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Daily News Updates @ www.GreenwichSentinel.com
FRIDAY, July 26, 2019
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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
A Day in the Life of Cos Cob By Susie Moore
S L o c a l p ol ic e h ave received severa l bea r sightings in nor t hern Greenw ich a nd Rye B r o o k , N .Y. a n d a r e offering safety tips in case of an encounter. Never approach, surrou nd or c or ne r a b e a r ; b e especia lly cautious around cubs; never run from a bear, stay calm, speak in a loud and calm voice, slowly back away and leave the area; do not throw food or bags at an approaching bear; from a safe distance, ma ke loud noises by shouting or banging pots to scare the bear away; once the bear leaves, remove all attractants such as bird seed, ga rbage, g reasy cooking grills and pet food. S The Greenwich Police Department is asking for help in solving a 38-yearold cold case. On July 19, 1981, 36 -yea r-old Ca rrie Lee Mock was found dead on Sherwood Avenue in Greenw ich a d ay a f t e r s he we nt missi ng i n Sta m ford. An autopsy determined she had been killed by strang u lation, w it h stab wounds in her neck as a contributing f a c t o r. A d v a n c e s i n investigative techniques a nd te ch nolog y have improved the chances for cold cases to be solved. Anyone who has information is urged to contact the GPD tip line at 203-622-3333, or 800372-1176. S Downtown Cos Cob is now a lot sweeter, as Chocoylatte Gourmet opened earlier this week at 121 E. Putnam Av e . T h e d e s s e r t s & cof fee shoppe opened its doors to the public with a ribbon-cutting c e r e m o ny, fe a t u r i n g First Selectman Peter Tesei and State Rep. Fred Camillo.
the small handpicked art gallery off to the right. Then, make your way through the small boutique to the quiet tea room in the back. Choose from their selection of flavorful loose teas like their ginger “Hot Mama” or try their own specialty coffee and espresso blends, only served at the tea room. Pair your caffeine with a fresh omelet or pastry. When you’re done, be sure to wander through the #3 Time for Tea main building, where you’ll find a collection Head to the Post Road for breakfast at of eclectic antique furniture, jewelry, and The Drawing Room. When you get to the home décor. well-known brown Victorian house on the #4 Spoil Yourself corner, turn onto Suburban Ave., park behind Next, cross the street and head into the main building, and make your way into The Drawing Room Café & Tea House in the habitatgreenwich, a uniquely curated back. As you walk in, take time to admire
St. Catherine's Carnival of Fun
Please turn to page A7
JOHN FERRIS ROBBEN
S Steve Gospodinoff, the Tree Warden for the Tow n o f G r e e nw i c h , ruled against the removal of 19 trees at Hamilton Avenue School. Residents during a public hearing last week objected t he remova l, which school officials said was necessar y to properly level the school’s playing su r face. Gospod i nof f said if field renovations pla ns a re submit ted showing protection of trees, and reviewed by the Department of Parks a nd R e c re at ion Tre e Department, the project can move forward.
#2 On the way to breakfast, stop in at Scarpelli’s Sausage Store located at 45 Bible Street. They are open from 9:00 until 1:00 p.m. This local legend is worth it. Say hello and find out more about their sausage, then plan to go back and pick some up for the grill this summer. They can be reached at (203) 869-2771.
Congratulations to everyone who made the 2019 Carnival of Fun a success, including members of the Carnival Committee, who work throughout the year to prepare for this incredible event: Fred Durante – Chairperson, Jim Coffey, Steve Coffey, Cindy Busani, Jane Laudonia, Betsy Parker, Pam Sloane, Vince Heidenereich, Jason Grippo, Irene Theriot, Rhonda Morley, Liz Peldunas, Eduardo Rodrigues, Alyson Falco, Alex Nanai, Steve Strazza, and Annie Simpson.
The O’Connor Family No One Gets a Rides Together with GPD Perfect 52-Card Deck One Last Time Excerpts from The Waterwheel
RICHARD KAUFMAN
S The Board of Estimate and Taxation approved an allocation of $120,000 for the Board of E duc at ion to look at design work and get more information about the cost of constructing new bleachers with space u nder neat h t hem for team rooms and other upgrades. The bleachers at Cardinal Stadium were closed indefinitely in the spring because they were ruled as unsafe.
#1 Take a Morning Walk A morning stroll through the woods of Montgomery Pinetum Park is a great way to start your day. The Pinetum is a local hidden treasure. It’s takes up 61-acres of the 125-acre estate donated to the town of Greenwich by Col. Robert H. Montgomery and his wife Nell. Whether you’re a natural born horticulturist, avid gardener, or just enjoy a day in nature, the walk through the Pinetum will leave you inspired, tranquil, and reflective. Drive down Bible St. and follow the signs to the Greenwich Botanical Center. As you drive in, look to your left, you’ll see
the entrance to the walking trails. Follow the Yellow Trail. As you walk down the trail, notice the flowers and trees. These are the source of the natural beauty you see around town. Named after Montgomery’s love of pine trees, the Pinetum is still home to 80 of his original pines brought to the property from all over the world. As you finish your walk, circle back to the Greenwich Botanical welcome center and say good morning to Meg and Lisa in the front office. Tell them you would love to see the garden and the greenhouse. Walk through the vegetables in the teich garden and admire the mosaic of perennials in the greenhouse. Let the pure natural beauty energize you as you start your adventure through Cos Cob.
ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY
The Briefing Room
Michael O’Connor Jr., Patrick O’Connor, William “Billy” O’Connor following Michael O’Connor Sr. at GPD headquarters. By Richard Kaufman The O'Connor family has worked countless hours for the Police Department, but they'll remember last Thursday’s shift for the rest of their lives. Sgt. Michael O'Connor Sr., a lifelong resident of Greenwich, is retiring after 35 years of service to the GPD. Last week for the first time ever, he found a way to work the same shift with his three sons, Billy, Michael Jr., and Patrick, also officers in Greenwich. The boys each took turns patrolling Old Greenwich with their father. Bi l ly ca l led it a "surrea l experience" and said, while it wasn't nerve-racking, he wanted to make his father proud. "It was a great experience. We definitely took it all in," he added. Patrick noted t hat t he depar t ment had done some research and found that there are only about five or six families in the entire nation that had three sons and an active father on the job in a police department. "Today was pretty cool to actually be on the road with him. Even though we weren't doing anything crazy out there, it was so nice to drive around in the car
and be with your father. It was comforting knowing that if we needed something, we could go to him," said Patrick. Patrick transferred f rom Naugat uck, a nd Bi l ly transferred from Old Saybrook. Michael Jr., transitioned from a career in business and joined Greenwich last year to follow in the family footsteps. "We grew up around it," Michael Jr., said. "When we were kids, we were always going to police softball games and picnics. For me, what drew me to it as a career was the sense of family. Even guys we're working with now, we knew when they were newer officers. It's cool to see how they've progressed." The boys viewed it as a "cool opportunity" to all work in the same department and give back to the community. O'Connor Sr. called the job dangerous and said he always worries about his sons. "But, you can only worry so much. My wife said she never wor r ied about me , but she worries about the boys," he said. "To have the boys enter public service, which is something that's a passion, there's nothing you can
say other than it's great and I'm glad they're doing it...I'm hoping they'll have a safe career and help a lot of people." O'Connor Sr. was a patrolman for the majority of his career, but for the last six years he's been a supervisor in the Marine Division, so he has been separate from his sons. He called his retirement from full-time duty "bittersweet", but he'll still be visible as a Special Police Officer, also known as an auxiliary officer. "This is an historic day," said GPD Chief James Heavey, who spoke about the legacy O'Connor Sr., leaves behind at the department. "It's a big loss to lose Mike as a full-timer, but we're very fortunate that he's going to remain as a part time special officer." O'Connor Jr. fought back tears severa l times when speaking about his sons. He said he always tried to instill in them to be fair, work with integrity, and treat others the way they'd like to be treated. "We're a very close family," O'Connor Sr. said, choking up with emotion. "[The boys] make me proud. They're good boys."
By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT No one gets a perfect 52-card deck in life. We all have set backs, disappointments and parts of our lives we wish were different. Whether these challenges are minor or serious, the same question applies: how will you play the cards you were dealt? An overweight person might trade the A’s she earned in school to be thin. An attractive man might trade his good looks for more intelligence or athletic ability. Someone with difficult parents or siblings might trade them for “the perfect family.” Your cards are your cards. Some of them are gifts. Some aren’t. What will you do with them? Blaming someone else won’t change the cards you hold. Some of your difficult cards may turn out to be the most valuable ones in your life. It’s your move. Heather was physically abused as a child. She now writes music and poetry. She speaks in public forums and blogs about the issues that caused her so much pain. In so doing, she is turning her worst card into a gift for others, while she heals herself. Parker hated his learning difference. He was often teased in childhood. Now as a beloved teacher at a school for children with learning differences, he knows that his personal experience is one of the reasons his students trust him. Publisher's Note: This is an excerpt from a book by local author, Jill Woolworth, titled The Waterwheel. The book contains 64 whimsical illustrations of familiar life challenges followed by explanations and examples. The examples are compilations of true stories with important details changed. Many of the stories are the author's own. If you recognize “your story,” it is because you are not alone in the experience. The book, in its entirety, is a wonderful gift for anyone, especially those navigating new experiences and relationships with classmates, co-workers, significant others, children, and siblings. The Waterwheel: Practical Wisdom for 64 Common Concerns is available through Amazon. Alternatively, we encourage you to shop locally at Diane's Books or Christ Church Books & Gifts.