December 18, 2020 by Greenwich Sentinel

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December 18, 2020

The Greenwich Weekly Newspaper, where we celebrate our hometown with Greenwich news, people, and events.

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A Wonder of the World

The new King Kong exhibit is a thrill on the second floor, and celebrates that 1933 film. (Photo courtesy Empire State Realty Trust)

By Anne W. Semmes It’s that Art Deco masterpiece, the Empire State Building I wish to visit in this locked down time. A recent article declaring it a masterpiece that told of its finally completed restoration brought it to my attention, with its title of, “An Iconic Beacon Shines Anew.” Yes! The Empire State Building is an icon, of beauty, great design, and brave men who built it, and I am thankful to those who care for it – but that comes later. This new restoration took five years and cost $165 million dollars and lifts me up, seeing what has been done. Severa l yea rs ago, I saw t hat great exhibit at Fairfield University of photographs of Lewis Hine who do c u mente d t he con st r uc t ion of the Empire State Building from the groundbreaking on 34th and Fifth Avenue in 1930 to its swift completion in 1931. One image stays in the mind of that worker strung precariously along a cable unravelling a wire, making his way up into outer space. Hine rightly entitled that shot, “Icarus Atop Empire State Building.” I since learned those aerial workers were called skywalkers. And that new restoration is honoring them in a special exhibit “Construction” inspired by those powerful Lewis Hine photographs, that includes four bronze sculptures of those iron workers/ skywalkers/ masons taking a break, with surround sound and more to take you back in time to that building. Surely this will fascinate anyone interested in skyscraper building like my seven-year-old grandson Arthur. Last year’s Christmas g if t was a puzzle to put together that icon.

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COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived at Greenwich Hospital on Tuesday night. (Peter Negrea photo)

A Reason for Hope Arrives By Richard Kaufman

The Empire State Building, now impressively restored, turns 90 years old in 2021. (Photo courtesy Empire State Realty Trust)

Imagine tak ing A rthur this Christmastide to see Construction, with its nearby space featuring King Kong’s giant f ingers breaking their way in, and the face of Kong peering menacingly through a window. Imagine riding up with Arthur in that new glass walled elevator from the renewed 86th observatory all the way to the top to the newly renovated 102nd f loor observation point with its 360-degree views of New York City stretching as far as 80 miles, seen through f loor to ceiling glass walls. It promises to be a Burj Khalifa experience all over again as shared with Arthur in that now tallest building in the world. But little did Arthur and I know that this icon’s spire topping out at 1,454 feet was originally constructed to ser ve as a “moor i ng mast ” to

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Marriage 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

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new weapon in our battle against COVID. We finally have the vaccine." A lmost 3,000 vaccine doses a r r ived at Greenw ich Hospita l on Tuesday evening, and Phase 1A of the distribution plan began with the initial five vaccinations on Wednesday. "There's a lot of bookwork we have to do. We have to log it into the CDC and the state. We have to check the temperature tracker and make sure it did not have any temperature excursions and the cold chain is intact. Then we store it in our refrigerator, which is at 28 degrees centigrade," he said. The Pfizer vaccine requires ultracold freezer storage at minus 70 degrees centigrade when it’s shipped, but it can be refrigerated for five days before it needs to be administered. "We're only going to receive enough vaccine to manage the people we have

signed up for the clinic each day," Duffy said. Officials are anticipating receiving an additional 7,000 doses on Sunday. The first phase of vaccine distribution includes healthcare providers, frontline workers and pre-hospital care staff within the Greenwich Hospital/Yale New Haven Health System. EMS providers, as well as residents of nursing homes and skilled facilities, will also be at the front of the vaccine line, said Dr. Karen Santucci, Chief Medical Off icer for Greenwich Hospital. Additionally, on Wednesday, the Hospital began to distribute names of those who work in affiliated offices who will get vaccinated. All told, the process to vaccinate internally is expected to take 6-8 weeks, and then the general public will get their shots in the arm.

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Radar Screen

The Kids in Crisis shelter needs general cleaning items: disposable non latex gloves (size large), disinfectant wipes, laundry detergent, paper supplies, tupperware/food storage containers, kitchen rubber gloves, dish towels and Mr Clean Magic Erasers. Contact Melissa Basile-Reolon at mbasile-reolon@kidsincrisis.org or call 203-622-6556 for drop off details.

By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT During the course of our relationship, we may be in our second, third, or even sixth marriage to our f irst spouse. Investing in the person that our spouse is becoming is the most important investment in ou r econom ic por tfolio. Relationships are no more static than financial investments, and they are much more important to our emotional well-being. We either intentionally support a n d m ove tow a r d e a c h other, or we drift apart. The mar r iage of t wo g randparents is not the same marriage that they had as newlyweds. Relationships have seasons: dating, being n e w l y m a r r i e d , h av i n g young kids, navigating a major move, coping with new jobs, sending kids to col le ge , empt y ne st i ng , grieving the death of one’s own parents, and dealing with the aging process. Each season is a chapter with its own number. Relationships with no crises are highly unusual.

Pharmacist Jasmine Sahni, PharmD, administers the vaccine to Piyal Alam, MD, a family medicine physician with Northeast Medical Group, part of Yale New Haven Health. (Photo courtesy Greenwich Hospital)

Calls to Action Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry

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ANNOUNCEMENTS Weddings & engagements; promotions, achievements; births; letters to the editor; obituaries. These are free. Beth@GreenwichSentinel. com

The past nine months at Greenwich Hospital have been difficult for many b e c ause of t he ongoi ng COV I D -19 pandemic, but on Wednesday morning there was reason to believe that better days are ahead. Greenwich Hospital vaccinated its first healthcare workers in a livestream event: Dr. Samantha D'Annunzio, who has worked in the Intensive Care Unit; Kathleen Collins, a nurse in the ICU; Mark Anthony Abile, a nurse in the Post Acute Care Unit; Deyanira Ferreras from Environmental Services; and Dr. Piyal Alam, from the Hospital's Port Chester walk-in center. Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly called Wednesday "an important moment for us all." "We have been battling COVID now for nine long months, and the sacrifices made by our frontline caregivers in all healthcare facilities here and throughout the country continue to spire me on a daily basis. They are truly healthcare heroes," Kelly said. As of Wednesday morning, there were 416 COVID-19 patients being treated throughout the Yale New Haven Health System, with 35 at Greenwich Hospital. "Without a doubt, we are tired of the suffering brought on by this virus, and our caregivers' fatigue is evident in our daily work," Kelly continued. "But their spirits, their compassion and their resilience are also evident, and we are grateful to all of them. Today, we have a

Betrayals and the loss of a child are two of the hardest, but even the most difficult experiences do not have to be the death knell for a relationship. Relationships, like sk in, are stronger where there is a scar. Being honest, embracing humility, and taking responsibility for personal grow th are the tools to make marriage 2 .0 or 3.0 stronger than marriage 1.0. J u l i a n n e a n d Ky l e ’ s marriage had three neardeath experiences: a serious f inancial mistake, the death of a child , and J u l i a n n e’ s a d d i c t i o n t o pain killers after surger y. After 43 years of marriage, Julianne and Kyle are both grateful that someone normalized near-death experiences for them when they were a young couple. Greenwich resident, Jill Woolworth is author of the book, The Waterwheel, which is available locally at Diane's Book s (203-869-1515) or info@dianesbooks.com) or at Amazon.

Community Centers Inc. (CCI) needs 15 hams, 185 Christmas boxes of cookies and 85 poinsettia. They also need volunteers to deliver these holiday staples on December 21st and December 28th. Please help CCI make the holidays special. If you can deliver or donate, please call Vanessa at (203) 869-1276 or email: Vanessa.Cardinal@ccigreenwich.org. Support Abilis and shop local by visiting the Abilis Garden and Gifts shop, their retail store training site, between now and December 24th. Enjoy 25% off holiday gifts, handmade bath products and candles, accessories and plants* (some exclusions apply). Store location: 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich. Hours: M-F 10AM-5PM, SAT 9AM-5PM and SUN 9AM-2PM. The Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich is holding a Virtual Family Game night, tonight, Friday December 18 from 6 PM - 8 PM. Go to their website: https://bgcg.org/ and click on Family Fun night. Purchase a $10 BGCG bingo card or multiple cards to use all night to play and win prizes. The St. Joseph’s Parenting Center is collecting hats & gloves for the parents enrolled in their programs, toys for kids up to 12 and $20 gift cards for teens. Please reach out to Mariana via email at mdelmore@sjpcenter.org or call 203 548-0067 about dropping off donations. Liberation Programs needs new winter coats for those living in their inpatient and residential care programs. Coats can be purchased through Amazon at https://www.liberationprograms.org/, click on donate and scroll down to their Amazon Smile link to visit their wish list. Liberation programs specializes in substance use disorder treatment with offices at the Greenwich YMCA and throughout Fairfield County. Support the Bedford Playhouse by Holiday shopping using the Bedford Playhouse gift collection. Shop while giving back to this wonderful local theatre. Go to: https://bedfordplayhouse.org/, click on Holiday Gift Guide and start shopping. Call 914.234.6704 for more information.. Visit the Jewish Family Services wish list to help make our neighbors holiday bright by purchasing a gift for those in need. Visit their website: https://jfsgreenwich.org/ and click on donate to get to the wish list. Call (203) 622-1881 for more information. Nugs not Hugs ~ Holiday Edition, sponsored by Garden Catering and local non-profits is providing full holiday meals to 500 local families. A $9 donation will cover the cost of a holiday meal for one, a $54 donation covers a family meal. Garden Catering is also offering the option to Buy One & Give One. For $99 you can send a family a holiday dinner and choose a family meal for your family as well. www.Gardencatering.com.

By Beth Barhydt On the radar screen this week: the best Sarah Bernhardts on the planet may be disappearing from Greenwich Avenue. We did a blind taste test of Sarah Bernhardts (a crisp almond macaroon topped with a creamy chocolate ganache and enrobed in a thin layer of Swiss chocolate wellknown in Greenwich) a few years ago. We bought from four of our local bakeries and, while they were all admittedly extraordinary, the one's that came in the box from St. Moritz Bakery, located at 383 Greenwich Ave nu e , we r e t h e u n a n i m o u s favorite. We have been enjoying these particular Sarah Bernhardts for three plus decades but St. Moritz has been delighting chocolate lovers for much longer, since 1939. If you have yet to experience a Sarah Bernhardt from St. Moritz, you might consider going now to get one, or a dozen, otherwise you may be out of luck. Like many stores at the bottom of Greenwich Avenue, St. Moritz has struggled both with slow business due to the pandemic and the closing of that part of Greenwich Avenue to cars. We are hearing reports that more than a few retailers will not be coming back after the new year, including St. Moritz. This has not been confirmed by the owner. We are hoping this local legend will be able to remain open in 2021 ... another small local business worth supporting and one to put on your radar screen.

You're doing creative things to stay safe. And we're doing world-class things to keep you safe. At Yale New Haven Health, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve instituted a comprehensive 10-step safety program in all of our facilities to ensure that everything is clean, safe, and ready to treat you at a momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice. There's never been a better time to take advantage of our world-class medical expertise in the presence of new, world-class safety measures. greenwichhospital.org

Come and take your GELATO home for the Holidays! We are open throughout the winter and have Take-Home in 3 sizes as well as custom made Gelato cakes. Our products are made fresh daily with dairyfree, vegan, and nut-free flavors available. Call us for pick-up orders or find us on GrubHub, Seamless and UberEats! (203) 900-1288. 232 East Putnam Ave, Cos Cob. Mon-Fri 3pm to 9pm, closed Wed., Sat-Sun 12pm to 9pm.

Randy’s Wines is a boutique wine and spirits shop serving the Cos Cob community for over thirty years. Our expert team has curated a vast and varied selection of hidden gems from around the world. We offer top value on new and interesting wines we guarantee you’ll love. We have the best beer selection in Greenwich and craft liquors you’ll find nowhere else. We’d like to warmly welcome all patrons of Cos Cob Liquor and to wish our friend George the best in retirement. Sign up for our newsletter on RandysWines.com and ask about our wine club! Monday-Saturday: 9-8 / Sunday: 10-5 (we deliver!)

Trovare Home offers a curated and collected look of both modern and vintage home décor. For over 20 years Trovare has been the “go-to” store for stylish home furnishings and décor. Visit our shop and learn about our design services. 245 East Putnam Avenue, 203-869-5512 Open daily 10:30am to 4:30pm.

Beam & Barre has everything you need for dance and gymnastics! They have something for dancers of all ages from your tiny dancer to the professional ballerina. Tutus, wands and tiaras satisfy your little dancer’s imagination, while an impressive range of pointe shoes and dancewear will have every dancer excited for class and performance. Their staff has the expertise to find exactly what you need! 241 East Putnam Avenue, 203-622-0591, Monday - Friday - 10-6, Saturday - 10-5.

Take a step off the Post Road into The Drawing Room and you are transported to the perfect blend of a café (with hand blended teas, freshly baked treats, or an artisanal sandwich with daily soup), an interior design studio, a boutique with hand-picked items for your home, and an art gallery. Welcome to The Drawing Room. 5 Suburban Avenue, 203.661.3737. Open Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 5pm. Open Monday, December 20th for bonus holiday

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Take 15% off entire online ordering, free delivery within Cos Cob area. We are Open on Christmas Day 12/25 Friday 3:30pm-9:30pm, regular menu & special holiday menu $59 for 3 courses both are available. Reserve Your Seats Now! 203-869-2339 We have indoor and outdoor dining with Covered and Heated patio www.coastseafoodrestaurant.com

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With the holidays in full swing, it's the season of giving and the First Bank of Greenwich (FBOG) is making sure that season lasts all year with our unique Charitable Checking Program that supports local non-profits 12 months a year. Giving has always been part of the bank’s mission. As a true community bank, we want to be able to help as many people as we can and the Charitable Checking Program allows us all to do that. Learn more about Charitable Checking, contact Emily Newcamp at the First Bank of Greenwich at (203) 302-4382

With 35 years of experience, we offer custom window treatments and full-service interior design – whether you need help in just one room or your entire home. We don’t believe in a “one-style fits all” approach and truly work with each of our clients to get them the results and style they want within their budget. DRAPERIES & INTERIORS of Greenwich

238 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob 203-489-3019 www.draperiesandandinteriorsofGreenwich.com

Il Pastaficio always and only provides the very best artisanal Italian products of the highest quality using organic and genuine flour, without adding any preservatives or chemical additives. It is an authentic Italian experience. 213 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob 203-900-1199 Delivery available. Open daily 11:00am to 8:00pm

Christmas

Is online shopping not working for you? Let Rudy’s be your Holiday Helper.

at CHRIST CHURCH GREENWICH

Celebrate the wonder and joy of the season with us on Christmas Eve!

OUTSIDE AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE:

12NOON | This service for families with

young children will feature familiar carols, Spiritual Communion, and a special Christmas story.

3PM | This service of Spiritual Communion for all ages will feature familiar carols and homily given by the Rector.

LIVESTREAM:

5PM | A Service of Lessons and Carols

featuring traditional carols, readings from the King James Bible, and sermon from the Rector.

10PM | A traditional midnight mass (Spiritual Communion) with festive choral music, readings from the King James Bible, and sermon from the Rector.

CHRISTCHURCHGREENWICH.ORG

First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich joyfully celebrates

CHRISTMAS EVE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! LIMITED SEATING

Call (203) 869-8686 or RSVP online at www.fpcg.org 3:00 PM - FAMILY SERVICE A Christmas Eve service designed with our littlest angels in mind. This time of worship includes a children’s message and plenty of joyful music to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

6:00 PM - FESTIVAL SERVICE With fanfare and joy, we hear the Christmas story accompanied by a brass ensemble, and Christmas message. This service culminates in a candle-lit meditation.

10:00 PM - REFLECTIVE SERVICE Communion, string quartet, piano and a sermon highlight the Christmas story with a candle-lit meditation closing our service and leading us toward Christmas day.

