Last week Port Chester’s Mayor Richard Filanks explained that his village is now “code orange,” meaning due to rising Covid-19 positivity rates the village has been designated a high risk zone.

The orange zone requires the Village of Port Chester to abide by the following regulations immediately:

Houses of worship have a maximum capacity of 33%, or 25 people.

Gatherings indoors and outdoors have a maximum of 10 people.

High risk, non essential businesses must close, including gyms, barber shops, hair salons, and nail salons.

Outdoor dining is allowed only with a four person maximum per table.

On a related note, Port Chester School district announced Friday night that students will remain on full remote instruction through mid January 2021 due to increase in Covid-19 positivity rates.

Depending on Covid infection rates in mid-January and testing availability, the district said they will examine the possibility of reinstating and phasing in a hybrid model.

Meal distribution continues for the village’s students at their four elementary schools between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:00pm on school days.

See also:

Port Chester Deemed Orange Zone; Non-Essential Businesses, Schools Closed

9 Benedict Place
Greenwich, CT 06830

Must see downtown Greenwich office space, with parking! Literally steps from Greenwich Avenue, ultra-convenient to restaurants, shopping and transportation. Short term leases available and even preferred.

A 920 SF space is located on the first floor (ground level) of this building with both a private front entry and a shared side entrance. Well suited for general office uses with hardwood floor and recessed lighting through-out. The space features three individual, well-sized rooms with a large multi-purpose area (i.e. reception, open work space or conference area), private bath, and kitchenette with storage. Two reserved parking spaces are included. Available for immediate occupancy at $3,295 / month ($42.97 per square foot per year).

A 1,000 SF space is also located on the first floor (ground level) with a private side entrance. The space features 4 well-appointed individual offices with a large reception area, private bath, and kitchenette with hardwood floor and recessed lighting through-out. Two reserved parking spaces are included. Available for immediate occupancy at $3,995 / month ($47.94 per square foot per year).

Transportation:
Commuter Rail
Greenwich Station Commuter Rail (New Haven Line) .7 miles
Cos Cob Station Commuter Rail (New Haven Line) 2.4 miles
Airport
Westchester County Airport 8 miles
La Guardia Airport 27.1 miles
John F. Kennedy International Airport 35.4 miles

Listed by:
Gwen E. Burmester
Licensed in Connecticut
Benedict Real Estate Associates, LLC
19 Benedict Place, Greenwich, CT 06830
Phone (203) 661-0075 
Cell (203) 561-2849
Email: geburmester@benedictcapital.com

The Social Justice Committee of the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes continues to collect food items and other essentials for Neighbor to Neighbor each Tuesday from 9:00am to 11:00am in the parking lot across the street from St. Catherine’s Church entrance, 4 Riverside Ave.

The group is requesting donations of the following items as well:

• Personal care products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, feminine products.
• Larger diapers, sizes 5 and 6 and trainer pull-ups
• Gloves and knit hats*

Are you a part of a group that could join together to purchase any/ some of these items? Do you want to adopt a particular personal care product to provide in large quantities?

*If you knit or crochet, here’s a unique opportunity to put your skills into practice and spread joy and warmth this holiday season.

“We continue to be amazed by the generosity of the people in our community,” the group said in their update.

Due to the increasing concern regarding community spread of Covid-19 and the increasing number of positive patients in house, Greenwich Hospital has unfortunately made the decision to restrict all visitors, with some exceptions, at the hospital and its outpatient facilities.

“We know in-person visits provide support and reassurance and we understand that visitation restrictions can be very unsettling to patients and family members alike,” the hospital said in a release on Monday afternoon. “Our teams are committed to maintaining a compassionate connection virtually between patients and their loved ones to reduce this burden.”

To prevent the spread of the disease and to protect the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff, effective Tuesday, Nov. 24:  

• There is no visitation to hospitalized patients due to the highly contagious nature of Covid-19. Rare exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the patient’s clinical team and the hospital its best to accommodate exceptions where possible. The hospital’s first priority is to protect the health of our patients, visitors and staff.

–   Among the visitor exceptions that can be made will be for maternity patients; children who are patients; patients for whom end-of-life is imminent; NICU patients; and patients with disabilities, such as altered mental status, physical, intellectual or cognitive disabilities, communication barriers, or behavioral concerns.

–   Visitors are encouraged to remain closely connected to their loved ones through virtual means, including Skype, FaceTime and/or phone.

• All visitors who do enter the hospital will continue to be screened for evidence of illness by the staff at the front desk. Should questions arise, front desk staff will contact clinical leadership for guidance.

– Visitors who are sick will not be permitted to enter the hospital; this is without exception.

Again, these rare exceptions will be made by the patient’s clinical team.

Greenwich Hospital continues its efforts to keep patients, visitors and healthcare professionals safe. The hospital remains ready to care for all patients while maintaining all safety precautions.

Yale New Haven Health has a call center for patients, staff and community members who have questions about COVID-19. Healthcare professionals from the health system are available to answer specific questions seven days a week from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm. The call center can be reached at 833-ASK-YNHH (833-275-9644).

See also:

At Greenwich Hospital, Hyperbaric Medicine Provides Hope to COVID-19 Patients

Greenwich, Darien Residents Say Doctor’s Fees Charged to Insurance Companies for Covid Tests Suggest Broken Healthcare System

Port Chester Deemed Orange Zone; Non-Essential Businesses, Schools Closed

Second Covid-19 Wave Expected to Peak in December; Parks Monitor Guests after 700 Cars Turned Away on Recent Mild Saturday

On Monday, the Town Hall parking lot was the scene for a massive turkey give away organized by a non-profit organization called D2C, short for Dedication to Community.

Retired Greenwich Police detective Vincent O’Banner, who is now involved with D2C as Director of statewide programs for Connecticut, said the turkey giveaway was just one of many efforts to create sustainable relationships between law enforcement and community.

O’Banner, who retired from Greenwich Police in 2014 after 27 years said an overriding goal of D2C was to create sustainable relationships, and that the turkey giveaway would continue later in the day in Bridgeport.

O’Banner said the turkeys were made possible by donations to D2C, and the idea is not only to help those in need, but to build relationships between police and communities.

“We have this pandemic going on, as well as negative relationships between communities and police. Right now we’re focusing on getting that better, and help people in need. People are losing their jobs. People don’t have money for food. We’re just trying to do our part.”

Retired Greenwich Police Detective Vincent O’Banner who is currently Director, Statewide Programs – Connecticut for D2C, which is short for Dedication to Community

As for the impression many people have that everyone in Greenwich is wealthy, O’Banner said, “We know otherwise.”

“I worked here 27 years, and even when I was on the job, I used to do the same thing,” he recalled. “I collaborated with Human Services, and they tell us the people who really need the help.”

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the pandemic is exacerbating difficulties for many families.

“It’s a time of year that always reminds us that not everybody has a roof over their head. Not everybody has food on their table. We’re reminded of it at Thanksgiving, and at Christmas,” he said. “There’s a lot more people every year in need than you think and this year it’s much worse. People have been hit with loss of jobs.”

“It’s a reminder of the times we live in and the present state we’re in,” Camillo said. “This type of goodwill goes a long way.”

Like everything else in 2020, for most people this Thanksgiving will look quite different. There will likely be fewer folks around the dinner table, friends may be connecting on FaceTime, and grandma might be joining by Zoom, sadly without her famous sweet potatoes.  

