October 11, 2019 by Greenwich Sentinel

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FRIDAY, October 11, 2019

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Crumbines Honored

The Briefing Room

By Richard Kaufman

S Chief Operating Of f icer for Greenw ich Public Schools, Lorianne O’Donnell, is leaving the dist rict to become t he COO at Abilis. O’Donnell will continue in her current role until Nov. 15. The GPS COO is responsible for the district’s budget, facilities, rentals, purchasing and bids. The search for a new COO is underway. S On Monday, Greenwich re sident s at tende d a n informational meeting at the Stamford Government Center to voice strong objection to a proposal brought forth by Weeks Ma r i ne to const r uc t a commercia l mooring transfer station in Stamford waters, near Greenwich Point. On Wednesday the application was withdrawn. S The League of Women Voters of Greenwich hosted two debates on Thursday night at Greenwich High School bet ween First S ele c t m a n c a nd id ate s Jill Oberlander and Fred Camillo, and Selectman candidates Lauren Rabin and Sandy Litvack. For more on the debates, check out next week’s edition of the Greenwich Sentinel. S The LW VG a nd t he Greenwich PTA Council will co-sponsor a Board of Education forum on Oct. 15. A non-partisan PTA Council panel will choose questions from written submissions by the PTAs and Council Committees. Christina Downey (D), Gaetane Francis, Karen Hirsh (D), Karen Kowalski (R), and Joe Kelly (R) will participate. S The 14th annual Walk/ Ru n for Abi l is w i l l be held Sunday, Oct. 20 at Greenwich Point Park. This fun family-friendly event will feature arts & crafts, food, games, the “Bubble Bus,” music and more. A 5k run kicks off at 9 a.m. and the 1-mile walk at 11 a.m. Famed choreographer and fitness celebrity Billy Bl a n k s Jr. w i l l b e t he Master of Ceremonies. S Beginning on Saturday, Oct. 12, Greenw ich Au du b o n C e nt e r w i l l reserve spaces to support people with challenges who are sensory-sensitive and would like to enjoy learning about nature in a quiet and soothing space, as part of its Audubon For All initiative. This offering will be held every second Saturday of the month. Please RSVP in advance with Accessibility C o ord i nator C a rol i ne Bailey at Caroline.Bailey@ audubon.org or 203-9003349.

There was an outpouring of love, respect and admiration at the Tamarack Country Club last Thursday as Bea and Peter Cr u mbi ne were presented with the fifth annual David N. Theis Award for Outstanding Service to the Community from t he Glenv i l le Volunteer Fire Company. The award, which was given to St ate . Re p. L iv v y F loren in 2015, Terr y Bet teridge of Bet ter idge Jewelers i n 2016, Scott and Icy Frantz in 2017 a n d E d D a d a k i s l a s t y e a r, i s pre s ente d to a de s er v i ng individual from Greenwich who self lessly and compassionately ser ve s t he tow n's re sident s , organizations and institutions in an admirable and tireless manner. The award was created to memor ia l i z e t he late Dav id Theis, former First Selectman of Greenwich who passed away i n 2014 . T heis wa s a st rong presence in the community and an avid supporter of the GVFC. For GVFC President, Sandy Kornberg, this year's recipients are well-deserving of the award. "[B e a a n d Pe t e r] a r e a m a i n s t ay i n G re e nw ic h for sure. They're so wel l k now n by ever ybody, and so greatly appreciated by everyone. They're ju s t a p e r fe c t f it t o b e ou r honorees," Kornberg said. Peter served as a selectman in Greenw ich for f ive terms f rom 1999 to 20 09. Pr ior to that, he spent four years in the Representative Town Meeting and the Board of Estimate and Ta xation. Currently, he's the pre sident of t he Gre enw ich Horseneck Club, and Greenwich Green & Clea n. He has a lso s e r v e d o n t h e S e l e c t m a n's Nominations Advisory Committee since its inception in 2004, and is a member of the First Friday Club.

for the GVFC. Attendees had the chance to bid on silent auction items s uc h a s t ic k e t s to t he 2 0 2 0 Greenwich Town Party, or even a Gre enw ich Pol ic e Ma r i ne experience. All proceeds from the event are put back into the GVFC to help its volunteers,

term, t ha n ked him for his "partnership and friendship." Tesei highlighted the approval of C os C ob Pa rk as a major accompl ish ment a nd a fond memory with Peter Crumbine. Tesei called Bea a "true gem" and "the most pleasant person in the town of Greenwich."

