State Representative Fred Camillo (R-Greenwich) praised the passage of two bills he introduced, H.B. 5312, An Act Concerning Recommendations by the Department of Motor Vehicles Regarding the Motor Vehicle Statutes, and S.B. 523, An Act Concerning an Animal Abuse Registry, on the final day of the 2018 Session, May 9, 2018.

“Animal abuse and neglect is an incomprehensible crime, and we have a moral obligation as a state to ensure their safety and protection,” Rep. Camillo said. “H.B. 5312 will protect “Good Samaritans” from civil or criminal action if they rescue an animal from a vehicle, and S.B. 523 will require those convicted of animal abuse to register with the state. I am proud to have cosponsored these bills because if we do not begin to address these heinous acts, who will? These crimes must be held accountable and cannot go unpunished, while those who intervene to save these animals should not be punished.”

H.B. 5312 would protect an individual from civil damage or criminal penalties if they enter a vehicle to rescue an animal or child left inside the vehicle during extreme weather conditions. This legislation protects those “good Samaritans” who believe that the animal is in immediate danger, and allows the responding individual to use reasonable force to remove it.

S.B. 523 requires individuals convicted of certain animal abuse crimes to register with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Convicted individuals must appear before law enforcement annually to update their information. Released individuals must register within two weeks of their release. First time abusers must remain on the list for two years, while repeat offenders must remain on the list for five years.

“These bills deal with public safety, consumer protection, and animal welfare – all areas that I am passionate about,” added Rep. Camillo.

H.B. 5312 and S.B. 523 passed the House and the Senate with strong bipartisan support on the final day of the 2018 Session, May 9, 2018. The bills now await Governor Malloy’s signature.

Sarah Brooke Wood, 36, was arrested by Greenwich Police on a warrant for Failure to Appear in Court.

The original incident occurred on July 27, 2017 on Silver Beech Rd in Riverside.

Ms. Wood was brought to Greenwich Police Headquarters and processed. She posted $1,000 bond and was given a date of May 31, 2018 in Stamford Superior Court.

James W Wallis, 55, of Arrowhead Lane in Cos Cob was charged with Breach of Peace 2 and Public Indecency after a witness observed and photographed a lewd act on Delavan Ave.

Police say Mr. Wallis was observed masturbating in his vehicle while stopped at a stop light. A witness in a vehicle was able to provide picture evidence.

Wallis has a date in Stamford Superior Court on June 1, 2018. He was released on a promise to appear.

On Monday, May 28, 2018, the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department’s Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:00am and proceed north on Sound Beach Ave with a memorial ceremony at the conclusion of the parade in Binney Park to honor veterans who served from the Town of Greenwich.

All are welcome to attend. There will not be a rain date. In the event of inclement weather, a small process form the firehouse to Binney Park will be followed by a service starting promptly at 6:00pm.

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This Memorial Day Greenwich residents will have the opportunity to hear a Medal of Honor recipient speak at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club.

American Legion Post 29 has traditionally planned the wreath laying ceremony on the national day of remembrance.

This may be the first time a Medal of Honor veteran has spoken in Greenwich.

The public is welcome to the event  which will include Greenwich Police Color Guard, bag piper Lieutenant James Bonney, members of the Boy Scouts and Boys and Girls Club, a firing squad represented by the Byram Veterans Association, the national anthem, taps, and remarks by Captain Bucha.

The wreath laying ceremony is one of the many highlights of the weekend, which also includes several parades and other tributes.

According to Peter LeBeau, Commander of American Legion Post 29 , who will deliver the opening remarks, “This ceremony has always been a memorable one, where both veterans and the general public get together to  take pride in a touching program taking place in a spectacular setting.”

Of particular note is the fact that this year marks the 100^th anniversary of the end of WWI and the 50^th year marking the winding down of the war in Vietnam. It is fitting that Captain Bucha is being recognized because his brave actions in Vietnam earned him the Medal of Honor, the highest American recognitions for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.”

Bucha who attended West Point was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as a captain and commander of Company D, 3^rd Battalion, 187^th Infantry Regiment. On March 16^th, 1968 he and his company of 89 men were dropped by helicopter in Binh Duong Province tasked with seeking out and engaging enemy forces. What was initially believed to be light enemy resistance turned out to be a full North Vietnamese battalion.

This led to heavy fire and Bucha’s men being pinned down. His determined efforts to protect his men and directing them to a more defensible position helped save lives (which even included destroying an enemy bunker and standing exposed while directing helicopters with a flashlight to evacuate the wounded).

Following the ceremony, a continental breakfast will be hosted by the Yacht Club.

Greenwich High School Band’s Pops Concert is set for Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 7:30pm in the performing arts center, under the direction of  John Yoon, Director of Bands.

This is the band’s final performance of the year.

This Pops Concert will begin with the Percussion Ensemble’s first piece, Big Yellow Mambo, arranged by David Steinquest, followed by the Michael Jackson Tribute Medley, by Michael Jackson and Jeff Moore, which will have the audience dancing in their seats. Next the Jazz Lab Band will perform an old jazz favorite, Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey, arranged by Dave Barduhn, then Read My Lips by Paul Clark. The Jazz Ensemble will then play Shabadop by Les Hooper and Haitian Flight Song by Charles Mingus.

After intermission the Concert Band will perform three pieces: Amen by Frank Ticheli, Celtic Air and Dance No. 3, arranged by Michael Sweeney and Highlights from the Music Man by Meredith Wilson. The final group of the evening will be the Combined Bands, who will perform Washington Grays by Claudio S. Grafulla, Symphonic Dance #3 by Clifton Williams, and When the Stars Began to Fall, arranged by Fred J. Allen. Their finale will be a special treat: Pop and Rock Legends: Chicago, arranged by John Wasson.

The evening will conclude with a special recognition of all GHS Senior Band Members.