Although there might be fewer human visitors, one thing that’s certain is that many American homes have newly adopted dogs and cats to be thankful for, and pets are grateful to be spending the holiday in foster homes. Many people are counting their blessings with a pet in their home for the first time. For this reason, Best Friends Animal Society hopes to help make this a happy, healthy holiday for all family members by offering a few special precautions to protect our pets.

Those soulful eyes may tempt pet owners to give in to their begging critters, but sharing the fabulous feast can lead to trouble for pets.

Too much rich, fatty food, or simply new, unfamiliar foods can upset a pet’s stomach–and even cause pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening—so owners should go easy on the tidbits.

Poultry or ham bones can break up or splinter in a pet’s stomach and be deadly, so dogs and cats should never be allowed to gnaw on them, and bones should go outside to the trash immediately.

Other food-flavored items like plastic wrap, string, mesh or the pop-up timer can smell tempting to curious pets, but can injure their stomachs if stolen and ingested. 

Chocolate, especially that used for baking, is toxic for dogs, so it should be kept out of reach. Other common food items that can be poisonous to dogs include onions, raisins and grapes, so avoid sharing these.

It’s a good idea to review these rules with any guests as well, since well-meaning holiday visitors might not know the potential harm caused by slipping treats to the pets under the table. If pet owners want to make the holiday special for their four-footed family members, they should plan ahead and have safe, delicious dog and cat treats on hand, like canned pet food or a tasty pet treats or fun toy. There are also many great recipes online for homemade dog and cat treats that are fun to make and extra special for our pets. 

A final note to consider is that many common decorative plants and flowers can be toxic for curious cats and dogs, so before buying plants or creating the centerpiece, it’s wise to check to ensure that you’re not using anything that could poison your pets. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, some plant hazards include amaryllis, baby’s breath, sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas and others. 

Thanksgiving is often one of the busiest evenings for emergency vet clinics, so it’s an important time to be extra careful with our animal friends—especially this year, when many animal hospitals are operating under COVID restrictions. That way the holiday can be happy and healthy for everyone, and maybe your veterinarian can have the night off too. 

Maria Raia Friscia passed away peacefully on Sunday 22 November surrounded by her loving children.

Maria was born in Caltabellotta, Sicily, Italy on 28 July 1926. She emigrated to New York in 1965 with her husband Michele who predeceased her in 2008. Maria settled near Arthur Avenue in The Bronx, NY which she called home for decades.

A gifted seamstress, she worked as a dressmaker for many years, though her talents extended to knitting, crocheting, embroidering, cooking, and drawing flowers.

Surrounded by a community of Italian immigrants, Italian remained her primary language and she proudly celebrated her heritage and culture. Though she did not speak English, her timely laughs and poignant comments during dinner conversations made her grandchildren smile. In her later years, she spent long stretches of time in Riverside to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.

She taught her children and grandchildren her most coveted cooking and baking secrets and was an infinite source of wisdom for all. Throughout her life, she created and gifted many handmade heirlooms such as bedspreads, wool blankets, sweaters, and table linens. Most importantly, however, she left her family with precious memories of her kind and loving spirit.

Maria is survived by her son Ignazio and his longtime partner Ann Clifford of The Bronx, and her daughter Maria Carmela and her husband Dr. John Dubaz of Riverside.

Maria was blessed with and treasured by her three grandchildren: Dr. Ornella Dubaz and her husband Dr. Jeffrey Lemons of Boston, MA; Marcello Dubaz and his fiancé Marina Austin of Los Angeles, CA; and Sofia Dubaz and her fiancé Jeffrey Silva, Jr. of Greenwich, CT. Maria’s last few months were filled with joy seeing and holding her great-grandson Luca Lemons who was born this past June.

Condolences may be left at coxandgraziano.com who is handling funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to American Cancer Society.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in The Bronx on Saturday 27 November at 9:45am. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Greenwich.

Though Covid-19 is upending Thanksgiving plans right and left, there remains much to be thankful for – a roof over your head, the coat on your back, the food on your table.

The Greenwich Human Services board wanted to do something to capture the spirit of Thanksgiving in a safe way. 

The coat drive was the idea of board member Jeff Medina, who will co chair the drive with fellow board member Natalie Queen. 

“At this time of year there is much to be thankful for,” Medina said. “But the pandemic has impacted some people far more than others, and those struggling financially or coping with homelessness are hurting the most.”

Medina said the Human Services board decided it would be safe to organize a coat drive. 

Anyone wishing to donate a coat(s) should contact Mr. Medina at jmedina1718@gmail.com or by phone at (203) 321-9297 to arrange for him to pick up the coats.  

Alternately, you can drop coats off at 21 Lincoln Ave in Central Greenwich (06830) where there is a donation box on the porch, or the Town Hall Lobby (Town Hall closes at 1:00pm) where a donation box will also be located. 

The coat drive runs through Dec 15, 2020.

The board will donate the men’s coats Pacific House, which is an emergency men’s shelter in Stamford.  Coats for Women and Children will be delivered to Inspirica in Stamford.

This article was written by Mike Dinan and originally appeared in sister site NewCanaanite.com.

Update, Tuesday, Nov 24, 10:30am. New Canaan Police say they’re searching for Catherine Palmer and that after she’s arrested, a detailed press release will go out that may include a request for donations. Until then, donations are not needed. “The puppies are being well cared for and are thriving,” according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. Inquiries can go to 203-594-3575.

Original article, Nov 23. New Canaan Police last week removed 12 dogs from a Butler Lane home and obtained an arrest warrant charging a woman with animal cruelty after three puppies died there due to neglect, records show.

Catherine Palmer, 48, a resident of 4 Lafayette Court, Apt 5B, in Greenwich, has been operating an illegal pet store while keeping puppies in an unsanitary environment, lying to veterinarians about their health and denying the animals access to medical care, according to an arrest warrant application signed Nov. 12 by state Superior Court Judge John Kavanewsky Jr.

Tipped off in August by tenants in the house at 151 Butler Lane after one of the puppies that Palmer kept penned amid feces and urine in the kitchen became unresponsive, Officer Allyson Halm of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section learned the following month that three other puppies had died within five days, according to an arrest warrant application. Lab tests later showed two of those puppies died of parvovirus and one had pneumonia, Halm said in an affidavit that’s included as an attachment to a Verified Petition of Animal Neglect and Cruelty filed Nov. 19 in state Superior Court. 

The Petition, which seeks to transfer ownership of the seized dogs to the town—two Poodles, one Yorkie and nine Maltese puppies, as well as two Maltese adults, an intact male and female—says in part that the “dogs belonging to Palmer appear to be/have been neglected and/or cruelly treated” in violation of state law “and are subject to imminent harm while in Palmer’s custody.”

First report of neglect

Halm and New Canaan Police Officer Emily Clark responded to the initial complaint on Aug. 12, the affidavit said. There, they were met by two tenants. One of them, who had been living in the house since November 2019, “was holding a small white puppy that that was unresponsive,” according to Halm’s affidavit, and said she’d texted Palmer about calling the police regarding the sick puppy.

“[The tenant] indicated that Palmer does not reside at the Butler Lane address, however does leave puppies there routinely,” the affidavit said. “[The tenant] stated that the puppy she was holding was not in the house when she went to bed. Both [tenants] believed Palmer brought the puppy in during the night, switching it with one of the five healthy puppies that were there. [One of the tenants] stated the sick puppy was much smaller than the original five.”

Palmer arrived “and became defensive when [the tenant] questioned where the sick puppy came from,” the affidavit said. 

