April 24, 2020

Page 1

ECRWSS

April 24, 2020

Subscribe today for home delivery to your door every week! www.GreenwichSentinel.com/subscribe

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

B ack Cou nt r y | B a n k sv ille | B elle Haven | By ra m| Ch icka hom iny | Cos Cob | Glenv ille | Old Gr e enw ich | Pem b er w ick | R iverside | B e d for d, N Y

Hospital Participating in Plasma Therapy Trial

Subscribe 5 THINGS Sign Up for the Incredibly Popular Top 5 Things To Do in Greenwich Today Send your email address to Beth@ GreenwichSenintel. com and we'll add you to the list OR got to www. GreenwichSentinel. com and enter it there. Simple.

Sentinel Information SUBSCRIBERS Delivery questions or changes, contact: Tom at thomas@ maninmotionllc.com or call 203-515-2288 GREENWICH ANNOUNCEMENTS These are free. Weddings & engagements; local, boarding or university school achievements; births; Letters to the Editor; obituaries. There is no charge for local announcements. Contact Beth at Beth@ GreenwichSentinel.com

By Richard Kaufman Until a vaccine for the coronavirus is found, which could take anywhere between 12-18 months to develop according to top U.S. health officials, effective treatments, therapeutics and increased testing will be key. Earlier this week, it was announced that 10 Greenwich Hospital patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 have received plasma therapy, an experimental treatment that involved blood plasma from people who have recovered from the disease. Greenwich Hospital is participating in a nationwide clinical trial overseen by the Mayo Clinic, which was designated as the lead investigative institution by the federal government, to administer what is known as convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. Plasma is the f luid part of the blood left once the red cells, white cells and platelets are separated. Dr. James Sabetta, Chief of Staff and

Director of Infectious Diseases at Greenwich Hospital, is the study's principal investor in Greenwich. "In theory, the plasma contains protective antibodies that can transfer immunity to the coronavirus from a patient who had COVID-19 to someone who is suffering with the disease," Sabetta said in a statement from Yale New Haven Health earlier this week. "The patients who have received the plasma are still in the hospital recovering." Dr. Tom Balcezak, Chief Clinical Officer for Yale New Haven Health System, said everyone is waiting for answers on plasma therapy. He noted that it has worked in treating other diseases, such as SARS and Ebola, but coronavirus is different. "This disease has some interesting features to it, including the fact that the immune response in some individuals actually causes the disease to be worse. All hospitals within the Yale New Haven

System and many other hospitals across the state of Connecticut and in the United States have entered into this trial," Balcezak said. Plasma is being collected locally in the New York and Rhode Island blood centers. "We are all participating in this together as really a national trial to see if it will work, and if so, what are the parameters to give the plasma, and what are the parameters when not to give the plasma?" Balcezak added. To q u a l i f y f o r t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l treatment, “patients must have a severe or life threatening infection with COVID-19 or be judged to be at high risk of progression to life threatening disease,” said Sabetta. Patients or their families must also give informed consent. Sabetta noted that the ability to offer the treatment is dependent on the limited supply of plasma. Pla n s a r e c u r r ent ly u nder way to screen recovered patients who were tested at Greenwich Hospital to determine if they can register as potential COVID convalescent plasma donors with the New York Blood Center. While it w ill take some time to u n d e r s t a n d i f c o nv a l e s c e nt p l a s m a therapy is of benefit, preliminary data is encouraging, according to Balcezak. "There's a little bit of data that suggests that in very severely ill patients, that it might work," Balcezak said. "It's not the gold standard, but it's encouraging and a little bit of encouraging news given the fact that there are no treatments yet for this disease. It's very welcome." Greenw ich Fi rst Selectma n, Fred Camillo, pointed out that plasma therapy

La Taqueria on the Ave. Farms & Markets

Opening On Time

Take Out Review

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CT NOFA has partnered with the CT Dept of Agriculture to expand the list of farms, farmers' markets, and farm stands beyond the current CT NOFA membership free of charge and online. It is a joint effort to promote the availability of all Connecticut farmers who can provide food and other farm products in this time of crisis. Go to: https://guide.ctnofa.org/ to see what is opne right now. Greenwich can also look forward to our regular farms and farmers markets opening on time. Check back here for specific locations and times next week.