Ken and Tori Pond’s Craft & Sprout tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Ken and Tori Pond inside their tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Across the country and around the world, the tiny house trend is meeting the objective of a simplified, sustainable life at a fraction of the cost of traditional home ownership.

An offshoot of the tiny house movement is that of the tiny house on wheels.

Rather than a home with a traditional foundation, think of a trailer and wheels integrated into an actual tiny house.

As a result, in Greenwich, the tiny house is not considered an addition, and therefore not factored into FAR calculations or property taxes. Instead, like a camper or RV, the tiny house on wheels is taxed through the DMV.

Think of the opportunities.

Grandma comes to visit and wants a break from the kids, dogs and commotion. The tiny house on wheels affords both privacy and quiet.  Maybe it’s a pool house. Maybe it’s for guest quarters.  A yoga studio. A man cave.

Simply run an extension cord and garden hose out to the tiny house on wheels for heat, air conditioning, running water and all manner of modern conveniences.

Greenwich P&Z inspector Jodi Couture cautioned that the structure must not be permanent.

“If someone was to turn one of these into a permanent structure such as a pool house or shed, I would consider its floor area countable and something that is required to comply with setbacks,” he said.

Indeed, given that caveat, the sky’s the limit.

In Greenwich, residents Ken and Tori Pond launched Craft &  Sprout in 2016 and since then they’ve made six tiny houses on wheels, and have several more in the works.

“In Greenwich you can have up to a 30 ft camper or RV on your property,” Ken said. “If it’s no more than 8-1/2 feet wide and you drive it on.”

Overall the prototype they keep in their back yard when they’re not on the road, is just 300 square feet.

“As soon as you take it off the wheels and it touches the ground, or if you connect to septic or sewer or permanent water or gas, you are subject to building and zoning regulations,” Ken explained. “We see it as an accessory structure rather than an option for full time living. You can take it with you when you move or include it in the sale price.”

In fact, the Ponds have moved tiny houses across several states. “We can move it for you or you can hire a company for $1.00 to $3.00 a mile,” Ken said, adding that he recently moved a tiny house from Greenwich to Vermont.

In the area of back country, where for decades big families gravitated to big houses on several acres, the Ponds brainstormed their first tiny house.

As for the name of their business, “Craft” is a nod to the making of tiny houses, as well as sheds, tree houses and chicken coops. “Sprout” is a nod to the four young Pond boys, who are drawn like magnets to the tiny house on wheels in their back yard.

“It doesn’t matter if you have 10,000 square feet, they want to be on top of you anyway,” Tori said. “They love having sleepovers in the tiny house,” she continued, adding that it also makes a great pool house.

Tori said the tiny house on wheels has also made her and Ken more aware of the way they use space, and the way they raise their boys.

The Pond boys, who earn their allowance by recycling bottles and cans, also love coming to tiny house fairs and talking to people about sustainable living.

The Ponds’ son Dylan, 7, wrote a 26-page tiny house book at Parkway School, and their 10-year-old Ethan brought the New York Times story about on their parents’ business to school to share for current events.

“The older boys love to answer questions about water use or how to contain the water and use it in the garden,” Ken said, adding that if  biodegradable soap is used, the ‘gray water,’ from washing dishes and showering can be used in the garden.

At the Ponds’ 4-bedroom back country house with its swimming pool and long driveway, the contrast to their Craft & Sprout tiny house on wheels is dramatic.

“People who live in tiny houses rent storage space for their off season clothes and belongings,” Ken said. “In this house you don’t have five winter coats. You have one.”

And while tiny houses on wheels fall under the guidelines of RV’s or campers, aesthetically there is no comparison.

Tiny houses on wheels look like traditional houses. They’re built to last and use traditional building materials and methods.

“This tiny house plugs into an extension cord,” Ken said, pointing to a yellow extension cord that snakes its way from his family home.

“We made this house in 2016, and to date 70,000 people have passed through it,” Ken said, adding that it is such a curiosity that people wait in long lines for a tour. “Our entire summer is booked with Festivals, Maker Faires and Guest appearances such as the Newport Flower Show in RI.”

“Our clients take these to RV parks,” Ken continued. “We know someone who just got started filling a campground in Pennsylvania with enough room for 100 tiny houses. So far they have eight. We are also working with the owner of a race track in Connecticut for rentals of tiny houses on 3oo acres.”

The Ponds advise that every town has different regulations for tiny houses on wheels.

“Just check your zoning regulations because every town is different,” he said. “Each town allows you to do it. It just depends on the rules for parking a camper or RV.”

“In Greenwich, people know we have this house on our property, and as long as we abide by the zoning rules, we’re fine,” Ken said. “It is not legal for full time living.”

Ken and Tori’s backgrounds were ideal for their Craft & Sprout enterprise. Ken ran  a construction company for 20 years, specializing in additions and remodeling. Tori did interior design work. Together, for a time, they also owned several multi-use buildings with laudromats, bodegas and rental apartments in Fairfield County.

But their tiny house on wheels business is where their hearts are.

The dream of a tiny house on wheels starts with phone calls, Skyping and a the process of a quote.

“We start with a customer’s wish list and then factor in the reality of the budget,” Tori said.

The Ponds point out that in Greenwich homeowners may pay $200,000 or more for a one bedroom, one bath addition, so the tiny house on wheels is an economical alternative.

“A tiny house on wheels is a third of the price and takes half the time. And they can take it with them to their next house,” Ken said. As for taxes, he said the tiny house becomes cargo on the trailer. “You are paying tax to the  DMV. It doesn’t impact your property tax. You’re already paying tax on the grass.”

Skylight over the sleeping loft inside Ken and Tori Pond’s tiny house on wheels. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

“We delivered a one bedroom one bath tiny house with a wraparound deck for $78,000,” Ken said.

The price of a tiny house on wheels starts at about $45,000 and can go up to $85,000 depending on the customer’s wish list.

The trailer is custom made for the tiny house, which ensures it remains mobile.