“Palmer denied switching puppies. At that time I advised Palmer that the puppy needed immediate veterinary care. Palmer left the scene claiming she would take it to her veterinarian at United Veterinary Center in Norwalk.”

While in the house, Halm said she and Clark “observed three small white fluffy puppies approximately 9-12 weeks of age in a gated area of the kitchen and two small white adult dogs.”

“There was feces and urine covering the floors,” the affidavit said. “A bowl of dry food and water was visible. Conditions on the floor and walls were unsanitary for both the dogs and the tenants who resided there.”

The tenants told police that they pay Palmer monthly rent, though there’s no contractual arrangement for them “to care for the continuous flow of puppies.”

They “claimed they would clean up after the puppies because Palmer was never there to provide care and they felt badly for the neglected dogs,” the affidavit said. “They further claimed that if they didn’t provide food and water frequently the puppies would suffer. Based on experience and training, affiant Halm knows puppies under the age of six months require a minimum of three wholesome meals a day ensuring each animal gets their share and that they live in a clean environment.”

History in New Canaan

Cruelty to animals is a felony offense, under state law, and first-time offenders face up to $1,000 in fines or one year in jail, or both. Palmer, who lives in a downtown Greenwich apartment while renting out the New Canaan house, has no prior convictions, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records.

She’d been arrested in June 2014 and charged with risk of injury to a minor after her 7-year-old son fractured his skull after falling off his scooter. The charge appears to have been dismissed, possibly after Palmer was granted and completed “accelerated rehabilitation,” a form of parole.

The Butler Lane house, a four-bedroom Colonial on one acre, has been owned by the same family since it was built in 1975, tax records show. It’s located in the heart of the quiet “South of the Y” neighborhood. A man who lives across the street appeared to reference Palmer’s house in complaining to the town two summers ago about a woman renting it to transients through Airbnb.

Lying to the Veterinarian

That same August day that police went to Butler Lane house, Halm contacted Palmer’s Norwalk vet to follow up on the sick white puppy, Gracie. Reviewing his notes, the vet said Palmer had brought Grace in. Palmer told the vet that “the puppy ‘Grace’ had a hypoglycemic episode and responded well to supportive care at home,” Halm said, citing her interview with the vet. Yet Halm herself had “observed the puppy to be unresponsive when it left the residence with Palmer.”

“The doctor’s notes further indicated that the puppy had an abnormal exam, a low temperature, was thin and pale,” Halm said in the affidavit. 

That afternoon, Palmer left Halm a voicemail message “stating ‘Gracie’ was fine and there was nothing to worry about,” the affidavit said.

“I left Palmer a voicemail requesting to speak to her further,” Halm said. “Palmer never returned the call.”

Unlicensed pet store

While police were inside the house, the tenants provided them with paperwork “that indicated there were multiple sources for purchasing puppies around the country, copies of vaccine records with no veterinarian information, contracts and copies of the Bill of Sales,” Halm said in the arrest warrant application. 

As she left the property, Halm found additional paperwork that amounted to “more evidence of puppy broker contracts, registration forms and handwritten records, indicating Palmer was importing puppies and operating a pet store without a license,” the affidavit said.

Clark later researched online and “found Palmer’s profile on numerous social media links (Puppyfinders and Cassie’s Puppies Facebook site) providing evidence that Palmer had been actively advertising puppies,” the affidavit said.

One of the tenants later emailed Halm saying that as of Nov. 12 there were 12 dogs in the house, including 10 puppies “that Palmer has brought to the house and left for [the tenant] to care for them by herself.”

“Palmer dropped off two new Maltese puppies as recently as Nov. 11,” the affidavit said. “[The tenant] further stated she will be moving out of the residence in the near future and fears more puppies will die. That the conditions for the dogs will deteriorate quickly in light of Palmer’s complete absence and neglect of care.”

The cleaner quits

During the neglect investigation, Halm learned that Palmer on Aug. 25 hired a woman to clean up after the puppies. 

At that time, there were four puppies and two adult dogs in the house, the affidavit said. The cleaner “stated she only had phone contact with Palmer and that Palmer requested before and after photos to ensure the cleaning was done.”

“Palmer would often reschedule her, claiming she was in town and that she could care for the puppies,” the affidavit said. The cleaner added “that when she was scheduled to clean it appeared that the area where the puppies were confined had not been cleaned at all or [one of the tenants] had cleaned.”

“In short it appeared that Palmer did not care for the puppies during [the cleaner’s] absence,” the affidavit said.

On Sept. 19 one of the puppies, Zoe, “stopped eating and had bloody diarrhea,” the cleaner told police. The cleaner then learned from one of the tenants in the house that a different puppy, Buddy, had died Sept. 16 and been buried in the backyard. The cleaner contacted Palmer and was told she could take Zoe to an emergency veterinary hospital in Norwalk. There, the puppy tested positive for parvovirus. 

“Palmer was aware that ‘Buddy’ had died earlier in the week without medical attention,” Halm said in the affidavit. 

A vet at the Norwalk animal hospital “spoke to Palmer by phone stating that ‘Zoe’ needed hospitalization and would most likely die without intensive care.”

The cleaner “requested that Zoe be euthanized rather than die slowly,” the affidavit said. “Palmer declined and the puppy was released to [the cleaner] with oral medications,” against medical advice.

That same day, one of the tenants notified Palmer that another puppy, Winter, “was showing the same symptoms as Zoe.”

“Palmer suggested giving Winter a dose of Zoe’s medications and that she would be back on Tuesday,” the affidavit said. “Zoe died on Sunday night Sept. 20 and Winter died early morning on Monday, Sept. 21.”

What’s next

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the warrant yet has been served on Palmer. She resides in apartment 5B at 4 Lafayette Court in Greenwich, according to court documents. The signed warrant includes a provision that she possess no animals.

According to the affidavit, surviving puppies now are at the town’s Animal Control shelter, which occupies about 800 square feet in a non-insulated former incinerator building at the Transfer Station. Two years ago, Selectman Nick Williams said it’s not suitable to house dogs and other animals, calling it a “dump within a dump.” First Selectman Kevin Moynihan one year ago pushed back on a proposed public-private partnership to create a new shelter, effectively scuttling the effort by calling for further study.

The town is represented in the civil matter by lawyers from Westport-based Berchem & Moses. The firm is paid a monthly retainer of $8,500 and  $235 per hour. Dog neglect cases are unusual in New Canaan. Animal Control investigated one such report on Devonwood Lane four years ago.

On Tuesday, Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition in filing a motion for summary judgment in their lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful final rule redefining “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. 

Under the new rule, more than half of all wetlands and at least 18 percent of all streams are left without federal protections. In today’s filing, the coalition argues that the rule is arbitrary and capricious, contrary to the text and primary objective of the Clean Water Act, and should be vacated.  

“The whole point of the Clean Water Act is to clean up our nation’s waterways, and that requires a full and comprehensive application of the law,” Attorney General Tong said. “This revised rule, however, will have disastrous implications for public health and the environment and exposes critical water systems to pollution. The EPA ignored basic federal law and its own science-based studies in its rush to push through this damaging rule, and it should not be upheld by the court.”

The definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act is critical to maintaining a strong federal foundation for water pollution control and water quality protection that preserves the integrity of our waters. While the Clean Water Act has resulted in dramatic improvements to water quality in the United States, its overriding objective has not yet been achieved. Many of the nation’s waters fail to meet water quality standards. The 2015 Clean Water Rule enacted during the Obama Administration provided much-needed clarity and consistency in federal Clean Water Act protections. It specifically included within the scope of protected waters, the headwaters of rivers and creeks as well as other non-traditionally navigable waters, such as wetlands and ephemeral streams, which have significant impact on downstream water quality. 