FACE MASKS REQUIRED. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TAKEN AT ENTRY. 1 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE GREENWICH, CT 06830 WORSHIP ONLINE www.fpcg.org/live

203-869-2299

Free Delivery

Sophia’s

● Contemporary and estate jewelry ● Vintage clothing,Christmas decor ● unique gifts ● candles, soaps, and more! 1 Liberty Way, Greenwich, Ct, 06830 ( behind Saks) Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 11am-5pm

Page 6 | Greenwich Sentinel

FROM PAGE ONE A Wonder of the World

We have Greenwich’s Peter L. Malkin’s entrepreneuring acumen, having partnered with his enterprising father-in-law, Lawrence A. Wien in the acquiring (with Harry Helmsley) of the Empire State Building in 1961.

from page 1

accommodate dirigibles! And yes, “the idea of an airship tying up a mile above Fifth Avenue and safely handling passengers was impractica l at best,” is how that article read. But that didn’t stop the architects from “strengthening the building’s entire steel structure to withstand the forces of its future use for aviation.” Ye s , t h o u s a n d s a n d thousands of tons of Pennsylvania steel built that framework beginning with that steel ‘forest’ of 210 massive columns set onto concrete piers sunk 55 feet down to bear the weight of a building of 365,000 tons. (Seen dramatically in a children’s book destined for my grandson.) This restoration has brought back the building’s glistening faç ade , a nd t he spi r e’s A r t Deco glass lantern with its four aluminum w ings. With this “sky-high” work needing to be done surely there was a host of brave skywalkers dealing with their fear of heights, hanging perilously as they completed their work. All the while that tower light - that beloved beacon shines its light often in different colors to commemorate holidays, events and special causes. We have the friendship and imagination of former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith with backing of financier John Jakob Raskob and f inancier friends for cooking up the idea to create the world’s highest building that would hold that title until the original World Trade Center

The “Construction” exhibit is inspired by the Lewis Hine photographs that documented the building of the Empire State Building. (Photo courtesy Empire State Realty Trust)

arrived in 197 2 . They found just the place on the site of the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel. A n d w h a t ’s i n i t s n a m e Empire State Building? That title of the Empire state has always puzzled. So, it seems the earliest reference of the state of New York as an empire comes from a letter written by George Washington in 1785, when he had his military hat on. He had written to then New York City Mayor James Duane, calling New York "the Seat of the Empire". Me thinks George Washington would have been impressed with this icon,

Hope Arrives from page 1

"Our hope across the board is that everyone will receive and have access to the vaccine by spring of 2021," Santucci said. Anna Cerra, Chief Nursing Off icer at Greenwich Hospital, said Yale New Haven Health System is at a crossroads in dealing with COVID-19. The vaccine has arrived at a critical time during the second wave. "Please hear me loud and clear. The vaccine is safe, and the vaccine is effective. Pfizer claims that it's 95% effective for all who take it. Even though we have polls that show over 40% of the community is hesitant to take the vaccine because they lack trust, we have to trust the science behind the vaccine," Cerra said. "The vaccine will not harm you. It will keep you safe. We have a duty and an obligation to our

especially for its endurance, as when a military bomber, at the end of World War II, lost in a fog, crashed into the 79th floor of the building, causing the death of 14 people. A fire followed but that mighty steel framework held f irm, and doors reopened for business a mere two days later. To d a y, i t s 2 . 8 m i l l i o n s q u a r e fe et of of f ic e sp ac e continues to attract a variety of tenants, as overseen by the Empire State Realty Trust, the caretakers of this icon. We have Greenwich’s Peter L. Malkin’s entrepreneuring acumen, having partnered with his enterprising

patients, and not to mention to our families." To that end, Greenwich Hospital has launched an internal campaign, called "Crush COVID-19" in order to get the word out about the vaccine. Kelly said communication is key between the health system and the community. "The success of this vaccine is going to [depend] on the number of people who take it," she said. Greenwich Hospital is well-equipped to inoculate large groups, Kelly remarked. "We're actually facilitating giving the vaccine through a very well-established, proven to be effective process that we do each and every year here at Greenwich Hospital and Yale New Haven Health System through our flu [shot program]," she said. "We are going to use our structure within the health system and we're very confident in that." Beyond that, Greenwich Hospital will be

fat her-i n-law, L aw r ence A . Wien in the acquiring (with Harry Helmsley) of the Empire State Building in 1961. Today, Malkin is chairman emeritus of what became the Empire State Realty Trust with son Anthony E. Malkin as Chairman, President & CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. So, come January, a toast seems in order for the 60th year of that icon, the Empire State Building being under the watch of Peter Malkin and family. For a thing of beauty well-kept is a joy forever.

reaching out to community partners and the media about disseminating information on the vaccine and its safety. Kelly mentioned her ongoing dialogue with First Selectman Fred Camillo regarding COVID-19 as being instrumental. Dr. Piyal Alam, who worked at Greenwich Hospital's walk-in center in Port Chester, N.Y., which was hard hit by COVID, shared the reason why he wanted to get vaccinated. He mentioned a piece of wisdom one of his mentors in the medical field taught him. "[My mentor] told me, 'I'll never ask any of my patients or colleagues to do something that I wouldn't want to do myself,'" Alam said. "I wanted to lead by example and show my patients and our communities that this is safe, and it should be effective. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic for us."

Merit Scholarship Available from Whitby Whitby School today announced that they are accepting ap p l i c at i o n s fo r t h e W h it by Tr u s te e s Me r it S chol a r sh ip, which will provide a full-tuition scholarship to a distinguished and accomplished new student entering Grade 5 or Grade 6 in the fall of 2021. Two additional scholarship candidates will receive awards. "The continued funding of the merit scholarship program

demonstrates the Whitby Trustees' belief in the importance of the middle school years," said Dr. Jack Creeden. Applicants for the scholarships must differentiate themselves as academically strong students, exceptional leaders, and have a track record of involvement in extra-curricular activities. The schola rsh ip selection process includes submitting an

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essay and an interview with the Scholarship Selection Committee. The Scholarship Selection Com m it te e w i l l consider t he following in the assessment of each candidate: • Record of academic success, including the candidate's transcripts and recommendations. • Ac a d e m i c p o te nt i a l , a s measured by results from Whitby faculty-administered assessments.

• Perceived character as a principled citizen or the potential to make a notable contribution to Whitby community life, as measured by the scholarship essay and the Selection Committee interview. Interested families may apply at w w w.wh it bys cho ol. org /scholarship2021 or contact Admissions at 203-302-3900. The deadline is January 15, 2021.

Town Government

Updates from Town Hall By Richard Kaufman Ever y week , the Greenwich Sentinel will bring you alternating updates from the BET leadership and the First Selectman. Holidays & COVID-19 With the holiday season in full swing, First Selectman Fred Camillo is reminding residents to enjoy the next few weeks, but to do so in a safe manner. Camillo said that contact tracing by the town's Health Department indicates that COVID-19 is spreading through households first and then into the community. " We m u s t b e v i g i l a n t i n washing hands, sanitizing surfaces frequently and maintaining social distance," he said. "Wearing a face mask is the primary method of preventing the spread via airborne respiratory droplets." Although vaccines are starting to get rolled out, Camillo said there will still be some tough weeks ahead. "We do have another tough month ahead. I'm very hopeful that as long as we keep our guard up and our masks on, and our distances, we'll be fine. Just know that we still have some rough seas ahead, but we'll get there." As of Wednesday, Greenwich saw an increase of 243 COVID cases since Dec. 9, bringing the total number of residents who have tested positive to 2,110. Over that same week time period, active cases jumped from 98 to 109 with deaths since the start of the pandemic in March increasing from 59 to 60. "Around the state the numbers aren't good, but this was predicted.

We knew this was coming because of the [holiday] gatherings," Camillo said. Camillo said that there are no plans to close Greenwich Town Hall over the next few weeks. "It's about offering as much normalcy as possible while doing so in a very safe manner. We've managed to do that [at Town Hall]. I believe we were the first town of our size to reopen and we pulled it off," Camillo said. "But each and every day we wake up knowing it's a new day. You assess the situation and then move on." Greenwich Hospital began vaccinating its healthcare workers on Wednesday, and Camillo said he was happy to see the day finally come. "We're entering the final stages of [the pandemic]. I say that not to get ahead of ourselves now, because we're still not there, but the end is in sight. We're in a very different place than we were at the end of last March. So [the vaccine] brings a lot of optimism and hope." Camillo said. Speed Limit Approvals Last week , the Board of Selectmen approved 25 mph speed limits for Barnstable Lane, Burning Tree Road, Londonderry Drive and Winterset Road. The Eng ineer ing Div ision received a resident request for speed limits signs to be posted, and a review of the ordinance revealed that no approved speed limits existed. An investigation was completed, and it was determined that the speed limit should be established. Camillo said any resident can petition the town for such changes. His mention of the speed limits on

social media saw many residents commenting about establishing speed limits on other roads. "If you think you have a situation that could be fixed by adjusting the speed limit or some type of signage, or adding or taking away a parking space, you certainly can lobby the town," Camillo said. "While the Board of Selectmen is the traffic authority, we certainly work with the Department of Public Works and the police department and any other department that would have some type of jurisdiction over the matter. In this case, [residents] made their case, we agreed and voted to approve the change." Valet Parking on the Avenue The Board of Selectmen recently approved a valet parking pilot program on Greenwich Avenue for the final two weekends before Christmas. The approval was granted to see if the service could be a long-term solution to parking problems which have plagued the Avenue, especially during the busy holiday season. The service is run by Parking Productions, and costs $20 per car. It will be available on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Station one will occupy several spaces on Greenwich Avenue at the corner of Lewis Street near J. Crew. Station two will utilize the horseshoe drive at the Greenwich Arts Council. From those drop off locations, cars will be parked in private lots on Mason Street and West Elm. All parking attendants will follow COVID-19 guidelines. Camillo said that only a handful of people used the service each day last weekend, only because word hadn't gotten out quickly enough.

"We addressed it fairly quickly. I think this is going to be one of many things we can do to address the parking situation [downtown]. We just decided on it, and I think clearly not a lot of people are aware of it at this point," he said. The Board of Selectmen will examine the pilot program after it's finished. Helping Restaurants Through Winter With outdoor dining a necessity for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, the town is looking at different ways to help them through cold winter months. Ca m i l lo ha s s a id he is i n constant contact with local business owners, as well as Gov. Ned Lamont and David Lehman, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, as they try to help merchants navigate the coming weeks and months. Camillo mentioned the possibility of outdoor dining domes for restaurants. "If restaurants want to do it, we'll certainly work with them. I'm in favor of every possible idea that would not only help them through this year, but could enhance their business going forward." Camillo recently held a public hearing with restaurant and small business owners about enhancing Greenwich Av e n u e a n d t h e d o w n t o w n area. Another public forum on advertising/street lamp banners on may be held in early Jan.

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Stay Up tp date. Check back here each week for alternating updates from the BET leadership and First Selectman Fred Camillo.

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Greenwich Library Cafe

The Greenwich Community Projects Fund will be hosting free holiday drive in movies at the Horseneck Parking Lot, off exit three of I-95, near the Boys and Girls Club. The movies this weekend will be “The Grinch” (2018) on December 19 and “Christmas with the Kranks” New Speed Limits on December 20. The parking lot will open at The Board of Selectman has approved a 25 Snow Sculpture Contest mph speed limit on four town roads: Barnstable Greenwich Recreation and The Greenwich 5pm with the movies starting at 6pm. Lane, Burning Tree Road, Londonderry Drive, Arts Council are presenting the 9th annual Card Writing Campaign and Winterset Road. Before now they had no snow sculpture contest. Throughout the winter Nathaniel Witherall residents are in need of speed limit and several residents spoke in favor season, create your best snow sculpture and submit a photograph for a chance to win a a little bit of cheer since visitor restrictions are of adding the speed limits due to many cars prize. Photo submissions must be sent via in place due to the pandemic. The Greenwich driving very fast on the residential roads. The email to ptroiano@greenwichct.org and Commission on Aging is asking residents to state must sign off on the speed limits before include: title and picture of sculpture, full send personally signed Holiday cards with “a bit they become official. With the selectmen’s names of sculptors, and a home address. of cheer” to Chaplaincy Card Drive, Nathaniel unanimous vote, the DPW can now begin the Deadline to submit photos will be Friday, Witherell, 70 Parsonage Road, Greenwich CT process of getting that state approval. March 5. The contest is open to Greenwich 06830. If possible, they would also like residents GPD Retiree residents only and the town will reserve the to consider contributing a $5 check (or more) with the note “XMAS GIFT” made out to “Friends right to use the photos for town media. “Detective First Grade Mark Solomon of Nathaniel Witherall” so that they can provide retired from the Greenwich Police Department a gift to each resident as well. after twenty-six years of service. Detective GPD Retiree Solomon was a Patrol Officer and Accident-Car Sgt. Michael O’Connor officially retired Teacher Distinction Award Investigator (now called Master Patrol Officer) from the Greenwich Police Department. Sgt. Felicia Feng Zhang, a Greenwich music and then, in 2001, was appointed to the Detective O’Connor is a lifelong resident of Greenwich. H e h a s b e e n s e r v i n g t h e G r e e n w i c h teacher, has received the 2020 Teacher Division. He began his tenure as an investigator community for 44 years. O’Connor began his Distinction Award from the Royal Conservatory as a Youth Officer (Special Victims Section) career as a volunteer firefighter in 1976. In 1984 of Music. She is the founder of the All Talent and then transferred to the Investigations he became a police dispatcher and became Academy, which focuses on teaching her Section. Det. Solomon has conducted numerous a Greenwich Police officer on July 6, 1984. students and providing a “holistic education investigations involving all types of crimes, but Sgt. O’Connor career includes 7 years as an that goes beyond what traditional music schools he excelled at investigating financial crimes, Accident Car Officer (now called Master Police offer”. She also believes in training the whole such as Identity Theft, Credit Card related Officer), Patrol Supervisor, Shift Commander, mind, developing multi-intelligent skills, building crimes, and fraud. In 2008, Detective Solomon Commander of the Marine Section, and confidence, and fostering good habits. In 2016, began an assignment as a Federal Task Force numerous awards and com mendations. twenty-six of her students won international Officer to the newly formed Secret Service Although Sgt. O'Connor retired from active piano competitions with first and second prize Financial Crimes Task Force. Detective Solomon service, he will still be serving the Greenwich awards, and were invited to perform in Carnegie has received numerous citations and awards community. In November, First Selectman Hall. She and her students have been featured for his diligence and excellent police work. Fred Camillo swore Special Officer O'Connor on NBC Today Show, Fox News of Connecticut, Det. Solomon has been the recipient of the into the Greenwich Police Special Police Officer NBC in Connecticut, Connecticut News Channel Lions Club Dr. John Clarke Award, Greenwich ranks. As a Special Police Officer, he will help 12, The New York Times, World Journal, National Police Officer of the Year (2015), the Dr. Henry Lee Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in serve the community at parades, fireworks, Music Magazine, and more. Financial Crime Investigations, and the I.A.F.C.I. and other events throughout the Town. International Law Enforcement Officer of the Coat Drive Year. In July 2019, Detective Solomon was one Greenwich’s Board of Human Services GPD New Officer “On December 14 Chief James Heavey hosted a coat drive that brought in over 400 of the first Detectives in Greenwich Police welcomed the newest officer to the Greenwich coats. The donations of women’s and children’s Department history to be appointed as Detective Police Department's ranks. Turiya Hamilton was winter coats went to the Domestic Violence First Grade.”

Holiday Shopping for Unique Gifts

A treasure trove of seasonal gifts, one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories, stationery, fun and educational toys.

Greenwich Ave

On Monday, the Greenwich Library, in partner with Abilis, opened their new cafe. Due to the pandemic the cafe is only open for no contact pickup and has a limited menu. Customers c a n order at ht t ps: // greenwichlibrarycafe.org/ and pick up the food items outside the library in the Baxter Courtyard. The menu for now is limited to graband-go fare, including coffee, tea, bagels and pastries. In the future, the café will expand its menu with lunch specials that will be provided by partner restaurants in town. Under the partnership with Abilis, eight employees will staff the café, all of whom are program participants of the agency, which serves people with special needs.

Town Hall

Christmas Drive In Movies

HVAC at Cos Cob School The Board of Estimate and Taxation is slated to approve a new HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system for Cos Cob School since the current one is failing. How the new system will be paid for is the current question. The BET’s Budget Committee unanimously voted to recommend allocating just under $1.5 million to buy a system since the current one is 25 years old and needs expensive repairs. The need to get the money and approval now is due to the fact that the new equipment is in high demand and they would like to buy it soon so that they can start this summer.

The Bruce Museum Store

Tod’s Point

Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich celebrated Hanukkah with a car parade. They met at Perrot LIbrary, decorated cars and signs, and then, led by a festively decorated bus, paraded through town. They were escorted to the giant menorah that was set up on Greenwich Avenue that was then lit from a cherry picker.

Crisis Center in Stamford. This is the third donation that the board has done with the first two going to Inspirica and Pacific House, both also located in Stamford.

Bruce Museum

sworn in by First Selectman Fred Camillo within the Margenot Atrium at the Town of Greenwich Public Safety Complex. Officer Hamilton was born in Roundrock, Texas and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. She graduated from Washington Park High School in 2014 – one full year early. She then attended Gateway Technical College and Westfield State University, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Bridgeport in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Human Security, with a concentration in Criminology. Prior to becoming a Greenwich Police Officer, Officer Hamilton Tod's Point Here are the following rules for the winter worked for the State of Connecticut Judicial regarding access to Greenwich Point Park. Branch as a Judicial Marshal. She also has Drivers must show a 2020 Beach Pass or a State experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant.” Issued ID with a Greenwich address. Walkers, Operation Santa joggers, and bicycles do not need to show a The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol is running pass or proof of residency. Single day entry and operation Santa. Santa Claus will be making parking passes purchased for the 2020 season will still be honored until December 31. Traffic special deliveries to children across town and restricted Sundays started on November 22 the all-volunteer patrol will be hosting weekend will last until April 11 from 9am-12:30pm. Social fundraisers throughout the holiday season in distancing of 6 feet is required and if unavoidable order to offer parents a special way of delivering a mask must be worn. The south concession holiday gifts. The patrol will deliver a family’s will be open weather permitting on weekends pre-wrapped gifts on their fire truck to the through December. Dogs are permitted if they families with the help of Santa Claus and his are kept on a secure leash shorter than 10 feet friend the Grinch. For a donation of $250 to the Cos Cob Fire Patrol they will drop by at and that owners clean up any feces. a scheduled time on December 19 and 20. To register please visit http://ccfpp.org/ and donate. Hanukkah Car Parade

Greenwich Library

Fire Hydrants

With the winter storm season upon us, the emergency services in town would like to ask residents with fire hydrants near them to do their part to help keep the hydrants clear of snow. In order to not slow down the performance of emergency services they ask that you make sure that all fire hydrants have a perimeter of three feet cleared around them at all times and that there is a clear path from the hydrant to the street.

Barber shop 3 Lewis Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203/302.3408 nolandformen.com

open seven days a week

Page 8 | Greenwich Sentinel

PUBLISHER Beth@GreenwichSentinel.com Elizabeth Barhydt EDITORS & COPY EDITORS Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com Peter Barhydt, Daniel FitzPatrick, Stapley Russell, Anne W. Semmes

Christmas Bells and Holiday Stress As the holiday season takes hold, for many this time of year is one of joyous anticipation. In a normal year it would be the parties, as well as the gift-giving (and receiving) and family gatherings that fill many with a warm contentment. It is not a universal experience, however. There are many who face this time of year with anxiety and depression and loneliness. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet who lived during the 19th century. Originally from Maine, he is well known for his works “Paul Revere’s Ride” and “The Song of Hiawatha.” There is another he wrote that we often recall this time of year, “Christmas Bells.” You may recall the refrain at the end of each stanza: “Of peace on earth, good-will to men! He wrote it on Christmas Day in 1863. It was the first poem he wrote after his wife, to whom he was devoted, died tragically as the result of fatal burns from an accidental f ire two years earlier. In his immense grief it took time for Wadsworth to again be able to write.

