46 201 12 24 18 260 54 215 36 7 30 14 64 178 83 80 138 215 28 177 88 116 21 347 137 0 115

3 2 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 5 4 3 4 5 3 4 5 6 4 3 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 6

1 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 8

0 0 0.12 0.28 0.07 0 0.29 0.36 0 1.01 0.17 0.22 0.42 6.7 1.02 0.33 3.09 0.45 0.27 0.29 0 2.75 0.63 0.3 0.54 0.55 1.04 2.8 0.89 2

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY 2020 Old Greenwich Village First Light Holiday Celebration Postponed Our Old Greenwich Team will truly miss seeing you all at First Light and serving you chili and assorted goodies this year!

In lieu of our participation in this event, we will be donating those funds to Neighbor to Neighbor.

Coldwell Banker has generously agreed to match our contributions.

We invite the whole Greenwich community to join us in giving to those in need.

Link to donate or QR code below.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/colban/ Neighbor-to-Neighbor is a nonprofit organization serving residents in need throughout the greater Greenwich area. They improve lives by providing for the exchange of food, clothing and basic living essentials in an atmosphere of kindness and respect.

SUPPORT A WORTHY CAUSE

YOUR GIFT – IN ANY AMOUNT – IS PRICELESS

The Old Greenwich Team | 203.637.1300 Jane Owen Brash • Laura Calabrese • Susan Calabrese • Pat Cameron • Jackie Chamandy • Trish Clark • Jean Dana • Emile de Neree Cynthia De Riemer • Margaret Dietz • Diane Dutcher • Russ Dutcher • Shanna Fischer • Cristy Fraser • Nora Giovati • Sheila Goggin Liz Johnson • Michelle Luksic • Brid Mortamais • Erin Murphy • Sally Parris • Cliff Paulson • Diana Whyte

ColdwellBankerHomes.com 278 Sound B e ach A ven u e | O l d G reen wi ch , C T 0 6 8 7 0 • 6 6 Fi el d Po i n t R o ad | G r e e n w i c h , CT 0 6 8 3 0

Moshe Niv | Senior VP of Mortgage Lending CELL: 310.863.7290 | p: 203.974.1707 | f: 727.509.8662 Moshe.Niv@grarate.com | www.grarate.com/mosheniv NMLS #486125 EQUAL HOUSING LENDER | © 2020 Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC | 1800 W. Larchmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60613 | NMLS ID 1598647 | NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) Coldwell Banker and Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC share common ownership and because of this relationship the brokerage may receive a financial or other benefit. You are not required to use Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC as a condition of purchase or sale of any real estate.

Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty and Coldwell Banker Devonshire are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.