March 20 , 2020

ECRWSS

March 20, 2020

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Schooling at Home

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Small Gesture Triggers Community-Wide Acts of Kindness Above: Greenwich Hospital Emergency Department staff express their gratitude.

What began as a small gesture by a group of Riverside residents to support a local eatery and first responders at Greenwich Hospital has blossomed into a community-wide act of kindness. Cody Kaye and a small group of friends ordered five pies from Greenwich Pizzeria for delivery to the Emergency Department on Tuesday, much to the delight and surprise of the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals working around-the-clock to care for patients. “We were looking for a way to support our local establishments and have the food delivered to people who we thought could use a break and a slice of pizza,” said Kaye. “Greenwich Hospital is our local hospital. We’ve all been there – whether to have a baby or bring a kid with a broken arm to the Emergency Department. It’s our way of saying thanks to people we can’t see in person.” As word of the pizza delivery spread, Kaye shared the news in an email to parents in her daughter’s third-grade class at Riverside School. The response has been tremendous.

“We’ve seen donations of $20 to $300,” said Kaye. On Wednesday, the Riverside residents were planning to deliver sandwiches from Aux Delice to Greenwich Hospital nurses working in the medicine unit. “We’ll keep ordering and delivering food as long as we have donations,” she said. “It’s the least we can do.”

Tackling Food Security Locally

By Julia Lucey Right now, it is our priority to stay healthy and safe. This means tak ing measures such as increased hand washing, social distancing, and staying home as frequently as we can. For many, this is easier said than done. Many families and individuals in Greenwich and surrounding communities don’t have the means to stock up on groceries all at once, now it is time for those of us who can to help to do as much as we can. Thankfully, in Greenwich, Stamford, and Port Chester alone there are outstanding food banks that are working hard to keep everyone fed.

Greenwich’s Neighbor to Neighbor operates as a “Client Choice” food pantry, predominantly serving Greenwich Residents.

Neighbor provides three days’ worth of food for each family member on a weekly basis, allowing clients to choose which food items they wish to have. As of March 18, Neighbor to Neighbor plans to keep their food pantry open amid the Covid-19 situation, and are prepared to do so after increasing their inventory. That being said, additional help from the community is invaluable to the organization and goes such a long way. Half of the food Neighbor to Neighbor distributes comes from community members; while they are not currently accepting clothing donations, Neighbor to Neighbor is gratefully accepting food and monetary donations at their donation center in the basement of Christ Church Greenwich. The Donation Center is open Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, as well as from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Currently, their most needed

items include tuna, chili, canned meats, canned fruit, jelly, cereal, dried beans, and rice. Of course, this may be a difficult time for some to go and donate food in person, but there are still other ways to help! Every dollar counts, literally: Neighbor to Neighbor buys in bulk, so for every one dollar you donate, this provides $2.50 worth of food.

You can donate directly through their website at ntngreenwich.org; all you have to do is fill out a form, and over 90% of your donation will go directly to Neighbor to Neighbor’s programs.

Si m i la rly, i n St a m for d, t he Ne w Covenant Center serves to provide meals to those who otherwise wouldn’t have one.

The NCC is one of the largest soup kitchens in Connecticut and is open 365 days a year, serving three meals a day. In addition to providing nutritious, hot meals everyday, the New Covenant Center’s food pantry provides almost 400 families with sufficient groceries each month. The organization plans to stay open during this time and are asking for the community’s help to ensure this can happen.

In terms of food items, all contributions help; some of their most needed items include canned tuna, jelly, canned soups, dried black beans, and macaroni. Some general items that are always useful include sugar, flour, oil, chicken broth, instant coffee, sardines, roasted almonds, canned evaporated milk, and oatmeal. Again, if physically donations are not within your capabilities at this time, no worries -- monetary donations are easily made at newcovenantcenter.org. NCC also has an amazon wishlist where you can purchase the food from amazon and have it shipped to their kitchen.

Additionally, The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, Inc. works to provide for about “90 non-prof it agencies and programs that serve low income people” in six nearby towns. They provide groceries and meals to soup kitchens, food pantries, childcare programs, homeless shelters, senior centers, and other crucial programs in our community. The virus is hitting the organization particularly hard, as many of the programs and services they provide goods to have had to increase their food distribution. In a recent statement, Kate Lombardo, the Food Bank’s executive director, explained that they currently have about half the food supplies they usually have in stock at this time of year. Lombardo requests that community members donate food items such as canned milk, soup, rice, pasta, cereal, and tuna. Donating money will also go a long way -- the more they are able to buy in bulk, the less it will cost them.

It is imperative that all of us help our food kitchens and nonprofits that provide food for so many across our town and county. These times are hard on all of us, without a doubt; most of us have never experienced something like this before.

Everyone’s concerns, disappointments, and confusion are valid, but to some members of the community, the effects COVID-19 has had on everyday life jeopardizes their access to sufficient meals. This is a time to support those around us (from a safe distance), so if you’re in a position to help, know that it matters. Remember, every dollar will go a great distance in helping everyone make it to the other end of this situation as easily as possible.

Tips and tricks for parents new to distance learning and having children at home from a veteran educator and homeschooling parent.

O b v i o u s l y, a l l o u r l i ve s a r e changing rapidly. If you have schoolaged children, this means adjusting to schooling at home. Whether you are assisting your children with distance learning or going it on your own, if this is new territory for you, help is available. Even seasoned home s cho ol i n g p a r e nt s w i l l b e struggling right now with the closing of libraries, cooperatives, and specialty schools. Remember that we are all in this together.

This could be such an incredible period of growth and bonding for you and your children that you might not want to let go when this is all over.

Hey, it could happen.

Until then, make the most of your time with your children and try to enjoy the process, adding in some levity to a rather daunting situation.

Hav i ng homeschooled my th ree children successfully into college and shepherded hundreds of children through a non-traditional educational experience, I have had twenty-one plus years learning from my mistakes.

I am here to help you avoid the big ones, while creating an enriching and warm environment in which you and your children will thrive.

The most important thing right now is to establish a predictable routine and a sense of normalcy for yourself and your children.

Establish clear goals and expectations upfront. This will help to balance the craziness outside your front door.

The next most important thing is a shift in perception. Let go of the traditional classroom. Let it go.

Traditional classrooms are designed for multiple students at varying levels.

Your situation is altogether different.

There are always multiple ways to both give and to absorb information.

The ones that are most ef fective for your child will depend on their learning style so try a few approaches and see what sticks. Legos are a great learning tool, used to teach physics, history, architecture, and logical thinking. Maybe they need to move around. Do not feel guilty about taking a hike and getting outside or playing a game. These are part of a remarkable life and a comprehensive education.

General Tips 1. Remember that no two families are alike. The endless flexibility and possibilities make home learning completely customizable for you and your children.

2. Set up an area close to you – or continued on page 13

Wagging Finger or Open Palm?

GreenwichSentinel.com

STORIES All story ideas.

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By Jill S. Woolworth, LMFT

CommunityImpact @ GreenwichSentinel.com

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Trial By Fire

In first months on the job, Camillo handed a crisis.

By Peter Negrea We sat down with the First Selectman Fred Camillo, to gauge the town’s reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. Camillo notes t hat si nce t he v i r us is accelerating in the United States, the Town of Greenwich is taking preventative measures early. The proactive measures taken by Camillo serve a dual mandate: to reduce community spread and to direct resources where they are

needed most. “We are ahead of where we need to be, but we need to stay on top of it,” says Camillo, “it’s eventually going to level off, then go down, and then we’ll be beyond it. But you just have to prepare people to not panic; we’re doing really well.”

The prevent ive me asu re s already implemented around town are not expected to stop the virus completely. There are already six conf irmed cases in Greenwich,

and an additional 24 cases that are awaiting test results. Therefore, town of f icials are redirecting resources from non-essential operations to the core functions of town government. “This [Town Hall] is essential, the transfer station and the dump is essential.

The sewage treatment plant is essential, [other departments like that]. These are the core functions of government,” Camillo explains.

continued on page 6

ILLUSTRATED BY WAJIH CHAUDHRY

SUBSCRIBERS Delivery questions or changes, contact: Tom at thomas@

Any demand can be stated as a request. The problem is, most of us wait too long to make our wishes known, hoping that the other person will intuit our requests. Partners aren’t mind readers. Neither are roommates.

It’s important to communicate our requests before resentment builds up. It’s easier to choose the right words and tone of voice when we’re not angry. Otherwise, out comes our wagging finger, our sharp tongue, or maybe even a verbal hammer.

It’s also important to find out the other person’s preferred form of communication. One person might prefer a written list; another person might perceive such a list as nagging.

When our partner experiences us as an angry, critical authority figure instead of a peer with a sincere request for help, we usually get nowhere. Our partner’s perception is reality regardless of our intent. Open palms have a higher hit-ratio than wagging fingers.

Sophia learned how to distinguish whether her partner, Scott, saw a wagging finger or an open palm by carefully observing his body movements as she made her requests. Scott moved toward her open palm and away from her wagging finger. She started over when she sensed Scott moving away.

Greenwich resident Jill Woolworth is the author of the book, The Waterwheel available locally at Diane's Books.

Page 2 | Greenwich Sentinel

Giving Starts at The First Bank of Greenwich

You....Pick The Charity We.....Write The Check Be a Part of our Charitable Checking Program For Program Details Contact: Emily Newcamp 203.302.4382 or Emily@GreenwichFirst.com Port Chester

Cos Cob

500 Westchester Avenue Port Chester, NY 10573 914.908.5444

444 East Putnam Avenue Cos Cob, CT 06807 203.629.8400

stamford

900 Summer Street Stamford, CT 06905 203.413.6101

GreenwichFirst.com NMLS 510513

ourCOMMUNITY The following retailers have sent us information about how they are doing business. This is a free listing and will be updated online at www.

GreenwichSentinel.com and in next week's print edition. If you have a business that you would like to include, go the the Sentinel website and click on Business Listing.

McArdle's - (203) 661-5600 https://www.mcardles.com (drive-thru, call/pickup, delivery) Store is open for cusotmers.

Curbside pick up.

In store pick up.

Delivery

We are here for YOU! Our office is PREPARED and Will remain OPEN To care for all your eye needs.

Stay safe and sanitized!

See Dr. Fucigna 203-348-7575

http://www.catalanoandsons.com phil@catalanoandsons.com (203) 531-9207 Cleaning by Swept Away, Inc 112 Southfield Ave PH17, Stamford Residential, Commercial and Post Construction Cleaning Company. Deep cleaning and Disinfecting Available. http://www.sweptaway.us Emily@sweptaway.us (203) 820-5821 Consigned Designs 115 Mason Street, Greenwich

Throughout the years, McArdle’s has grown with the times. For four generations and over 100 years, they have provided Greenwich and the surrounding cities with the very best floral arrangements, indoor plants, outdoor plants, garden and landscaping supplies, and gifts.

Consigned Designs is a small business in Greenwich, CT offering authentic, pre-owned luxury Clothing, Shoes, Handbags and other exclusive high-end designer fashion products. We always offer a consignment pick up or drop off service for your convenience.

Val's - Deliver - (203) 869-2299 http://valsputnamwines.com

We We We We

Store is open for cusotmers.

Curbside pick up.

In store pick up.

Delivery For over 58 years, Val’s has been serving the Greenwich community and has taken great pride in providing the best wines and craft beers to everyone who walks through their doors.

Smart Kids - (203) 869-0022 https://www.smartkidswithld.org Store is open for cusotmers.

Curbside pick up.

In store pick up.

Delivery Smart Kids has been selling the best educational toys for over 30 years. They are locally owned and serve our community and the immediate surrounding area with expert sales advice and responsive customer service.

Claudette Styles - Free Delivery - (203) 990-0600 https://claudettestyles.com Claudette decided to open her first boutique in Greenwich. Claudette opened her first store in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich and within her first year, she opened her second store in the Hyatt Regency hotel also in Greenwich. Claudette eventually consolidated those two stores to her current location at 177 Sound Beach Ave. Greenwich, CT. Diane's Books - Curbside - (203) 869-1515 - https:// www.dianesbooks.com Store is open for cusotmers.

Curbside pick up.

In store pick up.

Delivery An expert on all things literary, Diane's literary prowess and local celebrity is noticed by many in Greenwich.The shop is bursting with books. Her judgment free attitude (“I don’t care what you read, as long as you’re reading,” ) and her highly selective inventory (“Every book we have is there for a reason.”) keeps customers repeatedly returning for book selection assistance and gift recommendations.

Some even refer to her as “the book matchmaker.”

Bella Nonna Restaurant & Pizza 280 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich Italian Restaurant & Pizza We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for a fee.

Save 20% when ordering online from our website or by downloading our APP and ordering for pickup & delivery. http://www.bellanonnagreenwich.com Bellanonnagreenwich@gmail.com (203) 992-1888

are open for customers. have curbside pick up. have instore pick up. will deliver for free.

Consigned Designs will be open to customers by appointment or drop - in (one person at a time) during the next few weeks. Feel free to call Ellen at 203 9122698 to make an appointment for a personal shopping experience or drop in because Ellen or Leslie will be at the store working on website sales. Be sure to knock, if the door is locked. http://www.consigneddesigns.com consigneddesigns13@gmail.com (203) 912-2698 Corbo's Corner Deli 1380 East Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich Deli/catering We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for free.

Business as usual, take out, pick up and delivery. https://www.corbosdeli.com/mobile corboscatering@gmail.com (203) 625-1155 Fairfield Shore Endodontics 4 Deerfield Drive, Suite 104, Greenwich Endodontic dental office.

We are open for pts in pain or who may have swelling. http://www.Fairfieldrct.com Fairfieldrct@gmail.com (203) 255-3636 Fiorentino’s Pizza 122 River Rd. Ext, Cos Cob Pizza take out & delivery We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for a fee.

We offer pickup and delivery to Greenwich, Stamford, Cos Cob & Riverside. https://www.littleluigispizzamenu.com/ (203) 629-2222 Greenwich Cheese Company 154 E. Putnam Ave, Cos Cob Cheese and specialty food shop We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

Cadillac of Greenwich 144 Railroad Ave, Greenwich Luxury Automotive Service and Sales We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for free.

We are monitoring the situation in our community daily. We are currently open for repairs, roadside assistance, and new transportation requests by reservation. Please stay home if you are sick or have been exposed, as are mandating for our associates as well. You may complete full transactions online (including leasing) through our "Start your Deal" function from home. http://www.cadillacofgreenwich.com (203) 625-6300 Catalano and Sons 34 S. Water St. , Greenwich "Boat and motor sales and service.

Auto repairs."

We are open for customers.

Please call to set up an appointment.

203-869-2299 for FREE Delivery

Page 3 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

Wildly Successful: Humans Cooperation and Teamwork

By Jim Knox

I have a complicated relationship with tigers.

More than 20 years ago I was drawn to work with them. I leapt at the opportunity! Upon caring for these greatest of the great cats, I came to appreciate the unmatched power they commanded and the visceral fear they could incite with the fix of their gaze and the wrinkle of their facial fur as they retracted their flanges over 3-inch canines.

Then, there was the roar—the terror-inducing voice of all things wild and unconquerable. It rooted me to the ground and let me know that there were beasts far greater than any single human. Yet for the terror the tiger inspired in me, there was another, even more powerful emotion it conjured—awe. The tiger was perhaps the most majestic creature I’d ever beheld. Infinitely powerful and beautiful, it roamed the forests of my mind without rival. Over time I came to appreciate the nuances of the cats; their distinct personalities and habits, and with them, a new perspective.

As a species, we’ve come to know the tiger’s hallmark ferocity and, while it’s truly at the core of the tiger’s nature, what is often lost is the why behind the snarl and the roar. Aside from their first two years spent at mom’s side, a tiger’s life is a solo act. To some perhaps, the tiger’s roar is a futile attempt to drown out the silence of a life unaccompanied. The roar is the voice of an animal who must proclaim territory and intimidate rivals without backup. It goes on the offensive because a tiger has no companions to defend it.

There are others who adopt a different strategy altogether. Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are large ground squirrels who give the word gregarious a new meaning. The largest known prairie dog town in Texas was larger than our home state of Connecticut and held a population estimated at more than 400 million animals! Yes, We have instore pick up.

We are open and offering in store shopping as well as curbside pickup.

Please call the shop to order. https://www.fairfieldcheese.com/ Chris@fairfieldcheese.com (203) 340-9227 Greenwich Wellness 11 Maple Ave, Greenwich Dr. Adam Massoud opened Greenwich Wellness in 2009. The mission at Greenwich Wellness is to end the “sick care” model and focus on preventative health care using the most effective natural therapies. The office motto is, “healthcare the way nature intended”.