On May 1, 2020, a California and New York-led coalition filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of California challenging the rule.

Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of California, New York, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the California State Water Resources Control Board, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the City of New York in filing today’s motion.

A copy of the motion for summary judgment can be found here.

Assistant Attorneys General David Wrinn and Matthew Levine, Head of the Environment Department assisted the Attorney General with this matter.

The topic of keeping schools open for in person learning in Greenwich during the pandemic has largely had parental support, but lately teachers are pushing back.

At the Nov 18 Board of Education meeting, GEA president Carol Sutton said while teachers were somewhat comfortable being in school in October, that changed dramatically in the first two weeks of November.

“Trust in district leadership and morale are falling as fast as Covid cases in the area are rising,” Sutton said. “Teachers do not believe that Greenwich Public Schools are the safest place to be.”

“They also do not believe that Havemeyer, nor the board, nor many parents have a clear picture of what is going on in the schools day-to-day,” she added.

Sutton noted college students will soon return from near and far, and families with children will be traveling for the holiday for gatherings, and taking risks.

“Some will return infected. Will they be in school on Monday, Nov 30?” she asked. “Public health experts have said that starting with Thanksgiving, the holiday season has the potential to be a super spreader.”

She said teachers are “sickened that the administration has said emphatically that there will be no change in plans or pivot to remote unless directed by the Governor.”

She asked the board to encourage the administration to switch to remote learning during the holidays.

Diana Willie, a teacher from Western Middle School, testified during the public hearing portion of the meeting. She asked that more be done to protect teachers.

Specifically she asked for a better in person model for middle school, elimination of Wednesday meetings, more half days and stricter Covid policies.

“We teachers are overburdened, exhausted, overwhelmed and concerned with our health the safety of our families,” Willie said. “Too much is being asked of us, while too little has been taken off our plates. The lack of staffing due to quarantine protocols means we are covering other teachers’ classes, sometimes multiple times a day.”

“While teaching, I am not supposed to approach students or linger too long at their desks, yet my desk is just inches away from student work spaces because our school was not designed to accommodate social distancing in large numbers,” she said.

“At the end of each day I am mentally and physically exhausted, as are my colleagues all over the district,” she added. “I would like to invite any willing board member to come to my school and spend a day in my classroom.”

“I’d like for you to see what pandemic teaching looks like. Experience what it is like to teach two classes simultaneously – remote and in person – five times a day, wearing a mask, change to your Chrome book, afraid of infection and yet desperately trying to do your job.”

Diana Willie, Western Middle School teacher

In her superintendent’s update, Dr. Toni Jones said current decision making reflects input from specialists within the field.

She said a recent email to families contained abundant information including about quarantining and cohorting.

“Right now our decision making is listening to specialists in the field,” Jones said, going on to list the CT Dept of Health and epidemiologist at the state level, plus Dr. Katie Noble who is a consultant to the district, Caroline Baisley, who is the Town’s Director of Health, and the district’s head of Nursing, Mary Keller, at the local level.

“It’s not just sitting and waiting on the Governor to say it’s time to close schools. We are listening to experts in the field. Had we not listened to those people, we also would not have opened.

We’ve used their guidance about closing, and we’ve used their guidance about opening – and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Dr. Toni Jones, Greenwich Schools superintendent

Later in the meeting Kathleen Stowe asked about the decision at Greenwich High School by the school administrators, not to have mid term exams.

Jones said that decision had been made by the administration at GHS.

“The stress of mid terms – and they feel like they actually gain instruction time back by not taking several days to do the mid terms,” Dr. Jones said.

In his de-brief following the meeting, BOE chair Peter Bernstein said while there had been positive cases among students, only one case reflected a transmission from within school.

“A lot of what we’re seeing is coming from outside activities including sporting activities and social gatherings,” he said. “The districts that have gone hybrid actually seem to have higher Covid rates than we have.”

Step Up CT

In his Monday, Nov 23 press conference, Governor Ned Lamont said while many college students will be coming home for several weeks, there are opportunities for them to volunteer to help keep schools open, serve patients and support Covid-19 testing sites.

He said college students should go to ct.gov/StepUpCt to learn how they can help out in Connecticut’s schools.

“Right now we’re finding, if schools have to close, the reason generally is not due to high positivity in the classroom,” he said. “In fact, the positivity rate does tend to be the lowest in the classroom.”

“But it does seem to reflect that sometimes staff have to quarantine. You have teachers who are older, teachers with a pre existing conditions. Those are places where we need people to step in,” Lamont added.

The Governor said college students with teaching or social work experience, are encouraged to go to ct.gov/StepUpCt to explore volunteer or possible paid jobs.

“As a senior in college, we may be able to find you paid work in some of our schools….You can help out in the classroom. Social-emotional and tutorial, and keeping an eye on the kids.”

Also, he said people with experience in health care were invited to assist. He pointed out taht doctors and nurses are working double shifts and experiencing exhaustion.

The initiative also seeks people to support testing sites, which are experiencing lines given more people are wanting to be tested.

“You can help administratively. You can help with the swabs,” he said.

On Tuesday, during a Yale New Haven Health System press conference, chief medical officer Dr. Tom Balcezak said he was concerned in the short term about staff and their fatigue, and rising Covid-19 numbers were adding stress to staff.

“Please stay home, mask. I’m worried this will have short term and long term consequences,” he said. “There have been articles about staff – physicians, nurses and others – who are retiring early, and leaving clinical practice. I’m worried about that.”

“Small gatherings can be super spreader events. This Thursday, Thanksgiving could be a spreader event,” Balcezak said. “It’s incumbent on all of us to make sure it isn’t.”

The way we celebrate Thanksgiving this year may be a little different due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But what hasn’t changed is the need to stay safe from cooking fires, which typically peak on this holiday. 

To help you and your family stay safe, the American Red Cross offers these cooking safety tips and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help protect everyone’s health during Thanksgiving. 

STAY SAFE FROM COVID-19 The CDC recommends these lower risk activities: 

1. Avoid attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside our households. Instead, have a small dinner with family and perhaps a virtual dinner with friends and family who live outside the home. 
2. Still want to share favorite dishes with others? Prepare family recipes for nearby loved ones and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and deliver them without direct contact with others. 
3. Love to shop over the holiday? Avoid crowded stores and revert to online shopping. 

COOK YOUR FEAST SAFELY Cooking is the top cause of home fires in the U.S. Most often, these emergencies are caused by unattended cooking — a common behavior shared by nearly 70% of us, according to a national Red Cross survey conducted earlier this year. Follow these tips to help stay safe: 

1. Keep an eye on what you fry! Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. 
2. Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains. Also keep children and pets at least three feet away. 
3. Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. 
4. When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner. 
5. Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. 
6. Turn pot handles to the back of the stove, so no one bumps them or pulls them over. 
7. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on. Check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to ensure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.  

TWO MINUTES TO ESCAPE A FIRE Test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. 

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores). 

For more COVID-19 safety tips, visit redcross.org/coronavirus. 

Update, Tuesday, Nov 24. On Tuesday Greenwich Schools emailed parents to say that over the weekend they were notified that an administrator at Greenwich High School who was last on school grounds on November 18, tested positive due to an exposure from a family member outside of school.

