ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2475 Providence, RI
FRIDAY, January 24, 2020
Get your local news! Subscribe today at www.GreenwichSentinel.com/subscribe
$1.75
Postal 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
Harry Arora is the Newest Greenwich State Representative
Community Calendar Begins on Page 2 News briefs on Page 3 include:
A Bold Come Back by the Harbor Seal In recent years, Harbor Seals have been spotted: ha ng i ng out on Fa i r f ield County harbor police docks, 37 miles up the Connecticut R ive r on We sley a n University’s Crew boat ramp, and even lounging on the hulls of nuclear submarines at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton. See page 5.
The Attitude of Gratitude According to Summer A l le n’s r ep or t on M a r ch 5 , 2 01 8 , “A f t e r 1 5 y e a r s of research we know that g ratitude is a key to psychological well-being. Gratitude can make people h a p p i e r, i m p r o v e t h e i r relationships, and potentially even counteract depression. But the benefits of gratitude go beyond that.” See page 5.
Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind Being organized can give you peace of mind. Clearing physica l clutter can help clear mental clutter, which is anything that keeps you from thinking clearly and makes you distracted. See page 5.
Setting Up for Children A classroom can be i nv it i ng , i nspi r i ng a nd a place where true learning takes place while presenting a positive image of the child. See page 6.
Cam Atkinson's New Groove Although Columbus Blue Jackets forward and Greenw ich native Cam Atkinson had a slow start to the 2019-20 season, the forward was starting to find his groove. See page 11 sports.
Real Estate Greenwich changed last year, and if the trends we saw in 2019 continue we could see some major shake ups in housing values. Three areas that had done well the last several years, did not do well last year. In Glenville, Riverside and particularly Cos Cob, we saw a drop in sales and prices. At the same time, we saw sales and prices in Old Greenwich continue to rise and a jump in sales in backcountry Greenwich. See page 15.
Harry and Nisha Arora
By Paul Silverfarb Republican Harry Arora will be spending a lot more time in Hartford this year. During Tuesday’s special election in Greenwich to find a new state representative of the 151st House District seat, it was Arora that came out on top defeating Democrat Cheryl Trepp Moss. In the race to replace longtime state representative in the 151st House District Fred Camillo, Arora picked up almost 55% of the votes, totaling 2,345. Moss finished with 1,965 votes. “I would like to thank all the residents of the district who trusted me with this very i mpor ta nt responsi bi lit y,” Arora said. “I feel a strong responsibility to so many people and promise that I will do my job with complete sincerity and to the best of my ability. That’s the most important thing for me to communicate.” Arora said that while he
picked up 55% of the vote during Tuesday’s special election, he represents everyone. “I just don’t have a responsibility to the people that voted for me,” Arora said. “I have a responsibility to everybody in the district and their interests in Hartford. I feel the weight of that responsibility and I feel that I have to make sure I do everything right and deliver for them as well.” Arora, originally from India, came to the United States for his graduate work, graduating from both the University of Texas and Harvard University. According to his biography, A rora is a macro -investor who invests in commodities, currencies and equities. He analyzes the macro environment, supply demand of commodities and the geopolitical environment to ident if y broad invest ment themes and opportunities. “This feeling is
tremendous,” Arora said. “It’s the feeling of how powerful our country and our system is and how vibrant our town is. It doesn’t matter if you grew up here or moved here. The residents of this town want people who are committed, people who have merit, and people with ideas that resonate. That embrace that I felt was tremendous.” Arora will take over the seat that has been occupied by Fred Camillo for the past 11 years. Camillo gave up his seat when he was voted in as Greenwich’s First Selectman. Camillo has gone on the record to endorse Arora and the newest occupant of the 151st District seat couldn’t be more grateful. “Fred has not only endorsed me but has also served as a mentor in many ways,” Arora said. “He has been in politics much longer than I have and that’s why his endorsement meant so much. Fred, like so
By Tom Williamson This year's super bowl is in Miami and, lucky for Greenwich residents, no one knows travel in Miami better than our own local company, BLADE. BLADE is pioneering a new market in luxury air transportation that lands somewhere between a private jet of your own and commercial flights. With a primary location in Miami, BLADE is uniquely poised to manage no hassle air transportation into and out of their Miami lounge, the closest landing point to the Super Bowl venue. At Super Bowl LIV traffic is likely to be at an all-time high, restaurant options will be scarce, and attendees will spend most of their time trying to get to their destination instead of actually enjoying the game festivities. BLA DEone jets are retrof itted B om b a r d ier CRJ 2 0 0 s , t y pic a l ly conf igured to accommodate 60 passengers, masterfully re-imagined to seat just 16 guests. Just one of the options is to depart Jan. 31st from Westchester, returning directly from the BLADE Lounge in Miami for a 1:30 AM post-game departure home to Westchester. This year, the Super Bowl is more than just a game—it's a peek into the future. For more information: 844-flyblade or brady@f lyblade.com or visit the B L A DE we b s i t e a t : w w w. b l a d e . flyblade.com.
Column: On My Watch
Reflections Upon Suffering a Common Cold By Anne W. Semmes So, into everyone’s life comes the common cold. I have it on high authority, it is our most common medical complaint. That doesn’t make it any easier to bear, and I’m running out of Kleenex. I’ve missed a favorite priest’s presenting “ The Bi ble i n 60 M i nutes,” a Sunday walk in the park in rare sunshine, and what about all those anticipated events on my weekly calendar? Suddenly, that story comes to mind, “Sinatra Has A Cold.” I find it, between sneezes, online, circa Esquire 1966. “Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint, Ferrari without fuel—only worse,” writes Gay Talese. “For the common cold robs Sinatra of that uninsurable jewel, his voice, cutting into the core of his confidence, and it affects not only his own psyche but also seems to cause a kind of psychosomatic nasal drip within dozens of people who work for him, drink with him, love him, depend on him for their own welfare and stability. A Sinatra with a cold can, in a small way, send vibrations through the entertainment industry and beyond as surely as a President of the United States, suddenly sick, can shake the national economy.” Well, this is one way to get a perspective. My cold has a bit more limited effecting range. My children are grown, and grandchildren well cared for, and my writing deadlines are under control. So, there’s time to read and reflect, while downing gallons of water. A book that had appeal, found in “BookPage,” a library handout was. “Cosy, The British Art of Comfort.” Having lived in England, I’m ready for somebody to bring back that “patchwork quilt” of tea and crumpets, fireside chats and country walks. But, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) review of “Elderhood” by Louise Aronson, brought dire statistics: “Half of all adult Americans over 65 will have
Down with a cold, one reads, reflects, and drinks tea. some form of arthritis. Immunity from infection and disease lessons with advancing age.” But new studies show, “life…begins at 60,” when most people “achieve levels of well-being comparable to those of twenty-year-olds, and rates climb thereafter.” Add “one of the new clichés of the current age, 70 is the new 50,” with 90 the new 120!
service, Bill gave us all something to live by. In a letter he wrote not long ago to a “dear friend,” he writes, “On the personal side of things, I did learn, when I got sick, to prioritize things. Put down what is most important to you, whatever that may be, and make it most important. Shed other things. It’s a good idea to do every once in a while, even if you are not sick. The next thing is to keep at it, try not to let things creep back in. Take care of yourself.”
Your Mental Health
Resent-o-Meter
gathering for retiring naturalist Ted Gilman at Audubon Greenwich on Saturday. There were recent travel sharings of Borneo with its not too distant history of cannibalism. Of family travels to the less traveled souther n most reg ion of New Zealand, where I have been invited to go visit a stepbrother but can’t quite commit to going down under.
So, there’s time to read and reflect, while downing gallons of water. " Most a stou nd i ng w a s t he WSJ prof ile of Colin O’Brady, that 39-year explorer, endurance w underk ind who traversed Antarctica alone in 53 days. Talk about experiencing cold, “On an early night of his trek, when his sled was too heavy…he was crying tears that froze on his face.” But its what he reveals in his new memoir, Impossible First: From Fire to Ice – Crossing Antarctica Alone that shows what literally fired him up for such a challenge. O’Brady has also climbed the highest mountain on all seven continents. This is the kind of travel I heard about at the celebratory
at Giverny. Yes, amazing what can be done in life if one perseveres. Reflecting back to the memorial service held recently global energy investor and benefactor Bill Macaulay, who died age 73, we learned he had had a heart attack at age 38 and was given five years to live. Bill then set about making a plan to survive. He stuck to his regimen and led an extraordinary life I addressed in an earlier column. In a family ref lection in the
I could only share the recent travels of my wildlife photographer daughter, Melissa Groo, currently in search of a rare bird on an island off of Chile. I did get to Giverny and points off the coast of France last week sitting in a seat at the Avon Theater in Stamford watching a splendid documentary f ilm of the life of Claude Monet. The film, “I, Claude Monet,” masterfully tells Monet’s story in his own words taken from his letters, and then narrated. We learn via the visually captivating images of the great, long struggle Monet experienced arriving finally in that glorious garden he created
By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT
Resentment is a blinking yellow light that indicates a change is needed. When we feel resentful, either someone is pushing against our boundaries, or we feel entitled to something unrealistic, such as a perfect (fill in the blank). Pay attention to resentment: don’t wish it away. It will not disappear or evaporate. We store it in our bodies. Long-term resentment, expressed outwardly, ultimately leads to verbal or physical explosions; expressed inwardly, it leads to various forms of self-harm, including depression. Do you need to clarify a boundary? Or change an entitled attitude? Brandon and Chris had young children. Every year they invited Brandon’s mother to visit for three weeks. Grandma tended to overrule Chris and dote on her son, and she was critical of the couple’s parenting and lifestyle. This led to Brandon and Chris fighting most nights in their bedroom. With coaching, the couple was able to set clearer bound- aries with Grandma: she was to affirm both parents, sup- port their parenting, offer no unsolicited advice, and make visits shorter. Their family and their marriage benefited. Grandma adjusted. Jill Woolworth is the author of the book, The Waterwheel available locally at Diane's Books and Dogwood or at Amazon.
Frank J. Gaudio
Evan R. Corsello
203.302.4375
203.302.4003
President & CEO
Chief Lending Officer
C A L L U S T O D AY EXPERT LENDERS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL NMLS # 510513
Port Chester – 914.908.5444 500 Westchester Avenue
Cos Cob – 203.629.8400 444 E. Putnam Avenue
ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY
Healthier Food Options for GPS; More Water Leaks at GHS Gym; Sacred Heart names New Head of School; Eversource Construction to Close Exit 4; Special Election Winner; Blood Drive; Rating for Greenwich; Recent Deaths.
Blade Wraps Up Super Bowl
many people in this community, has helped me in this campaign and helped shape the political dialogue that we are having. I am quite excited that this is not about me. It’s about the community. I’m just leading the charge, but it’s not my charge. The reason we won is because it’s very clear that people here want a change of policy. We now have to get to work.” As Arora said during his campaign, the most important item once he gets settled in at the State Capitol is to launch a growth plan for Connecticut, a set of policies that will turn the tide and begin attracting students and businesses into the Nutmeg State. “The growth plan is going to h ave v a r i o u s e l e m e nt s to it , i nclud i n g at t rac t i n g investments,” Arora said. “But now we have to work on the details and that’s what the priority is going to be.” A r o r a s a i d t h a t h e ’s going to try and implement pie ce s of t he g row t h pla n now, acknowledging that as a republican in the minority it will be difficult. “I do think that it will be tough,” Arora said. “It will be hard to try and sell this to people who do not believe in growth." He went on to say that, "We have to put forward a comprehensive growth plan ... so t hat i nstead of b ei ng a place where people are f leeing and finding it hard to live and to work, we are the attractive destination. We want Connecticut to be a place where it’s great to raise your family, to build your business, and to succeed.”
ANNE W. SEMMES PHOTO
What's Inside
Stamford – 203.413.6101 900 Summer Street
Page 2 | Greenwich Sentinel
yourCOMMUNITYcalendar mmartin@greenwichlibrary.org 7 - 8:30 p.m. New Year Tales with GBC Youth Coordinator, Jen Behette. Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible St. $5-$30. 203-869-9242. info@greenwichbotanicalcenter.org. greenwichbotanicalcenter.org SATURDAY, JAN. 25 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Greenwich Audubon Center: Stratford Birding Tour: Snow Birds and Sea Ducks. Audubon Connecticut at Stratford Point, 1207 Prospect Dr., Stratford. Free. RSVP is requested. 203-930-1351. Ryan.MacLean@audubon.org 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Stop & Shop’s Marty the Robot 1st Birthday Party birthday cake, crafts for kids and giveaways. Stop & Shop stores. martyatstopandshop.com 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Tai Chi for Adults with Ken Dolan. Byram Shubert Library - Community Room, 21 Mead Ave. Free. 203-531-0426. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Science Saturday (Ages 5-8). Greenwich Library - Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Registration recommended. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Drop-in Computer Lab. Greenwich Library Health Information Center, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. 203-625-6560. trainingcenter@ greenwichlibrary.org 12 - 12:45 p.m. Greenwich Historical Society Gallery Tours. 47 Strickland Rd. Free with admission. (Every Wed & Sat). 203-869-6899. greenwichhistory.org 6 - 9 p.m. 6th Grade Lunar New Year Celebration. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. 203-629-5744. info@ archstreet.org. archstreet.org 6 - 9 p.m. Robert Burns Supper Scottish Party. First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, 1 West Putnam Ave. $20-$80. 203-869-6899. stashahealy@gmail. com. burnssuppergreenwich2020.eventbrite.com SUNDAY, JAN. 26 Launch of ICC (Indian Cultural Center) Greenwich Teen Give Back Program - interest meeting for kids in middle and high school at Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, 4 Horseneck Ln. Open to all kids regardless of heritage. iccgreenwich.org 10 - 11 a.m. Nature Yoga. Greenwich Audubon Center, 613 Riversville Rd. $10. RSVP. Ages 12 & up. All ages, experiences levels, and abilities. 203-900-3349. Caroline.Bailey@audubon.org. greenwich. audubon.org/events
FRIDAY, JAN. 24 9 - 11 a.m. CPR Friends and Family (Infant/Child). Greenwich Hospital’s Medical Education Room, 5 Perryridge Rd. $65. Register. Designed for lay rescuers only. Meets American Heart Association standards. 888305-9253. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ‘Fun Friday!’ – STEAM learning (Ages 3-5). Greenwich Library - Rear of Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Meditation Workshop. Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. All ages. No registration is required. 203-625-6549. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Exhibition Highlights Tour. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. (Every Tue, 1:30pm & Fri, 12:30pm)
WILL YOU BE READY FOR
203-869-0376. info@brucemuseum.org. brucemuseum.org 2 - 3:30 p.m. Declutter Your Camera Roll – for Apple and Android users. Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. 203-625-6560. trainingcenter@greenwichlibrary.org 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Marine Tank Animal Feeding. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. (Every Tue & Friday, 2:30-2:45pm) 203-869-0376. 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Learn To Program For Virtual Reality (Grades 6-9). Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. 203-622-7918 emorrissey@ greenwichlibrary.org 7 - 8 p.m. AuthorsLive: ‘Antisocial’ by Andrew Marantz with Tom Mellana. Greenwich Library - Flinn Gallery, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. 203- 625-6533.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Family Yoga. Greenwich Audubon Center, 613 Riversville Rd. All ages are welcome. $5, children; $10, adults. RSVP is requested. 203-900-3349. Caroline.Bailey@audubon.org 12 - 3 p.m. YWCA Greenwich Preschool, After-School and Summer Camps Open House. YWCA Greenwich, 259 East Putnam Ave. 203-869-6501. ywcagreenwich.org 2 - 3:30 p.m. 3D Printer Certification: Lulzbot Mini. Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. Adults, young adults. 203-622-7914. innovationlab@greenwichlibrary.org 3 - 5 p.m. Women of Atelier 17 - Opening Reception. The Bendheim Gallery, 299 Greenwich Ave. 203-862-6750. info@greenwicharts.org. greenwichartscouncil.org MONDAY, JAN. 27 9:30 a.m. Gentle Yoga with Helena Svedin. Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible St. Members, $25-$35. 203-869-9242. info@greenwichbotanicalcenter.org. greenwichbotanicalcenter.org 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. House Plant Repotting Workshop. Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible St. $10. Preregistration is required. 203-869-9242. info@ continued on page 10
SPRING?
Powder Coated Finishes • Restrapping • Welding Sandblasting • Teak Restoration Sling Replacement
Outdoor Furniture Restorations & Sales
Brown Jordan, Tropitone, Winston & More!
OFF-SEASON DISCOUNTS! Pick-up and Delivery
140 Highland Street, Port Chester, NY 10573 914.935.8839 • PattysPortico.com
203-869-2299 for Delivery
Page 3 | Greenwich Sentinel
The Week's Quick News Updates Healthier Food Options for GPS Greenwich Public Schools are revamping their meals by preparing chicken in-house, offering more meatless options, gluten-free lunches, and more vegetables for snacks.
More Water Leaks at GHS Gym
February 2 to Friday, February 7 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting. During the night work, exiting traffic will be rerouted to Exit 3 (Arch Street). The Exit 4 southbound exit ramp will be open during non-working hours. The energy company is coordinating closely with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to ensure public safety during road or ramp closures. Signs will be posted approaching the location to help manage the flow of traffic.
