Photo credit: Barb Heins.
First Selectman Fred Camillo with newly-appointed Parking Enforcement Officer Larry Chiaramonte, Parking Enforcement Supervisor Angela Giordano and Deputy Chief Kraig Gray, director of parking services.
Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
Congratulations to Larry Chiaramonte who was sworn in this week as our new Parking Enforcement Officer in the Department of Parking Services. Prior to his appointment, Larry worked as a human services staff assistant in our Department of Human Services. That position is among dozens available in Town. Please use this link to learn about all available jobs.
Leaf collection coming up
Autumn is in full swing which means the Town’s annual leaf collection program is right around the corner! Leaf collection is scheduled to begin November 7.
Pick up is limited to half-acre or less residential properties (building zone R-20) on public streets. Weather permitting, the program will include two pickups from November to mid-December. Residents can find out when their street is scheduled though the 24-hour leaf collection hotline at 203-618-7698 or by using this link.
Put down the phone
From now through the end of the month, the Greenwich Police Department will be conducting high-visibility traffic enforcement on the roadways aimed at distracted drivers.
We ask that parents remind their teen-age drivers that they are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time when driving, even with a hands-free accessory. If you have a phone in your hand while driving, expect to be stopped and issued a ticket. It’s a $200 fine for the first offense, $375 for the second offense, and $625 for the third and subsequent offenses.
FEMA grant info session
The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCoG) and Dewberry Engineers are scheduled to host an information session to introduce FEMA flood grant programs and to answer questions about the grant application process at 6:30 p.m. October 27 at the Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford. Dewberry also will be available to assist individual property owners.
Please note that this event will be recorded and subsequently posted to the WestCOG website (www.westcog.org) for viewing.
For information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Todd Fontanella, WestCOG Senior Planner, at 475-323-2076 or tfontanella@westcog.org.
Holiday Aid Program
The Greenwich Department of Human Services (GDHS) again has organized it annual holiday program.
GDHS serves as a community bridge providing direct services and connections for their clients to the essential resources of the community. The 2022 Holiday Aid Program provides financially eligible Greenwich residents with food, clothing, toys, and gift cards for the winter holidays. The Greenwich Human Services Fund program is funded by generous donations from community organizations, church groups, corporations and private individuals.
In addition to monetary donations gift cards to stores such as Walmart or Target are welcome. Gift cards will be distributed to Greenwich families so that they can purchase clothing and/or toys for their children. The deadline for gift card donations is Friday, December 9.
For more information, look at the flyer below, or use this link.
Twachtman exhibition at Greenwich Historical Society
The Historical Society offers a unique opportunity to view the works of one of the country’s greatest Impressionists with the long-awaited John Henry Twachtman exhibition: Life and Art: The Greenwich Paintings of John Henry Twachtman.
Twachtman was a founder of American Impressionism and taught and painted on the grounds of the Holley House in the late 19th century along with esteemed colleagues including Childe Hassam and J. Alden Weir. The exhibit of 18 works includes paintings featuring familiar sights around the Bush Holley House.
Life and Art is curated by Lisa N. Peters, Ph.D., an independent scholar and the author of John Henry Twachtman: An American Impressionist (High Museum of Art, Atlanta), as well as several other publications on Twachtman and American art. The exhibition runs until January 22. Galleries are open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For more information: https://greenwichhistory.org/twachtman/.
The art of nature
Forms of Nature is a new exhibition at the Flinn Gallery of the Greenwich Library and there will be an opening reception on Thursday, October 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Forms of Nature, the Flinn Gallery’s second show of the season, includes an extensive range of paintings, photos and prints by Joan Goldin; and ceramic sculptures by Leigh Taylor Mickelson. Co-curated by Flinn Gallery members Leslee Asch and Alexis Abram, Forms of Nature will be on view from October 27 to December 7.
More information on the various exhibition-related programs may be found here.
Online absentee ballot applications
The state of Connecticut announced this week that it has rolled out a new online portal for Connecticut registered voters to apply for an absentee ballot.
Voters are now able to go online to CT.GOV to fill out their application form for the November 8 election. Residents must have a valid Connecticut driver’s license with a signature, in order to use this online portal. More information can be found here.
Parking survey deadline
The deadline to participate in the Department of Parking Services’ survey about the 15-minute parking program in the Amogerone post office parking lot is next Wednesday, October 26. The brief survey which will gauge users’ experiences is available online via www.greenwichct.gov/ParkingAsks
Updates – COVID vaccine clinics, stats
Greenwich Hospital reported that as of today, October 21, there are 10 COVID-positive patients being treated, with 1 patient on a ventilator in the ICU. A total of 128 patients are being treated in the Yale New Haven Health system. According to the state, as of October 20, the total number of Greenwich COVID cases (since the pandemic began in March 2020) is 16,106. The number of resident deaths attributed to COVID is 127.
Family Centers also offers weekly vaccine and testing at Wilbur Peck Court, and the Connecticut Department of Health provides public mobile vaccine clinics.
Upcoming events
Drug take-back day
Don’t forget that your annual fall cleaning should include your medicine cabinet. Greenwich Police will hold its annual drug take-back day on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of John B. Margenot Atrium of the Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place. Any unneeded, expired medications in pill form will be accepted.
Honoring Chief Dan Warzoha
I am proud to be a part of the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company’s 8th annual David N. Theis Award for outstanding service to the community. Next Thursday, October 27, we will be celebrating the life and service of Chief Dan Warzoha. As you may recall, Dan passed away August 21, 2021 as the Town prepared for tropical storm Henri.
Dan was a lifelong member of the Glenville Department; operations manager of the Town’s water treatment plant, served six years as the Town’s fire chief and then as the Town’s director of emergency management. Dan’s commitment to his community will be honored posthumously at 6 p.m. October 27 at the Tamarack Country Club. For tickets, please use this link.
A Ruby Gala for Pathways
I am looking forward to attending the 40th anniversary ruby gala celebration of Pathways next weekend. This agency continues to provide much needed services to those in our community who are coping with mental illness. For tickets, please use this link.
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Stay safe and all the best,
Fred