The $45,000 tiny house on wheels would be 20 ft long versus 24 ft. The siding might not be shiplap. The the flooring might not be the same as in the Ponds’ prototype, but it would have the same sprayfoam insulation and efficient heating & cooling system.

What’s Inside?

The Ponds’ tiny house on wheels has a loft accessible by a flight of steps, but, Ken explained there is also an option for those who prefer not to sleep on a loft.

“With a ‘gooseneck,’ they can have a bedroom extension at the front of the trailer, accessible by just three steps,” he said.

Life on Wheels

The Ponds will be featured on an upcoming episode of HGTV’s series “Tiny House, Big Living,” that will feature their Craft & Sprout tiny house on wheels, which has two decks and a pergola – all custom made.

In fact the detachable deck and pergola hide the wheels, once the stabilizers are in place, it’s easy to forget you’re inside a house on wheels, though the Ponds’ tiny house has 5,000 miles on it.

Cheaper and Faster Than an Addition

It takes about five weeks to produce a custom trailer, and six to eight weeks to deliver a tiny house.  Craft & Sprout tiny houses on wheels are built locally in Stamford and Greenwich.

“Some customers will buy the shell and finish the interiors themselves, or we can do the full build,” Ken said. “Some people want to pull it in, plug it in and start using it right away.”

The tiny houses on wheels are towed on a pick up truck and driven onto a property.

Wondering about the Toilet?
The Ponds explain that the tiny houses on wheels are fed the water from a garden hose. The plumbing is self contained. There are options for the toilet including composting, incinerating, or a dry flush. “We don’t do holding tanks,” Tori said.

“If you incinerate, after a couple of months and you’re left with a coffee can of ash you can discard.” Ken said.

To contact Ken and Tori Pond at Craft  Sprout check Facebook Instagram or email Ken at ken@craftandsprout.com or Tori at tori@craftandsprout.com.

The kitchen inside Ken and Tori Pond’s Craft & Sprout tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

View from loft to living area inside Ken and Tori Pond’s tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Dining room table pops up inside Ken and Tori Pond’s tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Dining room table folds down inside Ken and Tori Pond’s tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Plenty of storage cabinets are built into the stairs to the loft inside Ken and Tori Pond’s tiny house on wheels. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Lots of light inside Ken and Tori Pond’s Craft & Sprout tiny house on wheels in Greenwich. May 9, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

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Submitted by Laura Gladstone for Fiscal Freedom for CT, May 21, 2018

On Monday night, along party lines in the Board of Estimation and Taxation (BET), Democrats voted against returning $3 MM of a $9.8 MM SURPLUS in the general fund to the hardworking taxpayers of Connecticut and reduce the mill rate – your money.

Jill Oberlander, Leslie Moriarty, David Weisbrod, Beth Krumeich, Jeffrey Ramer and Tony Turner all voted against reducing the mill rate by a measly 0.82% which would effectively put $100 back on average into the pockets of the residents of Greenwich.  This $100 would be useful for that single mother that does not receive child support and drives to New Haven every day to work in a hospital – and help reduce her gas bill.  This $100 would help the teacher living pay check to pay check trying to pay her mortgage with her husband who works at the local butcher shop.  This $100 would help the elderly neighbor on a fixed income, who will see his income decrease as the federal income taxes will reduce the mortgage deduction. Most importantly, this $100 would have sent a message to the residents of Greenwich that the BET actually cares about its own people and when there is a surplus they return your hardworking money.

Since the vote was tied, the final vote against the decrease in the mill rate came from the Chairman of the BET, Jill Oberlander (who when running against Mike Bocchino for Representative of the 150th district touted herself as “fiscally responsible”).  Her reasoning for not voting for the decrease was that we should change the calculation of the general fund so it doesn’t show so much of a surplus.  This is a terrible argument. Either the funds are there or they are not.  Other arguments by the democrats against reducing the mill rate were that it might affect the AAA rating.  The town accountant said returning the funds would not hurt our rating.  Andy Duus, a Republican on the BET, rightly pointed out that the AAA rating is based on our effectiveness to tax, not on our surplus in our general fund.  He also rightly pointed out that reducing spending is the way to be prudent financial planning, not building up a savings account to spend it later on.  We now see Oberlander’s true colors.

We believe the real reason the Democrats did not vote to decrease the mill rate is because they did not want to make the increase look much higher when they raise your taxes next year (by an estimated 4%). They are also contemplating a consulting report on May 22nd that will recommend spending $775 MM — three-quarters of a billion dollars! — over the next 15 years.

Is there an alternative to deliver top education at a reasonable price?  Don’t hold your breath. There is no end in sight to their spending.  Please remember their names when you go to the voting booth – if you haven’t moved out of Greenwich by then…

The Junior League of Greenwich supported 41 new mothers through its annual Baby Bundles Project, in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor. Neighbor to Neighbor is a Greenwich based non-profit food and clothing resource for residents, and has been a vital member of the Greenwich community for over 40 years.

The Junior League’s goal every year is to supply new mothers with a baby bundle, which is a starter set of supplies to assist them in welcoming a new baby home. The Baby Bundles help provide new mothers with supplies not available to them at the food and clothing pantry.

Throughout the month of March and April, the Junior League was able to collect many donations of unopened diaper packages, onesies, blankets, clothes, new pacifiers, new bottles, burp clothes, bouncers and other items to support these new mothers and babies. The Junior League also received generous donations from the following companies: The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Zarbees, Fridababy, and Tiny Tots Kids Consignment.

On Saturday, May 5, Junior League members delivered the 41 Baby Bundles to the new mothers.

The Junior League members were happy to continue their partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor and provide the families with items for their new baby. The Junior League thanked all of the companies and individuals who donated items. It was successful and the moms were very appreciative.