It was the first poem he wrote after his wife, to whom he was devoted, died tragically as the result of fatal burns from an accidental fire two years earlier. In his immense grief it took time for Wadsworth to again be able to write. What emerged in “Christmas Bells” is, at times, a dark portrayal of a person struggling. Against the backdrop of the Civil War the writer loses faith: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong,” These lines can ring true just as easily today for what is happening around the world. They also may be impactful for those closer to home. Holiday anxiety, depression, and loneliness are very real for many. So real, in fact, a quick google search reveals many websites dedicated to these topics. The causes are plentiful; everything from stress of having family visit, or not being able to visit, to receiving untimely medical news, to having lost a loved one. For each trigger there are helpful suggestions. We are fortunate in Greenwich to have many resources to help those who quietly suffer and can ask for help. We are deeply appreciative of the Graziano family who recently hosted an interfaith bereavement and support service for those who have lost loved ones. The first holidays without a loved one can create an overwhelming sense of loneliness, even when surrounded by others. A resource that is always available is the Center for Hope and Renewal at the Old Stanwich Church. They are a faith-friendly counseling service. When you visit their website it immediately says, “Change your life, Change your world.” Eloquent in its simplicity, but hugely meaningful in its impact. If we are suffering and can change our life, even a little bit, it can change our whole world and how we live in it. They do not need to be monumental changes. Small steps lead to bigger steps and with it change occurs. There are other options as well. Every faith tradition in town, every house of worship is there to help those in need. Our religious leaders know the weight and pain of suffering silently. For those of us who k now someone who is suffering, perhaps the best thing we can do is to be present for them. To be there to listen if they want to talk, to sit next to them so they are not alone, or to give them a long, deep hug. Silence can be very loud for someone feeling separated. Letting them know they are not alone may seem too simplistic but also may be just what they need to take that first small step to change their life and then their world. The last stanza of Wadsworth’s Christmas Bells pushes away the darkness of the time and his emotions to let us know all is not lost and there is hope. “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.’"

Editorial Page

Waltzing Around the Tree Christmas trees have personality, and if you spend enough time with them, you start to hear their story. By Icy Frantz A few days ago, we bought a new stand. Last year our tree toppled and crushed some of our best ornaments. We had ignored the warning signs - the tree had been leaning for most of December and we assumed that, like the tower in Pisa, it would simply continue ad infinitum to lean but never fall. And then one night, we heard a loud crashing noise coming from the direction of the living room. We recovered what we could and pushed the tree back up and held it that way with the assistance of duct tape. The local hardware store where I bought the new stand promised me that it is the Rolls Royce of stands (and I am hoping that it is the Tesla, Lamborghini, and Ferrari as well). So, armed with the ownership of a new stand, we set out to decorate this year’s tree. Pulling out ornaments from the box where they live eleven out of the twelve months feels like seeing old friends after a long absence. I just want to sit and hold each ornament in my hands, remembering and getting reacquainted. Maybe because of this or the fact that we are hasty in putting them back in the box after the season is over, it always takes us a long time to decorate. This year, our daughter and I are tackling the job together (which is usually the case). We have our own particular tastes - she wants order and beauty; I like meaning and color. She does not like clutter; I want all of our favorites to have their moment in the sun even at the risk of saturation. If we were to ever move, I would buy a house that has the perfect place in which to put a Christmas tree. That sounds like a strange priority, but I would take it

over a mudroom or good storage. As it is, the ceilings in our house are low, and so our tree is never big. We do not need a cherry picker to reach the highest branches (though I would love to need a cherry picker). We do not spend a day at a Christmas tree farm, searching for and then chopping down the perfect tree. There is never much ceremony, just a triedand-true routine that begins in a church parking lot full of trees waiting to be bought (“Pick me! Pick me!”). We bring one home strapped to the top of our car, place it in the stand, wrap it with white lights, and then pursue the more interesting decor. Christmas trees have personality, and if you spend enough time with them, you start to hear their story. Waltz with me around our decorated tree, and you will meet our children at various ages and appraise their artwork, ornaments created in grade school out of yarn, cotton balls, red felt, popsicle sticks, and empty toilet pap er t u b e s. You m ig ht note between the bright colored bulbs that we love golden retrievers, Connecticut, lighthouses, and lacrosse. We cheer for the Putnam Generals and the Patriots. We ski, snowmobile, and surf, and appreciate a good cup of coffee and glass of wine. We bake and write, play golf (not well) and squash, and love our country, a lot. “Mom, this is ridiculous. Look how many wooden boats there are. Do we really need to keep all of these?” asked our daughter, a l ready concer ned a bout t he potential clutter. Well, yes, we do need to keep all of these. In a way, I find the ridiculous number of wooden

boats oddly comforting. I don’t remember where they all came from and from whom. I imagine s ome a r e f r om me , a s I g ive ornaments. My husband likes wooden boats; come to think of it, he likes wood. And staring at the ridiculous number of wooden boat ornaments tells me he is seen and known by the people in our lives. We put a few on the tree and the others back in the box. Christmas music plays in the background as we consider which ornaments will take center stage. There’s the Christopher Radko European glass owl, a handblown bulb with a bluebird on it, painted by a good friend, and a small nest of twigs with tiny bird eggs. Every year, all three are positioned carefully on branches in front, and at eye level. These ornaments are precious in their own right but it’s what they represent - the people in our lives who are no longer with us, who will not be here this Christmas that gives them meaning. They are more than placeholders for the past, or souvenirs for painful losses, they are reminders that love is always right here- centerstage. The birds keep a watchful eye on us and we, in turn, keep an eye on them. In the bottom of the last box, a small red bulb with faded gold lettering sits waiting. The years have taken away its shine, but unlike the origins and age of many of the other ornaments, I know this one well. December 18th, 1993 - the day I married my husband. A nd like marriages that have withstood the ups and downs of life, the red bulb is now worn and weathered. It’s not as pristine and perfect as it was 27 years ago when it was offered on a cold December

night to the guests at our wedding. But the years, too, have given it real value. It’s still here. It endured the downed tree of last year and many months tucked away at the bottom of a storage box. Without it, there would be no others. Before our wedding, my husband and I took ballroom dancing to learn to waltz. At first, our steps were awk ward and shaky. We counted out loud to get the rhythm and timing just right - step, slide, step – and slowly we fell into a compatible beat. By our reception, we had it down. I am not sure we were as graceful as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but it was the first of many lessons we learned together. Halfway through that dance, the music abruptly ch a n ge d , a nd (don’t c r i n ge), Walking on Sunshine flooded the dance f loor, and we broke into a style that suited us both better than a waltz. It’s Christmas and our tree is decorated with ornaments that tell our family’s story in a way that suits our daughter’s need for order and mine for festivity. The boxes and protective covering have been stowed and the tree is secure in a new foundation that is both promising and strong. It’s also our anniversary, and, as we waltz around our Christmas tree (okay, we don’t really do that), I am grateful for the years, for this milestone, for those ornaments that we have amassed and for those that have survived a sometimes-perilous road. Now, twenty-seven years later, I would still say, “Pick me! Pick me!” Icy Frantz is Creating Connection One Story at a Time at Icyfrantz.net

Baby Jesus By Patricia Chadwick I was ten years old when I decorated my first Christmas tree – a seven-foot tall Norwegian spruce, grown on our own property. The red, green, white and blue lights seemed a l most m i racu lous – magnified and multiplied as they ref lected off the long strands of tinsel delicately draped on the outer branches of the tree. And on that Christmas Eve, I hung up my first stocking – a grey woolen heavy-knit piece of clothing that I wore inside my boots to fend off New England’s biting winter cold. I went to bed that night, trying to stay awake but slipping off to sleep and then waking up on Christmas morning, surprised beyond my wildest imagination, as I stared wide-eyed at the array of games and toys that were loaded under the Christmas tree and bulging out of my stocking. I knew how those presents got there – they came from Baby Jesus – or did they? Baby Jesus was our Santa Claus, while Santa Claus, we were told, was a fiction – just a madeup character who was all about commercializing Christmas. Santa Claus was a fraud; Baby Jesus was God. I no more believed in Baby Jesus, at the age of ten, than I would have believed in Santa Claus, had he been part of our Christmas lore. No

I no more believed in Baby Jesus, at the age of ten, than I would have believed in Santa Claus, had he been part of our Christmas lore. I occasionally still wonder – whatever happened to my present for Baby Jesus? one could convince me that Baby Jesus went out shopping in stores, selecting presents – gifts He knew I would enjoy – and then handdelivering them to my stocking. It just didn’t make any sense. And the thought that He did this for children all around the world struck me as was simply ludicrous. But being a good and obedient child – and a very perceptive one at that – I knew it was my responsibility to play along. I couldn’t spoil the fun for all the other children – the thirty-eight Little Brothers and Sisters who were part of my community and all of whom seemed to be mesmerized by the Baby Jesus charade. A year later, when I was eleven and even more perspicacious, I had to play along once again, as we, Little Brothers and Sisters, were exhorted: “Wouldn’t it be lovely, dears, if each of you were to make something with your own hands for Baby Jesus to thank Him for bringing you presents?” Twenty Little Sisters huddled together wondering aloud what an appropriate gift for Baby Jesus might be. “I’m going to knit Him a scarf,” said one child, and a second chimed in that she would crochet Him mittens. Another said she wanted to make Him a little cap to keep His head warm. I was unimpressed. Knitting

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I have been a member of the Board of GWHA for several years now. This is a unique Greenwich organization founded in 1976 by a dedicated group that decided to attack hunger around the world by supporting one small project at a time. Many of the original founders have passed and we are looking to expand our donor base given the extraordinary needs during this pandemic. Our grants are designed to support projects that address hunger and that can lead to self-sufficiency, especially among women. To that end, we support local agricultural projects, small business start-

is way too easy, I thought. I could do it blindfolded and found the traditional stockinette stich boring. I was intent on making something t hat wou ld br i ng me sp e c ia l attention, that would ensure that my handicraft would stand out in a sea of ordinary gifts. And in a flash, it came to me – “I’ll embroider an outfit for the newborn Baby Jesus.” I’d been embroidering since I was six years old, when my mother taught me the first basic stitches. It was the start of Advent as each of us embarked on our separate projects. Sitting on my bed each afternoon, I worked tirelessly for an hour or more, embroidering daisy stitches for the flower petals, cross stitches for the decoration around the edge, French knots, chain stitches, back stitches – straining my eyes until they were sore. Within a couple of weeks, all the other Little Sisters had completed their simple projects for Baby Jesus, while I had made hardly a dent in my “masterpiece.” It wasn’t long before I began to hate the small white cotton gown with its endless pattern of as yet unfinished yellow and blue flowers and decorations. Only pride kept me from giving up. As I neared completion of my project, I started to wonder what would happen to my present for Baby Jesus. I’d put in untold hours

of work, missing countless days of afternoon recreation – time to run in the woods, pick pinecones and climb trees. Wo u l d t h e f r u i t s o f m y labor simply be tossed into the wastebasket? It’s too small for a real baby, I thought. Whatever its fate, I knew full well that Baby Jesus would never see it, much less wear it. Two days before Christmas I took the final stitch and my present for Baby Jesus was completed. I hand washed it in warm soapy water, rolled it in a towel to absorb the dampness and then carefully pressed it wrinkle-free. My final act was to wrap the tiny gown in soft yellow tissue paper and put it in a white box together with a handwritten note that read: Dear Baby Jesus, I made this gown for You with my own hands. I hope You will enjoy wearing it. I occasionally still wonder – whatever happened to my present for Baby Jesus? Patricia Chadwick is a businesswoman and an author. Her recently published memoir, Little Sister, the story of her unusual childhood growing up in a cult, is now available in paperback . She is currently working on her second book, Breaking Glass, about “growing up” on Wall Street. www. patriciachadwick.com

GWHA ups , education and training in skills that will enable people to support themselves, to escape extreme poverty and avoid hunger. I i n v i t e yo u t o t a k e a l o o k a t o u r website to see if our mission aligns with your personal gifting philosophy. https:// greenwichworldhunger.org Our grant recipients are working harder than ever, given the effects of the pandemic on their lives and the lives of the many they work hard to help. While we, too, are trying to deal with all the challenges and modifications the pandemic has necessitated, most of us are still able to go about some semblance of

our pre-COVID-19 lives. Not so with our grant recipients. Their struggles against poverty and hunger have been exacerbated by the pandemic and, in many cases, their lives have been upended. Our intention, therefore, is to maintain or increase our levels of funding to compensate as much as we can for the current situation. However, we can only do that with additional suppor t. If th is resonates w ith you, please consider donating on-line: https:// greenwichworldhunger.org Wishing you and your family peace in this holiday season, Pam Sloane

Page 9 | Greenwich Sentinel

Public Safety Streamlined on the Avenue

GPD Officers Nick Carl and Robert Smurlo. (John Ferris Robben photo)

By Richard Kaufman A s t he look a nd fe el on Greenwich Avenue is changing, so is public safety. Due to the pandemic, in order to help businesses and restaurants, Greenwich Avenue has been reinvigorated in recent months -- f irst with outdoor dining and the popular pedestrian mall on the lower portion, and now with the approved intersection and aesthetics enhancement project slated for Elm Street, which features bumpouts from the curb to increase pedestrian safety. At the same time, since June t he Greenw ich Police Department has redeployed it s o f f i c e r s o n G r e e nw i c h Avenue in a more efficient and streamlined way. Plainclothes off icers on foot still remain, but gone are stationary of f icers directing traf f ic at intersections for eight hours a day. Instead, the GPD is now more mobile and visible than ever before with the use of bicycles. " We wa nted to en ha nce public safety on the Avenue while we're promoting businesses and while we're enhancing the aesthetics of the Avenue. We think it all goes hand in hand," said First Selectman Fred Camillo, adding that there are more off icers on the Avenue now than there have been in years past. "People can rest assured this area is super patrolled. Th is is a not her reason for people to not only shop and d ine here, but a lso open a business here." GPD Chief Jim Heavey said the department had to address the increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic over the summer as the Avenue began to come alive again. "Because you have so much activity spread out over the Avenue, to have the of f icer stand at the intersection [d i r e c t i n g t r a f f i c] w o u l d not be eff icient or effective. That's when we had the joint conversation that this is really t he way we shou ld go," he said. "Having an officer with an omnipresence was more important. We definitely have had an impact on the crime

and on traffic. We're constantly reevaluating it." The GPD uses four bicycles, and as many as three could be out patrolling the Avenue at any given time. They're also used at Greenwich Point. In the event of snow, those officers will return to patrol cars. "We have more contacts now than we'd have if we were in a car. We're mobile, so we can respond to the things that cars can't get to and areas cars can't respond to," said Police Off icer Robert Smurlo. "We can be stealth." Capt. Mark Zuccerella said the merchants up and down the Avenue love the bicycles because it allows for more coverage in the area. "We're doing community outreach with the merchants from the top to the bottom of the Avenue," Zuccerella said. "When traffic is backed up, the officers will stop and address it. From what I'm hearing from the merchants, they like that better. It's more of an effective and ef f icient use of hig h ly trained off icers, rather than having them just be a traffic light.” For Zuccerella, it's about more t ha n just t ra f f ic a nd c r i m e c o n t r o l . I t 's a b o u t community. "The one thing we don't like during COVID is we can't interact with people like we u s e d to. I u s e d to go v isit people and have coffee with them, and I can't do that now. These guys have brought some of that back to the Avenue by being able to talk to people in a non-police related manner," he said. Police Of f icer Nick Carl, who uses one of the bicycles, said he's gotten nothing but positive reaction since being placed on the Avenue when the pedestrian mall went into effect over the summer. "People love it. Everybody comes up to us and tells us they love the bikes," he said. “We’re more approachable.” The bicycle fleet is about to get an improvement, too. On Monday, the Representative Town Meeting approved a gift f rom an anony mous donor which consists of four, fully outf itted Interceptor Power Bicycles, and two trailers and

TAX NOTICE CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAXES TOWN OF GREENWICH THIS IS A REMINDER FROM YOUR TAX COLLECTOR

The Second Installment of Town Real Property and Sewage System Maintenance Taxes are due January 1, 2021 and must be paid by February 1, 2021. Delinquent taxes are subject to an interest charge of 1.5 % per month (A fraction of a month is defined by statute as a whole month) from the installment due date. Minimum interest charge is $2.00. Taxes may be paid by mail or at the Tax Collector Office, Town Hall located at 101 Field Point Road, from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. You may pay online with a credit card or electronic check (ACH/EFT). A convenience fee is charged by the provider for this service. Any taxpayer who pays by check must submit the second half remittance stub with the payment and the canceled check will be the receipt.

TAX NOTICE SUPPLEMENTAL MOTOR VEHICLES PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES

The Tax Collector of the Town of Greenwich hereby gives notice that any person who registered a Motor Vehicle between October 2, 2019 and July 3l, 2020 is liable for the payment of property taxes due January l, 2021 and must be paid by February 1, 2021 without penalty as per Public Act 76-338 as amended (as enacted by the Connecticut State Legislature). Taxes are delinquent if not paid by February 1, 2021, subject to interest at the rate of 1.5 % per month (A fraction of a month is defined by statute as a whole month) from the due date. Minimum interest charge is $2.00. Taxes may be paid by mail or at the Tax Collector Office, Town Hall located at 101 Field Point Road, from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. You may pay online with a credit card or electronic check (ACH/EFT). A convenience fee is charged by the provider of this service. Any taxpayer who pays by check must submit the second half remittance stub with the payment and the canceled check will be the receipt. Tax Collector Town of Greenwich

Merchants up and down Greenwich Avenue, pictured here with Police Chief James Heavey, First Selectman Fred Camillo, and patrol officers, seem pleased with the new redeployment of police. (John Ferris Robben photo)

hitch haulers. The bicycles, the same kind used by the Secret Service and FBI, will have lights and sirens, and space to store more equipment.

"We'll be able to respond more quickly to incidents on the Avenue," Heavey said. Heavey encourages residents to say hello to the officers on the Avenue because

t he com mu n it y a nd p ol ice department work together. " I f yo u h ave s o m e r e a l positive experiences with an officer, you'll have a positive i m a g e o f u s a n d t h e r e 's

better communication. It's a partnership," Heavey added. " We c a n't b e eve r y wh e r e , so we have to work together t o k e e p G r e e nw i c h a s a f e place to be."