“We deeply regret that an oversight delayed sending this notice sooner as we send Health Alerts and updates on a daily basis,” the alert said. “As a result of thorough contact tracing, it has been determined that 7 additional faculty members must quarantine for the required 14 days of exposures. No students are required to quarantine.”

In addition, the alert said one administrator and one staff member have been exposed to positive cases from family members outside of Greenwich Schools and will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Update, Saturday, Nov 21. On Friday Greenwich Schools families received an email from the district asking that them to send any updated information over Thanksgiving break by Sunday before noon if a student or staff member has a Covid-19 related exposure or symptom to report.

This will provide time for Greenwich Schools to assess its status after the weekend.

Contact tracers will not be calling families on Thanksgiving Day, Friday, or Saturday after the holiday.

Families were asked to send any notifications to their school’s principal or Mary Keller, Greenwich Schools Head of Nursing.

“While we will not ask or tell anyone that they cannot travel, we do ask that you consider the Governor’s orders and restrict all non-essential travel,” the district said in the email. “But if you do travel out-of-state other than to New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, we ask that you either have a PCR test less than 72 hours before leaving the affected state or upon your return. You will need to quarantine until you can obtain the results of a negative PCR test. If you cannot get tested, you will need to quarantine for 14 days from the date of your return.”

In addition, parents were asked to review Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 9I and the State’s travel advisory information.

Also, the email noted that after Thanksgiving, any families with children in grades K-5 who might choose to move a student from in-person learning to the Elementary Remote School must remain fully remote through the Winter Break.

“This is done to assist our elementary teachers with consistency of students in their classrooms,” the email said. “For these children, the next change date from fully remote back to in-person learning will not take place until January 4, 2021.”

SPORTS IN OR OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL 

Late yesterday, the Governor put forth an Executive Order halting all sports participation through January 19 in public schools, private schools, and private clubs. GPS and state-wide data shows that transmission through sports has caused many quarantines in schools, and in some instances, completely closed schools because there were not enough staff to teach in person. 

While quarantining is out of an abundance of caution, and it does not represent positive cases, it does cause tremendous stress on keeping schools open because we must have staff present to teach our children. 

Please encourage healthy workouts and connecting with friends online, and discourage our young people from congregating for pick up games and large group practices on private property which are against the Executive Order. Working together to wash hands, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing will help us keep our schools open. 

Also, parents received an email Friday night saying a ninth-grader and a 12-grader in the Greenwich High School Greenwich Cohort and a 12th-grader in the Cardinal Cohort – all who were last on school grounds on Monday, November 16, tested positive to Covid-19 due to exposures from family members outside of GPS.   As a result of thorough contact tracing, it has been determined that 11 additional students and one staff member must be quarantined for the required 14 days of exposures.

Update, Friday, Nov 20. A GHS 10th-grader in the “Greenwich Cohort” who was last on school grounds on Nov 11 tested positive due to an exposure from a non-school sponsored sporting event. The student must quarantine for the required 14 days of exposure. Because the student had not been in the school, contact tracing does not require any quarantine of other individuals at GHS.

Update, Thursday, Nov 19. A staff member in a Pre-K class at North Street School tested positive due to an exposure from an activity outside of Greenwich Schools and was last on school grounds Friday, Nov 13, 2020.

As a result, the class will learn remotely beginning on Friday, Nov 20 and can return on November 30 (due to the holiday). 

Update, Wednesday, Nov 18. On Wednesday Greenwich Schools notified parents that they had been notified that a 9th grader in the GHS “Greenwich Cohort” who was last on school grounds on Tuesday, November 17 tested positive due to an exposure from outside of Greenwich Schools. The student must quarantine for the required 14 days of exposure.

As a result of thorough contact tracing, 22 students and 3 teachers must be quarantined for the required 14 days of exposure.

Update, Tuesday, Nov 17. Greenwich schools emailed parents to say that a ninth-grade student in the “Greenwich Cohort” who was last on school grounds on Tuesday, November 10 tested positive due to an exposure from outside of Greenwich Schools.

The student must quarantine for the required 14 days of exposure. Because the student had not been in the school, contact tracing does not require any quarantine of other individuals at GHS.

Update, Monday, Nov 16. Greenwich Schools emailed parents on Monday saying earlier in the day they were notified that two students in the “Greenwich Cohort” who were last on school grounds on Tuesday, November 10, tested positive, one due to an unknown origin (otherwise known as a community transmission) and the other due to an outside activity.

As a result of thorough contact tracing, it was determined that 12 students will be quarantined for the required 14 days of exposure.

The district was also notified that a teacher who was last on school grounds on Friday, November 13 was exposed from a family member outside of school and will now remain in quarantine for 14 days.

At this time, they said it was not a confirmed positive case, but if the teacher should test positive, contact tracing would begin immediately and we would notify families.

Update No 2, Friday, Nov 13. Greenwich Schools sent an email to families saying they’d been asked if schools would be switching from in person to remote given the uptick in Covid-19 cases and incidents requiring students and staff to quarantine. The response was that the plan was to continue to stay open.

Text of the Email:

Decisions Regarding Learning Model Changes
Many of you have reached out to ask if GPS will be changing its learning model (in-person, hybrid, full remote) due to the rise of COVID cases in Greenwich and our region. Currently, our local and state health professionals are telling us that the spread of COVID is not coming from inside of our schools. The leading Connecticut Department of Health epidemiologist believes that schools should be open right now.

Until our local and state health professionals advise us differently, we will continue to offer the same options to our families as we do now. 

Before school started, there was a color-coded chart put out by the Connecticut Department of Health which was meant to guide a school district on in-person, hybrid, or full remote learning. The model was based on the number of COVID cases in the region. In the past many months, experts in the field continue to learn and modify their approach. Currently, “secondary factors” are just as important as local spikes push a locality from orange to the red phase. Secondary factors include where the spread is taking place. If GPS secondary factors start to change, our health and safety guidance would direct us accordingly. 

From the district perspective, COVID is monitored every day. While the district is taking this one week at a time, we do not have an expected date or marker that would push the district to go fully remote. We realize that Greenwich is in the red zone, but our school population of staff and students is not mirroring the community numbers. 

These decisions are not made lightly. Each school district in Fairfield County must make decisions based on their local metrics, staffing challenges, and individual district nuances such as number quarantined and managing overall buildings. While some think full remote is better, for many it is not. If we learned anything from last Spring, it was that remote learning is challenging for many of our staff, children, and young people. We also learned that many staff felt isolated and overwhelmed as they worked to teach from home with their own children at their feet. We acknowledge that there are some staff that would prefer a hybrid or full-remote model, and we respect those feelings. We are working to balance the interest of everyone, which unfortunately, sometimes competes with each other. 

Please think about your plans for Thanksgiving. We need everybody to be responsible and follow the state guidance.  

Quarantine Letters and Cohorting
GPS recognizes that parents from some schools have seen many Health Alerts, and it can make people feel anxious. Please note a few important points, which we hope will help alleviate some of the anxiety. 

Quarantine– This is a mitigation strategy to keep people safe. Quarantine simply tells students and/or staff that they must stay home out of an abundance of caution as they were close to a person who tested positive for longer than 15 minutes, and within 6 feet. It does not mean that we think all of those in quarantine are positive. To date, those who quarantine are generally not testing positive, with the few exceptions of those students who were at the same social gathering, exposed to the same family member, or played on the same sports team as the positive case.  

