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January 21, 2022
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The Local News You Need to Know
Girl Scout Cookie Time of Year
UPTICK IN STOLEN VEHICLES Greenwich Police is reminding residents again to remove their car keys and lock their vehicle doors. The Greenwich Police Department reports an uptick of stolen vehicles from the Central Greenwich Business/Restaurant area recently. Thieves are targeting vehicles that are left unlocked with the keys in them while the owners are shopping or dining. They urge residents to lock their vehicles and take their keys with them. This should be a common practice no matter where or when a vehicle is parked. GREENWICH RTM ELECTS FIRST FEMALE MODERATOR Alexis Voulgaris was chosen in a vote of the board’s members this past Tuesday night, and is only the seventh leader of the town’s RTM. She is also the first new moderator in over two decades. TEST KITS FOR HOMEBOUND If you know of anyone who is housebound, people who are non-drivers, and any other people who might not have been included in either Town distribution of COVID test kits/N95 masks at the Senior Center and Grass Island, then they can contact: Alan Gunzburg at 24fado@optonline.net or Steph Cowie at cowiestephanie68@gmail.com COVID UPDATE MORE OPTIMISTIC In a joint update Wednesday, First Selectman Fred Camillo and Greenwich Hospital president Diane Kelly, DNP, RN announced that Greenwich Hospital was currently treating 46 COVID positive patients, five of whom are in the ICU with three on ventilators. This is down from 56 two weeks ago. Town wide 595 cases are being monitored, which is a slight increase. “We are very pleased we are starting to see a decline in this most recent surge,” Diane Kelly said. “Greenwich (Hospital) is, like most health-care
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Illustrated by Wajih Chaudhry
The Anger Cauldron
By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT
Anger is not bad. It can be a helpful barometer to show us when change is ne e de d . P r oble m s a r i s e when we store anger without understanding it. Most of us have trouble looking into our own anger cauldron, but if we don’t, our anger can heat up. When we or someone we love flies off the handle, it helps to look under the lid of anger for the hurt, the pain, the fear, or the sadness that has not been addressed— that has boiled over. There is always some form of “sad” under “mad.” If our lids f ly of f repeatedly, smack ing those we love in the face, professional support can help us figure out what kind of old pain is hiding in our cauldron. Anger frightens all of us. We typically move toward
another person’s pain or sadness because we want to help, but fury usually pushes us away, just when we or someone we love needs help the most. Trevor and Karen were out of control with anger. Their counselor asked them to hold hands and look silently into each other’s eyes for 60 seconds without breaking eye contact. Those 60 seconds became sacred space. They both cried. They saw the hurt, the pain , and the sadness in each other’s cauldron . Their voices quieted , and they embraced. Excerpted from Greenwich resident, Jill Woolworth's, b o o k , T h e Wa t e r w h e e l , available at Diane’s Books, Dogwood Bookstore, Amazon, and barnesandnoble.com. Jill is a therapist at the Greenwich Center for Hope & Renewal.
Girl Scout Troop 50209 Sets Up Shop in the Riverside Plaza
By Anjali Kishore Never fear cook ie lovers, it’s that time of year again – Girl Scout Cookies are making their long-awaited reappearance! It’s hard to deny the cult status that Girl Scout Cookies have reached – they’re swirled into Dunkin coffee concoctions, crumbled into ice cream Blizzards, and any grocery store you go to is more than likely to have some imitation of the famed Thin Mints or Samoas perched on a shelf. This is especially true for Greenwich, where late winter brings on blooms of cookie stands on street corners, sidewalks,
and in school courtyards. As one of the more active Girl Scout networks throughout the state, Greenwich’s Girl Scout scene is particularly vibrant; town Cookie Manager and Leader of Girl
Late winter brings on blooms of cookie stands on street corners, sidewalks, and in school courtyards.
Scout Troop #50209 Nicole Ehret was somewhat ambivalent about Gi rl Scouts before her now 4th grade daughter joined the troop in kindergarten. But once she saw the positive impact being a part of Girl Scouts was having on her daughter, and the community they were able to build through scouting, she was eager to get involved: “It started as a ‘no way, I’m not going to do this’, but once I realized what it was about, I realized it was a nice mission and program for girls.” The Girl Scout’s impact on her daughter and other troop members was two-fold: not only does scouting
serve as an important social outlet for girls, but also as a platform where they can learn essential life and business skills. As CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut Diana Mahoney put it, “It’s not surprising that 80% of female entrepreneurs were once Girl Scouts. Having the opportunity to run their very own cookie business gives them essential tools to achieve their dreams today and in the future.” Some of these skills include the five fundamental goals of the cookie program: goal setting, decision making, business ethics, people skills and
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Meet the Mead School’s Interim Head
By Anjali Kishore Since its founding in 19 69, S t a m for d ’s Me a d S c h o o l h a s a l w ay s t a k e n a n u n c o nve nt i o n a l ap p r o a c h to learning, incorporating founder D r. E l a i n e d e B e a u p o r t ’s neurological research and medical b ack g r ou nd i n t he de sig n of t he s cho ol’s c u r r ic u lu m a nd educational environment. Now, the prog ressive private K - 8 school is in the hands of Peter Herzberg, a longtime member o f t h e s c h o o l ’s b o a r d a n d experienced administrator, with
stints in leadership positions at the Brearley School in New York City and Greens Farms Academy in Westport, among others. “He’s all about student engagement and innovative curriculums, which is what matches up with us so well,” says Jeanette Baxendale, Herzberg’s executive assistant and director of marketing. His presence at Mead began when he was at Greens Farms, a private high school that typically takes on kids from similar area private K - 8 schools. He noticed a singularity about the kids coming from Mead, jokingly calling them
“a glorious pain – they don’t easily defer to authority,” said Herzberg, “and that’s by design. At Greens Farms, I found that they tend to push their teachers.” While he’s worked at 8 schools over his career, Herzberg says that the students at Mead are unlike any others that he’s come across, describing them as “some of the most idiosyncratic and interesting kids that [he’d] met.” There’s a number of things that contribute to the unique character and learning style of the typical Mead student, with both Herzberg and Baxendale
empha si z i ng t he i mp or t a nc e of expressive arts, small class sizes, and the school’s trademark f lexible curriculum to fostering a n env i ron ment of creativ it y and indiv iduality. The school has no grades, opting to assess student’s progress through handson projects and written reports. These projects often integrate the expressive arts: for example, one physics class designed wooden cars for aerodynamic efficiency as well as artistic expression, and in an English class students constructed their own endings Please turn to page 11
New RTM Moderator for the First Time in 26 Years By Anne White Tue s day Ja nua r y 18 t he Representative Town Meeting (RTM) elected Alexis Voulgaris as the new moderator, replacing Thomas Byrne who had served since 1996, a record breaking run in the position. Byrne decided not to serve as moderator for another term but is remaining a member of the RTM. Voulgaris earned 150 votes to become the new moderator while 67 went to candidate Brian Raney.
Voulgaris, who is unaffiliated with any political party, said a f te r w i n n i n g t h e vo te o n Tuesday, “I’m honored to be standing before you this evening as the seventh moderator, the first woman and likely the first independent candidate to hold this position in the 88-year history of the RTM”. Voulgaris ser ved as Pro Tempore for four years under Byrne as moderator and has been an elected member of the RTM for eight terms. She has served in a
number of leadership positions previously as well including Chair of the Health and Human Services committee, Chair of the Community Development Block Grant Adv isor y committee, and Chair of the special RTM Governance Committee. “ There is much work to be done this term,” she said, “and I hope we can all work collaboratively and listen and respect each other in our varying points of view to pass legislation that makes sense for our community. We need
to stay true to our roots, which are that we are nonpartisan and elected to serve the needs of all Greenwich residents.” Icy Frantz, who is beginning her second term on the RTM s a id , “ It ’s a h a r d j ob. T h e moderator needs to be patient, impartial, committed and k nowle dge a ble . A lex is has d e m o n s t r at e d a l l o f t h e s e characteristics in her role as moderator pro temp and as the Chair of the Community Block Grant committee. I have great respect for her. Her opponent,
Brain Raney, newer to me, has a n i mpre ssive re su me a nd wonderful ideas. I hope he will stay committed to making the RTM run even more smoothly. I think we are in good hands. Edward Dadakis, who began his 21st RTM term on Tuesday, is one of the longest serving RTM members. Dadak is feels strongly that the RTM is vital for its representation of Greenwich residents. “The RTM is more relevant today than ever,” he said, “as it truly is the voice of the people.
T he p e ople s omet i me s get frustrated with the path taken by other elected officials. The RT M l i s te n s a nd t he n c a n redirect efforts when called for. My guess is almost every single person in town knows at le a s t one RT M me m b e r they can reach out to for help. That ma ke s t he RT M ver y important.” He a lso pra ised By r ne’s leadership say ing during “Tom’s 22 years as moderator, I think we can say he exerted Please turn to page 4
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The ABC’s of Giving Blood, So Needed Now! Doors are Open at Jill & John Coyle Blood Donor Center
By Anne W. Semmes At this moment when the Red Cross is reporting its worst blood shortage in over a decade putting patients at risk, there can be no more welcoming a place for donors than the new Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center located on the second floor of the newly rebuilt Greenwich Red Cross headquarters. “We have less than a day’s supply of blood,” conf irmed Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Greenwich based Metro New York North Chapter of the Red Cross. “It’s a nationwide shortage and we are just as critical here as in every other town.” We met up w it h A sh ley earlier this week as the f irst donors of 72 booked for this The Greenwich entrance to the Jill and John Coyle Blood week were arriving after the Donor Center at the Greenwich headquarters of the Red Cross. Photo by Anne W. Semmes
Repeat blood donor 18-year-old William Catalani. Photo by Anne W. Semmes
Decades long blood donor Steve Shea. Photo by Anne W. Semmes Martin Luther King holiday. Entering the expansive new Blood Donor Center, one sees the impressive padded chair-beds Ashley identifies as Apheresis beds. “The Apheresis blood collection is a specific kind of blood donation. It is the process of separating blood into its different components: Platelets, Red Blood Cells and Plasma. Platelet donations allow us to collect what patients need then return the rest of the blood to the donor.” Nearby are the f lat donor
b eds where whole blood is taken. “It is up to the donor if they would like to sit or lay down.” says Ashley. The first three donors have chosen the f lat beds. But f irst they are t a ken i nto sepa rate He a lt h History Rooms. “If you download the Red Cross blood donor app,” tells Ashley, “You can pre-answer your health history questions online before you even walk in the door. Then when you come in, reception will greet you and scan your donor card from your
app. And then someone will take you into the health history room, review your questions, do your hemoglobin, blood pressure… and make sure you drink lots of water.” The giving of blood – one pint - can take anywhere from f ive to 15 minutes, says Ashley who may have set a record giving her blood a couple of months ago. “It took three minutes and 53 seconds - I was just very hydrated!” So, who is qualif ied to give blood? Individuals aged 17 (in most states) and older, who weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health. “You can give blood if you’re not vaccinated,” Ashley surprises, adding. “Although we recommend it. You can give blood after you’ve recovered from COVID and pass a health screening. You can give blood every 56 days.” And she added, “Donors are coming from t he su r rou nd i ng a reas a nd towns from Westchester and Fairfield counties. The donors are now lying flat and giving blood and a couple of them have agreed to answer some questions. “Okay,” says Ashley, “We’re going to have you stand on this side [of the half wall of the airy open facility] to give William some privacy.” William is young and masked. “So, tell me your age?” He’s 18 and this is his second donation, the first
Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Greenwich based Metro New York North Chapter of the Red Cross stands before the new Apheresis beds where donors can give blood in the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center. Photo by Anne W. Semmes
“We have less than a day’s supply of blood,” confirmed Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Greenwich based Metro New York North Chapter of the Red Cross.
Welcoming donors in the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center are L to R Sue Rogers, medical staff member, and Michael Kessler, volunteer. Photo by Anne W. Semmes given three months earlier while at school. He was inspired to do so by a schoolmate. “He’s almost like at a gallon now. He’s donated like crazy. So, he got me to do it. I have to give him the credit.” A nd why does William Catalini donate? “I guess it’s like, people need it. And it’s something I can do. It doesn’t take much time, especially now, because we’re in a blood crisis.” Might William have been pulled in for the chance to win in January a getaway to the Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles or that raffle for two free tickets to the Greenwich Town Party? “No, I’m just here to donate.”
Same goes for Steve Shea, age 71. So, why is he donating? “It’s needed. It’s convenient. It’s the right thing to do. There’s no substitute, and as long as you’re able - do it.” Steve f ig ures he’ll be donating every eight weeks this year. “Probably six times a year.” Does Steve know others who are so regularly donating? His wife, who is present and ready to give. “She had never done it before,” says Steve, and why did she climb aboard? “I guess the same reasons as I have - it’s just needed, and it’s easy enough, and not painful or anything like that. So, now we’re doing
it together.” “Blood is perishable,” Ashley tells. “The whole blood that is being collected today will be stored in refrigerators at 6°C for up to 42 days. Platelets are stored at room temperature in agitators for up to five days. Plasma and cyro are frozen and stored in freezers for up to one year. “ Ashley then shares impor ta ntly the avenue for prospective donors to make t h at l i fe -s av i n g-for- ot he r s appointment: “You can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 800-733-2767.”
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A World of Their Own - FORTS
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Michael Manning is a professional studio artist and educator with his studio on Sound Beach Ave., in Old Greenwich. He is currently co-leading the Developing Artist Program funded by the Greenwich Allianc e for Educ at ion , The CT Off ice of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Ar t s . Hi s a r t work h a s be e n part of numerous regional and international exhibitions, solo and group exhibitions in Ha u s d e r Ku n st Mu s e u m i n Munich , Germany; Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY; University of Connecticut; Seton Hall University and the Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT. Michael also runs the art programs for the Boys & Girls Club and is the Head of the Art Depart at a high school in NY.
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have a structure that is close to 4 x 4‘; add a sheet or old shower curtain on the top and they will be in there for hours. You can encourage them to create artwork for the walls using sheets of paper taped up to the temporary walls. It’s also a great place to have an afternoon snack, watch a movie or take a nap. Another cool thing that can be added is some cheap glow sticks to become indoor lighting and chandeliers. With my own kids we would often try to have one wall made from a white sheet that we would then create shadow puppets on. Battery operated lanterns perfect for this as well. Truly, this is really simple but the point is to encourage their individual creativity and ownership in a place of our own that they built and created by themselves. This past summer at Camp Simmons, we had dif ferent age groups ranging from 5 to 16, creating forts with found objects, sticks, leaves and basic household materials. So simple but somehow became one of the
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and something I see with my nephews is the ever-versatile blanket suspended across the back of a couple chairs. Again, this may seem simple but add a few oversize cushions and you have the beginnings of a fortress of s ol it ude a nd a world of imagination. Save a few of your Amazon boxes, which all seem to have, and open them up for some ready-made walls. Take this one step further by opening a few boxes, have your kids design them as tapestry panels, then string them together using simple paper clips. Three or four tapestries can be quickly assembled with only a couple of medium size boxes. Yo u m i g h t n e e d s o m e rubber bands or better yet some potato chip bag clips or even some string; basically anything you can find to temporarily tie things together and keep them in place. If you really want to get your kids fired up into a creative fantastical frenzie, stop by a local bike store and ask them for an empty bike box or two. If you cut them apart you quickly
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For kids there’s nothing more fulfilling than creating their own world
most attractive places for the kids to spend time, all because they made it themselves. Until we a r e o u t s i d e a g a i n t h i s spring everything we need to BUILD A FORT is in our homes waiting to be made. Be it at a camp, the basement bedroom or corner of the living room, they are creative spaces that become their imagination, their environment, their world. The FORT, a world unto itself. PS: I’m still making forts. Ju s t n ow it s c o l l a b o r at i ve projects w ith k ids creating large scale functional lemonade stands that serve as fundraising projects with a grant from the State of CT and the Off ice of the Arts.
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When I was a k id, some of my best memor ies were of spending countless hours building elaborate fortresses made from couch cushions, chairs, blankets and anything e l s e I c ou ld ge t my h a nd s on w ithout mom noticing and getting annoyed. I was convinced I was the supreme builder of all things FORT and there was no one equal. Until of course I met my own two kids, my nieces, my now six and three year-old nephews and basically every kid at the Boys & Girls Club. I t ’s a m a z i n g h o w k i d s g rav it ate to a nd t a ke such complete joy in building t h e F O RT. I ’m n o t s u r e i f it ’s s o m e t h i n g g e n e t i c a l l y hardwired or somehow connected to the idea of creativ it y a nd bu i ld i ng, or the idea of making our own little world. Whatever it is, it’s something kids truly enjoy. It is something they will spend hours doing and with a touch of encouragement can completely transform to a new level of creativity. Every once in a while at the Boys & Girls Club or school, I’ll bring in materials such as sticks, pieces of cloth material, sheets of cardboard or boxes I recycle and ask the kids/students to build something. Other than helping with some structural integrity issues, I don’t really give them much instruction or tell them what to do. However, w ithout fail the results are almost always a structure, an enclosure, sometimes which includes small structures for the pets, all of which translate into the FORT. Sometimes this is difficult as a teacher as it almost seems too easy and I feel like I’m not prov id i ng a more i nt r icate lesson. However, what it is actually doing is providing an opportunity for them to truly take control of the creative process and define a world or environment with materials easy to use and transformative in its outcome. For k ids there’s nothing more fulf illing than creating your own world. And when you think about it, everything they are exposed to is designed to help them expand, develop and mature into amazing people and future leaders. From schools, to our own kitchens, stores, parks, museums and just about every place you walk into; they are designed to create a specific environment or situation. So with all of this it’s easy to see why a set of building blocks are so simple yet so personal, indiv idua lly creative a nd timeless. The FORTS children m a ke a r e e x ac t ly t h i s . A n expression of their individual creativity and more simply, something we can take pride in having made with their own two hands. S o a s we’r e w a it i ng for spring to arrive, with a little b i t o f e n c o u r a g e m e nt a n d some objects found around the house, we can encourage our kids and their creative world making capabilities. My favorite
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By Michael Manning
C A L LEG
legendary seafood, from a local legend. While you sleep they’re at the Fulton Fish Market first to get the freshest seafood for Greenwich. Bon Ton, since 1902.
Mon – Sat 8:00am – 6:00pm Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm 100 Bruce Park Avenue 203-869-0462 Open 7 Days a Week
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SPECIAL COLUMN: ON MY WATCH
Alarm Bells are Ringing with the Spread of the Metaverse
By Anne W. Semmes So, the race is on to build the metaverse, that virtualreality space where users spend their days online interacting w ith others in a computergenerated environment. Those Silicon Valley young geniuses are reportedly leaving Microsoft in droves to head for Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta world of more immersive alternatereality technology. That emerging digital world of metaverse is described in the Wall Street Journal this last week as “a largely unrealized virtual realm where proponents say people will work, play, learn and shop.” Hasn’t that world already arrived?? “Virtual reality completely immerses users in a virtual world- a videogame for example – with a headset closed off from the real world,” so confirms the Journal. S omehow, I p osit t ho s e you n g ge n iu s e s h ave r e ad t he te a le ave s of ou r f a stdisappearing inhabitable earth, along with those billionaires pushing to go to Mars like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. For those seven-month journeys to Mars what will apparently keep us sane is virtual reality! Will you ever forget that scene in
RTM Leadership From Page 1
ef fective leadersh ip, of ten q uietly, sometimes loud ly, accomplishing much and preserving the effectiveness and respect of the largest local legislative body in America. We a l l owe h i m a d e b t o f gratitude for all he has done for Greenwich and the RTM.” Like many others on the RTM, Dadakis feels the RTM was for tunate to have t wo outstanding candidates for
“2001 - A Space Odyssey” of those seated travelers in their reality vacuum. Is that scene haunting those Silicon Valley enthusiasts? Don’t they know the earth i s wor t h s av i n g? T h at t h e earth is healing to man and womank ind? The scientists have told us so. How hospital patients in both America and Eu r op e h ave s i g n i f i c a nt l y s p e e d i e r r e c ove r i e s w h e n exposed to natural landscapes. H ow a w a l k i n t h e wo o d s brings down our anxiety. Might not these metaverse m i nde d ent r epr eneu rs put their minds instead to ways to save say half the earth so that animals and plants don’t go extinct, with habitats sufficient for su r v iva l? Ja ne G o o da l l lays it out in her new Book of Hope – A Survival Guide for Trying Times: “By destroying habitats we force animals into closer contact w ith people, thus creating situations for pathogens to form new human d i s e a s e s .” L i ke i n w i ld l i fe markets – “Perfect opportunity for a v irus to hop onto a human,” Goodall writes, “and it is thought that this pandemic, like SA R S was created in a Chinese wildlife market.” C a n ’t t h o s e m e t a v e r s e geniuses spend their virtual
creative time finding new ways i n t he re a l world to t ack le climate change? Holly wood film director Adam McKay in his hot new movie, “Don’t Look Up,” thought he’d give viewers a “kick in the pants” to prompt “ u r g e nt a c t i o n o n c l i m a t e change,” a film reviewer wrote. But having seen the flick, I don’t think we need a catastrophic
meteor heading our way to wake us up. I’ve got a better idea for a wake up flick. Su rely ma ny of us have seen that classic f ilm, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” So, imagine small towner George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewar t) has g iven up h is d re a m to save half the earth as climate change worsens, leading him to
think of suicide, when an angel appears. The angel (played by Henry Travers) tells him how he can engage everyone in his town to save half of it to protect plants and animals, then what necessary actions they must do to lessen climate change, to make earth more inhabitable. And George Bailey is successful! So successful
neighboring towns follow suit. And soon the whole state is a green state, then the whole country! Some of those grassroots efforts that George Bailey began w ith in his tow n this tow n has embraced! Those efforts and others on the way - to be shared in my next column.
moderator. “Alexis will do a superb job,” he said, “and I expect Brian will continue to be a respected voice of reason during our debates.” Following the vote, Byrne congratulated Voulgaris saying, “We know lion tamers have something to try and control... Well, the equivalent for you is this gavel,” Byrne said to Voulgaris. “I proudly pass this on to you and wish you all the best, and offer any help I can in your tenure as moderator.” To replace Voulgaris as Pro Tempore, Katherine LoBalbo was elected as Moderator Pro
Tempore. She was nominated by Randy Caravella and Don Conway. L esl ie Ta rk i ng ton, who serves as the powerful Chair of the Budget Committee said the RTM is critical to the Town governance system and that she is looking forward to work i ng w it h A lex is as Moderator and Katherine as Moderator Pro Tempore in their new leadership positions. Congratulations came from many others as well including First Selectman Fred Camillo who sa id, “I wou ld l i ke to congratulate Alexis Voulgaris
on her election as the new Moderator of the RTM and K at h e r i n e L ob a l b o i n h e r new role as Moderator Pro Tempore. Their elections are both historic and well earned. Alexis has been a rock of stability in her role assisting Tom Byrne for these past four years during his own historic run of 26 years as the RTM’s leader. I wish her well and look forward to working with the new RTM membership under her leadership over the next two years.” He also wanted to tip his cap to Brian Raney for both
putting his name out there as a candidate and for a positive and gracious speech before the vote. “We are fortunate to have so many civic-minded citizens,” Camillo noted, “willing to give their time so that our town remains the wonderful place we all call home.” New Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan echoed his comments saying, “Both Alexis Voulgaris and Katherine LoBalbo are incredibly capable and qualified. Greenwich is fortunate to have leaders like them.”