Page 10 | Greenwich Sentinel

Cleaning Out Your Closet? Chris Moran Will Make You an Offer By Kris Herndon

You may have walked past The Happy Coin, on Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob, w it hout realizing there’s hidden treasure inside. This past April, owner Chris Moran decided to branch out into buying and selling luxury goods secondhand. “Greenwich Luxury Goods is sort of a natural offshoot of The Happy Coin,” says Moran. “I’ve been part of the coin business for most of my life. My grandfather was an expert and passed that knowledge and interest down to me.” “At the Happy Coin we are buyers of anything gold or silver,

numismatic items, and we buy a va r iet y of d i f fer ent item s that have value. Including, for example, better watches.” The fine watch trade and the market for secondhand luxury goods often overlap, which is what happened one day when a Happy Coin client came in with a lu xur y w ristwatch and, in the course of that negotiation, ment ione d a Her mès Bi rk i n handbag that wasn’t getting much use anymore. Mora n k n ew t h at Bi rk i n bags in good condition retain quite a bit of their value on the secondary market. He sought his daughter’s advice, and she agreed that a spinoff trading in

luxury bags and other gentlyused designer goods was a great fit for Greenwich. And so, last April, the idea for Greenwich Luxury Goods was born. As any seasoned shopper k n ows , r e t a i l m a rk up s c a n be steep, and most items lose a majority of their value the second they leave the store. But some designer handbags – Birkins included -- are notable exceptions, retaining significant value on the secondhand and auction market. Some hard-tofind items even become soughtafter rarities that can be resold for more than the original purchase price. Mora n r el ie s on

documentation, consultations with a network of experts, and his own connoisseur’s eye, to assess value and to authenticate the luxury goods he accepts for resale. “It’s important to say that I’m not a consignment store. I write checks for this material. Bring me a bag and I’ll make you an offer. If you accept my offer, I’ll give you immediate payment.” In these pandemic times, you can arrange for a sociallydistanced or contactless pickup or drop-off if needed. Greenwich Luxury Goods has an online presence to help you do a little research beforehand: “We have a website, and a presence on

Facebook and Instagram, and we encourage people to engage with us. Send us pictures, ask those questions.” Moran is active in the local community, having served as a member and as Treasurer of the Rotary Club. “When I came to tow n to open the Happy Coin,” he says, “I wanted have some connection to the community, being new, so I joined the Rotary Club.” “The Rotary raises money for lots of community causes – Neighbor to Neighbor, Kids in Crisis, and many others.” Moran says he brings that same caring community spirit to his business ventures.

“I’m less concerned about prices than I am about making clients, you know? The money w i l l t a ke c a r e o f it s e l f ,” h e explains. “I’m concerned with people feeling like they got a good deal, and feeling like they were treated fairly. While I am a liquidity provider and it is a financial transaction, I also want people to walk away saying: This was a good deal for me! So I work hard to make people feel that way.” Moran encourages buyers looking for a bargain to come take a look. “The bags are all authentic bags, and our prices are great.”

Reaching Out Grant Champions Make the Difference

By Julie Faryniarz Did you happen to notice the bright orange Funky Turkey made by The Developing Artist roosting on the front lawn of the Board of Education building last month? Or, did you possibly read about Greenwich High School Innovation Lab students winning prizes in the Virtual National History Day state competition? Or maybe you were part of a community discussion and someone mentioned the AVID college-readiness system and how it is reducing opportunity gaps for first generation students to go to college? Each of these things have something in common - they are programs funded through the Reaching Out Grants program of the Greenwich Alliance for Education. Reaching Out Grants are the Alliance’s tool to capture and reward the innovative ideas of our school and community educators - allowing them to “dream big”.

These inspired educators know what it takes to “level up” the educational experience for their students, serving as education “champions” who spearhead grant projects once funding is approved. Over 13 years, we have funded $1.5 million in Reaching Out Grants for projects offered at nearly all of the Greenwich Public Schools, as well as for community agencies including the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, Community Centers, Inc., Family Centers, Greenwich United Way, Horizons at Brunswick, YMCA G r e e n w i c h , a n d t h e Y WC A Greenwich. Thousands of students and families have benefited from these exciting and innovative learning opportunities in the arts, technology, social emotional learning and mindfulness, family engagement, and more. Some grants were adopted by the Greenwich Public Schools in programming or curriculum, while others triggered a change and became an enhancement to an existing course. Some just simply did not work out, yet provided invaluable lessons and experiences that led to the next big idea. Bridging the Digital Divide is a prime example of a grant that addressed a critical equity and access issue at a specif ic time. From 2011-2015, many students

Reaching Out Grants are the Alliance’s tool to capture and reward the innovative ideas of our school and community educators - allowing them to “dream big”. lacked computer and internet connections at home. In these early days, technology just was becoming central to classroom and curriculum. Students without computers or internet at home relied on the computer lab at school, the libraries, and the local community centers. Constrained by the hours these locations were open, it could be difficult for these students to complete assignments and achieve academic success. G r o up p r o j e c t s we r e n e a r l y impossible for some students. Even once the Greenwich Public Schools (GPS) issued devices to all students, internet access remained an issue. Through it all, the Bridging the Digital Divide Program served these students, ensuring equitable access to both devices and internet. For these efforts, the Alliance was awarded a Turbo Award Honorable Mention by the Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut - Community Partners in March 2013. In 2014, we awarded the single largest grant award we have ever made to Greenwich High School

to accelerate the development of what is now Innovation Lab. This grant funded essential planning time for five teachers to thoroughly research, design and collaborate, in consultation with Greenwich Leadership Partners, to establish all programmatic aspects. Innovation Lab opened in the Fall of 2015 as an interdisciplinary s cho ol w it h i n-i n-a-s cho ol at Greenwich High School, leveraging innovative teaching methods, project-based learning and leadingedge technology applications. Our initial investment in Innovation L a b su bse q uent ly le d to ou r funding many innovation spaces at our elementary schools and at Central Middle School. Funding the implementation of AVID in 2008 met a district identif ied need to purposefully engage students on the college track who were aspiring f irstgeneration college goers. AVID offers a rigorous academic and skill building curriculum designed to bring underrepresented students to the college campus. Greenwich P u b l i c S c h o o l ’s b u d g e t n ow

includes AVID. There are now 300 GPS students enrolled in the AVID Elective, and more than 200 GPS AVID alumni who are enrolled in or who have graduated from college. This summer, we launched AVID SUCCESS initiative to offer extensions to the AVID program for st udents a nd te achers at G r e e nw i c h H i g h S c h o o l a n d Cent ra l a nd We ster n M idd le Schools, and for GPS AVID alumni enrolled in college. AVID SUCCESS synthesizes under one umbrella our ex isting AV ID supports scholarships, mentoring, and Good Money Habits - and adds job/professional skills, family programming, professional d e ve l o p m e nt , a n d m o r e . A l l of these supports evolved and expanded due to the original grant “champions” who believed in AVID and knew that it would make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of their students. T h e 2 0 2 0 -2 0 2 1 R e a c h i n g Out Grant application is now available on our website at www. greenwichalliance.org. The website

a lso featu res descr iptions of previous grants, as well as those that are active in our schools right now. Our Reaching Out Grants Committee is looking forward to reading new applications in March and learning what incredible ideas new and returning “grant champions” have in mind for 20212022. We are deeply grateful to our education supporters across the community who donate, and to the organizations and foundations who have contributed toward our grants over the years - Confidence Foundation, CT Office of the Arts, Fairf ield County’s Community Fou nd at i on , F i r s t Cou nt y Bank Foundation, Heidenreich Foundation, and Junior League of Greenwich. Executive Director, Greenwich Alliance for Education since 2009; Proud mother of 3 Greenwich High School graduates and married 30 yea rs; Y WC A Women Who Inspires Honoree; Past PTA Council President; University of Vermont, BA Psychology

How to Improve Your Child's Relationship with Social Media By Jody Bell W hat d id you r ch i ld ho o d look like? For most parents, it’s safe to assume that their child is living in a vastly different world than the one they were raised in. GenZ grew up in a digital world— social media provides them with constant access to a vast network of friends and a continuous stream of information. As a parent, this can be incredibly intimidating — how do you monitor what your child is posting and viewing without harming your relationship? Jennifer Openshaw, CEO of Girls with Impact, spoke to Alexa Curtis to f ind out. Curtis is an Founder of Life Unfiltered with Alexa Curtis – a blog she started when she was 12. She also created

the Be Fearless Summit, which partners with college campus to prepare young adults to land their dream jobs. Here are Curtis’ parenting tips to improve your child’s social media presence and strengthen your relationship in the process. Social Media: What Should You Know Social media has many different facets — and the culture across each app is vastly different. Here’s a summary of what you may see across the board. Pointing to the joyful dance routines and funny videos shared on TikTok, Curtis believes social media is generally a positive space. You can find pages sharing information about mental health, bully ing, and tips for dealing with the everyday stresses of

First and foremost, if your child shows you a photo, video, or meme from social media, react to it. adolescence. Many of these pages have become platforms to uplift one another and form a peer-topeer network. H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e t h e occasional “bad apple” pages. Whether this be overly sexual content, online bullying, or simply mature media that you think your child is too young for. Curtis recommends that if your child is under 16, you should have access to what their viewing. Products like Circle can not only help manage what your child is seeing, but limits the amount of time they are on their device. How to Stay in the Loop — Keeping up With Your Teen’s Social Media Adolescence looks a lot d i f fer ent i n 2 02 0. We get it . Her e’s how you c a n c on ne c t

with your child on social media a nd i nc or p orate it i nto you r conversations. First and foremost, if your child shows you a photo, video, or meme from social media react to it. Showing interest in their social media endeavors will let them know that you care and want to stay informed. Laughing or asking a question is a great way to react in a non-judgmental way. Curtis also recommends dinner time as a social media check in. You can discuss videos/photos that your child showed you that day and go into depth about that content. It’s a great time to point out why certain posts shouldn’t be seen, and bring up diff icult topics revolving around eating disorders, bullying, and underage sexualization. With this method

you can educate your child about social media, bring up major topics that can be difficult to discuss, and do so in a way that makes your child a part of the conversation. So Your Child Wants to Be an Influencer….Now What? As a parent, seeing thousands of views on your teen’s post can be intimidating—here’s what you need to know. Being an inf luencer can come in many forms— for some it is based off partnerships with compa n ie s t r y i ng to r e ach a younger audience. For others, it is simply to build their own brand and monetize themselves through merchandise. These opportunities are great ways for your child to learn about the power of media while building a brand and income. However, you

must be open with them— voice your concerns and ensure that you are involved with their online presence. As digital natives, GenZ has formed what is truly a second identity—one that is based solely online and is used to express both themselves and their ideologies. As a parent you must monitor this online identity, whilst also allowing them to express themselves and their messages. Hopefully, these tips aid in conquering this difficult balance. Jody Bell , 19, is Girls With Impact’s Chief Editor and a program graduate. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, after-school, entrepreneurship program for teen girls, turning them into tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators.

Children Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays The residents and staf f of Pa r s onage Cot t age S en ior Re side nc e r e c eive d a n e a rly Ch r istmas present on Fr iday thanks to an enthusiastic group of community-oriented Greenwich Country Day families supported by the Parsonage Cottage Junior Advisory Board and board m e m b e r M i m i S a n t r y. T h e front parking lot of Parsonage Cottage was turned into a Winter Wonderland, and the merriment included two festively decorated jeeps, followed by a sociallydistanced parade that included Santa Claus (Connor Santr y), Mrs. Claus (Kristen Rosenbaum), Rudolph (Eliot Spizzirri), The Grinch (Nick Spizzirri) Frosty the Snowman (Dana Santry), Father Twas the Night before Christmas (Teddy Rosenbaum) and four Elves (Erin O'Connor, Julia Welsh, Cam Calcano, and Jojo McCurdy.) Part-two of the holiday event, was a delivery of baskets of holiday cheer carried by additional 7thg rade elve s f r om G r e e nw ich Country Day and their mothers. The group delivered of 32 baskets for residents and 17 gift bags for the Parsonage staff. Execut ive Di rec tor Pen ny

Lore expressed appreciation for the creative and festive ef fort for the residents and the staff. "Celebrating the holidays like we usually do at Parsonage is not an option this year, and of course, there is an emotional cost to that. This drive-by parade brought joy to everyone here at Parsonage. It really did lift spirits!" Lore explained that knowing that the residents and staf f have been dealing with the pandemic since March, the idea was to bring some Christmas cheer to Parsonage. "Of course, I am so grateful for the residents, but for my dedicated st a f f, t h is wa s somet h i ng so extra-special for them, and the thoughtfulness and generosity truly touched them. The specially curated baskets were g iven ex tra attention because of the pandemic explained Santry. "A great deal of care went into designing the gift baskets for the staff and residents. We r e c o g n i z e t h a t m a n y people feel isolated, forgotten, and unappreciated during the holidays. We felt it was important that the gifts be personal. The b oy s m a d e h a n d m a d e c a r d s c omplete w it h a photo, s o it

didn't feel like a commercial card. Dancia Callahan monogrammed each careg iver's name onto a zippered bag for the same reason. Laurie Costantino hand-selected

jewelry from her company LuLu DK for the staf f as a personal touch. The intention was to let t hem k now t hei r com mu n it y appreciates them."

Page 11 | Greenwich Sentinel

A Thank You Note to the Teacher? Yes! By Lockey Coughlin I have a treasure trove of gratitude notes and gifts from students, employees, and parents tucked away in boxes in my office. Over the course of the academic year, I post each and every note and piece of art work on a bulletin board in my office. Each June, my crowded bulletin board is cleared off, but I keep it all close to hand. 15 years worth of cards, notes, and drawings will recalibrate your perspective very quickly and there are certainly times when looking through them gets me through a difficult week. Th is t i me of ye a r I of ten remind students and parents to show their appreciation to their mentors and teachers. This year, more than most, I have been shocked, yes shocked, at the many people who respond to this with, “Oh, we don’t do that. Do teachers even appreciate that?” Um, yes. Do you like it when people give you a gift or a note to say how awesome you are? How would it make you feel if someone remembered that your favorite drink is a green tea matcha latte and then showed up with one for you on a cold and dreary morning? We all know that teaching is an incredibly personal and relationship oriented profession, which can be emotionally d r a i n i n g . We a l l k n ow t h a t teachers deal with mountains of paperwork, spend their free time constantly working to improve their curriculum, and that they have to deal daily with the scariest

• Gif t cer tif icates for a people i n the world – ma ma of the gifting family every time it favorite local business – bears. Quantifying their immense blooms. this is a win-win and super contribution to our children’s lives simple. Choose a favorite What to give: is impossible, of course. But we restaurant, coffee shop, or could at least say thank you in a • Always include a personal gift store, and buy all of your meaningful way. note written by your child. gift cards at once. Pop one No matter if the transgressions • A small f lowering plant, into an envelope with your are our own or those of others, such as a Christmas cactus, child’s hand-written card the holidays are our opportunity mini rose, orchid, rosemary and you are all set. Quick to let them know that their time, tree, or gardenia. and easy. attention, effort, and concern for the well-being of our children are • Yes, candles. Opt for soy appreciated. If COVID makes it in reusable, eco-friendly I have many favorite gifts and impossible for you to hand deliver containers. all were chosen by my students, gifts to your child’s teachers at based on conversations from classes: a Green Bay Packers key chain, a cactus, a Wonder Woman movie poster, student art work. My favorite gift is a mug, believe it or not, with a picture of Bruce Lee on it and the quote, “Be water my friend”. I have received a lot of gifts over the years, some of them incredibly generous, but this one showed that the student had absorbed and remembered a class where we their classes or the timing is not discussed Bruce Lee many months • A pedicure kit, foot scrub, working for you, send the gift via prior. Teacher nirvana. and/or fun socks. the internet, or choose Valentine’s The best part of all of this is Day to show them some love. • Spor ts memorabilia the lessons that your child will Definitely include gratitude notes be su re to choose you r learn throughout the process. I and gifts in your academic yearteacher’s favorite team. could list them, but they are far too end planning, as well. numerous and you know what they • Something that harkens When giving gifts to teachers, are already anyway. A few great kid back to a lesson that your make them as personal as possible, note quotes (including errors) … teacher worked on with and accompanied by a note or card your child. Thank you for being in my lide. written by the student. Remember Thank you for being such an • A s i g n e d c o p y o r for pu blic schools, state law amazing person/teacher. c ol le c tor ’s e d it ion of a prohibits gifts worth more than favorite book. Thank you for class i really $50. Many private schools have injoyed it si m i la r r e c om mendat ion s . I • ( D e p e n d i n g o n yo u r used to give my children’s dance If we had a million other you’s, school policy) Wine, or teachers pedicure essentials. One the world would be a better place. champagne are lovely. Even special teacher got free unlimited if they are not drinkers, Lockey is the owner of coffee for a month from a coffee they will have it on hand for E d u c a t i o n wi th ou t Wa l l s , a n shop willing to keep a tab for me. entertaining. educational mecca for independent I would always add my own note, thinkers. She is also Founder and • Mugs, only if there is as well. A small plant is perfect for President of Webb Youth Services, some real meaning there. gardeners. About 12 years ago, I a 501(c)(3) working to support each Avoid generic ‘Best Teacher’ received a mini rose and decided child's climb up Maslow's pyramid. choices. to try it in the garden. It is still Lockey@EducationWW.org gorgeous today and I am reminded

I recently had the chance to hear Amanda Ripley speak. Ms. Ripley, the author of a book called The Unthinkable, Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why, shared a story of a 10-year old girl named Tilley Smith. Little Tilley and her dad were walking along the beach in Thailand when Tilley noticed the ocean behaving strangely. It was frothing and receding. Only a few weeks early in her earth science studies, she learned that these were telltale signs of a tsunami. She told her dad, who did what I suspect most of us would do; he calmed her fears and told her not to worry and to enjoy their vacation. Tilley would have none of it. She sat down on the beach folded her arms and told her dad she would not move until he did something about what she knew

It’s that time of year to restore your furniture to it’s original elegance.

This year, more than most, I have been

shocked, yes shocked, at the many people

who respond to this with, “Oh, we don’t do that. Do teachers even appreciate that?”

