October 8, 2021

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

October 8, 2021

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Pollinator Pathways

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 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 COVID-19 UPDATE Greenwich Hospital currently has five COVID positive patients,. 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 became available on October 4 at www.greenwichct.gov FRONTAGE RD, DELAVAN AVE, RITCH AVE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT This past month, the Frontage Road, Delavan Avenue, and Ritch Avenue Improvement Project began. The Town of Greenwich hopes that this project will help to make the area more pedestrian safe, with the addition of a multi-use trail connecting Frontage Road to Byram Park. The current four foot wide sidewalks will be expanded to five feet, with portions of the three street sidewalks being widened to eight feet, and there will be improved pedestrian and traffic signals. One lane traffic will begin around the area during the third week of October, with construction projected to end in January 2022. The entire project is slated for completion by the Spring of 2022. ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS

Photo by Will Kies, Executive Director Greenwich Land Trust, of a hummingbird moth getting nectar from swamp milkweed. The Greenwich Botanical Center held the Native Pollinator Plant Photographer Contest to

teach and involve the community about the benefits of native plants. Kim Gregory, a member of the board of directors and volunteer at the Greenwich Botanical Center, says she started the photo contest to raise awareness of promoting native habitats and managing invasive species. “Replacing invasive species with native plants is beneficial to our food production. It also addresses water shortage and food security while promoting healthy biodiversity,” said Gregory. Invasive plants often outcompete native plants due to a lack of predators. However, because they are not native to the environment, they often require more resources to maintain and offer fewer benefits to local wildlife. Native plants require less fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides which creates a healthier environment for both families and wildlife. The plants are low maintenance and inexpensive in comparison because they thrive in their natural habitats. Their existence provides a vital habitat for pollinators such as: butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, bats, moths, and more. The core of a food web starts with native plants. They are heavily beneficial to the ecosystem and environment. Insects around the area have evolved to digest these plants, not invasive species from the far off corners of the world. Restoring the groundwork of the ecosystem with native plants helps the environment and thus helps the local community thrive. SEE PAGE THREE FOR WINNING PHOTOS.

Absentee Ballots for the November 2 local elections will be available beginning October 1. Applications can be found on the Town of Greenwich Website, and can be returned to the Town Clerk’s office, the address of which is on the application. Ballot boxes will be available for both applications and ballots from September 15 through November 2 at 8:00 p.m. They are located at Town Hall and at the Public Safety Complex at 11 Bruce Place. TOD’S POINT CAR FIRE This past Sunday, a vehicle caught on fire on the western side of Tod’s Point around 5:30 p.m. in the afternoon. The Greenwich Fire Department promptly put the fire out, and the fire was determined to be a result of mechanical failure. No one was hurt. MUNICIPAL ELECTION DEBATES Candidate debates have officially been announced for the November 2 municipal elections. The Board of Selectmen candidate debates will take place on October 12 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The Round Hill Association will have a Selectmen candidate debate on October 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in a hybrid presentation model in Town Hall and online. The LWV Board of Education will be hosting a candidate debate on October 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom, and will also be holding a Board of Estimation and Taxation candidate debate on October 27 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. ABILIS WALK/RUN

Walk/Run for ABILIS

Abilis is hosting its 16th annual walk/run for Abilis on October 17 both at Greenwich Point Park and virtually. The annual walk/run is a celebration for the Abilis community, and an opportunity to raise funds for new Abilis initiatives that are critical in supporting the special needs community. Participants are encouraged to register at www.abilis.us/walkrun. Registration is free for walkers, $40 for adult 5k runners, and $20 for runners aged 11-17. RABBI GELLER TO GIVE SERMON AND LEAD DISCUSSION Rabbi Laura Geller, the first female senior rabbi in America, and an expert in Jewish sacred aging, will be giving a sermon at Greenwich Reform Synagogue on October 8 at the synagogues 6:00 p.m. Shabbat services. Geller will also lead a similar discussion on October 10 at 10:00 a.m. YWCA WOMEN WHO INSPIRE: 2021 HONOREES

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Communication Is What’s Received