State Senator Ryan Fazio Congratulated Voulgaris and L o b a l b o o n t h e i r h i s to r i c elections saying, “I am confident that they are going to be great stewards for our town government.” He also thanked Brian Raney for running. “The RTM is proof,” he said, “that anyone can make a positive difference by stepping up and contributing to our community and democratic process.”
“Virtual reality completely immerses users in a virtual world…with a headset closed off from the real world.”
George Bailey celebrates his success with his townspeople in the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Might not these metaverse minded entrepreneurs put their minds instead to ways to save say half the earth so that animals and plants don’t go extinct, with habitats sufficient for survival?
The next RTM meeting will b e h eld on Mon d a y, March 14.
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Complete Town Wide Calendar GREENWICH LIBRARIES: greenwichlibrary.org Friday, Jan. 21 9 a.m. LifeSkills Learning. Learning Lab. 203625-6560. csherman@greenwichlibrary. org 10 a.m. Senior Chinese Book Discussion Group. 203-622-7924. ywang@greenwichlibrary. org 10 & 11 a.m. Storytime at Cos Cob Library. 203-6226883. lmatthews@greenwichlibrary.org 3:45 p.m. World Music with Anitra. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203-622-6883. lmatthews@greenwichlibrary.org 7 p.m. Friends Friday Films: “ Raising Arizona” Berkley Theater. Saturday, Jan. 22 10 a.m. Common Threads Hand Crafts Meetup. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203622-6883. lmatthews@greenwichlibrary. org 10:30 a.m. Cooking Demonstration: Homemade Pizza. Online. 203-531-0426. 10:30 a.m. Sing-a-Long Music Time with Tom Weber. Marx Family Black Box Theater. children@greenwichlibrary.org 11 a.m. Technology Help. Lab Learning Lab. 203625-6560. Sunday, Jan. 23 3 p.m. Musicians from Marlboro Concert. Berkley Theater. Register. 203-622-7919. dsalm@ greenwichlibrary.org Monday, Jan. 24 9 a.m. LifeSkills Learning. Learning Lab. 203625-6560. csherman@greenwichlibrary. org 10 a.m. Wee Ones Storytime for 1s and 2s. Marx Family Black Box Theater. children@ greenwichlibrary.org 11:30 a.m. Blood Pressure Screening. Business Conference room. First-come, first-served. 203-625-6549. schan@greenwichlibrary. org 4 p.m. Make-it Monday (Grades K-2). Children’s Constellation Room. 203-622-7940. children@greenwichlibrary.org 6 p.m. Fiction Addiction Club: “The Last Bookshop in London” by Madeline Martin. 203-625-6534. ghayes@greenwichlibrary. org 7 p.m. Business Fundamentals: How to Use Instagram Reels for Your Business. Online. 203-625-6533. mmartin@ greenwichlibrary.org Tuesday, Jan. 25 9:15 a.m. Baby Lapsit Storytime. Children’s Constellation Room. children@ greenwichlibrary.org 10:30 a.m. Spanish Storytime at Cos Cob Library. 203-622-6883. 11 a.m. Indoor Preschool Storytime with Patty. Byram Library Community Room. 203531-0426. 1 p.m. Sit n Stitch Knitting Group. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203-622-6883. 5 p.m. Meditation & Breathing. Online. 203-5310426. Wednesday, Jan. 26 10 a.m. Tales for 2s and 3s. Marx Family Black Box Theater. children@greenwichlibrary.org 10:30 a.m. Baby Lapsit. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203-622-6883. lmatthews@ greenwichlibrary.org 2 p.m. Selling on eBay. Online. 203-625-6560. csherman@greenwichlibrary.org 3:45 p.m. Afternoon Story/Craft. Ages 2 1/2 & up. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203-6226883. Thursday, Jan. 27 11 a.m. Fiesta de los Cuentos! Bilingual Storytime. Children’s Constellation Room. children@ greenwichlibrary.org 11:30 a.m. Qi Gong. Online. 203-531-0426. 3:45 p.m. Preschool Storytime & Songs with Miss Annie. Cos Cob Library Community Room. 203-622-6883. lmatthews@ greenwichlibrary.org 7 p.m. Signature Series: Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) in Conversation with Gideon Rose. In-person at Berkley Theater & livestream. kcihi@greenwichlibrary.org
Friday, Jan. 28 9 a.m. LifeSkills Learning. Learning Lab. 203625-6560. csherman@greenwichlibrary. org 10 & 11 a.m. Storytime at Cos Cob Library. 203-6226883. lmatthews@greenwichlibrary.org 7 p.m. Friends Friday Films: “ A Serious Man” Berkley Theater. Saturday, Jan. 29 9:30 a.m. Spotlight on: Digital Newspapers. Learning Lab. 203-625-6560. csherman@ greenwichlibrary.org. 10:30 a.m. Stories & Craft. Online. 203-531-0426. 11 a.m. Technology Help. Learning Lab. 203-6256560. csherman@greenwichlibrary.org GREENWICH HOSPITAL: greenwichhospital.org/events 888-305-9253 Monday, Jan. 24 11 a.m. Webinar: Added Sugars: Get the Scoop, Kick Habit. 12:30 p.m. Webinar: Knee Replacement Education. Tuesday, Jan. 25 5 p.m. Webinar: Is This the Flu? Do I Need Antibiotics? Wednesday, Jan. 26 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 260 Long Ridge Rd, Stamford. Thursday, Jan. 27 1 p.m. Virtual Support Group: Chronic Physical Disability. Online. 5 p.m. Webinar: Vocal Health: Role of the Voice Therapist. NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR: ntngreenwich.org Everyday, all day • 24/7 Food Drive Collection site at North Greenwich Congregational Church, 606 Riversville Road. The weatherproof bin is located outside of the Parish Hall. • Greenwich Reform Synagogue, 92 Orchard St., Cos Cob. Tuesdays, 9 - 11 a.m. Food Drive (drive-thru) at St. Catherine of Siena’s parking area across the street from the rectory entrance, 4 Riverside Ave. (Non-perishable foods, personal care products, large sized diapers (5 & 6) and pull-ups, and knit hats (hand knit or store bought). Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Food Drive at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church parking lot, 200 Riverside Ave. FRIDAY, JAN. 21 Greenwich International Film Festival’s (GIFF) Virtual Documentary Film Series, featuring the U.S. Premiere of Playground, the Northeast Premiere of Casablanca Beats, and Young Plato. Through Jan. 23. greenwichfilm.org/2022-events 9 a.m. Greenwich Art Society: Intro to Acrylic Painting – Beginner & Intermediate. In person (299 Greenwich Ave) & on Zoom. Register. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/classes 10 a.m. Alliance Francaise of Greenwich: ‘Café Franco-Américain’ - Conversation in English and French. In person. sbenthal@ aol.com 6 p.m. Astronomy Hike & Campfire. Lapham Preserve. Parking & Meeting location: Between 85 & 95 Richmond Hill Rd. Free, GLT members; $10, non-members. Registration required. gltrust.org/ calendars 6:30 p.m. 3rd Friday Family Night Dinner: Chicken Parm. St. Lawrence Society, 86 Valley Rd. Members, $21; non-members, $26. 203618-9036. stlawrencesociety.com 7 - 9:30 p.m. Greenwich Roller Skating public session. Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd. $12 (includes skate rentals). 203-322-4447. greenwichrollerskating@ gmail.com. greenwichrollerskating.webs. com SATURDAY, JAN. 22 Greenwich International Film Festival’s (GIFF) Virtual Documentary Film Series, featuring the U.S. Premiere of Playground, the Northeast Premiere of Casablanca Beats, and Young Plato. greenwichfilm. org/2022-events 10:30 a.m. Greenwich Art Society: Young Artists in the Studio, Ages 6-8. In person, 299 Greenwich Ave. Register. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/classes 12 p.m. Greenwich Art Society: Drawing & Painting for the Junior Artist – Ages 9-12. In person, 299 Greenwich Ave. Register. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/ classes SUNDAY, JAN. 23 Greenwich International Film Festival’s (GIFF) Virtual Documentary Film Series,
featuring the U.S. Premiere of Playground, the Northeast Premiere of Casablanca Beats, and Young Plato. greenwichfilm. org/2022-events 1 p.m. Science Solvers: Animal Sketching. Ages 4 & up. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. Free with admission. No reservations required. brucemuseum.org 3 p.m. Not Your Usual Alphabet Opening Reception. Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Ave. greenwichartscouncil.org/ events-2 MONDAY, JAN. 24 4 p.m. Greenwich Art Society: Introduction to Drawing (Teens & Adults). Via Zoom. Register. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/classes TUESDAY, JAN. 25 10 & 11 a.m. Bruce Beginnings: Winter Pals. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. Ages 2 1/2-5. Free with admission. No reservations required. brucemuseum.org 11 a.m. GPS: “Effective Ways to Foster Independence and Responsibility in Children” – an interactive workshop. Greenwich Town Hall - Cone Room, 2nd floor. Free. RSVP - first come, first serve. GreenwichSchools.org 4:30 p.m. Greenwich Art Society: Collage and Assemblage Using Mixed Media. Via Zoom. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety. org/classes 7 p.m. “The Evolution of Gender” - YWCA Greenwich Annual Coretta Scott & Martin Luther King Jr. Conversation. Via Zoom. Free. Register. ywcagrn.org/scottkingevent WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26 11 a.m. Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich: Anka Badurina, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, Executive Director, Building One Community: The Center for Immigrant Opportunity, Stamford: “Immigration Today: Myths and Facts.” On Zoom. Free. Open to all. greenwichrma.org 4 p.m. Bruce Experiences: The Artist’s Legacy: The Importance for Collectors and Today’s Art World. Free for Museum members. Reservations required. brucemuseum.org 5 p.m. Alliance Francaise of Greenwich: ‘Worldwide Wednesdays’ - join in for lively discussions on French films. Via Zoom. Open to all. afgreenwich.org 6 p.m. OGRCC (Old Greenwich - Riverside Community Center) & ONS Seminar: What every Parent, Coach, and Trainer should know about Sports Concussions. Online. myogrcc.org THURSDAY, JAN. 27 10 a.m. Greenwich Art Society: Beginning Acrylic Painting. In person, 299 Greenwich Ave. Register. 203-629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/classes 1 p.m. Identifying Trees Without Leaves. Meet at GLT’s Mueller Preserve, 370 Round Hill Rd. Free. Registration required. gltrust. org/calendars 1 p.m. Greenwich Art Society: Process Painting: Master Class in Contemporary Issues. In person, 299 Greenwich Ave. Register. 203629-1533. greenwichartsociety.org/classes 5 p.m. Paint and Sip Experience. SaksWorks Greenwich, 265 Greenwich Ave. $30. 203902-1001. saksworks.com 8 p.m. Breast Cancer Alliance’s Virtual Poker Tournament - prizes, silent auction & special drawing. breastcanceralliance.org FRIDAY, JAN. 28 7:30 p.m. Karaoke Night. St. Lawrence Society, 86 Valley Rd. 203-618-9036. stlawrencesociety.com SATURDAY, JAN. 29 10 a.m. ‘Mulch Ado About Nothing’. Bringing The Greenback, 129 Doubling Rd., Greenwich. $45 p/p. 646-327-1167. Bringingthegreenback@gmail.com. mygreenback.com/garden-events 12 p.m. Junior League of Greenwich: Impact Your World workshop. For girls ages 11-14. Live online. Free. Register. jlgreenwich.org/ impact-your-world THROUGH MONDAY, FEB. 28: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Greenwich Art Society: Julie Tehrani exhibition. Greenwich Hospital Garden Café, 5 Perryridge Rd. greenwichartsociety.org TUESDAYS: 5 - 7 p.m. Lighthouse, a Program of Kids In Crisis: LGBTQ Youth Group Meeting. On Zoom. Free. Open to all LGBTQ Youth & allies. 203-661-1911. lighthouse@kidsincrisis.org. kidsincrisis.org/get-help/lighthouse CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Page 5 | Greenwich Sentinel
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Page 6 | Greenwich Sentinel
PUBLISHER Beth@GreenwichSentinel.com Elizabeth Barhydt
Editorial Page
EDITORS & COPY EDITORS Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com Peter Barhydt, Daniel FitzPatrick, Stapley Russell, Anne W. Semmes
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Emergency Powers
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For nearly two years, Governor Ned Lamont has governed by emergency executive powers which are currently set to expire on February 15. These executive powers, that the legislature bestowed upon him and reauthorized several times, have allowed the Governor to enact mandates while bypassing the regular governing process of hearings, debates, and votes. While initially there was unity from both parties The Greenw ich Sentinel in granting these powers, that is no longer the welcomes your letters to the case. Two years of the Governor being able to make editor. We are all in favor in decisions without a regular governing process has favor of civil discourse, however we ask that they not contain led some to call the Governor “King Ned.” personal attacks. Letters should The question now is this: is it time to allow be signed with a phone number so that we can conf irm their these executive powers to expire? By most accounts the Governor has managed Connecticut’s response to COVID well, finding a fair balance between safety, individual freedom, and local authority. In an atmosphere of fear and finger pointing, this was no easy task. By Anjali Kishore The Omicron spike that arrived just in time On December 17th, Greenwich for Christmas now seems to be plateauing and High School stirred up a frenzy hopefully we will see a significant decrease in w h e n w o r d g o t o u t a b o u t a social media post that cases soon. The numbers are already headed in concerning was interpreted as a threat to that direction, offering guarded optimism. the school. The post, and rumors
A Fun Look at Sending Your Letters authenticity. You may submit them via our website: www. grenwichsentinel.com We have long enjoyed Frank Visco’s “rules” on writing and wanted to share them here. HOW TO WRITE GOOD 1. Avoid Alliteration. Always.
2. Prepositions are not words to Seven: Be consistent! end sentences with. 8. Don’t be redundant; don’t use 3. Avoid clichés like the plague. more words than necessary; it’s They’re old hat. highly superfluous. 9. Who needs rhetorical 4. Comparisons are as bad as questions? clichés. 5. Be more or less specific. 10. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. 6. Writers should never generalize
School Safety in the Social Media Age
Governor Lamont has not asked for an extension of his powers. He has, in fact, said that he invites the legislature to be a part of the process in determining if mask mandates should continue or if in-school teaching should continue G ove r nor L a mont h a s not a ske d for a n extension of his powers. He has, in fact, said that he invites the legislature to be a part of the process in determining a whole host of issues including if mask mandates in schools should continue or be expanded or if in-school teaching should continue or move online as some unions are advocating. The legislature comes into session on February 9 this year for what is referred to as the “short session” in its two year cycle -- this year is supposed to focus on fiscal matters and fixes necessary to the state budget. The Governor’s powers are set to expire on February 15. We do not believe there is a reasonable way for the legislature to move quickly enough in six days, two of which are a weekend, to work on legislation addressing the many mandates and pandemic mitigation efforts that the Governor currently has in force. It may sound good that he wants the legislature to help determine COVID policies, but there is not realistically time for them to do so before the Governor’s emergency powers expire. We suspect there will be some brief continuation of the emergency executive powers until the legislature has a chance to codify several mandates and initiatives the Governor wants to address. This is a smart move in an election year. After all, the Governor does not want to be seen as “King Ned.” In spite of the appearance of overreaching executive authority, the Governor has managed Connecticut’s response to COVID in a fairly balanced way compared to other governors. We hope that the legislature follows his lead. It is good that the Governor has opened this dialogue. It is time for the legislature to return to the work they were elected to do. While our state is in better financial shape than it has been in some time, there are still very real financial matters that need to be discussed, with proper hearings, debates, and votes. Helping state residents and businesses manage skyrocketing energy bills and inflation must also be a top priority. We hope the legislature will not spend all its time during this short session re-debating the merits of the Governor’s COVID response. There is a lot of other work which needs to be done.
concerning its content and validity, were widely circulated, creating quite a bit of confusion among st udents, pa rents, a nd ot her members of the school community concerning how to react to the perceived threat and what, exactly, was going on. The Sentinel had the opportunity to sit down with GPD Captain Mark Zuccarella to discuss school threats in the social media age, and get a bit more clarity on what exactly members of the community can expect from the police force, as well as school officials and employees, when it comes to school safety. First of f, Capn. Zuccarella m ade su r e to e mph a si z e t he close working relationship that the police force has with school officials, saying, “We work closely in-hand with the Director of School Safety for the public schools, and we have worked with the private schools as well, especially when asked. Specifically, the Community Impact Section (203-622-3660) handles all the drills we do, as well as doing school assessments. They have specialized training in that, and can help a school if necessary.” While there are a number of formal measures in place to prevent school violence – the Safe School Committee, which in any case include a “local police officer, local first responder, teacher and administrator from the school, a mental health professional, a parent or guardian of a student at the school, and may include any other person deemed necessary”, p e r t h e s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t ’s School Security and Safety Plan Standards, is an important part of the ef fort to sty mie school violence, as are School Resource Officers, who use a triad approach in which they seek to balance duties as police officers, student mentors, and school employees – Zuccarella considers all members of the school community part of the team. “The kids have all been told how to behave on social media, and in the past, we’ve had students even correcting their own parents on social media. The students are part of the team – they’re not disregarded in the process,” he says, “The teachers and custodians and ever yone are a part of the team, and the students are a big part as well – they’re told who to talk to, what to do if something is happening and how to get information out there. We’re not looking to punish people, we’re looking to prevent harm to people, and it has worked. A lot of information is shared with teachers at schools because of that relationship, and we always need to continue working on that relationship.” Students can reach out to resource officers, trusted adults, and also use the high school’s Anonymous Alert software to raise concerns without making their identity known. This information is critical to
In order to effectively use social media, Zuccarella recommends parents and students taking a step back and consider how the information they share may impact a situation, as much of the confusion surrounding school threats comes as the result of too much information that hasn’t been confirmed.