An expansion joint burst in the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center this past week, affecting the main gym next door. This is the third time such a joint has broken in the auditorium With 4,310 voters showing up to building. the polls, the results are in and clear. Harry Arora is the winner of the contest to replace Fred Camillo as the State Representative from the 151st. Arora, who ran on a fiscally conservative, no tolls platform, has won with almost 55% of the vote, a margin of 360 Frazier's academic tenure votes; winning every polling spans two years at Marymount district with the exception of International, an all-girls, district 1. independent Catholic day and boarding school; 15 years at Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit day and boarding school There will be a Blood Drive at outside of Washington, D.C.; Greenwich Country Day School and two years as Head of Upper in the North Gym off of 401 Old School at Sacred Heart's sister Church Road on Wednesday, school, Stone Ridge School of Ja nua r y 2 9 f rom 7:00 a.m. the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, - 12:30 p.m. To schedule an Maryland. Frazier is reportedly a appointment: please go to the collaborative leader, an effective Red Cross website; Click on communicator, and a passionate "Find a Blood Drive"; Enter advocate for all-girls education. Sponsor Code: "GCDS"; Click on "See Times"; Choose your appointment time or call 1-800RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Every donor will receive a $5 gift card to Dunkin'.
Special Election Winner: Arora
Sacred Heart names Margaret Frazier the 34th Head of School
Blood Drive
Eversource Construction to Close Exit 4
Eversource’s ongoing work on the Greenwich Substation & Line Project near Exit 4 (Indian Field Road/Cos Cob) on Interstate 95 will soon require temporarily closing the Exit 4 (Indian Field Road/Cos Cob) southbound exit ramp. This will take place Sunday,
AAA Rating for Greenwich The BET received notice this past week that Greenwich will maintain its AAA rating from credit agencies.
Deaths See page 8 for full obituaries. The Greenwich Sentinel does not charge for obituaries. Please send obituaries to Editor@GreenwichSentinel. com. Eleanore S. Olsen, born on May 31, 1918; passed away on January 19, 2020. John Caron, born on July 1, 1924; died peacefully on Jan. 15, 2020. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 469 North St., Greenwich. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to justiceinmotion.org Helen Robinson, born on November 6, 1930; passed away peacefully on January 13, 2020. Richard Radcliffe, born July 29, 1924; died on Jan. 17, 2020. A celebration of Dick's Life is planned for a later date. Ramon E. Sanchez was born on May 13, 1941 and passed away on January 20, 2020. Walter McCoy, born January 5, 1929; died Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Elizabeth Ann (Bridget) Deering passed away last week. She was the pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle on Milbank Avenue while crossing the street near the Agnes Morley Heights senior housing complex. Richard Robinson, born Aug. 21, 1934; passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2020. Arnold Jan Levine was born on June 22, 1948 and passed away on January 16, 2020. Freddy Heredia Bermeo passed away January 2020 Nicholas Sforza passed away on January 17, 2020. Joseph A. Kunevsky passed away January 18, 2020. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church on January 23rd at 1pm.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BOB CAPAZZO, KRISTIN HYNES & MARSIN MOGIELSKI
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOCIAL MEDIA
Moffly Media is one of the leading providers of professional event photography and marketing services in Fairfield County. We capture compelling, high-quality images of individuals and groups at meaningful events. With our wide range of capabilities from video to social media and post-event press coverage, Moffly will customize a marketing package that’s just right for you.
LEARN MORE! PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER – KATHLEEN GODBOLD AT KATHLEEN.GODBOLD@MOFFLY.COM OR 203.571.1654
My job keeps me on the go…uptown meeting, downtown lecture…another city, back tomorrow...out again, overnight… then do it all again. But one thing I never worry about is getting anywhere. That’s easy. With my ‘GoRudys’ mobile app, I can reach a person, not a machine, 24/7 and let them know my plans have changed. Rudy’s adjusts and I’m good to go.
EXPERT. RESPONSIVE. HUMAN. WCTLC 00083-16 | TLC#B02597 | DOT# 1951 | ICC# MC15081
VIDEOGRAPHY
1067
North ST. Greenwich,CT 203-861-4020
Visit us!
www.happinessiscatering.com NOW taking orders SuperBowl GATHERING menu available Online & inMARKET
ORDER ONLINE BY 3PM Friday Jan.31st with code: LIV Don’t forget your valentine…..
The Harbor Seal Returns
Page 5 | Greenwich Sentinel
Wildly Successful: a bold comeback in Connecticut’s coastal waters. and health for the Harbor Seals. With protection came greater awareness of their needs and fragility. Hunted to extirpation or regional extinction from U.S. waters during the 20th century, they have staged a bold comeback i n Con ne c t icut ’s coast a l waters. In fact, due to their status as a marine mammal which affords them full federal protection, including a mandatory minimum approach distance of 150 feet, they have made an occasional “nuisance” of themselves. In recent years, Harbor Seals have been spotted: hauling out on Fairf ield County harbor police docks, 37 miles up the Connecticut River on Wesleyan University’s Crew boat ramp, and even lounging on the hulls of nuclear submarines at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton!...I did say bold. From an ecological standpoint, the Harbor Seal’s role is extremely complex and only partially understood. What’s cer ta i n is its stat us as a m id level predator, providing benefits including In recent years, Harbor Seals have been spotted: balance of predatory fish stocks which hanging out on Fairfield County harbor police docks, in turn produce more robust, stable p opu lat ion s of h a r ve ste d f i sh a nd 37 miles up the Connecticut River on Wesleyan shellfish species. University’s Crew boat ramp, and even lounging on While its ecological role is paramount, there is another aspect to the hulls of nuclear submarines at the U.S. Naval these endearing marine mammals which is inestimable. Though classified as a Submarine Base in Groton...I did say bold. This is quite remarkable. We have meso (mid-level) aquatic carnivore, the a 6-foot-long, 200+ pound torpedo of a Harbor Seal, by any terrestrial measure, carnivore possessing jaws resembling a I remember them squinting--blinking widespread marine mammals. Boasting is a large carnivore which inhabits the back the silvery glare of Long Island a range which includes: the Atlantic Sound’s ice and waves magnified through and Pacif ic Coasts of North America, the Swarovski spotting scope. Bundled Greenland, Iceland, Atlantic and Arctic up in layers upon layers against the Coastal Europe as well as the Kamchatka January gusts on the jutting promontory Peninsula and the Bering Sea, these of Stamford’s Cove Island Park, my small seals command a big presence. daughters and I were finally rewarded These beautiful creatures possess a with a glimpse of our quarry. There, fully rounded, dog-like snout, large dark eyes, half a mile out onto the freezing Sound, 14 clawed f lippers, a plump body and a Harbor Seals lay hauled out on the rocks sleek coat ranging from light tan to silver exposed at low tide. Dozing atop the rocky or blue-gray with spots or speckling. islet in apparent bliss just inches from the Reaching lengths of no more than 6 feet frigid waters, they basked as if lounging and weights of just 285 pounds, they on tropical sands. Flexing our gloved are denizens of coastal waters where f ingers to keep them limber for note they hunt for f ish, crustaceans and taking, we scribbled our observations shellfish. Historically, it was the Harbor while the frenzied wind whipped strands Seal’s specialty as a coastal species of hair across our eyes. A long with hunting near shore waters that placed it several dozen fellow volunteers, we were within easy range of sealers’ harpoons, piloting a citizen science seal observation hunters’ rif les and f ishermen's nets. study with colleagues at The Maritime This proximity amplified human threats Aquarium. Our goal--to document the including: net and gear entanglement, presence, diversity and basic behaviors i l l e g a l fe e d i n g , ve s s e l t r a f f i c a n d of these magnificent marine mammals collisions, chemical contamination such making an historic return to their native as oil spills, and habitat degradation. same waterways and beaches as humans. Mountain Lion’s. It can power through waters. With implementation of The Marine Other than responding to episodes of the water at speeds of 20 miles per hour, The Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina), is Mammal Protection Act in 1972, came illegal feeding or harassment, it does so reverse direction in a fraction of a second, launch its entire body airborne and it one of the world’s most successful and a gradual reversal in population trends peacefully--with no aggression
By Jim Knox
Feature Column
does not attack us clumsy, nosy humans splashing in its midst. Wh ile we focus on the cute, we must not lose sight of the fact that these mammals are superb hunters. Yet it is the seal’s adorable, big-eyed, whiskered, puppyish face which catches our eyes and opens our hearts. That’s okay, because we ultimately conserve those wild creatures which touch us. Thankfully, the Harbor Seal is just as resilient as it is adorable. It’s robust recovery not only provides evidence of its status as an indicator species, confirming the vastly improved health of our coasts and the rivers which flow to them. It also provides us with well-founded hope that we can indeed protect what we love. As a zoologist, I suspected the seal study held great promise to impart knowledge, understanding and caring toward the protection of this key species. As a father witnessing his children’s smiling faces and looks of wonder each time they spotted the seals safe and sound...I got all the proof I ever needed. Jim Knox is the Curator of Education at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. His work with endangered species in human care and in the wild provides him with the privilege of sharing knowledge gained from those experiences.
Gratitude’s Healing Powers
Why put pen to paper to write your own gratitude list?
benefits for being grateful and studies have shown that people who regularly practice feeling grateful are in a very positive zone to promote healing. R o b e r t E m m o n s , a p s yc h o l o g y professor at the University of California at Davis, has been a leading researcher in the growing field, termed “positive psychology.” His research has found that those who adopt an “attitude of gratitude” as a permanent state of mind experience many health benefits and are more likely to: • Love their bodies • Take better care of themselves • Exercise regularly • Opt for healthy diets • Enjoy positive & optimistic outlooks • Cope better with daily stress • Strengthen immune systems So, why not start today…saying out By Julia Chiappetta loud, what you are grateful for. I usually Have you ever taken a short break, do this during my morning prayer time, with pen to paper, to write a Gratitude thanking God for my body, mind, soul, List? health, home, car, clothes, food, family, Well, apparently, there are health friends and the simple gift of each day.
As I do this, I find the freedom in being grateful that changes my focus. I have read many abstracts and articles, over the years, that discuss how gratitude and forgiveness, are considered a powerful elixirs, in care plans for those with critical illnesses. While some studies have associated gratitude with a whole slew of benefits, from fewer aches and pains to improved sleep, others have found more mixed results. According to Summer Allen’s report on March 5, 2018, “After 15 years of research we know that gratitude is a key to psychological well-being. Gratitude can make people happier, improve their relationships, and potentia lly even counteract depression. But the benefits of gratitude go beyond that.” “Gratitude…can be an incredibly powerful and invigorating experience,” says researcher Jeff Huffman. “There is growing evidence that being grateful may not only bring good feelings. It could lead to better health.”
The Thnx4 Project, created by the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC), at the University of California, Berkeley, is an online gratitude journal that makes it easier to say thanks, enjoy the benefits of thankfulness, see what happens when you strengthen your habit of feeling and expressing gratitude and draws on two decades of research suggesting that people who regularly feel grateful: • report better health, reduce their risk of heart disease, and get better sleep • strengthen feelings of connection and satisfaction in relationships • feel more satisfied with their lives, find more joy and optimism, and less anxiety These results are consistent with a 2003 paper published by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough. In the study he reported that, college students who wrote about things for which they were grateful just once a week for ten weeks reported fewer physical symptoms (such as headaches, shortness of breath, sore
muscles, and nausea) than students who wrote about daily events or hassles. These are just some examples of studies where Gratitude was measured and surely worth pondering. If you read my columns, you know that my tag line is, Green is Good, and so I encourage you to enjoy a daily yummy, organic, green juice, to take in nutrients, superfoods, vitamins, minerals and enzymes - all of which offer fuel for our immune system! As I drink my greens this week, I will toast, with gratitude, having known the very dear and sweet, John Setten, who left us way too early, on a one-way flight to heaven, January 22, 2017. He was a great friend, boxing and running partner and so much more. Love and miss you John. Ju lia Chia ppet ta i s the author of “Breast Cancer: The Notebook” (Gemini Media, 2006) and is also the owner of Julia Chiappetta Consulting. She lives in Cos Cob.
Organizing as a Form of Self-Care
By Margarita Cossuto Clutter can be both physically and mentally draining. Simply seeing piles of accumulated items or things that you need to organize, signals to your brain that there is something you need to attend to, which can make it difficult to relax. Clutter takes up your energy and can negatively impact many areas of your life. Each day, time is lost searching for missing keys, phones, and papers that need to be
signed or mailed out. Not only can clutter cause you to use precious time looking for items, but it can also cause emotional stress. Therefore, it is crucial to think about your external space; how managing the clutter in your physical space can bring about many positive benefits. Being organized can give you peace of mind. Clearing physical clutter can help clear mental clutter, which is anything that keeps you from thinking clearly and makes you distracted. Having clutter in the home and accumulated items around the house can be overwhelming. Assess the things in your home that you no longer need or that don't belong in the place they are. Think of clutter as anything that you do not use, do not like, or do not have a place for in your home. By taking the time to organize your space and clear clutter, you are taking ownership of your space. Also, you’ll be taking time to focus on the items you want in your home and as a result, caring for your home and yourself. By recognizing how clutter affects you, you are taking steps towards self-care. Below are some strategies you can practice for reducing the clutter in your home and in turn, practice self-care. Set aside time: Think about how you work best – some people prefer to work for no more than 30 minutes, whereas others may find that once they start, they just keep going. Do what is best for you. Either way, definitely plan something you enjoy after each organizing session to reward yourself for your hard efforts. Keep in mind that decluttering is hard
work, and can be emotional, especially when sorting through sentimental items and keepsakes. Sort by room and category: Since there are many rooms in your home, it can be overwhelming to decide which place to begin with when starting. Ideally, you will want to sort through every item in each room so that you know exactly what you have, what you want to keep, and what you want to discard. Start by sorting things into categories (i.e., like with like, versus categorizing by color, size, or favorite items). It will be a lot easier to sort through your items when you can see how much you have of a similar type. When you're in each room, tackle each space by starting with things on the floor, then surfaces like dressers, nightstands and bookshelves, then gradually work into the inside of your closets, drawers and cabinets. Once you see your cleared f loor and surfaces, you will be energized by the immediate effects of your hard time and effort. Involve the family: Encourage each member of the family to organize their own space. Some quick things family can do to jumpstart the process, is to remove all the items that create visual clutter that does not belong in the room. For example, return any items that are borrowed, remove anything that needs repair or that needs to be tailored, recycle expired coupons and junk mail, and toss things that are stained, broken, or cannot be used. Prepare yourself: Organizing and decluttering can be energizing, but it can also be emotionally draining and psychically exhausting. As you embark
on the process of decluttering, think about what makes you feel good. If you work well with music, play some of your favorite energizing tunes to help motivate you to move around your rooms, or place a vase of fresh flowers near you to inspire the natural beauty in your space, or even try lighting some fragrant candles with lavender or vanilla for uplifting, energizing, and calming mood benefits. O rga n i z i ng you r physic a l space t h roug h decluttering, discarding old items that are no longer needed, and giving things away to people so that they can have a new life and be enjoyed by others can have tremendous emotional and psychological effects. By making decisions on your items, you are in control. As you're decluttering, you might get emotional, you might get angry, you might feel like stopping because it is simply too difficult to make decisions. Know that all your feelings are entirely normal. Remind yourself that you are taking a very active, and albeit emotional and challenging step, into evaluating the clutter items in your home. Have fun with this process and appreciate the enormous impact that organizing your physical space can have on you and your surroundings! Margarita Cossuto, PhD is a professional organizer and owner of Living Organized, LLC. She applies her background in psychology to understand the unique needs of her clients to give them the organized space they’re looking for. Margarita works with a variety of clients in the CT/NY area and can be reached at 203451-7880 or www.livingorganized.com.
Page 6 | Greenwich Sentinel
PUBLISHER Beth@GreenwichSentinel.com Elizabeth Barhydt
Editorial Page
EDITORS & COPY EDITORS Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com Daniel FitzPatrick, Caroll Melgar, Stapley Russell, Anne W. Semmes, Emma Barhydt
A Winter's Sleep In a town with as many A-type personalities as Greenwich, CT, we collectively do not get as much sleep as we should. This is as true at the Sentinel as it is anywhere. Multiply the average recommended number of hours we should sleep in a day—eight—by the number of days in an average lifespan and we should spend more than 9,500 days resetting our brains. That’s one third of an average life asleep. That is a lot of time not doing all those important and valuable things which need to be accomplished! How much sleep do we actually need? In a series of experiments, researchers have proven that eight hours (not six or even seven) is the specific number human beings need in order to function at optimal levels. What happens when we deprive ourselves, as many Greenwichites do, of some of those recommended eight hours? Multiple studies have conf irmed that to your brain, one sleepless night is the cognitive equivalent of being legally drunk. Even the studies of groups that slept seven hours a night—a luxury!—showed clearly that they did not function at optimal levels. We should all be getting no less than eight hours of sleep per night and it does not, apparently, count if we average eight hours over the course of a week. There is not a "sleep bank" that allows human beings to catch up on sleep. Fun fact: human beings are the only animal species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep so if you regularly get six hours of sleep and feel terrific, you are not alone. After the first night of reduced sleep, researchers asked the participants of one study group, the six-hour-anight group, how well they thought they did on their cognitive tests. They reported doing as well as they had after eight hours of sleep—even better perhaps. In reality, the tests were significantly worse than the ones done after eight hours of sleep. There is hope for you die hard six hour a night people though. If you're feeling sleepy and want to wake yourself up — there is a new trend called a coffee nap: drinking a cup of coffee and then taking a quick nap. It sounds crazy because caffeine interferes with sleep. The trick is to caffeinate immediately before napping and then to sleep for 15 or 20 minutes. If you nap for longer than 15 or 20 minutes, your brain is more likely to enter deeper stages of sleep leading to sleep inertia — and it takes around 20 minutes for the caffeine to get to your bloodstream and affect your brain activity. If you nap for those 20 minutes, you'll wake just in time for the caffeine to kick in. The caffeine will actually be more effective in making you alert. Experiments show coffee naps are better than coffee or naps. A Japanese study found those who took a coffee nap performed significantly better on tests compared with those who just took a nap. Taking a coffee nap is pretty straightforward. First, drink coffee. Drink it quickly. Immediately try to go to sleep. Even reaching a tranquil halfasleep stage can be helpful. Make sure to wake up within 20 minutes. Of course, getting the recommended eight hours is ideal and we hope Greenwich will recommit to this resolution in 2020. We all respond to Robert Frost's words: The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. Getting enough sleep affects more than just how intelligent you are capable of being, it also makes you more patient, it makes it easier to lose weight, it wards off depression and other mental health issues, it improves your reaction times, and it generally makes us nicer human beings. Something to consider in our very full lives in Greenwich.
