Photo courtesy of Icy Frantz
Greetings friends and neighbors
Last Sunday, our community came together at the Arch Street Teen Center to support the town's first-ever vigil for mental health and addiction awareness. A Better Tomorrow was organized by Icy Frantz and Tara Speiss Restieri and attended by over 200 people.
We salute Icy and Tara for their vision and compassion as well as all those individuals, non-profits, and the Department of Human Services who stand at the ready to assist anyone who is experiencing a tough time. We, as a community, continue to demonstrate that Greenwich cares.
The Greenwich Lions Grapefruit Sale is on
Lions Club Members are selling Texas ruby red grapefruit at locations including downtown Old Greenwich, Greenwich Point, Perrot Library, Cos Cob Fire House, and the Greenwich Transfer Station through Sunday. All proceeds go to support numerous local health and human service providers like Greenwich Scholarships, Neighbor to Neighbor, Meals on Wheels, Abilis, GADC -River House, Lions Low Vision Center at Greenwich Hospital as well as summer camp scholarships and screenings for visually impaired youth. The price remains $33 per case with only 650 cases available. Get 'em while they last!
Individuals can also make a direct gift by mailing a check to Greenwich Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 130 Old Greenwich 06870. Visit the Lions website for more info.
Pat LaRow will be the new P&Z Director
Congratulations to P&Z Deputy Director Pat LaRow who will be the new Planning & Zoning Director for Greenwich, filling a spot that will be vacant when Katie DeLuca retires at the end of 2022. While we will miss Katie and wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life, we are really excited to have Pat assume the leadership position for zoning here in town. Pat has the experience, institutional knowledge, temperament, and passion for the town that is needed in this role. I wish him well and look forward to many years of success as we continue moving forward in challenging times.
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7th
Do you need guidance on your Medicare options for next year? Volunteer counselors are available for individual sessions to discuss your options for Medicare, Medigap and Medicare D insurance. Just call the Commission on Aging for a free, confidential appointment at 203-862-6710 or visit the Commission on Aging website before enrollment ends.
Zero Energy Ready Building Workshop
Mark your calendars! The Board of Selectmen’s Energy Management Advisory Committee invites you to a Hybrid Zero Energy Ready Building workshop on Monday, December 5 at Town Hall, 7-8:30 pm.
This workshop will endeavor to demystify terms like Zero Energy Ready (very high energy efficiency), Net Zero Energy (the former with solar PV), and various pathways to get there. More details and a registration link will follow next week.
Greenwich Food System Forum Returns
Join The Foodshed Network and Conservation Commission for the sixth and final panel of the 2022 Greenwich Food System Forum (GFSF), “Pathways to Engagement: Funding a Resilient Regional Foodshed,” on Wednesday, November 30th 7pm via Zoom. Hear speakers Sarah Huang, Co-Director at New England Grassroots Fund; Esperanza Pallana, Executive Director of Food and Farm Communications Fund, Kyle Philipp, C.E.O. and Co-Founder of Regenerative Food Network; Anthony Myint, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Zero Foodprint; and Woody Tasch, Chairman at Slow Money Institute.
“Pathways to Engagement: Funding a Resilient Regional Foodshed” will explore different financial models designed to equitably invest in food system transformation. Realizing a just, resilient and regionalized food system will take well-resourced urban and rural community-based organizations working across-sectors, at the grass-roots. Sarah Coccaro and Ali Ghiorse, co-founders of Greenwich Food System Forum, will facilitate the panel. Each of the panelists will speak to how their unique finance model allocates and is accessed democratically, for and by the people who are co-creating a just food movement. We hope you will join us!
Please visit The Foodshed Network to register and sign up for updates through The Foodshed Thymes.
Police warn of phone scam
Several Town of Greenwich residents have recently received phone calls from a subject claiming to be Greenwich Police Sergeant Bucci and asking for money via bank app or gift card to avoid an arrest. This is not Sgt. Bucci or anyone from the Police Department. It is a common phone scam that occurs throughout the country. Hang up the phone if you get this call and spread the word to your family and friends. Thank you.