Back row from left – Matthew Hake, Simon Hermann, Jason Gonzalez, Quinn Resnick, Doris Alvarez, Griffin Penna, Julien Chaussé, Sam Junkermann, Jack Norris, Abel Zurita. Front row from left – Rohan Suryawanshi, Alex Resnick, Carolina Ferrer, Taylor Bryan, Victoria Rivera, Seneca Schmitz, Carolina Rivera, Quinn Hulme, Isabelle Behring, Hope Luangisa, Catelyn Peters. Contributed photo

With the assistance of Whitby’s Secondary School Counseling Program, 21 eighth graders will graduate from Whitby this June and will move on to attend the following Secondary Schools for the 2018-19 school year:

Blair Academy
Choate Rosemary Hall
Columbus Academy
Emma Willard School
Greens Farms Academy
Greenwich High School
International School of Curitiba
John Jay High School
KING School
Loomis Chaffee School
Salisbury School
The Gunnery
Trinity Catholic School
Westhill High School

Whitby School’s Nursery through Grade 8 model lays the foundation for students to become organized, articulate and confident — skills that are key for high school, college, and beyond.

The goal of Whitby’s Secondary School Counseling Program is to help each individual student find the “best fit” in his or her next academic environment. Director of Secondary School Counseling Jacquie Quigley says it’s important to allow each student to express themselves and speak up during the process.

“The students know themselves better than anyone, and they want to be at a place where they feel happiest,” said Quigley. “Focusing on academics is first and foremost, but families shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of the school’s culture, extracurricular programs and how the student fits in.”

Consistent with the overall approach to education at Whitby, Secondary School Counseling is highly individualized. The school works in close partnership with students and their parents to explore each student’s academic and extracurricular interests and optimal school community, size, and location.

Students are advised at each step of the process, such as writing essays, preparing for interviews, and completing applications. The low student-teacher ratio at Whitby means the teachers are able to write very personal and knowledgeable letters of recommendation, which are an invaluable component of a student’s application packet. Whitby also prepares its students for the admissions process through practice interviews and preparation courses for standardized admissions tests.

Whitby School inspires a passion for learning and empowers each student to take responsibility as an open-minded, principled citizen in a global community. Located in Greenwich, Whitby is the only school in the country with triple accreditation from the American Montessori Society, the International Baccalaureate Organization, and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.

The school’s innovative blend of Montessori (early years) and International Baccalaureate throughout equips students 18 months through Grade 8 with skills to successfully thrive in today’s dynamic world.

Whitby School is located at 969 Lake Ave in Greenwich

From May 21-June 3, State and local law enforcement agencies across the Nation are stepping up enforcement to crack down on motorists who aren’t wearing their seat belts.

Click It or Ticket isn’t about citations; it’s about saving lives.

In 2016, there were 10,428 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States.

To help prevent crash fatalities, we need to step up enforcement and crack down on those who don’t wear their seat belts.

In 2016, seat belts saved an estimated 14,668 lives of occupants 5 and older. If all passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts, an additional 2,456 lives could have been saved in 2016 alone.

Joe Kaliko has announced that the Needs Clearing House will be closing its doors on June 30 2018 after five years of serving the community.

Kaliko’s organization has successfully raised funds for worthy causes in Greenwich and beyond. In March 2016, Needs Clearing House donated $10,000 to the family of young girl with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.

In November 2015, Needs Clearing House teamed up with Chicken Joe’s Rides for Kids for a food drive in time for Thanksgiving.

In 2015, Needs Clearing House sponsored monthly Pizza Night events at Abilis in Greenwich.

These are but a few examples of Needs Clearing House efforts over the years.

“We have been incredibly successful raising and distributing over a million dollars in cash, goods and services to those in need,” Kaliko said on Monday.

Kaliko said that although Needs Clearing House is no longer accepting donations, people can make donations directly to the charities that Needs Clearing House has supported over the years.

“We especially want to thank our many supporters,” Kaliko said. “We could not have done it without you. Thank you.”

Michael Brece, Sampson Phillips, Joe Marini, Joe Kaliko, Sean Turpin and Dorian Shafer at Chicken Joe’s in Cos Cob. November 2015 Credit: Leslie Yager

The Stanwich School announced on Tuesday that Fabien Cousteau — aquanaut, oceanographic explorer, environmental advocate and founder of Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center, and grandson of famous ocean explorer, Jacques Yves Cousteau — will serve as the school’s keynote speaker at Stanwich’s commencement ceremony on June 1, 2018 at 3:00pm.

Since growing up on his grandfather’s ships, Calypso and Alcyone, Fabien Cousteau has worked to protect our planet’s immense and endangered marine habitats. As a third generation ocean explorer and filmmaker, Mr. Cousteau advances his family legacy.

From his vast experience in the field, coupled with a degree in environmental economics from Boston University, Mr. Cousteau has established public policy initiatives grounded by his belief that environmental discipline creates innovative solutions to balance global environmental challenges with the realities of market economies.

Early in 2016, he founded the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center to make a positive change in the world.

“Stanwich has attracted some terrific commencement speakers from Senator Blumenthal to Greenwich YMCA Director Bob DeAngelo,” said Charlie Sachs, Head of School. “All have connected with Stanwich’s seminal spirit in which character, individuality, diversity, and altruism ground our mission as a school. Our Upper School seized on the opportunity to hear from Mr. Cousteau to reinforce our community commitment to helping to make the world better for all.”

Inspired by his grandfather’s famous 1978 PBS series, Ocean Adventures Mr. Cousteau was part of a successful series for PBS called, Ocean Adventures with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau and sister, Céline.

He is well known for his study of sharks and has provided audiences with a rare view of these mysterious and often misunderstood creatures.

In more recent years as a member of multiple cause-driven and charitable boards, Mr. Cousteau has been working with local communities and children worldwide to restore local water ecosystems. In 2014, he completed a monumental project called Mission 31 in which he and his team lived and worked underwater for 31 days at the Aquarius Reef Base, the world’s only undersea marine laboratory, collecting over three years worth of scientific data.