EVENTS Charity events, religious events, sporting events, community events, all local events. Contact Caroll at Editor@ GreenwichSentinel.com ADVERTISING Contact: Peter at Peter@ GreenwichSentinel. com; call 203-485-0226; or buy online at www. GreenwichSentinel.com/ Advertise SPORTS All sporting events and news. Contact Paul at Paul@ GreenwichSentinel.com STORIES All story ideas. Contact the Publisher at Publisher@ GreenwichSentinel.com COLUMNISTS All columnists and community involvment stories. Contact Jenny at CommunityImpact@ GreenwichSentinel.com VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSES The Sentinel is accepting virtual open houses as part of our 5 Things emails on Sundays and on our website. Contact Peter@ GreenwichSentinel.com

DONATIONS Donations to the Greenwich Sentinel Foundation can be made here: https://secure. anedot.com/sentinel_ foundation/donate

was used during the pandemic of 1918. "Plasma therapy is one of several things that we hear is going to be tried [with coronavirus], and we pray it's met with success. Let's hope it's widely successful," Camillo said. "In the meantime, while people are working hard to find treatments and vaccinations, all we can do is keep our distance and keep following the protocols to make sure this thing slows down." Increased testing, specif ically for antibodies to coronavirus, will also remain a key component in the battle of coronavirus, especially as states begin plans to reopen. "Antibody testing will be important in determining the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic infections. The key question will be, does a positive antibody test represent immunity or protection against future infection? This is not known," said Dr. Gavin McLeod, from Greenwich Hospital's Department of Infectious Disease. "All new tests need time to become more precise and accurate. For example, antibody testing for HIV and Hepatitis C needed years to improve the sensitivity and specificity," he added. "As an initial step, having antibody testing for this virus will help determine the scope of infections and provide a starting point for further research and improved knowledge of COVID-19." Balcezak said that Yale New Haven Health is just starting to bring antibody testing on-line. "Our laboratory is working very hard to be able to do that. I anticipate we should be able to provide laboratory antibody testing here, I'd say probably within the week or so," he said.

Affirm, Affirm, Affirm

By Emma Barhydt Just over eig ht months after opening its doors, I have frequented La Taqueria more times than I care to admit. La Taqueria has become an almost week ly (a nd occasiona l ly biweekly) stop for myself and my best friend. This isn’t a surprise, as anyone who has tasted the food from La Taqueria knows exactly how good it is. I must admit, when my parents invited me to the opening of another Mexican restaurant, I was highly skeptical. Personally I’m not a huge fan of tacos, avocados, spicy food, or really Mexican food in general, so I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic (and when I found out that it wasn’t just a Mexican restaurant, it was specif ically a taqueria… forget it). I was already in a sour mood, but I agreed to go with my overly cheerful family to this new taco place. I stepped through the doors, looked at the menu completely unsure of what to order. I was out of my element and the place was packed. I ended up ordering a Veggie Taco and the Fish Taco, and a strawberry Jarritos soda. My parents and I found a little spot in the back corner and to my surprise the wall across from me was covered in Frida Khalo style f lowers. That detail seemed so carefully chosen that it actually snapped me out of my mood. By the time the guac and chips got to our table, I was even smiling. My mother inspired me to try the guacamole (“you’ll actually like it this time, I promise”). I was feeling