Tod's Point. John Ferris Robben photo.
Education Column
How the Environment Affects Learning By Lee Longo
An environment is a living, changing system. Its conditions how we feel, think, behave; and it dramatically affects the quality of our lives” Jim Greenman. Have you noticed more and more home improvement shows popping up, and many stores feat u r i ng home décor items? Some estimates measure that the home décor business is at a 60 billion a year market. We all want our environment to be a place of comfort, we want to feel good and our homes ref lect our image we hold of ourselves. When we talk about the environment at the education level and within the Reggio Emilia Philosophy we speak of the environment as the third teacher. I n m a ny e a r l y p r e s c h o o l class-rooms we f ind color f u l furniture, w ith bright plastic toys, bulletin boards and walls f illed with children’s art work that all looks the same. Colorful bins are arranged to house toys. In the child’s dramatic play area plastic items are used to resemble food and dishes. Snack is offered on napkins, even their outdoor spaces lack natural elements. These spaces have the intention of making it look like a “child friendly and safe space”. Is this what
children need, and do these spaces encourage learning? Children are very sensitive and can sense that the environment we offer them reflects the image we have of them. In this traditional preschool space, we are saying: you have to use plastic because you’re not capable, you may break it. Items are in colorful bins so it will be bright and you might be attracted to look in. Your art has to be pre-determined and like others, you’re not capable of creating real unique art. You’re not innately curious, we don’t want you to take risks and we don’t really respect you. A classroom can be inviting, i n spi r i ng a nd a plac e wher e true learning takes place while presenting a positive image of the child. The image of the child in the Reggio Emilia model is that children are “capable, naturally born with curiosity and eager to learn”. In this model of teaching the importance of the environment is taken seriously. So how is this space different and how can it teach, and how can it ref lect positively toward o u r b e l i e f i n c h i l d r e n? T h e Reggio Emilia classroom has the ability to have endless learning opportunities. It is unlike most classrooms, but immediately it speaks to you. The room is alive and ever changing. A teacher’s intention of carefully placed items is not only inviting to the child but it sparks curiosity to see more. The intention is to provoke interest; children are not told what to create, materials are presented and it is up to the child to create whatever they wish. This allows freedom and ownership of their work. The comforts of home are evident and it represents that children and families are respected
and honored. This environment encourages children to use their imagination, interact and learn from each other, learn from their surroundings, take an appropriate
collaborate with others. When a snack is offered, the children are encouraged to set the table and are given the use of glass dishes. Just like at home children learn to
A teacher’s intention of carefully placed items is not only inviting to the child but it sparks curiosity to see more. level of risk, and the ability to come up with their own questions and f ind the answers through exploration. It fosters the growth of t hei r so c ia l a nd cog n it ive development. What might this unique space look like? It may have a low couch, lamp and coffee table with children’s books arranged on it. Family pictures are framed and displayed at the child’s view. Nature is evident throughout by careful placement of plants or natural or organic items displayed in a science area. The children’s dramatic play area may have real food items and glass objects that children see at home. Natural materials and collections are placed in baskets or clear containers for children to choose on their own. Crayons may be placed in groupings of the same variation of color for children to explore shades of color and discover the differences. Blocks are placed by natural building resources such as stones, shells, small branches and bark. Items such as these are interesting for children to explore and develop their curiosity and critical thinking skills. They can observe closely and use their senses, develop vocabulary and enhance their social sk ills to
respect their environment and take care of delicate items. Appropriate risks help to build self confidence in their abilities. C h i l d r e n ’s c r e a t i o n s a r e framed and carefully exhibited around the room and school. Each is unique. Photographs depicting the process of their work and dictation of children’s own words relay the story of what their work represents. It is exhibited for all to see. The room is aesthetically b e aut i f u l yet f u nc t iona l a nd ref lective of the learning taking place and continues to change as learning progresses. This space conditions how children “feel, think and behave”. Most importantly it reflects the image we hold of them is that they are valued and capable. This in itself can foster a lifelong love for learning. We don’t want to teach children something they can learn by themselves. We don’t want to give them thoughts that they can come up with themselves. What we want to do is activate within children the desire and will and great pleasure that comes from being the authors of their own work. Loris Malaguzzi Lee Longo is the director of Sound Beach Day School located on the Greenwich - Stamford border.
Historical Society Honors Woman's Suffrage with Exhibition G r e e nw i c h H i s to r i c a l S o c i e t y w i l l unveil a dynamic exhibition that showcases the role Greenwich women played on the national stage in achieving the passage and ratif ication of the 19th Amendment. Opening Feb. 5 and on view through Sept. 6, “An Unfinished Revolution: The Woman's Suffrage Centennial” features a wide variety of historic objects from museums, libraries, private collections and descendants of suffragists to illustrate the long struggle for the right to vote. Through educational and interpretive programming, the Historical Society will explore broader social and civic issues that resonate today, such as voter registration, voter suppression and the Equal Rights Amendment. V i s i o n a r y G r e e n w i c h Wo m e n Championed the Cause: The early history of the suf frage movement is dominated by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton; however, several leaders who campaigned for the passage of the 19th Amendment lived in Greenwich, either fulltime or for part of the year. They were often wives of New York and Connecticut's wealthy elite who had the time and financial means to dedicate to the fight, with or without the support of their spouses and families. Their contributions, and those of other women in the region who broke away from social convention to stand up for a cause they believed in, will be highlighted. Featuring striking protest banners and historic clothing, sashes, and heirlooms worn by prominent suffragists, visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in the thrilling atmosphere of activism that def ined the Progressive Era. Original correspondence, vintage photographs, and works of art from the Greenwich Historical Society's collections open a further window into this tumultuous
period. Gallery interactives testing visitors' knowledge of American voting rights today provide an opportunity for visitors of all ages to ref lect on the changes that have taken place in our society over the last 100 years and the important work still ahead to ensure equal rights for all. A preview reception for members of the Historical Society will be held on Feb. 4. T h e G r e e nw i c h H i s to r i c a l S o c i e t y Museum galleries, located at 47 Strickland Ave., Cos Cob, are open Wednesday - Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and students and free for children under age 18. Free admission to the public is available on the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit greenwichhistory.org
Public Sculpture in America is Topic of Lecture The Greenwich Decorative Arts Society presents “The American Spirit in Public Sculpture,” a lecture by Francis Morrone, a rch itec t u ra l h istor ia n a nd aut hor, on Monday, Feb. 3 1:15 to 3 p.m., at The Bruce Museum. Ref reshments w ill be ser ved following the presentation. In Rome, Pa r is, a nd Vien na, pu blic sculpture – monuments and memorials, fountains, reliefs on buildings, bridges – infuses the environment with an unbridled sensuality. In America, public sculpture tends to be a great deal more restrained. Why? In this examination of the history of public sculpture in the northeastern United States, we will see that the Puritan inheritance, among other factors, led our artists in very different directions from their European counterparts, even as our artists received European training and assimilated European techniques. Francis Morrone will
survey the early history of public sculpture in New York and New England, and work up to a consideration of the "Age of the Masters," and the works of French, Saint-Gaudens, Ward, and others, and examine the American subject matter, and the American spirit, in such examples as Daniel Chester French's "Minute Man" in Concord, Mass., Augustus S a i n t- G a u d e n s's R o b e r t G o u l d S h a w Memorial in Boston, John Quincy Adams Ward's "Indian Hunter" in New York, among many others, and also seek for exceptions to the premise (as for instance in some of the works of Frederick MacMonnies). Morrone is an architectural historian and the author of eleven books including Guide to New York City Urban Landscapes (W.W. Norton, 2013); The New York Public Library: The Architecture and Decoration of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (with Henry Hope Reed, W.W. Norton, 2011); and
architectural guidebooks to Philadelphia and Brooklyn. As a historic preservation consultant he has written countless building histories and neighborhood surveys in New York and beyond. He worked as an art and architecture critic for the New York Sun. Collectively, his work represents one of the most comprehensive bodies of research on the built history of New York City. He has taught at NYUSPS for nineteen years, and is the recipient of the SPS Excellence in Teaching Award. Admission for non-members of the Greenwich Decorative Arts S o c i e t y i s $ 2 5 . S p a c e i s l i m i t e d . Fo r reser vat ions a nd i n for mat ion, cont ac t greenwichdecorativearts@gmail.com or visit greenwichdecorativearts.com
Greater Good in Greenwich
Page 7 | Greenwich Sentinel
Great Futures Column
A Dangerous Unselfishness
By Bobby Walker I don’t know what the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday means to most people. For so many of our young people, it is simply a wonderful day off from school, and adults may have a welcome break from work, as well. In recent years, we have all been challenged to make it a day of service to honor the life of the inspirational activist. Across the country, Americans took up that challenge this past Monday and lent a helping hand to people and organizations in need. While this trend of national service leads us in a positive direction, for me,
this day is so much more than that. Dr. King’s legacy has never been about the many marches he led, the threats on his life that he endured, or the laws he helped to get passed to ensure civil rights and equal treatment for all Americans. Instead, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been a personal challenge for me to be a better person and to live my life with the full intent of helping others. I remain eternally grateful for Dr. King’s qualities and g ive than k s for the impact h is determination has made on my life. So, I w ill not w r ite of his many marches, his commitment to nonviolent civil disobedience, his untimely death, or his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” Instead, I want to share with you some lines from another one of his famous speeches. Dr. King returned to Memphis on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination, to lead a renewed march to protest the city’s unfair treatment of its sanitation workers. Here he delivered, w h a t I c o n s i d e r, t h e m o s t d e e p l y personal and most touching speech of his short lifetime. It has been called “The Mountaintop Speech” as Dr. King used the biblical image of Moses leading the Hebrew people to the Promised Land and peering over the mountaintop into a land he would not be able to enter before his death. Here are a few excerpts f rom
that speech: “As you know, if I were standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of general and panoramic view of the whole human history up to now, and the Almighty said to me, ‘Martin Luther King, which age would you like to live in?’ … Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, ‘If you allow me
Dr. King’s challenge to EVERYONE in the room. He had already praised the sanitation workers for their courage in going on strike, but he turned to the other people in the room and challenged them to join the protest. “Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been a personal challenge for me to be a better person and to live my life with the full intent of helping others. to live just a few years in the second half of the twentieth century, I will be happy.’ Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding — something is happening in our world.” W h at h a s m ove d m e m o s t w a s
Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. That's the question before you tonight. Not, ‘If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?’ The question is not, ‘If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?’ ‘If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what w i l l happ en to t hem? ’ That's the question. Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater
determination. A nd let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.” “A kind of dangerous unselfishness”… these words speak to me and challenge me in ways that are difficult to express. This challenge to live a life purely to help others has formed the basis of my personal and professional dealings with others. Dr. King’s assessment that the world is in need of people who live a life helping others resonates with me today. News headlines seem to remind us that our country is becoming deeply divided along many different lines: political party, socioeconomic status, race, religion and more. I challenge all readers to accept Dr. King’s summons to live an unselfish life that is concerned about the love and care you can show someone else, not matter who they are. I believe he was correct when he said, “We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.” A former independent school administrator and teacher, Bobby joined Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich in 2014 as Chief Executive Officer. In his column, Great Futures, Bobby Walker, Jr. brings h i s u n i qu e voi c e a n d pe rs p e c t ive to topics affecting youth and families in our community.
United Way's 2020 Needs Assessment
By David Rabin Ke epi n g t r ue to ou r m i s sion of uncovering unmet health, education and self-sufficiency needs in Greenwich since 1933, the Greenwich United Way
(GUW) announces the launch of our 2020 Needs Assessment and we need the community’s help. It is hard to believe that it has been 4 years since the GUW published our last “Assessment of Human Service Needs & State of Greenwich Statistical Report” (Needs Assessment). Every 4 to 5 years, we compile, via surveys, focus groups, mailings, and other means, the data that acts as our blueprint to ensure we can develop and fund programs that helps ensure every mem ber of our com munit y has the opportunity to be healthy, educated and self-sufficient. Past Needs Assessments have resulted in the development of some of our town’s most valued programs and institutions: The GUW Early Childhood Achievement Gap Solutions (ECAGS)
program, Greenwich Commission on Ag ing, K ids in Crisis, R iver House, YWCA Domestic Abuse Service, and Abilis, to name a few.
The Greenwich United Way's 2020 Needs Assessment is a tool for all agencies and residents. Much of the data in the 2020 Needs Assessment will come from you. We will be sending surveys to all Greenwich r e s ide nt s s o on . T h ey w i l l b e s e nt electronically via email and in the US
‘Scenic Road’ Application with BOS Hoping to gain “Scenic Road” recognition for a roadway loop though Binney Park, the Eastern Greenwich Preservation Association (EGPA) will meet with the Board of Selectmen this week to gain support for the next steps in the application process. The Town’s Municipal Code, Article 3, allows the Planning and Zoning Commission to de sig nate tow n h ig hways or portions thereof as scenic roads “for the benef it of present and future generations.” Since the Scenic Road ordinance was adopted in 1992, five local roads have received the designation: Cliffdale Road, Burying Hill Road, Selden Lane, Buckfield Lane, and Sawmill Lane.
The Binney Park proposal would be Greenwich’s first official Scenic Road south of the Merritt Parkway. The Binney Park loop wou ld i n clude S ou nd B e a ch Ave nue f r om A r ch St r e et to Wesskum Wood Road; Wesskum Wood to Arch Street; Arch Street to Sound Beach Avenue. The move to nominate the Binney Park roadways responds to a goa l in the new 2019 Pla n of Conservation and Development to “encourage the designation of more scenic roads throughout the town.” A Scenic Road application requires endorsement by owners of a majority of property that a b u t s a p r o p o s e d r o a d w a y. Private owners of property along t h e Bi n n ey Pa rk r oute h ave
already signed the application, but because roadways in the EGPA proposal border Townowned Binney Park, agreement o f t h e To w n a s a p r o p e r t y owner is also required. In order for Selectmen to co-sig n t he application on behalf of the Town, t h e y mu s t r e c e i ve ap p r ov a l from the Representative Town Meeting, Greenwich’s legislative body. E G PA w i l l d i s c u s s t h e proposal w ith the Board of Selectmen on Thursday, January 2 3, at 10 a.m., w ith a goal of bringing the plan to the RTM. The meeting will be in the Town Ha l l Me et i ng Ro om, a nd t he public is invited.
Parkway Receives Grant to Extend Recycling Program Pa rk w ay S cho ol r e c ent ly received notice that the RecycleCT Board voted to fund Pa rk way's g ra nt proposa l to extend their recycling program to include small scale composting and the development of an outdoor garden, created at least i n p a r t , u s i n g r e c yc l e d a n d repurposed materials. The goal of the School Grant Program is to fund ef forts in Connecticut K-12 schools that foster a greater understanding of and promote action and engagement in: waste reduction,
reuse, recycling and composting and/or anaerobic digestion. Of the 28 schools that applied, 16 were awarded grants. Parkway School’s Principal Ms. Mary Grandville said, “We are thrilled about this grant, and look forward to using the funds to start our composting and outdoor garden work this Spring. Our students and staff are active par tners in our school’s recycling, reuse and waste reduction practices, which strengthens our community’s value of the environment and our
understanding of the impact that we have on the world.” Park way School's Librar y Media Specialist Mrs. Lea Attanasio wrote the grant and w ill be leading the charge to make this garden a reality for the school. The RecycleCT Foundation was created to target and promote the coordination and support of research and education activities and public information programs aimed at increasing the rate of recycling and reuse in Connecticut.
the future. Students are asked to write a n essay of up to 500 words and to email their submission to the LWVG Student Outreach coordinator, Anne-Marie Hesser at annemariehesser@gmail.com by Sunday, Feb. 23. A panel of high school students will follow an anonymous judging protocol to review the essays and choose three winners: one each for elementary school, middle school, and high school. Children of League of
Women Voters of Greenw ich board members are not eligible to participate. Winners will be notified on Sunday, March 1 and presented with their awards on Tuesday, March 10 at the Greenwich Historical Society in conjunction with their Suffragette e x h i b i t i o n , “A n U n f i n i s h e d Revolution: The Woman’s Suffrage Centennial.” Additional information can be found on the League’s website lwvg. org
Essay Contest The League of Women Voters of Greenwich and their affiliate high school clubs announce an upcoming essay contest for students in grades K-12. This inaugural essay contest celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment and the founding of the League of Women Voters. The essay prompt – ‘What if women could not vote?’ – is designed to encourage students to reflect on the many and varied contributions of women in America over the last hundred years, and in
mail. This data collection will play a vital Please be on the lookout for these role in the content of the report. The surveys in the next couple of months. more surveys we receive back, the better As an added incentive, if you complete statistical sampling we will have to the survey and choose to give us your contact info, you will be placed in a drawing for 2 tickets to “The Funniest Night of the Year”, our annual BrewHa-Ha Comedy Night in September and other fun prizes. With your input, the 2020 Needs Assessment will be the most robust and informative one we have ever produced, making it a tool for ALL to use. Tha n k you i n adva nce for you r support of this critical endeavor. If you ensure that we can address the human have any questions, please contact me services needs for the next few years, directly at the Greenwich United Way. thereby keeping Greenwich the premier David Rabin is CEO of the Greenwich place it is to live, work, raise a family and United Way retire in.
Astrology Column For Week of Jan. 26, 2020
AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb You are not easy to hoodwink and if your instincts tell you to avoid an “investment opportunity” you will know not to allow yourself to be persuaded by those whose sales patter makes you wary. Keep your money in your pocket this week.