The Magic of a Great Teacher By Adam Rhodie

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could be tragic. Finally, the dad took Tilley to the hotel lobby and said to the desk clerk, “Hey, I know this sounds crazy, but my daughter thinks the ocean is acting strangely—could this be a sign of tsunami?” A tourist nearby, overhearing the conversation, jumped in, and said yes, indeed those were signs of a tsunami and he had just heard about an earthquake in Sumatra. He urged them to run out and immediately clear the beach. The three men a nd Ti l ley ra n to b e ach a nd

highlights the incredible power of a great teacher. I have misquoted Henry Adams before, but he so perfectly summed up a teacher’s impact on the world when he said, “a teacher effects eternity because t h e y k n ow n o t w h e r e t h e i r inf luence ends.” Perhaps even more succinctly, Christa McAuliffe the teacher/ astronaut k illed on the space shuttle Challenger summed it up best when she said, “I touch the future, I teach.” Every day, teachers create magic that is both fragile and permanent; fragile

a teacher effects eternity because they know not where their influence ends evacuated everyone to higher ground and when the tsunami hit moments later, no one on that particular beach died. This story resonated with me for two specific reasons. First, it shows the power of just a little information. Tilley’s earth science teacher could never have known her curriculum would eventually save l ives, but once aga i n it

plop down on a beach and insist that your information may be b et ter t ha n you r fat her ’s. It takes courage to jump into a conversation that is not your own. And it certainly takes courage to go out on a limb, without any rank or position, and tell people to clear a beach. I find these lessons to be more appropriate than ever today. As we find ourselves poised to start what will likely be a very tough winter, we need to applaud, all of those courageous folks who are working on the front lines, who are keeping hospitals open, who are making sure mail gets delivered, and trash gets hauled away. And of course, we need to thank our teachers. While every school must keep safety as their absolute top priority, it is difficult to overestimate the impact of having kids in school, learning in classrooms with great teachers. As the Japanese proverb says, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”

in that it rests on that delicate relationship between teacher and pupil, and permanent because both teacher and student will be forever part of one another. This very dichotomy makes teaching such a mysterious act: it is almost invisible, but it lasts forever. Second, this story is another Adam C Rohdie is the Head of example of courage. It ta kes School at the Greenwich Country courage to be ten years old and Day School

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Page 12 | Greenwich Sentinel

Mei Stone

Mei Stone, a lifelong Greenwich resident and vibrant mother, friend, and colleague, died of brain cancer on Dec. 8, 2020. She was 60. A source of light in any room, Mei was the middle of three daughters of Louisa H. Stone and the late Emerson L . Stone. She was known for her passion, generosity, hard work, and good looks. Born Melisande Grace Stone, she had high cheekbones, green-blue eyes, and blond hair; she turned heads throughout life and initially pursued a career in retail fashion. Fluent in French and a lover of fine food, she had a f lair for living that attracted a large circle of f riends around Greenw ich, at her b eloved a l ma mater Northwestern, and in France, the home of her ex-husband, the late Maurice Versailles, original owner of Versailles Patisserie in Greenwich. With him, she raised four children, who went through the Greenwich Public Schools as she had. During their childhood, she devoted herself to expanding their horizons through travel, language, and experience. Mei's second career began in the 2000s when she developed bookkeepingorganizing skills and established a business with clients across Fa i r f ield a nd We stche ster counties. She was a longtime subscriber to the Greenwich Classic Films Series and enjoyed movies and sports—especially tennis—as entertainment. An ardent competitor herself, she also regularly practiced yoga and traveled to Costa Rica for an extended retreat. Her biggest ambition in her final year was to hold a celebration with family and friends as she turned 60, but the party was scrapped because of coronavirus restrictions. Instead, many friends visited her at home, creating a months-long series of happy moments. She retained close ties with college friends, especially from her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and frequently entertained and visited them. After learning her diagnosis, she arranged several cross-country group trips to concerts, but those, too, were canceled by the pandemic. As Mei's health declined, her sisters, children, mother, niece, nephew, some close friends, and an aide provided care. Mei le ave s he r b elove d children: Julien, who owns a tennis academy; Sébastien, a marine biologist and waterquality analyst, and his wife, Ha ley; Madeleine, a denta l practice associate, and her husband, Fred, and daughter, Charlotte; and Remy, a recent college graduate and aspiring sports manager; Mei's mother, Louisa; Mei's sisters, Kris, and her daughter Zarina; and Lise, and her husband Stephen, and their son Sam. The entire family extends its gratitude to everyone who supported and celebrated her in the f inal months and created a graceful conclusion. A memorial service will be set at a later date. Those wanting to honor her memor y may consider supporting her favorite organizations: Avon Theatre Film Center, Bridges School Ea rly Ch i ld ho o d P rog ra m , Northwestern University, or Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven.

Ann McAdam

Obituaries conservationist. He once rescued a full-grown Osprey he saw struggling and entangled in fishing line. The rescue resulted in a write-up in the Greenwich Time accompanied by a picture of Jim holding the freed bird with its wings outstretched. His skills as a hunter and fisherman were honed over a lifetime of enjoyment of the outdoors. He would spend countless hours in the woods over the course of a season for the opportunity to see a trophy buck. He was a highly skilled bow hunter. Summers would f ind Jim enjoying the waters of Long Island Sound, fishing with his brother Brad and friends. He knew the local waters of Long Island Sound like the back of his hand. Once or twice a summer, Jim would pilot his beloved 31' Bertram, "Last Minute" from Cos Cob to the offshore waters of Montauk Point for some deep sea big-game fishing. Jim was also a successful bu si ne s sm a n , ow n i n g a nd operating his business James Cox Sanitation, Inc. for 32 plus years, of which he was very proud. Above all, Jim was a positive, friendly, caring and goodhearted person. He, a long w ith h is brother Brad, was a lov ing caregiver to his Mother for the past 12 years until she passed earlier in 2020. Jim is sur v ived by his brothers, Bruce (Christy) of Marietta, GA, Brad (Lori) of Greenwich, CT, a nephew, niece and many cousins. Jim had numerous friends and will be greatly missed by all. Due to Covid-19, there will be no services held at this time but donations to Jim's memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action N e t wo r k o r t h e A m e r i c a n Cancer Societ y would be most appreciated.

Ann Ruane McAdam passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Greenwich, CT on Dec. 14, 2020. Annie, as she is known to her family, struggled with her health following a battle with esophageal cancer. Born Nov. 8, 1943 in New York, NY, she was the daughter of the late Delia and Michael Ruane who both hailed from Ireland prior settling in the Inwood section of Manhattan, NY. Ann maintained a friendship with her childhood friends all throughout her life. She graduated from Mercy College and furthered her education at Fordham University. After college she taught in various positions in New York State. On June 22, 1973 she married her husband Jack McAdam. She was a devoted wife and mother. She moved with her husband and her 3 young boys to Greenwich in 1980. Ann was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church volunteering in many capacities including religious education. She lived a life of faith and maintained an inner strength that she carried with her everywhere she went. S h e i s s u r v i ve d by h e r husband Jack McAdam, her children and their spouses; John M. snd Angela McAdam, Michael J. and Heather McAdam, Kevin & Christina McAdam, as well as her grandchildren; Caroline, John, and Michael. She was predeceased by her brothers Bernard Ruane and Michael Lillian Stolfi Ruane, and survived by her brother John Ruane, all of New York. Ann will be missed by all those who loved her and all of those whose lives were touched by her love. A w a ke w i l l b e held on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 A rch St., Greenwich. A funeral mass will be held on the same day at 10:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 247 Stanwich Rd. The mass will Lillian Bruno Stolf i, 96, be followed by a burial at St. passed away on Monday, Dec. Mary's Cemetery in Greenwich. 7, in Greenwich, Connecticut. Lillian was born in Greenwich James Cox, Jr. Hospital on April 3, 1924, the you ngest of eig ht ch i ld ren born to the late Frank L. and Angelina Bruno. Lillian was predeceased by her beloved son, Frank Stolfi, her ex-husband, Conio Stolfi, Sr. as well as three brothers: Victor, Frank, Albert and four sisters: Rose Bruno, Carmela Urso, Louise Yantorno, Mary Fugitani. Lillian is survived by her daug hter: Elizabeth James ("Jim") W. Cox Jr., age Nickerson (William) of Cos 53, passed away on Dec. 12, 2020 Cob, he r s on Con io Stol f i , after a courageous three-year Jr. ( Ma r ia) of Cos Cob a nd long private battle with pancreatic daughter-in-law Joan Stolf i; cancer. He was predeceased by 6 grandchildren and 6 greathis father, James Cox Sr. and his grandchildren. mother, Julia Rose (Stefanowicz) L i l l ia n worke d i n ma ny Cox. Jim was a lifelong resident of f i e l d s f r o m a s a N u r s e r y Cos Cob, CT. School Teacher, Restaurant Jim had many fond memories O w n e r t o D i r e c t o r o f growing up of summers spent Communications at Stamford with his parents and brothers H o s p i t a l . L i l l i a n w a s a Bruce and Brad at their family people person and dedicated vacation home on Franklin Pierce caregiver who would always Lake in Hillsboro, NH. He also go out of her way to help her looked back fondly upon early family and friends. She will be outings on Long Island Sound remembered for her vivacious with his father and brothers in personalit y and f un-lov ing his father's boat "My Three Sons". nature as well as her strong Jim was a gifted athlete and work ethic. Lillian loved to talented ice hockey player. He was entertain and was the life of a member of the 1985 and 1986 the party. She will be missed, Greenwich High School FCIAC but the party will still go on. championship hockey team and In lieu of f lowers, enjoyed playing recreational don at ion s c a n b e m ade to hockey throughout his life. He Abilis, Greenwich. was an avid sportsmen and

Answers to Suduko Puzzles Found on Page 16 Easy Easy

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HannahJane Hurlburt

playing intramural rugby, before completing postgraduate training at C o lu m b i a-P r e s by t e r i a n Medical Center. Tyr relished being a surgeon a n d e d u c a t o r. B e l o v e d b y his patients, he practiced at Stamford Hospital for 16 years, and afterward at Lincoln and Montefiore Medical Centers in the Bronx. Occasionally, he sutured a minor wound at the Wilbanks' kitchen table. He liked to remark to his wife, and more nervous parents, that the children "won't break anything I can't fix." He served enthusiastically as medical student Clerkship Director and in leadership roles in the Surgery Residency program at MontefioreEinstein, training and inspiring a generation of physicians. Tyr loved backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, wordplay, bowties, reading out loud, the history of medicine, Pacific coast tidepools, making hand-drawn cards for special occasions, advocating for policies to reduce gun violence, and kayaking at Tod's Point. He was a hands-on dad who coached youth soccer and designed elaborate games for his kids' backyard birthday p a r t i e s . Ty r 's i nt e l l e c t u a l curiosity, unyielding optimism and enthusiasm, and generosity will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues. A memorial service hosted by Temple Sinai of Stamford will be held Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. via Zoom. To attend, please email tyr.wilbanks. memorial@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Partners in Health, Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Sierra Club.

HannahJane Hurlbur t, a longtime resident of Greenwich, passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2020 after a struggle with esophageal cancer. Born on Nov. 2 4, 1943 in L ock por t, N Y, she was t he daughter of the late Marjorie Crossman Hurlburt and Russell Hurlburt of Wilson, NY and Bronxville, NY. She is survived by her sisters: Mary Lou H. Young and Carroll T. Hurlburt a nd n ie ce s A my Pat terson Reeser, Sara Patterson Bickers and Casey Hope Linchner. Following her graduation from Hood College, HannahJane moved to New York City and began her career in Human Resources in the Insurance industry. She worked at several companies until her retirement in 2001. She was an accomplished singer and dedicated member of the choir at St. Bartholomew's Church, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the Round Hill Community Church, and most recently the Rye Presbyterian Church. She had numerous cultural interests and especially loved the ballet and theater. HannahJane enjoyed travelling Jesse Sommer, Jr. and was a passionate Anglophile. The family extends its gratitude to HannahJane's many caring friends and deeply devoted caretakers. There will be no funeral service at this time. A Memorial Service to celebrate HannahJane's life will be held, once it is safe to do so. Donations may be made in HannahJane's memory to The Music Fund at Rye Presbyterian Church, 882 Boston Post Road, Jesse Black Sommer Jr, 85. Rye, NY 10580. Former Old Greenwich resident died on Dec. 1, 2020 in Newport Tyr Wilbanks Beach, CA from Covid. At his request, no services will be held. Mr. Sommer was born April 3, 1935 in Pekin, IL to Jesse and Thelma Sommer. He taught English and Drama at Greenwich High School for many years. Jesse is survived by his sister, Leva Hall of Costa Mesa, CA; his brother, William (Sally) Sommer of New York City, NY; 5 nieces and nephews; 10 great-nieces and nephews; 4 great-great-nieces Tyr Ohling Wilbanks passed and nephews; and countless away on Dec. 3, 2020 at age 64, dear friends. All of us have so after living for over a decade many special memories of him w ith multiple myeloma. He that will always live on in our died at home in Old Greenwich hearts and definitely make us su r r ou nde d by h i s w i fe of smile. He was the greatest Great36 years, Elizabeth Zaff, and Great-Uncle Jesse! his children Rebecca, Sarah, Benjamin, and Daniel. Rose Pasciolla Tyr was born in Albany, Oregon, the eldest of four sons to Richardson Wilbanks and the late Arta Jane Wilbanks (née Ohling). As a toddler, he lived on a houseboat on the Willamette River. The family settled in Berkeley, Calif. in 1967. He had fond memories of summers spent visiting extended family in Oregon and, as a teenager, working the assembly line at a green bean cannery, where Rose M. Pasciolla, a former he became a member of the resident of Cos Cob, CT for over 45 Teamsters union. years, passed away peacefully on Tyr attended Berkeley High Nov. 18, 2020 in Newtown, CT at School and the University of the age of 92. Born Jan. 11, 1928 she California at Berkeley, where he was the youngest of five children, graduated cum laude as one of all of her siblings predeceased her, the first undergraduates in the as did her husband of 62 years, newly created Department of Daniel P. Pasciolla who passed Molecular Biology. At Cal, he was away in 2015. part of the Varsity Gymnastics Born and raised in Bronx, t e a m t h a t w o n t h e N C A A NY, she developed a remarkable championship in 1975. He moved talent for art and sewing. She east to attend Cornell Medical graduated from Christopher School, where he met his wife Columbus High School and

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worked in New York City at Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. Once her children were grown, she went back to work at St. Catherine's Early Childhood Center in Riverside, CT, as well as volunteering for the church book store and religious education programs. She took g reat pleasu re i n sp end i ng t i me w it h her g r a n d c h i l d r e n a n d g r e a tgrandchildren. Rose is survived by her son, James Pasciolla and her daughter, Maryann LoBalbo (husband Sal). Five grandchildren, A my Weller (husband Jon), James Pasciolla Jr., Stacy Pasciolla, Sal LoBalbo III and Vincent LoBalbo. Three great-children, Meyers, Jaxson and Alyssa Weller. As well as a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Forever in our hearts.

Elizabeth Campbell

Elizabeth Connor Campbell, 8 7, o f R i v e r s i d e , C T d i e d peacefully on Nov. 10, 2020. L i z , as she was k now n, was born in Marshf ield, Wisconsin. Raised mostly by her g ra nd fat her, she spent her early years there and at a nearby family lake. Throughout her life she treasured her time there skating in the winter, exploring the snowy woods on cross-country skis for miles and canoeing. While Liz's attachment to her childhood home never faded, she eventually made her way East. Most of her high school years were at Ferry Hall (now Lake Forest Academy). From there she went on to Smith College where she majored in music, a lifelong passion. After college, she joined Columbia Artists in New York City, a job she loved in the field of classical music and opera. It was in Manhattan that she met her beloved husband of 63 years, Douglas Campbell, Jr. A f ter residing primarily there and in Short Hills, NJ, Liz, Doug and their family moved to Riverside. She was active with her children's schools and neighborhood. Later on, she served for many dedicated years on the Representative Town Meeting and cared deeply about her town, environmental and land use issues in particular. An advocate also for animals, she and Doug adored the cats that were always a part of their household. Liz had a discerning ear for classical music and enjoyed the f ine arts. She played the piano throughout her life and had a contagious enthusiasm for opera, relishing evenings at Lincoln Center. Cook ing and baking, especially family favor ites, a nd being in her f lower and vegetable gardens were a joy to Liz. At the dinner table on summer evenings were always flowers from her garden, which would inspire a "name that f lower game." She was a regular swimmer at the YWCA and continued her walks in the Pinetum and Audubon over the years with her family, in whom she instilled an appreciation of nature and "the great outdoors" as she used to say. Liz was vivacious, thoughtful and kind. She is greatly missed. In addition to Doug, she is survived by two daughters, a son, and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother. Burial was private.

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Let the Light Shine in Your Darkness

By Marek Zabriskie In one of Charles Wesley’s much-beloved hymns, we sing: Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. This hymn is synonymous w i t h A d ve n t , e s p e c i a l l y f o r Episcopalians. Wesley’s words ex pr e s s t he hu ma n hop e for the Holy Other that is beyond us, within us and surpasses all imagination, namely God. In his famous book The Idea of the Holy, the German theologian Rudolf Otto referred to God as the mysterium tremendum. Otto was inf luenced by Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade and C.S. Lewis – not a bad group to guide us in understanding God. There is in each human soul a holy longing for that which has set the earth and stars in motion. We wonder, “Does God exist?

Can we communicate with our Creator? Does God care for us as individuals and as a people?” These questions are normative for the human soul. We can suppress, ignore, or postpone them or forcefully maintain that they have no answers. But these questions will often haunt us until we pay heed to them, because the soul longs to reckon with them. The psalmist writes: As the deer longs for the water-brooks, so longs my soul for you, O God. My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? (Ps. 42:12)

weakens and a handful of friends and family surround them. As we sat reading psalms, reciting prayers, discussing what truly matters, and pondering what God and heaven are like, many a person has told me that they wished that they had lived a more generous and spiritual life. Material things are now useless. There are times when I feel as though I am visiting with someone readying to retire and ask ing how to set up a 401K plan. It’s late in the game, but fortunately it’s never too late to yield to God. The poet Francis Thompson wrote the The Hound of Heaven, a famous poem which begins: I fled Him down the nights and down the days; I f led Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways. Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears; I hid from Him…

The same psalmist later adds: One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts… That which is deep within us longs for what is at the heart of the universe. The soul will not settle for swimming on life’s surface, but desires to dive deeper and explore the eternal questions, validate and comprehend the Love which created us. A s a par ish pr iest, I have accompanied hundreds of people on the last mile of their life’s journey. Visiting with them as death approached, I have seen their lives narrow as their body

Who among us has not hidden from God? It is not we who find God, but God who finds us. God initiates the search long before we realize that we are lost. God is waiting, like the father of the Prodigal Son, for us to return home. God searches for us after we have become consumed by our own egos and tried to have the world on our own terms. It is only

There is in each human soul a holy longing for that which has set the earth and stars in motion. We wonder, “Does God exist? Can we communicate with our Creator? Does God care for us as individuals and as a people?” when we suspend the ego, that God can be experienced. Gert Behanna was a wealthy, wild-living, alcoholic with two failed marriages, who nearly drank herself to death. One night in a hospital, at the age of 53, she called out to God in desperation. Her hospital room was suddenly filled with a numinous presence. Gert k new that she was not alone. God was present. More importantly, this Holy One cared for her. In her darkest moment, she surrendered herself and experienced over overwhelming comfort. Gert went on to become one of the most influential speakers for Alcoholics Anonymous. Read stories of great conversions and you will f ind many similarities. God will nudge, whisper and offer hints, but God will not take us by storm. We are free to ignore God. It is only when we are softened by defeat, debilitated by disease, confronted by death, crushed by

failure, devastated by rejection or caught in our sinfulness that our eyes are opened to see that the Creator of the sun and stars has been waiting all along to guide, comfort and love us. That is the hope that Advent offers us. God can be found in the present moment. As St. Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” Since coming to Greenwich, I have spoken w ith severa l e xe c ut ive s w ho cl i m b e d t he ladder of success. The higher they climbed, the more isolated they became. The more isolated they became, they more they drank and withdrew from their family. In time, they crashed. Success is no equivalent for happiness. Money cannot buy love, inner peace, or spiritual well-being. They had to fall hard before they realizing that they were lost and headed in the wrong direction. Tha n k f u l ly, t hey r e ache d out for God’s hand and found

support. It’s been a privilege to help some of them find their way in the darkness, by suggesting Scriptures and books to read, prayers, service to the needy, worship and spiritual practices. Ever y morning Monday through Friday, a group of us from Christ Church Greenwich gather virtually to pray Morning Prayer. Everyone is welcome. One of our faithful members recently concluded our prayer service by reading a prayer from The New Book of Christian Prayers: "Lord, lay the taste of prayer upon my tongue, And let my lips speak banquets unto Thee; Then may this richest food , when once beg un . Keep me in hunger through eternity." May a holy-longing lead each of us to discover the mysterium tremendum.