Dr. Massoud and his team has successfully treated visceral conditions ranging from indigestion, insomnia, allergies, sinus infections, infant colic, prenatal wellness, along with bacterial and viral infections. Patients come from Westchester and Fairfield County, Manhattan, Hartford, Rockland County, North Jersey, and Massachusetts.

We are open for customers. http://Greenwichwellness.com info@greenwichwellness.com (203) 637-1111 Hoagland’s 175 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich We specialize in tabletop, home furnishings, gifts, and seasonal decor.

We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

We will deliver for free.

We are open Monday-Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. www.hoaglands.com Info@hoaglands.com (203) 869-2127 Long Ridge Music Center 1068 Long Ridge Road, Stamford We provide music lessons for private, one on one instruction to children and adults. We teach piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, voice and more.

We are open for customers.

We are offering online lessons as well. http://www.longridgemusic.com rebecca@longridgemusic.com (203) 968-1068 Lynnens Inc 278 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich "Fine linens...bed, bath and table Custom work" We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for a fee.

Starting this weekend, we will have the door closed but a sign up to call and one of us will come out with the customer's order or let the customer in. Also, directing people to our website Lynnens. com We will be shipping and receiving in a

Tigers are among the most impressive solitary beasts on the planet. Their distant mammalian cousins, the prairie dogs, are among nature's most successful. Meet a third species which can adapt and thrive in the most challenging environmental conditions.

family units within those neighborhoods. These industrious little mammals excavate specialized burrows for specific purposes; some for latrines, others for nurseries for their young, still others for pantries designated strictly for food storage.

In short, the prairie dogs’ tremendous success and resilience is directly linked to adherence to its societal rules.

They face dangers too—Black-footed Ferrets, Golden Eagles and badgers to name a few, and they have sentries who monitor the colony for the appearance of threats to their health. These sentries give barking calls to warn the others— hence the name prairie dogs. In the process these sentries save lives.

Prairie dog society isn’t perfect. Like us humans, they are known to posture, squabble and on occasion, fight. Despite the f lare ups which inevitably occur, the strength of the colony is derived from the strength of the individual, which is leveraged and amplified. These tough and admirable beasts rely heavily on the family unit to govern itself within the ward, just as the ward governs itself within the colony. All of this is predicated upon the individual observing the protocols of the society: giving her/his neighbors space, fulfilling specific roles at different times and working cohesively with those around them.

Us humans, we’re quite a bit different than tigers. Much smaller, far slower and infinitely weaker, we couldn’t possibly match this beast.

How did we ever survive the forests of antiquity?

For all of our physical limitations, we possess something the tiger does not. Specifically, we are social creatures. The detailed answer lies in our parallels to those adorable prairie dogs. Surviving and thriving in societies of hundreds of millions is no accident. Cooperation and teamwork is in our DNA. It’s what we do and do so very well.

In these trying times, uncertainty can creep into our thoughts and cloud our resolve. In nature we find the answer to innumerable challenges that vex us. While the prairie dog has so much to share—so much it can teach us, there is yet another species that is even more resilient and worthy of emulation. These creatures are more resourceful than all others. As tenacious as they are inventive, they grow solutions from soil which is fertile with problems. And, these creatures have a name. We call them...humans.

Jim Knox serves as the Curator of Education for Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and as a Science Adviser for The Bruce Museum. Jim has a passion for working with endangered creatures and sharing that knowledge with people of all ages.

that’s no typo. So how do these creatures live in such vast numbers to survive and thrive?

P ra i r ie dog societ y doesn’t just va lue coexistence and cohabitation, it absolutely relies upon it. Yet it does so with very stringent rules. The only way for these creatures to share precious food and space resources is to adhere

to protocols. On the literal and figurative surface, these small mammals appear stacked on top of each other. Yet the reality is that they maintain their own unique and highly effective form of social distancing. Specifically, they are divided up into wards and coteries. Wards are prairie dog versions of neighborhoods and coteries are the

separate dept.

http://www.samspcny.com sams@samspcny.com (914) 939-2001

even if that person is you! With a wide range of price-points, you don’t have to spend a lot to SPLURGE!

Threads & Treads 17 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich "Offering The Very Best In Running Shoes, Fitness Apparel, Swimwear and everything OUTDOOR that we need to keep moving and get fresh air!

She La La - Deliver, online shopping 203-769-5444 - https://shopshelala.com/ pages/greenwich

http://www.lynnens.com sales@lynnens.com (203) 629-3659 Michaelangelo, Ltd. 410 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich Gifts and engraving. We are happy to engrave your own items if they are metal-keyring, frame, watch etc. We do not engrave on outside glass or leatheronly our own.

Call us to shop by phone, free gift wrap and curbside delivery.

We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

Free monogram on all gifts.

Call me to shop by phone, free gift wrap and curbside delivery. http://www.MikeGifts.com Info@mikegifts.com (203) 661-8540 ONS 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich ONS has been a leading provider of orthopedic and spine care in our community for more than 20 years. In this time of crisis, we are now offering ONS Telehealth services to existing patients whose circumstances do not require an in-office visit. Call us at 203869-1145 to learn if you are a candidate for ONS Telehealth.

Until further notice, all ONS appointments will be limited to acute, urgent orthopedic conditions. For updates about ONS services and hours of operation, please visit our website at https://onsmd.com.

Our Hours Are Reduced To: 10am-4pm Mon-Sat & Sunday Noon-4pm" We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

We will deliver for free.

"We're offering FREE SAME DAY DELIVERY In Town To All Customers.

Pay Over The Phone - In-Store By APPLE PAY / NO TOUCH OPTION! We can check stock over the phone or text, we can send photos of products.

Deliveries we can leave on the doorstep or desired location to ensure safety. https://threadsandtreads.com myardis@gmail.com (203) 661-0142 Splurge - Deliver - (203) 869-7600 https://www.splurgegifts.com SPLURGE offers something for every taste and occasion, presented in a warm and inviting space in the heart of Greenwich’s coveted shopping district.

Our experienced staff can help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list,

A jewelry, accessories, home and gift store. She La La also does monograms.

Bona Bona Ice Cream - truck/house calls - (914) 481-5712 - http://www. bonabonaicecream.com Bona Bona Ice Cream is the joyful creation of Chef Nick Di Bona. For him, it’s all about flavor. And to get the best flavor, he uses the best possible ingredients and makes it in small batches, from scratch, with love.

Roller Rabbit - Delivery (free shipping) - (203) 869-1969 https://rollerrabbit.com

UPDATES • Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the Town’s Emergency Alert Notification System at greenwichct. bbcportal.com/Entry • Take a moment to check out what is available on the Town’s website site, greenwichct.gov, as much of town business can be managed by phone, email, or online.

We are open for customers.

We have curbside pick up.

We will deliver for free.

ONS is continually monitoring the health crisis in our community and adapting our procedures accordingly to protect the health and safety of our patients & staff. https://onsmd.com contact@onsmd.com (203) 869-1145 Plum Pure Foods 236 East Putnam Ave., Cos Cob We We We We

have curbside pick up. have instore pick up. will deliver for free. will deliver for a fee.

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We are delivering for free when you call in orders at 203-869-7586. If you order on line there is still a fee, sorry about that.

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michael.f@plumpurefoods.com (203) 869-7586 Sams Bar and Grill 1 Mill Street, Port Chester

“Today everything’s moving at the speed of light and to be

successful, you‘d better move right along with it. I simply hit my

“GoRudy’s” app and they’re right there when I needthem...24/7.

Restaurant Sams Bar Grill is open for take out every day. Thanks.

I rely on Rudy’s to get me moving and keep me moving, so,

We have curbside pick up.

We have instore pick up.

Will deliver large orders.

READY. RESPONSIVE. RELIABLE.

when opportunity knocks, I’m right there to answer the door.”

WCTLC 00083-16 | TLC#B02597 | DOT# 1951 | ICC# MC15081

Page 4 | Greenwich Sentinel

Vivienne Finn

Due to the current situation with COVID-19, Vivienne’s funeral was only direct family. The family will host a celebration of her life this coming summer. Until then, we would like to share her mother's eulogy. From our dear friend, Mairead Finn My Dear Vivienne .. I hope as you are looking down from Heaven that you are finally able to see how much you were adored, admired and loved. The amount of people that reached out to your dad and I is a true testament to the impact you had on everyone who met you in your short 11 years.

During the last few weeks your advisor Ms. Weinman and Mr. Olson had asked if we wanted some get well cards sent home to cheer you up. Viv from the couch had said are you kidding me, blah blah… “Get well soon” no one cares. Instead after your death on Tuesday the kids organically collected around your locker and started drawing and writing notes of affection. It has become a shrine of Heart felt notes from Girls telling us how positive and Inspiring you were…

Vivienne was such a fashionista.. Every next occasion had a planned dress, an accessory. I dressed her yesterday with Mimi for today’s burial in her Easter dress. She had it already bought and hung this beautiful blue and white dress in her closet. I figured my fashion choice was safe for her travels to Heaven.

You were always a lady who could wear a hat and turn heads. I remember being in Paris and having to hunt down a purple beret for you.

When Vivienne was first diagnosed with a brain tumor and she had to undergo a biopsy to analyze her cancer mutation. Dr Kahle had plaited her hair up so as to clear away from the incision site. She cheekily told the neurosurgeon “do not give up his day job!! ” I especially miss her wit and humor. She had a belly laugh and

UPDATES, cont.

• Greenwich Department of Human Services: Greenwich residents seeking assistance can call 203-622-3800.

• Greenwich Hospital/Yale New Haven Health: call center for any questions about the virus, can be reached at 833-2759644.

slapped the table for effect. If you asked her to do something she didn’t want to do she would say “Let’s put a pin on that”. If you served her a nutritious meal and she wasn’t quite into it. She’d say barf in a hole. She loved desserts and I don’t know a treat she didn’t like she would say “Viv goes cra cra when she has Sug Sug “ (Vivienne is crazy for sugar).

I miss the glee and excitement she had when she got a gift for someone and knew it was exactly what they wanted. She was so thoughtful and would rub her hands furiously together to reward herself on a job well done.

Vivienne is my third child. I had sadly miscarried twice before Vivienne and I wanted to name her well. You see Vivienne means “to live” ironic right. I remember thinking God must be making a complete mockery of me when she was given an inoperable brain tumor.

Why ?? I guess in my theological understanding bad things only happen to bad people...Obviously not the case. I knew the destiny of my daughter’s illness couldn’t be changed by my hands. David and I chose to ease her burden by being in her quiet presence. My Heart carried by Love embraced her cross.

“Excruciating” comes from a Latin word “out of the cross’ In the last few weeks of her life Vivienne at points had excruciating pain.

She joined a fellowship of sufferers. Suffering is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be wondered.

Jesus is the only one and Mary to understand our pain. I now know the cross is empty for a reason. Out of Vivienne’s illness “Love” triumphed. God brought her as he promised to live with Him in Heaven. Yes, today’s road leads to a grave but so does everyone. Though I walked thru a valley of darkness no evil shall I fear. The Holy Spirit did step in on Tuesday to give David and I the strength and grace to deal with Vivienne’s passing.

• The State of Connecticut is partnering with United Way of Connecticut to launch an information hotline for questions from the public regarding issues related to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). People who have questions can call 2-1-1 or text “CTCOVID” to 898211.

GREENWICH TOWN HALL Effective Tuesday, March 17, Greenwich Town Hall is closed

to the public. Time sensitive services will be provided by appointment only. Please contact the department directly to request help. All face-to-face interaction should be extremely limited. Please allow sufficient time for a response.

GREENWICH FIRST RESPONDERS Greenwich First Responders will maintain their assigned shifts and schedules. The Public Safety Complex will have extremely limited access to the public. All Fire Stations are closed to the public. For nonemergency issues call 203-6228000.

GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Outdoor Furniture Restorations & Sales

Custom powder coating and expert restoration of fine patio furniture

While Greenwich Public Schools are closed, they are providing breakfast and lunch during the school week Monday-Friday.

Both meals will be delivered at the same time. For more information on Greenwich Public School updates and food pick-up locations visit greenwichschools.org/teachinglearning/student-supportservices/health-services or call 203-625-7400.

Pick Up Locations Route 1 10:45am: Central Middle School Front Circle 11:15am: Julian Curtiss School Front Circle 11:40am: Wilbur Peck front parking lot 12:05pm: Town Hall (main visitor lot)

Pick-up and Delivery Available Powder Coated Finishes • Restrapping • Welding Sandblasting • Sling Replacement

PattysPortico.com 140 Highland Street, Port Chester, NY 10573 914.935.8839

Route 2 11am: Glenville Elementary School Front Circle 11:30am: Hamilton Avenue, Parking Lot 12pm: Armstrong Court (in front of the handicapped parking spaces) 12:30pm: New Lebanon School, Parking Lot 12:55pm: Western Middle School, Front Circle Route 3 11am Eastern Middle School, Front Parking Lot 11:25am Adams Garden (In front of the Community Building) INDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES All indoor recreation facilities – the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center and the Bendheim

If there is one thing I want you to take away from Vivienne’s death if you see someone in pain and suffering, make yourself free of hesitation, free to see and serve them. Never be afraid to trust an unknown to a known God. I now Know, Vivienne Finn is/was the perfect name for my daughter as she lives forever with God and we are so proud to be your mom and dad. Till we meet again.

David and I would like to thank Sacred Heart of Greenwich that gave her normal and never treated her like a cancer victim but gave her the spiritual courage for the journey ahead and is truly today leading her home. Ms. Hayes and Board of Trustees who opened her school up to bury their student. Ms. Campana and Ms Carrasequero who has taken away the burden of planning this funeral. Ms. Weinman, Nurse Walsh and Mr. Olson who gave us the courage to believe she could have a normal school day.

To all our friends who held us up. To Vivienne’s grandparents, aunts and uncles here and across the pond, who stood ready for 17 months to help us on a whim. We are grateful for the medical expertise from Greenwich Pediatrics, MSK and Yale.

Your heart and medical expertise left us hopeful. Fr Jordan who co- celebrated her mass today who heard her First Confession and Holy Communion. To Deacon Patrick Moynihan and wife Christine who helped with the homily and getting us through the painful experience of burying our daughter. Fr Carlos who journeyed to her school for her funeral mass because Vivienne had attended mass at St Clements weekly.

I want to thank Viviennes’ Siblings that sacrificed for the love of their sister. You never made your dad or I feel guilt while caring for your sister. Lastly to my husband David, we had vowed in marriage for better or for worse. I would never want to do worse with anyone other than you.

Western Greenwich Civic Center - are closed to the public.

site, have also been canceled or postponed through this period.

GREENWICH LIBRARY

All education resources from Sharks4Kids are online, and free. Lesson plans, teaching guides, activities, crafts and more. Bringing your class on a field trip to the Bruce Museum just got easier. Apply for a bus scholarship today. For more information, visit brucemuseum. org

Greenwich Library Board of Trustees, Greenwich Library and its Byram Shubert and Cos Cob branches are closed to the public until further notice.

Patrons can ask reference questions via: greenwichlibrary. org/forms/ask-librarian All Library programs, use of meeting facilities by outside groups, and in-person meetings, are cancelled until further notice. Due dates for all materials are extended indefinitely. Please do not return Library materials to their book drops. Library cards scheduled to expire in March or April have been extended until April 30.

Visit greenwichlibrary.org for any updates and new developments.

PERROT LIBRARY Perrot Library is closed to the public until further notice. All due dates have been extended to April 1. For more information, visit perrotlibrary.org KIDS IN CRISIS Need help? Not sure? Kids In Crisis’ trained Crisis Counselors are available to help. You are not alone. Call Kids In Crisis helpline 24-hours a day at 203661-1911.

GREENWICH COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Scouting for Food TownWide Collection - Greenwich Scouting would like to support Neighbor to Neighbor during this difficult time by focusing on online donations. greenwichscouting.org BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH The Club is closed through at least March 31. Access to the building will be restricted except for the crew of workers engaged in a deep cleaning of the facility. All regular activities are canceled while the Club remains closed. Spring Programs will begin when the Club reopens.