LEO 24 July-23 Aug You won’t make things easier by giving in to nagging and doing what someone asks of you. You will just make them think you can be easily manipulated. There are times to act tough even when you don’t feel tough inside. This is one of them.
PISCES 20 Feb-20 March Change is in the air, and you can sense that things you’ve grown used to won’t stay the same forever. Disruptive Mars at odds with your ruler Neptune means you must accept the inevitable. But the inevitable doesn’t necessarily have to be negative
VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Don’t get angry if you can’t grasp what someone is trying to tell you. Their words may be jumbled but they have an important point to make so listen patiently. At some stage this week the penny will drop and you will understand an important message.
ARIES 21 March-20 April You have strong views but before you get involved in any arguments be sure to check the facts. At some point this week you’ll meet someone who’s a genuine expert in an area in which you’re an amateur. Don’t leave yourself open to ridicule.
LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct Forget restrictions and what others say cannot be done. With self-belief you can do anything. If you want to succeed, you will – sometime, somewhere, somehow. No one who tries their best fails. Push yourself hard this week and your best will be good enough.
TAURUS 21 April-21 May With reckless Mars at odds with self-deceptive Neptune you will be in an impulsive mood over the next few days. Saturn’s influence on Friday will bring you to your senses but won’t replenish your bank balance so if you must spend, keep it minimal.
SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov If you measure this week in terms of profit and loss you may be disappointed. Measure it in terms of what you learn and you will be wiser and richer. What you lose out on in material rewards you will make up for in knowledge and insight.
GEMINI 22 May-21 June You may find it hard to assert yourself this week but if you value your independence you’ll defend your interest. You’re not the type to take orders for long – sooner or later you rebel. Far wiser to nip the problem in the bud before it gets that far.
SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec Partners and loved ones may be hard to deal with this week but show you mean business and they’ll be more cooperative. Don’t be tempted to give in over something trivial – it will send the wrong signals and create all kinds of problems.
CANCER 22 June-23 July Charismatic Venus remains in your fellow Water sign of Pisces until 7th February so make the most of it to further your ambitions. You can charm the birds from the trees just now. What you do with after that them depends on how serious you are.
CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan You have done enough looking back – now you must start to plan the rest of your life. Next Sunday’s Venus-Pluto union will help you to adopt a more upbeat attitude. In the meantime, don’t let fears you cannot explain spoil your enjoyment of life.
Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com
Page 8 | Greenwich Sentinel
John Caron
Obituaries and Cath leen ( Woody), and ten grandchildren; Joe, Frank, Tom, Maddie, Robbie, Ian, Alex, Jessica, Nick and Marley. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael t he A rcha ngel Chu rch, 4 69 North St., Greenwich. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to justiceinmotion.org
Richard Radcliffe
John B. Caron died peacefully on Jan. 15, in the company of his loving wife and family. John was born on July 1, 1924 in Chicago, IL. He graduated from University of Notre Dame w it h a de g r e e i n Che m ic a l Engineering and served in the US Navy during WWII. He was Chairman and CEO of Caron International, a textile manufacturing company with operations in 4 states and 5 overseas countries, mostly in Europe. John had a passion for education which led him to become a Trustee of University of Notre Dame and Chairman of the Academic and Faculty Committee, the Chairman of the Board of Whitby Montessori School where his six children graduated, and for many years the leader of the Great Books Discussion group at the Greenwich Library. He was also deeply involved i n p ove r t y a l l e v i at i o n a n d Catholic causes, ser v ing as t he Cha i r ma n of t he B oa rd of Technoserve, a non-prof it or g a n i z at ion t h at pr ov ide s busi ness solut ions to r u ra l poverty in over 30 countries, Chairman of the Board of the National Catholic Reporter, an independent weekly newspaper, and Chairman of the St. M i c h a e l's C hu r c h b u i l d i n g committee. John had a love of the outdoors and adventure which brought him skiing, camping, fishing and cycling around the world with family and friends. He is survived by his wife Ann and their children; John (Dede), Peter, Paul (Andrea), Mark (Lisa), Elizabeth (Latif )
Richard Warner Radcliffe died on Jan. 17, 2020 at the age of 95. D ick w a s a b elove d a nd greatly respected member of our community. His efforts on behalf of education and culture in Greenwich are to be honored and remembered. He leaves behind his wife, Mary, his four sons, and six grandchildren. He was born July 29, 1924 in Washington, DC to parents Harry and Helen Radcliffe, with a twin sister Suzanne. They had a happy family life and managed well through the diff iculties of the Great Depression. Dick was an outstanding student in high school where he excelled in all subjects, especially mathematics. Enrolled in the ROTC, Dick was accepted to Yale University where he was almost simu ltaneously deployed to military service at the outbreak of WWII. His class at Yale was to be known as "1945W". He served, at the age of 19, as an artillery officer in the 81st Field Artillery Battalion, and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge and in other sectors of Germany and France. At the end of the war, he returned to complete his degree at Yale, and went on to receive a three-year fellowship at the American Institute for Economic Research in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Dick had a fascinating and successful career on Wall Street. Originally hired by White Weld, he later worked for A.W. Jones as his first Fund Manager. He is widely credited in several books as being one of the pioneers in the f ield of investment management. During his years in New York, Dick met a beautiful and talented Hungarian graduate student, Mary deCsepel, who
wa s to b e come h is l i felong companion when they married in 1956. After a few years they were able to secure a home in Riverside, where he commuted to work while helping Mary raise four young boys. He was eventually able to open an office in Greenwich, where he and his first partner Barton Biggs, established Fairfield Partners. Throughout the years, Dick was an avid sailor, outdoorsman and lover of classical music. A s a f a t h e r, h e i n s t i l l e d a strong work ethic on his sons, and encouraged them to participate in their respected f ields of interest, whether it was competitive sailing, visual arts, music, backpack ing or travel. Dick's commitment to the arts was absolute: he joined Mar y in her administration of The Greenwich Symphony in the capacity of Treasurer. L a t e r, h e a n d M a r y w e r e instrumental in the creation of the Perrot Memorial Library Children's Wing, which bears their name. He was active in the Yale Alumni community, and contributed generously to their music program. Over the years, Dick and Mary amassed a tremendous number of friends and colleagues. Quite a few were from the years the family has been members of the Riverside Yacht Club, were Dick sailed competitively for many years, and later served on the "committee boat" while his boys participated in all the great summer activities there. Dick had a passion for travel, and along w ith Mar y would research and educate themselves before eventually visiting every continent on the planet. They also simply loved to sail their boat "Duet" on overnights and extended cruises up the New England coast with family and friends. With his happy, outgoing demeanor, extreme generosity, and a wonderful, witty sense of humor Dick was beloved by his family and many friends who were graced by the presence of this fine gentleman. He will be missed, and his spirit lives on with all those who knew him…. In lieu of f lowers, don at i on s m ay b e m a de to the Perrot Memorial Library
or the Greenwich, Symphony volu nte er i ng w it h e ach for Orchestra. decades well into her eighties. A celebration of Dick's Life is Helen is survived by her planned for a later date. sons, John William Robinson, Ju n ior a nd h is w ife Mon ica Greenleaf of Portsmouth, NH; Helen Robinson James Baldwin Robinson and his wife Elizabeth Robinson of Middlebury, Vermont and her daughter in-law, Mary Lou Robinson of Lyme, NH. She was predeceased by her husband John William Robinson Sr., and her sons Colin William Robinson of Lyme and Andrew Duncan Robinson of Meredith. Two celebrations of her life are planned: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Meredith, NH and at H e l e n B a t t e n R o b i n s o n Camp Wulamat over Memorial pa ss e d away p e acef u l ly on Day Weekend. Monday, Jan. 13 at her home in the Taylor Community. Helen Elizabeth Deering succumbed to cancer in the end, but her family is grateful El i z a b et h A n n ( Br idget) that she passed with little pain D e e r i n g o f G r e e nw i c h , C T or suffering. Helen was born in passed away last week after Richmond, Va. on Nov. 6, 1930 being struck by a vehicle while and enjoyed 89 long years. walking in the crosswalk Helen earned her bachelor's near the Agnes Morley Senior d e g r e e at O b e rl i n C o l l e g e , Housing complex where she graduating in 1953. She settled lived. She was 77 years old. in Greenwich, CT, marrying Elizabeth was born in veterinarian Dr. John Robinson Ireland. She was born with a i n 1 9 5 4 . H e l e n l o v e d h e r severe cleft palate and endured neig h b orho o d i n R iver side a number of operations as a Acres on the Mianus River. She child to correct her condition. often entertained, hosting school She grew up in an orphanage picnics, annual Christmas Soup in Ireland and went on to train parties and Boy Scout Troop 11 as a professional nanny. She meetings. Helen was active in eventually moved to the United her community as part of the States, where she became an Presbyterian Church, Junior American citizen and was proud Women's Club, Audubon and to vote in every election. Y WCA leadersh ip for ma ny Although she had only years. She lived in Connecticut a n eig ht h g rade e duc at ion , for three decades before moving Elizabeth became highly sought north to Meredith, NH. Life after as a "Mary Poppins" of in New Hampshire was busy na n n ie s due to her sp e c ia l a s e ve r a H e l e n t o o k ove r connection with children and ma nagement of Ca mp f rom animals. She worked primarily her mother wh ich she then in Greenwich and Manhattan, continued for nearly 40 years. where she cared for numerous The camp had been converted children throughout her 50-plus to a family camp in 1941, so the year career including children Camp now welcomes the fourth of Middle East and Hollywood generation of many families royalty. She also volunteered which continue to return each for many years at the neonatal summer. The United Church intensive care unit at Mt. Sinai of Christ was central to the Hospital in New York City caring R o b i n s o n's m a n y ye a r s i n for premature babies. Meredith. In Meredith, Altrusa Elizabeth was a kind and International, the Circle Program gentle soul with an adventurous and the Squam Lake Science and indomitable spirit. She was Center received a substantial active and loved to exercise, amount of her boundless energy be outside and travel. She was grateful that her career provided her with the opportunity to visit places like the South of France and the Bahamas, but she was also just as happy sledding and building snowmen in the yard. She is survived by the many children whom she cared for and the families who loved her. Donations in Elizabeth's memory can be made to Operation Smile (operationsmile.org, 888-2493797).
Walter McCoy
Walter Anthony McCoy, age 91, of Greenwich died Friday, Jan. 10. He was born Jan. 5, 1929 in NYC to Selma and Walter Ambrose McCoy, MD. Wa lter was predeceased by his sister, Dorothy McCoy Horan. He is survived by his b r o t h e r -i n-l a w, R o b e r t W. Horan; and two nephews, John L. Horan (Catherine) and Robert W. Horan, Jr. of Old Greenwich. Walter graduated Campion Jesuit High School (WI) before entering Georgetown University. During his sophomore year the Korean War began and he volunteered with the U.S. Navy serving aboard aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lake Champlain (CVA39). After the war he finished studies at Columbia University. He then embarked on a career in sales and marketing with International Shoe Company; San Francisco Examiner, Hearst Advertising Service; Parents Magazine; and real estate. He had love of the sea and took
pleasure in piloting his Grand Banks along the Atlantic coast. On land his interests were equestrian and became a sk i l led horsema n. Wa lter was a decades-long resident of Greenwich where he passed, and prior homes in Carlyle (IL), San Francisco (CA), Pound Ridge (NY), and Palm Beach (FL). Family received friends at Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home, Greenwich, Tuesday, Jan. 21. A Mass of Ch r ist ia n Bu r ia l was celebrated at St. Michael the Archangel Church on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.
Richard Robinson
R icha r d A la n ( D ick) Robi nson, 8 5, passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2020, under hospice care in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was born Aug. 21, 1934, in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was the son of George Robinson and Rosina Morlock, who immigrated to the US from England and Germany a f ter World Wa r I, a nd t he brother of Donald, born in 1923. D ick at te nde d O a k wo o d High School near Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Harvard University in 1956 with a BA in Histor y and in 1961 w ith an MBA. He was married to Maralyn Winter Robinson of Grosse Point, Mich., from 1963 until her death in 1999. They lived in Racine, Wis.; Effingham, Su r r ey, E n g l a nd ; Hou s ton , Texas; and Greenwich, CT. Dick worked in those locations with the J. I. Case Company and then for its parent company, Tenneco, Inc., for over forty years in total. At Tenneco, he held positions including Treasurer and Pension Fund Manager. Dick thoroughly enjoyed his career in f inance and his life with his family. He liked to reminisce about their years abroad in England and t hei r su m mer v ac at ion s i n northern Wisconsin. Dick was a patron of the arts and took great pleasure in attending the Houston Symphony and Grand Opera while living in Texas, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Greenwich Sy mphony a f te r mov i n g to Connecticut. Dick appreciated a good long walk in the rain and a lively baseball game. He was a consummate history buff and was always eager to discuss politics. One of his favorite quotes was "As Ohio goes, so goes the nation." Dick loved to travel and to learn, and he took great pride in his English garden, but without a doubt his favorite pastime was spending time with his sons and family. Dick is survived by his sons, Wi l l ia m Ca rleton Robi nson of Su m m it, N Je , a nd Br uce Marshall Robinson of Ann Arbor, Mich.; by his daughters-in-law, Jacqueline Jabara Robinson and Laura Carter Robinson; by his four grandchildren, Linda W i nte r R o b i n s o n , W i l l i a m Kenneth Robinson, Claire Porter Robinson, and Caroline Berridge Robinson; and by his first cousin, Elaine Caughman of Roswell, GA. A service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, Mich. Memorial contributions may be sent to Episcopal Relief a nd D evelopment, P.O. B ox 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058 (phone 855-312-4325; online episcopalrelief.org). Calling hours were on Friday, Jan. 10 at the Castiglione Funeral Home in Greenwich. Funeral Service was held Saturday, Jan. 11 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Greenwich, followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Rye Brook, NY.
Page 9 | Greenwich Sentinel
On Faith Feature
Don’t Just Enshrine Dr. King, Emulate Him
By Marek P. Zabriskie This week, Americans held the 39th national celebration honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who died 51 years ago at the age of 39. Schools, buildings and boulevards across our nation carry his name, and he is recognized as one of America’s greatest Christian leaders. While it is easy to enshrine Dr. King, it is much harder to emulate him. The Rev. William Sloane Coffin, who was a close friend of Dr. King, said, “We must be careful in honoring Dr. King as a martyr than we don’t trample on what he stood for as a prophet, especially when we as a nation spend far more on military defense than we spend on
all of our social programs.” In 1959, King gave the first of several sermons at Yale University. Coffin, who was chaplain then, noted that a black undergraduate said, “That man makes us Blacks proud to be black,” to which a Southern white student added, “and us Whites proud to be human beings.” It could just as easily been said that King makes us proud to be Americans and proud to be Christians. King gave people pride in their race, in their species, in their nation and in their faith. When we think of Dr. King, we are apt to think of social justice. When we think of social justice, we are apt to think that this is the vocation of special people, but in reality it is the vocation of every Christian. W h i le it seems nor ma l to honor Dr. King, it wasn’t always the case. During the 1960s, Dr. King was seen as a very disruptive, polarizing figure. He was a direct threat to the southern way of life. Police in Birmingham unleashed attack dogs on black protesters in 1963. Later that year, Ku Klux Klan members planted a bomb in Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four black girls.
Deep-seated prejudice also across our country and not just in the South. Despite his electrifying speeches, K ing had a quiet, reflective side. A colleague of mine who studied with King at Boston University, said, “King never spoke up in class. He was quiet.” This quiet man eventually shook and awoke our slumbering nation. Many Americans across our country saw in Dr. King a new Moses – a man who could lead African Americans to the Promise Land. Here was a new voice like the prophet Amos, calling for justice to roll down like water. Some called King an extremist, b ut h e w a s a m o d e r ate w h o championed non-violence. K i n g s a i d , “ To o u r b it te r opponents we say: ‘We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. Beat us and leave us half dead and we shall still love you…We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory shall be a double victory.’” In 1963, King and his colleagues
were thrown in jail in Birmingham, Alabama for protesting without a per m it. A g roup of l i b era l Alabama clergy published an open letter calling for King to act with moderation and let the battle for civil rights work its way through the courts and not to cause major civic disturbances. They asked him to be patient. F rom ja i l, K i ng w rote h is famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” addressing his critics request by request. King wrote, “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’…. I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say ‘Wait.’” “But when you have se en vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will;…. When you have seen hate-filled policeman curse, kick, brutalize and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity;….” “ W hen you sudden ly f i nd yourself tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park…. and see
the depressing clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky… and when you are forever f ighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness”; then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.’ In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. Meanwhile, King expanded his views on justice and launched the Poor Peoples’ Campaign, demanding jobs, decent wages, health care and education. When K ing opposed the Vietnam War, people said that he betrayed our nation, but King was proven right. On the last Sunday of his life, King preached against racism, poverty and war at the Washington National Cathedral. Four days later, he was dead, killed by an assassin’s bullet. Decades passed. Many of us naively thought that our nation had made great progress fighting racism, but we were wrong. On August 11, 2017, white nationalists and neo-Nazis marched across the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, chanting, “Blacks will not replace us. Jews will not replace us.” W hen ou r P resident sa id, “There were good people on both
sides of the protest,” I knew then that we as a nation had lost our moral compass and could no longer tell good from evil. Racism was had blinded us to hatred, and we had failed to defend our JudeoChristian values. More than a third of all black men under 30 have been incarcerated. One out of two African American children lives in poverty. We lack equality. We need voices today like King that will not cower when people say, “Don’t talk about politics or discuss morality. Don’t talk to me about Jews, Hispanics or blacks, gays and lesbians or immigrants and poor people.” The Church must stand with the poor and the marginalized because that is what Jesus always did. God is colorblind. God is a G o d of t he u nder do g s , t he disinherited and the poor. We need leaders who will stand by the oppressed and help us regain our moral compass. That is what King did and what his legacy urges us to do as well. May we seek not only to enshrine him, but to emulate him. Rev. Marek Zabriskie, is the Rector of Christ Church.