The Rev. Marek P. Zabriskie is Rector of Christ Church Greenwich

The Positivity Tribe By Julia Lucey

to find, such as tucked in the windshields of parked cars. With 2020 being the The notes contain various kind challenging year it has been messages a nd q uotes, a nd for many of us, we have found today Wirth reported these ou rs elve s mor e t h a n ever ef forts to extend positivity looking for comfort in others have led to the spread of over and in ourselves. Something 13,000 notes in over 40 states as simple as a friendly hello and six countries, “You never or a meaningful compliment know what someone is going can go a long way after through,” Wirth explained. “We several months of isolation. all have challenges, especially It can make someone’s day; this year with the pandemic.” it c a n he lp s ome one ke e p He a ls o h ig h l ig hte d ot her pushing through a diff icult stressors that have surfaced period in their life. Greenwich this year, from racial issues to resident Christopher J. an intense election, and thus an Wir th has recog nized this increasingly important role for and has dedicated his time pockets of positivity in our lives and work to spreading and in those surrounding us. positivity throughout both our The Positivity Tribe book t h e p owe r T h e Po s i t i v i t y In addition, Wirth anticipates community and communities was lau nche d t h is Aug ust Tribe could have in helping its nationwide. Wirth is the author 20. Having it published and readers. The Positivity Tribe of The Positivity Tribe, a new accessible this year was very can be purchased online at book that follows the story of impor tant to Wir th due to thepositivitytribe.com, and high school students who, as the tough times in business, your copy will come with your they endure their own difficult persona l lives, a nd fa m ily own set of positivity notes to times, create a “positivity tribe” lives as a result of shutdowns I O distribute in your community. NSTUD with the purpose of spreading and other effects ROBBE The idea behind the novel of the virus. encou rag ing notes a rou nd Given these circumstances, actually came from Wirth’s t hei r com mu n it y. A s t hey he saw a heightened need for ow n l i fe , when i n t he late spread these kind messages, the story’s positive messages. summer of 2019 he and his Professional Portraits the students f ind that their I n Ja nu a r yPhoto a nd Fe br u a r y, company started spreading consideration for others has Wirth positivity notes of their was actually writing for family, Business and modeling positive impacts on their own a dif ferent book, one more own around Greenwich and lives, something central to business-related, but af ter neighboring towns, leaving Wirth’s work. them he realized J O H N the Fpandemic E R Rhit, IS ROB B inEplaces N for strangers

The Antidote to Isolation they could continue to offer the a traditional Christmas pageant. lifeline of the Episcopal liturgy, How best to match the enchanting and guidance and reassurance spectacle of 70 or more children in from the pulpit. costume, with shepherds’ crooks After careful research, the and angel wings, processing down music leadership figured out a the central aisle in the sanctuary? safe way to keep choral music We’ll make a movie, she decided, em bedded in the ser v ice, so and ask the children to tell us the By Maggie McGirr that their singers, especially story of Christmas. The result was How best to respond to one of the young ones, stayed engaged a miracle in itself. As Abby said, the stiffest challenges facing our and connected, and so that they “How beautiful it was to hear the churches, the painful isolation of could offer those tuning in, the story out of the mouth of a child. many of their parishioners? The sustenance that the splendid The children weren’t performing antidote to isolation is invitation Anglican choral tradition provides. the pageant for the adults but they The Sunday Forum speakers’ were the clearest reminders of and the staff and their lay support at Ch r ist Chu rch Greenw ich series continued online. Women’s what it is to have faith in Jesus, a have come up with a number of retreats went v ir tua l. There King born in a barn.” The t w i n k li ng Ch r istmas ways to keep their invitation to was a masked, safe-distanced, parishioners and the Greenwich outdoor 8 am service held behind tree out front, courtesy of Christ community beyond their walls, Tomes Higgins House through the Church and Summer Rain, a gift to the whole community, is a fitting powerfully and warmly alive, summer and into the fall. The Rev. Abby VanderBrug, symbol for Christ Church’s efforts even as they navigate a strict to bring light to the darkness. In for N Children STUDIO framework of protocols necessary Associate Rector ROBBE & Family Ministries, designed the past, the tree’s lights have to keep everyone safe. As soon as the pandemic set a specia l v i r t ua l ser v ice for been timed to go off at some point in, like many other churches, the youngest parishioners. As in the night. Not this year. This she knew that year, they will shine through the Christ Church made plans to set Advent drew near, Professional Photo Portraits up the sanctuary for livestream pandemic restrictions would night. GREENWICH STUDIO make it impossible for her to offer modeling for family, Business and transmission of services so that ROBBE

NSTUD

Capture the perfect moment JOHN FERRIS ROBBEN for your yearbook image. P rofessional Photo Portraits Text, call or email for quotes,

for family, Business and modeling questions and appointments

2N 03 JOH F E9 R7 R9 IS0 R9 O5 B 1B E N Email: JFRobben@gmail.com

ROBBE

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Professiona l Photo Po rtra i ts

the holidays will be difficult for many this year and hopes his book will provide solace and inspiration to its readers. Wirth is the founder and president of No Quit Living, a s p e a k i n g , t ra i n i n g , a n d coaching company focused on inspiring clients to stay true to their goals, with the ultimate mission of motivating people to never give up. No Quit Living coaches and trains individuals, companies, and teams, promoting skills i n c l u d i n g a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, time maximization, personal development, and more, as well as offering motivational speaking services. Additionally, its No Q uit Livin g p o dcast

addresses topics of business, health, and self-help, featuring conversations with “highly successf ul people f rom all walk s of life” about “what motivates and drives them to successfully attack life head on and never give up.” As the holiday season approaches and this long year comes to a close, whether you read The Positivity Tribe, or give out some positivity notes of your own, or spend some time listening to the No Quit Living podcast, spreading positivity in any way you know how can go a long way in both your life and in the lives of those around you.

Worship Services Information ASSEMBLIES OF GOD Harvest Time Church 1338 King St., 203-531-7778 www.htchurch.com In-Person Worship Services: Sun, 8:30, 10 & 11:30am (meeting on a limited basis in accordance with CDC guidelines and Connecticut’s executive orders). All services are streamed on the church’s website and social media outlets. Children’s Christmas Story: Dec. 20, 10 & 11:30am (tickets on Eventbrite). Christmas Eve Service: Dec. 24, 4 & 5:30pm (tickets on Eventbrite). BAPTIST First Baptist Church 10 Northfield St.; 203-869-7988 www.firstbaptistgreenwich.com Sunday Servings: 11:30am, Facebook Live or for Devotion: 11-11:25am (Dial in 701802-5355, Access code 360922). Greenwich Baptist Church 10 Indian Rock Ln; 203-869-2807 www.greenwichbaptist.org In-person Worship and live stream (Facebook & YouTube): Sun, 11am. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Inperson and live stream (FB & YT), 5pm. CATHOLIC Sacred Heart Church 95 Henry St.; 203-531-8730 www.sacredheartgreenwich.org In-person Mass: Mon-Fri: 7am (in Chapel); Sat: Vigil, 4pm (also live streamed); Sun: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (in Sanctuary). (Only by registration - call or text: 203-559-9256 or email: sacredheartgrn@optonline.net). Sacrament of Reconciliation (Church) by appt.; Sacrament of Baptism: Sun, 12:30pm (call the parish office in advance). The 2021 Mass Book is open for Mass, Altar Flowers and Altar Bread & Wine requests. Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve: Dec. 24: 2:30, 4 & 5:30pm. Christmas Day: Dec. 25: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am. St. Catherine and St. Agnes St. Agnes: 247 Stanwich Rd; St. Catherine: 4 Riverside Ave; 203-637-3661; www.stc-sta.org Masses: Mon-Fri: Daily Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 7am; Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required: 5:155:45pm. Sat: Confessions at St. Agnes Church (specific dates in the bulletin), 3-4pm; Vigil Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 5pm. Sun: Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required, 7:30-8am; Mass at St. Agnes Church – in-person, 8:30am; Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 10:30am; Language Masses at St. Agnes Church – in-person, 11am (French: 2nd Sun of the month; Spanish: 4th Sun of the month); Distribution of Holy Communion at front door of Rectory; Mask and Social Distance required, 5-5:30pm. Christmas Eve: Dec. 24: Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – in-person and livestream, 2pm; Mass at St. Agnes Church – in-person, 4pm; Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – inperson and livestream, 6pm; Distribution of Holy Communion and Christmas Blessing for those who are unable to attend Mass because of vulnerability or Church occupancy restrictions; in front of St. Catherine’s Chapel, remaining in your car, 7:30-9:30; Christmas Eve Mass at St. Catherine’s Church – inperson and livestream, 11:30. Christmas Day: Dec. 25: Mass at St. Agnes – inperson, 8:30am; Distribution of Holy Communion and Christmas Blessing for those who are unable to attend Mass (in front of St. Catherine’s Chapel, remaining in your car), 9-10; Mass at St. Catherine’s – in-person and livestream, 10:30am. St. Mary Church 178 Greenwich Ave.; 203-869-9393 www.stmarygreenwich.org Public Mass: Mon-Fri, 12:05pm (no reservations are needed - limited to 50 people). Sat: Vigil, 4pm; Spanish (call 203-912-0246 for reservations), 7:30pm. Sun: 9, 10:30am & 12:15pm, (must make reservation in advance by calling the Parish Office, Thu or Fri, 9am-3pm and speak to the receptionist). Confessions: Sat, 2:45-3:45pm, on the patio. Virtual Mass: Sun, 12:15pm, with Fr. La Pastina on Facebook. Visit EWTN.com for daily Mass at 8am with encore at 12pm. Sunday Family Rosary: Sun, 7:30pm (No registration is necessary), live-streamed on YouTube (also listen by phone). Annual Giving Tree: consider purchasing a gift card (drop them off at the Parish Center anytime through Dec. 20. You can also place them in the collection box at all Masses). Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve Vigil: Dec. 24: Upper & Lower Church, 2, 4 & 6pm; Spanish in Upper Church, 7:30pm; Upper Church, 10pm. Christmas Day: Upper Church: 9 & 10:20am & 12pm (reservations are required and begin Dec. 21).

St. Michael the Archangel 469 North St.; 203-869-5421 www.stmichaelgreenwich.com

Second Congregational Church 139 E Putnam Ave.; 203-869-9311 www.2cc.org

St. Paul Lutheran Church 286 Delavan Ave.; 203-531-8466 www.firstpaul.com

Sunday Mass: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (All masses are Live Streamed on Zoom. Log onto the website at stmichaelgreenwich. com to access the Zoom Link or the LIVE Stream Masses and the Mass Reservation System). Sacrament of Reconciliation: Dec. 19, 10-11:30am & Dec. 24, 11am-12:30pm. Christmas Eve Mass: St. Michael the Archangel Outdoor Mass, 2 & 3:30pm, in the parking lot. Christmas Day: St. Michael the Archangel Outdoor Mass, 7:30am, 9, 10:30 & 12pm, in the parking lot. Dec. 27: St. Michael the Archangel Outdoor Mass, 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am, in the parking lot.

Services available online, details at 2cc.org. Contemporary Worship: Sat, 5pm. Traditional Sunday Service: 10:30am. Christmas Eve Services: Family Service on the Lawn (bring your own chair), 4pm; Virtual, 6:30pm.

Indoor Service: Sun, 9am. Bible Study: Sun, 10:15am. Wednesday After-School program: Snacks & Crafts, 3-4pm; Bible Stories & Catechesis, 4-5pm; Community Dinner, 5:30pm (all are welcome); Bible Study on Romans (adults), 6:30pm.

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St. Timothy Chapel 1034 North St.; 203-869-5421

Christ Church Greenwich 254 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-6600 www.christchurchgreenwich.org

Daily Mass: Mon-Sat: 7:30 & 9:30am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Wed, 10am-4pm; Live-streamed, 10-11am. Confessions: Wed, 10-11am & 3-4pm. St. Paul Church 84 Sherwood Ave.; 203-531-8741 www.stpaulgreenwich.org Public Mass Celebration: Mon-Thu: 9am; Sat: 4pm (Vigil); Sun: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (Reservation is required only for Sunday Mass by visiting the homepage or by calling 203-531-8741, ext. 4). Holy Days: Vigil: 5:30pm, 9am & 12:15pm. Online daily Mass at EWTN.com, 8am with encore at 12pm. Daily Mass also available on Bishop Robert Barron’s website at wordonfire.org/dailymass. Confessions by appointment only – call 203-531-8741, ext. 2. Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve: 4, 6 & 10pm. Christmas Day: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am (reservations are required, online at stpaulgreenwich.org or by calling 203-531-8741 ext. 4 or direct dial 203-542-0551).

Anglican Church of the Advent 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-861-2432 www.churchoftheadvent.org Service: Sun, 9am, Holy Eucharist. Sunday School during academic year.

Worship: Sun: Eucharist 8am, (Chapel)* & 10am (Church)*; Ceremony of Carols, 5pm (Church)*, registration required to attend in-person; Compline, 8pm (Tune in). Weekdays: Mon-Fri, Morning Prayer on Zoom, 8am; Tue: Eucharist & Healing Prayer, 10am (Chapel)*. Thu: Choral Evensong, 6:30pm (Church)*. Youth Group: Dec. 18, 6:30pm. Sunday Forum: ‘Capturing the Nativity in Paintings from the Renaissance to the Modern Era’, Dec. 20, 11am, on Zoom. Christmas Eve: Dec. 24: Carols around the Christmas Tree (outdoor service), 12pm; Festival of Lessons and Carols, 5pm; Midnight Choral Eucharist, 10pm. Christmas Day: Dec. 25: Eucharist Christmas Celebration, 11am. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 954 Lake Ave.; 203-661-5526 www.stbarnabasgreenwich.org

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Sunday Worship: Spoken Eucharist, 8am, Church; Holy Eucharist with music, 10am, Church and Livestream; Family Eucharist, 10am, Parish Hall. (sign up for inperson service: signupgenius.com/ go/4090e4aadac2ea3ff2-sunday1). Christmas in the Country Concert: Dec. 20, 4pm, livestream. Christmas Day Service: 10-11am. Holy Eucharist: Dec. 27, 8-9am.

First Church of Christ, Scientist 11 Park Place; 203-869-2503 www.christiansciencect.org/greenwich

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 200 Riverside Ave.; 203-637-2447 www.stpaulsriverside.org

Sunday and Wednesday services via live teleconference: 203-680-9095, code is 520520*.

Worship Service: every Sun, 10:15am, Outside on the Meadow. Longest Night Service: 7pm, outside in the Courtyard - registration required. Ongoing: Neighbor-to-Neighbor Food Drive: Every Thu, 10-11:30am, in the parking lot. Living Nativity: Dec. 20, 1pm, on the Meadow - registration required. Christmas Eve Service: 2pm, outside on the Meadow - registration required.

St. Roch Church 10 St. Roch Ave.; 203-869-4176 www.strochchurch.com Mass: (Reservations and/or for viewing via live streaming): Mon-Fri: 7:30pm; Sat: 5pm; Sun: 7:30am (Concelebrated for Previously Scheduled 9:30am Mass Intentions), 10:30am, 12pm (Spanish). Mass Intentions: consult the bulletin for time.

