October 4, 2019 by Greenwich Sentinel

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FRIDAY, October 4, 2019

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The Briefing Room

Tesei Hits the Pause Button

S Greenw ich Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Toni Jones, has appointed Dave Nanarello as Interim Food Services Director for the District. Most recently, Nanarello served as the Food Service Manager for Greenwich Public Schools overseeing operations for k i nd e r g a r t e n t h r ou g h eighth grade. For more on this announcement, go to greenwichsentinel.com

S A law signed earlier this year which raises the age to lega lly purchase tobacco products f rom 18 to 21 went into effect on Oc t . 1. T he st ate estimates approximately $6.3 million will be lost in annual revenues due to the implementation of the law. Proponents have stressed that the health of young people needs to ta ke a precedence. S Three new Connecticut g un reg u lations took effect on Oct. 1 that are designed to further protect residents of the state from gun violence. Two of the measures streng then requirements for securely storing firearms, and the third prohibits the practice of evading gun regulations by s el l i ng u nt r ac e able "ghost gun" kits to assemble firearms at home. S O n T h u r s d a y, t h e Glenville Volunteer Fire Company will mark its f i v e -y e a r a n n i v e r s a r y of presenting the David N . T h e i s Aw a r d f o r Outstanding Service to the Community by honoring Greenwich civic leaders and volunteers, Bea and Peter Cr u mbi ne. For photos and more on this story, be sure to check out greenwichsentinel.com and the Oct. 11 print edition. S The Town of Greenwich is presenting a lecture series on the environment e ver y Wed nesd ay. T he series, which bega n on Oct. 1 and will continue through Nov. 20, will be held at various locations in town. The series will focus on topics like ecobeneficial gardening, pesticides, waste management, and what to expect from climate c h a n ge i n G re e nw ic h . For more information, go to greenwichct.gov/295/ Environmental-Education S The League of Women Voters Selectmen debates w ill ta ke place on Oct. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greenwich High School. The public may submit written questions. The Tax Collector debate will take place on Oct. 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall Meeting Room. The Board of Education forum will take place on Oct. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Central Middle School.

A rendering of the interior of the proposed new Greenwich Train Station on Railroad Avenue.

By Richard Kaufman First Select ma n Peter Tesei has put t he Greenwich Plaza redevelopment plan "on hiatus", leaving the matter for his successor to tackle after the November election. Early last week, Tesei said that the item would not be going before the Representative Town Meeting in October as originally scheduled. On Thursday during the Board of Selectmen meeting, Tesei announced the withdrawal o f t h e p r o j e c t 's Mu n i c i p a l Improvement proposal. Discussions on the preliminary site plan and text amendments will still be held by the Planning & Zoning Commission. T he $ 4 5 m i l l ion proje c t i ncludes t he rede velopment and construction of a modern transportation center, including the development of an entirely new train station which would replace the existing train station

on the north side of the tracks; a new train station on the south side of t he tracks; expanded a nd i mproved d rop- of f a nd pick-up areas for both stations; new pedestrian and commuter pathways; a new privately-owned public park on the corner of Greenwich Avenue and Railroad Ave nu e ; ne w lu x u r y m ov i e t he ater s a b ove t he e x i s t i ng parking lot on Railroad Avenue; and modernized retail space along Railroad Avenue. However, since the project was unveiled in July, there has been plenty of debate and questions surrounding the complicated a i r r ig hts dea l bet ween T he Ashforth Company, which owns Greenwich Plaza, and the town of Greenwich. Under the current proposal, the town would transfer its air rights to Ashforth in exchange for the $15 million in public improvements (includes park,

new train station) to the area. " We p u t f o r t h o u r b e s t revisit [the agreement]." Ashforth is leasing the rights effort to try and come up with a Tesei said he consulted with Town Administrator, Benjamin B r a ny a n , a n d A s h fo r t h , i n making his decision. He wished Ashforth luck, and said he'll be "supporting them in the town from the sidelines." Tesei then shared a memo he wrote, which was sent to the Planning & Zoning Commission. "I look forward to Planning & Zoning's continued thoughtful discussion on the preliminary site plan and text amendment r e g a rd i n g t h e pr oj e c t . T h e revitalization of the area and through 2057. redevelopment agreement. It is modernization of one of t he Members of t he Board of not one that is widely embraced major gateways to Greenwich is a Estimate and Taxation believe the by the other stakeholders... [The significant project that will impact air rights are worth more, and redevelopment agreement is] an the town for decades to come." that the town wouldn't be getting important decision; probably one Selectman Sandy Litvack, a fair deal. of the more significant ones in who voted against the Municipal Since Tesei is not seeking a 7th our town's history," Tesei said last Improvement last month because term in office, he is deferring the Thursday. "With the upcoming he said there was not enough matter until a new administration election for First Selectman, it's information, supported Tesei's is in place. best for the new administration to decision.

We put forth our best effort to try and come up with a redevelopment agreement. It is an important decision; probably one of the more significant ones in our town's history.