Worship Services & Events ASSEMBLIES OF GOD Harvest Time Church 1338 King St., 203-531-7778 www.htchurch.com Service: Sun 9 & 11am; Wed 7pm - Family Life Night. Spanish: Thur & Sat 7:30pm; Sun 4pm. Sunday School, 10:30-11:15am. Service - Stamford campus, Sun 10am, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St. Every Wed, from Jan. 10-March 28: The Alpha Course, 7-8:30pm. Connie’s Circle - Every Sat, 10am-1pm. Financial Wellness Workshops for Teens & Adults: Jan. 25, 11am-2pm GriefShare Loss Of Spouse Seminar: Jan. 26, 2-4pm, RSVP but walk-ins will be welcomed. Fire In The Night: Jan. 31, 6pm-Feb. 1, 6am. BAPTIST First Baptist Church 10 Northfield St.; 203-869-7988 www.firstbaptistgreenwich.com Sun: Service 11am, School 10am. Bible Study: Wed 7:30pm.
St. Paul Church 84 Sherwood Ave. | 203-531-8741 www.stpaulgreenwich.org
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 954 Lake Ave.; 203-661-5526 www.stbarnabasgreenwich.org
Mass: Vigil Sat: 4pm; Sun: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30am; Mon to Thurs 9am. Holy Day schedule: Vigil: 5:30pm Holy Day: 9am and 12:15pm. First Friday Mass & Benediction: 9am. St. Paul Volunteers in Action, Fri mornings, office@stpaulgreenwich.org or 203-531-8741. Sacrament of Reconciliation Sat 3-3:45pm or by appointment.
Sun: Holy Eucharist Rite I 8am, Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10am; Worship, Church School & Nursery 10am. Serve dinner at Pacific House, fourth Tue of the month, 5:30pm. The Good Book Club - The Gospel of John Epiphany 2020: Jan. 26, 4pm.
St. Roch Church 10 St. Roch Ave.; 203-869-4176 www.strochchurch.com Mass: Mon, Tue, Frid: 7:30pm; Sat 4pm, Vigil Mass 4pm; Sun: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30am - Social Hour (immediately after 9:30 Mass). Confession: Sat 3-3:45pm. Prayer Group (Spanish): Fri 8pm. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE First Church of Christ, Scientist 11 Park Place; 203-869-2503 www.christiansciencect.org/greenwich
Greenwich Baptist Church 10 Indian Rock Ln; 203-869-2807 www.greenwichbaptist.org
Service and Sunday School 10:30am Wed. Service 7:30pm. Childcare.
Sun: Prayer in chapel 9:15-9:30am; Bible Study, 9:30am; Worship 11am. Wed: Prayer & Bible Study 7-8:15pm. Every first Sat. of the month: Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast, 8-9:30am. Christmas Eve Service: 5pm.
First Church of Round Hill 464 Round Hill Rd.; 203-629-3876 www.firstchurchofroundhill.com
CATHOLIC Sacred Heart Church 95 Henry St.; 203-531-8730 Mass: Mon-Fri 7am, Sat 4 & 5:30pm, Sun: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30am Confessions: Sat 3:30 & 5pm. The Parish of St. Catherine and St. Agnes St. Agnes: 247 Stanwich Rd; St. Catherine of Siena: 4 Riverside Ave; 203-637-3661 www.stc-sta.org Worship: Sat: St. Catherine (Church) 5pm (Vigil) Celebrated with organ and cantor. Sun: St. Catherine (Church) 7:30, 9, 10:30am and 5pm; St. Agnes: 8:30 and 10am. Daily Mass: St. Catherine (Chapel) Mon through Fri: 7am and 5:15pm. Holy Day: St. Catherine (Church) Eve: 5:15pm (Vigil); Day: 7am, 12:10 and 5:15pm. Masses in other Languages: St. Catherine (Chapel) September to June: French Mass 2nd Sun, 11am; Italian Mass, 3rd Sun, 11am; Spanish Mass 4th Sun, 11am. Year-round: Korean Mass Every Sun, 5pm. Reconciliation - Sacrament of Penance: St. Catherine (Sacristy) Sat: 3-4pm or by appt at St. Catherine or St. Agnes. Service Retreat for Grades 6, 7 & 8: Jan. 24, 6:30-8pm, Lucey Parish Hall. Jan. 25: Malta Reflection, 8am-1pm; Walking with Purpose, 9am. Confirmation Retreat: Feb. 2, 10am-4pm, St. Agnes Church. St. Mary Church 178 Greenwich Ave.; 203-869-9393 www.stmarygreenwich.org Mass: Mon-Fri 7am & 12:05pm; Sat 8am; Sun 7, 9, 10:30am, 12:15 and 5:15pm Sat Vigils: 4 and 7:30pm (Spanish). Confession: Sat 2:45-3:45. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Mon 11am-12pm. Walking With Purpose, Tue 9:30am. Choir Rehearsals, Thu: Children 5:30-6pm, Youth 6-7, Adults 7:309:15. Procession and Mass for the Presentation of the Lord: Feb. 2, 10:30am. St. Michael the Archangel 469 North St.; 203-869-5421 www.stmichaelgreenwich.com Mass: Mon-Fri: 7:45am, 9am; Sat 9am, Vigil Mass 5pm; Sun: 7, 9, 10:30am, 12, 5pm. Bible Study: Thu 7pm. Adoration: Wed 9:30am-8pm. Sacrament of Reconciliation: Wed 7-8pm & Sat 4:15-4:45pm. Men’s Group: Jan. 25, 9-10:30am. Confirmation Prep Grades 7 & 8: Jan. 26, 3:45-5pm. Walking with Purpose: Jan. 28, 9:30-11:30am. Adoration: Jan. 29, 9:30am-8pm. St. Timothy Chapel 1034 North St.; 203-869-5421 Mass: Sat 4pm; Sun: 9:30 & 11am. CLOSED FOR RENOVATION.
COMMUNITY
Service: Sundays 10am Holy Communion: first Sun every month. Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Rd.; 203-869-1091 www.roundhillcommunitychurch.org Service & Church School: Sun 10am (childcare available) followed by Coffee Hour; Summer Meditation Schedule: Thurs, 6:30pm. RHCC Bingo Night: Jan. 31, 6pm. CONGREGATIONAL The First Congregational Church 108 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org Regular Worship and Church School: Sun 10am in Meetinghouse. Caregivers Support Group, 1st Sun 11:15am-12pm. Hats Off Book Discussion Group, Thu 10-11:30am. Discussion: “The Gift of Years” by Joan Chittister: Jan. 26, 11:30am-12:30pm. HOLY C.O.W: Jan. 29: workshops: Low Hanging Fruit, Floor and Chair Yoga and Community Service Project for all ages, 6-8pm, patrickc@fccog.org North Greenwich Congregational 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-869-7763 www. northgreenwichchurch.org Service: Sun 10:30am. Communion: first Sunday of month. Second Congregational Church 139 E Putnam Ave.; 203-869-9311; www.2cc.org Family-friendly Evensong Service, Sat 5pm. Sunday Services: 8:30 & 10:30am. Theatre Games: each Wed, 4:15pm. 2CC Lunch Bunch: Jan. 29, 12pm. 2CC Greenwich Moms’ Group: Feb. 4, 9:30am. 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 Sunday Worship: Holy Eucharist, Rite 2, 8am (Chapel), 9 & 11am (Church); Compline & Commuion, 5pm. Sunday Educational Offerings: Exploration Series, Youth Formation & Church School, 10:10am. Tue: Holy Eucharist, 10am. Family Ultimate Bingo Night: Jan. 24, 5:30pm. Celebration of the Chapel Organ: Jan. 25, 5pm. Jan. 26: Instructed Eucharist for Children & Families, 10:10am; Choral Evensong, 5pm.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 200 Riverside Ave.; 203-637-2447 www.stpaulsriverside.org Service: Sun: Holy Eucharist, 8am; Christian Education Formation (Sunday School), 10; Holy Eucharist, 10:15; Coffee Hour, 11:30. The Priestly Ordination of Rev. Eric: Jan. 29, 7pm. St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 350 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-2262 www.saintsaviours.org Sun: Rite I Eucharistic Service, 8am. Rite II Eucharistic Service, 10am. School and childcare offered during 10am service. Annual Parish Meeting: Jan. 27, after the 10am worship service. JEWISH Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich 75 Mason St.; 203-629-9059 www.chabadgreenwich.org Shabbat Prayer, Study and Kiddush, Chassidic Philosophy: 8:45am, Sat 9:30am; Torah reading and discussions 10:30am; Youth Services 11am. Women’s Torah Study Group, Wed 9:30am. Mommy & Me: Musical Shabbat Tue & Fri, 9:1510:15am, during summer: 12:30pm. Through Dec. 22: Mommy & Me Fall Session (0-24 months), 9:20am, register. What is a Soul’- Shabbat Guest Scholar: Jan. 24-25. Congregation Shir Ami One W. Putnam Ave; 203-274-5376 www.congregationshirami.org Shir Ami Religious grades K-6, Tues, 4-6pm, B’nai Mitzvah Classes; Shabbat Services two Fridays a month. Shabbat Service and Oneg: Jan. 24, 7:30-9:30pm, First Presbyterian Church. Women’s Rosh Chodesh: Jan. 27, 7-8:30pm, First Presbyterian Church. Greenwich Reform Synagogue 92 Orchard St.; 203-629-0018 www.grs.org Shabbat services, Fri 7pm. Adult Jewish Learning, Sun 10am. Religious school, Sun 9-11:30am. Introduction to Judaism: Tue, 7pm. Through Dec. 21: ‘Baby & Me’ program, 11am-12pm. Jewish Meditation with Rabbi Gerson: Jan. 24, 6-6:30pm. Shabbat Dinner & Services – Rabbi Gerson’s installation: Jan. 31, 6-8pm. Rabbis’ Round Table & Bagel Brunch – Rabbi Gerson’s Installation: Feb. 1, 10:30am-1pm, RSVP, all are welcome. Temple Sholom 300 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-7191 www.templesholom.com Service: Fri 6:30pm; Sat 10am; Sun 8:30am. Candle Lighting: Fri night. Shabbat Study: Sat 9am. Minyan: Sun 8:30am. Lunch ‘n Learn: Tue 12pm. Itsy Bitsy Playgroup: Wed 10:30am. Silver Anniversary Gala Honoring Rabbi Mitch: Jan. 25, 7:30pm, Purchase College. Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh: Jan. 30, 7pm. Shabbat Across Sholom: Jan. 31, all day. LUTHERAN First Lutheran Church 38 Field Point Rd.; 203-869-0032 www.flcgreenwich.org Service: Sun 10:30am followed by coffee and fellowship. Education, ages 3.5 & up, Wed 2:305:15pm at St. Paul Lutheran. Christianity: The Core Beliefs - an introductory class on the core beliefs of the Christian faith as found in the Bible: Mondays, 7-8:30pm, through April 13, 203-9628700 or escamman@gmail.com to register. St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran 286 Delavan Ave.; 203-531-8466 Service: Sun 9am, Bible Study 10:30.
METHODIST Diamond Hill United Methodist 521 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-2395 www.diamondhillumc.com Worship & Sunday School, 10am. First United Methodist Church 59 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-629-9584 www.fumcgreenwich.com Sunday Service: 9:30am; Korean, 11:30am. Sunday School: 11:30am (English/Korean). Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 42 Lake Ave.; 203-661-3099 Service: Sun 11am Bible Study: Wed. 6pm. NONDENOMINATIONAL Dingletown Community Church 376 Stanwich Rd.; 203-629-5923 www.dingletownchurch.org Service & Sunday School: Sundays 10:30am followed by coffee hour. Holy Communion: first Sun of each month. Sunday School, 11am. Revive Church 90 Harding Rd., Old Greenwich (Old Greenwich Civic Center) www.myrevive.org Service: Sunday 10am. Childcare and children’s ministry available. Stanwich Church 202 Taconic Rd.; 203-661-4420 www.stanwichchurch.org Sunday Services: Greenwich location (202 Taconic Rd.), 9 & 10:45am (June 9-Sept 2, 10am only); Stamford location (579 Pacific St.), 6pm. Men’s Weekend: Jan. 24-26. Student Small Groups: Jan. 24, 6:30-9pm. Finding Her Voice (a PEHT Coalition event): Jan. 30, 7-8:30pm, First Presbyterian Church, 1 West Putnam Ave. The Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-4615 www.albertsonchurch.org Worship Sun: 11-12:30pm. Wednesdays: Spirit speaks-beginner psychic & mediumship development, 7-9pm, $20 per class. Chakra/ Energy Levels with Elena Cantavero: Jan. 26, 1-3pm. Trinity Church 1 River Rd.; 203-618-0808 www.trinitychurch.life Worship: Sun 10am, Greenwich Hyatt Regency, 1800 E. Putnam Ave. High School Winter Retreat: Jan. 24-26. Jan. 26: Winter/Spring Groups 2020 Begin. PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 1 W. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-8686 www.fpcg.org Worship Sun: 10am with childcare, Chapel, 5pm (new); Children’s Mini-Chapel 10:15am. Food for the Table 2nd Thurs 3-5pm; Shelter for the Homeless 2nd Thurs 5:30-7pm. Jan. 26: New Members Class, 4-8pm; Mission Trip Info Meeting, 6-7pm. ‘In the Name of Jesus’ - Book Study: Jan. 29-Feb. 19, 7-8pm. PEHT Event: Jan. 30, 6:30-9pm. Grace Church of Greenwich 8 Sound Shore Dr., Suite 280 203-861-7555 www.gracechurchgreenwich.com Worship Sun: 8:45 & 10:45am at 89 Maple Ave.; childcare provided. Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Ave; 203-637-3669 www.LivingHopeCT.org Worship Sun: 10am. Bible study: Mon 7:159pm. Women’s Bible Study Tue 9:30-11:30am. Mothers of Preschoolers: 1st/3rd Wed of month, 9:15-11:45am. Bibles & Bagels: Sat 7:30-8:30am. Outside These Walls: Jan. 26, 8:30-9:30am. Jan. 28: Community Bible Study, 9:30-11:30am; Night Of Unity, 7-9pm.
Page 10 | Greenwich Sentinel
Here’s LOOKIN’ at you kid
Kids need periodic eye exams so that if problems develop they’re treated. But they don’t love the experience. Dr. Fucigna has examined hundreds of them. He’s developed a way with kids and it makes it easier on Mom, too.
See Dr. Fucigna Robert J. Fucigna, M.D. Advanced Ophthalmology.
1455 East Putnam Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT (203) 348-7575 •www.aoct.co
FIGHT OSTEOPOROSIS NO PHARMACEUTICALS NO SIDE EFFECTS
Suzzane's new bone scan shows 8.5% gain in Suzanne's new bone shows 8.5% gain in bone density sincescan joining OsteoStrong! bone density since joining OsteoStrong
T H E BO NE H E ALTH C E NTE R OF GRE E NWICH
If you don't want to suffer the side effects of osteoporosis drugs, and if you are serious about preventing osteoporosis and building a stronger body, then OsteoStrong is for you. Backed by an ever-expanding body of scientific research, in short, weekly sessions, our members report more bone density gains than any other therapy.
BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SESSION NOW
CALL 203-900-1661
10 Milbank Ave - Greenwich, CT www.osteostrong.me BONES
|
STRE NGTH
|
BALANCE
Warm Up This Winter Atko Bros Landscaping is now providing top quality Kiln Dried Firewood Delivered and Stacked for the best prices GUARANTEED. 1 face cord 8x4x16” $300 and 1/2 face cord 4x4x16” $180 We also stock woodhaven Firewood racks with covers We deliver to Greenwich, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, Riverside, Byram and surrounding areas in Fairfield County, CT and Westchester Country, NY.