In the fall, two Stanwich faculty members, and senior Henry Hittle, were part of an educational dive to Aquarius Reef Base in Key Largo, Florida.

More recently, the senior class traveled to Key Largo where they learned about coral restoration and visited coral nurseries. The seniors also kayaked in the Everglades.

With a marine and environmental science program well integrated into the Stanwich School curriculum — including an annual trip to MarineLab — Mr. Cousteau’s teachings and vision align well within Stanwich’s mission of making God’s world a better place.

Laura Kostin at home in Cos Cob. May 22, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

Cos Cob mother of four Laura Kostin, who won a seat on the RTM in District 8 last fall, is seeking the DTC’s nomination to run for State Rep District 151, the seat held by Republican Fred Camillo, who is seeking a sixth term.

Kostin, who has the executive committee’s endorsement, will present to the full DTC on Wednesday.

Whereas Alex Bergstein received Democrats’ endorsement to run against Scott Frantz in the 36th district, which includes Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford, there will be no caucus for Kostin, as District 151 is entirely in Greenwich.

Referring to the longtime RTM district 8 leader Chris von Keyserling who was charged by Greenwich Police with Sexual Assault 4th degree in January 2017, Kostin on Wednesday explained why she ran for RTM in 2017.

“I decided to enter because I did not want Chris von Keyserling representing my district or my family,” she said.

Kostin said at the time she was recovering from a Caesarean section after giving birth to her fourth child, and took her preschooler door to door for petition signatures.   “It was a lesson for both of us,” she said.

And while dozens of women were inspired by March On and Indivisible Greenwich, Kostin said neither group recruited her, and that she was at the time unaffiliated with a party.

“I didn’t even know about either of those groups until I read about them on Chris Fountain’s blog,” she said. “It was an eye opener to the dirtier side of politics,” she continued, referring to that blogger’s call to his readers not to vote for women petition candidates and her letter to the editor denouncing Fountain as misogynistic. “To be the subject of personal attacks is reprehensible,” she said.

Kostin, whose oldest child is 12, left a job as a breaking news producer at MSNBC in January 2018 after having her fourth child, said the shift she worked was 4:00pm until midnight.

“I covered everything from Trump rallies that went south to plane crashes to mass shootings, which there are far too many in our country,” she said. “It was gratifying work, but I wouldn’t get home until around 1:00am.”

Sharing more on her background, Kostin said she comes from a family of immigrants.

“My mother was born here, but her parents are Armenian genocide survivors. My dad came here before the revolution in Iran and went to college here. My mom is Christian. My dad, while not a practicing Muslim, came from a Muslim country,” she said, going on to describe her husband as a very nice adorable Jewish man from West Hartford.

“We have all three religions in our family and somehow we survive Thanksgiving dinners,” she said.

Referring to a crisis in civility in US politics, Kostin said, “I knew once I heard Donald Trump criticize John McCain’s military record that he was not somebody I could support. I don’t believe we should be governed by a volatile Twitter feed.”

As for the upcoming November 2018 elections, Kostin said she has no reason to believe behavior during the election season will be any better. “All you can do is control your response and try to rise above,” she said.

Asked to comment on State Rep Fred Camillo’s record, Kostin, who said she has never met Mr. Camillo, said she’d studied his voting record.

“I don’t feel Fred has accomplished a lot,” she said. “We’ve had more of the same for a very long time.”

“I know he likes dogs, and 5 out of 15 bills he sponsored this legislative session were all related to animals,” Kostin said. “That is admirable, but that is not a platform for a legislator.”

Kostin questioned Camillo’s support of HB5009, which would exempt car washes from the sales tax. “Why are we playing favorites with the tax code?” she asked. “If our budgets are so stressed, why take money out of the coffers?”

Kostin said the state’s failing infrastructure should be more of a priority.  “It’s unfortunate that legislators this session were too cowardly to bring tolls to a vote,” she said. “I think our state desperately needs investment in infrastructure in order to keep and grow jobs.”

“My opponent calls tolls a tax, which they are not,” Kostin continued. “On the train you ride, you expect to buy a ticket and pay for the use of that asset. Right now people use our assets for free. I’m from New Jersey and tolls are a way of life and they’re pretty lucrative. They brought in $1.6 billion in 2016. There is a pricing structure that is pretty palatable.”

Asked what would be her priorities in Hartford, Kostin said she’d push for an equal pay law to close the gap between salaries for men and women.

“We have a pay gap bill that has been passed which prohibits new employers from asking your salary history, but does nothing to close the gap between genders when it comes to pay,” she said. “Women make 86¢ on the dollar compared to men. In this day and age seems ridiculous.”

Kostin also supports legalizing marijuana. “According to Sacred Heart University poll, 76% percent of people in Connecticut support legalizing marijuana, which is already decriminalized in the state. They not only support legalizing it, but they support taxing it. It could be a lucrative source of income.”

Kostin said she also favors a bill that would ban ghost guns.

“Ghost guns are minimally assembled online and there are YouTube videos on how to assemble them,” she said. “Then you finish making them in your home. Often they don’t have serial numbers so they’re not traceable or regulated.”

Kostin acknowledges she is a newcomer to politics, but hopes voters will remember that she has been an advocate of testing soil in town, and opponent of artificial turf.

“I feel that soil testing was a hot button issue that shouldn’t have been because it involves our kids’ safety, and it seems a huge liability for the town as more fields come up contaminated,” she said.

“We’ve pivoted against crumb rubber but there’s a lot of it left in town,” she said. “Cardinal stadium has Envirofill, which is a less studied surface, but I’m grateful they did not install a crumb rubber surface when they redid that field.”

“I have to knock on a lot of doors and introduce myself and hope that as voters people will get to know me, come to coffee gatherings, and that they will see that maybe it’s time for new fresh voices,” she said.