Much of the confusion surrounding school threats comes as the result of too much information that hasn’t been confirmed. what the state of Connecticut calls the Multi-Hazard Plan, where the police and school officials seek to address not just violence itself, but factors that may contribute to violence. “In the past, we have found that we focus so much on the active shooter that we forget about all the other stuff that happens within the school that needs to be addressed,” says Zuccarella, referring to risk factors such as harassment and home problems. According to Capn. Zuccarella, “The Secret Service and r e s e a r cher s have fou nd t hat the best approach is to identify small, re-occurring points that might seem innocuous now but become signs after the fact. There have been signs, especially in Colorado, that were missed and that’s nobody’s fault, it was just the operating standard of the time. Now, we’re sure to take all threats and signs seriously. The School Resource Officers are active within the school with issues, complaints, and threats, to see if there’s any validity to it or if the student made the comment if, say, they were being harassed or had some other issues they might need assistance on.” These small concerns can climb up what is widely known as the Continuum of Violence: “First what you’ll see is a child who has a lot of anger, lots of screaming and yelling. On the other end, there’s actual harm to others,” says Zuccarella, “But in between them, you might have a child who verbally threatens other people, or damages other people’s property, or self-harm. These are the things we have to pick up on – I’m in no way saying people who selfharm pose a threat in a school, but these are the things we need to pick up on and understand why they’re doing these things. If we have a kid who’s in school going around damaging things, we’re not saying he’s going to be a school shooter, but we want to address that and find out where this anger is coming from, and how we can better make it so that this child’s
educational experience is positive for themselves and other students.” At GHS, when a threat of harm or self-harm is identified, a threat assessment is done to determine what approach should be taken: the police are also typically alerted, even if they don’t necessarily play a role in addressing the situation. This is part of the robust flow of information between the students, school, and police which allows for the effective addressing of school threats. The importance of open communication is something that Zuccarella emphasizes, especially when discussing the December 17th incident at Greenwich High S c h o o l w h e r e m a ny p a r e nt s were in the dark and, after the fac t, b eca me f r ust rate d w it h the handling of the situation. In this case, he suggests open communication with the school: “The parents need to be involved with their child’s education, and know the plans and policies that the school has. They have the right to know what Safe School Committees are doing, and if they have a question or concern with what the school is doing they can contact the school; at the high school, contact the House administrator. They’d be more than happy to discuss with parents why they do what they do, and what the role is for the police officers. If anyone has questions about how we work with the schools, they can contact the special victim section (203-622-8030) and talk to the section sergeant.” Social media has also allowed for a much larger flow of information, which has greatly impacted the methodology behind and approach to school safety in positive and negative ways: according to Zuccarella, “In the negative sense, something that is mundane and not an issue can turn into a major concern. The problem is that not everyone’s on the same page with social media – one of the big things that we’ve been working with the Board of Education on is that, in the event that the school is
potentially in danger, not having parents come to school because the last thing we need is more people getting in the way of the f irst responders. Everyone’s cognizant that your child is here and if something’s happened, your first instinct is to get your child out, but it can get in the way. Conversely, the use of social media is good because it gives us information and data that tells us things. There’s also the positive that we can get information, and get accurate information out there fast.” In order to effectively use social media, Zuccarella recommends parents and students taking a step back and consider how the i n fo r m at i o n t h e y sh a r e m ay impact a situation, as much of the confusion surrounding school threats comes as the result of too much information that hasn’t been conf irmed. “Instead of posting thoughts about “why did this happen, why did that happen”, just ask,” Zuccarella suggests, “We’d love to tell you. I’d love to broadcast to the world everything that’s happening, but that’s impossible because sometimes people don’t get it, or just don’t care. People just need to talk to their schools and ask them, that’s the best way. For example, one thing that causes a lot of problems is whether the school is in lockdown, shelter-inplace, or a secure building; people like to say the school is locked down but GHS wasn’t in lockdown in this most recent case, but each term has a dif ferent meaning to it, and different way that it’s addressed to address the hazard while not interrupting the school’s educational goals. If people want to know, they should contact the school, and the school would be more than happy to explain why they do what they do.” For more information, you can view Greenwich Public Schools’ safety plan here or contact phone numbers above To receive quick and reliable information, connect with GPD on Twitter and Facebook
GS Cookies From Page 1
money management. Ehret has seen growth in her daughter and fellow troop members when it comes to money management and people skills in particular, saying “When my daughter was a Daisy, she barely spoke to a customer, and at the cookie booths they’d kind of just stand there. As they got older, they became more confident, where they were the ones leading the cookie booth. Now, the girls selling cookies are the ones calling friends, knocking on the door, they’re the ones getting their site up and running. You can see the growth from kindergarten to now and they’re understanding the concept of the program. When they were in kindergarten, they couldn’t even make change; now, they’re the ones handling the money and taking on the whole cookie booths. You definitely see them maturing and understanding the business from the financial part to the selling, realizing what inventory was and learning a bunch of skills throughout the program.” Of course, being a Girl Scout in times such as these has thrown a new bundle of challenges at the girls, especially considering their role as proprietors of food, and their business model, which leans heavily on person-to-person interactions. Much of the ethos of Girl Scouts, and part of the charm of buying the cookies themselves, comes from the interactions that community members have with the young budding entrepreneurs, and in COVID times it’s proven challenging to c a r r y for w a r d t hat spi r it .
News Briefs From Page 1
facilities, extremely busy at this point in time.” When asked if in-person meetings would resume at Town Hall Camillo responded that right now there are no changes. “Hopefully,” he said, “when March gets here we’ll be in a much better place. That’s only a few weeks away. Stay the course right now. Things are working and as we see these cases start to go down more and more, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.” Overall Kelly and Camillo were c aut iously opt i m ist ic about the town’s numbers while encouraging residents to be diligent. In the Greenwich Public Schools, the number of new COVID cases dropped to their l owe s t nu m b e r s s i n c e t h e beginning of the year, dropping into double digits according to the latest numbers on the district’s online tracker. O N LY O N E W E E K L E F T T O R E G I S T E R F O R I DA ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA Homeowners, renters and businesses who had property damage or losses caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida, have only one week left to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply for assistance from FEMA is Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Go online at D i s a sterA s si st a nc e . gov ; Download the FEMA app; or call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-4627585). The toll-free telephone lines are currently operating 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. GREENWICH RESIDENTS BIRTHDAYS OVER 100 Last Tuesday, January 12th, Marie D’Elia celebrated her 101st birthday. This past Wednesday, January 19th, Mary Tririolo Provost celebrated her 110th birthday. Happy Birthdays! EXCAVATION BEGINS ON GREENWICH POINT According to updates from the Town of Greenwich, excavation has started on the Greenwich Point Causeway. During this phase of the project the northeast seawall will be reinforced, greatly reducing the risk for sinkholes in the pavement and increasing the structure’s longevity. Vehicle traffic will be allowed on the causeway only on weekends. Traffic-reduced Sundays will continue from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Town is anticipating completion of the project by April 1st. S T U DE N T S E A R N H IG H H O N O R S I N N AT I O N A L SCIENCE & MATH T he Re ge ne r on S c ie nc e
However, Ehret says, this just offers another opportunity for growth, building on the predetermined values of scouting: “Last year, it was tough to sell cookies at first. I had to sit down with my daughter and we had to figure out how we were going to do this: people didn’t want us to go door to door, so we really had to think out of the box. It taught her that the original way of doing things doesn’t always work, and sometimes they need to change the way they think.” As important as the specific values that scouts learn through cookie selling are, perhaps the real gem of the program is how it hones the Girl Scouts’ ability to adapt to unforeseen situations and think creatively, whether the situation is something as mundane as a slammed door, or figuring out where to place a cookie booth for the best business; or something as grand in scale as a worldwide pandemic stymying the troops’ ability to follow the guidebook and sell cookies the traditional way. But to view Girl Scouts as simply a businesswoman incubator would be wrong, and simplistic; after all, they’re still young girls, and girls just want to have fun. Ehret was particularly pleased with the social aspect of scouting, saying, “I saw that my daughter met new friends, girls from other schools that she normally wouldn’t have been friends with if it wasn’t for scouting. Even now, we meet once a month and she gets so excited to see the girls that don’t go to her school. Seeing them get brought together was nice.” This social outlet was particularly important during the pandemic, when many young kids struggled not being able to go to school and see their friends on a regular basis. For Ehret and her
daughter’s troop, who continued to me et out side a nd m a ske d essentially through the whole pandemic experience, scouting was a social lifeline for kids who were lost without the structure of having a class to see everyday. “When the pandemic happened, we had one Zoom meeting and realized, oh my gosh this is not good for us,” she explains, “It wasn’t working, so we have consistently met outside in the freezing cold for basically this whole pandemic. We meet once a month so they know that that month, they’re going to be able to see someone in person; it was helpful, because my daughter struggled not being able to go to school.” Older kids and adults who can fend for themselves socially were able to develop their own social outlets, but for younger kids whose lives revolve around playdates, sports, and school, isolation is a particularly tricky beast, and one that scouting offered a respite from. This year, the Girl Scouts are doing their best to go about business as usual, employing door hangers with cookie links and online cookie portals, as well as offering customers a chance to get the real Girl-ScoutCookie-buying experience. Not to mention, a new cookie is on its way! Adventurefuls are a brownie cookie, topped with caramel cream and festooned with chocolate drizzle and sea salt. According to Ehret, the cookies are real-life Girl Scout approved, which is good enough for us – after all, kids know cookies better than pretty much anyone. Fo r t h o s e i nte r e s te d i n purchasing cookies, reach out to a Girl Scout or Troop leader you may know to get a sense of their cookieselling game plan this year, or visit http://gsofct.org/.
Talent Search is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors through the subm ission of or ig inal, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.
Fairfield County: Little Pub Outdoor Dining - Expert’s Picks: Tony’s at The J House Waterfront Dining - Statewide Runner Up: L’Escale, Best in Fairfield County: L’Escale Beer Selection - Statewide Runner Up: Little Pub, Best in Fairfield County: Little Pub
Steven Blank, Greenwich High School - Project: Design of a Rapid, Sensitive SARS CoV2 Nucleocapsid Luminescent Detection Card for COVID-19. Alexa Nakanashi, Greenwich High School - Project: MultiComponent Fixation Tracking in Gaze Interaction for Rapid, NonInvasive Diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders. Ella Moore, Greenwich High School - Project: Inhibition o f COV I D -19 R e s p i rator y Complications via an R-95 4 Peptide Bradykinin 1 Receptor Antagonist. S a c h i L au m a s , G r e e nw i c h Academy - Project: The Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms by Which MYB Regulates MEP Fate Decision Natalie Shell, Greenw ich Academy - Project: Developing and Testing Updated Geometric Structures to Model the Optical Properties of Spirulina, a Helical Photosynthetic Microorganism. GREENWICH SELECTMEN APPROVE 2022 PARKS & RECREATION FEES Last week, the Greenwich Board of Selectmen u na n i mously approve d t he Park s and Recreation fee schedule for 2022 with limited increases. The fees for seasonal and daily beach passes will remain the same as 2021. A small increase was added for the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course. PA R S O N AG E C O T TAG E LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR NEW VAN FOR SENIORSParsonage Cottage’s current van was purchased in 2003 and is in need of an update. The van is used for a variety of reasons including medical appointments, therapy, attending church services, shopping, and scheduled outings for residents. Parsonage Cottage is asking the community to support the Giving our Seniors A Lift campaign. There is a goal of $50,000. CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE BEST R ESTAUR ANTS OF 2022 New Restaurant - Expert’s Picks: Moon and Rosina’s Traditional American - Best in Fairfield County: Little Pub Italian - Expert’s Picks: Rosina’s Japanese - Exper t’s Pick s: MIKU Sushi and Moon Thai - Expert’s Picks: Little Thai Kitchen L u n c h - B e s t i n Fa i r f i e l d County: Little Pub Family Dining - Statewide Runner Up: Little Pub, Best in
Page 7 | Greenwich Sentinel
Cryptocurrencies: The Basics By Bob Shullman T h e we e k l y p r e s e nt at i o n of Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich’s meeting on January 12 featured Arnold Gordon introducing David Yermack, who is the Albert Fingerhut Professor of Finance and Business Transformation and Chairman of the Finance Department of New York University’s Stern School of Business where he has been a member of the faculty since 1994. In 2014 Professor Yermack began teaching a full semester course at NYU on Digital Currency and Blockchains with his Law School colleague Professor Geoffrey Miller. The course was the first in the world on this topic taught at a major university and it now draws more than 300 students annually who attend this 26-class course. Professor Yermack has been awarded five degrees from Harvard University. In addition to his research on blockchains and digital currencies, Professor Yermack has also published some of the most cited papers in the fields of executive compensation and corporate governance. He is a frequent speaker on digital currency and blockchains to academic, industry, and government audiences. Professor Yermack started his presentation focused on: • What is the Blockchain? • What is a token? • What does it mean to “mine” the system? • Why are there so many apparently different currencies in addition to Bitcoin? • How does purchasing something with such a currency work
HOSPITAL APPOINTS NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR NEONATOLOGY Greenw ich Hospita l has a p p o i n t e d Ya l e M e d i c i n e physician Dr. Shruti Gupta as medical director of neonatology. TOW N LOOKS TO DESIGNATE BRUCE PARK AS HISTORIC PROPERTY This past Thursday, the Board of Selectmen began the process to designate Bruce Park as a local historic property by unanimously voting to appoint the Greenwich Historic District Commission to examine a nd st udy t he comp onent s a nd mer it s of t he p a rk for t h e d e s i g n at i on . A f te r t h e completion, the report will be submitted to the state and to Greenwich’s Planning & Zoning Commission for review. ACCESS HEALTH CT T h i s p a s t We d n e s d a y, Governor Ned Lamont announced that Access Health CT will be launching “Broker Academy”, a program aiming to reduce health disparities and the number of uninsured people in the state. SEVERE COLD WEATHER PROTOCOL THROUGH FEBRUARY 2ND Governor Ned Lamont stated this past Tuesday night that
because of below average temps being forecast for the next two weeks, he will be extending t he st ate’s s ever e we at her protocol - first activated Friday, January 14th - through noon on Wednesday, February 2nd. T R E E WA R D E N I S S U E S D E C I S I O N O N M AT U R E NORWAY MAPLE T h i s p a s t Tu e s d a y, t h e Greenwich Tree Warden, Dr. Kramer, announced his decision on whether or not to cut down a mature Norway Maple tree on town property. Kramer ruled that the tree would remain and not be removed. EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE CREATES WATERFRONT TRAIL AT MIANUS POND G r e e nw ich H ig h S cho ol Junior Günther Krieg, a member of Boy Scout Troop 5, brought together 20 members of his troop to create a .45 mile trail along Mianus Pond as his Eagle Scout Project. NEW VENDOR FOR SUMMER SAILING SCHOOL AT TOD’S POINT The Tow n of Greenw ich is working with a Greenwichbased non-profit organization to make sure the Greenwich sailing program will be open at Tod’s Point this summer. Residents interested in supporting the program and helping it get off the ground, should contact the principal sponsor, Bill King, at greenwichsailingschool@gmail. com or at wjking0001@msn. com. GPD IS WARMING STATION Greenwich Police Department Headquarters is a 24 hour warming station for anyone in need of a safe and warm place to shelter during
compared to buying something with cash or a credit card? • How do transactions using cryptocurrencies work? • How do they compare to our current system of cash and credits cards? • What is its future? • Is it regulated in any country?
In his hour-long presentation to the RMA, Professor Yermack used some of his slides from his first class of the 26 classes he gives on this topic to his students. He gave very detailed and illuminating answers to the nine questions listed above and discussed how cryptocurrency has already started to change how businesses operate. One notable example he gave was how electronic trading has eliminated virtually all the human paper processing roles that used to be done by many highly paid, humans at UBS’ huge trading f loor in Stamford. One forecast that the Professor gave was that he believes there will be virtually no banking jobs in existence in 10 years as cryptocurrency changes how banking as we know it today will be managed then. When his formal presentation was over, more than 40 questions were asked by R MA members seeking more details about specific aspects of this new world of cryptocurrencies. The professor then answered as many questions as time allowed. To stream Professor Yermack’s presentation, click here (https://vimeo.com/user9053619/videos) The RMA’s upcoming presentation “Immigration Today: Myths and Facts” by Anka Badurina, Ph.D., the
below average temperatures. GREENWICH PLAZA The Greenwich Plaza would be updated and opened to views of the Sound under a new plan that calls for tearing down the closed movie theater and adding more shops while also updating the heavily used train station. T OW N M A R I NA SPR I NG RENEWALS To w n M a r i n a s p r i n g renewals will be going out in the next week. Look out for an email from greenwichct@rectrac.com. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CHINESE MITTEN CRAB The Chinese mitten crab is an invasive species. Chinese mitten crabs can damage f ishing gear, clog pumps and intake pipes, cause riverbank erosion through their burrowing activities, feed on recreational important fish species’ eggs, and outcompete native species for food and habitat. These crabs have several distinct characteristics: • B r o w n i s h- o r a n g e t o greenish-brown color. • Hairy, white-tipped claws (look like mittens). • Distinct notch between the eyes. • Four spines along each side of the shell. • Legs are twice as long as the width of the shell. If you spot a mitten crab, do not release it! Capture the crab and freeze it and report your findings to david.molnar@ct.gov or call 860-434-6043. SCULPTURE CONTEST Greenwich Recreation and the Greenwich Arts Council are presenting the 10th annual Snow
Executive Director of the non-profit Stamford organization Building One Community (B1C), will occur at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 26th. In her presentation Anka will explore the myths and misconceptions that surround immigration and the profound implications they have on the daily lives of so many immigrants in Fairfield County. She will frame this complex issue in both a local context and also with consideration of the painful realities back home that explain some of the reasons so many choose to make the perilous migration journey. Finally, she will offer an insider view of the role of service organizations as they help immigrants and their families integrate into the larger community during a time with added challenges posed by a global pandemic. RMA speaker presentations are presented as a community service at no cost to in-person or Zoom attendees. The RMA urges all eligible individuals to consider becoming a member of our great organization, and thereby enjoy all the available fellowship, volunteer and community service opportunities, which the RMA offers to its members. For furthwer information, contact Michael Ambrosino (mailto:brooklynoil@yahoo.com) or Peter Stern (mailto:pmstern@optonline.net). To stream Anka’s presentation at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 26th, click here (https://us02web. zoom.us/j/85279324292?pwd=NjlyVUM5OUNVaGxjdUJGN1V4akdIZz09#success). This presentation will also be available on the local public access TV Channels, VerizonFIOS channel 24 and Optimum (Cablevision) channel 79.
Sculpture Contest. Throughout the winter season, create your best snow sculpture and submit a photo for an opportunity to win a prize from Greenwich Pa rk s a nd Recreation. The deadline to submit photos is Friday, March 4. The contest is open to Greenwich residents only. DEATHS Benjamin Balkind Benjamin Edward “Teddy” Balkind, 16, passed away Thursday, January 6 at Greenwich Hospital. Helen LaSorsa Helen Dale LaSorsa passed away in her home on January 12 at the age of 64. Elbert Gates El b er t A r m iste ad Gate s passed away Saturday, January 8 at Greenwich Hospital. Bert was 64 years old. Vincent Barnett Vi ncent W. Ba r net t, 89, passed away peacef u l ly on January 8 surrounded by his family. Jean Turek Jean Alice Lally Turek, 92, passed peacefully into eternal joy on January 8. John Kriskey John S. Kriskey of Greenw ich, age 86, passe d away peacefully at his home on January 6. Amanda Gault Amanda Anna Gault passed away on Tuesday, January 4. Theresa Apruzzese There sa Apr u z ze se , 90, formerly of R iverside, died peacefully on December 5. Please see page 14 for the full obituaries.
Local Public Company Market Watch GREENWICH INDEX COMPANY AmBase Corporation
SYMBOL
52 HIGH
52 LOW
PRICE*
ABCP
$0.45
$0.23
$0.36
EFC
$19.60
$14.85
$17.70
Hudson Global
HSON
$30.99
$11.01
$25.39
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
IBKR
$82.83
$58.84
$72.15
Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
OXLC
$8.53
$5.77
$8.14
Oxford Square Capital Corp.
OXSQ
$5.22
$3.27
$4.18
Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.
ROIC
$20.09
$13.29
$18.78
Starwood Property Trust Inc.
STWD
$27.00
$18.57
$24.69
Townsquare Media Inc.
TSQ
$15.33
$7.63
$12.07
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.
UBA
$21.66
$13.66
$20.01
W.R. Berkley Corp.
WRB
$87.07
$60.29
$82.53
XPO Logistics Inc.
XPO
$90.78
$63.29
$70.28
Ellington Financial LLC
* as of close of business 1/19/22
Merit Pages: Congratulations!
John Wailgum, Business Administration major, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2021 semester at the University of Vermont. Wailgum from Greenwich is in the Grossman School of Business.
Margaret Telling of Greenwich (06830), Christina Cavin of Greenwich member of the Class of 2022, majoring in Carolyn David of Greenwich Economics
Christina Marciano of Greenwich (06830), Carl Freyer of Greenwich member of the Class of 2024, majoring in Falyn Goldstein of Bedford Eylan Nicolle Martinez Diaz, a Freshman Environmental Studies Colin Grimm of Bedford Journalism and Mass Communication Brendan O’Brien of Cos Cob (06807), Charlotte Imperatore of Riverside major from Santo Domingo Distrito Nac, member of the Class of 2025, majoring in Mitchell Katz of Greenwich was among approximately 660 Bob Jones Undeclared University students named to the Fall 2021 Eastern Connecticut State University Hetty Mcmillan of Old Greenwich President’s List. recently released its Dean’s List for the Ella Morrissey of Greenwich Nearly 2,500 undergraduate students at fall 2021 semester, in which nearly 1,300 Leila Schneider of Greenwich Coastal Carolina University were named to students were recognized for maintaining Graham Schwartz of Bedford the Dean’s List for the Fall 2021 semester, high GPAs including: including Leeza Santana , a Psychology Victor DelVecchio of Greenwich, afull- Sabrina Trabish of Greenwich major from Greenwich. time student who majors in Sport & Leisure Katherine Turkeltaub of Riverside Nicolas Wright of Greenwich is among Management. t h e l i s t o f d i s t i n g u i sh e d No r t hwe s t Kelly Pompa of Cos Cob, afull-time student The following students achieved the Mississippi Community College students who majors in Communication. Dean’s List at Belmont University for to be recognized for earning a place on the the Fall 2021 semester. Vice President’s List for their outstanding Ryan McGinn of Greenwich, afull-time Samuel Nadler of Old Greenwich academic performance during the Fall 2021 student who majors in Accounting. Ashley Rosales of Greenwich, a full- Julia Bibeault of Greenwich semester. time student who majors in Business Nicole Trotta of Bedford A total of 1,375 students were named to Administration. College of the Holy Cross’ Dean’s List for Emily Walko of Cos Cob outstanding academic achievement during Nazareth College is proud to announce the fall semester of the 2021-22 academic that Riley Ellsworth of Cos Cob, CT has A total of 11,979 students enrolled year including: been named to the dean’s list for the fall during the fall 2021 term at The
Carissa Gennarelli of Greenwich
Select students have been named to the Fall 2021 Dean’s List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. including: Megan Doherty of Old Greenwich Joshua Fervil of Greenwich Jack Caruso of Greenwich Kirsten Winn of Riverside Martin Curley of Cos Cob Maximilian Muftic of Old Greenwich
The following students are among those named to Emerson College’s Dean’s List for the Fall 2021 semester. Ramsey Frank of Greenwich, Media
Arts Production, Class of 2024.
