Byram Roundup
Thursday, March 1, 2012
02/29/12 VIEW: Approve Byram Pool planning funds
This letter is about the urgent need for a decent municipal swimming pool, a need that has been apparent for years. To be sure, there now is a pool in Byram, but it is shabby, accommodates only 40 in a town of 61,000, leaks water, and lacks adequate, sanitary restrooms.
Greenwich is the richest town in Connecticut and one of the richest towns in the United States. In the case of the swimming pool, a public-private partnership holds the promise of raising something like half of the needed funds from private sources. How can it be, then, that we don't yet have an acceptable modern facility? How could this disgraceful situation have been allowed to persist? How can it be that, at this late date, there appears to be opposition within the BET to approving funding for design work for a new pool, funding that has the support of the first selectman, who is not known as a big spender?
Well, no one will say that they oppose building a new pool. Yet there are ways of voicing support for a project, while actually standing in the way of its execution: "It's a great idea, but we can't afford it; it's a great idea, but the timing isn't right; it's a great idea, but we need more facts," etc. Some BET members seem to be masters of these lines of reasoning.
The new pool would be located in the most densely populated part of town, in the western part where people need it the most. As an additional benefit, it would take pressure off Tod's Point and relieve traffic congestion in Old Greenwich during the summer months. With private sources ready to pay for something like half and perhaps even more toward the project, how can anyone still stand in the way?
Message to BET: Get on with it!
Gerald A. Pollack
Old Greenwich
Monday, February 27, 2012
02/27/12 GREENWICH TIME: Budget architects balk at $150K for Byram pool

Architects of the town's budget publicly balked at a $150,000 request Monday for the design of a new community pool in Byram, saying that the scope and overall cost of the public-private project need to be fleshed out first.
The Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee shared its concerns about what it characterized as a lack of details about the project with key supporters of the pool initiative, led by the Junior League of Greenwich, during a Town Hall briefing.
Given the finite amount of taxpayer dollars for capital projects and unforeseen soil contamination at Greenwich High School that could cost millions to clean up, committee members said they cannot go forward with funding for the pool design in the near term.
"It sends the wrong signal to the town at this time," said Joseph Pellegrino, the committee's chairman....
Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Budget-architects-balk-at-150K-for-Byram-pool-3364418.php#ixzz1nrBTSTlD
Sunday, February 26, 2012
02/26/12 GREENWICH TIME: Farricker calls on Dems to side with Tesei on pool money

In a rare moment of consensus between two political nemeses, Democratic Town Committee Chairman Frank Farricker is calling on members of his party to support Republican First Selectman Peter Tesei's proposed budget so a languishing community pool project in Byram won't sink.
During an interview with Greenwich Time, Farricker said that a $150,000 earmark for the pool's design is encountering some pushback by fellow Democrats who serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation.
"I hope they support Peter Tesei, who put it into the (capital plan) with the intention that it will be funded," Farricker said.
The money will pay for architectural and engineering plans to replace an existing pool in Byram Park, which some estimates have put the price tag at $7 million, a cost that the project's supporters such as the Junior League of Greenwich are seeking to defray through private donations....
Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Farricker-calls-on-Dems-to-side-with-Tesei-on-3361403.php#ixzz1nrDxj07G
02/26/12 Byram Neighborhood Association Meeting Tomorrow (Mon, Feb 27)
The BNA meeting agenda, could be important with discussions about making New Lebanon Avenue one-way.
BYRAM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING
Feb. 27, 2012 7pm
ST PAUL’S FELLOWSHIP HALL
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MEETING AGENDA
7 pm Welcome and Reading of Last Meeting Minutes
7:05 Announcements and Updates
7:10 Report from Greenwich Police Dept.
7:20 Executive Board Elections
7:30 Strazza Field Proposal, Byram Master Plan Updates
7:40 New Lebanon Avenue Proposal (proposal to make a “One Way”) discussion, position vote
8:10 South Water ST pump Station update proposal to correct Flooding Issues)
8:15 Scheduling of next meeting
8:20 Adjournment
**Agenda subject to change**
Friday, February 24, 2012
02/24/12 Rabbi Mitch's Weekly Teaching
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Saturday, February 18, 2012
02/18/12 Byram man still questions cell tower decision
Even with the backing of the town's four-member legislative delegation, a Byram man opposed to a new cell tower overlooking his home is fighting an uphill battle.
John Bowman, who bitterly opposed Verizon's application to erect a 77-foot cell tower at 36 Ritch Ave. W., last month enlisted state reps. Lile Gibbons, R-150th District, Livvy Floren, R-149th District, Alfred Camillo, R-151st District, and state Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-36th District, to write state Attorney General George Jepsen in opposition to the tower.
Jespsen's response was not positive. In a letter to the legislators dated Jan. 19, Jepsen said he does not have authority over the Connecticut Siting Council, which approved the project in August.
Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Byram-man-still-questions-cell-tower-decision-3340396.php#ixzz1nBov039n
Monday, February 13, 2012
02/13/12 Seven vehicle pileup among icy traffic chaos in Byram
A Connecticut Transit bus involved in the accident sideswiped an older-model Mercedes-Benz 300 and pinned it against the curb. A newer-model BMW 535 struck the rear left of the bus.
The multi-vehicle accident occurred in the westbound lanes at the intersection with Byram Terrace less than a quarter mile from the New York State line.
The snow was around 5:30 and it turned to ice.
The vehicles sustained generally minor damage, however, a few vehicles had to be towed.
Police closed down westbound traffic at West Putnam Avenue at East Weaver Street until a town salt truck could be brought to the scene. A police cruiser led the way for the truck through congested traffic to put salt on the road. The salt melted the ice quickly, and police let westbound traffic through around 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
02/12/12 Police: Drunken Byram man asleep behind wheel
Police found Loja asleep, slumped over the steering wheel of his running vehicle on Sherman Avenue Saturday evening, police said.
Loja refused field sobriety tests but used the vehicle to maintain his balance, police said.
A background check revealed that Loja had an expired New York state license and prior DWI arrests in Westchester County, N.Y., police said.
He was issued $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford Feb. 27.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
02/11/12 Greenwich police blotter: Man charged with drunken driving in Byram
Police spotted a red Acura Legend with New York license plates traveling on West Putnam Avenue between the state line and Byram Terrace Drive. The car drifted to the right and turned left onto Byram Terrace Drive without signaling, police said. The car then turned onto Weaver Street and swerved to prevent striking a pedestrian crosswalk sign at a crosswalk in front of Family Centers Gateway Preschool, police said.
Vasquez had red, bloodshot eyes and admitted to having a few drinks, police said. He failed field sobriety tests, police said.
Vasquez posted $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford Feb. 24.
Friday, February 10, 2012
02/10/12 Limited funds for Byram pool
In his capital budget presented to the Board of Estimate and Taxation this week, First Selectman Peter Tesei included $150,000 to design a new pool to replace the dilapidated one in Byram Park. We applaud that decision, although there's no saying whether or not that money will stay as the proposal moves through the budget process.
A new pool in Byram has been a priority of the Junior League of Greenwich for several years now. Members have long said they hope to fund the project through a public-private partnership. Pool supporters this week said raising private funds would be difficult without Mr. Tesei's backing....
Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Limited-funds-for-Byram-pool-3251585.php#ixzz1nBrMnhr3
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
02/08/12 Join Temple Sholom for a Congregational Shabbat Dinner - March 9th, 2012
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Temple Sholom | 300 East Putnam Avenue | Greenwich | CT | 06830 |
Friday, October 14, 2011
10/14/11 Sterling Care Press Release About The Closing Of VNHC In Stamford - Greenwich Based Company Offers Assistance To The Byram's Seniors

Thank you again so much for all of your assistance in helping to promote a local business that really cares for the health and welfare of our local residents and is hiring locally as we grow.
With kind regards.
Steven B. Katz
President
Sterling Care LLC
203 532-0500
P Please consider the environment before printing.
Press Contact: Steven Katz
Sterling Care: 203-930-7098
E-Mail: steve.katz@sterlingcare.com
Greenwich, Conn.—October 11, 2011— Sterling Care (www.sterlingcare.com), the only full service holistic home health care company based in Greenwich, is providing an alternative choice for people who wish to change their home care provider to a locally owned and operated home health care agency due to the closing of Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut in Stamford.
“With the closing of VNHC in Stamford, their patients have a choice to select their homecare provider and do not have to stay with the large Wallingford based agency that is taking over their client base” said Steve Katz, Sterling Care’s president and founder. Katz noted that “Sterling Care is a Greenwich owned and operated company that is very personable and understands the demanding needs of our local clientele. Our mission is to deliver the highest level of care while respecting the privacy and dignity of our clients and their families. Our services can be requested by calling us directly at 203-532-0500 or by requesting us as your home care provider with your hospital or facility discharge planner.”
“Sterling Care is different than other home health care agencies in three distinct ways.” Katz said, “First we are a one stop shop providing both medical and non-medical care to our clients including Medicare Part A and B and private pay services. This allows our clients to use us for their Medicare case as well as any additional medical or non-medical private pay services that they may need without having to go to another agency. Many of our private pay services are reimbursable by a client’s insurance. Second, we care for all members of a family throughout their health care life cycle events so we see each client and their family not as a single shot episode of care but as a potential long term client who we develop an ongoing relationship with and go the extra mile for in providing services and support. Lastly, our unique holistic approach has us assess and treat a client’s body, mind and spirit to provide the best medical outcomes and the highest quality of life.”