Leaves only, please
For residents who participate in the Town’s Leaf Collection Program, please make sure that your leaf piles are free of branches and sticks. All the leaves that the Town collects are composted at a local farm, which will not accept any branches and sticks as it impacts their composting process.
MORE NEWS FROM AROUND TOWN
Learn to be an ecological gardener
Come and participate with us and meet like-minded people at Greenwich Audubon’s new Ecological Gardening and Landscaping program on Sunday, November 20th from 1-3 pm. The Greenwich Audubon Center in backcountry Greenwich has initiated a new educational program where attendees can learn how to create and maintain ecological landscapes which can contain ecologically managed flower, herb or vegetable gardens.
Safe Road Sundays at Greenwich Point
The Friends of Greenwich Point invite you to enjoy safe walks and rides starting this Sunday, November 20th from 9 am – 12:30 pm. The entrance to the main road around the Point will be monitored to restrict non-essential vehicles for 3 1/2 hours. This program continues through mid-April except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Read more on their website.
Raising Children of Outstanding Character
Christ Church Greenwich is hosting a free talk on Sunday, November 20 at 11:15 am. The program, Learning & Leading: Raising Children of Outstanding Character, features Molly King, Head of School at Greenwich Academy, and Adam Rohdie, Head of School, at Greenwich Country Day School.
Attend the talk either in person at Christ Church Greenwich Parish Hall, 254 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich, or via Livestream. Find out more at christchurchgreenwich.org.
Understanding the online life of teens
Perrot Memorial Library joins the Greenwich Alliance for Education, Greenwich Library, and the Greenwich PTA Council to present “Behind Their Screens,” with author Emily Weinstein and moderator Kathy Steiner of Greenwich High School. Contrary to many assumptions, teens are not simply “addicted” to their screens. They are instead trying to navigate a networked world.
The event is this Sunday, November 20th from 3-4 pm at the Berkley Theater at Greenwich Library. Pre-registration is required. Please call 203-622-7900 for more information.
Roadwork Moratorium
Starting November 21st, the Department of Public Works will not permit roadway openings, excavations, blocking or restricting public sidewalks, or parking spaces to minimize the impact on merchants and their customers during the holiday season. The moratorium covers downtown Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Riverside, Cos Cob, Byram, and Glenville central business districts and will be in effect until January 2, 2023.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Take the Skating Rink Survey: Ends November 27
November 26: Annual Turkey Trot
December 2: Town Hall Tree Lighting
Town Hall Elevators out of service
Help us spread holiday cheer to our Veterans!
The American Red Cross “Holiday for Heroes” drive is on! You're invited to participate by donating some new clothing items and dropping them at one of our collection locations around town before the drive ends on December 9, 2022.
Help to share some holiday spirit with the Veterans from our area by purchasing items from the wish list link, or choose from the list on the flyer.
Local COVID Update
Greenwich Hospital reports that they are currently caring for nine (9) patients with COVID. One is in the ICU on a mechanical ventilator. The Yale New Haven Health System is caring for 109 COVID patients system-wide. More Covid-19 data is available from the Greenwich Health Department on the Town website.
Family Centers offers weekly vaccines and testing at Wilbur Peck Court, and the Connecticut Department of Health provides public mobile vaccine clinics.
FIND YOUR BEST FOREVER FRIEND
Meet Kitten Cannoli
Cannoli is a sweet and pretty kitten available at Greenwich Animal Control. She is about 4 months old, with a beautiful tortoiseshell and white coat. Cannoli was found as a semi-feral kitten, along with her sister Sweet Potato who was featured two weeks ago. She is playful and curious and will make a great companion for a person or family. Please call 203-622-8299 to meet her!
Bibi wants to come home with you!
Say hello to Bibi! She’s a beautiful 10-year-old poodle who lost her home through no fault of her own. She is really sweet and loves car rides and naps. Find out more about Bibi and maybe you can give her a ride home. Visit Adopt-a-Dog and find out more about Bibi.
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Stay safe, be well and Happy Thanksgiving.
Best,
Fred