For more information, visit bgcg.org or follow facebook. com/BGCGKids BRUCE MUSEUM The Bruce Museum is closed to the public through Monday, April 6. All Museum programs and events, on-site as well as off-

GREENWICH AUDUBON CENTER The Center building will be closed through at least March 27. The Center’s trails will remain open with appropriate measures to protect the health of visitors. If you plan to visit, you are welcome to explore outside, but there won’t be restrooms or accommodations available. For more information, visit greenwich.audubon.org GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Greenwich Historical Society is closed effective March 14 and until further notice. All public programs and tours are cancelled. The office will remain open to staff and scheduled visitors. For more information, call 203-869-6899 or visit greenwichhistory.org GREENWICH BOTANICAL CENTER Greenwich Botanical Center is postponing all public programs and events for the next two weeks through March 30. Trails and gardens remain open. The Greenhouse may be open by appointment to purchase plants or books to read. GBC is also taking orders for 2020 Plants of the Year and Pollinator Garden kits (order deadline: April 1; order pick up: April 22 & 23, between 10am & 4pm). For additional information, contact info@greenwichbotanicalcenter. org or 203-869-9242, or visit greenwichbotanicalcenter.org YWCA OF GREENWICH YWCA is closed until further notice. All programs, with the exception of Domestic Abuse Services are suspended. To reach the Domestic Abuse Services staff, please call the 24/7 hotline at 203-622-0003.

Please visit ywcagreenwich.org for updates.

YMCA OF GREENWICH YMCA is closed until further notice. Please visit

Work Out Options

By Julia Lucey Now that we’re finding ourselves spending more time in our homes, it’s only a matter of a few days (or hours, even) until you get restless. Luckily, there’s still an abundance of ways to get moving within the comfort of your own home. While it’s not your traditional trip to the gym or run around town, these at-home workouts can be effective and fun in the coming weeks.

These workouts can be as no-frills as sets of pushups or situps. All you really need for this is your body and a flat surface. If you’re struggling to come up with a workout plan off the top of your head or just want to try something new the entire internet is at your disposal, and in terms of workouts, it has everything. Missing your Monday Pilates class?

Youtube has a seemingly endless supply of videos to lead you through an exercise session. Just queue one up, place your screen in front of you, and follow along.

Looking for an ab workout? Plenty of fitness websites can provide you with a long list of exercises just for that purpose. Whatever you are looking for in your workout, chances are you can find a little guidance from a video or website.

Working out alone may be something very different to those accustomed to exercising with the company of a friend or a team, but it doesn’t have to be a bad experience. While practicing social distancing, try making use of Skype or FaceTime, and do your workouts together over video chat. Many of us find

greenwichymca.org/coronavirus-covid-19updates/ for additional information and an important update about members who have belongings in rental lockers.

GREENWICH ARTS COUNCIL GAC is closed until further notice. Please visit greenwichartscouncil.org for more information.

McARDLE’S Drive-through Shopping – call 203-6615600 from your car, from the McArdle’s driveway, and staff will come out and get you what you need to keep busy during this sudden change to your family’s routine. The store will also offer free delivery this week. For more information, visit mcardles.com STOP & SHOP Effective on Thursday, March 19, Stop & Shop will create hours specifically geared to accommodate customers 60 and older. Stop & Shop stores will open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. ONLY for customers over the age of 60 who the CDC and local health officials say are most vulnerable. (Stop & Shop will reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group).

CAREN’S COS COBBER Caren’s Cos Cobber is closing for two weeks, effective March 18. For additional information, follow facebook.com/ carenscoscobber ST. LAWRENCE SOCIETY The Club and the Pub are closed, and all events are cancelled until further notice. For more information, visit stlawrencesociety.com ABILIS Effective Tuesday, March 17, the Commission from the State Department of Developmental Services has ordered Abilis to prohibit all visitors to their Licensed Residences for the next 30 days.

RIVER HOUSE ADULT DAY CENTER As of March 17, River House will be closed for the next two weeks.

They aim to reopen on April 1.

Please check facebook.com/ RiverHouseAdultDayCenter for updates.

AMERICA’S BOATING CLUB OF GREENWICH As of March 15, all of the Club’s classes

our motivation in the solidarity of getting through a tough exercise together; seeing a friend or teammate on a screen doing the same workout as you can help make your modified training session more fun.

Unfortunately, local gyms have had to temporarily close in response to Covid-19, but they too are using technology to bring their classes to you! Some gyms around town are holding live stream classes -- all you need is to tune into the platform where they’re streaming at the scheduled time and follow along.

Pure Barre, a local barre studio, is not offering inperson barre classes for the time being, but through Facebook’s live stream feature, they’re bringing their classes to your living room. Current members of Pure Barre can join the “Pure Barre Greenwich & White Plains - Livestream Access” Facebook group; nonmembers can email greenwich@purebarre.com to request access to live stream classes.

Edge Fitness Club, which has a location here in Greenwich, is offering live classes through their Instagram, @theedgefitnessclubs. They plan to post a timeline for the next day’s workouts the night before, typically providing a morning, midday, and evening class. Each class will be between 30-45 minutes, and they are all designed to accommodate for any lack of equipment: none will be required!

Old Greenwich’s Elevate Fitness is closed until further notice, but they too are doing what they can to keep customers up and moving. They are offering virtual classes through FaceTime and Zoom for their

and events are canceled for two months. For more information, visit greenwichsps.wordpress.com GREENWICH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Greenwich Chamber is rescheduling or cancelling all events scheduled for April and May. Please check lnkd.in/dHtKCiR for updates.

OPEN SPACES Town beaches, parks, the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, and open spaces will remain open. There isn’t any access to bathrooms at school facilities. Limited bathrooms will be available at open Town sites. Playground equipment is closed.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 12 p.m.

RTM Deadline for submitting materials. greenwichct.gov 7 - 9:30 p.m.

CANCELLED: Friday Night Roller Skating.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

CANCELLED: Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS): Mental Health First Aid for First Responders.

9 - 11 a.m.

CANCELLED: Friends of Byram Shubert Book Donation Drop Off. CANCELLED: Dodge for a Cause.

Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, 4 Horseneck Ln. 10 a.m.

Kundalini yoga with Jyoti Indra remote video session (done from your own home). NAAD Center - 177 West Putnam Ave. $40. 929-255-4362. naadcentergreenwich@gmail.com. naadcenter.com/appointments 12 p.m.

Gong Sound Meditation with Jyoti Indra - remote video session. NAAD Center - 177 West Putnam Ave. $30. 929-2554362. naadcentergreenwich@gmail.com. naadcenter.com/appointments SUNDAY, MARCH 22 10 a.m.

Pranayama (breathwork) with Jyoti Indra - remote video session. NAAD Center - 177 West Putnam Ave. $30. 929-2554362. naadcentergreenwich@gmail.com. naadcenter.com/appointments 12 p.m.

clients, continuing with workout plans and training sessions.

Greenwich Crossfit’s members can make use of virtual workouts the gym is posting to their website each day. Each video explains the workout and provides directions for each exercise; Crossfit members can take it from there.

Meditation class with Jyoti Indra - remote video session. NAAD Center - 177 West Putnam Ave. $15. 929-255-4362. naadcentergreenwich@gmail.com. naadcenter.com/appointments 2 p.m.

CANCELLED: The 46th Greenwich Saint Patrick’s Day Parade 2:30 p.m.

Greenwich Suzuki Academy is Calling All Music Makers for Porch Concerts across the region - go on your porch, front lawn, balcony, open a window, or find any usable outside place. Start with Twinkle in the Key of D (on the off-chance we can hear and play with each other!), and after that, play what you fancy. If you can’t play an instrument, sing. If you can’t sing, dance (if you are feeling bold).

Everyone is invited.

MONDAY, MARCH 23

Exercise means something different for everyone; it comes in all different shapes and forms. Most can agree that working out and breaking a sweat is an effective way to get your mind off of your stress. At a time as stressful and unfamiliar as this, a workout might be just what you need. Set a reasonable goal for yourself and have fun!

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 7 – 10 p.m.

POSTPONED: TAG (Transportation Association of Greenwich) Casino Night.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2 6 p.m.

POSTPONED TO JUNE 25: Breast Cancer Alliance 1st Annual Poker Tournament. GlenArbor Golf Club, 234 Bedford Center Rd., Bedford Hills, NY. $150. 203-861-0014. info@breastcanceralliance.org. breastcanceralliance.org/events FRIDAY, APRIL 3 POSTPONED TO OCT. 16: ‘Women Who Matter’ Luncheon. Greenwich Country Club, 19 Doubling Rd. 203-869-3500. greenwichchamber@greenwichchamber. com. greenwichchamber.com

7 - 10 p.m.

CANCELLED: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency Meeting.

POSTPONED TO JUNE 19: Open Arts Alliance ‘Steps in Time’ annual cocktail party fundraiser. Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. openartsalliance.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

7 -p.m.

CANCELLED: Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting.

7 - 11 p.m.

POSTPONED TO OCT. 23: Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation: ‘Emily’s Chimes’. Arch Street Teen Center, 100 Arch St. info@emsway.org. emsway.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 10 - 11:30 a.m.

CANCELLED: Greenscape Committee Meeting.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL EVENTS: All March events are cancelled: THROUGH APRIL 5

11 a.m.

CANCELLED: Retired Men’s 7 - 8:30 p.m.

POSTPONED until further notice: Greenwich Conservation Commission Spring Environmental Series THURSDAY, MARCH 26 6:30 p.m.

Winter 2020 EMT/ EMR Refresher Class. Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS), 1111 East Putnam Ave. Free-$300. facebook.com/ events/1308059862715681 7:30 p.m.

POSTPONED: ICC Greenwich: Satyajit Ray’s ‘The Music Room’. The Avon, 272 Bedford St., Stamford. iccgreenwich.org FRIDAY, MARCH 27 7 p.m.

POSTPONED: The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, Inc. (The Patrol) 2020 Benefit.

9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Safe Roads Sundays - walkers, bikers, joggers, and skaters can enjoy the open roads of Greenwich Point, as most vehicular traffic is restricted from the roads beyond the main parking lots.

Friends of Greenwich Point sponsors and funds this annual program. info@ friendsofgreenwichpoint.org. friendsofgreenwichpoint.org THROUGH APRIL 8 Easter Basket Drive: Splurge partners with Kids In Crisis and The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County to collect filled Easter baskets for children in need.

Cellophane wrapped Easter baskets can be filled with items for children ages 2 to 17 and can include toys, journals, games, personal care items, gift cards, packaged healthy snacks and traditional Easter candy. Splurge, 39 Lewis St. 203869-7600.

Tax Deadlines

DMV Renewal

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is using their statutory authority to grant an automatic extension of Connecticut filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns in order to support businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak effectively immediately.

This is consistent with the emergency declarations signed by Governor Lamont.

“DRS understands some business taxpayers may find it difficult to meet tomorrow’s state tax filing deadline, given current circumstances,” said Commissioner Biello. “This extension is designed to support these taxpayers, and tax practitioners, meet their responsibility to file returns and remit payments. DRS encourages those with questions specific to their own, individual circumstances to call or e-mail the agency.”

Acting Commissioner of Revenue Services John Biello is exercising this authority under Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-2(a)(5).

Effective immediately, the filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns due on or after March 15, and before June 1, are extended by at least 30 days. In addition, the payments associated with these returns are also extended to the corresponding due date in June.

The impacted returns and the associated filing dates and payment deadlines are set forth below: • 2019 Form CT-1065/CT-1120 SI Connecticut Pass-Though Entity Tax Return: Filing date extended to April 15, 2020; payment deadline extended to June 15 • 2019 Form CT-990T Connecticut Unrelated Business Income Tax Return: Filing date extended to June 15, 2020; payment deadline extended to June 15 • 2019 Form CT-1120 and CT-1120CU Connecticut Corporation Business Return: Filing date extended to June 15, 2020; payment deadline extended to June 15 Individuals in the process of preparing their Connecticut income tax (Form CT-1040) returns due April 15, should be advised that DRS will adjust due dates for filing and payment of state income taxes to align with any specific, actionable announcement from the Internal Revenue Service regarding due dates for the filing and payment of federal income taxes. Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the DRS website for updates.

Those who need to contact DRS regarding their specific situation may e-mail DRS@po.state.ct.us or call 860-297-5962 (from anywhere); 800-382-9463 (within CT, outside Greater Hartford area only); or 860297-4911 (Hearing Impaired, TDD/TT users only).

The Department of Motor Vehicles – acting on the recent Declaration signed by Governor Ned Lamont – now offers an extension period to Connecticut residents with expiring credentials. Eligible DMV credentials that expire between March 10, 2020 and June 8, 2020 are automatically covered by this extension. The extension is effective immediately.

The extension includes all Connecticut driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, and identity cards. In addition to extending the expiration date of DMV credentials, late fees associated with eligible expired credentials will also be waived during the extension period. For answers to questions, updates, or more information about the credential extension, please call the contact center at 860263-5700 (within Hartford area) and 1-800-842-8222 (all other parts of Connecticut).

Motor vehicle registrations are not covered under the extension. The DMV encourages people who must renew their registrations to use online, phone, or mail-in renewal methods.

The extension is intended to help safeguard the general public against the spread of coronavirus/COVID 19 by providing customers with renewal options.

“With the rapidly changing coronavirus situation, this measure will allow holders of expiring DMV credentials to reduce their exposure by extending the timeframe for their renewal – with no financial penalty,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner, Sibongile Magubane.

The DMV advises that eligible credential holders take advantage of the extension especially seniors, families with children and those with compromised immune systems.

Page 6 | Greenwich Sentinel

PUBLISHER Beth@GreenwichSentinel.com Elizabeth Barhydt

Editorial Page

EDITORS & COPY EDITORS Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com Peter Barhydt, Daniel FitzPatrick, Caroll Melgar, Stapley Russell, Anne W. Semmes, Emma Barhydt

Our Finest Hour

It is understandable that we are all feeling a bit anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead. A month ago, language such as “social distancing” and “self-isolation” were not part of our daily usage.

Indeed, a month ago there were shelves stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer at all the markets.

Today’s reality is very different from that of a month ago. However, it is not unprecedented.

For many of us, we had parents or grandparents who were part of the “greatest generation” and fought in World War II. Granted, f ighting the COVID-19 crisis is not the same as fighting fascism, but there can be similarities in our response.

By now we have all seen photos of the empty shelves at seemingly every market. But there is really no need for panic buying. Our national supply chain has enough inventory for us all. Buying all the raw chicken will not help you survive, but it may actually harm someone else. We suspect that when this crisis comes to an end, and it will, a lot of what people stockpiled will end up being thrown out.

We applaud our local Stop & Shop markets and other stores that have set dedicated hours for those over 60. From what we know they are the most at risk from this virus and should be careful about whom they come in contact with. Allowing them to shop from 6:00am to 7:30am without others in a freshly cleaned facility, allows them time to actually shop for what they need without the panic of others all around them.

But we can do more. Like those of the “greatest generation” this crisis is our calling. What we do with it, will determine who we are as a community and as a people.

Shortly after France was overrun in World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stood in the House of Commons and gave the speech that would become known as “Their Finest Hour.” He described the bleak future as the Battle of Britain began “Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire.”

We do not believe the battle of COVID-19 is quite as dire, but for some it may feel so. Nor, do we take it for granted. The concept of flattening the curve of infected people by social distancing is a good practice for us all to undertake, but we must also be mindful of our community and local economy.

With the Governor’s announcement that all bars and restaurants must close to in-person patronage, a significant amount of revenue for these local businesses has come to a grinding halt. Fortunately, those who serve food can offer take out. It helps, but these restaurants are still under stress.

Remember the charity fundraiser you went to that had a silent auction and you marveled at all the restaurants that put in a free meal? Now is the time to thank them by purchasing a take-out meal, or even a gift certificate to use later. They have been there for us, now we must be there for them.

It is not just restaurants, but all local businesses.

Drive around our business districts and you will see most of the national brand stores are closed, but not our local establishments. They cannot afford to shut their doors for two weeks or longer and still survive.

We are not suggesting a shopping spree, at least not one with lots of browsing. If you are bored or have cabin fever, call Diane’s Books and ask for some recommendations, pay for them over the phone and then do curbside pickup. Find other local businesses and repeat. Many will even deliver for you.

The end of Churchill’s speech is the part everyone recognizes and is just as poignant in today’s world as it was in 1940.

“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

LEADING THE WAY by John Ferris Robben

First Selectman Fred Camillo, left, Chief of Police, Jim Heavey, right, at a press conference this week.

Column: On My Watch

Harbinger of Spring & The Gift of Connecting saw her,” she said.

What a gift! In this challenging time of social distancing!

My friend had also shared a curious site in nearby woods of a gnawed away fallen log.

What animal could have made such a pile of wood chips, she asked. Some small mammal I guessed. “But Ted would know.”