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 Communication is what’s received, not what we intend. If we don’t take responsibility for how we deliver our message, it might as well be lost in the mail. When communication goes awry, we often blame the recipient for not listening. But this is as useless as blaming someone for not receiving a letter. If our tone of voice, body lang uage, or choice of words is offputting, it is up to us to try again in a different way. If a person thinks that a message of criticism is c o m i n g , t h a t t h e r e ’s “a bomb in the mailbox,” she will run. When a person anticipates being told that he has messed up or neglected something, his normal human response is to escape or defend himself. In moments of perceived threat, our brains default to fea r, ra rely assu m i ng

t he ot her p ers on’s go o d intentions. Sydney and Adam l e a r n e d h ow to te l l e a c h other specifically what they wanted. They grew closer as they practiced new ways to communicate. “It would mean the world to me…..” became an introduction that made them both laugh and made it highly likely the other would comply. “When you compliment me in front of your friends, I feel like your hero.” “You doing the laundry is the sexiest thing in the world.” They agree that tone matters, and that there is no such thing as an over-appreciated spouse (or colleague or employee). 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.

It’s time for the annual Walk/Run for Abilis event! For the 16th annual year, Walk/run for Abilis will take place on October 17 at Greenwich Point Park. Participants can walk or run in-person or participant virtually from any where in the world! Participants are encouraged to register in advance at abilis.us/ walkrun; registration is free for walkers and $40 for adult 5k runners and $20 for runners ages 11-17. The annual Walk/Run for Abilis is an annual celebration for the Abilis community. Each fall, Abilis’ community members , families and friends gather for Walk/Run for Abilis, and the event is Abilis’ largest annual fundraiser and signature “friend-raising” special of the year. Many who take part in Walk/Run for Abilis do so because they are inspired by a friend or family member with special needs. “We need Walk/Run for Abilis this year more than any other year,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “After being apart these last 18 months, having the opportunity to safely come together for Walk/Run for Abilis is so energizing! Walk/Run for Abilis provides an opportunity for family, friends, and Abilis program participants to come together for a fun morning of physical fitness, the beauty of being outdoors at Greenwich Point Park (or anywhere!), and raise critical funds for new Abilis initiatives that support the special needs community.” Every year the Walk/Run for Abilis has a Walk/ Run Ambassador. This year’s Walk/Run for Abilis Ambassador is Andre DeNunzio. Andre, age 22, who is part of the Norwalk LEAP transition program for young adults and is currently in the employee training program at Coffee for Good. Andre grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, and will be moving into one of the new Abilis residences in Darien when it opens this fall. With Walk/Run for Abilis back in person this year, Abilis recognizes there may be some who want to participate virtually. All participants are

encouraged to wear their Walk/Run for Abilis t-shirts and team outfits and costumes and document their Walk/Run for Abilis photos and videos by posting on social media using the hashtag #WalkRunForAbilis. As in year’s past, both in-person and virtual teams are encouraged to create team t-shirts and costumes to build excitement and camaraderie and to wear in the weeks leading up to October 17 or on their actual walk or run and prizes for most creative outfits will be awarded! Activities include a Bubble Bus for children, a fun warm-up by celebrity fitness expert Billy Blanks Jr., and the 5K run and beautiful walk around Greenwich Point Park. Sponsors of Walk/Run for Abilis include Holland & Knight, DARCARS Automotive Group - Lexus of Greenwich, Infiniti of Greenwich and Lexus of Mt. Kisco, Alera Group, Connecticut Community Bank, Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media, Shepard Insurance Group, The First Bank of Greenwich, John Dwyer Builders & General Contractors, Mutual of America Financial Group, J&S Sweet Success, Connecticut Skin Institute, Greenwich Braces, The Halper Family and SEBASS Events. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of the Walk/Run for Abilis should contact Jennifer Flatow, Director of development, at f latow@abilis.us or (203)531-1880 x161. Abilis is celebrating its 70th year in 2021 of being a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with special needs and their families from birth throughout their lives. Abilis is a leader serving the special needs community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Da r ien , Gr e enw ich , New Ca naa n , Nor w a l k , Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport, Weston and Wilton, and has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high quality care. For more information, visit www. abilis.us, or facebook.com/Abilisinc, twitter.com/ Abilis, or instagram.com/abilis_us


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