Alexa Back of Greenwich, Undeclared,
Class of 2025.
Hilary Block of Bedford, NY, Comedic
Arts, Class of 2025.
Springfield College has named Jesika Garay from Greenwich to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the 2021 fall semester. Garay has a primary major of Art Therapy.
University of Alabama were named to the dean’s list including: Dean College is pleased to announce The following students at Lehigh Emma Crocco that Angus Lodge of Greenwich has Colette Offermann of Bedford, member of of Greenwich University attained Dean’s List in Spring earned a place on the Dean’s List for the the Class of 2023, majoring in English Elizabeth Marino of Riverside 2021. Fall 2021 semester. Isabella Marciano of Greenwich, member 2021 semester. of the Class of 2022, majoring in History
RELEASE
CT Prepares for More Cold Weather
G overnor Ned Lamont announced that due to trends in the forecast indicating that temperatures in Connecticut will generally average about 10 degrees below normal for the next two weeks, he is directing the state’s severe cold weather protocol – which he activated on F r iday, Ja nua r y 14 – to remain in effect through noon on Wednesday, February 2 , 2022. It was originally set to expire on Wednesday, Jan.19. Current forecasts are indicating that over the next two weeks, highs in the state are generally expected to be in the 20s, with lows in the single digits or teens. At times, the state may experience a few arctic outbreaks during which highs may only reach about 10 degrees, and lows dipping to between -10 and -20 degrees. “It’s appearing that over the nex t couple of week s RELEASE
we ’r e g o i n g to e x p e r i e n c e temperatures that are even colder than what is normal for this time of year, in addition to the potential for multiple winter storms,” Governor Lamont said. “This long-duration severe cold weather can be life threatening i f some one is outdo ors for e x te n d e d p e r i o d s o f t i m e . Shelters are open across the state, and I urge anyone in need to get connected to these services. If you or someone you know is in need of shelter, call 2-1-1 and they will direct you to a nearby location and can also provide transportation if needed.” The purpose of the severe cold weather protocol is to en su r e t hat t he most vulnerable populations receive protection f rom the severe cold conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to
coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter, including transportation to shelters. The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted: The Connecticut D ep a r t ment of Emer genc y Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC c o m mu n i c at i o n s n e t wo rk , which is an inter net-based s ystem t hat ena ble s lo c a l, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in
finding shelter space for those who need it. Local off icials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers. The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Depar tment of Hou s i n g , a n d C o n n e c t i c ut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Hom e le s sne s s , a lon g w it h community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter. For emergency management news and resources, visit the state’s CTPrepares website at ct.gov/ctprepares or download the CTPrepares app to mobile devices at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
RELEASE
GBC Presents Dr. Katie Takayasu “Putting Plants First on your Plate”
COVID Cases as of Wednesday
The following is a summary Connecticut. It is important to occurred over the last several for previous dates will be updated of the day-to-day newly reported note that these newly reported days to a week. All data in this as new reports are received and dat a on c ase s a nd te sts i n up d a t e s i n c lu d e d a t a t h a t report are preliminary, and data data errors are corrected.
For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
A Gift To Remember from the Bronx Zoo The Bronx Zoo has been of fering the opportunity to Name A Roach for Valentine’s day since 2011. It may not necessarily be a positive Valentine’s Day gift but the zoo is promoting it as romantic and unique. The promotion is: Want to crawl the extra mile? Give them the full package this Valentine’s Day, complete with a roach beanie, roach socks, a printed certificate with their roach’s name, and a very crawly Valentine’s Virtual Encounter on
February 12th, 13th or 14th with a Madagascar hissing cockroach - and a surprise animal guest. Lovers worldwide know that when roaches crawl into your life, everything changes. Forever. There are plenty of roachtastic options to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Name a Roach for your Valentine , because roaches… are forever. Available at www.bronxzoo.com
Greenwich Botanical Center is excited to host Dr. Katie Takayasu, an Integrative Medicine doctor with a passion for plant-rich cuisine, for an in-person lecture “Putting Plants First on your Plate: Dr. Katie’s Approach to the Why & How of Prioritizing a Plant-Forward Diet.” The lecture will be presented interview style with Dr. Jen Morgan facilitating. The lecture will take place at the Greenwich Botanical Center at 10am, on Wednesday March 30th -- proof of vaccination is required to attend. The cost for the lecture is $30, and $20 for GBC members. Register today at: https://greenwichbotanicalcenter.org/events/ Dr. Katie is the author of Plants First: A Physician’s Guide to Wellness Through a Plant- Forward Diet, a practical, sustainable approach for those wanting to decrease inflammation and improve overall lifestyle balance. Based in Fairfield County, Dr. Katie combines traditional Western medicine with complementary modalities like acupuncture, mind-body medicine, botanicals, and nutrition to help patients holistically achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dr.katie.com. Acting as interviewer, Dr. Jennifer Morgan is a pelvic health physical therapy specialist. She is passionate about creating holistic care for her patients with pelvic health issues. She blends orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapy practices, specialty visceral manipulation skills, her yoga background, and further certifications in nutrition and prenatal and postpartum care to individualize each course of treatment.
Page 9 | Greenwich Sentinel
Complete Town Wide Calendar WEDNESDAYS: 12 - 2 p.m. Waste Free Greenwich’s Food Scrap Recycle Program: Drop off scraps at Living Hope Community Church, 38 West End Ave., Old Greenwich. wastefreegreenwich@gmail.com. wastefreegreenwich.org 12:15 p.m. Greenwich Rotary Club Weekly Lunch Meeting. Greenwich Water Club, 49 River Rd. $68/person. RSVP. sally.parris@cbmoves.com. greenwichrotary.org 6:30 p.m. NAMI-CAN (Child and Adolescent Network) Online Support Group - for parents and primary caregivers of children & adolescents, under age 21, with behavioral and emotional issues. Free. namisouthwestct.org/ online-support THURSDAYS: 8 a.m. & 4 p.m. Tai Chi Basic Moves. First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 108 Sound Beach Ave. Registration is required. Tuition is paid as a donation made directly by the participant to abilis, Neighbor to Neighbor, or the First Congregational Church. experiencetaichi.org 5 - 7 p.m. Lighthouse, a Program of Kids In Crisis: LGBTQ Youth Group Meeting. On Zoom. Free. Open to all LGBTQ Youth & allies. 203-6611911. lighthouse@kidsincrisis.org. kidsincrisis.org/get-help/lighthouse EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Canceled for January: Book Exchange – choose from a huge selection of books. Holly Hill Recycling Center. Free, or, donate books. (Open every Fri & Sat. books4everyone.org EVERY SUNDAY: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Safe Roads (Traffic Restricted) Sundays at Tod’s Point, sponsored by Friends of Greenwich Point. Through April 11, 2022. FriendsofGreenwichPoint.org RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE:
RedCrossBlood.org Friday, Jan. 21 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99
Indian Field Rd. Sunday, Jan. 23 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Rd. 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Rd. 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. YMCA of Greenwich, 50 East Putnam Ave, Greenwich. Tuesday, Jan. 25 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Hospital. 5 Perryridge Rd, Greenwich. Friday, Jan. 28 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Rd. TOWN MEETINGS: greenwichct.gov/calendar Monday, Jan. 24 9:30 a.m. Energy Management Advisory Committee and Planning & Zoning Team Meeting. Via Zoom. 3 p.m. Energy Management Advisory Committee Meeting. Via Zoom. 5 p.m. Nathaniel Witherell Board of Directors Meeting. 7 p.m. Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency Meeting. Via Zoom. Thursday, Jan. 27 10 a.m. Board of Selectmen Meeting. Town Hall Meeting Room and on Zoom. Monday, Jan. 31 9:30 a.m. Energy Management Advisory Committee and Planning & Zoning Team Meeting. Via Zoom. 10:30 a.m. Architecture Review Committee (ARC) Sign-Meeting. Via Zoom. 1 p.m. Planning & Zoning Commission Briefing. Via Zoom. 6:30 p.m. Board of Health Regular Meeting. Town Hall Evaristo Conference Room.
UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, Jan. 27 6:30 p.m. The Greenwich Riding and Trails Association’s annual dinner. The Milbrook Club, Greenwich. Purchase ticket before Jan. 21. thegrta.org 8 p.m. Breast Cancer Alliance’s Virtual Poker Tournament - prizes, silent auction & special drawing. breastcanceralliance. org Friday, Jan. 28 Bruce Museum’s Night at the Museum Family Benefit. brucemuseum.org Saturday, Jan. 29 Bruce Museum’s Night at the Museum Family Benefit. brucemuseum.org Sunday, Feb. 6 3 p.m. Breast Cancer Alliance’s Kids for a Cause – dessert-making class with Chef Sarah Leff & drawing class by Jonathan Cohen. breastcanceralliance.org Friday, March 4 6 p.m. Pathways’ Music and Change featuring The Marcus King Band. The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester. $200. 203-869-5656. sghabour@pways.org. one.bidpal.net/capitol/ticketing Wednesday, March 23 6 p.m. American Red Cross ‘Heroes Among Us’ Gala. Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC. NYCGala@redcross.org Thursday, March 31 7 p.m. Breast Cancer Alliance’s Window on the World Wine Class. In person & online. breastcanceralliance.org Wednesday, April 6 Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich’s Youth of Year Dinner. 4 Horseneck Ln. bgcg.org Saturday, April 23 6 p.m. American Red Cross Red and White Ball. Riverside Yacht Club, Riverside. redcross.org
Thursday, April 28 4 p.m. Swim Across America Fairfield County’s Sip & Shop. Safavieh, Stamford. swimacrossamerica.org Greenwich United Way’s Sole Sisters Luncheon. greenwichunitedway.org Friday, April 29 6 p.m. River House Adult Day Center’s Rollling on the River Annual Benefit. 125 River Road Ext. Amurdock@ theRiverHouse.org Saturday, April 30 Abilis’ Spring for Abilis Gala. Woodway Country Club. abilis.us Make-A-Wish Connecticut’s Evening of Wishes Gala. Mohegan Sun. ct.wish. org/gala Thursday, May 5 YWCA Greenwich 17th annual Old Bags Luncheon. Belle Haven Club. ywcagreenwich.org Friday, May 6 Kids In Crisis’ Spring Fling Gala. Greenwich Audubon Center. kidsincrisis.org Saturday, May 14 Bruce Museum’s 35th Annual Gala. Greenwich Country Club. brucemuseum.org Friday, May 20 Greenwich Hospital Annual Gala. Greenwich Country Club. events@ greenwichhospital.org Saturday, May 28 Greenwich Town Party. Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. $85, general; $25, Seniors; free, children ages 12 & under. greenwichtownparty.org. Friday, June 3 7 p.m. Emily’s Chimes. The Village, Stamford. emsway.org Friday, June 10 5:30 p.m. Greenwich Land Trust’s annual An Evening at the Farmstead. GLT’s Mueller Preserve. will@gltrust.org. gltrust.org Thursday, June 30 Greenwich Sentinel Awards. Greenwich Audubon Center. greenwichsentinel.com
Saturday, July 9 Greenwich Point Conservancy’s Beach Ball. Tod’s Point. greenwichpoint.org Saturday, Oct. 1 Greenwich Historical Society’s 90th Gala Celebration. greenwichhistory. org
OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS FRIDAY, JAN. 21 10 a.m. Wonders and Spontaneity of Watercolor and Gouache. The Rowayton Arts Center (RAC), 145 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton. rowaytonarts.org SUNDAY, JAN. 23 1 p.m. Playreading: “The Tin Man” by Katherine Ambrosio. Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY. 914-234-6704. bedfordplayhouse. org MONDAY, JAN. 24 7 p.m. The Writer’s Law School: Legal Tips for Writers. Via Zoom. Register. fergusonlibrary.org TUESDAY, JAN. 25 7 p.m. Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force: Vaping, Edibles, and the “New” Marijuana: What Every Parent Needs to Know. On Zoom. Free. Register. ow.ly/wtBX50Hp4sE THROUGH FRIDAY, FEB. 11 The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum: calling for artists for the juried exhibition: Fragments of Light, Impressions of Color. 295 West Ave., Norwalk. $35 p/4 pieces. 203-838-9799. info@ lockwoodmathewsmansion.com. lockwoodmathewsmansion.com
Go safely. Go private. Go Rudy’s. Our heartfelt thanks to our clients who have supported us for over 60 years. With the largest fleet of luxury vehicles in the Northeast, you can rest assured that your comfort and your safety are our first priority.
Page 10 | Greenwich Sentinel
MEDAL OF HONOR
Army Col. James Lamar Stone DETAILS Rank: First Lieutenant (Highest Rank: Colonel) Conflict/Era: Korean War Unit/Command: 3d Platoon, Company E, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Military Service Branch: U.S. Army Medal of Honor Action Date: November 21, 1951 Medal of Honor Action Place: near Sokkogae, Korea CITATION 1st Lt. Stone distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When h i s p l a to o n , h o l d i n g a vi t a l outpost position, was attacked by overwhelming Chinese forces, 1st Lt. Stone stood erect and exposed to the terrific enemy fire calmly directed his men in the defense. A defensive flamethrower failing to function, he personally moved to its location, further exposing himself, and personally repaired the weapon. Throughout a second at tac k , 1st Lt . Stone , thou gh painfully wounded, personally carried the only remaining light machine gun from place to place in the position in order to bring fire upon the Chinese advancing from two directions. Throughout he continued to encourage and direct his depleted platoon in its hopeless defense. Although again wounded, he continued the f ight with his carbine, still exposing himself as an example to his men. When this final overwhelming assault swept over the platoon’s position his voice could still be heard faintly urging his men to carry on, until he lost consciousness. Only because of this officer’s driving spirit and heroic action was the platoon emboldened to make its brave but hopeless last ditch stand.
HIS STORY Army Col. James Lamar Stone never thought his leadership during a lopsided and losing battle in Korea was worthy of the Medal of Honor, but others disagreed. When the war ended and he was released from a prisoner-of-war camp, Stone was given the nation’s highest honor for valor. Stone was b or n D e c . 2 7, 1922, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to State and Idell Stone. He and his younger brother, Edward, grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but they also spent time in Dallas. Stone went to the University of Arkansas to study chemistry and zoology, but he also joined ROTC, which he really enjoyed. He ma r r ie d Ja ne Dickerson during college, and they went on to have two sons. Stone received his bachelor’s degree in 1947 and went to work for General Electric in Houston. In 1948, he was called to active duty and went to train at Fort Ord, California. In March 1951, Stone was deployed to Korea with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. As a platoon leader, he alternated between t wo c o m p a n i e s b e c au s e o f the high number of casualties among junior of f icers at the time. According to the Texas State Historical Association, Stone earned the Silver Star that October for pulling two wounded men to safety after an attack on an enemy machine gun. The def i n i ng moment of h i s c a r e er wou ld c ome t he following month. On Nov. 21, 1951, then-1st Lt. Stone was in charge of the 3rd platoon of Company E, which was tasked with defending a vital outpost on a desolate hilltop a bove t he I mji n R iver nea r Sokkogae, North Korea. Around 9 p.m., Chinese forces attacked the platoon with mortars. When the assault stopped, Stone had flares sent up, which lit up the hillside and showed a massive force coming toward them. Stone’s platoon had on ly
minutes to prepare before the enemy made the first of several a s s au lt s o n t h e i r p o s it i o n . The first lieutenant stood tall on sandbagged trenches and, despite the fire coming at him, c a l m ly d i re c te d h is men to defend themselves. Much of the f ighting was hand-to-hand combat. At one p oi nt , Stone not ice d t hat a flamethrower had malfunctioned and that its operator had been k illed. He maneuvered through gunf ire to grab and repair it before handing it to another soldier. During a second wave of attacks, Stone carried the platoon’s only remaining machine gun from position to position to defend against Chinese advances coming from two directions. During the ordeal, he continued to encourage and direct the depleted platoon and kept fighting with his carbine, despite having been shot in both knees and through the neck. Stone’s platoon spent more than three hours repelling assault after assault. When the time came to retreat, Stone stayed behind to cover those who were left as the remaining platoon members fled. The Chinese eventually swept over the position just before dawn. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Stone’s “voice could still be heard faintly urging his men to carry on until he lost consciousness.” By the end of the fight, 24 of the 48 platoon members had died, and 16 more were wounded. In contrast, according to the Texas State Preservation Board, nearly 550 of the roughly 800 Chinese forces who attacked had died. When U.S. soldiers recaptured the hill the next day, they realized seven men, including Stone, were missing. An unconscious Stone had been carried away on a stretcher by Chinese forces. He was held as a prisoner in North Korea along the Manchurian border for 22 months. Records show treatment there was harsh, but
he was allowed to write letters home to his family so they knew he was alive. Stone was released in early September 1953 during a prisoner exchange after the war ended. Shortly after that release, Stone learned he would receive the Medal of Honor for leading that brave, but hopeless, last-ditch effort. He said he felt it was his platoon that deserved it. Regardless, on Oct. 27, 1953, Stone receive d t he nat ion’s highest award for valor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower during a White House ceremony. Six other recipients also earned the honor that day. After recovering from the ordeal, Stone remained in the Army, serving in Germany and as an administrator for ROTC units in the Fort Worth area. Stone also served a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1971 as an advisor. According to the Texas State Historical Association, Stone’s first wife died, and he remarried a woman named Mary Lou. That account said he was so humble about his medal that he didn’t tell her about it until after they were
Army 1st Lt. James L. Stone, Medal of Honor recipient.
Army Col. James Lamar Stone hands a challenge coin to Army 1st Lt. Joshua Nichols of the 90th Aviation Support Battalion. Stone was at the ceremony that named the unit’s facility after him, Nov. 6, 2011. Photo: Army Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Eugene.
Army Pfc. Letcher V. Gardner of the 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, fires on an emplacement of the Communist-led North Koreans along the Naktong River near Chingu, Aug. 3, 1950. Army photo. married. In December 1976, Stone retired as a colonel after nearly 30 years of service. He moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1980 and was heavily involved in the veteran community and the Methodist church. In 2010, Stone was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he didn’t let it affect his daily living. He remained active and attended as
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many events as he could for the 90th Aviation Support Battalion, an Army Reserve component near his home. Friends and family said he loved interacting with soldiers so much that a center built at that location was dedicated to him in 2011. Stone died from cancer in 201 2 on Nov. 9 at his home; he was 89. He was buried at Fort Worth National Cemetery
in Dallas. The Greenwich Sentinel encourages readers to let us know about connections they have with Medal of Honor recipients. This article was written by Katie Lange as part of a series in which Defense.gov highlights a Medal of Honor recipient each week. It is our nations's highest medal for valor.
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Raising Successful, Balanced Children in an Affluent World By Bobbi Eggers Sunday, January 23, 11:15 am, Christ Church Parish Hall Free talk in-person, masks mandatory, windows open or Livestream link: https://events. locallive.tv/events/71132 Complimentary childcare available for children four and under during the Forum by our veteran childcare team. Join us to hear a panel of 5 Professional Educators: • Adam Rhodie, Head of School, Greenwich Country Day School • Mary Grandville, Principal, Parkway School • Bobby Walker, Assistant Head for Student and Community Life, Greenwich Academy • Debbie Smith, Educator, Greenwich High School • Ann Neary, Educator, Staples High School • Lydia Marchese, Christ Church Youth Minister This high-level panel w ill speak about how we can shape the mental, social, physical, spiritual, and moral development of our children and grandchildren. When it comes to raising balanced, caring children with good values, some say it starts in the home. But what about
the inf luence of their friends? Studies say children begin to consider other people’s feelings and have empathy by age three. As parents, or as grandparents, trying to do the best for our children and grandchildren, how do we help them navigate with so much turbulence and entitlement swirling around them? How do we teach our children empathy, good values and a strong work ethic? Join us for what is sure to be a helpful conversation with a panel of five professionals who navigate families and children through these waters every day. M o r e i n fo a n d a l i n k to l i ve s t r e a m o n o u r we b s i t e Christchurchgreenwich.org Christ Church is a lively community of faith composed of people with diverse backgrounds, circumstances, and spiritual journeys, bound together by God’s love for all people everywhere a n d u n ite d i n t h e c om mon mission to seek and serve God in all persons. We fulfill this work through the dedicated ministries of over 300 volunteers annually, who ser ve on more than 40 commissions, committees, guilds and task forces. In addition, the church hosts and supports more than 20 community meetings per week including 12-step programs, choral and music groups, n e i g h b o r h o o d g r o up s , a n d children’s programs. The Christ Church Preschool is a regional
leader in early education, and our bookstore, Dogwood Gifts and Books, is a thriving resource of both faith-based and secular books. Their 40-year partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor allows
them to serve those in Greenwich who are in need of food. The Mission of Christ Church Greenwich is to be a vibrant Episcopal community proclaiming God’s love for every human being, no exceptions.