But, oh, Ted Gilman of Audubon Greenwich is now in Indiana,

By Anne W. Semmmes retired as of a month ago. But that “Hope is a thing with feathers,” gnawed log photo made its way to and yes, hope came from a back- him. country friend of the discovery “The mystery animal of a mourning dove nest - never seen before. “This lovely brave lady is sitting on a nest in the holly tree just by my front door,” my friend shared. “She’s keeping at least one wee babe warm.”

A positively frameable photo arrived of that mourning dove frozen-in-love on her nest. My friend had earlier found half a n e g g sh e l l b e for e t h e t r e e a nd pu z z le d over what bi rd had produced it. Perhaps the nuthatch. She’d seen the nuthatch with a stinkbug in its mouth “to warn off other birds away from b r e a k i n g u p t h e l o g i s a its nest,” she surmised. But the pileated woodpecker,” came the arriving electrician had all the answer, “as shown by the large right answers and located the rectangular hole along the side of mourning bird nest. “She did not the log. It probably found a rich move when the electrician and I supply of beetle larvae to feed on.”

Ted from the field!

Connecting in our separation Thank goodness for the phone, and for that Internet, when the argument was growing of how those iPhones are isolating.

They are lifesaving. They bring us together when we must be apart.

A friend called yesterday, asking a dark question, “Is this hello or goodbye?” She’s giving me a reality check. She’s not the first friend addressing our mortality in this dark time. But she was reaching out to touch a friend she valued in her life,

"Perhaps this social distancing time can connect families in new and meaningful ways."

CAMILLO From Page 1

Additionally, Camillo has asked all department heads to either postpone non-essential meetings or have them over the phone. He has also recommended these practices for the rest of the Town. “New Jersey and South Carolina are starting to see if they can telework, or work from home a couple days a week... from what I’ve read it seems to have worked. So, should we be looking more into that? I think we should.”

Tow n emergency ser v ices are f ully prepared and have implemented additional protocols in order to aid their response to COVID-19. The First Selectman remarked, “We’re lucky to have great public safety units; our police department, our fire department, GEMS, Danny Orzoa at Emergency operations-we’re already set up. Even though there’s nothing right now going on here, we have our emergency operations center up and ready.”

Camillo is reminding those with essential jobs around town to develop contingencies in

for which I am grateful. Later, another friend, not seen in a while, called suggesting we go out to our favorite restaurant soon, and “eat anything we want!” How soon is soon?

the event they fall ill. “We’re telling people, if somebody performs a function in the building and they’re the only one that can do it, they need to train other people. What if that person goes down? So, it's like your third baseman goes down, you don’t leave that position open, you get someone to fill that position… you want people cross trained-- you want a deep bench.” Unlikely as it is, Camillo is making sure the town has all bases covered.

The First Selectman also had advice for those whose routines have been disrupted and their gyms closed. “Go walking, jogging, be out in the fresh air. If you have a dog get your dog some exercise. Just clear your head, get out there and be active. Use this as a positive.” Keeping in mind requests from health officials to observe social distancing, it is important to not lock yourself indoors.

Fresh air, exercise and sunlight are necessary for a fully functioning immune system.

Our First Selectman stated that he devotes over 50% of his day every day preparing and responding to COVID-19, but that number is on the rise. As well as focusing on public health, he has taken into consideration the cost COVID-19 will have on small businesses

I t h i n k o f my c h i l d r e n’s families, how they are all home toget her, f r om s cho ol, f r om ex h au st i ng job s . How s ome parents’ returning adult children are being quarantined in their houses, being fed via paper plates.

Perhaps this social distancing time can connect families in new and meaningful ways, with kids asking questions of their parents they might never have asked, like what was it like when they were growing up? What were the takeaways from their parents’ parents?

An extraordinary gift arrived in my mailbox a week or so ago.

It held a love letter from someone impor ta nt in my fa m i ly life, someone expressing love I never expected to see. I had to wonder, was this message inspired beneath the darkening cloud of COVID-19?

If so, it points again to this being a time to share the immense value that people play in our life – friends and family.

With my family much removed, my friends matter greatly. I’m looking forward to walking and talking with them, yes, five feet apart. And, maybe, just maybe I’ll spy those ospreys returned to their Byram nest. “Hope springs eternal!”

in town. “Informally, I’m reaching out on Monday to private citizens who want to dispense business advice to businesses who are having a hard time. We’re talking about doing a public-private partnership with some funding and guidance involved. I reached out to two local banks to see if they do lowinterest loans, the same thing the SBA (Small Business Administration) is doing. They’re doing up to $2 million dollars in these loans, they call it ‘Economic Injury and Disaster’ loans. But I’d like to see if local people can do it—help their fellow citizens.” He reminds us that it’s important at times like these to support local businesses who will be hit hardest by the drop in commercial activity.

Finally, Camillo made a public request to be careful about reading and spreading fake news. “You’re going to read things in the paper, people are going to be infected and sick… but the two best websites [for factual information] are the CDC and CT.gov—those are the ones we're watching and going off of.”

Going forward, the First Selectman will hold daily press briefings to update local media on the situation within the Town as it evolves. .

‘Porch Concerts’ this Sunday Greenwich Suzuki Academy is calling all music makers for Porch Concerts across the region. This Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m., we are going to make music!

Music has been a part of humanity as long as there has been humanity. Everyone needs to feel a recharge of their Spirit, and send some extra love into this world at this time.

On Sunday, go on your porch, front lawn, balcony, open a window, or find any usable outside place. Start with Twinkle in the Key of D (on the off-chance we can hear and play with each other!), and after that, play what you fancy. If you can't play an instrument, sing. If you can't sing, dance (if you are feeling bold). Everyone is invited.

Invite your neighbors (or warn them as you see f it). Any passing listeners should stay at least 6 feet away from the performers or each other, but let's celebrate life together. If you feel inclined, take a pic and post it on the Suzuk i Academy’s Instagram or Facebook page (tag them in the photo), or send it directly them, info@greenwichsuzukiacademy.

Remote Yoga, Meditation Classes NAAD CENTER is offering remote (at home) Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, S ou nd Me d it at ion , P ra n ay a m a a nd Workout Classes and individual one-onone sessions by phone in Sekhem Energy Healing, Integrative Immunity Nutrition, Hypnosomatics and Medical Intuitive Readings.

NAAD CENTER is a holistic therapy Individuals can register for at-home center based in Greenwich that offers sessions under the REMOTE SESSIONS ancient, natural healing technologies tab at: naadcenter.com/appointments through individual and group sessions that help your physical body, mind and energy body return to balance and an ideal healing state so that immunity is maximized and viruses, bacterias and illnesses cannot affect it as easily.

Page 7 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

Feature Column

In the Midst of a Global Health Crisis... One Important Positive

By Patricia Chadwick There’s no way to minimize t h e l e ve l o f wo r r y a n d f e a r permeating the community we live in, and that replicates what is happening in villages, towns, cities and countries around the world.

As a nation of 330 million people, we’re getting used to waking up each day and scouring the news to find out how many new cases of COV I D -19 have e r up te d ove r n i g ht a n d t h e n faci ng new r u le s, g u idel i ne s and proscriptions intended to minimize our social interactions.

The full impact of this virus on commerce in the local economy (as well as the thousands of connected

Feature Column

By Bobbi Eggers A lot of us have been working remotely for years but for some of you, t h is is a whole new, unwelcome work mode. Since you don’t have time for a learning c u r v e , h e r e a r e m y To p 1 0 thoughts for work remote advice.

Your commute is now from your bed to your laptop. It ’s important to figure out a routine that works for you and the people around you so you don’t drive yourself and everyone else crazy.

Set purpose. Find consistency in these turbulent times. It’s important.

1. Keep your morning routine.

Great Futures

By Bobby Walker, Jr. An increase of rings, bings and alert messages sure have been taking over our devices in the past week, or so. What an incredibly volatile time we are enduring. We are under constant bombardment about the COVID-19 virus and its unrelenting spread throughout our country. The onslaught of media updates, special news stories and large news headlines have caused

economies across the country) has yet to be quantified, but we all know it’s not good news.

But truth be told, the economic fallout would be orders of magnitude greater, were it not for the fact that over the last two, five and ten years, companies have invested billions of dollars into technology that is proving to have been sound business planning.

While the capabilit y to work remotely was put in place over the course of the past decade, only now is it being put to the test.

Time will tell, but from my direct interaction with major companies across the country, so far so good.

At the most basic level, board meetings – corporate, scholastic, charitable, religious and on and on – are continuing unabated, with empty conference room and active video conferencing, or Zooming (it’s now become its own verb).

As an aside, the stock (Symbol: ZM), not surprisingly, has been a stellar performer in this dismal stock market.

Before the outbreak of

COVID-19, there was an estimate that somewhere between 8 and 10 million of the nearly 160 million people employed in the U.S., were working from home. That figure pales in comparison to the tectonic overnight shift in the workplace.

Anecdotal information – available from a review of myriad online articles – leads me to bet there

which together have more than a million employees in this country alone, assert that they have the capability of allowing most of their employees – around the globe – to work remotely. NASA recently issued ma ndator y orders for employees to work from home at a number of its operations and it’s encouraging all employees, who

been a major mig ration f rom the office workplace (corporate headquarters or local off ices) to the home. Despite the size of the logistical task executed by hundreds of companies all at once, there have been no headline failures, no Business Continuity Plan disasters.

I r o n i c a l l y, o u r F e d e r a l

are facing.

The preparedness of so many companies to meet the challenges of requiring their employees to work from home in no way minimizes the huge layoffs that are happening and impending in many parts of the service sector of the economy, including food service, lodging and travel. Economic activity in the second quarter of this year will undoubtedly be sharply negative, a nd u nemploy ment w i l l r ise sharply.

The thrust of this piece has been to express appreciation for the technological advances that have been implemented by so many companies, thus mitigating what cou ld have been a tr ue G o v e r n m e n t a p p e a r s t o b e national disaster. Thanks are due relatively unprepared to require both to companies and to their i t s h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d dedicated employees. employees in our Nation’s Capital, Patricia Chadwick is a Washington DC to comply with its own directive to engage in social businesswoman and an author. distancing. I’m not sure Congress She recently published Little Sister, would be understanding of a a m e m oi r a b ou t h e r u n u s u a l private sector company that was childhood growing up in a cult. so ill-prepared for the crisis we www.patriciachadwick.com

While the capability to work remotely was put in place over the course of the past decade, only now is it being put to the test. are perhaps as many as 50 million (or more even) Americans who, over the last couple of weeks, have migrated from the office to some space in their home from which they are now working full time.

Examples abound. The largest technology companies – Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Google, Microsoft and others –

can work remotely, to do so.

I n t he broad sp ec t r u m of the f ina ncia l ser v ices sector i n t h is cou nt r y – compa n ies that include banks, investment management companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, real estate management companies and that employ more than six million Americans – there has

Top 10 (Unsolicited) Work From Home Tips Set an alarm. Make your bed. It starts your day organized (not to mention how nice it is to get into a nicely made bed at night.)

Make your coffee just the way you love it. I bought a milk frother on Amazon and I love it.

2. Endorphins. If you like to start your day with a morning workout, no better time than the present. You don’t commute anymore so your time budget has expanded. A morning walk with your coffee is nice (before you check the markets.) Breathe in the fresh air and keep your distance from others. Buy a Peleton. If you prefer to work out at the end of the day, stick to that. Whatever is your natural rhythm.

3. Take a shower. Whether you think you need one or not, stand under that rain shower faucet and use soap that you love.

It’s refreshing. If you sit down at your laptop before you work out or shower, you may never get back up. Trust me on this. We get sucked into that screen.

4. Put on clean clothes.

When you wake up, change your clothes. Even if it’s from one pair of sweatpants into another, don’t work in your pajamas or the clothes you slept in. Make a conscious change in your attire to enter work mode, even if it’s comfy clothes.

5. Have a start time. Whatever time you started at the office, keep that routine.

terrain, too. Don’t work in bed.

7. Time Block ing. You are working. It’s not a vacation. Keep some structure. Multi-tasking can, ultimately, be less productive.

Focus on your task until you get to a satisfactory point and then take a break. Schedule phone calls, Zoom or Facetime meetings, send texts. That being said, make sure to block off time for non-

Manage your time in blocks that feel right for you. When you shut down, shut down. Take advantage of the fact that you’re home, just don’t let your work slip.

8. Eat a good lunch away from your desk. Don’t eat junk.

Call your sister and have lunch together. Drink some water. Lots of water. I have an electric tea pot and cups nearby. Walk around

playlists or podcasts daily. Do a 5 minute drawing challenge, talk about a show on Netflix, or share photos of what you did this week that you don’t normally do, like baking bread or talk about the book you’re reading. Importantly, get on camera - get your face out there. Set up remote Happy Hours. Embrace technology in ways you haven’t used before.

10. Fig ure out your white noise situation. It’s ok to tune in to the news but limit access to social panic/fake news. It’s too derailing and upsetting. Play music or put on the cooking channel, sports, Animal Planet, or anything you enjoy that isn’t upsetting.

And on a personal note, make dinner after work. Experiment.

If you have children of any age at home, get them to cook too, in a way that they enjoy. Be present.

Try not to scroll too much. Read in bed when you’re going to sleep. every 30-40 minutes.

Think of the positives. Stay 9. Keep office social culture healthy and ride this one out. You alive. Start interesting tasks and are not alone. We’re all in this activities with your team. Share together.

It’s important to figure out a routine that works for you and the people around you so you don’t drive yourself and everyone else crazy. Set purpose.

6 . Wo r k s p a c e . C r e a t e a usable area at a table or a desk designated for work. Others in your house need to carve out their

work activities too. Put a hold on your calendar for laundry, take a walk outside, play with your kids, FaceTime family and friends.

Great Futures: TOGETHER a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety among most of us.

How do we make it through these uncertain days? How can we effectively deal with our own worries and scar y thoughts?

How will we make it through these upcoming days and weeks?

All of these questions and more are on the minds of most people in Greenwich. And I have an answer. We will make it through these tough, uncertain times TOGETHER. I have seen all segments of our community come together over the past several days and weeks to ensure the continuity of our overall physical and mental health.

Teachers and administrators at all area schools have been answering questions and addressing concerns as best they can.

“Distance learning” will become

United Way Issues Emergency Grant The Greenwich United Way issued a $25,000 emergency grant for Neighbor to Neighbor. The funds will help expand the organization’s Food Pantry and its ability to provide groceries for town residents in need during this challenging time.

Because of Covid-19, the residents served by Neighbor to Neighbor’s Food Pantry are at extreme risk due to loss of income and increased food insecurity. Neighbor to Neighbor anticipates a significant rise in neighbors needing assistance with food and is dedicated to meeting those needs.

“This is a critical time for our community and we are extremely grateful for the Greenwich United Way’s emergency funds grant,” said Margaret Tjimos Goldberg, Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor. “We remain committed to providing food for our families in need, especially during this period of insecurity.”

“Greenwich is fortunate to have Neighbor to Neighbor in our town and we are proud to support their work during these uncertain times,” said David Rabin, CEO of the Greenwich United Way. The Neighbor to Neighbor Food Pantry provides Greenwich residents with income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines with three days’ worth of food for each member of the family each week. Eligible clients are able to choose from a healthy array of food in their “client choice” pantry. A nutritionistdesigned point system assures that clients receive food that will allow them to prepare healthy meals. Because Neighbor to Neighbor buys in bulk, every $1 donation results in $2.50 worth of food.

Donations can be made here: ntngreenwich.org/donationform/

the new norm for our students as we navigate the upcoming days. Nonprof it organizations are figuring out ways, whether currently closed or not, to continue

Our elected officials have been leading with diligence and care.

They give the Town’s residents assurance that all will work out.

Parents and other caregivers are

everyone in our Town is needed to deal with the uncertainty each day brings. The willingness of all sectors of our Town to do their part for their constituents and for

The willingness of all sectors of our Town to do their part for their constituents and for others is what makes Greenwich the great Town that it is. supporting their clients. Religious there, ultimately, to allay fears and institutions are making necessary to reassure their children that all changes to worship schedules and will be okay. routines to keep congregants safe.

A collective ef for t f rom

others is what makes Greenwich the great Town that it is. In the end, this is what it will ultimately take to make it through these

days.

During this break from brick and mortar schooling, this is also an opportunity for parents to spend more quality time with their children. Take a break from “distance learning” to bake a batch of cookies from scratch, pick up a ball and play catch, take out a bucket of chalk and draw on your patio, and take Fido for an extralong walk. By taking advantage of the gift of time, we can take advantage of this opportunity to spend more time TOGETHER. A former independent school a d mini st rator a n d teac her, Bobby joined Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich in 2014 as Chief Executive Officer. In his column, Great Futures , Bobby Walker, Jr. brings his unique voice and perspective to topics affecting youth and families in our community.