The Art and Science Gale and Bob Lawrence New Bruce Visionaries By Anne W. Semmes Bob and Gale Lawrence are champions of the New Bruce. With Bob’s PhD in Science a nd G a le’s Ma sters i n A r t Education, the two longtime Greenw ich civ ic leaders constitute, in Bob’s words, “a renaissance da Vincian couple.” The passions they share are for both art and science - what Bob describes as “a magical interface that is at the heart of what the Bruce Museum’s transformative renovat ion a nd ex pa nsion project is all about.” So, no surprise Gale would serve as a Bruce Docent early on, a nd on Com mit tees of Honor funding exhibitions and lecture series, and Bob would engage in the Bruce Science Commit tee, as Chair, t hen Board Chairman during the genesis of the New Bruce. “The more we engaged in the Bruce,” says Bob, “the more we realized there were significant imbalances in the Museum’s layout and design. For example, we had no permanent gallery to display the Museum’s fabulous art collection and a very small space for temporary science ex h ibit ions, plus on ly one classroom to serve both art and science education.” “ T h e g o o d n e w s ,” B o b cont i nues, “wa s t hat t he Museum staff really excelled at developing programs and ex hibit ions t hat addressed timely and topical issues, such a s cl i mate cha nge a nd t he role of women in art, which is the first part of the Museum’s m i s s ion —‘ t o pr omot e t he understanding and appreciation of Art and Science.’” “The fact that enhanced programming appeals to people across our community of all ages and abilities, including those with special needs,” adds Gale, “speaks directly to the second part of our mission—‘to enrich the lives of all people.’”

It was during 2010-11 that t he t wo bega n to see, says Bob, “vigorous discussions of a Museum expansion emerge from the Board of Trustees, longtime patrons, and staff.” A series of action steps followed to build a solid foundation of essential information to define and design a “New Bruce.” That foundation included a Long Ra nge St rateg ic Pla n compiled with help from the Ha r va rd Business School

conceptua lize t hat New Br uc e , t he B oa rd enga ge d Reed Kroloff, former Editor of Architecture magazine, and at the time Director of Cranbrook Academy. “From Kroloff ’s list of 30 top firms with experience in museum design, we narrowed the list over five months to three outstanding firms to participate in a paid competition,” Bob recalls. “By November we had a clear winner, the New Orleans

Animals Take Center Stage at Churches Last Week

Rev. Dan Haugh blesses Colby Ix, under the careful gaze of William Ix, at the Blessing of the Animals last Sunday at Round Hill Community Church. Animal Blessings took place in Greenwich churches all over town ahead of today's feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron Saint of animals.

Excerpts from The Waterwheel

Take a Sabbatical ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY

S Gov. Ned Lamont and First Lady Annie Lamont announced that they are inv it ing midd le school students in Connecticut to design and create Christmas orna ments t hat w i l l be displayed at the Governor’s Residence t h is hol iday season. The ornaments will be viewed by the public when Governor and Mrs. Lamont host the annual open house at the residence during in December. For more on this story, go to greenwichsentinel.com

COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH AND ASHFORTH COMPANY

Bob and Gale Lawrence have brought their passions for both science and art to the Bruce Museum and to realizing its future. Community Partners, Board Self-assessment (Board Source), and a Board-driven “ deepdive” into exploring synergies offered by the Museum’s dual focus on art and science. Thus was born the “da Vinci Project,” so named by Bob, along with a comprehensive Feasibility Study for the necessary Capital Campaign. By early 2013, the Board and Executive Director Peter C. Sutton decided to proceed with the New Bruce initiative and selected Board member Bob Lawrence and Bob Goergen as Co-Chairs of an Architectural Selection/Building Committee. It wa s, says Bob, “Huge commitment; game-on!” To guide the Museum in its search for the architectural firm that would best

f irm EskewDumezR ipple (EDR), which had produced a stunning design with e xc e pt iona l prog r a m m i ng functionality and practicality. As Steve Dumez, EDR Principal and Director of Design, said at the time, ‘Our interest in this expansion for the Bruce Mu s e u m i s d r aw n f r om a longstanding belief that art and architecture play an essential role in enriching the lives of those who experience them.’” The EDR team included Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects and M. Goodwin Museum Planning, Inc., leaders in their respective fields. Soon a f ter t hei r not i f ic at ion a s winners of the competition, Reed Hilderbrand would be named the ASLA Landscape CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT Do you ever wonder if you are addicted to a certain behavior? Can you live without your cell phone for an afternoon, alcohol each night, your shopping habit, video games? If not, experiment with taking periodic “sabbaticals.” (One woman refers to hers as “spa vacations.”) These timeouts— when framed in positive language—make a change in behavior feel like a privilege, rather than a deprivation or punishment. Also, share your intent with one trustworthy friend. Talking honestly about the behavior that bothers you reduces its power considerably. The old adage is true: “we are only as sick as our secrets.” If periodic sabbaticals aren’t sustainable, you’ll have a clue that you need more support to “let go” of the behavior. Remember, you’re choosing to “let it go,” rather than to have it “taken away,” or “giving it up.” Sabbaticals from behaviors give us important information about ourselves while opening up productive space to focus on other interests. James takes periodic sabbaticals from alcohol, Susannah from spending money, and Justin from screen time. Know- ing that they can successfully and happily put boundaries around their behaviors is a gift they give themselves. 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.