Following Jesus’ teachings is t hei r compa ss for p ersona l growth, community outreach and harmonious living. Its vision is to seek and serve God in all people through inspiration from the Bible, worship, community
outreach, music, and art in our sacred historic home. Questions about this event? T h e R e v. D r. C h e r y l M c Fa d d e n a t c m c f a d d e n @ christchurchgreenwich.org or (203) 869.6600 x 28
The Story of You: How to Become the Person You Were By Bobbi Eggers The Story of You: How to Become the Person You Were (Before the World Got Its Hands On You)” An Author-to-Author Conversation with Ian Cron and Deborah Royce Wednesday, January 26, 6pm Christ Church Parish Hall Free talk in-person, masks mandatory, windows open or Livestream link: https:// events.locallive.tv/events/71397 Ian is a best-selling author, Epi s c op a l pr ie s t , sp e a ke r, psychotherapist and renowned champion of the Enneagram, an ancient personality system that identifies how people relate to one another. His newest book, The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self, is the highly anticipated follow-up to his national bestseller, The Road Back to You. The Story of You takes readers back to the necessary but self-defeating story each Enneagram type adopts in childhood and reveals how this outdated narrative sabotages them in adulthood. I A N M O RG A N C RO N i s the host of the wildly popular podcast, “Ty polog y,” which has over 17 million downloads. Known for his transparency, humor, and depth of insight into the inner workings of the human heart and mind, he is a popular speaker and business consultant for organizations like The Discovery Channel, Michael Hyatt Company, Warner
Brothers Music, and ChickFil-A. In addition, he shares his expertise on popular podcasts such as “The Minimalists,” “The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast,” Jon Acuff’s “All It Takes is a Goal,” Jen Hatmaker’s “For the Love,” and many others. He and his wife, Anne, have three children and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Deborah Goodrich Royce is the author of Finding Mrs. Ford, her f irst psychological thriller, and most recently, Ruby Falls. She had a brilliant career in film and TV, acting and writing for Miramax, ABC, and winning a writer’s grant from the Massachusetts Arts Council to develop and workshop an original screenplay. In 2004, Deborah and her
Page Dickey Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again Page Dickey, best-selling author and garden master, will be at the Greenwich Botanical Center at 11am on Thursday, March 3 2022. Ms. Dickey will discuss her new book, Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again, where she describes leaving a beloved garden of thirty-four years, finding a home in the northwest corner of Connecticut, and falling in love with its land. “It’s an extremely personal book, the most personal I’ve ever written. My readers have been asking for a book explaining the move and their curiosity about starting again. What is it like to leave a garden you have had for 34 years, and
loved passionately and to move on to a completely different place and environment? It’s never a clean slate. A lot of the book compares and contrasts the two gardens. It also seemed right for the times we are experiencing,” she continued. “So many people’s lives have changed during these past months. In retrospect, I believe that some change may be for the better. Certainly, in my case, it has been.” To r e g i s t e r g o t o w w w . g reenw ichbotanicalcenter.org. Proof of vaccination is required for attendance.
husband, Chuck Royce, restored and reopened the Avon Theatre Film Center, a 1939 landmark in Stamford, CT. The not-forprof it Avon is dedicated to independent, classic, foreign, and documentary f ilms, and hosts a n ongoi ng ser ie s of visiting film luminaries. They have gone on to restore several hotels including Ocean House, a five star property in Watch Hill,
RI. Deborah serves on multiple boards, including the national council of the American Film Institute, the executive board of the Greenwich International Film Festival, and the governing b o a r d s o f t h e N e w Yo r k Botanical Garden, the Greenwich H istor ica l Societ y, a nd the PRASAD Project. Mor e i n fo a nd a l i n k to l ive st r e a m on ou r web site
Christchurchgreenwich.org Questions about this event? T h e R e v. D r. C h e r y l McFadde n at c mc f adde n@ christchurchgreenwich.org or (203) 869.6600 x 28
SPORTS
Page 12 | Greenwich Sentinel
SUPPORT YOUNG ATHLETES AT THESE UPCOMING GAMES BRUNSWICK SCHOOL Alpine Skiing: Thu. vs. CISL Race (at Mt. Southington), 4 p.m. Basketball: Tomorrow vs. Salisbury School, 2:30 p.m. Wed. vs. Suffield Academy, 4 p.m. Thu. at Hamden Hall Country Day, 4:30 p.m. Ice Hockey: Today vs. Delbarton School, 5 p.m. Tomorrow vs. Hoosac School, 2:30 p.m. Wed. vs. South Kent School, 4 p.m. Squash: Tomorrow vs. Salisbury School, 3:45 p.m. Mon. vs. Hopkins School, 4:30 p.m. Tue. at The Masters School, 4:30 p.m. Wed. at NY Racquet and Tennis Club, 4:40 p.m. Thu. at St. Luke’s School, 5 p.m. Swimming: Tomorrow at Hotchkiss School, 1:30 p.m.
Wed. vs. Greenwich Country Day, Masters School (at Brunswick), 4 p.m. Wrestling: Tomorrow vs. Brunswick Invitational, 9 a.m. GREENWICH ACADEMY Basketball: Wed. vs. Hamden Hall 4 p.m. Ice Hockey: Tomorrow vs. Millbrook School, 4 p.m. Wed. at Lawrenceville School, 4:30 p.m. Skiing: Thu. vs. CISL Race (at Mt. Southington), 4 p.m. Squash: Mon. at Sacred Heart Greenwich, 4 p.m. Wed. vs. Deerfield Academy (at Trinity College), 3 p.m. Swimming & Diving: Tomorrow at Hotchkiss School, 1:30 p.m.
Wed. vs. The Masters School (at Brunswick School), 4 p.m. GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Girls’ Basketball: Today vs. Taft School, 5 p.m. Tue. at The Masters School, 5 p.m. Thu. vs. Harvey School, 4:30 p.m. Boys’ Basketball: Tomorrow vs. Hamden Hall, 12 p.m. Mon. vs. Rye Country Day School, 4:30 p.m. Wed. vs. The Maters School, 5 p.m. Girls’ Ice Hockey: Tue. vs. Rye Country Day School, TBA Boys’ Ice Hockey: Tonight at Kingswood Oxford School, 7:50 p.m. Tue. vs. Ethical Culture Fieldston, 3:30 p.m. Girls’ Squash: Today at St. Luke’s School, 3:30 p.m.
Tue. at Sacred Heart Greenwich, 4:30 p.m. Wed. at The Masters School, 4:30 p.m. Boys’ Squash: Today at St. Luke’s School, 3:30 p.m. GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL Boys’ Basketball: Tomorrow vs. Hamden H.S., 12 p.m. Mon. vs. Trumbull H.S., 6 p.m. Thu. at Stamford H.S., 6 p.m. Girls’ Basketball: Mon. at Trumbull H.S., 6 p.m. Thu. vs. Stamford H.S., 6 p.m. Boys’ Ice Hockey: Tomorrow at Trumbull H.S., 7:30 p.m. Tue. vs. Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe, 4:30 p.m. Girls’ Ice Hockey: Tomorrow at Fairfield Co-op, 4:15 p.m. Sun. at Trumbull-St. Joseph, 2 p.m.
Mon. vs. Morristown-Beard (NJ), 4:15 p.m. Boys’ and Girls’ Indoor Track Tomorrow at Wilton H.S. Field House, 11 a.m. Gymnastics Mon. vs. Fairfield Warde, Fairfield Ludlowe (at GCA of CT), 6:30 p.m. Wed. vs. Darien H.S., 6:30 p.m. Boys’ Swimming and Diving: Tomorrow vs. Fairfield Prep, 2:30 p.m. Wed. at Wilton H.S., 3:30 p.m. Wrestling: Today vs. Fairfield Warde, Bunnell, Foran (at Fairfield Warde H.S.), 4 p.m. Tomorrow at Brunswick Invitational, 9 a.m. Bowling: Tue. vs. Fairfield Warde H.S. (at Nutmeg Bowl), 4 p.m.
SACRED HEART GREENWICH Basketball: Today at Choate Rosemary Hall, 5 p.m. Tomorrow at Millbrook School, 4 p.m. Wed. vs. Greens Farms Academy, 4:45 p.m. Squash: Tomorrow vs. Deerfield Academy, Westminster School (at Westminster), 1:30 p.m. Mon. vs. Greenwich Academy, 4 p.m. Wed. at Hotchkiss School, 3:30 p.m. Swimming & Diving: Today at 91st Street Convent of the Sacred Heart, 5 p.m. Thu. vs. Greenwich Country Day, Kennedy Catholic School, 4:30 p.m.
GHS Swim/Dive Team Ready to Take it to the Next Level By Pail Silverfarb With a handf ul of top-tier swimmers and divers, as well as a plethora of talent backing them up, the Greenwich High School boys’ swimming and diving team is looking to be as strong as ever. “It’s a really wonderful group of kids to work with every day,” said head coach Terry Lowe. “They have such positive energy and go after these tough practices with all the gusto you could possibly hope for. They are charged up to be good and successful and off to a really great start.” Although the Cardinals have started the 2021-22 season without a loss on it record, it hasn’t been smooth sailing by any stretch. At one point during the holiday vacation practice period, Lowe said that he was down to only four kids at practice. After not being able to do things for the past couple of years, it seemed like everybody around town made plans to be away before Omicron really struck. That meant Big Red had a few more kids that were away. Throw into the mix that Greenwich had two different quarantine periods already this season due to someone on the team that was exposed to COVID and tested positive, and it’s been quite the start for Lowe and the Cards. “The couple of days this year where we had around four kids at practice. It was great for them,” Lowe said. “They were spoiled because they had their own lane to train in and they were training against some of the best performers on the team. Watching
Greenwich High School boys’ swimming and diving team head coach Terry Lowe is looking to place his Cardinals as the top team in both the FCIAC and state tournaments. (File photo from previous FCIAC competition by John Ferris Robben)
them train like that, even if it was four or five kids in the water, was a real treat.” With the season kicking into high gear, Lowe’s flock of Cardinals are already reaching great heights. At the start of 2022, the head coach said that Big Red has four kids in the individual medley that are well under two minutes, backstrokers that are under 5 4 seconds, butterf lyers that have broken 50 seconds, and breaststrokers who have already finished under one minute that are going to fare even better later in the season.
Mead School From Page 1
to the book they were reading before the class finished it and performed their endings on stage. “We’ve always believed that the expressive arts and turning on different parts of the brain through hands-on experience really ignite the child’s ability to learn in a different way. We really try to focus on each child and work with them to bring out the best in what they can do so they can be successful,” says Baxendale. This individualized approach stems from de Beauport’s research, which indicated that a “a small class environment with really strong foundations and relationships with teachers and digging into students’ individual passions is really important for students to be able to be open to learning”, according to Baxendale. The small class size is key to the school’s character, in which each student receives a much higher level of attention and freedom
“The strength is that we have some excellent senior leadership and some top-quality depth that is in several events,” Lowe said. “It makes us really hard to beat in those events by almost any team. If any team takes first, we are still going to have three kids behind them and take them point-wise. They are a special group. The only event that we are really struggling in is the 500-free, but we have some young swimmers that are coming along and filling that spot nicely as the season rolls along.” Leading the way this year
for Greenwich High are senior captains Ryan Jee, Justin Jacob and Mic DiLascia. Last year at the FCIAC championships, Jee finished first in the 200-yard IM (1:50.67) and second in the 100yard butterfly with a time of 49.95 seconds. DiLascia was lights out in the 100-yard breaststroke, taking the bronze with a time of 58.34. In the 100-yard freestyle, DiLascia took sixth overall with a time of 48.40. “They are definitely leading by example and really do a great job every day,” Lowe said. “Ryan
to explore different academic and artistic disciplines. Though students may pick up habits at school, the open-minded, flexible approach taught at Mead tends to carry on even beyond school. In Herzberg’s experience, Mead alumni tend to pursue more creative paths than their counterparts in more traditional environments: namely, less finance. Throughout our conversation, he mentioned a ballet company owner, the New York Times’ new night editor, and a smattering of software engineers and entrepreneurs. The eclectic entrepreneur, too, laments Herzberg, is becoming a bit of a trope. In fact, he’s seen a lot of Mead’s approaches taken into the mainstream, namely social-emotional learning. It’s a cornerstone of Mead’s philosophy that many schools have picked up in recent times to address the extra mental health burden of isolation and stress induced by the pandemic. As Baxendale puts it, “Because our kids get that special individualized attention early on in education, they are able to grow and get a good sense of self – we always focused a lot on social emotional learning and how it affects students academically. I would not want to go back to my middle school, but the students and alums say wonderful things
is already an All-American in the butterfly and IM. Justin, who didn’t make it to our final meet last year due to an injury, is one of the top backstrokers in the state and is also becoming one of the top butterf lyers. Mic has really blossomed onto the scene in both as a sprint freestyler and breaststroker last year and we expect a lot from him this year.” Junior Aiden Bucaria, who was an All-American last year in the breaststroke, sprint freestyle and individual medley, is someone that Lowe can place in any event and get key points. During FCIACs last year, Bucaria was on top of his game, f inishing third in the 200-yard individual medley (1:53.56) and silver in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 57.78. Fellow junior Liam Flaherty, a transfer from Fairf ield Prep, will be solid for Big Red in the individual medley and will also help the Cards in nearly every event when called upon. I n h is f i rst ye a r w it h t he Gr e enw ich H ig h s w i m te a m , senior David Ponce is showing a lot of promise with his sprint freestyle speed early on for Lowe and has been solid in the backstroke. “We have some really topnotch depth in a bunch of events,” said Lowe. Returning to the Cardinals will be what Lowe calls his aces in the hole. All-American divers Whitaker Grover and Jayden Satir, both juniors, were outstanding for Greenwich last year and will once again be called upon to pace the divers throughout the FCIAC and States. During FCIACs last year,
it was Grover who took first place in dominating fashion, amassing 569.10 points. Satir finished the competition behind his brother, Joel Satir, and took third overall with 460.00 points. “They’ve trained for a lot of years and are very consistent,” Lowe said. “They have terrif ic form. Whitaker has some great athletic ability, can get really high and nail those dives. Jayden has a great line going into the water and puts a finish on his dives that makes the referees realize they’ve seen something pretty darn special.” This year, expect to see Jee leading the way in the individual medley, but fellow teammates Bucaria and Flaherty will be on his heels. Jee will also be the athlete to beat in the butterfly events, but Jacob will be neck-in-neck with him throughout the season. Lowe expects Bucaria to shine as one of the top breaststrokers in the state, while GHS will stand out in the backstroke, as Jacob, along with Ponce and Flaherety, will be three of the top six backstrokers in the state, according to Lowe. “We would like to see our relays improve,” Lowe said. “More than anything else, a great team likes to see itself really have tremendous success in the relays. Right now we are undefeated in all three relays but a long way behind where we want to be, particularly in the 200-free relay. We would like to see our three relays compete really well at the state level and hopefully do it with All-American times.”
about their experience and how it helped them move on.” Herzberg comes into the position of Head of School with the goal of staying ahead of the curve, further pushing the boundaries of pedagogy for Mead students. A number of initiatives are underway: programs to support nontraditional learners, who are critical to Mead’s goal of introducing students not only to a plethora of academic disciplines but also a richly diverse student body; a new and improved social studies curriculum; and the development of the school’s interdisciplinary approach. “We’re finding now that learning, whether it be on things like the climate crisis or racial justice, needs to be much more interdisciplinary and our disciplines have to be more integrated in order to solve some of these problems. You can’t just keep testing kids in one discipline at a time, with these little packets of knowledge,” explains Herzberg, “We’re a very interwoven, integrative school. We want to create problem solvers, so we need to work on breaking down the borders between disciplines. Something we like to say is that we rarely teach kids what to think, but rather how to think, which is really important.”
SCOREBOARD Boys’ Basketball:
Millbrook School 3 vs. Brunswick School 5
Norwalk High 40 vs. Greenwich High 43
The Hill School 2 vs. Brunswick School 4
Greenwich High 60 vs. Staples High 74
St. Luke’s School 63 vs. Brunswick School 54
Brunswick School 5 vs. The Hill School 2
Girls’ Ice Hockey
Girls’ Basketball:
Greenwich High 1 vs. Stamford-Westhill-Staples 5
Staples High 45 vs. Greenwich High 48
Hoosac School 4 vs. Greenwich Academy 1
Masters School 46 vs. Greenwich Academy 23
Squash
Greenwich High 43 vs. St. Joseph High 75 Greenwich High 40 vs. Norwalk High 46
Fairfield Co-op 3 vs. Greenwich High 9
Hopkins School 26 vs. Sacred Heart 75
Delbarton School 1 vs. Brunswick School 6
Boys’ Ice Hockey
Wrestling
Greenwich High 4 vs. Ridgefield High 3
Greenwich High 2 vs. Hamden High 2 (OT)
Greenwich Country Day School 6 vs. Brunswick School 78 Salisbury School 6 vs. Brunswick School 78
Bistro V Bar Takeover
By Sarah I. Bamford On Tuesday, January 18th, Greenwich First Selectman, Fred Cam illo; Greenw ich Selectwoman, Lauren Rabin; and Connecticut State Senator, Ryan Fazio hosted the Bistro V Bar Takeover on Greenwich Avenue . The sp e c ia l g ue st bartending event benefits AdoptA-Dog, Greenw ich A lliance for Education, and Meals on Wheels of Greenwich through a percentage of proceeds from the Happy Hour menu. The restaurant’s Happy Hour menu, which includes discounts on popular lunch/dinner menu items, normally runs Monday through Thursday from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM but was extended until 6:30 PM during the event. 100% of the proceeds from a special cock tail /mock tail will also benefit the non-profit organizations and is available throughout the month. The name of the special drink was inspired by the year Greenwich was founded, 1640. The cocktail version includes farm-crafted organic vodka and is made with fresh citrus juices, pineapple, and cranberry. “It is important
State Senator Ryan Fazio, First Selectman Fred Camillo, and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin served as celebrity bartenders at Bistro V on Greenwich Avenue to raise money for charity. Photo by Bob Capazzo. for us to include a drink that is alcohol-free so that anyone in the community can participate if interested in supporting,” said
Rabin. She continued, “A lot of people are abstaining from alcohol for the month of January and taking part in what’s called,
Dry January. We wanted to be mindful of that.” The Bistro V mocktail version of 1640 is set for $10 while the cocktail version
with vodka is $15. Bistro V launched the guest ba r tend i ng event ser ies i n October in an effort to support the local com munit y while r a i s i n g aw a r e n e s s fo r t h e restaurant’s Happy Hour menu. The guest bartending series previously raised money for the Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG) hosted by Je n D a n z i ; Neig h b or to Neighbor hosted by Jessica Reid of IN Greenwich and Lindsay Potter of Greenwich Cocktail We e k , a nd B oys a nd G i rl s Club of Greenwich hosted by Mike and Dana Parelli along with Chris Jones of Shoreline Video Productions and food influencers @localeatzz and @ greenwichfoody. The program h a s r a i s e d ove r $ 1 , 5 0 0 i n donations. “I am excited to g uest b a r te n d a l o n g s i d e L au r e n a n d R y a n ,” s a i d C a m i l l o . He c ont i nue d , “ We a r e a l l working really hard to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve and it’s nice that we can come together to support local business and have some fun while raising awareness and funds for causes
that mean a lot to us. All three o f t h e s e or g a n i z at i on s we selected are Town treasures a nd th is is a nother way to show our gratitude”. Bistro V is open for lunch and dinner on weekdays and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant switches back to its original concept, Versailles Pâtisserie, during the morning hours (8:00 am until 11:00 am). Versailles, known for cakes, pastries, and viennoiserie made from authentic French recipes, was established in 1980. Customers can vote to select the non-prof it organization that will receive the largest donat ion a mou nt f rom t he fund and awareness raiser. To vote , v isit t he Bist ro V Facebook event page and write the name of one of the nonprofit agencies in the discussion section of the page. Visit Bistro V online for more information (versaillesg reenw ich.com). Any questions regarding the Bistro V Bar Takeover, send a direct message to Bistro V on Instagram or Facebook. @ BistroVersailles
International Women’s Day Benefit Concert A powerful trio of p e r fo r m a n c e s f r o m N k e k i Obi-Melekwe of Broadway’s smash hit TINA – The Tina Tu r n e r M u s i c a l , G r a m m y Award Winner Jennifer Nettles, and Grammy Award winner, song w r iter a nd ac tor S a ra Bareilles were announced today as headliners for the 2nd Annual International Women’s Day Benefit Concert. The March 8th event raises funds to train 1 million underresourced young women through Girls With Impact’s business and leadership academy. The event is presented by SheaMoisture and produced by Live Nation along with the nonprofit Girls With Impact. Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Tina Turner is proud to have T I NA – The Tina Turner Musical headlining the evening, noting, “My musical, led by the glorious Nkeki, is a celebration of women at the top of their game, onstage and off. I always had to fend for myself to survive and overcome adversity. Working against the odds and succeeding is where I find pride and joy. “This musical is my story,” Ms. Turner continued, “but it was created for the stage by the strength of women including
our playwright, director and producer. Girls With Impact is empowering girls like me to forge their own path. That is the power of this program and why I am proud for my musical to support it. We need our girls center stage.” G i rl s W it h I mp a c t C E O Jennifer Openshaw, a one-time motel maid turned Silicon Valley entrepreneu r, said, “These performers – both personally a nd professiona l ly – k now through grit, talent and passion
– what it means to succeed. For this International Women’s Day, they are all paying it forward, helping the generations to follow through scholarships that will change their future careers.” Sara Bareilles and Jennifer Nettles will each be making 500 Girls With Impact Scholarships possible to under-resourced young women in their home regions of Eureka, California and South Georgia, respectively, helping equip the next generation with the confidence
and skills to become tomorrow’s leaders. Ali Harnell, president of Live Nation Women, said “Live Nation is proud to play a role in using the platform of live music to help empower the next generation of female leaders in the world, especially during Women’s History Month.” T h i s y e a r ’s e v e n t w i l l a lso re cog n i z e top le aders i n b u s i n e s s , p h i l a nt h r opy and public service for their contributions in advancing
women. G enZ CEOs – g raduates of Girls With Impact – will take part by introducing the performers and special guests. Harnell added, “This is a performance – in an intimate setting -- not to be missed.” What: Girls With Impact’s International Women’s Day Benefit Concert Where: Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY When: Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 8pm – 9:30pm EST
Tickets: On sale Friday, Januar y 21, 2022 at https:// w w w. t i c k e t m a s t e r. c o m / event/03005C2CC54C28D2 Sponsorships/Packages: Information available at www. g i rlsw ith i mpact.org /iwdconcert-2022 Girls With Impact, a 501c3, is the nation’s only live online business and leadership program for young women 1424. Featured in the New York Times, the 10-week, after-school “m i n i-M BA” moves women from ideation to a business plan and venture pitch, driving improvements in confidence, leadership, college readiness and professional skills for success. Visit www.girlswithimpact.org. A bout T I NA – The Tina Turner Musical: Written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall and produced in association with Tina Turner, this new musical reveals a comeback story like no other, of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of racism, sexism and ageism to become the global Queen of Rock n’ Roll. TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is a celebration of resilience and an inspiration of triumph over adversity. For more information visit www. TinaOnBroadway.com.