Town Hall to Operate with Limited Access, Services Greenwich Town Hall will operate with limited services and access beginning Tuesday, March 17, through at least Friday, April 3.

First Selectman Fred Camillo has made the following decisions to protect the health and safety of the public and Town staff, while maintaining core government functions.

• First Selectman Camillo has issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency, effective immediately.

• Private businesses must limit meeting room occupancy by half and must not exceed CDC guidelines of 50 people. This will further restrict the maximum number of individuals allowed in an enclosed spaced as determined by Greenwich Fire Marshals. This includes all rooms with a designated occupancy limit.

• Reinforcing Governor Lamont’s announcement, all bars and restaurants t hat ser ve food w i l l tempora r i ly b e required to move to take-out and delivery services only. Bars which do not serve food will be required to temporarily close.

These measures will take effect at 8 P.M. today, Monday, March 16, 2020.

• T h e T o w n ’ s E m e r g e n c y Operations Center’s (EOC) status has been elevated from “open and monitoring” to “open and partial activation”.

• Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Greenwich Town Hall is closed to the public. Time sensitive services will be provided by appointment only. Please contact the department directly to request help. All face-to-face interaction should be extremely limited. Please allow sufficient time for a response.

• Greenw ich First Responders will maintain their assigned shifts and schedules. The Public Safety Complex will have extremely limited access to the public. All Fire Stations are closed to the public. For non-emergency issues call 203-622-8000.

• T h e Tr a n s f e r S t a t i o n w i l l maintain its normal schedule. Commercial and private haulers can continue to access the site. Encourage all residents who must use the site to limit their visits to absolute necessity only.

• The Grass Island Waste Water Treatment Plant is closed the public.

Septage haulers can continue to access the site.

• Town beaches, parks, the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, and open spaces will remain open. There isn’t any access to bathrooms at school facilities. Limited bathrooms will be available at open Town sites. Playground equipment is closed. All indoor recreation facilities – the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center and the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center – are closed to the public.

• A m a j o r i t y o f B o a r d a n d Commission meetings during the next three weeks will be canceled, or moved to teleconference.

• Hours and services are subject to change.

• Take a moment to check out what is available on our website site, greenwichct.gov, as much of your Town business can be managed by phone, email, or online.

• M e m b e r s o f t h e p u b l i c a r e encouraged to sign-up for the Town’s Emergency Alert Notification System at greenwichct.bbcportal.com/Entry • The most up-to-date information rega rd i ng COV I D -19 is ava i la ble at: greenwichct.gov/covid19

Page 8 | Greenwich Sentinel

On Faith Column

Are People Basically Good or Basically Bad?

By Rev. Nathan Hart Twelve years ago, on a cold winter morning in New York City, my son Riley was born. My wife Nancy had labored painfully through the night, but suddenly at daybreak, she looked beyond my shoulder toward the window behind me and said, “The sun is rising.” In that moment, her face transformed from writhing discomfort to total relaxation, even awe. Seconds later, Riley entered the world. His birth, like a sunrise, felt to me like a

Jean Wurtz

revelation. He is still a bright light in our lives.

In the hours after his birth, we learned how to swaddle and comfort him. But we could never seem to do it just right— he cried incessantly. Nothing seemed to soothe him. He cried and cried and didn’t stop unless he was eating or sleeping. We learned the word “colic” and for the next three months, colic was our reality and it almost drove us mad. Any parents who are currently living through the nightmare of having a colicky baby, I see you. Don’t give up. It eventually heals.

My s on’s m ag ic a l bi r t hat-sunrise, followed by three months of maddening colic, causes me to wonder about the basic nature of all humans: are we born perfect or f lawed, innocent or guilty, righteous or sinf ul? A recent study conducted by the University of Washington’s Institute for

Learning and Brain Sciences suggests that people have a lot of good in them even from birth.

It claims that altruism—when a person sacrifices his or her own needs for the sake of someone else’s—is present in infants. In the study, 100 babies who were around 19 months old were given a blueberry snack, only to have one of the blueberries drop in front of them when a researcher goes to grab the blueberry while pretending not to be able to reach it. Some of the babies were hungry during this test, and even among those ones, thirty-seven percent helped the researcher o b t a i n t h e f r u it i n s te a d o f grabbing it themselves. That’s good!

On the other hand, it was only 37 percent. If 100 percent of the hungry babies gave away their snacks, an argument could be made that humans are born totally good. But are there any parents of toddlers who need

proof that children are also capable of great self ishness?

Ther e’s a r e a son not ma ny scientific studies have needed to be conducted on this question.

Spend an hour in a room full of babies with not enough toys to go around, and the proof is self-evident: selfishness comes naturally to humans.

Most U.S. Presidents call upon the “good of the American people” when making appeals for unity or mission, but Philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.”

The Bible says that every human is “created in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27) but also that, as a result of sin, “the hearts of the children of man are full of evil.”

(Ecclesiastes 9:3).

So, are we basically good or basically bad? We are both.

Indeed, throug hout histor y, humans have created and accomplished things that are

Obituaries

Je a n Wu r t z , a g e 8 6 , o f B o c a Grande, FL. formerly of Greenwich, CT, passed away peacefully in the company of family on March 7.

She was born on July 29, 1933 and is survived by her sisters, Sandra and Gloria, her three children, R icha rd, R a ndy, a nd Pen ny, a nd four grandchildren, Scott, Gregory, He at h e r, a n d Je n n i fe r. S h e w a s predeceased by her husband Jack and brother John.

Jean was born in Stamford, CT and graduated from the University

of Connecticut. She held positions at Chesebrough-Ponds, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, among others.

She and her late husband Jack, with whom she shared a long and loving relationship, resided on the island of Boca Grande for more than 45 years. She had many dear friends with whom she became especially close in recent years, and was a member of the Gasparilla Inn & Club, the Boca Bay Pass Club, and the Boca Grande Club.

There is only one place in Greenwich where you will find a family of Licensed Funeral Directors, nurtured over 4-generations.

We are here to provide heartfelt care to those who grieve.

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both wonderful and terrible. We have walked on the moon and we have enslaved entire races.

There is a temptation to think that there are good guys and bad guys, that “people like us” are good and “people like them” are bad. But in reality, each one of us is a blend. “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either— but right through every human hear t,” obser ved A lek sandr Solzhenitsyn.

Sin is pervasive—"No one i s r i g ht e o u s , n o, n o t o n e .”

(Romans 3:10)—and yet God’s grace can bring good out of us.

Even a crooked timber can bear fruit. With God this becomes possible: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

(Ga lat ia n s 5: 2 2-2 3). I n t h is way, we are unrighteous and righteous, sinners and saints,

Greenwich, CT 06830

info@coxeandgraziano.com

203-869-5968

www.coxeandgraziano.com

She was also a member of the Trestle Cove Yacht Club and the Boca Grande Pass Yacht Club. She loved boating, and her family and friends share many fond memories of outings around Florida and beyond – she and Jack travelled the intracoastal waterway between Connecticut and Boca Grande many times.

Jean was fun-loving, exceedingly s h a r p -w i t t e d , d e t e r m i n e d a n d gracious, with a keen fashion sense.

She was a lso a ta lented pia n ist.

She never let a day pass by without recognizing how lucky she was to be able to spend time with her family and Jack on the island she loved.

Jean was a loving mother, the perfect g randmother, and w ill be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Calling hours were Friday, March 13 at Leo P. Gallagher's Funeral Home in Greenwich, CT. A Funeral Mass was held at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Greenwich on Saturday, March 14.

I n l i e u o f f l owe r s , m e m o r i a l donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

self ish and altruistic. My son is a beautiful amalgamation of revelatory sunrises and colicky cries, and so are we all.

What is the implication of this truth? We should expect that we will disappoint others and ourselves. And when we do, let us generously forgive each other; for we all need grace. We should also expect that people will wow, bless, and impress each other.

When we do, let us praise God whose good fruit has been borne on our crooked branches.

Rev. Dr. Nathan Hart is the Senior Pastor at Stanwich Church.

Nathan g rew u p in Holland , Michigan , where he attended Hope College. He later received his Masters from Princeton Theological Seminar y and his Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was serving in New York City before being called to Stanwich in 2011 and was elected as Senior Pastor in 2018.

and lines in the shower. She was a member of a girl’s scout troop in Greenwich and enjoyed camping out, pursuing badges and spending time with her many friends. She will be sorely missed by all that knew her.

Leo P. Gallagher Funeral home has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. A private funeral mass will be held at her school Sacred Heart of Greenwich. Followed by a private burial with her immediate family.

A gathering of all those who knew Vivienne and want to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Vivienne’s family asks for donations to either Sacred Heart of Greenwich or the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research so we get closer to a cure for DIPG patients.

Gloria Gekas

Vivienne Finn

Gloria S. Gekas, 81 of Macungie passed away su r rou nded by her family on March 14, at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. She was the wife of George G. Gekas, they were married 60 years on Oct. 25.

Gloria was born in Allentown, PA on Oct. 22, 1938 daughter of the late Theodore and Vera (Charles) Stratos. Gloria was a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Bethlehem and active with the Ladies Philoptochos of the Cathedral.

Gloria and George raised their family in Greenwich, CT and was an active member of Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Stamford, CT and a member of Ladies Philoptochos in Stamford. Gloria was a member of I n n is A rden G ol f Clu b i n Old Greenwich, CT. She enjoyed playing the piano and was a gifted painter using oil and acr ylic paints as a medium.

S u r v i v o r s : S o n s Te d G e k a s , husband of Katherine and Dean Gekas husband of Sarah Biller all of Dublin, NH, daughter Catherine Carey wife of Bryan of New York City, NY; four grandsons Alex, Gabriel, Paul and Bryan.

Service: due to the current national health cr isis the f uneral ser v ice will be private, however the funeral service will be live-streamed from the Cathedral on Thursday, March 19, using the following stnicholas.org/ gekas, it will begin at 11:45 a.m., 15 minutes prior to the funeral service.

Contributions: In lieu of f lowers: Ladies Philoptotochos of St. Nicholas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or Ladies Philoptochos of the Archangels Greek Orthodox Church.

It is w ith g reat sorrow we announce the passing of our sweet daughter Vivienne. Vivienne Finn passed away on March 10, 2020 at the age of 11 years.

Vivienne was born on Aug. 31, 2008, to parents David and Mairead Finn in Greenwich, CT. Vivienne will be forever remembered by her parents, her sisters Gabrielle and Regina, younger brother Connor and her fluffy puppy Aspen. Vivienne will be remembered by her grandparents Dan (Bumpa), Phyllis (Mimi), Richard (Papa), Teresa (Nana), aunts, uncles and cousins: Jake, Josh, Hollie, Edith and Eli in Ireland and in America.

Vivienne was a “lifer” of Sacred Hear t of Greenw ich where she received her Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession. She developed into a conf ident learner and strength of character to exude kindness and love to all. Her great faith, positivity and humor served her well. Last year, she was the recipient Obituaries, which are free in of the Philippine Duchesne award the Sentinel, may be submitted to for her generosity of spirit. She was Editor@GreenwichSentinel.com. a gifted artist, reader and writer. She played defense for her soccer team and performed in the school plays Frozen, “Wizard of Oz” and Annie.

Often heard rehearsing her songs

On Faith Feature

Page 9 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

Closing Church: A Hard Decision

By Marek Zabriskie Our theme for Lent at Christ Church Greenwich is “Meeting God in Nature and the Wilderness,” but oddly, we have found ourselves in a far greater wilderness than we ever imagined.

This past Friday, we alerted our congregation that we were closing Christ Church at 5 p.m. for two weeks.

We now estimate that we could be for far longer.

The news is changing rapidly, and our leadership is staying close in touch and processing what we learn each day.

Our community, country and world have faced greater challenges. We will survive this and be stronger for having done so.

Closing a church is hard to

do. People count on us. Our faith communities are the last place we expect to close. When our world is falling apart, we want to turn to our faith community and draw strength from those who share our common beliefs and core values and whom we have woven our lives together through worship, prayer, hospitality, fun and service to others.

Now, we’re all hitched aboard a sort of emotional national and global rollercoaster without a view of where this will take us or a clear model to follow as we go.

Before closing, our church took measured steps. We belong to the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) and therefore have a governing body to help us. The ECCT advised us to take measured steps such as not offering Communion wine at the altar rail, but at a free standing station for those who wanted to receive the wine.

By last Friday, they suggested add it iona l me a su r e d step s . T he decision to close or not to close was left up to each Rector and congregation.

We decided to err on being prudent.

We didn’t ask Neighbor to Neighbor to close their doors of our campus to their feeding program. It is the largest feeding program for food insecure people in Greenwich. People depend

on Neighbor to Neighbor, and it was critical for them to stay open.

We h o s t t we l ve Twe l ve -S t e p Programs in various sites each week on our campus, and we felt that we had to close them down for now. It was not an easy decision, but the only way to save lives is to self-isolate and flatten down the growth of this pandemic sweeping our world.

W he n G ove r nor Ne d L a mont d iscou raged g roups i n excess of 100 persons from meeting, we were concerned about our worship. On Wednesday, we closed our preschool.

We soon learned that St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan closed, after an older parishioner was diagnosed with Covad-19. Then we learned that Temple Sholom, with whom we share a parking lot, was closing. Finally, we held a sizeable f u nera l a nd a sta f f mem b er had someone cough and sneeze on him at the reception.

I thought to myself, “We need to protect our people. If we save just one life, it’s worth it.” The Wardens and Vestry and I were all in agreement.

The energ y and focus then shifted to how to be church without a building in which to gather. Our staff was terrific and creative. Like many faith communities, we harnessed

technology, recorded worship and sermons and had everything ready to send out to our congregation.

We are assigning names and asking each Vestry members, lay leader and clergy to call members and check on them. We are sending our videos and ideas for families to use for worship and learning at home. Our youth group and Confirmation classes held virtual gatherings.

We are sending out a playlist on Spotify to our parishioners that include the hymns that our choristers hope to sing in Norwich, England and at Westminster Abbey in London, if their overseas choir trip is not cancelled this summer.

Our talented Director of Music Jamie Hitel wrote, “Earlier today, Sarah and I took a hike at the Audubon Center, where we could almost hear the voice of God urging us to conform to a new way of living. Perhaps this current situation will teach us all lessons we didn't know we needed to learn.”

Indeed, it will.

A mer ica ns a re creative a nd resilient. We will find new ways to be friends, neighbors, church, temple, mosque, club, school, university, corporation, law firm and hospital to one another.

Good things will come of this. We

will reset, reflect and remember what is truly important. We will slow down, simplify, reduce travel and reconnect with family and ourselves.

We will read books, play board games, exercise at home, take naps, gather for meals and give thanks. We will sense Grace all around us. The sky will not fall down. This, too, shall pass, and some beautiful things will emerge.

When we reopen our schools, businesses, restaurants, clubs, exercise facilities, law firms, shops and faith communities, it will feel like Easter morning, even if Easter has long since passed. It will be good and glorious, and we shall not take it for granted.

If our choristers make it to England this summer, they will learn about the English anchorite Dame Julian of Norwich, who was born in 1342. She lived most of her life in as a solitary and was renowned for her spiritual wisdom. Her greatest quote is, “All shall be well, and all shall be well.”

These words are worth repeating quietly to ourselves each day during these trying times.

The virus will pass, but the bonds of gratitude will live on.

The Rev. Marek Zabriskie, is the Rector of Christ Church.

Worship Services & Events ASSEMBLIES OF GOD Harvest Time Church 1338 King St., 203-531-7778 www.htchurch.com HTC Ministries are being moved to online platforms until April 30. Visit htchurch.tv and click the Subscribe button. If you fall into the “at risk” category and wish to remain home, the 11am Sunday service will be live streamed as always. You can connect to the service at htchurchlive.com. Big Daddy Weave & The McClures in Concert: rescheduled to Aug. 8.

BAPTIST First Baptist Church 10 Northfield St.; 203-869-7988 www.firstbaptistgreenwich.com Greenwich Baptist Church 10 Indian Rock Ln; 203-869-2807 www.greenwichbaptist.org Worship is cancelled through the month of March - Sunday sermons will be streamed.

CATHOLIC Sacred Heart Church 95 Henry St.; 203-531-8730 Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28.