Kostin will speak to the full DTC on Wednesday and hopes receive their nomination.

Greenwich Library will once again offer extended hours to accommodate the study needs of high school students during final exams in May and June.

Students use the Library as a quiet study space during exams, both as individuals and as an ideal location for group study. As always, Library staff will be available to assist with reference questions.

For independent school students the Main Library will be open from 9 a.m. to – 10 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, Tuesday, May 29, Wednesday, May 30, and Thursday, May 31.

The Library is closed on Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day.

For Greenwich High students, the Main Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, Monday, June 18, and Tuesday, June 19. Additionally, the Main Library will be open 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. (There will be no extended hours Friday & Saturday; regular schedule applies.)

This year, the Byram and Cos Cob branches will also offer extended hours. Byram will remain open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 (regular evening hours), Monday, June 18, and Tuesday, June 19.  Cos Cob will remain open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 and Monday, June 18 (regular evening hours).

For refreshments, the Library Cafe will remain open until 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 24 and again from Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31; Thursday, June 14; Monday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 19.  The cafe is closed on Sundays. Please note that no outside food of any kind is allowed in the cafe seating area, whether open or closed.

“Extended hours have become a favorite semi-annual tradition. Our commitment to Greenwich students has made our three Libraries a popular place to study,” said Barbara Ormerod-Glynn, Greenwich Library Director. “Our entire staff is invigorated by the buzz of activity while students take advantage of this much-needed additional time to prepare for their exams.”

The Library will be open late primarily for students, but anyone can use the facility during these extended hours.

Ormerod-Glynn also advised that as students like to study in groups, the noise level in the Library may be a little higher than usual, both during extended hours and regular Library hours on exam days.

On Saturday May 26, 2018, Greenwich will have its Town Party at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch Street.

I-95, exit 3 off ramps will be closed from 9:00pm to 11:00pm.

Local roads of Arch Street and Steamboat Road will also have intermittent closures during the event.

Traffic congestion, in the area, is expected throughout the entire day.

Also, note that the Greenwich Farmers Market will be open Saturday from 9:30 am to 1:00pm and have a designated reserved parking spaces in Horseneck lot. The market manager asks that those seeing parking for Greenwich Town Party not use the farmers market parking.

Western Middle School is looking for donations of gently-used books for a book fair fundraiser they are having next Thursday (5/31) – Friday (6/1). They are looking for donations of middle school (grades 5-8) books.

Please help!  Used book donations can be dropped off in the main entrance of Western Middle School located at 1 Western Junior Highway.

Any genre or language is gladly accepted!

Additionally, they are willing to stop by your house and pick up books and boxes.

To arrange this, please email wmspta1@gmail.com to schedule a pick up time and location.

Donations will be accepted until Wednesday evening, 5/30.

Architect Russell Davidson from KG&D, BOE’s Jennifer Dayton and district COO Lorianne O’Donnell at the public info session held at GHS on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

On Tuesday night, the choral room at Greenwich High School was packed for back to back presentations from Russell Davidson, the district’s consultant architect from KGD. The first hour focused on upgrading Cardinal Field. The second part focused on a 15 year facilities plan for all Greenwich schools.

The full house included parents and teachers, and was peppered with town officials, including BET members, RTM members, and 5 out of the 8 member Board of Education.

Davidson reviewed option B for upgrading Cardinal field, which the Board of Education approved on Feb 22 for continuation to site design. The plan includes replacing bleachers, which have structural issues, making the facility ADA compliant, upgrading the scoreboard and creating an access road to connect the school to East Putnam Ave via Cardinal field.

It also includes construction of a two story building that would bring long overdue toilet facilities, team rooms, weight rooms, concession, and ticket office, and increase access for teams and spectators. The second story would house the weight rooms and include a deck ideal for viewing.

Davidson said upgrades would be done in phases so that the facility remains open throughout the process.

First the bleachers would be replaced. Next the tennis courts would be moved. Lastly,the two story building housing toilets, team rooms, ticket room, training rooms would be constructed.

Davidson said that in all the feedback to date, the idea of a connecting road has been received favorably. It would feature a new bridge for vehicles and pedestrians over the brook, and allow another way in and out in case of emergency.

“It won’t require removal of the cooling tower and will align with one of the existing traffic lanes,” he said. “We hope it can be open all the time, to allow another way out of the school parking lots, and ease traffic on Hillside Road.”

Cardinal Field would be upgraded in phases so that both the track and field would remain in operation throughout the project. May 22, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

This new access road and additional parking would make possible handicapped parking and drop-off for teams and disabled. The bleachers would be replaced and pushed forward, creating space for some of the additional parking. Overall there would be net gain of 70 parking spots.

Davidson said the new road would not require a traffic light at East Putnam Ave, and that a curb cut already exists.

Currently there is one access point to Cardinal field and it is not ADA compliant. Photo: Leslie Yager

“A right turn out and right turn in should be fairly easy,” he said, noting there will be a traffic study.

Representatives from the Milbrook Association across East Putnam Ave from GHS had questions about traffic flow with an access road. They were concerned about traffic backups at the traffic light opposite Overlook Drive.

Davidson said there will be public forums on traffic and the RFP was issued last week for the traffic feasibility study. He said once selected, consultant would deal with the sate Dept of Transportation and research traffic counts. 

Randy Caravella of the Greenwich Athletic Foundation asked if it would still be possible to create a seasonal ice rink on the tennis courts during the off season, Davidson replied, “Yes, if tennis courts are one continuous pavement, it’s possible to upgrade to that type of facility.”

A show of hands indicated a strong interest in including an ice rink on the tennis courts when they are not in use.

“This should be a signature facility for the town of Greenwich,” Davidson said of Cardinal field. “It is used hundreds of times a year, but only a few high volume uses – around a dozen, but they’re very important.”

Asked about lighting the stadium, Davidson cautioned, “We’ve got other deed restrictions that govern this project that need to be worked out.”