COMMUNITY First Church of Round Hill 464 Round Hill Rd.; 203-629-3876 www.firstchurchofroundhill.com (If you need to reach Rev. Leo W. Curry, pastor, or any other personnel, call 203-629-3876 and leave a message or email fcroundhill@outlook.com). Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Rd.; 203-869-1091 www.roundhillcommunitychurch.org Worship, Children’s Ministries and Youth Fellowship: Sun. 10-10:30am, in the Church, registration is required. Weekly service also available online. Thrive: biweekly high school gathering, Wed, 6pm. Foundations: biweekly middle school gathering, Fri, 6pm. November Bible Study: Stories of Advent, Mondays at 11 am, registration required. Hanukkah & Christmas - Similarities and Differences: Dec. 20, 6:30pm. Christmas Eve Drive-In Service: 5pm (pre-register as the number of cars permitted is limited to 22. Registration – available online or by phone - will close on Dec. 23). CONGREGATIONAL The First Congregational Church 108 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org Worship: Outdoor Service: Sun 8-9am, Memory Garden (sign-up online or call the church office); Virtual Worship: through live-streaming on YouTube and Facebook, and broadcast on WGCH (1490 AM or 105.5 FM). Connect during the week: Wednesday: Wisdom on Wednesdays (sent by Rev. Patrick Collins); Thursday: Faith Formation at Home for All and Faith Formation for Children (sent by Rosemary Lamie). Christmas Eve Services: Family Service Live Stream, 3pm; Traditional Service Live Stream, 6pm; Rebroadcasting of 2019 Lessons and Carols, 9pm (all links to services can be found on fccog.org or by searching for First Congregational Church of Greenwich on YouTube or Facebook). All Day: “Nativity Walk” - 12 stations of seasonal symbols placed around the campus for families to enjoy together safely outside (A map of stations can be downloaded on the website or will be available at the first station on the day of). North Greenwich Congregational 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-869-7763 www.northgreenwichchurch.org Online Worship Service: Sun 10:30am, via Zoom (email Rev. Halac at Pastor@ northgreenwichchurch.org or call the church). Christmas Day: the Sanctuary is open for prayer, 12-5pm (for more information/reservation, contact pastor@ northgreenwichchurch.org)

St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 350 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-2262 www.saintsaviours.org In-person Outdoor Service: Sun, 11am. Online Worship Services available on Youtube. JEWISH Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich 75 Mason St.; 203-629-9059 www.chabadgreenwich.org Services available via Zoom. PJ Library Zoom Storytime: Mon-Thurs, 3pm & Fri, 2pm. Congregation Shir Ami 1273 E. Putnam Ave, PO Box 312, Riverside; 203-900-7976; www. congregationshirami.org All services, programs and celebrations are available online via Zoom. Greenwich Reform Synagogue 92 Orchard St.; 203-629-0018 www.grs.org Online programs streamed virtually on Zoom.us: Tot Shabbat with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri, 5pm. Shabbat services with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri, 7pm. Religious School: Sun, 9:30am. Hebrew School: Wed, 4:30pm. Temple Sholom 300 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-7191 www.templesholom.com Services – live-streamed via Zoom and Facebook: Fri 6:30pm; Sat 10am; Sun 8:15am. Lunch ‘n Learn: Tue, 12-1pm (except Dec. 22 & 29), via Zoom. Limited in-person Friday night Shabbat service, registration is required, lori.baden@templesholom. com. Pajama Shabbat: Dec. 18, 5:306pm. “Hanukkah And Christmas Similarities And Differences”: Dec. 20, 6:30-8pm. LUTHERAN First Lutheran Church 38 Field Point Rd.; 203-869-0032 www.firstpaul.com Indoor Service: Sun, 10:30am. Bible Study: Sun, 11:45am.

Diamond Hill United Methodist 521 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-2395 www.diamondhillumc.com Online Worship Service: every Sunday, 10am, followed by a time of Fellowship (Zoom details can be found on the website). Virtual Christmas Eve Service: 7:30pm. New Year’s Eve Service: 6pm (links will be provided on the website). First United Methodist Church 59 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-629-9584 www.fumcgreenwich.com Virtual Sunday Worship, 9:30am, via Zoom (203 629 9584). Virtual Daily Gathering: Mon-Fri, 3pm, Zoom. Talking with Your Hands: Mon, 3pm. Reading this World as a Christian: Tue, 3pm. Back to Rock – music with Mr. Bruce: Tue, 3pm, via Zoom. Reading the Shape of Scripture: Wed, 3pm, via Zoom. Spring Bible Study: Thu, 3pm, via Zoom. Tea & Talk: Fri 3pm, via Zoom. Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 42 Lake Ave.; 203-661-3099 Worship via teleconference: Sun, 11am and until further notice (Dial-in number: 425-436-6380, Access code: 612220). NONDENOMINATIONAL Revive Church 90 Harding Rd., Old Greenwich (Old Greenwich Civic Center) www.myrevive.org Worship Service: Sun, 10am, Holiday Inn 2703 Summer St. Stamford. Online Sermons available on Facebook (facebook.com/ myrevivechurchgreenwich) and on Youtube. All groups are online. Direct any prayer needs to the prayer chain at 203-536-2686 or revivecfm@gmail.com. Stanwich Church 202 Taconic Rd.; 203-661-4420 www.stanwichchurch.org Events marked by an * require registration at: stanwichchurch.org/event Sunday Service: 10am, Online. *Outdoor Christmas Eve Service: Dec. 23 & 24, 5 & 7pm, In-Person. The Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-4615 www.albertsonchurch.org Sunday Service held online via Zoom. Trinity Church 1 River Rd.; 203-618-0808 www.trinitychurch.life In-Person Services: Sun, 10:45am, Hyatt Regency Greenwich, 1800 E Putnam Ave. Online Services: Sun, 9:45am, youtube. com/c/TrinityChurchLife/live. House Churches: Sun, 9:45am, Fairfield County, CT & Westchester County, NY. Alpha (online): Tue, 7:30-8:45pm. Outdoor Christmas in Westchester: Dec. 19, 4:30pm, Hampshire Country Club Patio, 1025 Cove Rd, Mamaroneck, NY (outdoor heaters will be available). Christmas Eve Online Service: 4pm. PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 1 W. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-8686 www.fpcg.org Sanctuary Worship: Sun, 10am (Traditional Service); 5pm (Contemporary Service), register. Online Worship: Sun, 10-11am at fpcg.org/live. Sunday School online, 10:15-11am. The Prayer Room: Tue, 11am & Thu, 8pm. Christmas Concert Viewing - The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Dec. 18, 7pm, Sanctuary, RSVP, RSVP@fpcg.org. Christmas Pageant Viewing: Dec. 20, during 10am & 5pm worship, Sanctuary, RSVP. Christmas Eve Service: Family Service, 3pm; Festival Service, 6pm; Ref lective Service, 10pm, all services held in the Sanctuary (reservations are required). Grace Church of Greenwich 8 Sound Shore Dr., Suite 280 203-861-7555 www.gracechurchgreenwich.com Worship: Sun, 10am, Woman’s Club of Greenwich, 89 Maple Ave. (Outside. Please bring a mask and a chair or a blanket). All are welcome. Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Ave; 203-637-3669 www.LivingHopeCT.org In-Person Worship: Sun, 10am, Sanctuary (tickets available at EventBrite by Friday 10am). Worship Service online: Sun, 10-11:15am (YouTube or Facebook). Coffee & Fellowship: Sun, 11:30am-12pm, via Zoom. Wednesday Prayer: Wed, 8:30-9am, online Online Christmas Eve Service: 5pm.

School of Rock

By Kris Herndon Stephen Kennedy and Lloyd Gerry, who run the Greenwich location of the School of Rock, are getting ready to move the franchise to a new stage. They'll head up the School of Rock's expansion in Dublin, Ireland, beginning in Summer 2021. The move makes sense to Kennedy for a lot of reasons. For one, he explains, the roots of Irish rock run deep: “Ireland has a ton of rich cultural and music history. You’ve got U2, you’ve got Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, Sinéad O’Connor… so many big stars and a lot of talent has come out of such a small country.” “Plus, it’s an untapped market for School of Rock. And Lloyd and I both have Irish roots,” Kennedy adds. “So yeah, it’s been really exciting.” The School of Rock was founded in 2002 in Pennsylvania by Paul Green, a musician and music teacher who noticed that kids advanced their music skills much faster when they rehearsed and performed as part of a group. The program caught on, and soon expanded to become what it is today: a global brand that calls itself “the leader in performancebased music education.” There are currently 276 School of Rock locations around the world. The Dublin location, slated to open in Summer 2021, will make Ireland the 15th country in School of Rock’s global expansion. The Greenw ich location opened in June 2019, but Kennedy and the School of Rock go back much further than that. “I’ve been involved in the School of Rock for about eleven years now,” he says, “and opened up and run most

From Greenwich to Dublin of the schools in the area, from Mamaroneck to Bedford, Fairfield, New Canaan, and Shelton.” Greenwich took longer than most: “We just could never find the real estate. It’s really hard. You’ve got to find the right spot, especially for us. We are a ver y unique business. We make a lot of noise,” Kennedy says, laughing. “We need to be a little bit isolated from other businesses, or we are going to drive people nuts.” When they finally did find the perfect space, in Riverside, the Greenwich School of Rock caught on fast. Kennedy says the program is a great fit for Greenwich, between young people looking to stand out on college applications, and concerned parents wanting to find the best extracurriculars for their kids and teens. And then there’s the cool factor. “What’s cooler than playing guitar in a rock band?” Kennedy asks rhetorically. It’s plain that both Kennedy and Gerry have a passionate belief in the power of the work they do to transform kids’ lives through music. “Having seen these kids over the years, it’s so inspiring,” says Stephen Kennedy and Lloyd Gerry on a scouting trip to Dublin, Ireland for the Kennedy. “You’re watching kids do new School of Rock location. (Photo by Lloyd Gerry) something that is really difficult: not just to play an instrument, but to perform. Getting up on stage, it takes a lot of courage, and watching these kids do it, watching them learn how to play rock and roll, it’s really inspiring.” Gerry agrees. He says it pushes kids to achieve high levels of musical proficiency much faster – because it raises the stakes as well as the reward: “In addition to their private lessons, they have rehearsals as a whole band. You want to show up knowing your stuff, otherwise

“Having seen these kids over the years, it’s so inspiring,” says Kennedy. “You’re watching kids do something that is really difficult: not just to play an instrument, but to perform. Getting up on stage, it takes a lot of courage, and watching these kids do it, watching them learn how to play rock and roll, it’s really inspiring.”

you’re going to let down the rest of the group, and that’s a big motivator. It’s really cool watching the group dynamic.” What has it been like to negotiate an international deal like the Dublin expansion during a pandemic? “It’s been a little bit of a nightmare for sure,” says Kennedy. “But things are moving forward. We’re negotiating a lease. I think we are all hopeful that in the next six to nine months, things are going to transition to some sense of normalcy again. We’ve got to resume the work we did pre-pandemic.” The pandemic has meant delays and uncertainty for School of Rock here in Greenwich, too. “We’re hopeful that we’re going to have our seasonal performances at the end of February,” Kennedy says. “We’re not even sure we’re going to be able to do it with a live audience, but we can do a livestream. A lot depends on whether the governor will allow large gatherings.” Still, for Kennedy and Gerry, the pandemic also profoundly reaffirmed the value of the work that they do. Livestreaming has been a godsend for musicians during recent lockdowns, and it may be the wave of the future for some performing artists, but as Kennedy says: “It’s an alternative. There is no substitute for a live show.” That’s what the School of Rock is all about. “It ’s such a f u n prog ra m , it’s a rewarding program, it’s an enrichment program,” Kennedy concludes. Noting that School of Rock has a program for adults too, he says area Moms and Dads are encouraged to stop by and check it out, and maybe make some postponed rock-and-roll dreams come true.

At Home

Ring in the Holidays with Fun Spirits & Wine 1 Small Crushed Candy Cane for rim of glass Combine Vodka, heavy cream, schnapps, and white cacao in a shaker with ice. Cover and shake until the outside of shaker has frosted. Use the crushed candy cane to rim the chilled martini glass. Drain shaker contents into glass neat (martini) or on the rocks (tumbler).

By Jeb Fiorita and Peter Olson Happy holidays from the Val’s teams in Greenwich, Glenville and our newest addition…Stamford. We are excited to introduce you to some new ideas for a festive 2020 holiday season. And while there are a lot of distractions out there and we are REALLY looking forward to 2021, let’s not forget to enjoy this holiday season. Speaking personally, I really enjoy fun holiday cocktails…both hot and on the rocks. Last year I featured warm cider and wine with mulling spices. This year I have some other ideas. My first features Jameson Irish Whiskey. This is a take on a fruit punch with a winter appeal. The second will be very intriguing. Jameson Winter Punch Tequila & Cinnamon Hot 4 oz. Jameson Whiskey Chocolate ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice 2 oz. Grapefruit Juice 3 oz. Espolon or Herradura Reposado 1 oz. Cinnamon Syrup or Anejo Tequila 1 oz. Sprite Soda 3-4 Cups of Milk Garish with Grapefruit Slice, 1 Vanilla Bean Split Down the Middle Cracked Pink Peppercorn and Star 5 oz. Milk Chocolate (chopped/ Anise grated if in block) or Ghirardelli Hot Add ingredients to shaker, shake Chocolate Mix and strain over the rocks. 3 Cinnamon Sticks 1 Pinch of Salt This next cocktail may cause 1-2 Table spoons of Pure Cane Sugar you pause and I can only imagine Garnish with Cinnamon Stick & the look on your face as reading Whip Cream it…Tequila with cinnamon and Bring milk, cinnamon sticks, hot chocolate. I said it, you read vanilla bean to a slight boil, reduce it, Tequila. Not just for margaritas heat immediately. Add chocolate, anymore! sugar, salt and whisk till thoroughly

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mixed. Add tequila. Best served in a tall mug The final cocktail is really going to get you into the Christmas spirit. This might best to be enjoyed while decorating the Christmas tree or putting the mechanical Santa and reindeer out on the front yard (for the Clark Griswold and Christmas Vacation movie fans). White Christmas Cocktail 1 oz. Vodka (Zyr or Ketel One) 1 oz. Heavy Cream 1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps (Rumple Minze for an extra kick) 1 oz. White Crème de Cacao 1 Small Candy Cane for Garnish

Now for the wine drinkers out there, we have several options that you can enjoy with holiday meals. Red wines by Caymus and Frank Family Vineyards are a great choice. Caymus was started by the Wagner family and has become a Napa Valley icon since it was founded 45 years ago. This wine shows a decadent ripe blackberry f lavor with a hint of vanilla and toasted oak. Frank Family Wines from Calistoga have a distinctive taste of black plums, warm cassis and licorice, with hints of bay leaf, juicy black fruits and earthy undertones. Both Cabernets are a great buy and favorite of the staff. Other classic California cabernets… Stag’s Leap, Jordan, Quilt and Bear Path…. are excellent choices that have found a home on my wine rack at home and holiday tables of the past. When looking at white wines, many seek a delicious California Cha r don nay. O u r st a f f pick s include Rombauer and Flowers. Rombauer has an aroma of peach, honeydew and lemon rind with a

hint of vanilla and spice. The taste is fresh, full bodied and fruity with a nice balance of oak on the finish. You will find Flowers to have a caramelized oak aroma with a taste more towards apple and pear. Don’t be surprised with a hint of lemon peel and orange zest on the finish. As an alternative, Sauvignon Blanc a somewhat lighter option for white wines. These include some of the New Zealand producers, like Cloudy Bay and Kim Crawford as consistent favorites, showing the typical tones of grapefruit and gooseberry. There are also great Sauvignon Blancs from California, or perhaps a Sancerre from the Loire Valley in France. Are you celebrating Italian style? One popular style is Brunello di Montalcino, made from the Sangiovese grape in Tuscany. This is a rich and elegant red that exhibits tones of cherry, smoke, herbs and spices. One the staff favorites at Val’s is the 2012 Renieri Brunello. This exceptional wine received a score of 95 points from James Suckling and is drinking perfectly now. It also makes a great gift for your wine loving friends. Obv iously w ith Christmas and New Year’s only a week apart, almost everyone chooses to toast the holidays with their favorite sparling w ines. Prosecco has become a favorite value-priced sparkler with most selling for under $20 a bottle. Popular brands include LaMarca, Mionetto, 90+ Cellars and

La Contesse. These wines are made from the Glera grape native to the Veneto area in northeast Italy. Prosecco is tank fermented so that larger quantities can be made, also reducing the production cost. Champagne in contrast goes through a secondary fermentation in the bottle, called Methode Traditionelle, formerly Methode Champenoise. This is ver y technical and time consuming. True champagne must also come from the Champagne region in France, located about 100 miles northeast of Paris. The grapes are usually a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. Champagne labeled as “Blanc de Blancs” is made only from the Chardonnay grapes. While Veuve Clicquot and Moet are always popular Champagnes, tr y the Laurent Perrier. This delicious wine has a toastiness with a yeasty, full bodied style. There are also many sparkling wines from California using a similar fermentation process like Chandon and Roederer Estate which are excellent but cannot classif ied as Champagne. Since they are produced domestically, they are typically about half the price of true Champagnes. Our w ine, spirit and craf t experts are available to assist with your shopping needs. The staff at Val’s wishes everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and the best wishes for the new year.

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yourCOMMUNITYcalendar GREENWICH LIBRARIES: greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 18 10 a.m. Virtual – Senior Chinese Book Discussion Group. ywang@ greenwichlibrary.org 3:45 p.m. Virtual – World Music with Anitra from the Flinn Gallery. lmatthews@ greenwichlibrary.org 7 p.m. Virtual – Friends Friday Film Reel Talk: “”The Man Who Invented Christmas” & Christmas Carol Storyteller.” 203-622-7910. friendsfridayfilms@ greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 19 10:30 a.m. Virtual – Make Christmas Cookies with Joanne and Joannie. Register. Adults. 203-531-0426. 10:30 a.m. Virtual – Sing Along with Tom Weber (Toddler, Preschool). Free. Register. 203-622-7920. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 11 a.m. Virtual – Science Saturday (Grades K-2). Free. Register. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 3:30 p.m. Virtual: Gaming in Virtual Reality. Register. 203-622-7979. innovationlab@ greenwichlibrary.org Dec. 22 11 a.m. Virtual – Petite Concert (Toddler, Preschool). Register. dsullivan@ greenwichlibrary.org 11 a.m. Virtual Drop-in Computer Lab. 203-625-6560. trainingcenter@ greenwichlibrary.org 4 p.m. Virtual – Children’s Cooking Demonstration: Holiday Cookies with Lucia & Grandchildren. Register. 203531-0426. Dec. 26 10 a.m. Virtual – Saturday Story Time (Toddler, Preschool). Free. Register. 203-6227940. dsullivan@greenwichlibrary.org

Dec. 20 12 p.m. Webinar: Bariatric Informational. Via Zoom. Dec. 21 12:30 p.m. Webinar: Hip Joint Replacement Education. Via Zoom. 5 - 6 p.m. Support: The Bariatric Surgery Preand Post-Surgery Support Group. Via Zoom. Register. Free. Dec. 22 12:30 p.m. Webinar: Anterior Total Hip Replacement Class. Via Zoom.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL: greenwichhospital.org/events 888-305-9253 Dec. 19 9 - 11 a.m. CPR Friends & Family (Infant/Child). 38 Volunteer Ln. $65. Register. (For discount information call 888-3059253).

ABILIS abilis.us Dec. 23 4:30 p.m. Virtual Abilis Party - with Greenwich Country Day School. Free. Register. For questions, contact Lisa Bria: Bria@ abilis.us.