The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes St. Agnes: 247 Stanwich Rd; St. Catherine of Siena: 4 Riverside Ave; 203-637-3661 www.stc-sta.org The Diocese of Bridgeport and the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes are taking additional precautions due to the Coronavirus pandemic: Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28. The regular Mass schedule is still in effect until further notice.

The following events have also been postponed: Henrey’s The Ancient Near East Presentation Series: through April 5; Community Potluck Dinner: March 20; Walking with Purpose: March 21; “Sweet Solitude” Concert in the Chapel: March 22; Hope and Mature Faith in Troubling Times: March 2830; Celtic Lenten Concert: March 29; All Faith Formation Classes: for the remainder of the year. Live the Lenten season: through April 11, stc-sta.org for suggestions on ways to sacrifice and give during the Lenten season.

St. Mary Church 178 Greenwich Ave.; 203-869-9393 www.stmarygreenwich.org Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28. Beginning March 13, all diocesan schools and academies will be closed for a period of two weeks. All parish Confirmations that are scheduled to take place before Easter Sunday will be rescheduled to a later date. Religious Education classes for the remainder of this year 2019-2020 have been cancelled. Registration for Religious Education 2020-2021 is now open. CANCELLED: Feast of the Annunciation (Latin Mass): March 25, 7:30-8:30pm. Visit EWTN.com for daily Mass at 8am with encore at 12pm. Check you local cable lineup for channel.

St. Michael the Archangel 469 North St.; 203-869-5421 www.stmichaelgreenwich.com From Bishop Frank J. Caggiano: “Beginning this Third Sunday of Lent (March 14-15) through the Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 2829), I am temporarily dispensing all Catholics of the Diocese of Bridgeport from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.” CANCELLED: Morning of Reflection During Lent: March 28.

POSTPONED: First Holy Communion: March 29. CANCELLED: SMWA Movie Night - Members Only: March 31; Prayer Shawl Ministry: April 7.

St. Timothy Chapel 1034 North St.; 203-869-5421 Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28.

St. Paul Church 84 Sherwood Ave.; 203-531-8741 www.stpaulgreenwich.org Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28. Religious Education and all church activities are canceled until further notice. Daily and weekend masses will proceed as scheduled.

St. Roch Church 10 St. Roch Ave.; 203-869-4176 www.strochchurch.com Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has dispensed all Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass through March 28.

Confirmation is cancelled.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE First Church of Christ, Scientist 11 Park Place; 203-869-2503 www.christiansciencect.org/greenwich All services suspended until March 29.

COMMUNITY First Church of Round Hill 464 Round Hill Rd.; 203-629-3876 www.firstchurchofroundhill.com Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Rd.; 203-869-1091 www.roundhillcommunitychurch.org Worship services are suspended indefinitely – but you can still worship together at a distance as each Sunday at 10am a video link will be available at youtu.be/CNjyLHzsRlI. Drop-off TEMPORARILY POSTPONED for The Great Lawn Sale: March 25. Chat ‘n Chew Brown Bag Lunch - TEMPORARILY POSTPONED: March 26. Meditation Group - TEMPORARILY POSTPONED: March 26. Green Screen Movie & Talk Series – POSTPONED: March 27.

CONGREGATIONAL The First Congregational Church 108 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org SUSPENDED: Sunday morning worship services (for the time being) - messages and worship on Sunday mornings available through live-streaming on YouTube (youtube.com/ channel/UCXgou35EY5N803D4e_J4JNA) and broadcast on WGCH. All in-person small group meetings, committee meetings and outside groups are suspended. The Rummage Room on Sound Beach Avenue, which is operated

by First Church, is closed until further notice.

CANCELLED: March 21: CPR Certification Class; Fundraiser Performance. CANCELLED: New Member Gathering: March 22. CANCELLED: New Musical Series for Lent: through April 2.

North Greenwich Congregational 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-869-7763 www. northgreenwichchurch.org Sunday services are temporarily suspended.

Second Congregational Church 139 E Putnam Ave.; 203-869-9311 www.2cc.org Services available online, details at 2cc. org. Contemporary Worship: Saturday, 5pm.

Sunday Services: 8:30 & 10:30am.

EPISCOPAL Anglican Church of the Advent 606 Riversville Rd.; 203-861-2432 www.churchoftheadvent.org Christ Church Greenwich 254 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-6600 www.christchurchgreenwich.org All worship services and all programs and services are cancelled at least through March 27. Neighbor to Neighbor‘s food pantry distribution services will remain open - for more information, visit ntngreenwich.org.

Stay spiritually engaged from home by visiting christchurchgreenwich.org/stay-spirituallyengaged-from-home St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 954 Lake Ave.; 203-661-5526 www.stbarnabasgreenwich.org Worship suspended until further notice.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 200 Riverside Ave.; 203-637-2447 www.stpaulsriverside.org CANCELLED, as of March 12: Worship services and Parish operations; Candlelight Nights. Church offices are closed.

St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 350 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-2262 www.saintsaviours.org All public worship is suspended until further notice. All meetings, study groups, events and social gatherings connected to St. Saviour’s are also suspended.

On your computer, tablet or smartphone - join Zoom Meeting by going to: zoom. us/j/998523126 and entering: Meeting ID: 998 523 126; 2. On your phone: Call 1-929-2056099, and enter meeting number followed by the pound (#) sign 998 523 126# Diamond Hill United Methodist 521 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-2395 www.diamondhillumc.com Bishop Thomas Bickerton has requested that all churches cancel worship services for this Sunday, March 22. Confirmation Class and Lenten Book Study meetings are also cancelled until further notice. *If you have already filled your grocery bag for Greenwich Scouting’s ‘Scouting for Food’ drive, you may drop it off at the church and David Hays will pick them up.

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 42 Lake Ave.; 203-661-3099 Teleconference: March 22, 11am and until further notice (Dial-in number: ​425-436-6380, Access code:​​ 612220).

NONDENOMINATIONAL Dingletown Community Church 376 Stanwich Rd.; 203-629-5923 www.dingletownchurch.org Revive Church 90 Harding Rd., Old Greenwich (Old Greenwich Civic Center) www.myrevive.org

JEWISH

No Services for the next two weeks (online sermons on Facebook and Youtube). All groups will be online for the next two weeks. Direct any prayer needs to the prayer chain at 203-536-2686.

Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich 75 Mason St.; 203-629-9059 www.chabadgreenwich.org

Stanwich Church 202 Taconic Rd.; 203-661-4420 www.stanwichchurch.org

The building is closed through the end of March.

CANCELLED: Worship, March 22 – follow facebook.com/stanwichchurch for livestreaming sermons. If you or someone you know is sick, in need of help with meals or caring support, contact Pastor Heather Wright: heather@ stanwichchurch.org or 203-661-4420, ext. 222​​​​​​​.

Congregation Shir Ami 1273 E. Putnam Ave, PO Box 312, Riverside; 203-900-7976; Shirami.info@gmail.com www.congregationshirami.org All services and classes will be held online.

Shabbat Service and Oneg: March 27, 7:309:30pm, Service will be online (link to be provided closer to the date). Women’s Rosh Chodesh: March 30, 7-8:30pm, Class will be online (link to be provided closer to the date).

The Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave; 203-637-4615 www.albertsonchurch.org Sunday Services and all church activities have been cancelled until further notice.

Greenwich Reform Synagogue 92 Orchard St.; 203-629-0018 www.grs.org

Trinity Church 1 River Rd.; 203-618-0808 www.trinitychurch.life

Jewish meditation and text study with Rabbi Gerson, Tue.-Fri. 12pm. Storytime for Kids with Rabbi Gerson, Tue.-Thu. 5:30pm. Kids Sing Along with Cantor Dunkerley, Mon.-Thu. 10 am. Tot Shabbat with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri. 5:30pm. Shabbat services with Rabbi Gerson and Cantor Dunkerley, Fri 7pm.

All programs are streamed virtually on zoom.us

Through March 21: The Ministry Center is closed and all in-person Trinity activities are suspended - including but not limited to: Sunday in-person services, Kingdom Come worship, all groups, the Marriage Course, prayer appointments, Trinity Kids & Trinity Youth programs. Sunday Services will be livestreamed at 9:45am.

Temple Sholom 300 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-7191 www.templesholom.com

PRESBYTERIAN

Temple Sholom, The Selma Maisel Nursery School and the Temple Sholom Learning Center are currently closed until at least March 31. If you have an emergency and need to reach a member of the clergy, please dial 203-869-7191 ext. 3.

LUTHERAN First Lutheran Church 38 Field Point Rd.; 203-869-0032 www.flcgreenwich.org St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran 286 Delavan Ave.; 203-531-8466 METHODIST First United Methodist Church 59 E. Putnam Ave.; 203-629-9584 www.fumcgreenwich.com Virtual Sunday worship, 9:30am - 1.

First Presbyterian Church 1 W. Putnam Ave.; 203-869-8686 www.fpcg.org The church is closed until further notice email info@fpcg.org with any questions.

Grace Church of Greenwich 8 Sound Shore Dr., Suite 280 203-861-7555 www.gracechurchgreenwich.com Worship is cancelled indefinitely.

Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Ave; 203-637-3669 www.LivingHopeCT.org Rush Hour Groups will not meet March 27.

Community Bible Study AM follows Greenwich School Schedule. Community Bible Study PM will be meeting online.

Greater Good in Greenwich

Page 10 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

A Silver Lining Legacy

Feature Column

else is happening. Something that reaffirms the goodness of our community at a time when community seems farthest away.

This has become especially apparent to those of us who work in organizations dedicated to helping our town’s most vulnerable residents – senior citizens, special needs adults and children, and families living in subsidized housing. Being close to them, we know that they can be hardest hit by the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Not just by the actual disease, but by the contagious unease, the sense of isolation, and the practical ramifications of the confinement that is now upon us all.

Equally troubling is that lowerincome families in service economy jobs and families who already confront food insecurity face f inancial ruin as employment is suspended at best or eliminated at worst.

A nd yet, even as schools and businesses are shuttering and streets falling silent, Greenwich residents and

By Gaby Rattner “These are the times that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine at another moment of national crisis. Two hundred fifty years later, a very real threat to our personal and public health has upended our daily routines and activities along with the services we are prone to taking for granted.

But even as we tackle illness, anxiety, new challenges, and inconvenience, something

Column

Out of adversity we are forging stronger networks, greater interconnectedness." charitable organizations are reaching out, offering help and sustenance in innumerable ways.

Whether it is volunteering to grocery shop for senior citizens who have been urged to stay home, offering reduced prices for prepared meals, donating food to people out of work, or simply reaching out by phone to let them know they’re not forgotten, organizations and individuals have banded together in amazing ways to help those who need us more than ever.

Leading the charge have been the Greenwich United Way and Greenwich

Department of Human Services. They have convened the directors of most of the area’s nonprofit organizations to coordinate not only service responses but to help provide the resources needed to execute those initiatives. They are making emergency grants to enable us to serve as many people as possible. We at Community Centers Inc. (CCI) are proud to be part of this team.

No request is too small for the group.

When CCI put out the word that we needed grocery bags to deliver food generously provided by Neighbor to Neighbor and Food Rescue, the United Way responded

that a shipment from Amazon was on the way. When we reached out to Jewish Family Services and Meals on Wheels to see if they could help some of the seniors we normally take to grocery shop, they recruited extra volunteers to be able to help more people. Top Chef Meals, a local forprofit business, created a menu of prepared dinners that they are offering to CCI clients at well-below its retail value. Others have offered to help make deliveries and TAG will help transport elderly residents to vital doctors’ appointments.

This is the silver lining. Out of adversity we are forging stronger networks, a broader array of services, and greater interconnectedness. In a calmer future, we hope these systems will remain at the ready, a positive legacy of these most difficult times.s.

Gaby Rattner is the Executive Director of CCI which is celebrating 65 years of service to the Greenwich community.

How COVID-19 Will Transform Education

By Jennifer Openshaw As the coronavirus pandemic takes root throughout America, schools and workplaces throughout Connecticut are coming under pressure to close their doors to prevent contagion. In ways scarcely anticipated mere months ago, the nature of learning and working will change – virtually overnight.

We are at a tipping point. There will be a “before” and “after” Corona, and how our educational systems respond will define schools, education professional and digital platforms that support them.

This new “post-Corona” reality will be unsettling, but it also provides an opportunity that has long been needed both in the classroom and the workplace.

Remote working and online collaboration are functions whose necessity can only grow in our increasingly connected world; coronavirus may ultimately boost engagement to make it happen more

quickly.

It’s long overdue. Sixty percent of employers report that new hires lack key skills, like problem solving and critical thinking, according to PayScale. And the job market is already evolving. The gig economy now comprises 60 million Americans, with the largest growth among the young. Almost half -- 47 percent -- of millennials worked side jobs or as freelancers last year, according to Upwork and the Freelancers Union.

Many of them will be right here in Connecticut.

Unfortunately, our schools have been "learning as we go," as many have said, since we did not have a digital backup plan to maneuver through a crisis such as Corona, despite having technology available even in the high school level.

Many schools are scrambling to offer up a digital solution for students and parents. Those that succeed will see that, like employers, this could be a part of this bright, new future and bridge the gap that they sorely need, even in lowincome areas of our state.

From our own experience with online collaboration, including with students stretching from Hartford to Stamford, the prospects are promising. Over the last three years, for example, we’ve rolled out an afterschool business academy for high school girls that focuses on marketing, product development, and other MBAst yle concepts. The i nst r uc t ion is presented live and online, with software that allows students to view and interact

We are at a tipping point. There will be a “before” and “after” Corona, and how our educational systems respond will define schools, education professional and digital platforms that support them. with each other as well as the instructor, mimicking a classroom experience. The program’s graduates have succeeded in practical ways: some have earned college scholarships, and most have reported sharply greater conf idence in their leadership abilities.

School d istr icts a re em braci ng the online environment using similar methods that 20 years ago would have seemed difficult to undertake. Live piano instruction and other forms of afterschool tutoring are accessible through the Net. T he c onven ienc e of t he on l i ne experience can make the difference between a pupil learning a new skill or just lay ing around his bedroom mastering video games. And the virtual classroom opens doors to youths that may have been closed by physica l disabilities -- the disabled student can now engage with peers and, in some cases, actually feel just like every other kid. And let’s not forget that we keep in

mind that this is the generation that has come to expect it. They began tapping out the ABCs on their iPhone before they learnt to write.

Elsewhere, important gatherings by educational leaders and community of f ic ia l s – a b o a r d me et i ng or a n annual budget program – don’t have to be cancelled by a health crisis. With minimal effort, managers can run live polls of their constituents on specific topics and get real-time results.

Online approaches can certainly address issues in the workplace as well as in schools. One top reason employees leave their jobs is because they feel professionally paralyzed: 77 percent say they feel “on their own” in efforts at career development, according to a poll conducted by Harris for Instructure .

This year, employee turnover is expected to jump to 47 million, or roughly 1 in 3 workers, according to The Work Institute, a Tennessee-based employee consulting

firm.

Online programs that provide remote training have the potential to reduce the cost of attrition. Using this method, IBM has started to let employees build new skills and explore a broad range of opportunities on their own time, like the marketer who wants to enhance her tech skills or prepare for a shift to the growing health care sector.

IBM is making the program available to high school students who want to explore careers they may know little about – a method that could help the company fill job openings over the long term.

In the short term, scientists are hopeful that the damage of the coronavirus will run its course. Schools and workplaces will reopen and life will recover a semblance of normality.

There may be no better time than now to take the plunge, and risk trying new networked approaches to the business of learning.

Jennifer Openshaw is CEO of the non-profit Girls With Impact, a modern business and innovation academy for young women nationwide, based in Greenwich. www.girlswithimpact.com She previously was CEO of Women’s Financial Network and Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Mercer’s When Women Thrive research platform. She’s appeared on Oprah, CNBC’s Power Lunch and many other programs. Connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ jenopenshaw

Local Donation Opportunities COMMUNITY CENTERS INC. (CCI) Gaby Rattner T: (203) 869-1276 www.ccigreenwich.org

KIDS IN CRISIS Cos Cob t: 203.622.6556 f: 203.622.8332 tblackman@kidsincrisis.org www.kidsincrisis.org

YWCA Domestic Abuse Services Kathleen Seiden 259 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 203.869.6501 ext 103

RED CROSS www.redcross.org

CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER www.childguidancect.org

INSPIRICA INC. www.inspiricact.org

United Way Establishes COVID-19 Relief Fund The Greenwich United Way has established the Greenwich COVID-19 Community Relief Fund in order to provide disaster relief and recovery ef for ts for Greenw ich residents experiencing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Funds raised will go to local agencies supporting relevant relief.

