October 1, 2021

Page 1

Greenwich Sentinel The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, Local, local, local.

October 1, 2021

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October, October!

Back Countr y | Banksv ille | Belle Haven | By ram| Chickahominy | Cos Cob | Glenv ille | Old Greenw ich | Pember w ick | R iverside | Bedford, N Y

Your Briefing: The Local News You Need to Know ABILIS HITS THE MARK AT DANCING WITH THE STARS EVENT Two very good friends of the Greenwich Sentinel, Cesar Rabellino from Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New England (and one of our Real Estate page contributors) and Amy Huertas of the First Bank of Greenwich (and a very good friend) were stars at the friendly dancing competition to benefit ABILIS last week. They were both amazing and contributed to the success of the event which met its goal of $150,000. PROFICIENCY SCORES IN GPS DROP SIGNIFICANTLY IN READING AND MATH According to a Board of Education presentation earlier this week, the Raw Score Performance Trend, which measures whether students met proficiency in language arts and mathematics, dropped significantly in both categories. In language arts, the scores dropped five percent from a high of 78 percent in 2018 to the current score of 73 percent. In mathematics, the scores dropped seven percent from a high of 72.6 percent to 65.6 percent. BOARD OF ED MANDATES VACCINES The Greenwich Board of Education unanimously approved a vaccine mandate for school district employees. If employees refuse, disciplinary action will be taken, including withholding payment until the fifth day of noncompliance, at which time non-compliant people will be fired. UPDATE TO MASK MANDATE Effective Friday September 24, businesses, offices, and private venues will be able to set their own mask requirements. Masks will, however, continue to be required when entering town facilities, including Town Hall and town libraries. COVID-19 UPDATE: 4 CASES IN HOSPITAL During their regular briefing this week, Diane Kelly, President of Greenwich Hospital and First Selectman Fred Camillo issued an update on COVID cases in town. As of Wednesday, the town is actively monitoring 52 cases, which is down 16 from the previous week. There are currently 4 patients in the hospital. RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY The Town of Greenwich will once again be conducting their biannual resident satisfaction survey. The survey asks residents to rate their satisfaction with key services provided by the town, including government services such as police and fire and parks and recreation. The feedback will be a valuable resource to improve customer service and resident satisfaction. The survey will be available on October 4.

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul... but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October,” Peggy Toney Horton. The first day of October is a day unlike any other. The world is set aflame in beautiful jewel tones and the ground is covered in fresh fallen leaves- it’s better than waking up to fresh fallen snow. In October it seems as though you wake up one morning and almost all at once the landscape changes from the muggy humidity of late summer to the crisp brilliance of autumn. It becomes a playground that invites you outside to hike, walk, picnic, and enjoy all sorts of other activities. Indoors starts to seem stuffy and small as we take in the wider world before our winter hibernation. Even the rainiest, dreariest of days of October are lit up by the beautiful colors of the world around us. This month, the Greenwich Sentinel will be taking you on quests and adventures throughout Greenwich and greater Connecticut all month long. Enjoy book reviews, book and movie recommendations, history lessons, and more! Mark your calendars to learn about New England Roadside Ecology from Author and Professor Thomas Wessels; the hidden spooky history of Greenwich; parents will be excited for a review of 50 Hikes with Kids: New England; and of course, you’re all excited for this month’s book recommendations by me, Emma! Fall into the autumn spirit with us and let yourself be swept away by the height of leaf peeping season, the spookiest holiday of the year, and the perfect time for pumpkin picking. As John Muir so eloquently said, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” Photo is from Binney Park on a spectacular fall day last year.

Powerhouse Team at Red Cross

POLICE SEEK TIPS IN CAR CRASH Greenwich Police are investigating a fatal car crash that occurred last Saturday night around 11:30 p.m. in the area of Wendle Place, near the Hyatt Regency. The car involved was a 2009 Honda Civic with a 17-year old driver inside of the vehicle, Jordan Martinez of Stamford, who died of injuries after being taken to an area hospital. Anyone with information regarding the accident should call Officer Roger Drenth at 203-622-8014. GREENWICH POLICEMAN’S BALL The Greenwich Police Department will be celebrating its 125th anniversary with their Policeman’s Ball on Saturday, October 16 at the Riverside Yacht Club. The event will include an Honor Guard Procession, bagpipes, awards, silent and live auctions, and live music. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund. To reserve tickets (starting at $500 each), or to become a sponsor, visit www.gpdscholarshipfund.org/policemans-ball Please turn to page 7

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Boundaries Are Like Cells Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry

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CORRESPONDENCE PO Box 279 Greenwich, CT 06836 PLEASE NOTE Free copies of this newspaper are sent through the U.S. mail to rotating areas of town. These contain an envelope if you would like to subscribe. Subscribers may occasionally receive two copies of the paper in some areas of town because of this.