Please contact us at (203) 253-1089 for delivery price and time estimate. www.atkobroslandscaping.com
continued from page 2 greenwichbotanicalcenter. org. greenwichbotanicalcenter.org 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Toddler Exploration Time (Ages 1-2). Greenwich Library - Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. No registration required. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary. org 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. American Red Cross Community Blood Drive. YMCA of Greenwich, 50 East Putnam Ave. 800-7332767. RedCrossBlood.org 4 - 5 p.m. Make-It Monday (grades K-2). Greenwich Library - Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. No experience necessary; all materials provided. Registration required. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. Dancing to Fitness in 2020 Andrea Woodman. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Daniels Center, 108 Sound Beach Ave. $16 per class; $80 for 6 classes. RSVP. wudpersn@yahoo.com 5:30 - 7 p.m. Class: “Mind, Body, Fertility Yoga.” Prescott House, 38 Volunteer Ln., ground flr. $80 for four classes or $25 drop-in fee per class. Register. Also offered Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm. 888357-2409. 6:30 - 9 p.m. Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET) Meeting. Greenwich Town Hall - Meeting Room, 1st floor, 101 Field Point Rd. 7 p.m. FAP - Friends of Autistic People: Parents Network Group. FairField Pizza, 1 Strickland Rd. RSVP, not required but appreciated. (Last Monday of the month). 203-6618510. fap.autismct@gmail. com. autisticadults.org 7 - 9 p.m. Byram Neighborhood Association Public Meeting. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 286 Delavan Ave. facebook.com/ events/1325888984280023/ 7 p.m. Book Discussion on ‘City of Light’, by Lauren Belfer. Perrot Memorial Library. Free. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. Seating for the event is limited. 203-637-3870. perrotlibrary.org TUESDAY, JAN. 28 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. American Red Cross Community Blood Drive. Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Rd. 800-733-2767. RedCrossBlood.org 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Balance and Focus through Tai Chi. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Auditorium, 108 Sound Beach Ave. 203-504-4678. 10 - 11 a.m. Weekly Job Search Accelerator. Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. 203-625-6533. mmartin@greenwichlibrary.org 12 - 1 p.m. Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series: Cyber Security 101 – The Threat is Real. YMCA of Greenwich, 50 E. Putnam Ave. (21 years of age and up). $50 per person, $500 per team. 203-869-1630. clavin@gwymca.org 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Parkinson’s Support Group: Taking on Parkinson’s disease with Dr. Duarte Machado, neurologist, movement disorder specialist. Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd. Free. 203-863-4444. 2 - 3 p.m. ‘Census 2020: Are You Ready?’. Greenwich Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. 203-625-6508. trainingcenter@greenwichlibrary. org 3:30 - 8:30 p.m. Open Studio Time at Andrew’s Studio. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. Grades 7th-12th. Free. (Every Tue and Thu). Reserve a time. 203-6295744. info@archstreet.org. archstreet.org 5 - 7 p.m. Art Society of Old Greenwich: Vivien Ponniah: ‘Holiday Beaded Tapestry Show’ art reception. Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar, 26 Mill River St., Stamford. 203-6250126. vjponniah@hotmail.com 6 - 7 p.m. Yoga Takeover. Grades 7th-12th. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. Free. (Every Tue and Thu). Register. 203-629-5744. info@archstreet.org 6:30 - 8 p.m. Time to Talk: A Conversation Series for English Language Learners. Byram Shubert Library - Community Room, 21 Mead Ave. Adults. Free. 203-531-0426. 6:30 p.m. Acacia Lodge No. 85 meeting and dinner - Stated Communication and Fellowcraft Degree. Putnam Cottage - Tavern Room, 243 East Putnam Ave. Public is welcome to attend dinner. (2nd and 4th Tue of month). acacia85@gmail. com 7 p.m. Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. Greenwich Town Hall - Meeting Room, 1st floor, 101 Field Point Rd. 203-622-7894. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 8 - 9 a.m. Tai Chi lessons. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Auditorium, 108 Sound Beach Ave. Drop-ins welcome. $10 per hour. Also offered Thursdays, 9-10am. 203504-4678. 9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m. The Perfectly Polite Bridge Group - Relaxed Duplicate Bridge: 9:45am-12pm; Duplicate Bridge with Conventions, 12:452:45pm; Beginners, 3-5. YMCA of Greenwich, 50 E. Putnam Ave. $10, $12, $30, $34. Register. (Every Wed). 203-524-8032. ppolitebridge@icloud.com 11 a.m. Howard Husock: “Effective Ways to Lift People Out of Poverty.” First Presbyterian Church, 1 W. Putnam Ave. Free and open to the community. info@greenwichrma.org. greenwichrma.org 11 - 11:30 a.m. Storytime - explorations of historical events and figures through storytelling, songs, and movement. Ages 2-5. Greenwich Historical Society, 47 Strickland Rd. Free. (Every Wed). 203-8696899. 12 - 1 p.m. Lecture: “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Weight Loss.” Greenwich Hospital’s Noble Conference Center, 5 Perryridge Rd. Free. Register. 888-3059253. greenwichhospital.org/
events 4 - 5:30 p.m. Jewelry Design for 3D Printing. Ages 13+. Greenwich Library The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. Register. 203-622-7914. innovationlab@greenwichlibrary. org 5 - 6:15 p.m. Yoga - H. Hale Class. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Daniels Center, 108 Sound Beach Ave. 203-637-1791. 7 - 8:30 p.m. Greenwich Toastmasters Meeting - Leadership & Public Speaking. Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Rd. Open to the public. (1st, 3rd & 5th Wed of the month). 203-502-7552. toastmasters.org THURSDAY, JAN. 30 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET) Budget - BOE Operational & Capital. Greenwich Town Hall - Meeting Room, 1st floor, 101 Field Point Rd. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Pollinator Potluck with James Carr. Greenwich Audubon Center, 613 Riversville Rd. Free. RSVP is requested. staglanefarm@yahoo. com. greenwich.audubon.org/ events 7 p.m. Board of Education Meeting - Board Retreat. Havemeyer Building, 290 Greenwich Ave. michael_antonaccio@ greenwich.k12.ct.us. greenwichschools.org 7 - 8 p.m. AuthorsLive: ‘Downsize’ by Sheri Koones. Greenwich Library - Flinn Gallery, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. 203- 625-6533. mmartin@ greenwichlibrary.org 7 - 8:45 p.m. Movies from Around the World: ‘Hippocrates: Diary of a French Doctor’. Byram Shubert Library Community Room, 21 Mead Ave. Free. Adults. 203-531-0426. 7:30 p.m. USA Triathlon Level 2 Coach Steve Kurczewski discusses the common barriers to getting started with triathlons and the many benefits the sport has to offer. Black Oak Velo, 188 Sound Beach Ave. Seating is limited (25 spots). RSVP required. Free. 203-554-8750. skurczewski@elitehealthservices. com. facebook.com/ events/1429912377176093 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Grind Teen Coffee House - featuring Open Studio time. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. Free. Grades 7th12th. Free. Every Wednesday. 203-629-5744. info@ archstreet.org 7:30 - 9 p.m. Zen Group - Twining Vines Sangha. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Daniels Center, 108 Sound Beach Ave. 203-637-1791. FRIDAY, JAN. 31 11 a.m. Greenwich Fire Department Promotional/Swearing In Ceremony: Firefighter Mark Dawson promoted to the Marshal’s Division and the swearing in of Recruit Firefighter Gary Benson. GFD Headquarters, 3rd flr., 15 Havemeyer Pl. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Meditation Workshop. Greenwich continued on page 13
SPORTS
Page 11 | Greenwich Sentinel
Atkinson Contributing in Big Way Upon Return from Injury A lthough Columbus Blue Jackets forward and Greenwich native Cam Atkinson had a slow start to the 2019-20 season, the forward was starting to find his groove. During a stretch in December, Atkinson was on a roll, scoring five goals in seven days and was beginning to feel like himself again. Then came the game on Dec. 19 against the Los Angeles Kings. Atkinson played only 14 shifts and netted his lowest amount of ice time for the reason, leaving the game for what was called a “lower body injury.” Turns out that the Columbus alternative captain had an ankle injury and would be out possibly four to six weeks. The two-time All-Star didn’t ta ke the inju r y lay ing dow n, working every day to get back on the ice as fast as possible. All the hard work getting that ankle healed and back into game shape has paid off for Atkinson, who has been lights out since his return. “I rode t he bi ke ever y day and was skating every day with the skills coach and got a lot of touches on the ice,” Atk inson said. “Our skills coach, Kenny [McCudden] is great. I worked with him every day, one-on-one,
JOHN FERRIS ROBBEN PHOTO
By Paul R. Silverfarb
Columbus Blue Jackets forward and Greenwich native Cam Atkinson plays during a game last year at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. and shot a bunch of pucks. He put me in a bunch of uncomfortable situations to kind of get me in game mode. I owe a lot to him.” Atkinson said that it feels good t hat he’s b een a n i m med iate contributor and helping the team climb in the standings. “I feel like I have been playing my game as of late, so all is good,” Atkinson said. “I want to get on the scoresheet. Before I got hurt
I thought I was playing really well. I had like five goals in seven games. The injury was just one of those unfortunate things, but I started right where I left off and I am feeling really good about my game and confident.” During his f irst game back since the Dec. 19 game against the K ings, Atk inson f inished with a goal and assist in a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes
on Jan. 16 and took home 15:33 of ice time. On Jan. 17, Atkinson led Columbus to a 5-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils, netting two goals and an assist. During the Blue Jacket’s game against the Rangers on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, Atkinson played in his first backto-back game. In addition to his regular duties on the top line, Atkinson was in his usual spot,
playing on the Blue Jacket’s first power play unit. Although he didn’t f ind the back of the net for Columbus, who ended up beating the Rangers in the final seconds of the game, Atkinson was definitely a presence on the ice. Early in the second period, the Rangers were in solid position to find the back of the net, as they worked the puck deep in the Blue Jackets zone, but just before the shot was fired at net, Atkinson got a stick on the puck to deflect it out of harm’s way. In addition to the stellar de fe n s e A t k i n s on h ad a few quality chances to tally a goal, but New York goalie Igor Shestvorkin was up the challenge and made the saves. While Atkinson certainly has seen a lot of work in his first week back from injury, he’s still feeling no serious effects. “My ankle is a little sore, but it ’s t he nat u re of t he ga me ,” Atk inson said. “Ever ybody stepped up [Sunday], especially our goalie, but it feels good to get a win here in New York and a good step to see how my ankle holds up.” Atkinson has quickly adjusted from his time away from the ice and has been a constant presence for the surging Blue Jackets. “It’s all about playing hard and
playing the right way,” Atkinson said. “We are playing good hockey and f inding ways to w in and having fun. We know the guys that we have in the locker room and don’t really worry about the outside noise. We stuck with the process and guys have stepped up when other guys got hurt and it’s great for the organization.” As a team, Columbus has been climbing in the standings on a consistent basis as of late. A team that was looking up to a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference, the Blue Jackets have been on fire as of late. With only one more game to play before the All-Star break, Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus sits as one of the two teams in the wild card spot. Before the ankle injury that sidelined the Greenwich standout, he had nine goals and 12 assists, well off the average he’s been used to seeing since his breakout 2016-17 campaign. Despite the lower numbers so far this year, Atkinson is far from worried and is ready to break out in a big way after next week’s All-Star break is over. “We’re excited,” Atkinson said. “We just want to keep playing hockey and keep playing the way we have been playing. If we do that, we will have success.”
Brunswick Takes Home Gold in Home Tourney By Paul R. Silverfarb
JOHN FERRIS ROBBEN PHOTOS
The Brunswick School wrestling team hosted the 45th annual Brunswick Invitational Tournament and once again came away with the gold. The Bruins dominated competition and won the BIT with 356 team points. In a distant second was Northfield Mou nt Her mon w it h 1 7 7 a nd Noble & Greenough placed third with 145.5 points. Fo r B r u n s w i c k , W i l l i a m MacGillivray (128), Chris Perry ( 1 4 0) , N i c k B e l l ( 1 5 4 ) , W i l l Donovan (162), Alex Burdick (184), Clayton Ostrover (197), Michael Neviera (222), and Cliff Belknap (heavyweight) each won their respective weight classes. The Bruins had their fair share of second place finishers, as the g roup of Kyle Pag na n i (108), Michael Accetta (122), Jackson Wolfram (134), Luca Errico (147), Nadji Ngbokoli (172), and Andrew Shaffer (222) took home the silver. In total, the Bruins f inished with 49 wins and lost only 28 matches. Out of those 49 wins, 35 were technical falls. This weekend Brunswick will be back in action when they travel to Westport and compete for the Fairchester Athletic Association championships, held at Greens Farms Academy.
GAME RESULTS BOYS’ BASKETBALL: St. Joseph High 52 vs. Brien McMahon High 73 vs. Wooster School 47 vs.
Greenwich High 51 Greenwich High 57 Brunswick School 53
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Greenwich High 40 Greenwich High 71 Sacred Heart 30 Sacred Heart 48 Rye Country Day 44 Hopkins School 29
St. Joseph High 56 Brien McMahon High 18 Hamden Hall 65 Masters School 74 Sacred Heart 50 Sacred Heart 41
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.
GYMNASTICS: St. Joseph High 133.5 Wilton High 129.03
vs. vs.
Greenwich High 123.3 Greenwich High 123.3
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY: Northwest Catholic 2 Kents Hill School 1 Millbrook School 1
vs. vs. vs.
Greenwich High 3 Brunswick School 1 Brunswick School 3
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY: Darien High 1 Ridgefield-Danbury 0
vs. vs.
Greenwich High 3 Greenwich High 2
WRESTLING: Brunswick: 1st at Invitational Tournament (356.0 points)
SWIMMING/DIVING: Westhill-Stamford 38 vs. Greenwich High 102 Cheshire High 56 vs. Greenwich High 130 Kennedy Catholic 34 vs. Sacred Heart 55 Sacred Heart 174 vs. Hamden Hall 54 Sacred Heart 174 vs. Westover School 80 Sacred Heart: 2nd place at Horace Mann Invitational SQUASH: Brunswick School 7 Avon Old Farms 0 Sacred Heart 7 Sacred Heart 6 Westover School 3
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.
Hotchkiss School 0 Brunswick School 7 Exeter Academy 0 Deerfield Academy 1 Sacred Heart 4
UPCOMING GAMES GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Tonight at Staples H.S., 7 p.m. Mon. vs. Norwalk H.S., 7 p.m. Thu. at Fairfield Warde H.S., 7 p.m.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Tonight vs. Staples H.S., 7 p.m. Mon. at Norwalk H.S., 7 p.m. Thu. vs. Fairfield Warde H.S., 7 p.m. BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY: Wed. at Trumbull H.S. (at Sports Center of CT), 8:30 p.m. GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY: Tonight at Simsbury H.S., 6:10 p.m. Tue. at Rye Country Day, 4:45 p.m. Thu. vs. Fairfield Warde-Ludlowe, 8 p.m.
BOYS’ & GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK: Tomorrow at Staples High, 10 a.m. Tomorrow at Hillhouse Classic, 10 a.m. GYMNASTICS: Mon. vs. Fairfield Ludlowe, Fairfield Warde (at Gymnastics Academy of CT), 6:30 p.m. Thu. vs. Darien H.S., 6 p.m. BOYS’ SWIMMING & DIVING: Today vs. Trumbull H.S., 4 p.m. Tomorrow at Fairfield Prep, 3 p.m. Wed. vs. Ridgefield H.S., 4 p.m. WRESTLING: Tomorrow at Ridgefield Challenge, 9 a.m. Wed. vs. Brien McMahon H.S., 5 p.m.
BRUNSWICK SCHOOL
ALPINE SKIING: Thu. vs. Cheshire H.S., Darien H.S., Southington H.S., Woodstock Academy (at Mt. Southington), 4 p.m. BASKETBALL: Today vs. Storm King School, 5 p.m. Tomorrow vs. Salisbury School, 2:30 p.m. Thu. at Hamden Hall, 4:30 p.m. HOCKEY: Tomorrow at The Hill School, 2 p.m. Wed. vs. Pope Francis Prep, 6 p.m. SQUASH: Tue. at N.Y. Racquet and Tennis Club, 4 p.m. SWIMMING: Tomorrow at Hotchkiss School, 2 p.m.
WRESTLING: Tomorrow vs. FAA Championship (at Greens Farms Academy), 10 a.m.
GREENWICH ACADEMY
BASKETBALL: Wed. vs. Hamden Hall Country Day School, 4:30 p.m. ICE HOCKEY: Tomorrow vs. Millbrook School, 4 p.m. Wed. vs. Lawrenceville School, 3:30 p.m. SQUASH: Mon. at Sacred Heart Greenwich, 4 p.m. SWIMMING & DIVING Tomorrow at Hotchkiss School, 2 p.m.
SACRED HEART GREENWICH
BASKETBALL: Today at Choate Rosemary Hall, 5 p.m. Tomorrow at Millbrook School, 1:30 p.m. Wed. vs. Greens Farms Academy, 4:30 p.m. SQUASH: Tomorrow at Choate Rosemary Hall, 3 p.m. Mon. vs. Greenwich Academy, 4 p.m. Wed. at Hotchkiss School, 4 p.m. SWIMMING & DIVING: Today at 91st Street, Convent of the Sacred Heart, 4 p.m. Wed. at Hackley School, TBD
Pursuing Excellence in Education
Education Column: Feature
Looking Ahead - Education Trends for the Next Decade
By Jack Creeden
As we embark upon a new decade, educators around the world are look ing at ways to be cer tain ou r cu r r icu la a nd classrooms keep up w ith the changing demands of the new work place. A lthoug h schools today come in all shapes and sizes, the common denominator that connects us is the constant pr e s e nc e a nd i mp or t a nc e of change. Here are 6 Trends to watch for in education in the next decade: 1. The definition of education w ill change – we are quick ly c o m i n g to a c c e p t t h at to b e educated one does not need to sit in the same seat at the same location for a specif ied period
of time with the same students following a proscribed curriculum dictated by an external body of socalled experts. The opportunities for self-directed learning are g row ing ex ponentia l ly. More important, the w illingness of education gate-keepers (i . e ., c o l l e g e a n d s e c o n d a r y school admission off icers and a c c r e d i t a t i o n a g e n c i e s) t o recognize the validity of this kind of education and to offer credit for a variety of learning experiences are increasing. 2. The classroom model will change dramatically – even the most ardent supporters of traditional schooling acknowledge that in ten years, classrooms will not and should not look like what we see today. Progressive educators are leading the way, mo de l i n g cl a s sr o om s w h e r e students follow individualized p at h s to le a r n i ng , pr op el le d by their own innate curiosity. Constant exploration and discovery are acknowledged as the best way for children to learn and understand advanced knowledge. We mu s t c r e at e c l a s s r o o m s where students are encouraged to take risks, consider alternative models to problem-solving and see
failure as one step along the way to success. 3. The role of faculty w ill undergo signif icant changes based on what we have learned
important – while there is no denying the value of being able to understand vast data sets on which decisions in the future will depend, the ability of students
Our curricula and classrooms must keep up with the changing demands of the new workplace. from neurodevelopmental science about how the brain functions and people learn best, classrooms shift dramatically from faculty-centered to student-centered. Agency over learning moves to students, with faculty serving as mentors and experts at developing cognitive and social-emotional skills. Faculty will teach students how to work collaboratively in teams and how to discern the quality of data that is readily and abundantly available from kindergarten to secondary school levels. The instructor has higher order thinking skills to teach and no longer is solely the transmitter of factual information passe d on to b ore d st udents impatiently occupying classrooms for a designated period of time. 4. Social-emotional competence is increasingly
to use those data well requires well-developed social-emotional skills. Our curricula must include strateg ies to help students d e ve l o p s e l f-k n ow l e d g e a n d awareness, emotional regulation and perspective taking, especially when one is operating outside one’s own culture context. 5. Ou r school a nd col lege curricula must evolve to meet the chang ing demands of the 21st Cent u r y work place . Th e McKinsey Global Institute (2018) h a s ide nt i f ie d t h e fol low i n g significant changes in workplace competencies that will be needed in the future a. Between 2016 and 2030, demand for social and emotional sk ills w ill g row across all industries by 26%. b. Within social emotional
skills, the fastest growing demand will be for entrepreneurship and initiative taking (33 % rise in US). c. Between 2016 and 2030, dema nd for h ig her cog n it ive skills such as creativity, critical thinking, decision making and complex information processing is estimated to increase in US by 19%. d. Demand for higher cognitive skills such as advanced literacy and quantitative and statistical skills could decline or stay flat. 6. Technology will play an increasing role in supporting teaching and learning – here it is important to understand that increased technology does not necessarily lead to improvements in learning. We should celebrate, h o w e v e r, t h e a d v a n c e s o f technology and be certain that students at all ages make full use of technology to help them explore and discover information. We know that technology allows students to access more data than previously imagined, but access to data alone will not lead to a well-educated student prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century. As faculty, we must be current with the best uses of technology to support the development of critical thinking and problem-solving with students.