L o c a l non-prof it orga n i z at ion s interested in apply ing should v isit greenwichunitedway.org to complete an application for grant funds. The GUW Grants Committee will review all proposals from local agencies, conduct a deep dive into each organization’s f inancials, and review the recovery needs. Grant funds are expected to

be used for basic essentials and food assistance, emergency medical expenses, rental relief and childcare assistance.

“The Greenwich United Way exists specifically to serve the community at moments like this. It is during a crisis that Greenwich shows its strength in solidarity by supporting those in our town who are struggling,” said David

Rabin, CEO of Greenwich United Way. “Now is the time for every business and resident that is able to help us help those in need in our town. We will uncover the unmet needs at this difficult time and fund efficient, effective solutions. I encourage fellow residents to do all they can to support their neighbors facing these unforeseen challenges.”

D on at ion s c a n b e m a de to t h e G r e e nw i ch COV I D -19 Com mu n it y Relief Fund at greenwichunitedway. org /greenwich-covid-19-communityrelief-fund. Please note COVID-19 on any donation made by check.

Stop & Shop Special Hours for Older Customers In order to allow more time for Stop & Shop a sso c iate s to u n load deliveries, stock shelves, and better serve customers throughout the day, the store has adjusted its hours of operation to 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., at most stores beginning

Monday, March 16.

Effective on Thursday, March 19, Stop & Shop will create hours specifically geared to accommodate customers 60 and older. Stop & Shop stores will open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. ONLY for

customers over the age of 60 who the CDC and local health officials say are most vulnerable.

Stop & Shop is making the decision to allow community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded

environment, which better enables social older neighbors. distancing.

Stop & Shop will reserve the right to Although Stop & shop will not be ask customers to leave if they are not a requesting ID for entry, they request that member of this age group. people respect the purpose of the early opening – and do the right thing for our

Luncheon Postponed to Oct. 16

C e l e b r ate wo m e n w h o m a k e a the Women Who Matter Luncheon on Lunden, former TV broadcast anchor, care and women's health and wellness 203-869-3500 or greenwichchamber@ difference and have a real impact on the Oct. 16, originally scheduled for Friday, award-winning journalist, bestselling advocate, will be the guest speaker. g r e e n w i c h c h a m b e r. c o m , o r v i s i t Greenwich community and beyond at April 3, at Greenwich Country Club. Joan author, motivational speaker, senior For additional information, contact greenwichchamber.com

Just for Fun MARCH In like a lion, out like a lamb.

Page 11 | Greenwich Sentinel

JOKE BOOK How do bees get to school?

A school-buzz!

Why shouldn't you iron a four leaf clover?

It's a bad idea to press your luck!

Why did the bird go to the hospital?

For a tweet-ment!

Why is spring a gorilla's favorite season?

Because ape-ril is their favorite month!

Why is the letter 'A' similar to a flower?

Because a bee comes after it!

Why are people always tired in April?

They just finished a march!

ultracrepidarian Bring Back Lost Words

Did you know?

Coloring reduces stress level and calms nerves in children & adults.

Noun | uhl-truh-krep-i-dair-ee-uhn | 19th Cen. English

A person with opinions on subjects beyond their knowledge. ie: The ultracrepidarians debated going to the moon as if they were astronauts.

Astrology Column For Week of Mar. 22, 2020

Greenwich Library Update

ARIES 21 March-20 April Having yearned for a chance to break out of a rut, you are now faced with not one but several opportunities. Don’t be greedy or try to do everything at once or you will be back on the treadmill again. Choose a path and stick with it to the end.

LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct The decisions you make in the days ahead are more important than you think, so make them wisely and don’t be tempted to cut corners without a valid reason. A creative goal is not beyond you but it will take a great deal of hard, monotonous work.

TAURUS 21 April-21 May This is a week to plan far ahead and make solemn vows about your future. Great changes are taking place in the working pattern of your life and somewhere in the not-too-distant future you will get the chance to make a name for yourself. Be ready for it.

SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov However much you might wish to turn back the clock and deal with an emotional issue differently, you know it can’t be done. Only time and effort can repair a relationship that once seemed so free and easy. You’ve got the time, so make the effort.

GEMINI 22 May-21 June You are as free as you want to be, even when burdened with commitments you’d rather be without.

Life would be easier with a philosophy or belief to sustain you in times of need.

Saturn in Aquarius is about to offer you one that perfectly suits your character.

SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec What passes in some circles as meaningful conversation will leave you cold and unimpressed this week. Your mind is full of serious ideas and you need serious people to talk to. Failing that, find a quiet corner to contemplate life’s deeper mysteries.

CANCER 22 June-23 July You have learned a lot about human relationships over the past two years – now you must apply it.

It is not enough to accept that others may have different values to you – you must experience those values for yourself to really to understand them.

CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan Your ruler Saturn leaves your birth sign today and although you may not be sorry to see it go it has taught you some valuable lessons over the past two years. Just how much you have taken them to heart will become obvious by the middle of next week

LEO 24 July-23 Aug Leo is a gregarious sign but that doesn’t mean you must go to extremes to accommodate others’ needs, especially when they conflict with your own. Ideal relationships are based on mutual respect; as you may have to remind someone this week.

AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb Saturn, Great Taskmaster of the Zodiac, enters your birth sign today, where it will stay for the next 30 months or so. Worried? No need to be.

Saturn will test you at every turn but only to show how much more is possible once you learn to overcome your limits.

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept You must be decisive this week: either agree totally with the proposal of a partner or loved one or oppose it tooth and nail. Restrictive Saturn will increase your workload in the weeks ahead, so make things easy for yourself whenever you can.

PISCES 20 Feb-20 March You won’t change a thing by wishing to be somewhere else, doing something else. You are where you are for a reason and if you ease up and follow the signs and omens you’ll learn what that reason is. You have a special place in the world – find it and enjoy it.

Greenwich Library and its Cos Cob and By ram Shuber t branches are currently closed until further notice as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 virus. More info here. We understand you may have many questions. We appreciate your continued patience during this time.

W hat If I have a Referenc e or Borrowing Question?

How Can I Get a New Library Card?

Leave us a voicemail! Library staff are To sig n up for a new L i bra r y c a r d , currently responding to phone calls and please complete our ONLINE FORM. This is emails from Monday - Friday from 9:00 am available to Greenwich residents and those 9:00 pm. who work or study in Greenwich.

• For Borrowing, call (203) 625-6524 • For Reference, call (203) 622-7920 We will set you up with your digital • Ask a Virtual Librarian. account and access to digital resources right away. Library staff will respond MondayWhat Should I Do About My Current Friday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm.

Checkouts?

Due dates have been extended indefinitely What If My Library Card Expires? for any checked out books or materials. Please Library cards scheduled to expire in do not return Library materials to the book March or April have been extended through drops.

April 30. For other questions about your account or to update your card, please call our Can I Access New Books and Materials Lending department at (203) 625-6524.

While You're Closed?

Yes! Our Digital Library is always open What is Happening to Librar y and we continue to add new books everyday. Programs & Events?

Grab your Library card number and PIN and A l l L i bra r y prog ra ms a re c a ncel le d check out materials accessible from anywhere through March 31. For additional content, (for all ages!): follow the Library on Facebook or Instagram.

• eBooks & Audiobooks for Kids and Adults How Can I Support My Child with • Digital Comic Books Distance Learning?

• Digital Magazines & Newspapers If you need some help w ith your • Movie & TV Streaming assignments, visit the Homework Help section • Music Streaming of the Children’s homepage. Here you will find • Online Video Courses Library resources and databases as well as • Online Language Learning links to subject specific sites. Use our virtual CLICK HER E to get set up and start Ask a Librarian service for help with any reading, listening, and learning! If you questions you may have. have any questions or need help, leave us a voicemail at (203) 622-7920.

Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

Dr. Suess

Page 12 | | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

Puzzles

In Sudoku, each row, column, and nonet can contain each number once.

Answers can be found on page 10

LO NE CA W TI ON !

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Excellence in Education at Home

Page 13 | | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

HOME

From Page 1 several areas near where you will be throughout the day. Your children want to be where you are and that will make it easier for them to ask you questions, as needed. I liked having a playroom just off the kitchen when my children were young. When they were older, they would sit at a table near or in the kitchen.

Pro tip: During designated study times, make sure you can see computer screens from where you are working. This keeps everything transparent.

3. Find a support group and utilize it often – three or four people really should do it. You can still engage online and by phone with your children’s teachers, your friends who already homeschool, other parents who are also new to this, family, friends, co-workers, etc.

The key is to find individuals who know you and your children, well. These people need to be supportive, honest, and really should share your sense of humor. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

4. For children utilizing distance learning, rely on your child’s online instructors to provide constructive feedback where necessary and then focus on helping them to address those issues, if they want your help. It is very important to allow them to come to you for help. Do not force it on them. They will ask and when they do, enter the fray slowly and gently.

Do not take over projects or do the work for your child, ever. This is very, very easy to do, but resist the urge. This behavior sends the message that they are not capable of doing it themselves and creates one of two outcomes: 1) they will not ask for help the next time or 2) they will ask and expect you to do it for them again.

5. Pro-tip: The art of strewing is a sneaky trick. Leave books out that you think your children will find interesting. It is immensely gratifying to watch them pick up a book and plop down to look at it with no prodding required.

Switch books out often to keep them interested and perusing.

6. Try to discuss options with them, instead

Any art project is great for fine motor skills.

2. Scheduling: Yes, have a detailed schedule and checklists, but keep it very flexible. At this age, your schedule is a guide.

Remember that a little bit of daily practice is much better than a long block of weekly practice.

10 – 30 minutes a day is more than enough of anything. If they want to keep going after 10 minutes, wonderful! If they don’t, move on to the next thing.

Take frequent breaks and get outside in the fresh air often. Just a quick walk can do wonders!

3. Listening: Use the same technique with

need to listen to what they are saying. I refer you to my previous column on the Middle School Brain.

4. Curriculum choices: Once again, the very technical “follow your nose” curriculum works wonders. At this age, the topics are more likely to be lasers, football, music, anime or art, but the plan remains the same. There are books, movies, and cross-curricular education opportunities everywhere. For example, ESPN has a fantastic series called ‘Sport Science’ that introduces the concepts of physics as it pertains to athletes.

Other cross-curricular topics might focus on

You’ve got this. You are a parent, and no one knows your children as well as you.

You were their first teacher and you have always been their best teacher.

food, learn to make the perfect cup of tea, try your hand at Sushi and look closely at Japanese geography.

Most of you will be working with some form of distance learning at this age. Try to keep informed on the topics your child is learning about and use the strewing method referenced above shamelessly.

High School: Independent Thought and Action 1. Their space: IF your teen requires a little additional motivation, then keep them close. A table near the kitchen or your office with their screens in full view during study time is an appropriate choice. Otherwise, they require – and hopefully have earned – a little more privacy.

2. Scheduling: This is important to keep ever yone on track and to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Once again, you will find the response “What does your schedule say?” more helpful than you can imagine. Schedule time for chores, homework, and being off the phone/computer. Once again, give them a list of what needs to be accomplished and let them set it up however they like. Their circadian rhythms are different from those of a fully formed adult, so they will put a schedule together that looks much different than yours. As long as they stick to it, that is totally appropriate.

3. Listening: With this age group, make yourself available after 10 pm. I go into this in more detail in my column on Happiness and Communication.

4. Curriculum Choices: These students will benefit greatly from reading, watching movies, working through online courses, and discussing weighty topics with their parents. Whatever they are watching, watch with them. This facilitates discussion.

If you have a high school senior, make sure they are writing, writing, writing. The more, the better. This will help them to focus their thoughts and to prepare for the workloads in college.

Pro-tip #1: Check their work. Even if you are working with online professionals, don’t just ask if they did their work, look at it. No need to correct what they have but peruse it for quality and ask them to do another edit or clean it up a bit if it is not to their usual standard.

Pro-tip #2: When watching a documentary or educational film, have your child put the phone away. This will help them focus on the film. Discuss the story or topic with them after watching it and bring up similar topics for a week or so after to help it move from short term to long term memory. They may protest that they already know the topic or have seen the movie, but most humans only retain about 10% the first time they see anything.

Get out of your pajamas and get dressed.

Make sure everyone pitches in with chores.

Teach them to cook, do laundry, drive a car, plan and plant a garden, vacuum, dust, keep a checkbook. You’ve got this. You are a parent, and no one knows your children as well as you. You were their first teacher and you have always been their best teacher.

Your Luxury Greenwich Movers

of giving orders or yelling. I promise that they cannot hear a word you say if you are yelling at them, but an honest, calm question, they will think about, even if it is not in the moment.

Maintain your composure and remind yourself often that children have a very difficult time thinking and planning ahead.

7. Limit screen time to an age-appropriate amount. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “for children ages 2 to 5 years, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them. For children, ages 6 and older, place consistent limits on the time spent using media, and the types of media, and make sure media does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity and other behaviors essential to health.” For more guidance on this important topic, check their website: https://www.aap.org/.

8. Do not burden your children with your stress. And you will get stressed. You will feel claustrophobic; you will feel like a failure, you will always feel that you could be doing more and doing it better. You will also experience unbridled joy and a connection to your children that is deep and profound. Remember, children are eminently adaptable. Relax, take a walk, take a bath, put on your favorite music and dance. They will be fine … they will be fine… they will be fine.

9. Check the Sentinel online at www.

GreenwichSentinel.com and and make sure you are getting their 5 Things daily emails. I, and others, will be adding ideas, websites, games, movies to watch with your children, and more.

Elementary School Children: Memorization through Imitation, Play, and Storytelling 1. Their space: If you have not done this already, get down on your hands and knees in their space and look at the furniture from their perspective. Adjust to make sure there is room for movement and play. They will need to practice both fine and gross motor skills. Yoga and dance are wonderful for gross motor skills.

your child when they are telling you a story that you use with your spouse. Just repeat the last few words they say and add the occasional uhhuh or I understand.

4. Curriculum choices: I use the very technical “follow your nose” curriculum. Essentially, whatever is of interest to your child, go with it. They love “Little House on the Prairie”?

Wonderful, there is a lot there to go with, especially if you have a little blackboard and chalk. Tangential, cross-curricular work might include learning about Westward Expansion, cooking like a pioneer, making candles at home, putting on little vignettes of plays, sewing your own clothing, and so forth. All of these could include simple lessons in kitchen chemistry, math, or even physics!

Use songs to memorize everything from U.S. History to times tables. Yup, School House Rock is still a pretty good resource.

Middle School: Reconfiguring the Brain Please refer to my last column on Middle School Brain.

1. Their space: Keep them close, don’t let them live in their rooms and watch what they are doing on their computers. A table near the kitchen or your office is great, just make sure you can see their screens.

2. Scheduling: At this age, the schedule is your mantra. “Did you check the schedule?”

Or “What does the schedule say?” are simple answers to many questions. When setting up a schedule for your middle school student, ask for their help and guidance. Make a list of all the things that need to be included and work out something with them that is mutually agreeable.

Keep track of what is working and what it is not and agree to make changes on a weekly or biweekly basis when you are both refreshed and willing to compromise. Middle schoolers love to make deals and negotiate. This is a wonderful way for them to do this that will work for everyone involved.

Add in more structure in terms of math, writing, and reading. These should be scheduled 4 – 5 times per week. Be sure to include science and history.

3. Listening: With this age group, you really

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the food, culture, and language of a country or culture. If your child is interested in anime, Japan or Korea make terrific topics. Make Japanese

(203) 990-1535

ClancyMoving.com/Greenwich-CT President's Quality Winner

Lockey Coughlin is an Educational Consultant, Founder and owner of Education without Walls, an educational resource sharing center, and President and Founder of Webb Youth Services, a 501(c)(3), which provides services for students at risk.

Lockey is offering free advice to stressed parents seeking assistance with schooling at home through March 31st. Please feel free to make an appointment to chat with her on the phone through the Education without Walls website: https://www.educationww. org/appointments.