Cohorting– GPS approached cohorting with a granular vision. We have microcosms of children and staff who mix during the day while at school. WMS and CMS have six different cohorts, while EMS has nine. This is important because when we contact trace, we can narrow-down the possible exposures. In Elementary, it’s even more separated, as they are cohorted by grade levels. Separate letters are generated for each cohort, but we may also have students that interact with other cohorts playing on the same private team, or attending a birthday party. Having multiple cohorts allows us to keep the majority of our students in school.  

Contact Tracing
Many have asked how contact tracing works. The tracing begins by having a discussion with the person who tested positive. The tracer must determine those individuals who were within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes to the individual person from the time of the onset of the symptoms. Seating charts are utilized, attendance rosters may be checked, and when a challenging case is being worked, the principal may pull the video from the day in question to determine where the student or staff member traveled within a building. Those who need to quarantine are contacted individually, or in the case of a full cohort, a notification is sent out. An entire cohort could be impacted because the student or staff were in multiple locations, and the tracer is not confident they can eliminate an exposure while outside or inside the building. If the tracer has great information, a student could be in the same room, but 20 feet away and have no contact, which means they do not need to quarantine.   

COVID Tracker
GPS continues to update the district’s information every Tuesday and Friday on the COVID Tracker.  

BoE Meeting
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18. To make a public comment, please fill out the speaker form. Please be advised that the Board will be taking one hour of public comment during the public hearing portion at the start of the business meeting, with additional time allotted for public comment following the completion of the business agenda. Speakers will be recognized in the order they signed-up. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes and a timer will appear on the screen.

Update, Friday, Nov 13. On Thursday Central Middle School families of a seventh grade cohort were instructed to keep their children home on Friday.

A Health Alert said a family had informed the district that their child had tested positive for Covid-19. The middle school cohorts have about 100 students each.

Update, Wednesday, Nov 11. On Wednesday Greenwich Schools emailed GHS parents to say that an 11th-grader in the “Greenwich Cohort” who was last on school grounds on Tuesday, November 10 had tested positive for Covid-19 due to an exposure from a non-school sponsored sporting event.

After contact tracing, 50 students and 3 teachers were quarantined for the required 14 days of exposure.

Update, Tuesday, Nov 10. On Tuesday EMS principal Jason Goldstein, school nurse Jessica Wieneke, and Mary Keller GPS Head of Nursing alerted parents of the 7th Grade Green Cohort asking them to pick up their children as soon as possible after a student tested positive for Covid-19.

“We know some families may find an early pick-up challenging. Please know that we are spreading our classes out and utilizing the beautiful weather,” the alert continued.

“Unbeknownst to the school, a student in this cohort was exposed at a non-GPS sports practice last Tuesday, but continued to attend school last week impacting the entire cohort. Contact tracing is not able to be conducted given the tracing from point of exposure involves the full cohort.”

Updates, Monday, Nov 9. On Sunday night Greenwich Schools emailed Western Middle School parents to say that that afternoon an 8th grade parent informed them that their child who was last at school on Friday, November 6, had tested positive for COVID-19. Because of the timing of the information, they had not had time to perform contact tracing to determine which children and staff would need to quarantine. Out of an abundance of caution, the Green Team was asked to stay home on Monday while the district completes contact tracing .

At ISD, a teacher who was last on school grounds on Nov 6 tested positive from an exposure away from school. After contact tracing, the district determined the school’s entire third grade would quarantine for 14 days.

Also, on Sunday, Greenwich Schools emailed GHS parents to say that earlier in the day they were notified that a student in the “Cardinals cohort” who was last on school grounds Friday, October 30, had tested positive due to an exposure from a family member outside of school. After contact tracing, 25 students and one faculty member will be in quarantine for the required 14 days.

Update, Sunday, Nov 8. On Saturday night Greenwich Schools emailed North Street Schools parents to say they’d learned that a Pre-K student tested positive for Covid-19 due to exposure from someone outside of Greenwich Schools. The student was last on school grounds on Friday, November 6. Students in the child’s class will participate in school remotely beginning Monday Nov 9.

Update, Saturday, Nov 7. The school district was notified on Friday that three GHS students in “Greenwich cohort,” all who were last on school grounds either on Monday, Oct 26 or Tuesday, Oct 27, have tested positive for Covid-19 due to exposures from a family member or activities outside of school. No additional quarantining was deemed necessary.

Original story, Friday, Nov 6. On Thursday night, GHS parents received an email saying that a 10th grader in the “Greenwich cohort” who was last on school grounds on Monday, November 2 had tested positive for Covid-19 due to exposure from an activity outside of school.

After contact tracing the district determined 13 students would be required to quarantine for two weeks.

The news followed an announcement by Governor Lamont on Thursday that since Covid-19 trends were up across the state, with 11 new deaths, he would limit both indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10.

Lamont said just weeks earlier there were four towns on the State’s version of a “Measles Map,” which is a map of hot spots in Connecticut indicated by the color red. He said the hot spots started with four towns, and increased to 30, and then to 42, which represents about 60% of the state’s population. Red indicates 15 cases detected per 100,000 on a daily basis.

Lamont said he wanted to focus on the size of private gatherings, and would limit them to 10 people indoors or outdoors.

As for sports, Lamont said high risk sports will not be played through the end of the year, including Wrestling, Boxing, 11-1on-11 football, Rugby, Boys Lacrosse martial arts, Competitive Cheer and Dance.

Also, regional competitions or tournaments will not be allowed, beginning Monday, Nov 9.

On Wednesday families at GHS learned that a faculty member who was not a teacher had tested positive for Covid-19 due to an undetermined exposure, also known as a community transmission. That resulted in the required quarantine of five members of staff.

At Western Middle School, an 8th grader who was last in school on Oct 28 tested positive due to exposure from a family member outside school resulting in the quarantine of 13 students for 14 days.

Last Sunday, Nov 1, a GHS elective class teacher last in school on October 30 tested positive for Covid-19 due to exposure from a family member outside school, resulting in 25 students in both GHS cohorts – “Cardinals” and “Greenwich” – plus 4 teachers, needing to quarantine. Also, 16 students were exposed during a team sports competition not associated with Greenwich Schools on Friday, and were required to quarantine.

As of Friday, Greenwich was considered code orange, which is considered high risk.

The color codes are: Gray (low), tan (moderate), and red being a hot spot.

OxyContin manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three federal criminal charges for their role in fueling the country’s opioid crisis.

The three felony offenses included: one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the US and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

US District Judge James P. Jones heard the defendants’ guilty pleas in federal court and set sentencing for Feb. 16, 2021.

“The abuse and diversion of prescription opioids has contributed to a national tragedy of addiction and deaths, in addition to those caused by illicit street opioids,”  said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in a release from the US Dept of Justice.  “Today’s guilty pleas to three felony charges send a strong message to the pharmaceutical industry that illegal behavior will have serious consequences.”

  “The opioid epidemic continues to spread across the United States impacting countless Americans and harming communities,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI is committed to investigating and holding criminals accountable for the roles they play in fueling this crisis.”

As part of the guilty plea, Purdue admitted that from May 2007 through at least March 2017, it conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

Purdue represented to the DEA that it maintained an effective anti-diversion program when, in fact, Purdue continued to market its opioid products to more than 100 health care providers whom the company had good reason to believe were diverting opioids. 

Purdue also reported misleading information to the DEA to boost Purdue’s manufacturing quotas. 

The misleading information comprised prescription data that included prescriptions written by doctors that Purdue had good reason to believe were engaged in diversion. 

The conspiracy also involved aiding and abetting violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by facilitating the dispensing of its opioid products, including OxyContin, without a legitimate medical purpose, and thus without lawful prescriptions.