Jeffery Selingo, writing in a March 2018 article in The Atlantic argues that a third revolution in education will propel us into a world of change. He believes “two interdependent forces are driving us into the third revolution— the rise of smart machines and t he de cl i ne of t he f u l l-t i me , career employee. This revolution w i l l i m p a c t b o t h K– 1 2 a n d higher education in similar and different ways.” How exciting to imagine what our K-12 schools will look like at the end of the next decade. To be prepared for 2030, we must continue to accelerate the changes we see at the marg ins of our curricula and the definitions we use to describe a school. We must continue to challenge existing assu mptions a bout teach ing, learning, assessment and what it means to be educated. To prepare students for the challenges that await them, education leaders, faculty and parents must see this as our responsibility and obligation. Dr. Jack Creeden is the Interim Head of Whitby School.
Education Column: Feature
“Good Student” or “Good Person” - Why Choose?
By Patrice Kopas
Next week, Greenwich Catholic School will participate in National Catholic Schools Week. Along with more than 7,500 schools across the country, our community will come together to celebrate our students, our teachers, our faith and our future. For a l most 50 yea rs, Greenw ich Catholic School has offered students a unique experience rooted in faith, surrounded by community and
com m it te d to excel lence . A s Principal, I have always held our students to high academic standards, but more than that, we work as a team to cultivate an environment of collaboration, respect, tolerance and generosity of spirit. At Catholic Schools, being a good student is as important as being a good person. When one considers that a child spends almost half of their wa k ing hours at school each week, the influence teachers and fellow students can have on that child is immeasurable. That’s why a positive and nurturing environment is important for every student, especially as they beg in to mature during their middle school years. When parents and educators think beyond the classroom, we need to consider what “must haves” to look for in a school. Building Character We can all agree that telling the truth, looking someone in
It is that time of year when we look back. We are thankful for all the beautiful things that have happened and that we survived most of the not so beautiful things. But we also look forward to the possibilities of another year, what will we do differently: making new habits and breaking old ones. Helping your child acquire good habits is a part of the learning process, and it is vital because habits (good and bad) can be with your child for the rest of their life. Some of us have habits as
when debating a social justice issue in Social Studies or Religion class. Respecting and appreciating those whose ideas dif fer is a cornerstone of character-building.
As children start to more fully develop their sense of self, we need to set realistic expectations to guide them. child? As children start to more fully develop their sense of self, we need to set realistic expectations to guide them. At Greenwich Catholic, we want our students to be “caught doing good.” In younger grades, teachers foster inclusion, whether it’s during games at recess or when working as a group on a STEM project in class. We find “character” in everyday tasks in our middle school - in something as simple as holding the door for p a r e nt volu nte e r s , or a s complicated as showing tolerance
Fostering Independence When a student is struggling in a class, are they permitted to self-advocate? Once a student moves on to high school, a parent’s role “in school” typically lessens compared to middle school. When your child needs to approach a teacher, guide them in what to say, but trust them to say it for themselves. Encouraging them to organize their thoughts, express their position, listen to feedback, and construct a solution is critical to their development. Yes, it’s a parent’s role to be the safety
net, but failure should become a positive learning experience. It comes as a surprise to some parents when their child can rebound and become successful. Preparing for the Future Just as elementary school leads to middle school, middle school is a time to fully-prepare for the rigors of high school. Find a balance. A solid academic foundation is important, and it’s hard to argue the value of a great report card or exceptional test results. However, we all have a role in building character in our children, and often it takes more patience and consistent reinforcement than the most challenging math problem ever would. When I visit classrooms at Greenwich Catholic School, I see these “must haves” first-hand in our engaged students, thoughtprovoking class discussions, and an atmosphere of inclusiv ity. Research shows that in a positive school environment, students feel
better prepared to learn and are willing to try new things. Loosen the reins gradually as Middle School progresses. By 8th Grade graduation, your child will be ready to practice the independence and autonomy necessary to be a successful and engaged High School student. Ou r g raduates a re wel lprepared for high school because of the foundation they receive at GCS. As part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration, we invite you to join us at our Open House events on Sunday at 12noon, or on Tuesday at 9am to tour our campus, meet our students and faculty, and learn more about what makes GCS such a special place.
you should feel valued and loved. Take time to show them that, to tell them that. If we can establish a positive environment where we are approachable and amiable, we can help our children learn from their mistakes. Choose to be critical of behavior. You can be kind as well as assertive when pointing out unacceptable behavior. Choose words carefully. We want those closest to us to know what we need from them. If you can be consistent and transparent w ith your expectations, they will be realized more often than not. A n added benef it is that we can reasonably hold others a c c o u nt a b l e w h e n m i s t a k e s are made. Engage in a real conversation by avoiding words of correction and direction that we use to get us through the day. Use respectful and encouraging words to foster a feeling of security and trust. Be a patient listener and give importance to your child's opinion. Be committed to spending time together. It can be a shared mealtime or devoting Saturday
mornings to family time. Make it simple so you can keep it up! Carve out quality time with your children as individuals as well, separate time for family activities. Each child needs to be recognized and appreciated for their individuality. You're "best self" is the best for everyone in your life as well. Take time for yourself and with your partner to rejuvenate. Whether it is a romantic dinner, a weekend away, or just time that is out of the routine of life to. When you look back on the year, don't be too hard on yourself. Parenting is hard work. Be patient with yourself and your children. Accept that mistakes w ill be made, that perfection is not reality. Whether you are working on breaking a bad habit or establishing a good one, hang in there. YOU GOT THIS! A s t h e D i r e c t o r a t Ro u n d Hill Nurser y School, Catherine Neiswonger, M.A.T., has enjoyed 30+ years working with families and teachers to positively affect young children's lives.
M r s . P a t r i c e Ko p a s i s t h e Principal of Greenwich Catholic School , a co-ed , PreK-8 school located on a 38-acre campus at 471 North Street in Greenwich. For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit gcsct.org
Happy New Year!
Education Column By Catherine Neiswonger
the eye, and doing the right thing when no one is looking are traits of strong character. If children learn by example, who are the people helping to build character in your
adults that we developed as young children. Children are innocent, naive, and generally unaware of their actions. They are vulnerable to developing unhealthy habits. If these practices go unchecked at the early stages, they can become rigid bad habits for life, which are hard to give up. It can be distressing when we see our kids developing unhealthy habits. Bad habits may be difficult but not impossible to break. With a bit of patience, care, observation, and conscious efforts, we can relieve our kids of bad habits. Paying a lot of attention to the bad habit and punishing your child may actually have a negative impact. He/she will be encouraged to repeat the behavior when given attention. It may be more beneficial to ignore the annoying habit and let your kid outgrow the habit on his own with time. Since attention is something our k ids natura lly crave, tr y instead praising your child when they engage in good habits and avoid the bad ones consciously.
Letting them k now that their good behavior was noticed and appreciated helps boost their morale and gives them a reason to quit the bad habit. Concentrate on
your child in public. Discussing a problem with your kid should be done privately. "It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them" –
"It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them" – Benjamin Franklin. positive responses and be liberal with your praise. When an action is noticed and praised, you are encouraged to repeat it. It doesn't always have to be with words- a gentle hug, a wink, a thumbs up. An added benefit is that the more you look for the positive, the more often you find it. Believe in your children, and the children will believe in themselves. We can't eliminate all of the bad habits at once. Think about habits that are bothersome or possibly damaging and work on those first. Do not rush. Parents should seldom lose their temper with the child. Never embarrass
Benjamin Franklin. Good habits go a long way in establishing the child's personality. Our children try to emulate their pa r ents, te achers, a nd older siblings, so we need to practice what we preach. Habits become second nature through regular practice, and if we can make our children understand the reason behind developing the habits, they are more likely to embrace them. A cornerstone to developing go o d ha bit s i s by c r e at i ng a nurturing environment where those closest to you can thrive and be confident, independent, and caring people. Those closest to
GHS Students at the Intel Competition and CT Science & Engineering Fair. Photos by Andrew Bramante
GHS Senior Cynthia Chen shares her project, "A Green Nanotechnological Approach for Energy Efficiency and Conservation: Tungsten-doped Vanadium Dioxide Thermochromic Smart Windows," at the Intel Competition.
GHS Senior Hiba Hussain shares her project, "Non-invasive, LowCost Diagnosis of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) via Smartphone Breath Analysis" at the Intel Competition.
GHS Senior Justin Speaker shares his project, "Design of a Riboflavin-Enhanced Ultraviolet Contact Lens Disinfection System," at the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair.
GHS Senior Raina Jain shares her project, "Control of Varroa destructor Infestation with a Dual-Function Thymol Emitting Honey Bee Hive Entranceway," at the Intel Competition.
Library - The Jewel, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. No registration is required. All ages. 203-625-6549. 6 p.m. Astronomy Hike & Campfire. Lapham Preserve 85 Richmond Hill Rd. Members: adults, $10, children, $5; non-members: $15, adults, children, $5. RSVP. 203-629-2151. gltrust.org 7 - 10 p.m. All Grades Game Night!. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. 203-629-5744. info@archstreet.org SATURDAY, FEB. 1 9 - 11 a.m. CPR Friends and Family (Infant/Child). Greenwich Hospital’s Medical Education Room, 5 Perryridge Rd. $65. Register. 888-305-9253. greenwichhospital.org/events 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tax Prep with AARP Foundation. Greenwich Library, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. 203-625-6534. ghayes@greenwichlibrary.org 10 a.m. ‘On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark’ and ‘Under the Skin’ exhibition opens. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. brucemuseum.org 10:30 - 11 a.m. Take Your Child to the Library Day! Mother Goose Storytime. Greenwich Library - Rear of Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. No registration required. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 10:45 a.m. Greenwich Greenwich Skating Club’s annual Girls Hockey Open House – grades K-4th. Greenwich Skating Club, 9 Cardinal Rd. Equipment to borrow will be provided for those that need it. Free. bbrower@greenwichskatingclub.org. greenwichskatingclub.org 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Take Your Child to the Library Day! Lunar New Year Crafts. Greenwich Library - Rear of Children’s Room, 101 West Putnam Ave. Free. No registration required. 203-622-7940. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 2 - 4 p.m. Take Your Child to the Library Day: Valentine’s Card Workshop. Cos Cob Library - Community Room, 5 Sinawoy Rd. Free. 203-622-6883. 3 - 5 p.m. Art Opening Reception: “Paisa Art:” Two Colombian Artists. Byram Shubert Library - Community Room, 21 Mead Ave. Free. Adults, all ages. 203-531-0426. 3 p.m. Saturday In The City: Perfect Crime Off-Broadway Show - 8/9th grade trip. Leave Arch Street at 3pm. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. Register by Jan. 24. 203-629-5744. info@archstreet.org. archstreet.org SUNDAY, FEB. 2 8:30 - 11 a.m. St. Lawrence Society (SLS): Breakfast Buffet. The Club, 86 Valley Rd. Adults, $12; children, $8. RSVP. (1st Sun of the month). 203-618-9036. trish@ stlawrencesociety.com. stlawrencesociety.com/ events 9 - 11:30 a.m. Friends of Greenwich Point: First Sunday Bird Walks at Greenwich Point Park. Free. info@friendsofgreenwichpoint.org. friendsofgreenwichpoint.org 11 a.m. Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. Free to members and visitors with paid admission. 203-869-0376. info@brucemuseum.org. brucemuseum.org 2 - 3 p.m. Seaside Center’s Fred Elser First Sunday Science Series: March of the Fossil Penguins. Seaside Center, Greenwich Point Park. Free. 203-413-6747. kdzikiewicz@brucemuseum.org ONGOING Old Greenwich-Riverside Community Center (OGRCC) Registration for the Winter season offering youth and adult programs. Programs include indoor recreational soccer, dance, drama, art, fitness and more. 203-637-3659. office@ myogrcc.org. myogrcc.org Volunteer Transcribers. The Greenwich Historical Society is seeking volunteers to join a team of volunteer transcribers working from home to use voice dictation to digitize handwritten Town records. This will reveal much new information about early Town meetings, land records before the American Revolution and wills, deeds, and genealogy that have never been accessed before. CT1640@gmail.com THROUGH JAN. 30 The Contemporary Art Network Showcase 2020. Greenwich Art Society Gallery, 2nd floor, 299 Greenwich Ave. Open to the public. 203629-1533. admin@greenwichartsociety.org. contemporaryartnetwork.com THROUGH JAN. 31 The Greenwich Art Society presents an exhibition of paintings by Oli Kambeitz. Garden Café at Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryride Rd. On view weekdays 8:30am-3:30pm. 203-6291533. greenwichartsociety@verizon.net. greenwichartsociety.org THROUGH MARCH 12 Women of Atelier 17. The Bendheim Gallery, 299 Greenwich Ave. Gallery Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat & Sun, 12-4pm; Closed on Mondays. 203-862-6750. info@greenwicharts.org. greenwichartscouncil.org THROUGH MARCH 17 7 - 9 p.m. America’s Boating Club of Greenwich Marine Navigation (formerly known as Piloting) course (Tue. through March 17). Greenwich Police Headquarters, 11 Bruce Pl. $80, members; $180, non-members (membership is $100). 203-9981864. GreenwichSquadron@gmail.com. tinyurl. com/MNG2020
THROUGH MARCH 31 Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern: ‘Prefiguration’ art exhibit. Zorya Fine Art, 38 E. Putnam Ave. THROUGH APRIL 5 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Safe Roads Sundays - walkers, bikers, joggers, and skaters can enjoy the open roads of Greenwich Point, as most vehicular traffic is restricted from the roads beyond the main parking lots. Friends of Greenwich Point sponsors and funds this annual program. info@friendsofgreenwichpoint.org. friendsofgreenwichpoint.org AA MEETINGS Monday 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. AA Meeting - “Greenwich Morning Men’s Group.” Greenwich Baptist Church, 10 Indian Rock Ln. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-8692807. ct-aa.org/meetings Thursday 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. AA Meeting - “Greenwich Morning Men’s Group.” Greenwich Baptist Church, 10 Indian Rock Ln. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-8692807 12 - 1 p.m. AA Meeting - “Getting It Together Group.” Christ Church - Parish House Loft, 254 E. Putnam Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203869-6600 7 - 8 p.m. AA Meeting - “12 & 12 Group.” Christ Church - Parish House Loft, 254 E. Putnam Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-8696600 Friday 12 p.m. AA Meeting - “AA Friday.” Diamond Hill United Methodist Church, 521 East Putnam Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-8692395. 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. AA Meeting - “Greenwich Friday Night Group.” Christ Church - Parish House Loft, 254 E. Putnam Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-869-6600 Sunday 1 - 2 p.m. AA Meeting - “Brunch Bunch Group.” Greenwich Hospital - Behind Cafeteria, 5 Perryridge Rd. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-8633000 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. AA Meeting - “Sunday Afternoon Group.” St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 Riverside Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-637-2447 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. AA Meeting - “12 &12 Group.” Christ Church Parish Hall, 254 East Putnam Ave. This meeting is open and anyone may attend. 203-869-6600 AL-ANON MEETINGS Thursday 11:30 a.m. Al-Anon Family Group Meeting: Thursday Noon AFG. St. Catherine of Siena Church - Room 101, school building, 4 Riverside Ave. 203-637-3661. alanon.org/al-anon-meetings 8 p.m. Al-Anon Family Group Meeting: Thursday Night AFG. Greenwich Hospital’s Watson Pavilion; cafeteria’s meeting room, 5 Perryridge Rd. 203863-3000 Saturday 9:30 - 10 a.m. Al-Anon Newcomers. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Lounge, 108 Sound Beach Ave. 203-637-1791 10 - 11:30 a.m. Al-Anon Meeting. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich - Lounge, 108 Sound Beach Ave. 203-637-1791 4 p.m. Al-Anon Family Group Meeting: Saturday Old Greenwich Men’s Group AFG. Saint Saviour’s Church - social room on lower level, 350 Sound Beach Ave. 203-637-2262
COSMETIC, GENERAL AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY
We’re Dedicated to the Health of Your Smile ... TM
www.GreenwichDentalGroup.com
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 HO DO NT IC S
Barber shop 3 Lewis Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203/302.3408 nolandformen.com
open seven days a week
OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS FRIDAY, JAN. 24 8 p.m. Curtainn Call: ‘Cactus Flower’. The Dressing Room Theatre at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford. (Thu., Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2pm. through Jan. 26). $35, adults; $25, seniors; $17.5, children. Thrifty Thu: $27.50. 203-461-6358, ext. 36. curtaincallinc.com SATURDAY, JAN. 25 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. American Red Cross Community Blood Drive. Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford. 800733-2767. RedCrossBlood.org SUNDAY, JAN. 26
Our neighborhood restaurant for people who love friends, family, and delicious homestyle cooking. Here, everyone’s family.
