November 1, 2019 by Greenwich Sentinel

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FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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Becoming Dogwood, A Local Gem By Becky Ford

When you run a brick-and-mortar business you learn quickly what is and isn't working: the customers let you know with their words and wallets. In the years since I became the manager of Christ Church Bookstore in 2015, one thing kept becoming more and more clear: the store's name no longer described fully what it had become. “I thought you just sold Bibles!” someone would say as they ordered an iced mocha from our coffee bar. Or “I remember when this was mostly cards and cross necklaces!” another would remark as they perused our new book titles. It was true. The store had undergone tremendous change— the retirement of its founder and leading light Marijane Marks after 30 years, followed by an extensive expansion and renovation, and a total redefinition of what it means to be a store located within a church in a post-church store era. The constant surprise over the changes became like a chant. “No one believes me when I tell them this is one of the best stores in town!” It was time to change the name. We chose Dogwood Books & Gifts, after the cross-shaped flowering tree that is planted all over our campus as a pretty, natural and symbolic way of saying Christ Church Bookstore. Dogwood symbolizes durability, resilience and rebirth— what better words to describe a store that has survived 35 years of change? CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

S Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, when clocks are moved back an hour at 2 a.m. local daylight time (so they will then read 1 a.m. local standard time). DST began on March 10 and ends on Nov. 3.

S A Greenw ich Police Captain has been placed on paid administrative leave after information came to the department’s attention that he was involved with the fraudulent campaign sig ns t hat cropped up around town last week. The signs were made to appear as though they had been created and placed by First Selectman candidate, Fred Camillo. The Police Administration said they are reviewing the facts. S The League of Women Voters of Greenwich has released its 2019 Voter’s Guide ahead of the Nov. 5 municipal election. The guide lists candidates in contested races by office on the election ballot and provides their answers to League questions. Voters may take a hard copy or digital copy of the Voter’s Gu ide i nto t he vot i ng booth. To view the guide, go to lwvg.org S Police cold case investigators continue to search for clues in the Mary Capozza homicide. 40 yearold Greenwich resident, Mary Capozza, mother of three, was last seen 32 years ago at about 6 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1987. She was reported m is si ng t he fol low i ng morning by a fa mi ly member. After an extensive search and almost a month after Capozza went missing, her body was found in the water of a North Castle, N.Y., reservoir. Anyone with any information on Capozza’s disappearance or death should call the tip line at 203-622-3333, or 800-372-1176. Information can also be emailed to: tips@greenwichct.org

The Toypreneur Family Behind Funky Monkey Imagine growing up not just with a chest full of toys, but totally immersed in the land of play. That was the childhood of Jared Greenman, Funky Monkey Toys & Books owner. He is a fourth generation of "Toypreneurs," along with his Dad, Stanley Greenman. Stanley’s father, and grandfather were all in the toy business, and his great uncle, Nat Greenman, is listed as #3 in the Toy Hall of Fame. The Star Trading Company was originally founded by the Greenman family in 1931 as a wholesale company, with a small retail storefront on Ludlow Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Star Trading sold a variety of goods, including toys and housewares, from a small warehouse. In the mid1940s, management was handed over to the second generation, Bernard, Nathan, and Sidney, and the company was renamed Greenman Brothers Inc. continuing to operate on a modest scale through the 1950s. Over the next four decades, Greenman Brothers Inc. thrived as a publicly traded company, selling across the United States. The toy industry ebbed and

flowed with the opening of big box stores and malls. In the 1990’s, they recognized an important void in the toy market. Educational and creative toys were only sold in specialty stores and did not have a broad distribution channel. Choices for creative playthings, enriching books, better music, and imaginative software were limited and quality items were hard to find. What was needed was a large selection of well-priced, quality products for children, all under one roof. Greenman Brothers opened its first Noodle Kidoodle store in 1993 in Greenvale, New York. "Kids learn best when they're having fun!" Noodle Kidoodle would steer cle a r of t he m a s s-m a rkete d , television-inspired toys and offer what parents were looking for- a mix of creative and education-oriented toys, books, and computer software. Jared grew up in a toy store world. He definitely felt like a fortunate boy. "As a kid, I got all the cool new toys before anyone else. I got to go to the Toy Fair in NYC as a VIP. Jared’s mom was an architect, so he gravitated towards building toys like

Lego and Lincoln logs. "It was an environment that helped spawn my imagination and creativity," shares Greenman. He remembers a family road trip, brainstorming names for what eventually became Noodle Kidoodle. "We came up with all sorts of whacky names. A year later, I saw the big bright letters atop Dad’s new store, and I became obsessed with the notion of turning ideas into reality." In 2000, the 60 Noodle Kidoodle stores across the country were acquired by Zany Brainy. But Stanley Greenman wasn’t going to sit still. Once again, he recognized a niche in the toy market - a cool, hip, trendy, exciting neighborhood toy store experience. And where did this name come from? “We wanted to be cool and funky. We were eating Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream one day and said, ‘Aha! This it is! Funky Monkey!’” And so it began in Greenvale, Long Island 15 years ago. “We wanted to be fresh and different so we chose funky colors, like tangerine mango and lime, instead of the primary colors everyone else was using.”