The BOE chair Peter Bernstein said there are separate considerations for lights. “It’s part of superior court process as well as Planning & Zoning. We have to live within that,” he said. “We can replace some of the equipment and modernize it, but we still have limitations on usage.”

GHS Athletic Director Gus Lindine noted that within the agreement, the school can can only light the field for six for practices a year, plus 10 games per year.

A question came up about the possibility of litigating the 2003 agreement, considering the BOE voted in favor of litigation last fall.

BOE member Jennifer Dayton said the next step toward litigation would be for the Board of Selectmen to opine, but they simply have not.

“We forwarded it to the Board of Selectmen. They have taken no action. That is all we know,” Dayton said.

BOE chair Peter Bernstein, said, “We do have money to re-carpet fields 6 and 7, which are at the end of their useful life.”

Ms. Dayton said, “We are not planning lights on other fields at this moment.”

RTM member Karen Giannuzzi asked about maintenance of the upgraded facility with its new two story building.

“Have there been thoughts about the cost of maintaining the additional building? Will the town be able to keep up with it?” she asked.

Ms. Dayton noted that maintenance comes under the aegis of the Parks & Rec department. “There is nobody here from that department tonight,” she noted.

Dayton said the BOE will discuss prioritization and next steps in preparation for the project to go through the Municipal Improvement process.

See also

At Special Meeting Regarding Cardinal Field, Group Mulls Options December 2017

KG&D Architect’s Russell Davidson said the best selling car in 1953, the year on average that a Greenwich school was built, was a Buick Roadmaster. May 22, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager

On Tuesday night at GHS, following a presentation of potential upgrades to Cardinal field, architect Russell Davidson outlined a 15-year plan for $750,000,000+ of major additions and renovations to all Greenwich schools, plus the Havemeyer building, home to the schools administration offices.

He noted the $765,000,000 price tag reflected dollars in 2020 and that figure would rise to about $850,000,000+ with the work being done over 15 years.

“You spend about $20-25 million a year on capital improvements,” Davidson said, adding that Greenwich schools have over a billion dollars in replacement value.

“The first thing we did was look at facilities and give them an inspection,” Davidson said, adding that the district’s oldest school building, the Havemeyer building, on Greenwich Ave, was built in 1892, and features a disused auditorium.

Davidson said buildings are up to code for the year they were constructed, and that proposed infrastructure work is mainly age related. Other upgrades are to make buildings accessible and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

“It’s time to make sure your buildings fully comply,” he said, adding that there are four buildings that don’t have elevators.

Alan Gunzburg, who chairs the First Selectman’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities said it was unconscionable that these schools are not ADA compliant and lack elevators in 2018.

A student in a wheelchair, for example, must have his or her classroom relocated to the first floor in schools including Old Greenwich, Julian Curtiss, Riverside and Havemeyer. A parent in a wheelchair can’t even visit their child’s classroom if it is on the second floor.

As for ventilation, Davidson said requirements for a school built in 1920 were that it have fresh air. “That meant it had windows that could open,” he said.

With the average year of construction of a Greenwich school at 1953, many do not have up to date ventilation even if they have air conditioners in the windows.

“Things are warmer now and people expect filtered fresh air mechanically introduced and cooled,” Davidson said, adding that improvements to infrastructure include flooring, roofs, and plumbing fixtures. “It’s everything required to make your buildings good buildings,” he said.

Demolish or Replace Central Middle School?
An idea the architect presented was to demolish Central Middle School and disperse students to expanded Eastern and Western Middle Schools.

“With two middle schools with about 1,000 students each,” he said. “That’s not a bad size for a middle school.”

Parents and teachers were outraged by even the suggestion, citing added distance for transportation and traffic.

Parents demanded to know whose idea it was to consider demolishing CMS and dispersing students. Ms. Dayton said that idea came from the architect. “No one on BOE has brought it up,” she said.

The Architect, Mr. Davidson said it wasn’t his idea either.

Someone in the audience raised their voice, asking, “Whose idea was it?”

Dr. Gidlea said there were many ‘blue sky options’ including exploring ways to be fiscally responsible. Indeed, demolishing CMS and adding on to Eastern and Western would save tens of millions of dollars over building a new CMS.

Jane Anderson of Cos Cob, who happens to be an educator in the Bronx, asked why, with middle school population in Greenwich anticipated to increase 5 percent in the next 8 years, and the change in school start/end times exacerbating traffic, why would it make sense to have students travel further?

“Does anyone think about 600 students shuttled across Greenwich? How would they benefit?” she asked, receive a huge round of applause.

“I’d like that option to be completely taken off the table,” said Janet McMahon, a North Street Parent who is on RTM in district 8 and a member of the education committee. McMahon’s request also met with loud applause.

Jennifer Dayton said the BOE is meeting this Thursday at a retreat to “take in all the input.” They will then vote and give guidance to the superintendent.

Davidson elaborated on the shortcomings of CMS, which he said is “thinner, lower and more spread out” compared to Eastern and Western.

He said that although it was constructed around the same time as the other two middle schools in the 1950s by the same architect, it is about a foot shorter and has structural issues that make it difficult to update.

“Long term if you want a middle school on that site you should look at replacing it,” he said, citing Central’s height and thin exterior walls. “It doesn’t make sense to put a lot of money into it. The columns penetrate from inside to outside. Frost forms on the inside of those columns.”

“We were asked, what if there were only two middle schools,” Davidson said.

“If you replace a building for $100 million or more, you want to look at options,” he said, going on to describe a 22,000 square foot addition to Eastern to increase its capacity by 150, and a 41,500 square foot addition to Western to increase its capacity by 360.

Davidson said that if students were dispersed, it would be possible to do a two story addition to Eastern. “It would be big enough to take about 40% of the students from CMS. It’s not such a huge impact that you’d need second gyms.”