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. American Red Cross Community Blood Drive. Agudath Sholom Synagogue, 301 Strawberry Hill Ave., Stamford. 800-733-2767. 1 p.m. ‘Subpoena Envy’: A Blacklist Comedy Play Reading. Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Rd., Bedford, N.Y. $20. 914-234-6704. bedfordplayhouse.org 4 - 6 p.m. Pop-Up “Improv” Concert: Songs & Stories with Ken Medema + Darin & Sheri Adams. Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Rd., Bedford, N.Y. Free. 914234-6704. bedfordplayhouse.org MONDAY, JAN. 27 7 p.m. ‘The Bullish Farmer’ - Discussion with filmmaker Ken Marsolais and John Ubaldo. Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Rd., Bedford, N.Y. $20. 914-2346704.
CA R RY- OUT & CAT E R I NG
31 E. Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob 203.992.1333
REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD
Page 14 | Greenwich Sentinel
REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD MASTHEAD
Deborah Ference-Gray
DASHBOARD EDITOR
Mark Pruner | Mark@GreenwichStreets.com | mark@bhhsne.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Robert Pulitano | RobertPulitano@bhhsne.com Cesar Rabillino | CesarRabellino@bhhsne.com Pam Toner | PToner@HoulihanLawrence.com Visit www.GreenwichSentinel.com to sign up for 5 Things To Do in Greenwich Today for events and up to date open house listings each weekend.
One Pickwick Plaza Greenwich, CT 06830
Office: 203.618.3155 Mobile: 917.584.4903
deborah.ferencegray@sothebyshomes.com
NEW LISTINGS
FEATURED OPEN HOUSES
Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address
List Price
Price/SqFt
SqFt
AC
BR
FB
Area
1535 Putnam Ave UNIT 406
$325,000
$487
668
0
1
1
Old Greenwich
98 Valley Road 14
$525,000
$521
1,008
0
2
1
Cos Cob
9 River Road 403
$599,000
$464
1,290
0
2
2
Cos Cob
47 Lafayette Place 3H
$625,000
$773
809
0
1
1
South Parkway
16 Deep Gorge Road
$895,000
$445
2,012
1.03
3
1
Glenville
9 Mavis Lane
$950,000
$457
2,081
2.08
4
2
South Parkway
207 Glenville Road
$965,000
$481
2,008
0.25
4
2
Glenville
301 Lyon Farm Drive 301
$995,000
$446
2,233
0
3
2
South Parkway
212 Valley Road
$1,099,000
$458
2,400
0.33
6
3
Cos Cob
18 Stuart Drive
$1,250,000
$535
2,337
0.17
4
2
North Mianus
51 Forest Avenue 107
$1,325,000
$481
2,757
0
3
3
Old Greenwich
9 Fairfield Avenue
$1,395,000
$858
1,626
0.12
3
2
Old Greenwich
15 Lancer Road
$1,399,000
$462
3,031
0.33
4
2
Riverside
107 Havemeyer Place
$1,495,000
$486
3,077
0.2
4
3
South of Post Road
115 Dingletown Road
$1,499,000
$353
4,244
2.13
4
4
South Parkway
2 William Street
$1,795,000
$848
2,116
0.16
3
2
Riverside
26 Bayside Terrace
$1,795,000
$566
3,174
0.28
4
4
Riverside
3 Perkely Lane
$1,855,000
$781
2,376
0.39
4
2
Riverside
303 Overlook Drive
$1,875,000
$452
4,148
0.29
4
3
South of Post Road
26 Connecticut Avenue
$1,995,000
$864
2,310
0.11
5
4
South of Post Road
11 B Relay Place
$2,150,000
$484
4,438
0.38
5
4
Cos Cob
408 Sound Beach Avenue
$2,175,000
$663
3,280
0.28
4
4
Old Greenwich
672 Steamboat Road
$2,385,000
$905
2,634
0.17
4
2
South of Post Road
3 Owenoke Way
$2,750,000
$664
4,143
0.31
5
4
Riverside
183 Round Hill Road
$3,095,000
$458
6,763
2
6
4
South Parkway
18 Tower Road
$3,195,000
$830
3,848
0.47
4
3
Riverside
249 Bedford Road
$3,495,000
$418
8,362
4
6
7
North Parkway
267 Riverside Avenue
$4,350,000
$582
7,468
0.54
6
5
Riverside
24 Meadow Lane
$4,350,000
$597
7,285
2.15
6
5
South Parkway
70 Old Mill Road
$4,895,000
$487
10,052
4.97
6
8
North Parkway
675 Steamboat Road
$5,995,000
$946
6,338
0.58
6
6
South of Post Road
22 Angus Lane
$6,250,000
$770
8,120
1.45
6
6
South Parkway
344 Shore Road
$8,950,000
$984
9,100
0.75
5
5
South of Post Road
172 Indian Head Road
$14,800,000
$1,496
9,896
1.23
7
9
Riverside
Data Compiled by Rob Pulitano [203] 561-8092
Address 24 Forest Avenue 183 N Maple Avenue 27 Westover Avenue 143 Putnam Park #143 18 Norias Road 360 Cognewaugh Road 30 Annjim Drive 677 River Road 40 Crescent Road 107 Havemeyer Place 23 Pleasant Street 218 Valley Road 38 North Ridge Road 24 Upland Drive 8 Tinker Lane 39 North Ridge Road 183 N Maple Avenue 418 Harbor Road 55 Richmond Hill Road 23 Maher Avenue 4 Little Cove Lane 34 Annjim Drive 26 Cobb Island Drive 57 Partridge Hollow Road 105 Parsonage Road
Area Old Greenwich Greenwich Stamford Greenwich Greenwich Cos Cob Greenwich Cos Cob Riverside Greenwich Riverside Cos Cob Old Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Old Greenwich Greenwich Southport Greenwich Greenwich Old Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich
Price $5,300 $11,500 $649,000 $649,000 $999,000 $1,019,000 $1,199,100 $1,385,000 $1,397,000 $1,495,000 $1,595,000 $1,649,000 $1,687,500 $1,750,000 $1,850,000 $2,195,000 $2,250,000 $2,395,000 $2,925,000 $2,975,000 $3,200,000 $3,349,000 $3,550,000 $3,795,000 $5,395,000
Day/Time Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 2-4 PM Sun 2-4 PM Sun 12-2 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sat 12-2 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sat 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 2-4 PM Sun 1-4 PM Sun 1-3 PM
Broker Coldwell Banker Houlihan Lawrence Berkshire Hathaway Sotheby's William Raveis Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Sotheby's Berkshire Hathaway Sotheby's Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Houlihan Lawrence Berkshire Hathaway Sotheby's Houlihan Lawrence Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Abart Estate, LLC Sotheby's Berkshire Hathaway
NEW SALES
Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address 52 Lafayette Place 3B 165 Pine Street 5 Putnam Hill 1C 19 Field Road 4 Sound Shore Drive B7 16 Wesskum Wood Road 19 Andrews Road 50 Lockwood Avenue 78 Brother Drive 10 Club Road 11 Brynwood Lane
Original List $295,000 $648,000 $825,000 $995,000 $2,465,000 $2,400,000 $3,299,000 $3,995,000 $4,995,000 $4,495,000 $5,395,000
List Price $275,000 $638,000 $825,000 $995,000 $2,465,000 $2,400,000 $2,950,000 $3,599,000 $3,995,000 $4,495,000 $5,395,000
Sold Price DOM BR FB Acres $270,000 98 1 1 0 $600,000 117 3 1 0.12 $815,000 91 2 2 $950,000 306 4 4 0.21 $2,325,000 46 3 4 $2,375,000 11 5 5 0.4 $2,700,000 307 5 4 1.07 $3,300,000 1,041 5 6 0.35 $3,800,000 232 5 4 0.73 $4,250,000 59 6 5 0.8 $4,750,000 116 6 6 3
SqFt 585 1,236
2,410 3,072 4,442 4,474 5,151 7,312 6,434 8,338
New to the Market in OG
This delightful shingle style home has it all! Situated on a quiet lane, this home was beautifully and thoughtfully renovated in 2018 and has bright, spacious rooms with an open floor plan. The flexible 1st floor has a large dining room w/ wainscoting, kitchen, living areas, mudroom, powder room and laundry room. The 2nd floor, also with large, sunny rooms, includes a Master Bedroom with new Custom Master Bath, and two double bedrooms with shared full bath. There is ample closet space as well as storage in the attic and basement. Outside, there is a south facing private yard, deck, and a detached garage with french doors to accommodate imaginative use. Walk to OG Village, train, library, restaurants, shopping. Bike to Tod's Point. Exceptional! Directions: Sound Beach Avenue to Forest Avenue on left, to 9 Fairfield Avenue on right. Listed for $1,395,000 by Deborah Ference-Gray at Sotheby's.
Real Estate Column
Page 15 | Greenwich Sentinel
Building Better Communities
homeowners could deduct mortgage payments up to $1,000,000 and also deduct interest on a home equity line up to $100,000. Combined these two reductions in deductibility had a major impact on sales below our average sales price of $2.38 million. Sa les of si ng le-fa m i ly homes i n Greenwich decreased in all price ranges from $600,000 to $2 million. Glenville with an average sales price of $1.19 million and Cos Cob with an average sales price of By Mark Pruner $1.20 million fit right in the middle of this sour spot. Riverside was also affected as Greenwich changed last year, and while its average sale was $1.99 million, if the trends we saw in 2019 continue its median sale was $1.71 million also in we could see some major shake ups in the sour spot. housing values. Three areas that had WHAT’S WORKING IN OLD done well the last several years, did not GREENWICH do well last year. In Glenville, Riverside So, the change in Glenville, Riverside and particularly Cos Cob, we saw a drop and Cos Cob is understandable; tax in sales and prices. At the same time, we laws have made those property more saw sales and prices in Old Greenwich expensive on an after-tax dollar basis. The continue to rise and a jump in sales in same thing however didn’t happen in Old backcountry Greenwich. Greenwich. There the average sales price BACKCOUNTRY Backcountry was the surprise on the plus side, where we have three factors driving sales; one not so good and two that are. The not so good factor is that backcountry properties are tremendous bargains after multiple years of falling prices. The good factors can be seen in the increase in sales along the western and northern borders. The western border sales can be attributed to the expansion of Brunswick School. Parents buying in that area are just minutes from Brunswick and from Sacred Heart. Along the northern border increased sales can be attributed to the renaissance of the Village of Armonk with five restaurants serving Italian food, three Asian restaurants, two Mexican restaurants, two high-end restaurants, an Indian restaurant, a micro-brew bar and an excellent supermarket. (More about Armonk later.) COS COB, RIVERSIDE & GLENVILLE In Cos Cob and Glenville, a significant portion of the drop in demand can be attributed to the loss of the SALT (State And Local Taxes) tax deduction over $10,000 making homeownership more expensive. A less discussed deduction reduction is the elimination of mortgage deductibility over $750,000. Prior to the 2017 year-end Tax Cut and Jobs Act
is $2.34 million, not that much higher than Riverside’s $1.99 million average. What is it about Old Greenw ich that allows it to shrug-off the TJCA’s tax changes? Part of it is certainly having two beautiful parks in Greenwich Point and Binney Park, but from what I’m hearing from my fellow Realtors, the main thing is the Village of Old Greenwich. It’s a very important factor in building a sense of place and increasing desirability of this neighborhood. (Just as the improvement in the Village of Armonk has helped backcountry sales.) If you live in Old Greenwich you can get your morning coffee and a good pastry at Sweet Peas, pick up some cash at any of several banks, get your hardware supplies at Feinsods, play tennis at the Old Greenwich Tennis Academy and then have lunch and dinner at your choice of nice restaurants all on foot. Many Old Greenwichites can walk to town or if the drive they can accomplish a l l of t he a b ove w it hout hav i ng to move their car. You w ill also likely run in to several of your friends and neighbors while you are doing all this. Old Greenwich is a very walkable town and walkability matters more after the recession. Post-recession, people were looking for more of a sense of community, they wanted to live on smaller lots, closer
to their neighbors, with activity going on around them and be able to walk to things. House sales in 2019 show that the desire to be able to walk to stores and be part of a community has only grown more desirable this year. RIVERSIDE, COS COB AND GLENVILLE DOWNTOWNS Riverside and Cos Cob both have shopping areas, but both are on the Post Road. Cars whizzing by do not make for the most congenial conversation area. Also, in Cos Cob’s case the cozy shopping area on Strickland Road is separated by a long wait for pedestrians as the lights are timed to facilitate the quickest movement of traffic on the Post Road not for pedestrians crossing the road. The new proposal for the M&T Bank area could help bring more of a village feel to Cos Cob, particularly with some good landscaping. In Riverside, the Thruway shopping center is set up as strip shopping center with an unattractive parking lot in front and little greenery. The area to the west of the shopping center is not conducive to walking, say for example from the UPS store to Balducci’s. In Glenville, you have what could be a very walkable downtown with a park and a nice river, but it is broken up by the very the busy Glenville Avenue and Riversville Road intersection. CREATING MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS If the demand is there for more livable and walkable small community areas wouldn’t it be cool to create some more Neighborhood Centers. We actually have remnants of small commercial and nonresidential areas throughout the town in areas that most people think of as residential. In Riverside, we have Ada’s, the train station and two schools all in a two-block area. On the north end of Riverside around the Palmer Hill bridge and spanning the Mianus River into Cos Cob, we have another non-residential area with a deli, liquor store and Bridges School. In Cos Cob, we have Rinaldis, the commercial area around Louie’s/ St. Lawrence Club/Lupinacci’s area and Scarpelli's Sausage and Bible Street Park. Backcountry has the Round Hill Store/ Land Trust/ Round Hill Fire Station area and also the Griff/Harvest Church/ nu rser y a rea. Pem ber w ick has the Xchange and Castle View Delis. One thing you will note in most of
these areas is that there is a deli present. Having a good place to go for lunch is crucial to the success of any neighborhood area, but what else can we add. Having some place for neighborhood residents to meet is helpful. A multi-purpose area for kids to play, groups to meet and for special events and parties to be held would make a neighborhood more desirable. Having a community facility that neighbors could use would strengthen a sense of community. Daycare and babysitting facilities would also be ways to bring people together. Drop off points for laundry could be useful as well as professional offices on the second f loors. Back in the 60’s when I first moved here, many lawyers and doctors worked out of their homes. (My present doctor in Riverside is one of the few that still does.) People can get healthcare locally and pick up lunch at the same time. Apartments for the store staff, daycare providers and activity center manager would be helpful for the stores but would also f ight over-development. At the present time, developers that put in a minority of affordable units can override local zoning under the state’s affordable housing statute C.G.S. 8-30g and create high-density developments, but if we increase our affordable housing enough, that law is inapplicable. PARKING & NEIGHBOR IMPACT Two key issues are park ing and neighborhood impact. One way to address parking is make use of the parking that is already there when it is not being used. The Riverside train station is mostly empty in the evenings and on weekends as are the school parking lots. Store employees not housed locally could use more remote parking that they could get to by jitney or a town subsidized taxi or Uber. The other issue is neighborhood impact and NIMBY’s, a term I’ve always hated. Homeowner’s have legitimate concerns about changes that may serve a greater area but have a disproportionately negative impact on their own property. With expanded neighborhood centers, everyone has the potential to benef it. House values directly in the neighborhood centers should go up as properties with multiple uses are worth more. The houses immediately adjacent to these areas, if properly screened should also go up in
NANTUCKET ISLAND VACATION RENTALS AND SALES IslandPropertiesRE.com 508.228.6999
value as their walkability is improved. Right now, houses around downtown Greenwich, that are easy walking distance to Greenwich Avenue and Metro-North are worth more than the same house in mid-country. This could be a win-win with everyone’s values increasing. Now s ome p e ople w i l l s ay t h at Amazon is destroying retail so why build more. Retail is chang ing, but Amazon doesn’t build communities, it hurts communities as we know them. A former period of high vacancies on Greenwich Avenue is now waning as stores adapt to the online threat from national dot coms. What we do need to change locally is what is allowed in our “retail” areas. Banksville is a classic example of that. It has the potential to be an even better neighborhood center, but we need a lot more flexibility as to what types of businesses can be located there. Businesses that did want to locate there have been turned down. THRIVING IN OUR 20’S I’ve lived here since 1967 and seen Greenwich go through several iterations as neighborhoods and the town itself have changed. When we moved into Old Greenwich it was mainly a bedroom community for commuters into Manhattan and many residents who worked in local businesses. In the 80’s, New York City went through some very rough times and we saw a big movement of corporations to Greenwich and the rest of Fairfield County. By the 90’s and the digits we saw Greenwich become a major financial center with lots of hedge funds, including some of the world’s largest headquartered in this area. We’ve been through a lot of changes in last 50 years, but for most of that period Greenwich thrived. In the 2020’s it’s time for some more changes so that we meet the needs of an evolving citizenry and a changing world. Personally, I’d love to see the neighborhood associations help lead these changes. They know their areas best and what can and can’t be done. I’m often pleasantly surprised by what can be accomplished in Greenwich with a little consensus building. Mark Pruner is a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway and member of its President Circle. He can be reached at 203969-7900 or by email at mark@bhhsne. com.
The Leading Digital Provider for Broadcast is in Your Backyard.
web | app | ott | cms | sms | push | vod
intertechmedia.com