Purdue also admitted it conspired to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Between June 2009 and March 2017, the company made payments to 2 doctors through Purdue’s doctor speaker program to induce those doctors to write more prescriptions of Purdue’s opioid products. 

Also, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made payments to Practice Fusion Inc, an electronic health records company, in exchange for referring, recommending, and arranging for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture.

For the $2 billion forfeiture, the company will pay $225 million within three business days following the entry of a judgment of conviction in accordance with the Plea Agreement. 

Purdue has also agreed to a civil settlement that provides the United States with an allowed, unsubordinated, general unsecured bankruptcy claim for recovery of $2.8 billion to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act. 

Separately, the Sackler family has agreed to pay $225 million in damages to resolve its civil False Claims Act liability.

The criminal and civil resolutions, which were announced on Oct. 21, 2020, do not include the criminal release of any individuals, including members of the Sackler family, nor are any of the company’s executives or employees receiving civil releases.

On Nov. 17, 2020, the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York approved the financial terms of the global resolution with the company.  The resolution includes the condition that the company cease to operate in its current form and instead emerge from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public.  The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. 

Based on the value that would be conferred to state and local governments through the PBC, the department is willing to credit up to $1.775 billion against the agreed $2 billion forfeiture amount. 

The global resolution does not resolve claims that states may have against Purdue or members of the Sackler family, nor does it impede the debtors’ or other third parties’ ability to recover any fraudulent transfers.

Except to the extent of Purdue’s admissions as part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only.  There has been no determination of liability in the civil matters.

Thanksgiving 2020 is very different this year. Without large gatherings, many older adults cannot be with family and friends, the greatest joy in their life. Lori Contadino, Director of the Greenwich Commission on Aging, and the staff at the Greenwich Senior Center, didn’t want people to go without a turkey meal, so they made it possible for 185 Greenwich Senior Center Members to enjoy a hot, fresh-cooked turkey lunch this week, all for $5.00. As a special treat, members also received an entire apple pie, compliments of the Greenwich Commission on Aging Sponsors.

Chef Teddy Torchon and the Senior Center Chefs cooked the feast and participants lined up in their cars at the Senior Center Circle, at their allotted pick up time, as volunteers and staff placed the meals and pies in their cars. Safe distancing was practiced and masks were mandatory for everyone. The Drive-Thru pick-up was contactless.

Members were delighted to get their turkey meal.

“I am so glad to be getting a Thanksgiving Dinner from you. I was going to have frozen pizza.”

Senior Center Member

Next month, there will be two $5.00 holiday lunch opportunities on Dec. 11 and the 21st . You must be a member of the Greenwich Senior Center, but membership is free.

You must pre-order and quantities are limited. To sign up, or answer any questions, please call Deana as soon as possible at the Greenwich Senior Center, (203) 862-6700.

If you are an older resident of Greenwich, here are more ways for you to be
socially connected:

Confused by Zoom? Get Technology Help
For older adults who need free, basic, one-on-one help with their computer,
smartphone or laptop, they can sign up and a Greenwich Country Day School volunteer will contact them to assist. Email cpg@gcds.net or call (203) 863-5653.

Join a free live Zoom session for Older Adults:
The CONNECTT program is a collaborative effort with Greenwich Country Day School and offer daily programs on your computer, tablet or phone.

For the Daily Schedule and to click to connect, go to the Greenwich Commission on Aging website page on the Town of Greenwich website:
https://www.greenwichct.gov/190/Commission-on-Aging

At Greenwich Country Club, the Turkey Open is the culmination of the club’s golf season and a long-standing tradition in which every player receives a turkey for the holiday. Rather than keep the turkeys this year, the 100 players opted to donate them.

“Now more than ever we recognize the importance of reaching out to our neighbors who need and deserve a little help this holiday season. Both the Greenwich United Way and Kids In Crisis provide critical programs for our community and we are honored to support them,” said GCC member Karen Hopp, who helped coordinate the donations.

Greenwich United Way received turkeys specifically for families participating in GPAT (Greenwich Parents as Teachers), a program that works with parents living at or below the poverty line. GPAT helps prepare children for kindergarten so they begin their education on equal playing field as classmates who have received extensive early childhood preschool education. GPAT is the birth to 3 prong of the Greenwich United Way’s Early Childhood Achievement Gap Solutions Program.

“Thank you to GCC for this amazing donation of turkeys,” said Shari Shapiro, executive director of Kids In Crisis. “The turkeys are being distributed to the families of Kids In Crisis, both past and present, across several of our programs as well as our Safe Haven shelter, and will certainly make the holiday brighter. Kids In Crisis is grateful to the generosity of the members of GCC.”

Up to the Minute Greenwich Property Transfers, Oct 19-21, 2020, transcribed from the Assessor’s office at Greenwich Town Hall

318 Stanwich Rd from Robert DeAngelo to Samuel Murray and Marjan Murray on Oct 19, 2020 for $1,575,000

84 Burning Tree Rd from Todd and Ana Wilkowski to Whitney Wilson and Igor Zelenberg on Oct 19, 2020 for $1,940,000

40 Mooreland Rd from George Tsandikos to Kathleen Lavery and Lucas Renick on Oct 19, 2020 for $2,795,000

1 Shady Lane from Christopher Cole and Tracy Cole to Craig and Catherine Matthews on Oct 20, 2020 for $1,878,00

40 Sheephill Rd from Lorenzo and Jessica Chiappetta to Eugene and Lee Kyung on Oct 20, 2020 for $1,220,000

31 Horseshoe Rd from Virginia Corvino to Peter Cruikshank and Sharon Lazar on Oct 20, 2020 for $1,515,000

5 North Crossway from High Tide Ventures LLC to Jennifer Vanbelle on Oct 20, 2020 for $4,250,000

8 Nedley Lane from Daria and Brian McDonough to Kellye and Benjamin Koubek on Oct 20, 2020 for $670,000

21 Roberta Lane from Estate of Betsey Sages to Taylor Franklin and Preey Seth Franklin on Oct 20, 2020 for $577,500

25 Wesskum Wood Road from Daniel and Angela Moger to Jesse and Elizabeth Shaw on Oct 20, 2020 for $1,490,000

34 Richmond Hill Rd from Fred Kambeitz to Rolling Hills East LLC on OCt 20, 2020 for $4,500,000

35 Edgewood Ave from Paul Bergagna to Matthew Biringer and Margrette Robinson on Oct 21, 2020 for $840,000

See also:

Up to the Minute Greenwich Property Transfers, Oct 16-19, 2020

Property of the Week: Commercial Offices for Lease, Steps to Greenwich Avenue

Diocese of Bridgeport Won’t Sell 3 Acres of Greenwich Catholic School Campus to Senior Housing Developer After All…

Up to the Minute Greenwich Property Transfers, Oct 16-21, 2020

Greenwich Property Transfers, Oct 8-14, 2020

Greenwich Property Transfers, Oct 5-8, 2020

Whether getting together with your family and friends will be in person or virtual this year, it is ideal for assessing the current living situation of the elderly in your life.

There are various options available, and experts advise that the best way to ensure a smooth transition is to start the process early and plan before a crisis forces action.

A great option to consider in Greenwich is Parsonage Cottage Senior Residence. 