COLUMN
The Sin of Cynicism and the Gift of Hope
By Marek Zabriskie It’s tempting for each of us to believe that we are in this world alone. We are tempted to think that there is no God, or if there is a God who created the universe then God has too much to focus on our personal problems. The great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy wrote, “In order to change the nature of things, either within yourself or in others, one should change, not the events, but those thoughts which created those events.” Tolstoy was merely echoing what Jesus did and said. Let me illustrate this by telling two brief stories of two people whose last name was Eliot, both of whom lived in the 19th century. One exhibited the sin of cynicism and other the gift of hope, and it made all the difference. The first Eliot was Charles Eliot, President of Harvard Un iversit y. He ca me f rom a prestigious East Coast family that looked down on uneducated people, especially people liv ing on the West Coast. So, he was upset one day in 1884 when he learned
The great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy wrote, “In order to change the nature of things, either within yourself or in others, one should change, not the events, but those thoughts which created those events.” Tolstoy was merely echoing what Jesus did and said. that his secretary had made an appointment for a couple from California to meet with him. When they arrived at his off ice, all of his prejudices were conf irmed. They were simply dressed. There was nothing distinguished about t hem. They sat dow n a nd explained that their only child, a son, had died of typhoid in Florence during the summer while traveling in Europe. This young man had dreamed of attending Harvard. As a result, his parents wanted to do something special to honor his life. They asked President Eliot if Har vard needed a new building. This con f i r me d Cha rles El iot ’s prejudices. He replied, “Property values are so much more expensive in Boston than in California. Why don’t you do something within your means and put up a plaque in one of our buildings to honor of your son. One of our deans will be glad to help you.” Then he stood up indicating that their meeting was over. As
they were about to leave, the wife turned to President Eliot and asked, “How much would it cost to duplicate a school like Harvard on the West Coast?” President Eliot was aghast. He said, “It would cost millions and million dollars, which is surely beyond your means.” So, you can imag ine h is shock a year later when he read the following year that a couple named Leland and Jane Stanford gave $40 million (or the equivalent of over $1.1 billion dollars today) to the State of California to found a university where students could study free of charge. This, of course, became Stanford University, one of Harvard’s chief competitors. Charles Eliot had a clear plan for Harvard, but he wasn’t able to see the dream that God was orchestrating in his very office with two simply dressed individuals. Eliot suffered from the sin of cynicism, which is to underestimate what God can do with simple things, for God’s dreams often begin with
something small and always exceed all of our expectations. Let me contrast this story with that of another Eliot from the 19th century. This was a woman named Mary Ann Evans, who wrote seven novels under the pen name of George Eliot. One of her novels was called Silas Mariner. It is a tale of a linen weaver, who lived in the outskirts of rural village in England. He had little contact with his neighbors, because fifteen yea rs ea rlier he had been falsely accused of stealing money from his church. Then his best friend fell in love with his f iancé, and she married him, leaving Silas feeling jilted and deeply betrayed. In a short span of time, Silas lost his faith in God and in his fellow human beings. So, he poured himself into his work and focused solely on earning money. He had no interest in spending his wealth. He hoarded the gold coins that he collected, and he carefully hid his treasure by
frozen to death in a snowbank. She had b e en add ic te d to opium, which had led to her death. The child, who had been at her side when she died, simply stumbled in the snow toward the first place where she saw a light shining. Silas returned to his house and found the little girl asleep. He leaned down to the same spot where his gold had once been hidden and touched her golden locks, and as he did something awoke deep within him that had long ago died. Silas eventually adopted the girl and raised her as his own, and she in her own way resurrected him. The solitary weaver and miser became a human being once again all because a little child had entered his life by surprise. Tolstoy was right. In order to change the nature of things, either within ourselves or in others, we should change, not the events, but the thoughts which created those events. Jesus was constantly urging his followers to see life through the miraculous lens with which God views reality. When we do this, cynicism disappears and hope becomes a possibility.
the fireplace. One foggy night, while Silas was away, someone broke into his cottage and stole the two bags of gold coins. When word spread, his neighbors came to console him and said, “Perhaps we can help you to find what you have lost.” For the f irst time in years, he was touched by the kindness of others. The act of their human warmth melted the coldness that had surrounded Silas’s heart. Each night, he stood at the door of his cottage looking out to see if someone might be coming to bring news of his lost treasure. Then one night someone finally did come, but it was not what he expected. A t wo-yea r-old g i rl stumbled through the snow. She walked right past him and into his cottage and lay down to sleep in the very spot where he had once hidden his gold. Silas let her sleep as he went outside in search of her The Rev. Marek P. Zabriskie mother. is the Rector of Christ Church He h ad not w a l ke d fa r Greenwich when he found her found her
Page 14 | Greenwich Sentinel
Benjamin Balkind
B enja m i n Edwa r d “ Te ddy ” Balkind, 16, of New Canaan, passed away Thu rsday, Ja nua r y 6 at Greenwich Hospital. Born Nov. 9, 2005, in Greenwich, he was the son of Buck and Leslie Balkind. Teddy attended St. Luke’s School where he played on the varsity hockey team. An avid lover of the outdoors, Teddy spent his time biking through local trails and mountains, and cherished his time mountain biking with his god-father in Stowe, Vt. He spent his summers on Bantam Lake at Camp Awosting, where he fished, swam and wakeboarded with his friends. Though he sometimes didn’t spend an adequate amount of time doing homework, he was a master of Xbox, eating hamburgers and making desserts after every meal. He was proud of his work at New Canaan Bicycles, where he dedicated his weekends to fixing bikes. He had many passions throughout his childhood, and dedicated countless hours to fulfilling them. Strikingly independent a nd con f ident in himself, Teddy seemed to be afraid of nothing. He genuinely loved nothing more than to be in the presence of and learn from those he looked up to – whether that be at home, on the ice, on the mountain, or at school. He was always able to find the best qualities in others and truly sought to emulate them. Never failing to make those around him laugh, his infectious smile lit up every room, and he was not afraid to unexpectedly make mischief. He was undeniably loyal and would do anything for those he loved, including impu lsively ma k ing crepes for his family on Sunday mornings. Teddy could never quite conceal the abundance of affection he had for others, and in the last months of his life, he never looked happier than when he was talking about his friends and his girlfriend, O l i v i a . H e n e ve r n e e d e d t h e attention of others and quietly made a difference in the lives of everyone he encountered. His remarkable kindness, confidence and passion will continue to affect the lives of his loved ones. Teddy is survived by his parents, Leslie and Buck, his sister Karey, g randparents Mar y Josephine Balkind, Edward and Karen Brown, aunts and uncles Erica and Bruce Wu, Sarah and Ellis Adler, cousins PJ, Jake, Max, and Sam, and god parents Lynne and Rand Eyberg. He is predeceased by his grandfather, Benjamin Hart Balkind, and his uncle, Benjamin Lee Balkind. There will be a private service held in Teddy’s honor at Temple Shalom in Norwalk, and a celebration of his life will be held at a date to be determined.
Helen LaSorsa
Helen Dale LaSorsa passed away in her home on Jan. 12 at the age of 64. Helen is predeceased by Mother Phyllis Groner, Father Stanley Groner, Aunt Eileen Soskin and Aunt Marylin Bloom. Helen is survived by her loving husband Peter LaSorsa II of 30
OBITUARIES
years. They were married by Long Beach in Westport on Aug. 30, 1991. Helen is lovingly remembered by her children Dale and Chandler, sister Hilary Groner, Uncle Gabriel Groner, Aunt Edie Groner, niece Lina David-Groner, and her dog Jack-Jack. Helen was born in Los Angeles in 1957. She graduated from Westport High School, Babson College and went on to earn an additional Associates degree in developmental education to pursue her passion of teaching at Bridges Preschool in Cos Cob. Helen lived by the mantra to help everyone she met. She was involved with her children’s elementary school, managing the afterschool program and eventually becoming PTA president at Cos Cob Elementary School. Later in life, while surpassing all expectations in her fight against cancer, Helen also became ordained so she could grow and share her spirituality and reiki practice. Helen had such a love for life. She enjoyed scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, soaking up the sun, fishing, teaching her preschoolers, traveling to Italy and the Galapagos Islands, making memories with friends and family on the deck poolside, visiting beloved family in Ohio and California, relishing in belly laughs, and exploring her reiki practice. Her radiant positivity was contagious to all she met. A Celebration of Life in honor of Helen will be held in the Spring due to the current COVID environment. Please contact hlcelebrationoflife@ gmail.com to offer condolences to the family and to be notified once a date is available. In lieu of f lowers, please send donations in memory of Helen LaSorsa to support gynecological sarcomas research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Online donations may be made using the following link: mskcc. convio.net/goto/HelenLaSorsa
Elbert Gates
Elbert Armistead Gates (Bert, or Eggie as he was called by childhood friends) passed away Saturday, January 8 at Greenwich Hospital as a result of a fall and cardiac arrest days earlier. Bert was 64 years old. Born in Evanston, IL March 25, 1957, Bert lived most of his life in Greenwich and graduated from Greenwich High School (G.H.S.) in 1975. Bert loved to play the piano and Scott Joplin music, and to play chess from an early age. He also enjoyed sports and was on the G.H.S. soccer and ski teams. Bert was an expert skier who greatly enjoyed his family winter weekends skiing in Vermont and ski racing across New England. He achieved a top “A” ranking as a member of the Eastern Amateur Division of the United States Ski Association (USEASA). Upon graduation from G.H.S. Bert attended Dartmouth College. While at Dartmouth Bert experienced the onset of mental illness, something that challenged him for the rest of his life. For over three decades, the Pathways organization based in Greenwich provided a home environment for Bert and an outlet for activities through their Fellowship Club. This greatly enriched his life. Bert lived in a Pathways group home early on and more recently in his own apartment. Bert was a devoted member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for much of his adult life. His faith was important to him. Many members of the congregation at the Greenwich Kingdom Hall provided Bert with friendship and lov ing support over the years. Since Bert did not
drive, this included driving him to the Kingdom Hall and making it possible for him to attend regularly and be an active member. Bert greatly valued these relationships. Love of family was also important to Bert. He is survived by his mother Thaniel Armistead Gates, brothers Randy and Nathan, sister Leigh, and extended family. Bert’s father Ralph Pillsbury Gates, Jr. passed away in 2018. Bert loved his many nieces and nephews, and loved to ask with a big grin on his face, are you “Ready for the Lineup?”. He would then quickly and enthusiastically rattle off the names R ichard, Terr y, Ethan, Samantha, Jorge, Heather, Max, Maisie, Maddan, Mason and Millie. Bert had a big heart, and a big smile. He will be missed. A memorial service thru the Jehovah’s Witnesses will be scheduled for a later date.
Vincent Barnett
Vincent W. Barnett, 89, beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, a nd g ra ndfather passed away peacefully on Jan. 8 surrounded by his family. Vincent was born in Bronx, NY on June 22 1932 to George and Madeline Barnett. Vincent graduated from Stamford High School in 1950 where he was a multi-sport athlete playing both baseball and football for the Black Knights. He served as a signalman in the US Navy during the Korean War and was quite fond of retelling the tales of his circumnavigation of the globe aboard the destroyer the USS McNair. After his military service he returned to Stamford where he met and married Corinne Clark in 1955. He then began a long career at the Stamford offices of AT&T. After retirement from AT&T he followed his passion for playing golf by working at the Sterling Farms Golf course. Vincent and Corinne raised a family of 4 in Cos Cob and enjoyed family vacations at the beach in Atlantic City and Bermuda and on the slopes of Okemo Mountain, Vt. Vincent enjoyed listening to Frank Sinatra, Andy Cooney, rooting for the NY Mets and frequenting the parimutuel window to wager on the ponies. He is survived by his children, Law rence Barnett of Cos Cob, Karen Curley (Kieran) and Kyle Cummings (David Deneen) of Cos Cob, and grandchildren Sydney and Martin Curley and Carl, Robert and Anna Cummings. Vincent was predeceased by his wife, Corinne Barnett, his son Vincent C. Barnett, and his two older brothers Thomas and George. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 4 Riverside Ave., Riverside, followed by interment at Putnam Cemetery.
Jean Turek
family and friends. In her later years, she resided at Hill House in Riverside. She deeply appreciated the wonderful and caring staff and residents there. In 1971, Jean started working at St. Catherine’s Early Childhood C e nte r, e ve nt u a l l y b e c o m i n g director and retiring in 2009 at 80 years old. During those 38 years, the children and families enriched her life as much as she enriched theirs. Je a n h ad a n at u ra l w ay to touch the lives of all she met, often becoming lifelong friends. She had a beautiful spirit that shone through in her smile and hugs. She had a way to make everyone feel special. Her positive attitude and sunny disposition will be missed but cherished by all who crossed paths with her. Jean was predeceased by her husband Frank J. Turek, daughter Denise Anne, parents Thomas C. and Alice F. Lally, and brothers Thomas, Robert, R ichard, and Gerald Lally. Jean is survived by her sons Richard (Elaine), Jeffrey, and Mark. The “loves and light of her life” grandchildren Jennifer (Nicholas) Vissicchio, Matthew (Nicole) Turek and great-granddaughters Lily and Ella Vissicchio, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and members of the Turek, Lally, and Cipu extended families. Memorial arrangements will be posted on Jean’s Facebook page as they become available. (Account name: Aunt Jean) In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Southbury Training School STS FOUNDATION, INC., P.O. B ox 8 7 2 , S out h bu r y, C T 06488-0901.
John Kriskey
Theresa Apruzzese
John S. Kriskey of Greenwich, age 86, passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 6. John was born in Greenwich on Oct. 10, 1935, graduated from Greenwich High School in 1953 and took up woodwork ing. He married his wife, Ann, in 1956 and served as a corporal in the US Army from 19561958. A cabinet maker by trade, John was the owner of the longstanding business Kriskey Carpentry on North Water Street from 1980 until his retirement in 1994. John lived a fulfilling life as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, carpenter, and world traveler. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann, their 5 children: Scott (Keeley) Kriskey, Jack (Ronnie) Kriskey, Heather (Rick) Chiappetta, Sandra (Bill) Tripodi, and Michael Kriskey. John is also survived by his 6 grandchildren, their spouses and his 11 great-grandchildren, as well as a sister, Jane Erway and many beloved nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was held privately on Jan. 10, at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church followed by internment at St. Mary Cemetery. The Kriskey family extends their sincere gratitude to the dedicated caregivers at Homewell and RNVA Health Hospice. In lieu of f lowers, memorial donations may be made to RVNA Health Hospice at 2727 Governor St. R idgef ield, CT 0687 7 or rvnahealth.org
Amanda Gault Jean A lice L a lly Turek , 92 , passed peacefully into eternal joy on Ja nua r y 8, at Reg iona l Hospice in Da n bu r y. She was born March 10, 1929 in Greenwich. She lived the majority of her life in Cos Cob, where she raised her children and loved entertaining
of 2001. A manda received her Associates degree from Norwalk Community College, her Bachelors degree from The University of Bridgeport and was to begin her Graduate studies this month in the spring 2022 semester at the University of New Haven. An avid sports fan, Amanda loved going to the NY Yankees and UCONN Women’s basketball games. She attended a NY Giants game after meeting the team players and coaches and also went to a NASCAR race. Over her life time, Amanda tack led sports herself such as Pegasus horseback riding, a Bronze Medalist at the Junior Nationals in wheelchair racing, rif le shooting, both water and snow skiing, scuba diving just to name a few. Besides sports Amanda also enjoyed reading, playing her guitar, theater and artists from Carol King to Ozzy Osbourne. Amanda also had a huge love of animals. Big, small, tall, short, Amanda loved them all. So much so, she loved to visit and pet them anywhere she could. Amanda followed and visited April the Giraffe multiple times. A ma nda w i l l b e m issed by all who had the opportunity to meet her and remembered for her strength and can-do attitude, even with all the physical challenges she faced. Besides her parents, Amanda is survived by her brothers Mark and Duane Gault and their families. Her childhood friend and life long partner Erik Scuterud. Also many Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Cousins and numerous friends. There are no calling hours. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Amanda’s memory to: Animal Adventure Park, Giraffe Care Support, 1250 Front St. #219, Binghamton, NY 13901.
2/15/1983 - 1/4/2022 F rom Gre enw ich a nd most recently from Danbury, Amanda Anna Gault was the daughter of James and Venus Gault. Amanda graduated from Gre enw ich H ig h S cho ol class
Theresa Apruzzese, 90, formerly of Riverside, died peacefully on Dec. 5 at her home in Olympia, WA. Born on May 16, 1931, she grew up in Queens, NY and attended teaching college in New Paltz, NY. Married on Feb. 10, 1952, Theresa and her late husband, Alfred Apruzzese, established their home in Riverside where they raised 4 daughters and attended St. Catherine of Siena Church. She worked for more than 20 years at Georgia Pacific in Stamford. An avid sports fan, Theresa loved going to NY Mets and Seattle Mariners games, and spent Sunday a f ter noons watch ing footba l l, basketball, hockey or tennis, and cheering for her favorite team or player. Theresa also enjoyed card games, especially poker, and was a voracious reader. Mourning her passing are her daughters, Carol Aubry, Donna Jones, Diane Kallaway and Lisa Grieco, 6 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren. Theresa was dedicated to her family and home. She had a friendly, thoughtful disposition and will be missed by all who were lucky to have known her. Through the generosity of the Greenwich Sentinel Foundation, this newspaper does NOT charge for obituaries. We believe families who are grieving should not be burdened with this additional worry. Please send obituaries, photos, and service information to Caroll@GreenwichSentinel.com
WORSHIP PAGES
Page 15 | Greenwich Sentinel
Loving our Holy Family
COLUMN
We can all use Grace to be the best version of ourselves both in our homes and out in the world. With the gift of Grace and the examples of our family we can be the Church in the world loving our holy family near and far. By Kate Noonan
We are all part of a family. Our family encompasses most of our first experiences in life. In the small intimate setting with our parents and siblings we take our first steps, speak our first words and have our first tantrums. Early in our lives our entire world is experienced with our family unit. Our homes are our f irst church giving us
the blueprint for how we ought to act. As children we are each taught, through the examples and directives we receive at home, how to behave in the world. Reminding parents they are the first church for their family is a great joy and privilege of mine. In the busyness and striving of parenting we are of ten swept up focusing on our children’s milestones, doctor’s appointments and school placements. We get caught up in the ways of the world.