Column: On My Watch

The Imprint on Our Town of Greenwich Green & Clean By Anne W. Semmes L a s t Fr id ay e ven i ng you could hear the green heartbeat of our town standing among 100 or so gathered beneath the glittering glass roofs of the Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses. Greenw ich Green & Clea n (GG&C) was hosting its annual “thank you” party so described by its evergreen leader, Mary Hull for all those who had helped carry out the GGC&E mission for a “cleaner and more pristine environment” in our town. Seeing who received those “Environmental & Beautification Aw a rd s ” a n d w hy, on e c a n visualize the extraordinary green imprint of GG&C, not only in the town’s public places, but its private places. First awardee for “Beautification of Public Space” was garden designer Carrie Maher Greenwald who’s brought us a

" T h i s I n st ag ra m Accou nt Perfectly Sums Up Nantucket and the Hamptons." Hello, Greenwich! For Jared, toys are such an integral part of growing up in the family business, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to open Funky Monkey in Greenwich with his dad. “Kids love coming into our really fun, colorful toy store. They’ve never seen anything like this. I love seeing the look on the kids faces when they walk in,” Jared is proud to say. Jared and his father felt this is the right time to expand the 15year Long Island Funky Monkey to Greenwich. "Greenwich is an extraordinary town unlike any other, and is supportive of local businesses. People are familyfocused and parents are active with their kids," Jared has noticed. "It's been a g reat ex per ience for us so far. It's friendly and upbeat, and everyone has been very welcoming." Greenman is committed to embracing his new home on the Avenue a nd the Greenwich community "by aligning with some family focused charitable organizations and planning fun interactive events. The Greenwich store is like my baby, so if you walk by our stretch of the Avenue, you might see me sweeping the sidewalk or washing the windows. Stop by and say what's up!"

Excerpts from The Waterwheel

Level Ground Greenwich Green & Clean Executive Director Mary Hull celebrated the awarding of the “Albert E. Betteridge Beautification Award for Sterling Service” presented to Chris Franco, founder of the Greenwich Point Conservancy, for his many contributions or re-purposing and restoring buildings on Greenwich Point.

The Greenwich Sentinel Award for Environmental Improvement was presented to our town’s recycling and plastic awareness campaigner, Julie DesChamps bounty of blossoms, butterflies and birds in what Hull called Greenw ich ’s f irst Ecologica l Park, open to the public, across the street from Town Hall at the Greenwich Close Apartments owned by the Greenwich Housing Authority. Surely a place to visit

Until you spread your wings, you have no idea how far you can fly Like father, like son, they are running the newly opened Funky Monkey in Greenwich. But some families believe their post-grad kids should have different real-life experiences instead of leaping right into a family business. After college, Jared started his career working in the NYC tech startup scene. "The first job I took was for a company that helped small businesses increase their online visibility. It was grueling work, and I got cursed out and hung up on more times than I can remember, but it was a valuable experience for me." The company was acquired by Constant Contact and led Greenman to work for another service oriented tech company. “I dealt with some large companies including Victoria's Secret and, ironically, Toys R Us." All of his post-graduate work experience has taught him the value of the customer experience as well as the importance of treating people with honor and respect. Following his entrepreneurial spirit, Jared has produced two independent feature films with one still in production, starring Molly Ringwald. He also ran an e-commerce business that was born from an Instagram account focused on "Nantucket v. Hamptons," called @ackvhamps. Town & Country has featured the account:

on your walks to and fro. Jump to R iverside, where many “unloved” weed-choked traff ic islands were replaced with perennials when Riverside Ne i g h b or ho o d A s s o c i a t ion members Diana Klingner and Pete Uhry, came on the scene, “shovel in hand, to attack more unsightly

pieces of Town Property,” told Hull. They received the Greenwich Time Community Partnership Award given out by our new Town Tree Warden, Dr. Gregory Kramer. Next up was awardee Chris Franco who never ceases with his greening and restoring of that town landscape gem - Greenwich Poi nt a nd env i rons. He was presented with gem merchant Te r r y B e t t e r i d g e ’s “A l b e r t E . Bet teridge Beaut if icat ion Award for Sterling Ser v ice.” Hull commended Franco for creating the Greenwich Point Conservancy, for the repurposing of the buildings on the Point, for the historic preservation of the oldest CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT

ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY

S O n Fr id ay, t he Greenwich Fire Department held a c eremony to we lc ome firefighter Scott Teulings to the department. Teulings comes to Greenwich from Hamden, Conn., where he was a member of the Hamden Volunteer Fire Department. Teulings will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of firefighter John Kiernan. For more on this story, see www. greenwichsentinel.com

Colette de Jounge and Becky Ford who run Dogwood Books and Gifts.

BOB CAPAZZO

S Abilis is holding a Project SE A RCH Inter nsh ip Information Session and Job Fair for young adults with special needs and disabilities. The Job Fair w ill be held Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m., at Abilis. Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program for students with disabilities, between the ages of 18-30, who seek competitive employment. The program takes place at Greenwich Hospital. For more information, go to abilis.us

A skilled professional understands that her clients’ life experiences are just as important as her own professional expertise. She meets her clients on level ground. Wise leaders do the same with their subordinates. It is hard to trust a person who towers over others, or one who looks down at us from a lofty platform of expertise or judgment. Level ground is the best place for trustworthy relationships, including professional ones. Level ground is about attitude, not knowledge. We communicate our attitude by word choices, tone of voice, and especially body position. Others stay calmer when we are eye to eye with them because we are no longer intimidating. Overriding our desire to impress is a powerful way of showing compassion. Sarah had to fire her employee. Beth was an oncologist with bad news. Both left their desks and took chairs facing the people to whom they were bringing bad news. Being face to face made their difficult messages easier to hear. Zach sat on a stair below his disobedient four-year-old so that he could look into his son’s eyes. When he did so, his anger softened and his son was better able to listen because Daddy was no longer twice as tall as he was. This is an excerpt from The Waterwheel by local author, Jill Woolworth, available through Amazon. Alternatively, we encourage you to shop locally where it is also available at Diane's Books or Dogwood Books and Gifts).