(203) 990-1535 ClancyMoving.com/Greenwich-CT President's Quality Winner

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD

Page 14 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

NEW LISTINGS

Deborah Ference-Gray

One Pickwick Plaza Greenwich, CT 06830

Data Compiled by Cesar Rabellino (203) 249-9866

Office: 203.618.3155 Mobile: 917.584.4903

For Market Updates and Listings Visit deborahferencegray.com

deborah.ferencegray@sothebyshomes.com

REAL ESTATE DASHBOARD MASTHEAD DASHBOARD EDITOR

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

CONTRIBUTORS

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

NEW SALES

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

Original List

List Price

Sold Price DOM BR FB Acres

SqFt

3 Putnam Hill 2K 9 River Road 405 51 Old Kings Highway 5 51 Forest Avenue 139 3 Putnam Hill 4B 111 Putnam Park 111 7 Buxton Lane 40 Indian Field Road 19 Old Stone Bridge Road 141 Bedford Road 10 Schubert Lane 1 Ford Lane 19 Dingletown Road 25 Fox Run Lane

$335,000 $390,000 $498,000 $550,000 $599,000 $635,000 $980,000 $899,000 $1,275,000 $1,399,000 $1,975,000 $2,385,000 $2,195,000 $3,595,000

$335,000 $379,000 $469,000 $550,000 $599,000 $599,000 $980,000 $899,000 $1,275,000 $1,399,000 $1,495,000 $2,087,500 $2,195,000 $3,450,000

$335,000 $362,000 $435,000 $550,000 $585,000 $611,000 $840,000 $867,500 $1,250,000 $1,300,000 $1,437,500 $1,965,750 $2,320,000 $3,262,500

985 1,021 905 965 1,300

220 224 170 0 4 136 62 143 293 83 281 252 11 121

1 1 2 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5

1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 3 4 5

10 0 0

13 0.43 0.28 1.12 5 0.31 0.27 1 2.4

2,012 2,083 3,035 3,502 3,878 2,949 3,575 6,029

Address

List Price

Price/SqFt

SqFt

AC

BR

FB

Area

3 Putnam Hill 3E 72 Putnam Park Road 72 102 Valley Road 19 51 Forest Avenue UNIT 52 28 Byram Terrace Drive 61 Richmond Drive 22 Guilford Lane 49 Le Grande Avenue 176 Weaver Street 13 Riverside Lane 58 Washington Avenue 11 Rockland Place 19 Center Drive 43 Lafrentz Road 90 Riverside Lane 273 Riversville Road 31 Horseshoe Road 59 Cherry Valley Road 30 Heusted Drive 11 Indian Head Road 50 Wesskum Wood Road 143 Overlook Drive 9 Tomney Road 17 Willowmere Circle

$379,000 $585,000 $595,000 $745,000 $920,000 $978,000 $999,000 $1,190,000 $1,195,000 $1,250,000 $1,400,000 $1,500,000 $1,545,000 $1,595,000 $1,595,000 $1,595,000 $1,625,000 $1,850,000 $1,850,000 $2,150,000 $2,395,000 $2,445,000 $2,595,000 $2,695,000

$358

1,060 1,000 1,246 1,666 1,980 1,810 2,166 1,695 2,052 2,128 2,954 2,778 3,088 2,937 2,786 3,898 3,887 2,126 3,132 3,723 4,435 3,924 3,108

0 0 0.4 0.12 0.2 0.13 0.98 0.31 0.12 0.18 0.18 4 0.24 2 1.09 3.73 0.17 0.32 0.38 0.36 0.42 0.51

2 3 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 6 4 5 4 4 5 6 6 4 3

1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4

South of Post Road South of Post Road Cos Cob Old Greenwich Pemberwick Old Greenwich Glenville South of Post Road Glenville Riverside South of Post Road Old Greenwich South of Post Road North Parkway Riverside South Parkway Cos Cob North Parkway Old Greenwich Riverside Riverside South of Post Road South Parkway Riverside

$595 $598 $552 $494 $552 $549 $705 $609 $658 $508 $556 $517 $543 $573 $417 $476 $870 $686 $643 $551 $661 $867

1 Pear Lane

$3,000,000

$1,183

2,536

0.72

2

1

South of Post Road

15 Flagler Drive 74 Park Avenue 28 Dairy Road 2 Oneida Drive E 4 Ford Lane 136 Parsonage Road 22 Cherry Tree Lane 32 Vineyard Lane

$3,175,000 $4,395,000 $4,595,000 $4,995,000 $5,295,000 $5,695,000 $7,250,000 $8,600,000

$870 $594 $637 $891 $942 $525 $1,183 $712

3,648 7,400 7,214 5,608 5,619 10,845 6,129 12,078

2.05 0.55 2 0 0.29 2.69 1.05 4.47

4 6 5 4 6 6 5 6

3 6 5 4 6 6 5 8

South Parkway Old Greenwich South Parkway South of Post Road Old Greenwich South Parkway Riverside South Parkway

Column

Surviving & Some Thriving in Coronavirus Era higher you go in price the fewer there are. The one exception being summer rentals and even there we only had 17 summer rentals out of 864 rentals last year. There are more short-term rentals, but most of them are done through the paper, Craigslist, Airbnb, or by word of mouth.

One of opportunity landlords have, if they have a rural/remote vacation house is to move and do a short-term rental of their Greenwich house. The tenants are there. (I’m checking with all of my clients to see if they might want to do this.)

At the same time, you have a bunch of issues with a C-19 issue. What can you do if the two month tenant wants to stay? What happens if a tenant tests positive for C-19? (Luckily, it appears that C-19 doesn’t last long on most surfaces.)

What’s the appropriate procedure for cleaning the house after the family leaves? Each person has their risk/reward calculation.

By Mark Pruner We h ave h it t h e i n f l e c t i o n p o i nt fo r Coronavirus infections in the U.S. and can expect that we are going to see rapidly rising infection counts and unfor tunately more deaths. At the same time COVID-19 on a worldwide basis, and particularly in the U.S., has not been a leading cause of deaths. Globally, we have seen 207,000 infections and 8,300 deaths this compares to 56 million deaths a year from all causes according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S we have had 7,600 cases and 117 deaths from COVID-19 as of Wednesday, March 18th This compares with 2.8 million deaths in the U.S. each year from all causes according to the CDC. In Connecticut, we only have 68 case, with 6 of them in Greenwich and no deaths in Connecticut yet. (Of course, by the time you read this these numbers will have changed.)

As I said, these numbers are only heading up and at an accelerating rate. Our biggest problem is we don’t know how far and for how long.

COVID-19 has already exceeded the other two prior coronaviruses; MERS and SARS. It is also something that each of us can influence by our actions and help to reduce the total deaths. For me, it’s something that hits home at my house as my wife and I are doing what we can to protect my 98-year-old mother-in-law (sorry for giving away your age).

What is clear is that this coronavirus is causing severe economic disruption in the economy, and in the stock market, and in our lives and in the real estate market. While COVID-19 is clearly causing changes in the Greenwich real estate market; these changes are not always in the ways that you might think.

WHAT DO WE KNOW As of March 18, 2020, we have sold 89 single family homes in Greenwich and have 86 contracts waiting to close for a total of 175 houses off the market so far this year. As of

March 31, 2019, last year we only had 74 sales and 67 contracts or a total of 141 transactions.

So, with two weeks still to go in the first quarter, we are doing better than we did last year. The tax changes made by 2017 tax act had a greater impact on Greenwich in than did C-19.

Now as we know 2019 was not a good year for Greenwich real estate. If you look at our 10year average for the first quarter, you come up with 102 sales. If you gross up our 21 sales so far in March, you get 37 sales for a first quarter total of 126 sales so 2020 is likely to be better than our 10-year average.

The question is, will this actually happen?

The short answer is no one knows, but if you look at 2020 transactions week by week you get an interesting graph (see above).

Low interest rates not seen for 50 years and pent up demand from last year’s slow market continue to push transactions, the total of sales and contracts up. This happens every year as we get further into the spring market, but the continued market demand in the face of all the bad news is heartening.

We also have another factor driving sales and this is C-19 itself. It seems that many families that were thinking about moving out of New York City have decided to accelerate their plans and move earlier.

RENTALS Where we really see that acceleration is in the rental market. From January 1 to March 18th we had 48 rentals of all types in 2018 and 52 rentals in 2019. This year we have had 72 rentals or an increase of 39%. Most of those rentals were long-term rentals for a year or more.

Short-term rentals for houses are very limited and usually are rented pretty quickly. Last year out of 864 rentals of all types done through the GMLS only 8 were listed as short-term rentals

with an additional 17 were listed as summer rentals. (We also had 1 winter rental.)

WHAT CAN YOU DO? BUYERS For buyers this is an amazing time. Interest rates are at record lows and there are significant uncertainties on the sellers’ side mak ing many sellers more negotiable on price. Casual shopping around is harder. The Greenwich MLS has banned public open houses for this week, so any showings have to be made through the listing agent. The policy is likely to continue until the situation improves. For buyers having a good agent and mortgage banker is crucial.

SELLERS For sellers, the ma rket is much more problematic. Do you sell now, before things get worse, pull your house off the market to avoid infected buyers or just wait to list. Uncertainty tends to freeze folks including sellers. Right now, we have 530 single family home listings on the market with more coming on every day in the spring market. We had 567 listings at the end of March 2018 and 608 listings at the end of March 2019.

Anecdotally, the market under $2 million, wher e most prop er t ie s a r e b oug ht w it h mortgages seems to be active. (It certainly has been for me.) Over $4 million the market is slower. Why that is, when you would think that the people with money might be more interested in alternatives, is not clear. Then again maybe they already have their alternatives bought years ago.

LANDLORDS For landlords, the situation has opportunities and problems, especially if they would like to do a short term rental deal. In the normal year, we don’t get many short term rentals and the

COVID-19 TENANTS Many prospective tenants are looking to get out of the city and wanting to put 4 acres of social distance between themselves and their neighbors rather than on 12 inches of apartment wall. As noted above, finding a short term rental in Greenwich is tough. Multiple agents I’ve talked to are getting lots of requests from NYC families for nice houses with a yard that they can move into immediately. What is available tends to go quickly.

SUMMARY C-19 is ma k i ng big cha nge s to l i fe i n Greenwich. For the moment it actually seems to be increasing sales and is certainly increasing short-term rentals. Our inventory is down as sellers wait to see what will happen. Listing when there are fewer sellers and more buyers is usually a good idea.

If you would like to help out a family stuck in New York who is looking for short term rental, and the house is move in ready, you can probably get a tenant in days not months.

Only time will tell what will happen and for the next few weeks the coronavirus will only get worse. However, the result maybe that Greenwich and other towns will be seen as safer havens and places that homeowners want a second-family home they can retreat to when things are not going well. We lost many of weekenders after the recession, this situation may bring them back and result in a longer lasting perception change about the Greenwich market.

Mark Pruner is a real estate agent with Berk shire Hath away an d member of it ’s President Circle. He can be reached at 203-9697900 or by email at mark@bhhsne.com.

Page 15 | Greenwich Sentinel | March 20, 2020

Sabrina Pray Forsythe, CCFPP Honoree

By Anne W. Semmes

hosts at Westchester Airport. “We end up in that hanger at NetJets and we get a bunch of high school boys from Brunswick, and we all roll out the tables and set up every chair and tie the cushions on. It's very much hands-on and such a great way to know so much about people. It's kind of like being in the trenches with them. I’ve made really excellent friends this way.”

Forsythe can trace her inspiration of nearly four decades of supporting Greenwich organizations from her childhood in her dad’s backyard. “The Bruce Museum was holding its first galas there.” She would later chair a Bruce Museum gala. In her twenties she was volunteering for the American Red Cross when her younger brother, Malcolm III was killed, age 17, in an automobile accident. With that tragedy came

different organizations in town that he donated to, “every year, and why.” And so, “It just became part of my thinking,” she says, “It’s what we do in this town.”

Today, Forsythe’s list is long of organizations she has and does put her shoulder to: YWCA, Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich Adult Day Care Center, United Way, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich Riding & Trails Association, Greenwich Green & Clean, the Russell Maguire Foundation, and the D.A.R., and the list goes on.

“I have met the most extraordinary women who are much like I am,” she notes, “believing that we have been given a tremendous gift and an honor to live in Greenwich. We really love to give back to those in our community who are not as fortunate as we are.”

She points to the YWCA’s Domestic Abuse Program

Greenwich philanthropist-fundraiser Sabrina Pray Forsythe, always on the move.

Sabrina Pray Forsythe stands before a Greek Hellenistic column at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If there was a time to look for inspiration, for ways we can make a difference, Sabrina Pray Forsythe comes to mind. “I’m a person you can set your clocks by,” she introduces, quoting her late, great father, Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. Forsythe is being celebrated once again for her generosity of time, expertise in fundraising, and community commitment, this time with the 2020 “Chief’s Award” bestowed by the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol (CCFPP), at a benefit date TBD. “I basically wear all of the hats there are in terms of fundraising,” Forsythe shares, “whether it's the person who puts the auction together, whether it’s the person who decorates the event, whether it’s the person that writes the letters to the people asking if they could please donate to this wonderful organization. There isn’t one job in terms of putting on a fundraising event that I haven't taken on. But the one they keep asking of me is to chair which I love so I can oversee everything.”

“Sa br ina has a lways been a cha mpion of philanthropy,” says Stephanie Dunn Ashley, president of the CCFPP Board of Directors. “Her dedication to First Responders, Veterans, and the Town of Greenwich is unparalleled."

CCFPP is seven years short of their centenary as a nonprofit gracing our town with some 25 volunteers on call as firefighters and first responders for salvage rescue, traffic accidents, downed trees or wires, flooded dwellings - both businesses and private homes – averaging a thousand incidents a year.

“These volunteers are putting their lives on the line,” says Forsythe. “This organization is a perfect example of what I believe in.”

It’s the community comradery that speaks to her, such as the Red & White Ball benefit the Red Cross

The late Malcolm Pray, Jr. with daughter Sabrina Forsythe beside a 1937 Cord 812 Sportsman.

Forsythe serves on the board of the Pray Foundation. Contributed photo. awareness and appreciation of “a fire department, police department, and ambulance services, and what they can do for us.”

Daughter Sabrina was thus enlisted by her dad, a Boy Scout devotee, as fundraiser for the Malcolm S. Pray III Memorial Building – a meeting hall at the Boy Scouts' Seton Reservation on Riversville Road. “I spent a lot of time and energy,” Forsythe recalls, “asking a lot of my friends for money and they were happy to give it to build this building to honor my brother.”

With her father’s Pray car dealership fame, she remembers him inviting her to his office on West Putnam Avenue and sharing with her a list of the

that she supports. “It's quite extraordinary in a town like this,” she notes, “there could be a need for such a service, but it's a reality.”

This Spring Forsythe will be running once again

daughter Courtney Fischer runs her grandfather’s Pray Body Shop as president. Her daughter Nicole Fischer has a high-level job at Gucci in New York. “I am extremely proud of my daughters,” says Forsythe, “and I consider them as my greatest accomplishment.”

Note that her giving back spirit is also present in her offspring. Courtney manages to give volunteer time to the Red Cross and be a member of the Junior League of Greenwich. In their growing up years Forsythe says, “I used to take them to all the meetings I was going to because I refused to have a nanny. So, whether they were in one of those little carriers or playing off outside, they were very much aware of what I did.”

So must her father have been aware of Forsythe’s fundraising acumen – he died in 2013. “Oh, my God he was so proud of me,” she says, but, “He was mad at me because he put everything that he did into notebooks, chronologically,” where Forsythe just has “stacks of magazines and information on past events. I ran the Convent of the Sacred Heart gala three or four times?”

“I don’t go for the accolades,” she says. “I do it because I have that energy. It's like a drive I have in me. I don’t even know how to explain it. It's like what I'm supposed to do.

It’s the other people in this town that make it all so worthwhile, and just knowing that you're doing right by people that really need help.”

Add to Forsythe’s agenda her role with her father’s Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in nearby Bedford, an extraordinary collection of world classic vintage cars. “My father brought me up,” says Forsythe, “knowing that one day he would leave his collection for perpetuity and wanted me to make sure that happened.

“We currently have a director at the facility who

Sabrina Pray Forsythe poses before a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, part of the collection at the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford. Photo by Rebecca Rose Fine Portraits. the YWCA’s gala. “I love that there’s three fabulous co-chairs,” she says, “who are so positive and have so much energy and are good at being frugal about the whole thing. Obviously, the more money you put into it the less money you have to give to the organization that you're making money for.”

Being savvy about that bottom line shows that Pray business sense that no doubt has aided Forsythe in her fundraising efforts. She appears to have imparted that savvy to her two daughters. Oldest

explains my father's vision: ‘There's nothing in life you can’t achieve if you put your mind to it.’” With its educational efforts and eye-popping classic cars inspiring young people, she’s proud to see, she says, her father's vision is being achieved. Plus, there’s a bonus for Forsythe. “One of my favorite activities is spending the evening with the mechanic watching him work on the cars. It's my secret life. Better than TV any night.”

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