When our focus is on the external we may be remiss to remember the true qualities that make us Christian. In our homes we are called to love, honor, cooperate and be patient with one another. Each of our families are a reflection of the Holy Family who were mired in the tasks of daily life and literally living a God filled life. As I contemplate the Holy Family, my thoughts turn to Joseph and his role in the Holy Family. We know Mary said yes. I am
often reminded of her blessed willingness in my Catholic faith tradition. Joseph’s yes has a more subtle quality than Mary’s yes. He is a man who remained dedicated to his commitment even with its challenges. I imagine being the father in the Holy Family household m ay have b e en f raug ht w it h personal, emotional and spiritual challenges. When I was 12 my mother married my step-father, Henry. Middle schoolers do not tend to be
understanding and open minded creatures. I was no exception. I was offended at the addition of a step-father in my life. What my 12 year old self did not know is we needed my step-father, a lot. Henry joined our family and participated in extraordinary ways. Reflecting on Henry’s willingness a nd g raciousness today I a m brought to tears. He readily and enthusiastically cared for my mother, my brother, my sister and myself. Henry signed on for a new wife and three step-children, ages 12, 10 and 9. Henry’s journey must have been fraught with personal, emotional and spiritual challenges. Today Henry is the primary caregiver for my mother in her final days. It is jarring to prepare for the loss of a beloved family member. My siblings, we are 4 in
total now, and I are all feeling the impending pain of separation as we accompany both Henry and our mother in her final weeks. Henry continues to lead our family as husband and father, without pride. Henry’s kindness, compassion and dedication remain a blessing to our family. He is an inspiration. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians he reminds us to put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. The call to practice these qualities is timeless; families from millenia ago and today’s families occasionally need the reminder of these Christian principles. We can all use Grace to be the best version of ourselves both in our homes and out in the world. With the gift of Grace and the examples of our family we can be the Church in the world loving our holy family near and far.. Kate Noonan: Pastoral Associate ~ St. Ignatius Loyola NYC;Spiritual director ~ G r e e n w i c h , C T ; M A R Ya l e Divinity School.
Worship Directory and Services
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. Bible Study: The Glory of Christ, Wed, 7pm. Read The Bible 2021: join here facebook. com/groups/bible2021. BAPTIST First Baptist Church 10 Northfield St.; 203-869-7988 www.firstbaptistgreenwich.com
Eucharistic Adoration: 1st Fri of the calling the church office); Church school month: 12:30-5pm. before worship most Sundays, 9am for preschoolers through grade 6. Online St. Michael the Archangel programming available via Zoom. A 469 North St.; 203-869-5421 joyful community diverse in spiritual www.stmichaelgreenwich.com backgrounds and beliefs. Tony B’er Mass: Mon-Fri: 7:30 & 9am. Sat: 9am & of the Year Award Reception for Bob 5pm. Sun: 7:30, 8:30, 9:45am, 12 & 5pm. Small First Church: Jan. 25, 12:30pm. Confession: Sat: 4:15-4:45pm; Wed: North Greenwich Congregational 9:30-11am & 6:30-8pm. Eucharistic 606 Riversville Rd; 203-869-7763 Adoration: Wed, 9:30am-8pm. Jan. 29: www.northgreenwichchurch.org 1st Penance, 10am; Synod Listening Session, 2pm. Online Worship Service: Sun, 10:30am, via Zoom (email Rev. Halac at Pastor@ St. Timothy Chapel northgreenwichchurch.org or call the 1034 North St.; 203-869-5421 church). Mass: Sat: 4pm (Vigil Mass). Sun: 11am. Second Congregational Church St. Paul Church 84 Sherwood Ave.; 203-531-8741 www.stpaulgreenwich.org
Sunday Servings: 11:30am, Facebook Live or for Devotion: 11-11:25am (Dial in Mass: Mon-Thu: 9am; Sat: 4pm (Vigil); 701- 802-5355, Access code 360922). Sun: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am. Confession: Greenwich Baptist Church Sat, 3-3:45pm. Mass on Holy Days: 10 Indian Rock Ln; 203-869-2807 Vigil: 5:30pm, 9am & 12:15pm. Visit the www.greenwichbaptist.org website for information regarding the Worship: Sun, 11am (in person and Bereavement Group (twice monthly) online through Facebook & YouTube). and weekly volunteer opportunities at Adult Bible Study: 9:30am. Prayer the Don Bosco Kitchen and Food Pantry with the St. Paul Mercy Volunteers. All Gathering: Fri, 6- 7pm, Chapel. masses are available via livestream CATHOLIC through the website. Greenwich Sacred Heart Church Catholic School Open House: Jan. 30, 95 Henry St.; 203-531-8730 1-1:30pm, 203-869-4000, gcsct.org. www.sacredheartgreenwich.org St. Roch Church Mass: Mon-Fri, 7am, in the Chapel. 10 St. Roch Ave; 203-869-4176 Sat, 4pm. Sun: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30am. www.strochchurch.com Confessions: Sat, 3:20-3:50pm. Prayer Mass: (Reservations and/or for viewing Group: Wed, 5:15pm, in the Chapel, 38 via live streaming): Mon-Fri: 7:30pm; Gold St, all are welcome. Ministry to Sat: 5pm; Sun: 7:30am (Concelebrated the Homebound: if you, or someone for Previously Scheduled 9:30am Mass you know, is homebound and would Intentions), 10:30am, 12pm (Spanish). like a priest visit you, call the Rectory Mass Intentions: consult the bulletin at 203-531-8730. for time. St. Catherine of Siena & St. Agnes CHRISTIAN SCIENCE St. Agnes: 247 Stanwich Rd; St. First Church of Christ, Scientist Catherine: 4 Riverside Ave; 203-63711 Park Pl; 203-869-1555 3661 christiansciencect.org/greenwich/ www.stc-sta.org * All Masses at St. Catherine of Siena Church only are livestreamed. Masses: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri: 7am, St. Catherine’s Church (livestream); 5:15pm, St. Catherine’s Chapel. Wed: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 8:30am-4pm, St. Catherine’s Church. Sat (Specific dates confirmed in bulletin): Confessions, 3-4pm, St. Catherine’s Church; Vigil Mass, 5pm, St. Catherine’s Church (livestreamed). Sun: Mass, 7:30am, St. Catherine’s Church (livestream); Mass, 8:30am, St. Agne’s Church; Family Mass, 9am, St. Catherine’s Church, (livestreamed); Mass, 10am, St. Agne’s Church; Traditional Mass, 10:30am, St. Catherine’s Church, (livestreamed); Teen Mass, 5pm, St. Catherine’s Church, (livestreamed). Language Masses: St. Catherine’s Chapel: Korean Mass (every Sun), 9am. French Mass (2nd Sun of the month), Italian Mass (3rd Sun of the month), Spanish Mass (4th Sun of the month [not in September]), 11am. Ongoing: Food & Essentials Drive for Neighbor to Neighbor (there will be a car or SUV with an open trunk in the parking lot across from St. Catherine’s church on Tuesdays, 9-11am for dropoff donations. Donations can also be dropped at the Sign-in table at Sat, Sun or Daily Mass at St. Agnes).
Sundays: 10:30am. Jan. 23: “Truth.” Jan. 30: “Love”. Sunday School: for students up to 20yrs, 10:30am, Wed. 7:30, testimonies of healing - call in for all services 203-680-9095 code 520520*. Reading Room, 333 Greenwich Ave. 203-869-2503, M-F, 11-3, some Saturdays. Bibles and children’s books for sale. COMMUNITY First Church of Round Hill 464 Round Hill Rd; 203-629-3876 www.firstchurchofroundhill.com In-person worship is currently suspended until further notice. Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Rd; 203-869-1091 www.roundhillcommunitychurch. org Weekly Sunday Worship services in the Sanctuary at 10am or online at roundhillcommunitychurch.org anytime. Children’s Worship for grades K-5 is now available; nursery care is not yet being offered. Please call the church office or visit the website for the most up-to-date information, events, and schedules, which are subject to change based on current local health and safety protocols. CONGREGATIONAL
St. Mary Church 178 Greenwich Ave.; 203-869-9393 www.stmarygreenwich.org
The First Congregational Church 108 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org
Public Mass: Sun: 9, 10:30am, 12:15 & 5:15pm. Sat Vigils: 4 & 7pm (Spanish). Daily: Mon-Fri, 12:05pm (Church doors will open from 10am-3pm). Confessions (English): Tue: 7-8pm; Sat: 3-3:45pm.
Worship: In-Person & Virtual: Sundays, 10am. Live-streaming on YouTube and Facebook, and broadcast on WGCH (1490 AM). Connect during the week: Friday: Friday Email Blast (sign up by
139 E Putnam Ave; 203-869-9311 www.2cc.org
www.saintsaviours.org
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 42 Lake Ave.; 203-661-3099
In-person Outdoor Service: Sun, 11am. Online Worship Services available on Worship via teleconference: Sun, Youtube. 11am and until further notice (Dial-in number: 425-436-6380, Access code: JEWISH 612220). Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich NONDENOMINATIONAL 75 Mason St.; 203-629-9059 www.chabadgreenwich.org Revive Church 90 Harding Rd., Old Greenwich (Old Outdoor Services: Shabbat Services: Greenwich Civic Center) Sat, 9-11:30am, (Children’s Services: www.myrevive.org 10:15am). Torah Study: Sun, 9:3011:30am, on Zoom. Weekly Torah Portion: Thu, 10-11am, In-person & on Zoom. Kabbalah Class: Fri, 10-11am, on Zoom. For class Zoom links and full class schedule, visit chabadgreenwich. org/torahclasses.
Worship Service: Sun, 10am, Holiday Inn 980 Hope 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.
Congregation Shir Ami Traditional Worship: Sun, 10:30am One W. Putnam Ave; 203-274-5376 (online only). Coffee Cocktail & www.congregationshirami.org Stanwich Church Chocolate Samplings: Jan. 30, 4pm. 202 Taconic Rd.; 203-661-4420 All services, programs and celebrations Details at 2cc.org. www.stanwichchurch.org are available online via Zoom. Oy Vey EPISCOPAL to Broadway - A Night of Music and Events marked with an ‘*’ require Memory: Jan. 22, 6:30pm, on Zoom. registration at stanwichchurch.org/ Anglican Church of the Advent events 606 Riversville Rd; 203-861-2432 Greenwich Reform Synagogue www.churchoftheadvent.org 92 Orchard St.; 203-629-0018 Worship Services: Sun, 9 & 10:45am Service: Sun, 9am, Holy Eucharist. www.grs.org (live-streamed). *Men’s Retreat Sunday School during academic year. Weekend: Jan. 28-30 (Spots limited). Join Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Rubin Christ Church Greenwich every Friday, 6pm for Shabbat Services, *Valentine’s Fundraiser Dinner, Feb. 4, 254 E. Putnam Ave; 203-869-6600 and once a month for Tot Shabbat, 7pm. www.christchurchgreenwich.org Worship: Sun: Eucharist, 8am (in-person); 10am (in-person & livestream/ondemand); Choral Evensong (in-person & livestream/on-demand), 5pm; Compline, 8pm (livestream/on-demand). Mon-Fri: Morning Prayer, 8am (via Zoom). Tue: Eucharist, 10am (in-person). Thu: Choral Evensong, 6:30pm (in-person & livestream/on-demand). “Something Different” Summer Outdoor Worship: Sundays through August, behind the Tomes-Higgins House (rain location: Parish Hall), bring a chair or blanket. Ongoing: Coat Drive for Families in Recovery Coats at Liberation Programs. Family Winter Social: Jan. 22, 3-4pm, behind the Tomes-Higgins House. Sunday Forum: “Raising Successful, Balanced Children and Youth in an Affluent World”: Jan. 23, 11:15am. An Author-to-Author Conversation about Ian Cron’s new book with Deborah Royce: Jan. 26, 6pm, Parish Hall. Sign up for the Super Women’s Retreat in Vermont, Feb. 4-6, cmcfadden@christchurchgreenwich.org. Christian Men’s Gathering around the Fire-pit: Feb. 8, 7:30pm, Rectory front yard, 10 Park Pl.
5:30pm. All in person services are also The Albertson Memorial Church live streamed on Zoom. Torah Study 293 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-4615 with Rabbi Noah Greenfield: Jan. 23, www.albertsonchurch.org 10am. Afghan Resettlement: Rachel Sunday Service: 7pm, via Zoom. Kornfeld, JFS of Greenwich: Jan. 26, on Virtual Children’s Lyceum (ages Zoom. 5-14): 3rd Sunday of the month, Temple Sholom 10-10:40am. Healing Service: 3rd 300 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-7191 Thursday of the month, 7-7:30pm. www.templesholom.com (Email Albertsonpcc@gmail.com for Services - In-person and virtual Friday registration and Zoom Links). night Shabbat services, 6:30pm & Trinity Church Saturday morning Shabbat services, 5 River Rd.; 203-618-0808 10:30am. The Abraham Accords: The www.trinitychurch.life New Peace in the Middle East: Jan. 20, In-Person Services: Sun., 9:45am, Hyatt 7pm. 4-6th Grade Learner’s Minyan Regency Greenwich, 1800 E Putnam Shabbat: Jan. 22, 9:30am. Ave.; 10am, Radisson Hotel, New LUTHERAN Rochelle, 1 Radisson Plaza; 11am, The Chapel at NPC, 2011 Post Rd, Darien. First Lutheran Church Online Service: Sun., 9:45am, youtube. 38 Field Point Rd.; 203-869-0032 com/c/TrinityChurchLife/live. www.flcgreenwich.org Indoor Service: Sun, 10:30am. Bible Study: Sun, 11:45am. St. Paul Lutheran Church 286 Delavan Ave.; 203-531-8466
Indoor Service: Sun, 9am. Bible Study: Sun, 10:15am. Wednesday After-School program: Snacks & Crafts, 3-4pm; St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Bible Stories & Catechesis, 4-5pm; 954 Lake Ave.; 203-661-5526 Community Dinner, 5:30pm (all are www.stbarnabasgreenwich.org welcome); Bible Study on Romans Sunday Worship: Spoken Eucharist, (adults), 6:30pm. 8am, Church; Holy Eucharist with music, METHODIST 10am, Church and Livestream; Family Diamond Hill United Methodist Eucharist, 10am, Parish Hall. (sign up 521 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-2395 for in-person service: signupgenius. www.diamondhillumc.com com/go/4090e4aadac2ea3ff2 -sunday1). Coffee and Morning Prayers Podcast: Sunday Worship Services: In-person or online, 10am, followed by a time Mon-Fri. of Fellowship. Wednesdays: Virtual St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Noonday Prayer & Evening Bible Study. 200 Riverside Ave.; 203-637-2447 (Details at diamondhill.com). www.stpaulsriverside.org First United Methodist Church Worship: Sundays: Rite 1, 8am (in59 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-629-9584 person in the sanctuary & streamed). www.fumcgreenwich.com 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month: 10:15am, in the Sanctuary. 2nd & 4th Virtual Sunday Worship, 9:30am, via Sunday of every month: in the Meadow, Zoom (203 629 9584). Virtual Daily 10:30am (weather permitting). Sunday Gathering: Mon-Fri, 3pm, Zoom. Talking School continues in Selleck Hall. Yoga with Your Hands: Mon, 3pm. Reading on the Meadow: Fridays, 10am. Ongoing: this World as a Christian: Tue, 3pm. Neighbor-to-Neighbor Food Drive: Back to Rock – music with Mr. Bruce: Every Thu, 10-11:30am, in the parking Tue, 3pm, via Zoom. Reading the Shape of Scripture: Wed, 3pm, via Zoom. lot (volunteers needed). Spring Bible Study: Thu, 3pm, via Zoom. St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church Tea & Talk: Fri 3pm, via Zoom. 350 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-2262
PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 1 W. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-8686 www.fpcg.org Sanctuary Worship: Sun, 10am (Traditional Service); 5pm (Contemporary Service). Online Worship: Sun, 10-11am at fpcg.org/live. Sunday School online, 10:15-11am. The Prayer Room: 2nd Thu of each month, 8-8:30pm, via Zoom. 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 Bible Study studies through zoom (email gracechurchofgreenwich@gmail.com for zoom links). All are welcome. Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Ave; 203-637-3669 www.LivingHopect.org In-person & online (LivingHopect. org/livestream) worship Sundays: 10am. Alpha: Is there more to life than this? Beginning Feb. 7, 7pm, on Zoom (The class is 11 weeks, feel free to try it out, no obligation). Register and more information: livinghopect.org/ resources/alpha.
Page 16 | Greenwich Sentinel
Sudoku
Each row, column, nonet can contain each number only once. Answers on 21.
Easy
Hard
Very Hard
Easy
Hard
Very Hard
Answers on page 20
Universal Crossword
Your Horoscope for Next Week AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb You won’t change the world for the better until you change certain aspects of your own nature. With Mars highlighting your emotions you must focus on what goes on inside you, not in the world at large. Change yourself and you’ll change much else.
LEO 24 July-23 Aug The entry of Mars into the work and wellbeing area of your chart will help you to find the extra energy you’ll need to get through your workload. There is, however, a danger you will go too far and put your health at risk, so always think before you act.
PISCES 20 Feb-20 March The time has come to stop worrying about what the neighbours might think and follow your instincts regardless of whether or not your actions meet with others’ approval. What they think is up to them. It’s what you do that matters.
VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept You’ll be able to turn dreams into realities and give form to your ideas now that Mars is entering the most romantic and creative area of your chart. Success will be yours whatever you do but it will be much greater if you focus on essentials only.
ARIES 21 March-20 April Your ruler Mars’ change of signs will bring opportunities and challenges. While it will boost your self-esteem and make you realise all things are possible, it will also bring you into conflict with someone who fears your ambition. Either way you’ll win.
LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct It’s not like you to be possessive but with Mars at its most domineering you may start acting as if you own certain people. They will, of course, rebel and it could end in tears. You must learn to give others the freedom you expect for yourself.
TAURUS 21 April-21 May Dynamic Mars’ entry into the most exciting and enlightening area of your chart will bring major changes in one or more areas of your life but it will also inspire you to make something of them. Think big, act big and look forward to some big rewards.
SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov You’ll be at your most sociable this week so make an effort to meet new people and do new things. If you stay put you’ll get frustrated which could lead to a falling out with those around you. For their sake as well as your own get out and about.
GEMINI 22 May-21 June You’re not naturally secretive but if you give too much away about yourself this week you will regret it. The less others know about you the less chance there is for them to scam or hoodwink you, so put privacy first. A bit of mystery can be attractive, too.
SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec As egotistical Mars leaves your sign you won’t be able to do as you please as much as you have been. A good outlet for your energy will be doing deals and making money. You still have the determination and drive to make something of your talents.
CANCER 22 June-23 July With Mars, planet of ego, in your opposite sign of Capricorn, you must expect resistance from those you deal with on a one-to-one basis. As Mars stays in this area of your chart for the next six weeks you will have to go out of your way to cooperate.
CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan With Mars in your sign for the next six weeks you’ll find it remarkably easy to get into anything requiring a large input of energy. The only danger is you may push too hard and upset a few people but that is a chance you will be willing to take.
Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com
Edited by David Steinberg January 1, 2022 ACROSS 1 Paintball player’s cry 6 What icons on a phone stand for 10 Basics 14 Sister’s daughter, maybe 15 Blood thinners might prevent one 16 Steak specification 17 Reptile that symbolizes treachery 18 “Yep, totes!” 20 Little bit 21 “The Great British Baking Show” treat 23 Sword-andsandal epic costumes 24 Composer Satie 26 Spoil 27 Country with an important canal 28 What’s hit at a 39-Down 30 Org. that might certify an AC tech 32 Kitty’s sound 33 Squatter, say? 37 Major event in Major League Baseball 38 Carbs also called “butterflies” 39 ___ Schwarz 40 Portland-toSeattle dir. 41 Best Animated Short Film and others
1/1
45 Dressed like a genderbending queen 48 (Gimme a treat!) 50 Greek goddess of marriage 51 Sprinter ___ Moses 52 Chef’s sharp tool 54 Line with one end, in math 55 Minneapolis twin? 57 Cloudforming insects 59 “Peter Pan” fairy, for short 60 Pay to play, in a way 61 “Don’t go easy on the other team!” 62 Uses an abacus, perhaps 63 Disorderly room 64 Stockholm resident DOWN 1 Marching synchronously 2 Lee Isaac Chung film named for a Korean vegetable 3 Way to park 4 “Gross!” 5 Tops worn with jeans 6 Sound before a blessing?
Created by Timothy E. Parker November 1, 2021
31. Irritate Grandpa like crazy 33. Puts off until later 35. Nonprofit’s URL ending 36. (K) Head set? 38. (K) Fuzz from your pajamas 39. (K) Feature of a unicorn 40. Hollywood action film prop 41. “___ on a true story” 44. (K) Massive water barrier 46. (K) Place for a lying lion 49. Crafts people find unexplainable 50. Three words for “in a manner of speaking” 52. (K) New toys everyone wants 53. (K) All us older guys 54. (K) Not need to say “What did you say?” 55. Unravel, as a hem 56. (K) Enough butter for a piece of toast 57. Words used when estimating, sometimes
OWN D 1. Open-and___ case 2. (K) What a fishing reel rolls up 3. (K) Talking into a fast-food microphone 4. Tiny, as a munchkin 5. (K) One washer or dryer stuffing 6. (K) It’s “across the pond” from North America 7. (K) Cash dispenser, for short 8. Hoopster 9. (K) Right around 4,050 square meters 10. (K) Hammer target 11. (K) Things to repent for 16. (K) Bad sound when trying on new pants 20. (K) Do this right before your selfie 22. (K) Relative of a moose 24. Probabilities, for “bettor” or worse 25. (K) “Dude” alternative 26. (K) Tool for a river crossing
27. Garbanzo, for one 28. (K) Rudolph is the ninth 29. Holder of much coffee or many ashes 30. (K) Great suffix? 32. (K) Show everyone the way 34. (K) Wintertime ailment 37. (K) Thing parted in the Bible (2 words) 39. (K) Like an overflowing waste bin 40. All clocks are set by it (Abbr.) 41. Polish or muscled up 42. Many, many miles away 43. (K) Carbonated thirst quencher 45. (K) Word that makes you sound uneducated 47. Noteworthy times in history 48. Horrifically evil fiddler of Rome 50. (K) Guitar riff maximizer 51. (K) “I don’t know anyone by that name”
Can you find the answer to this riddle within the solved puzzle?