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT A he a lt hy cel l i n ou r bodies allows in what is nourishing and keeps out w h a t i s u n h e a l t h y. A n unhealthy cell doesn’t have t h a t a b i l i t y, w h i c h c a n lead to cancer. Boundaries work similarly in human relationships. All of us have had our boundaries violated, some more seriously than o t h e r s . We c a n g u a r d against being permeable to toxic relationships by paying close attention to wh at we a l low i nto a nd exclude from our lives. Our health depends on it. Unhealthy friends may call frequently for advice or to complain repeatedly about the same thing. They may tell us that we are the only one who understands. Our egos can be easily seduced. After months or years of listening and being frustrated that nothing changes, we accumulate toxicity. Limiting

o u r c o nt a c t to c o m m o n courtesy--occasional phone calls, cards, and texts—is hard, but life-giving. Our friend will find other sources of support. He or she may or may not become healthier, but you definitely will. Gray did everything he could for his friend Nick, but Nick’s requests for money and his ranting about problems didn’t end. Gray felt discouraged and stressed after their conversations. After several years, Gray ended their friendship when he moved to a new city. He still talks to Nick on occasion, but he is wary of engaging beyond a casual check-in. Greenwich resident, Jill Woolworth is author of the book, The Waterwheel, which is available locally at Diane's B o ok s ( 2 0 3-8 69-1 51 5) or info@dianesbooks.com) or at Amazon.

PreResponder Building Co Chair, Pam Farr; Metro NY North Board Chair, Jill Coyle; Metro NY North CEO, Stephanie Dunn Ashley; PreResponder Building Co Chair, Giovanna Miller; and PreResponder Building Co Chair, Heather Wise celebrate (and there is a lot to celebrate) at the ribbon cutting for the new state of the art headquarters of the American Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter on 99 Indian Field Road. Bob Capazzo Photo.

By Anne White According to Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Greenwich based Metro New York North Chapter (MNYN) of the American Red Cross, the recently completed $3 million renovation project of the headquarters makes donating blood much easier and does so much more. The project has modernized the entire facility and opened the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center. Ashley describes the renovated building as having created a foundation from which the rest of the Red Cross work can be accomplished. “This will empower our Red Cross teams as they continue to deliver critical services,” Ashley noted. The renovation includes improvements to all three floors of the facility. The first f loor of the building features the Board Room, a multi-purpose and modular space with updated technology, room for hands-on practice, and the ability to break into smaller groups for concurrent classes and the Service to the Armed Forces/International Services suite offering meeting rooms, a lounge, and quiet workspaces. The second floor houses the new Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center. The center includes eight permanent beds for the collection of whole blood and platelets to complement the blood drives sponsored across the community monthly. It will also eventually allow for the collection of platelets and plasma - a first in the Metro NY North area. The third floor supports other Red Cross programs and services including disaster response, a volunteer center and daily administration for Red Cross team members. The significance of collecting platelets is important. Platelets are the clotting portion of blood and are needed for many reasons, according to the Red Cross, but they are primarily given to help people battling cancer, sickle cell and other chronic diseases; newborns and mothers; and those recovering from traumatic injuries. Platelets can only be used within five days – so there is a constant, often critical need for donors to keep up with demand. The statistics are staggering. Every 15 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs platelets. While platelet donations take longer, they can be given more frequently. The entire process takes about two to three hours and may be repeated every seven days, up to 24 times a year. Whole blood donations, which can be given now at the new center, are a faster process but can only be given every

56 days. This is the most flexible type of donation and can be transfused in its original form or used to help multiple people when separated into its specific components of red cells, plasma, and platelets. To schedule a blood donation, visit www.redcrossblood.org. To support this project, the American Red Cross launched the PreResponder campaign, led by Red Cross Board Members Heather Wise, Pam Farr, and Giovanna Miller, pictured above. Remarkably, Farr served as Board Chair during the original move in 2002 to Indian Field Road. As part of the fundraising effort, there are naming opportunities available for the Chapter headquarters include the building itself as well as meeting rooms, board rooms, and training rooms. The organization has also announced a renewed Brick Campaign. First initiated in 2002, the original bricks are located at the entrance to the building and additional commemorative bricks are available to the public for $500. More information about the Brick Campaign is available by visiting www.redcross.org/NewMNYNHQ. To date, lead donors have pledged over a million dollars in support of the project. Donors so far include Pamela Farr and Buford Alexander, Liz and David Boutry, Anna and Vincent Cappucci, Sue and Peter Carlson, Linda Chase-Jenkins, Lisa and Wayne Cooper, Jill and John Coyle, Janine and Robert Kennedy, Anita and Timothy McBride, Giovanna and Brian Miller, MNYN Associate Board Members, Ross H. Ogden, Leslie and John Osborn, Suzanne and Craig Packer, The Schwartz Family Found, Julia and Ulrik Trampe, Webster Bank, Heather and Eric Wise. The scope of the Red Cross worldwide is a testament to the human desire to help one another. The American Red Cross (founded in 1881) is celebrating its 140th birthday this year, the Greenwich chapter, founded in 1914, is part of the overall Metro New York North Chapter of the American Red Cross which also includes Westchester County, Rock land County, and the U. S. Militar y Academy at West Point. There are more than 600 locally supported American Red Cross chapters and more than 500,000 volunteers. The American Red Cross is just a part of the world's largest humanitarian network with 13 million volunteers in 187 countries. "The work of the Red Cross extends across the community and around the world every day," Ashley said.


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