"Bea and Peter Crumbine are two very special and devoted people. They're devoted to each other and supportive of each of their respective community endeavors. They're proud parents and grandparents, approaching service to our town with the same level of love, commitment and joy that they do their own family. It's so fitting that they're being jointly recognized this evening," Tesei said.

along with the purchase of new equipment. "The support from t he communit y has been tremendous," said GVFC Chief, Michael Hoha. Several people spoke about t he Cr u mbines a nd Theis, a n d w h a t t h e y ' ve m e a nt t o Greenwich over the years. Fi rst Selec t ma n, Peter Tesei, who ser ved with Peter Crumbine during his inaugural

Column: On My Watch

"Bea and Peter Crumbine are two very special and devoted people. They're devoted to each other and supportive of each of their respective community end e avor s . T he y 're proud p a r e nt s a n d g r a n d p a r e nt s , appro ac h i ng s er v ic e to ou r tow n w it h t he sa me level of love, commitment and joy that they do their own family. It's so fitting that they're being jointly recognized this evening," Tesei

added. L on g t i m e f r i e n d , Fr a n k DiVincenzo, spoke about his friendship with the Crumbines. " He w ho f i nd s a f r i e nd , finds a treasure," he said, first in Italian. "While Bea and Peter Cr u mbi ne represent what is good in America, you can't have a complete success in business and life unless you dedicate part of it to public service." Fo r m e r S t a t e S e n . S c o t t Fr a nt z s a id t he C r u mbi ne s " d e f i n e w h a t G r e e nw i c h i s all about as far as its culture, character and integrity." "They have set such a good example for so many of us. I've a lways t hought of [Peter] as the quintessentia l statesman in our town. Bea, you are the Ambassador-at-Large superstar and rock star. Everything you do, you bring such grace and such enthusiasm," Frantz added. "I'm convinced that David Theis is smiling like the rest of us are tonight." The Crumbines were given honorary badges and an award which featured a small GVFC fireman’s helmet. State Reps. Fred Camillo and Livvy Floren presented them with an official citation from Hartford commemorating their award. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also presented the Crumbines with a citation. T he event wa s a f it t i ng t r ibut e to t he memor y of a Greenwich pillar and to those t h a t c o nt i n u e t o s e r v e t h e community. The GVFC hopes to continue this event for many years to come. “When David Theis was in office, he was a great supporter of t he volunteer f iref ighters t hroughout t he tow n. That's why we're honored to honor his memor y and legacy with the award," Hoha said. It’s safe to say the legacy and spirit of David Theis was felt throughout the entire evening.

Excerpts from The Waterwheel

The Need to Protect Our Birds Grows and Grows

The Alphabet of Gratitude

By Anne W. Semmes

From my window, from my writer’s desk, I’ve been enjoying t he pa rade of birds to my neighbor’s purple-berry laden inkberry plant. The birds, some surely migrants, showed such restraint in their feeding, the harvest was lasting. And then, suddenly, that feeding station was all gone – swept away by a landscapers cleanup! Hea r tsore, what c a me to mind were Rachel Carson’s words from her “Silent Spring,” On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices, there was now no sound. Carson’s words were quoted in a recent news report of the near-30 percent decline of bird popu lat ions i n t he U. S. a nd Canada. There are now 2.9 billion fewer birds than 50 years ago. It’s all there on the Cornell L a b or at or y of O r n it holo g y website. (birds.cornell.edu) A l l t h i s b a d ne w s w h i le seei ng ospre y s soa r i ng a s a volunteer Osprey Steward for the Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS). I nd e e d , i n C on ne c t ic ut , “C e r t a i n p o p u l a t i o n s h a v e increased by 30-percent where we have good habitat,” notes Patrick Comins, CAS executive director. The decline is “where the forests have been fragmented, where there’s a lot of development…Its birds that are in our backyard.”

ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY

S Unu s e d or e x pi re d medication can be disposed of on Saturday, Oct. 26 du r i ng Nat iona l Dr ug Take Back Day. Residents can go to the Public Safety C o m p l e x a t 11 B r u c e Place to throw away their medication from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Bea is Greenwich 's "A mba ssador-at-L a rge", a nd has helped foster sister-cit y relationships in Italy and China, bringing delegations overseas and hosting them here in town. Mu sic ha s a l so been a big part of Bea's life, as she is an accomplished opera singer. She has performed in Greenwich w it h T he Gr ac e Note s , a nd has sung at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Vatican for Pope Benedict. B ea wa s i nst r u ment a l i n beginning the town's Fourth of July Ceremony at Town Hall, a nd re c ent ly, she help e d to restore six 10,000 pound stone monoliths at the Montgomery Pinetum Property in Cos Cob. She has also served on various boards in town. The Crumbines said t hey were honored to receive t he award, but were quick to praise Theis a nd what he mea nt to Greenwich. Bea said she's often reminded of Theis' legacy when she drives over the Mianus Bridge which is named in his honor. "This is quite an evening for Bea and myself. It's particularly me a n i ng f u l b e c au s e it a l s o honors David Theis," Peter said. Peter recalled that Theis, who succeeded Peter as selectman, wou ld of ten c a l l a sk i ng for advice. Peter went on to say t hat he often feels odd when people thank him for his service to the community, because he believes ser v ice is its ow n reward. "I wou ld not have made it in public life for 18 years if I didn't enjoy every minute. In a sense, I should be thanking Greenwich and the Glenville volunteers, rat her t ha n t he ot her way around," he said in closing. G r e e nw i c h Po l i c e C h i e f and former GVFC Chief, James H e a v e y, w a s t h e m a s t e r o f ceremonies for the event, which also served as a big fundraiser

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT

The numbers of migratory Wood Thrushes - memorable singers in our woods, have declined 70 percent. That glorious singer, the wood thrush, “has declined around 70 percent.” Add red winged blackbirds, common grackles, and yes, even those European starlings I last saw feeding on the inkberry. So, ra l ly i ng to t he c ause the CAS just sent out a list of “Six things you can do here in Connecticut to help declining bird populations.” (Found at ctaudubon.org) And number 5 is, “Landscape for birds,” including, “ Plant native trees and shrubs that produce fruit and berries.” First on the list is “Advocate,” working in concert with others. Writer and climate activist Bill

McKibben has pointed out that, “If 3 or 4 percent of a population advocates for a cause, it’s often enough to force a change in the system. But if those same 3 or 4 percent take action individually, i t ’s n o t e n o u g h t o m a k e a difference.” This week there was a mig ht y swel l of advocac y organized by t he Greenw ich Point Conservancy with Town community leaders to protect t he waters a nd su r rou nd of G r e e nw i c h Po i nt f r o m t h e building in Stamford Harbor of a commercial “mooring” and transfer station – viewed as an CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

It’s worth repeating that we can’t be anxious and grateful at the same time. Expressing gratitude for anything reboots our brains out of fight-or-flight mode. Writing five things we are grateful for in a journal or saying them out loud is com- fort food for our brains. Sometimes a journal isn’t handy and speaking aloud isn’t an option. We might be on a crowded subway or sleeping with our partner in the room. Especially in the middle of the night when blood sugar is lowest and anxiety is likely highest, we can lower our anxiety by mentally running through an alphabet of friends we have loved, places we’ve enjoyed, or foods we appreciate. (We can skip letters we can’t find a name for. Few of us have been to Zanzibar, adore zucchini, or have a friend named Xerxes.) This practice usually puts us back to sleep before the third iteration. Along with using the alphabet of gratitude, Jennifer and Ryan practice sharing “three gratitudes” at bedtime. These are the last things they say to each other before they roll over to sleep. Each gratitude is something special that happened during the day—a conversation, a sunset, a good report. Their brief expressions of gratitude calm their brains and help them fall asleep more easily. 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 Christ Church Books & Gifts.

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