Words shouted at a final singles’ match? Look for the answer in next week’s paper.
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
Previous riddle answer:
It can squeal for the cops? 25-A) SIREN © 2021 Andrews McMeel Syndication syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com
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35 Is the right size for 36 Show the ropes to 37 Saxophone or flute, e.g. 38 Short-term solution 39 Spanish party 42 Fill with bubbles 43 Not tweenappropriate 44 “I’m the one declaring this!” 46 Icy venues for Adam Rippon 47 Tiny, sixlegged worker 49 Makes mad 52 Girl group Danity ___ 53 Tamagoyaki ingredients 56 “Foxy Brown” actress Grier 58 Completely fresh
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
12/31 © 2022 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com
Universal Freestyle 1 by Stella Zawistowski
The (K) Clues Are for Kids ACROSS 1. (K) Like a snail-vs.-turtle race 5. Meadow that feeds 8. (K) There are many in a grocery store 12. Do more than just recruit staff 13. (K) Walking back to the dugout with a bat in your hands 14. Trendy antioxidant berry 15. (K) Type of deodorant 17. (K) Smile ear-to-ear 18. (K) Golfer’s little helper 19. Words that have a ring to them? 20. (K) Naturally loses a sunburn 21. (K) One squat of many 23. Worthy of an F grade 25. (K) Produce steam 27. (K) Parts of pickup trucks 28. Feel remorse because of something you did
7 Snack foods whose container features a monocled legume 8 Skin opening 9 The “S” of PST: Abbr. 10 Alphabetically first noble gas 11 Darts and cornhole, for two 12 Liquid that lightens coffee 13 What one can’t play on? 19 ___ snail’s pace 22 Moving like a snail 25 Punch sound, in comics 27 Couples up 29 Reason for a civil case 31 “Guilty,” e.g. 34 Biblical paradise
Previous Answers
Page 18 | Greenwich Sentinel
REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD FEATURED OPEN HOUSES Data Compiled by Rob Pulitano [203] 561-8092
REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD EDITOR
Mark Pruner | Mark@GreenwichStreets.com REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD CONTRIBUTORS Robert Pulitano | RobertPulitano@bhhsne.com Cesar Rabellino | CesarRabellino@bhhsne.com Pam Toner | PamToner@bhhsne.com Carline Martin | CarlineMartin@bhhsne.com
NEW LISTINGS
Address
Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Price/ List Price SqFt AC BR FB SqFt
43 Harold Street B 40 Elm Street 4B 59 Mary Lane 59 Le Grande Avenue 3 186 Field Point Road 6A 230 Stanwich Road 49 Lockwood Lane 180 & 180A Byram Shore Road 702 Steamboat Road 1 188 Round Hill Road
$850,000 $859,000 $875,000 $1,595,000 $1,875,000 $1,950,000 $2,499,000 $2,790,000 $4,300,000 $12,000,000
$434 $851 $616 $643 $493 $689 $734 $1,838 $2,222 $2,341
1,958 1,010 1,420 2,482 3,800 2,832 3,404 1,518 1,935 5,126
0.11 0 0.18 0 0 1 0.32 1.26 11
3 1 3 3 5 4 5 4 2 5
3 1 1 3 4 2 4 2 2 6
Address
Area
Price
Day/Time
Broker
41 High Street #A 10 MacArthur Drive 10 MacArthur Drive 180 Byram Shore Road 180A Byram Shore Road 180 & 180A Byram Shore Rd 41 Will Merry Lane 153 E Elm Street 327 Valley Road
Greenwich Old Greenwich Old Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Greenwich Cos Cob
$599,000 $999,000 $999,000 $1,295,000 $1,495,000 $2,790,000 $2,995,000 $3,250,000 $3,395,000
Sun 1-3 PM Sat 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sun 1-3 PM Sat 10-12 PM Sun 12-3 PM
Coldwell Banker Realty Miha Zajec Miha Zajec Houlihan Lawrence Houlihan Lawrence Houlihan Lawrence Keller Williams Sotheby's Berkshire Hathaway
Area
Cos Cob South of Post Road Riverside South of Post Road South of Post Road South Parkway Riverside Byram South of Post Road South Parkway
A New Level Of Commitment And Honesty In Real Estate. Buying. Selling. Investing. Gloria Falcon 203.559.1604 gloriafalcon@bhhsne.com Cesar Rabellino 203.249.9866 cesarrabellino@bhhsne.com
NEW SALES
Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866 Address
Original List
List Price
Sold Price DOM BR FB Acres SqFt
4 Putnam Hill 4B 20 Church Street A22 14 Concord Street 10 Neighborly Way 16 Hettiefred Road 117 Shore Road 10 Edgewood Drive 3A 16 Ben Court 7 Chateau Ridge Drive 11 Hedgerow Lane 32 Lake Drive South 6 Lockwood Drive 71 Richmond Hill Road 18 Lower Cross Road 17 Wynnwood Road
$560,000 $725,000 $749,000 $1,125,000 $1,250,000 $1,895,000 $2,395,000 $2,700,000 $2,975,000 $3,995,000 $3,850,000 $3,900,000 $4,495,000 $6,495,000 $7,950,000
$560,000 $698,500 $749,000 $1,125,000 $1,250,000 $1,895,000 $2,395,000 $2,700,000 $2,975,000 $3,750,000 $3,850,000 $3,900,000 $3,995,000 $6,495,000 $7,950,000
$540,000 $640,000 $710,000 $1,100,000 $1,300,000 $1,895,000 $2,395,000 $2,700,000 $2,975,000 $3,100,000 $3,725,000 $3,900,000 $3,995,000 $6,100,000 $8,000,000
192 201 33 185 21 10 22 0 19 256 27 0 237 46 14
2 2 3 4 4 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 6 6 6
2 2 1 2 2 3 4 3 5 7 4 8 7 9 7
0 0.11 0.33 1.01 0.41 0 0.61 2.44 2.27 0.43 0.44 4.35 10.27 2.35
1,318 1,977 1,706 2,437 1,934 4,365 2,810 6,773 9,062 5,253 5,189 8,720 10,396 10,005
Greenwich | 136 East Putnam Avenue | 203.869.0500 | bhhsNEproperties.com ©2022 An independently operated member of BHH Affiliates. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Page 19 | Greenwich Sentinel
The Westchester & Fairfield County High-End Towns
By Mark Pruner You might think that with common issues facing the luxury markets in the high-end town in Westchester and Fairf ield County, that the market each town would be similar. However, we see large differences among t h e s e t ow n s , a l l o f w h o m have median sold prices over $1 million. We have been bemoaning our lack of inventory of inventory i n Gr e enw ich a l l ye a r, but compared to Darien, we have a major surplus of inventory. We have 152 listings on the market, Darien has 12 single family homes on the market which works out to 10 days of supply. We also have marveled at how many of our houses have gone for full list price or over list but among the high-end towns in Westchester and Fairf ield County we’re actually at the bottom with only 41% of our listings going for full list price or over list. Compare this to the Sound Shore Communities in Westchester. In Larchmont, Ma ma roneck , Rye a nd Rye Brook 57% of the houses sold for list or over list with one of them actually going for 44% over the initial asking price. We were quite pleased with our 11% median sales price appreciation, however, Westport had 18% price appreciation. The one place where we clearly were the leader is our 16% sales growth in the number of single-family homes sold in 2021 compared to 2020. We had 1006 sales compared to last year’s 864 sales: more about this later. Similar Issues Across the country, COVID initiated the reshaping of the housing market. The pandemic led to a huge increase in work from home and the concomitant increase in the demand for houses. For most of 2020 and 2021, we saw extraordinarily low interest rates that kept monthly mortgage payments low. Less talked about is the run up in the stock market. There’s nothing like having a bunch of gains in your stock portfolio to make you think that now might be a good time to buy a house. Inf lation has also encouraged house buying as people want to move asset allocations from cash that is devaluing into hard assets that are appreciating. They also want to buy, before prices go up further. We’ve seen a jump in sales in December and the first part of this month as mortgage rates go up presaging the Fed’s announced interest rate increase in March. The common wisdom is that increased interest rates slow the economy and over a long enough period of time that’s certainly true, particularly if you sharply increase interest rates in a short time. However, in the short term, the anticipation of increased interest rates and the initial
portion of rising rates only drives sales as people move to quickly buy before interest rates go even higher. We’ve certainly seen that in last two months as what is normally a very slow holiday season in December saw lots of people out looking and that has continued, and even heightened, in the new year. Inventory, Supply & Demand For towns that had inventory in 2021, we saw big jumps in sales. For towns that didn’t have inventory, sales dropped or just inched up over 2020. Westport and Darien actually saw t he nu m b er of si ng lefamily home sales drop in 2021 compared to 2020. In Westport, sales were down a remarkable 13%, but this drop was due to insufficient supply, not low demand. The biggest drop in sales also resulted in the biggest jump in median price, up 18% in Westport to $1,599,500 last year. Where inventory was the lowest relative to demand, we saw prices go up the most. New Canaan was the one exception to lower sales, higher prices. In New Canaan, prices increased by 23% and sales increased by 13%. The price increase bumped their median price to $1,725,000 and sales to 440 sales, not bad for a town of less than 20,000 people. It’s gotten so bad that months of supply don’t really tell the story; we are now looking at days of supply. New Canaan, with only 49 active listings has only 39 days of supply at last year’s torrid sales price, it will be interesting to see what happens t h i s ye a r. I n C o n n e c t i c ut , Greenw ich also saw nice increases in sales numbers and
median prices, just not to New Canaan’s level. Both these towns have the highest median price with a fair number of houses at the very high end. While sales at the high-end jumped last year, we still had good inventory to keep t he sa les nu m b ers chugging along. When you look at the Westchester towns, Scarsdale and the Sound Shore Communities of Rye, Rye Neck, Mamaroneck and Larchmont all had double digit increases in their 2021 sales numbers and single digit increases in their 2021 median price. They also had; well, you really couldn’t call it good, but certainly better days of supply than in other towns. Scarsdale and the Sound Shore Communities have 60 and 54 days of supply. Nor t he a s t We s tche ste r, which includes the towns of Rye Brook, Harrison, Armonk and Chappaqua, our nearest Westchester neighbors, saw a big jump up in median price, which was directly related to a small increase in the number of sales caused by very limited inventory. What’s curious is that the two area in each county that are the furthest from New York City, Northeast Westchester in NY and Westport in CT, are the ones that saw the least growth in sales. It l o o k s l i k e N o r t h e a s t We s t c h e s t e r, D a r i e n a n d Westport all saw major saw major increases in 2020 which wiped out much of the shadow inventory. Also, the work from home movement meant that these towns were less inconvenient, i.e, they had shorter weekly commuting times
as people no longer commuting going off. every day. As a result, these Gre enw ich, w it h its 1 52 areas were more attractive to listings, stands out among all of more buyers. the towns. Greenwich is more like a small city with multiple List, Over-List and neighborhoods, multiple price Multiple Offers Throughout all the towns, we ranges, a population of over saw houses going for full list or 63,000 people and 22,000 plus over list from 41% in Greenwich housing units. Even with these to 58% in Westport and 57% in 152 listings at the present pace the Sound Shore Communities of sales seen last year, we only of Westchester. Demand is not have 54 days of supply which is easily is not easily quantifiable, similar to most of Westchester. but these numbers show that the East of Greenwich, the days of demand is out there. Every agent supply drop. Westport has 42 I’ve talked to, has stories of new days of supply; New Canaan has houses coming on the market 39 days and Darien only has 10 and getting anywhere from 25 days of supply. Now, this days of supply does to 70 appointments in the first not mean that we are going to couple of days. You hear stories run out of houses to sell. New of having so many offers that the listings will come on to replace only way to keep track of them is sales and even in this market with a spreadsheet. houses that are priced above Cle a rly, t he r e i s lot s of market rate and particularly, demand and at the lower price if they need work, can still be levels under $1,000,000 or even tough sales. $1,500,000 is where competition Over $5 million, even newer is the fiercest. In Greenwich, houses can stay on the market we only have 14 listings under for a while. Our median year $1.0M, and only 6 more, if you built for all sales in 2021 was 1961. go up to $1.5M. From $1.5M to The median year built for houses $2.0M, there are eleven more that are active on the market listings for a total of 31 listings over $5 million is 2004 and the u nder $2 ,0 0 0,0 0 0. We se e median days on market 240 days similar shortages of affordable or 8 months. Our market at the houses throughout the area. high end, and particularly those Inventory vs. New Listings in high-end houses in back country a Hot Market and midcountry are doing much Today’s hot housing market is better than in 2019, but over driven by new listings. Looking $10,000,000 we are still looking solely at inventory can be a little at 13.7 months of supply. This deceptive for two reasons. First is the same price category that many new never get counted only a couple of years ago we as active inventory in monthly were looking at months of supply report and certainly not in the measured in years. quarterly report. You don’t get to What’s the new year 1006 sales in Greenwich or 866 going to bring? sales in Northeast Westchester The short answer is I don’t without a significant number know, and I tend to be concerned of new listings coming on and
about anybody who says that they do know. If we assume that interest rates are going to go up, we should have a short burst of sales. Presently we have 29 sales in the middle of January and our ten-year average for January is 35 so despite this incredibly low inventory we will very likely be above our 10-year average for sa les by the end of the month. If interest rates increase significantly, they may well cut into sales as our lower inventory is doing now. Increasing interest rates will also likely switch some money from stocks to bonds, potentially resulting in lower demand for stock and hence lower stock prices. Higher interest rates will also push down bond prices lessening the wealth effect. With stock prices down, bond prices down and interest rates up, you would expect that demand will drop, however i nterest rates a re l i kely to below particularly compared to inflation. Even some softening in buyer demand is unlikely to result in a major correction given the lifestyle shift caused by work from home which looks to persist even after the pandemic. On the f lip side, after two torrid years of sales, lots of folks who had been thinking about downsizing or upsizing may have a lready done so. Downsizers often move out of the area or switch from houses to condos, while upsizers are more of a zero-sum game. Their purchase of a larger houses reduces inventory, but their sale of their older house adds a listing back to inventory. A lso, a thank you to my fellow Compass agents, Heather Harrison in Scarsdale, Peggy Jackson in the Sound Shore Communities, Kori Sassower in NE Westchester, John Bainton in Darien, Christine Saxe in New Canaan, Laurie Morris in Westport and Michael Ferraro online for their statistics and i n s i g ht s i n t h e i r m a rke t s . I, however, am responsible for any misstatements, mischaracterizations or just bad conclusions. Lastly, we can never discount, the black swan events and the emotions of the market. Stay tuned it’s going to be a fascinating market. Mark Pruner is the Greenwich Sentinel Real Estate Editor and a sales executive with Compass at 200 Greenwich Ave. He can be reached at mark .pruner@ compass.com or 203-969-7900.
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Puzzles and Coloring for the Weekend: Have Fun!
ON EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Page 21 | Greenwich Sentinel
From the Greenwich Sentinel Foundation: the weekly newsletter from educators to Greenwich parents.
CALVIN AND HOBBES © 1992 Watterson. Reprinted with permission of ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION. All rights reserved. WILDLY SUCCESSFUL
The Arctic Squirrel That Conquers Extreme Cold So just how does this creature achieve what none of the world’s other 6,500 or so mammal species can accomplish?
By Jim Knox
degrees Fahrenheit! This utterly unique capability comes at a cost, however. In order to withstand such extremes that would prove fatal to all other mammals and most of the world’s species, the ground squirrels deplete approximately one third of their body weight by burning stored fat. To accomplish this these ultimate survivors expand their menu beyond that of their close kin to include not only diverse plant species such as roots, grasses, f lowers, seeds, lichens, fungi, and berries but also to gorge on insects, other invertebrates, eggs, chicks, birds, carrion, lemmings, non-related young of their own species, and even young Snowshoe Hares! These voracious om n ivores consume everything possible
during the brief Arctic summer to make it throug h the long Arctic winter. Combining natural physical adapt at ion w it h b ehav iora l adaptation, the squirrels have learned to exploit a good thing. Expanding their selection beyond their traditional tundra, lake shore, meadow and riverbank habitats, these opportunistic rodents have moved in for the exc el lent ac c om mo d at ion s , setting up shop in loosened well-drained soils along road shoulders throughout the Alaskan roadway system. Yet, such success has caught the hungry eyes of others. With expanding habitat and stable numbers throug hout their range, the ground squirrels have attracted the attention of an army
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slowing of the body drops heart rate, respi ration, a nd other bodily processes to a baseline maintenance threshold. Unlike their amphibian neighbors, the Wood Frogs (which also live above the Arctic Circle), which enter a st ate of cont i nuous suspended animation, the ground squirrels rouse from their torpor every three weeks to shiver and use stored body fat. By doing this the large rodents enter a comfortable, or euthermic, temperature range of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees below their norm of 99 degrees). By rewarming in this manner for one to two days, these creatures ca n then endu re a mercu r y plummet where, incredibly, their body temperatures drop below freezing—to an astounding 27
of predators including Snowy Owls, Gyrfalcons, Rough-legged Hawks, Golden Eagles, Arctic Foxes, Gray Wolves and Grizzly Bears. Such seasonal abundance provides stability and resilience to delicate Arctic food webs. In the Arctic Ground Squirrel, nature’s extremes have forged a unique, resilient, and indispensable creature which offers us a glimpse into what is possible when natural ability is coupled with a dash of adaptation. Jim Knox serves as the Curator of Education for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and is a proud member of The Explorers Club. He enjoys sharing his passion for wildlife conservation with audiences in Connecticut and beyond.
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achieve what none of the world’s other 6,500 or so mammal species can accomplish? Specifically, how does it drop its body temperature more than 70 degrees to employ an entirely novel survival strategy among the planet’s mammals? The short answer is, we know the basics, but the finer mechanisms have proven elusive. Here’s what we know. In order to survive brutal Arctic conditions, Arctic Ground Squirrels hibernate for up to nine months each year. In August, as the temperatures begin their plummet, the ground squirrels seek shelter underground i n h i b e r n a c u l a (c o m mu n a l hibernation chambers). It’s here that they enter a form of turbocharged hibernation known as torpor. This extreme metabolic
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The frigid blast hit me the instant I stepped outside. While two degrees Fahrenheit was not surprising for a January morning in New England, it was bracing. Before I eased into the comfort of my warming car, I gazed around me, sweeping from north, to east, and then south. I thought of the Whitetail deer and the Redshouldered hawks in the forest and wetland surrounding me and how they would need to eat to generate vital body heat to survive the freezing day ahead and even colder night to follow. I then thought of the countless woodland denizens who would sleep off the coldest and harshest months of the year, safe, secure, and warm...or at least relatively warm...beneath the frost line of the rock-hard ground. One among these creatures, a cousin from the far north, immediately came to mind. I n a w o r l d o f n a t u r e ’s extremes, the Arctic Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus parryii, goes to the head of the class. Like most of the wild’s most astounding residents, this rodent do e sn’t s t a nd out by she e r app e a ra nce . Wit h a cre a mcolored belly and a brownish back f lecked with f ine white spots, North America’s largest ground squirrel blends in well in its arctic domain. At 19 inches in length and just 3.5 pounds in weight, it is a modest beast. Yet, what our little Arctic neighbor lacks in size, it more than makes up for in ability. With a perfectly calibrated body, metabolism, and lifestyle, the Arctic Ground squirrel is designed for life in one of the coldest habitats on the planet. Ranging from northern Canada to Alaska, to Siberia, these small mammals utilize their unmatched adaptations to conquer extreme cold. So just how does this creature
TH E N U M B E R O N E B RO K E R AG E I N G R E E N W IC H F O R T H E PA S T 7 Y E A R S
THE MARKET LEADER IN E V ERY PR IC E P O I NT 75
P RO P ERTI E S SO L D A S CO M PA R ED TO OT H ER G R EEN W I C H B RO K ER AG E S
HOU LI H A N L AW R ENCE S O T H E B Y ' S I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E A LT Y CO M PA S S
N U MB ER O F H O M E S SO LD
60
45
30
15
0 Under $2M
$2M to $3M
$3M to $4M
$4M to $5M
$5M or more
PROPERTY PRICE RANGE
P U T TH E P OW ER O F #1 TO W O R K F O R YO U .
GREENWICH B ROKER AGE
2 0 3 . 8 6 9. 0 7 0 0
I
RIVER SIDE B ROKER AGE
2 0 3 . 6 9 8 .1 2 3 4
I
HOU LIHANL AWRENCE.COM
Source: GMLS, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, total dollar volume sold of single family homes by company, Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside and Old Greenwich. Source: GMLS, 1/1/21 - 12/31/21, total dollar volume and total units sold of single family homes by company, Greater Greenwich.