Frank J. Gaudio President/CEO 203.302.4375

JR UNITED WAY: greenwichhospital.org/events Through Dec. 22 The Greenwich Jr. United Way holds a Children’s Book drive by. Drop-off: Mon, Wed, Fri, 9am-6pm & Tue, Thu, Sat, 9am-4pm, until Dec. 22. Mane Event Hair Salon, 232 Mill St. GPD: Through Dec. 18 All Day Toys for Tots toy drive (all types of new and unwrapped toys will be accepted and then donated to the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program). GPD will have a ‘Holiday Tree’ drop off in the lobby of their headquarters at 11 Bruce Place open 24 hours a day until Dec. 18. COS COB FIRE POLICE: ccfpp.org Dec. 19 & 20 “Operation Santa” – a benefit in support of The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, Inc., celebrating 93 years of service to the Town of Greenwich.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE OF GREENWICH: afgreenwich.org 5 - 6 p.m. ‘Worldwide Wednesdays’ - join in for lively discussions on French films. Open to all. Donation. RSVP for a Zoom link.

ARCH STREET archstreet.org Every Tue. & Thu., 4-5pm Virtual Yoga Takeover. 7th-12th Grade Free. Online. Wednesday, By Appointment Only Open Studio. 7th-12th Grade. Free. FLINN GALLERY: flinngallery.com Through Jan. 6 The Flinn Gallery presents ‘Heidi Johnson, Animal Attraction’, for inperson and virtual viewing. Free. BRUCE MUSEUM: brucemuseum.org Dec. 20 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Exhibitions Highlight Tours - for the general public. Make a timed ticket reservation, and then make a free tour reservation, or call 203-869-0376, ext. 311 to reserve your spot. NAMI SOUTHWEST CT: namisouthwestct.org/online-support 6:30 p.m. NAMI-CAN (Child and Adolescent Network) Online Support Group - for parents and primary caregivers of children and adolescents, under age 21, with behavioral and emotional issues (Every Wednesday). Free. KAIA YOGA: kaiayoga.com Dec. 20 10 a.m. Live Stream Kaia Flow - an inclusive class that you can step up or down depending on your practice and needs. Register. YWCA GREENWICH: ywcagreenwich.org Through Dec. 20 Virtual Book Fair - supporting the YWCA. 1) Log on to ywcagrn. org/2020bookfair, 2) Shop, 3) Check out using code (YWCA). All orders will be shipped to your home for a flat fee of $10. Dec. 23 7 - 8:30 p.m. Express Yourself online support group - for members of the non-binary, genderfluid, and transgender communities regardless of labels or self-identification. Via Zoom. (Meeting ID: 508 855 477. Password: 605979).

TOWN HALL MEETINGS: greenwichct.gov/calendar Dec. 23 10 a.m. Board of Selectmen Virtual Web Meeting. Via Zoom. 2 p.m. FS Re-Imagine Greenwich Virtual Web Meeting. Via Zoom. Dec. 28 6:30 p.m. Board of Health Regular Meeting. Greenwich Town Hall – Evaristo Conference Room, 101 Field Point Rd. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE: RedCrossBlood.org Dec. 26 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Dec. 28 12:15 - 5:15 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bedford St., Stamford. Dec. 31 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford. THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK: maritimeaquarium.org/ events Dec. 18 11 a.m. Virtual Program: Fish Tales. Suggested donation. Via Zoom. Register. LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM: lockwoodmathewsmansion.com Dec. 19 12 & 2 p.m. Holiday Guided 45 Minute Tour - enjoy the first floor Period Rooms featuring the Museum’s Holiday Exhibit. 295 West Ave., Norwalk. $10. LEGO LAND: legolanddiscoverycenter.com/ westchester Dec. 18 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Little Playtimes - for the youngest LEGO fans aged 2-5. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, 39 Fitzgerald St., Yonkers, NY.

Having Happier Holidays By Cheryl MacCluskey With Christmas around the corner and Covid-19, I thought I would combine both Christmas Stress and Real Estate Stress for this month’s topic. How stressful is Christmas you ask? Isn’t Ch r ist mas supposed to be “the season to be Jolly”, without a doubt Christmas is and can be a significant source of Stress, pressure and conf lict for many of us. It is the pressure of gift giving, credit card debt and lack of time and money. Not to mention the countless hours we spend by writing Christmas Cards, wrapping presents, picking out the perfect Christmas Tree. Yes, Christmas does cause stress! A survey was done by Healthline that found 62% of people said their stress levels increased during the holiday season and we haven’t even begun to add Covid-19 to the mix. 6 ways to Reduce Holiday Stress 1. Avoid Family con f l ic t . Ju st r eme m b er family members usually talk about politics, Covid-19, the

economy, race relations, etc. Decide before you sit down and start stuffing your face with food at the table, what you will or will not discuss with family members. You do not have to subject yourself to a heated argument. 2. Picture the Christmas you want. Picture in your mind what kind of Christmas you would like, who is going to be present, what you are making for dinner, are you laughing with your kids or parents around the Christmas tree while opening presents. If something comes up that threatens you or your family’s peace give yourselves permission to say no. 3. Ma ke a Ch r ist mas Budget. Budgeting for Christmas will help you to avoid impulse purchases or spending too much on spur of the moment gifts. 4. Don’t overdo it on Sugar. This was meant for me! We all know that too much sugar messes up our natural hormone responses,

your blood sugar and insulin levels, mix that with lack of sleep and too much Starbucks cof fee and a disaster is waiting to happen. 5. Make connection your priority. We all are feeling so isolated because of Covid-19, it is very important to make friends and loved o n e s y o u r t o p p r i o r i t y. Christmas time is meant to be filled with joy and happiness and lots of laughter. Don’t get caught up with the hustle and bustle and forget to reach out to all your friends and family. 6. Lastly and I believe most important is limit your time on Social Media. We have an overwhelming amount of information, nonsense and news in our c o u n t r y. No t o n l y d o we see it on the TV but social media feeds as well. Social me d ia ca n add to st r e s s , those perfect Facebook feeds, where you start comparing yo u r s e l f to s o c i a l m e d i a pictures which are not real, they don’t show the family

Astrology for Week of Dec. 20, 2020 CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan Help will arrive when you need it most this week. With the Sun in your sign, friends will rally round and make a tough task easy. But don’t be too proud to accept their help because you feel this is something you should be capable of dealing with yourself.

CANCER 22 June-23 July You are trying too hard to live up to other’s expectations and the harder you try the harder it gets. Common sense should tell you to ignore them and focus on what you expect of yourself. That may be easier said than done but you can do it if you try.

AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb A rare Jupiter-Saturn alliance in your sign warns you to stick with people you know you can trust. Don’t be tempted to join forces with someone whose background and character you know little about – no matter how enticing their promises.

LEO 24 July-23 Aug If you are not feeling pleased with yourself now you will by Friday when plans you made long ago begin to pay off. But don’t think that’s the end of it because it’s only the start. Make this the week you decide to get serious about your long-term ambitions.

PISCES 20 Feb-20 March Truth is everything and sacrosanct, and must never be compromised for material gain. That, in a nutshell, is the message of the planets this week and if you heed it the truth will work in your favour. If you ignore it you’re asking for trouble.

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept If you don’t want to settle for second best you will have to team up with someone you consider at best a rival and at worst an enemy. That might sound unlikely but you will discover you have much in common. A partnership will benefit you both.

ARIES 21 March-20 April You will come under some kind of pressure this week but that need not be a bad thing if you stay cool and refuse to panic. Face each challenge as it arises and believe you have what it takes to succeed – whatever the odds. Self-confidence is half the battle.

LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct Expansive Jupiter links with limiting Saturn his week making it easy for you to see what is possible and what is not. Your natural optimism will be tempered and directed by a desire to see material results. Hard work will make your big idea a big success.

TAURUS 21 April-21 May You could have made more of recent opportunities but don’t worry about it as more are on the way. This week’s Jupiter-Saturn aspect urges you to believe that your dreams and wishes can come true – but you must be prepared to work hard for them.

SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov No effort will be too much for you this week – you’ll work around the clock to reach your goal. With disciplined Saturn so close to lucky Jupiter the idea of failure won’t enter your head – how could it when you are so focussed on success?

GEMINI 22 May-21 June This is an important week because the decisions you take will have far-reaching results. Don’t be afraid to take on someone whose power exceeds your own, or to accept more responsibility. Nothing and no one can stop you if you’re hungry for success.

SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec You’ll find it easier to work with family and friends this week, even if your motives and methods are very different. The best teams are not made up of people who think and act the same but of individuals who make a conscious effort to work together.

Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com

1. Know what you want. Most Real Estate Agents can’t r e a d you r m i n d or k now what you are looking for. Be specific about what you are looking for or need.

qualifying for a home loan shouldn’t be that diff icult, b u t w i t h C ov i d -1 9 m a n y l e n d e r s a n d b a n k s h a ve tightened their guidelines and requirements. It behooves you to get preapproved for a mortgage before starting the search. With multiple bids going on in the market today, being pre-approved gives you a step up and it will help you compete with cash buyers. Don’t take on any debt before applying for a mortgage, clean up any late payments on your credit. Have money in the bank for the down payment, closing costs, reserves and tax escrows.

2. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage loan. Financing a property is very stressful and many may feel that

3. Be Flexible. Remember nothing in life is perfect, including finding the perfect house, unless of

f ights, burnt dinner or the mounting piles of credit card debt. The last thing we need to add more stress on top of Christmas and Covid-19 is Purchasing a new home and not being prepared. How to avoid as much stress as possible when purchasing a new home? Be prepared. Here are 4 tips to minimize your home-buying Stress.

course you have the money to design and construct one from the ground up. As in life, decide what you will compromise on. 4. Listen to your Real Estate Agent. Most Agents have been in the business for some time, they know and have studied the Real Estate ma rket. L isten to their advice, they are here to advise and to help you make the right decision. Remember Agents don’t get paid until the deal closes so they will do nothing to sabotage a deal. I hope this will decrease some stress in your life during the Holidays. I want to wish all of you a Happy and Healthy Stress-free Holiday and New Year. 2021 can only get better!!!!

Sudoku: each row, column, and nonet can contain each number only once. Answers on page 12.

Easy

Hard

Very Hard

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD Deborah Ference-Gray

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD MASTHEAD DASHBOARD EDITOR

Mark Pruner | Mark@GreenwichStreets.com | mark@bhhsne.com

DASHBOARD CONTRIBUTORS

One Pickwick Plaza Greenwich, CT 06830

Robert Pulitano | RobertPulitano@bhhsne.com Cesar Rabillino | CesarRabellino@bhhsne.com Pam Toner | PamToner@bhhsne.com

Office: 203.618.3155 Mobile: 917.584.4903

For Market Updates and Listings Visit deborahferencegray.com

deborah.ferencegray@sothebyshomes.com

FEATURED OPEN HOUSES Data Compiled by Rob Pulitano [203] 561-8092

Address

NEW SALES

Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address

Original List

List Price

Sold Price DOM BR FB Acres

SqFt

51 Forest Avenue 31 51 Forest Avenue 83 51 Forest Avenue 63 25 Westview Place 20 Church Street A54 29 Hassake Road 101 Lewis Street F 7 Chestnut Street 1 Idar Court B 21 Harkim Road 33 Daffodil Lane 20 Indian Field Road 45 Lake Drive South 3 Indian Knoll Place 53 Long Meadow Road 37 Ridge Road 18 Chieftans Road 125 Field Point Road B3 125 Field Point Road A2 132 Cedar Cliff Road 11 Deer Lane 8 Broad Road 186 Shore Road 100 Meadow Wood Drive 6 Tods Driftway

$595,000 $745,000 $875,000 $895,000 $995,000 $1,225,000 $1,235,000 $1,698,000 $1,949,000 $2,250,000 $1,895,000 $2,249,000 $2,195,000 $2,300,000 $2,375,000 $2,730,000 $3,395,000 $2,950,000 $3,250,000 $3,849,000 $4,750,000 $11,500,000 $6,250,000 $8,550,000 $10,500,000

$555,000 $745,000 $875,000 $895,000 $995,000 $1,225,000 $1,235,000 $1,698,000 $1,795,000 $2,125,000 $1,895,000 $2,095,000 $2,195,000 $2,300,000 $2,375,000 $2,730,000 $2,950,000 $2,950,000 $3,250,000 $3,849,000 $4,750,000 $8,000,000 $6,250,000 $8,550,000 $9,950,000

$547,000 $716,625 $850,000 $885,000 $985,000 $1,225,000 $1,240,000 $1,698,000 $1,750,000 $1,850,000 $1,850,000 $2,000,000 $2,225,000 $2,275,000 $2,325,000 $2,660,000 $2,825,000 $2,950,000 $3,250,000 $3,525,000 $4,545,000 $6,200,000 $6,400,000 $8,550,000 $8,950,000

1,160 1,271 1,633 1,440 1,578 2,521 2,292 3,856 3,572 5,320 4,074 5,100 3,024 7,373 4,675 5,758 7,204 2,334 2,302 6,007 4,442 5,671 8,803 7,963 5,820

28 25 117 14 24 39 18 42 249 201 50 55 7 74 140 148 87 430 420 159 385 274 27 0 142

1 2 2 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 5 4 3 3 5 4 5 6 7 5

2 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 3 4 3 4 2 5 6 5 5 3 3 3 4 5 7 8 5

0 0 0 0.18 0 0.17 0 0.26 0.22 1.5 2 0.29 0.4 4 0.29 0.35 0.7

0.73 1.34 1.65 0.7 0.89 0.69

Area

128 Putnam Park #128 Greenwich 19 Richmond Drive Old Greenwich 168 Bedford Road Greenwich 1076 Lake Avenue Greenwich 18 Lower Cross Road Greenwich 18 Lower Cross Road Greenwich 18 Lower Cross Road Greenwich

Price

Day/Time

Broker

$648,000 $1,195,000 $1,749,000 $3,390,000 $6,995,000 $6,995,000 $6,995,000

Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sat 2-5 PM Sat 1-3 PM Sat 1-3 PM Sun 11-3 PM Sun 11-2 PM

Sotheby's Sotheby's Sotheby's Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway

NEW LISTINGS

Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address

List Price

Price/SqFt

SqFt

Area

102 Valley Road 19

$541,900

Cos Cob

$639,000

1,000 1,671

36 Chestnut Street

Byram

41 Alexander Street B

$650,000

$542 $382 $464

1,400

2 South of Post Road

15 River Road 210

$789,000

$715

Cos Cob

73 Sheephill Road

$899,000

Riverside

29 Lyon Farm Drive 29

$975,000

$382 $462

0 2,352 0.2 2,110 0

Glenville

5 Putnam Hill 4F & 4G

$1,250,000

3 South of Post Road

8 Norias Road

$1,520,000

$698

2,178

0.46 4

2 South of Post Road

225 Milbank Avenue 2

$1,800,000

$801

2,248 0.24

3 South of Post Road

26 Chapel Lane

$2,695,000

$727

3,708 0.26

Riverside

12 Cottontail Road

$3,695,000

$504

7,329

1.16

South Parkway

40 Willowmere Circle

$3,850,000

$728

5,289 0.55

Riverside

10 Brookridge Drive

$3,995,000

$633

6,307

1.31

South Parkway

11 Cove Ridge Lane

$5,225,000

$528

9,890 0.49

Old Greenwich

12 Meadow Drive

$7,500,000

$789

9,500 2.63 8

South Parkway

50 Dublin Hill Drive

$8,495,000

$978

8,682

South Parkway

1,104

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE OVERCOME WITH Gratitude & INSPIRED WITH

Hope. WE WISH YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON

& LOOK FORWARD TO ASSISTING YOU WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS IN THE NEW YEAR!

Setting the standard for excellence in Greenwich Real Estate for 32 years. SPENCER SODOKOFF Sales Executive (c) 203.257.4870 spencer.sodokoff@gmail.com

JULIANNE C. WARD Executive Director of Sales (c) 203.231.1064 juliannecward@gmail.com #7 Sales Executive out of 50,000 in the Global BHHS Network

136 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830 www.bhhsNEproperties.com

Thank you to all of our buyers and sellers for a great 2020. Best wishes for a healthy and safe 2021!

Sold!

28 Oak Street, Greenwich 5 BR | 6.2 BA | 7,438 sq.ft.

$2,800,000

43 Mianus View Terrace, Cos Cob 5 BR | 4.1 BA | 4,580 sq.ft.

$1,800,000

142 Lower Cross Road, Greenwich 5 BR | 4.1 BA | 5,470 sq.ft.

$1,520,000

77 Taconic Road, Greenwich 4 BR | 3.1 BA | 3,630 sq.ft.

$1,700,000

24 Indian Pass, Greenwich 4 BR | 4.1 BA | 2,860 sq.ft.

$1,272,500

60 Lockwood Lane, Riverside 4 BR | 3.1 BA | 3,448 sq.ft.

$1,470,000

Circle Drive, Greenwich 4 76 5 BR | 4.1 BA | 3,540 sq.ft.

$1,312,500

11 Hettiefred Road, Greenwich 5 BR | 5.1 BA | 3,958 sq.ft.

$2,100,000

GLORIA FALCON 203.559.1604

CESAR RABELLINO 203.249.9866

CesarRabellino@bhhsne.com bhhsNEproperties.com

For those on a journey GREENWICH

98 Lower Cross Road

98LOWERCROSS.COM | OFFERED AT $2,195,000

Joe Barbieri 203.940.2025

GREENWICH

GREENWICH | OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, DEC 19TH 2:00PM-5:00PM

Privacy in the Calhoun Association

168 Bedford Road

34TURNERDRIVE.COM | OFFERED AT $1,850,000

168BEDFORDROAD.COM | OFFERED AT $1,749,000

Carol Zuckert 203.561.0247

Janet Milligan 203.253.1770

GREENWICH

STAMFORD

Central Greenwich Townhouse

193 Dolphin Cove Quay

178MILBANKB.COM | OFFERED AT $1,725,000

193DOLPHINCOVE.COM | OFFERED AT $1,495,000

Susie Quinn 203.856.2495

Barbara Stephens 203.912.9040

GREENWICH

OLD GREENWICH

Belle Haven Peninsula

Old Greenwich Neighborhood Charm

10BROOKDRIVE.COM | OFFERED AT $1,265,000

19RICHMOND.COM | OFFERED AT $1,245,000

Steve Archino 203.618.3144

John Graves 646.981.8200

GREENWICH BROKERAGE | ONE PICKWICK PLAZA | 203.869.4343 | SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.