Parsonage Cottage Senior Residence acts as a partner for independent living in a unique and warm environment and knows that selecting the right residence is more than choosing a new home. Their approach focuses on giving residents a variety of experiences that will enable them to enjoy a lifestyle that allows them to thrive and flourish. “It’s really the people that make the difference. Parsonage Cottage has a caring staff, a hard-working Board of Directors, and every resident is treated as a family member,” commented longtime Executive Director Penny Lore. According to Lore, the residents’ average age is 80, and the typical length of stay is five years. 

The charming facility has bright, well-appointed rooms with en-suite private baths and age-friendly, walk-in showers and includes housekeeping. Three nutritious meals, prepared by full-time chefs, use fresh, seasonal ingredients daily in the recently renovated dining room. Special diets receive individual attention, and snacks are served around the clock, including an Espresso Bar and specialty Happy Hours.

A supporter of the assisted living facility, First Selectman Fred Camillo spent some time at the mid-country senior residence in September walking the beautifully landscaped grounds with retired Greenwich Police Officer, 92-year-old Les Russo, who has lived at Parsonage for ten years. “Visiting Parsonage Cottage is always a great experience for me, but it was especially nice to catch up with my longtime friend, Les Russo,” said the Camillo who has known Russo for about 25 years. 

Parsonage Cottage, one of the properties managed by Greenwich Communities, enjoys relationships with several community partners such as Greenwich Botanical Centers, Greenwich Country Day School Center for Public Good, Sweet Readers, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, and more. In addition to a Board of Directors, Parsonage Cottage also benefits from an active Junior Advisory Board, which held an iPad drive collecting 30 devices so that residents could stay connected to their loved ones. Last summer, they also had a very successful mini-golf tournament on the grounds.

The vibrant social environment ensures that there is always something to do at Parsonage. Their monthly calendar of activities, including Arts and Crafts, games and brain challenges, Zooms with family and friends, ministry services on Sundays, themed events and game nights, a piano, free cable and Wi-Fi, music and dancing, and a large screen for movie nights with popcorn.

There are level walking paths, gardens, benches, front porch rocking chairs, and a large terrace outside the dining area for outdoor relaxation, entertainment, and enjoyment. Outdoor and indoor instructor-led fitness opportunities include Zumba, Tai Chi, Chair Yoga, Meditation, and more. There is also a well-maintained Putting Green steps away from the front door.

Parsonage Cottage residents truly live life their way. For a tour and consultation, contact Penny Lore at 203-869-6226 or Penny@parsonagecottage.org. 

Submitted by Kate Hohorst, Greenwich

As many of you already know Governor Lamont has issued a Call to Action for Connecticut citizens.

Some of us are not allowed to physically step up as volunteers due to age or pre-existing conditions, but nutmeggers are being asked to sign up to volunteer for medical, non- medical , and part-time teacher duty.  This holiday Season and Winter will be brutal for all of us.  I know it is tough to send your loved ones out to assist but for those who can, – sign up!    If not donate!

Donate on the same  site through  4-T Connecticut Covid-19 Charity Connection. 

Donations may be made in Honor of someone or  in Memory of someone.

This is a wonderful way to give thanks and to remember those special people that have meant so much to you despite this very strange and immensely tragic holiday season. 

Alas, lacking on the site is a wee bit more space for wordy expressions of gratitude.  Come on!…. an extra line or two would be an awesomely therapeutic way to let us donate and pour out our thoughts anonymously. 

So, lacking this feature, I am just sharing my list of people for whom I wish to honor and remember in this “Call to Help Others.”

Here it is! 

In Honor of:

1. Governor Ned Lamont- I mean, God Bless!

2. Greenwich Selectmen Fred Camillo and Lauren Rabin- Again, God Bless! And, really how did you manage to make Greenwich hot again? By any chance could we have a little socially distanced dancing in the streets too?  Maybe an early hour for young people and later hour for old folks, or vice versa?

3. Our educators and Mr. Sean Goldrick who works tirelessly on behalf of proper funding for the Greenwich Public Schools.  Full disclosure… I do not personally know Mr. Goldrick but am an admirer of his civic work and articles. Thank you!

4. Our healthcare workers and in Memory of: My Grandfather, Dr. Eugene Curtin Sr. ; Great Uncle, Dr. Vincent Curtin;   and Uncle, Dr. Eugene Curtin Jr. –  between them I think they delivered and tended to almost every resident in Scranton Pa. when I was a child. Yes, a very long time ago…  

In Memory of:

5. My mother, Frances Curtin O’Brien who made her brood of six understand homelessness by dragging us to serve the homeless on Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas Eve. It was always wonderful!

6. My many, many  Irish, English, Welsh and German immigrant ancestors who risked and sacrificed so much to become free people in America between 1682 and 1860.  Most arrived poor, hungry,  and scared and worked brutal hours as farmers and coal miners.  Thanks to them and the kindness of others, I am still here to honor and remember them.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

First Selectman Fred Camillo and Greenwich Hospital president Diane Kelly held a press conference on the eve of Thanksgiving strongly urged residents to take the threat of Covid-19 seriously.

They warned residents with family members arriving from out of state to take care to wear masks indoors, social distance and hand wash.

“That state of Connecticut’s positivity is back up. We have the highest hospitalization number since May 16, and the highest single day death count since May 25,” Camillo said. “And this is all before Thanksgiving break.”

Kelly said last week there were 18 patients in house at Greenwich Hospital.

“Today we are at 24 positive patients, and 3 are ventilated in the ICU,” she added.

Currently over 100 active Covid cases in Greenwich are being followed through contact tracing by the Dept of Health.

Deaths are up to 55 and the 14 day average per 63,000 (the town’s population) people is 14.

Total aggregate number of Greenwich residents who have tested positive is 1,475.

Greenwich is averaging at least 100 new cases a week.

“We have people coming into town from all different states, and we’re bracing for numbers to spike up even further because of that. Between now and New Year’s I think you’ll see numbers going up,” Camillo said.

With these grim numbers in mind, Camillo announced the town is closing town’s playing fields effective immediately. This includes all the public fields in Greenwich, including Cos Cob Park and Greenwich High School.

“We are are going to close all the playing fields to recreational activities, team sports and personal use,” he said, noting that, with Executive Order 9M on Nov 20, Governor Lamont temporarily paused sporting activities between Nov 23 and Jan 19.

“We want to make sure that that is enforced,” Camillo said, adding that the town is planning to put up signage to alert people to the rule.

“We don’t know where we’ll be on Jan 19th, but, even with all the  positive news on a vaccination on the horizon, we can’t take our eye off the ball. This is the rough period we were warned about.”

Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo

Diane Kelly said, “We are already seeing this wave expand pretty quickly. People’s vigilance has to be top of mind.”

“Thanksgiving is going to be here tomorrow,” Kelly said. “Make sure you are masked, wash your hands and stay 6 feet apart, especially if there are people in your home that you’re not usually living with. It’s not advisable. If you’ve chosen to do that, what is a must is to  wear a mask.”

“If you have to ask, ‘Should I?’ the answer is yes,” she added.

Kelly said this week Greenwich Hospital changed their visitation policy.

“Visitation is only by exception,” she said. “There is no general visiting. Exceptions are for end of life care, some pediatric care and child birth.”

Camillo said the beaches are closed to out of town visitors.

Trails remain open because hiking is usually a solitary activity.

“My gut is telling me we have a couple months of this, and will probably lighten up a little as we see the positive effects of a vaccination,” he said. “Certainly we are in the danger zone right now. We don’t want to, but we’re prepared to do anything we have to to keep people safe.”

“This is a very strong virus. It is highly contagious. Everyone’s efforts are so important,” Kelly said.