Davidson said Western Middle School is a smaller building and it would take more of the students to get up to 1,000. He said that would translate into two additions to the exiting building.

Davidson said there was no plan for the site of CMS if it were to be demolished.

The second option for CMS, a more costly option, would be demolishing 90 percent of the existing building and constructing a new school on the playing field adjacent to the existing one.

Davidson next described ideas for Greenwich High School, which is projected to have a 10% enrollment increase in the next eight years.

GHS devised in 1970 with a “classic house plan” in which students were expected to have their core classes within one area.

But, he said with the addition of the science wing in 2000, the distance students walk to classes there is up to a quarter mile.

Davidson the issues with GHS is not that it’s too small but that, “Its core instructional space is under-provided – that’s classrooms and labs. It’s 12 to 15 classes short.”

Two additions to the high school are proposed: a two story learning commons and a new front entrance, where the glass corridor is in poor condition and is “an unfortunate configuration for school security.”

Alexandra Steven a media specialist at GHS urged that the entry configuration be a high priority.

“This is a mater of life or death,” she said.

Davidson said ideally there would be a secure vestibule where people would be vetted, plus a security office.

The school’s library would be recreated opposite the main entrance and the create a two story “showpiece” 21st century learning commons which would be right outside the main office. The existing library would be returned to classrooms, which they once were.

The science wing, created 18 years ago, is not new and needs some renovation.

He said an important piece to upgrading GHS is the indoor athletic facilities which includes essentially three gyms, swimming pool, and small fitness and dance spaces.

“In terms of phys ed teaching space and indoor athletics space, for a high school that is approaching 3,000 students, it is under-provided,” he said.

He proposed demolition of team rooms to create a double gym and recreate team rooms and fitness spaces. Offices would be moved near the gym entrance that would not be recessed, but rather have a balance with the performing arts center entrance.

On the second story of the gymnasium addition could incorporate fitness and dances space and a  jogging track around the perimeter.

Davidson said with next generation learning, informal learning areas are important. In that vein another idea is to create a second floor corridor to attach to mezzanines that go all the way around the student commons.

He said that rather than going down stairs and across the building and up another set of stairs, students would have a more direct route, shorten travel distances for students in the 450,000 square foot building.

Building a mezzanine would include small group informal learning spaces that are common at colleges and other high schools.

Havemeyer Building 

In 1892 a Greenwich family gave the town the Havemeyer building, and it has been in continuous use since then. “And it shows,” Davidson said. “It needs a lot of work.”

The Havemeyer building has a disused auditorium with a drop ceiling. The proposal is to make the auditorium into a community facility, with a 21^st century meeting room and small performance space right in downtown Greenwich.

And, rather than having offices in former classrooms, Davidson proposed a modern office for administrators.

“It’s a combination of a historic renovation and 21^st century office building, including an elevator.”

Elementary Schools

At the elementary school level, Davidson said there is a square footage shortage of core space equivalent to two full schools. He said there are real issues at ISD, Julian Curtiss, New Lebanon, North Mianus, Old Greenwich and Riverside Schools, though all buildings will have upgrades to infrastructure, furniture and maker spaces.

As for Parkway, Davidson described it as under capacity. “You need to have more children up there,” he said. “I’m not going to say much about it. It’s an aging building that needs infrastructure upgrades.”

Lisa Small said she was offended that Davidson’s presentation gave short shrift to Parkway School.

“You glossed over it,” she said. “You make it clear we’d be a low priority even though it was built in 1955. The building needs renovations. We should be treated equally.”

At ISD Davidson proposed building additions. One addition would connect the school to the gymnasium where there is currently a covered walkway, which is a security issue. The other addition, which would result in parking being moved up the hill, would create classroom spaces and add a stage.  “It would completely modernize the building while preserving what’s there,” Davidson said.

Davidson said Julian Curtiss, built in 1946 remains almost exactly as it was originally constructed.

Students in 1946 walked home for lunch. The cafeteria was originally a music room.

The proposal is to build an addition that would create a courtyard. The addition of an elevator would serve two levels.

Davidson said North Mianus School has been expanded three or four times and still needs more space.

“It is an old building. The two story section in the front has small classrooms. There’s not enough room in the front of the building. You can’t move it. We propose two one-story wing additions that push out into the playing field. There would still be room for the powwow,” he said.

A new gym would be built and the tiny cafeteria would move into the existing gym.  “You build the new first, move into it, and then renovate.” The plan would also include a renovation to the upper floor of the oldest portion of the building.

North Street School, Davidson said, has a modest capacity issue. “We propose another four classroom addition to put all pre-K rooms together, and renovate the space that they occupy for art and music.”

Davidson said Old Greenwich School presents the most challenges.  Despite being very attractive, it has been expanded several times.

This proposal would remove some of the additions. “This building has seven or eight floor levels with no elevators or floor ramps. If you are a Kindergarten student, you have quite a hike through the building,” he said, adding that the interior travel distances are challenging. The whole doesn’t make sense any more.”

The proposal is to remove the two one story additions – one is very close to the property line and one constricts driving access – and create a three story addition and create a courtyard building with an elevator.

Davidson said plans for Riverside School would not touch the front lawn. “I know that’s important,” he said, adding that the cafeteria is very small. “There is also a hallway cordoned off for musical instrument storage. It’s not a good storage and they do lessons in that hallway.”

“What’s proposed is to move things around for a two story addition at the rear, and one story addition by cafeteria. It’ll shift the fields back, but there will still be plenty of room.”

Davidson said forcing children to cross the kitchen driveway to get to the field is not ideal.

“We propose to pull that (driveway) back. The new addition would have science and a cafeteria, and create a courtyard for an outdoor classroom,” he said.

Also renovations would create full sized classrooms. “These are not bandaids. These are holistic solutions,” he said.

See also:

Public Input on Cardinal Field Upgrades Focuses on Access Road, Ice Rink, Maintenance