GreenwichFirst.com NMLS # 510513

adventurous so I took a bite. Low and behold, I was wrong (for the first time ever). The guacamole was more delicious than I could ever hope to describe with mere words. Dennis Lake has created a guacamole at La Taqueria that isn’t just a food, it’s an experience. The creamy, rich, and pure avocado flavor shines through with a hint of time and goes perfectly with the crispy and salty homemade chips. After devouring the guac, I was both nervous and excited for the tacos to come out. I was not disappointed. Rather than the traditional yellow corn hardshell taco, these tacos came on a soft, blue corn tortilla that held its own against the absolute f lavor explosion that are the tacos at La Taqueria. W hen I say my m i nd was blown, I’m not kidding. These tacos changed my entire word view. Gone were the days when Mexican food meant semi-soggy quesadillas, no. Mexican food was redef ined for me forever, and I was officially a believer. Since that fateful day, I’ve had more tacos than just the veggie and the fish -- and all were fabulous -- but I keep coming back to those two. I can’t pick a favorite between them, and please don’t make me (it’s like picking your favorite child). On most menus, the vegetarian option is more of an afterthought than anything else, but here it’s the star. I would say that the veggie taco is one of the most flavorful dishes on the menu. The unique blend of f lavors creates a masterful symphony that leaves you both satisfied and looking forward to

the next time you get to eat it! The fish taco is amazing. The fish is perfectly crispy, just a little spicy, and topped with sweet purple cabbage. The f ish is perfectly flaky, and the flavor combination is unique and incredible. The tacos are phenomenal, but the desserts really take the cake. For only having three simple desserts on the menu, La Taqueria covers a wide range of flavors. The first dessert is the tres leche. Perfectly creamy and with a refreshing lightness, the tres leche is the perfect summer dessert. The flan is bouncy and rich with a sweet caramel taste (and my best friend’s favorite). The chocolate chip cookie is just wow. Crumbly and chewy with a hint of cinnamon and a rich and deep f lavor profile. My friend and I have aptly dubbed this cookie the “giggle cookie” since every time you take a bite you can’t help but giggle. It’s just that good. I can happily say that eight months later, every dish from La Taqueria somehow manages to get better every time I eat there. If you’re looking for a light bite; the perfect menu for a date night; a family meal; brunch, lunch or dinner; or a late night snack, La Taqueria is perfect for any occasion. However, La Taqueria would not be nearly as successful without the warmth a nd de d ication of its creator Dennis Lake. Dennis Lake’s hard work and genius menu has created a warm and fun atmosphere. He has put so much thought and effort into La Taqueria, that it is impossible not to enjoy yourself while you’re there.

EXPERT LENDERS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY

To contribute to the Greenwich Hospital Foundation, visit giving.greenhosp.org.

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT By the time our children turn 18, they have absorbed everything we have taught or modeled for them. They can predict how we would respond to most questions or statements. They can mimic us mercilessly. We have tried to praise their efforts rather than their outcomes. We have tried to make our boundaries few and firm, and our consequences f it the crime. We have tried to raise children who feel empowered, but not entitled. It has been exhausting and exhilarating. The good news is that after age 18, unless we see behavior that is immoral, illegal, or dangerous, our job is to affirm, affirm, affirm. Parents worry about their children’s choices of mates, jobs, and behaviors. Our kids will choose mates not on our short list, have jobs that didn’t exist when we were their age, and behave in ways that surprise us. They have seen how we handle relationships, careers, and integrity issues. It is time to affirm their own abilities to make decisions, handle problems, and choose a good partner. Our fear does them no good. Our affirmation quiets our fearful brains and theirs—and helps them figure out their next steps. When Tyler was a high school senior, his father thought he wasn’t working up to his academic potential. They fought constantly and sought counseling. What Tyler needed was his dad’s affirmation that he was a hard worker, capable of doing whatever he set his mind to. When Dad learned to high- light his son’s successes, their relationship improved, and his son was motivated to pursue his own dreams. Greenwich resident Jill Woolworth is the author of the book, The Waterwheel available locally at Diane's Books.

Cos Cob – 203.629.8400

444 East Putnam Avenue  Cos Cob, CT 06807

stamford – 203.413.6101

900 Summer Street  Stamford, CT 06905

Port Chester – 914.908.5444

500 Westchester Ave.  Port Chester, NY 10573


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.