About Sterling Care
Sterling Care is the only locally owned and operated full service licensed home health care agency based in Greenwich, Conn. serving the Town of Greenwich and all of the cities and towns in lower Fairfield County. The agency is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission For Health Care, Inc. Sterling Care provides personalized in-home non-medical care and medical care, including visiting nurse services, for seniors with Medicare Part A and B as well as private pay seniors, adults and children who need assistance while recovering from surgery or an illness and people with special needs. The agency also provides geriatric care management as well as baby attendant care for infants and their moms.
Sterling Care approaches home health care from a holistic mind, body and spirit perspective. Its staff undergoes rigorous initial and ongoing training in patient safety and physical care, communication skills, hospitality, homemaking, meal preparation, feeding and a variety of mental and spiritual activities. Sterling Care offers a free initial assessment in preparation of an individualized Plan of Care.
The Sterling Care office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information please telephone 203-532-0500, send e-mail to info@sterlingcare.com or visit www.sterlingcare.com.
PLEASE SEE:
10/12/11 YOU WONT READ THIS IN THE GREENWICH TIME: Town Seniors To Suffer As Visiting Nurse Service Shuts Down
Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com
Thursday, October 13, 2011
10/13/11 The Raw Byram News Feed
| BOE hopefuls address test scores, racial balance Greenwich Time Michael Bocchino, co-president of the New Lebanon School PTA, moderates the Board of Education candidates forum at the school in Byram Wednesday night, Oct. 12, 2011..... Democratic Board of Education ... | ||
| GPS Didn't Help Locate Boulders Patch.com According to Greenwich Police Officer Ernest Mulhern, the driver was ticketed for distracted driving - an offense which carries a $125 fine - following the 6:48 pm crash near 37 Caroline Pl. The road, which parallels the Byram River. ... | ||
| Patch Picks: Yoga for Locals Patch.com Kaia Yoga (328 Pemberwick Rd. at The Mill, Greenwich): Tucked between "the strength of the forest and the flow of the Byram River," Kaia's flagship Greenwich location offers an inviting atmosphere for Savasanas, with dozens of classes and workshops in ... |
10/13/11 10/12/11 YOU WONT READ THIS IN THE GREENWICH TIME: Byram Seniors To Suffer As Visiting Nurse Service Shuts Down
The Town Of Greenwich seems to be unaware that the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut plans is shut down and turning over the town patients to a Wallingford Visiting Nurse Service by late November.Greenwich seniors who need home health care will no longer serviced by the Stamford-based agency that has operated in Fairfield County since 1912.
The Visiting Nurse service provided hundreds town seniors with nursing and home health aide services, as well as physical, speech and occupational therapy and social work services.
The Visiting Nurse agency employs more than 130 full-time and per-diem employees, many of whom are dispatched daily to assist Greenwich seniors.
At the very least, the Greenwich Department of Social services should oversee and monitor the transition and transfer of town patients from VNHC's care to Masonicare Home Health of Wallingford,
Or better yet, the Greenwich Department of Social services should locate other local agencies to ensure quality of care is maintained for Greenwich Seniors.
VNHC management and employees seem to be more interested in gaining employment with Wallingford based Masonicare instead of finding Greenwich seniors locally based care.
Some local home health aids have told Greenwich Roundup that Masonicare is a bureaucratic nightmare that employs 2,500 people statewide, including 1,200 in its home care division alone.
A VNHC-Masonicare Advisory Board is being established in the coming weeks to prepare Masonicare for the flood of hundreds of VNHC patients including patients from the Richard C. Rosenthal Hospice for terminally ill patients.
Letters notifying Greenwich patients about the decision were sent out this week.
The letters also provided additional information on making a choice between Masonicare or another health or hospice provider if necessary.
But Greenwich seniors need more information and help in transferring to smaller and more local home health services.
The effect on the great majority of Greenwich VNHC patients who receive home health care and hospice care is expected to be horribly disruptive if they are care for out of Wallingford.
The Town of Greenwich Social Services Department should step in to assist Greenwich seniors in finding a local area health or hospice provider.
Calls from Greenwich Roundup to the state Department of Health regarding the proposed closure were not returned as of press time tonight.
Greenwich VNHC nurses carry a caseload of 20 to 25 patients each week, and are responsible for balancing their group's treatment needs.
Greenwich Roundup believes the arrangement with Masonicare will provide Greenwich seniors less control over the type of care they are given.
Will social workers or family members have to go up to the Wallingford corporate offices to complain?
Just how reliable will home health care be in Greenwich when it is dispatched out of Wallingford?
Greenwich seniors would be served by a local visiting nurse service, but no one in the town seems to be prepared to help them make the transfer.
Greenwich Roundup says, something needs to be done now to help the towns seniors who are being ignored and taken advantage of.
Does the town even maintain a list of local home health agencies?
If anyone knows of a local area home health agency that help Greenwich seniors please send the information to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com
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Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com
Friday, October 7, 2011
10/07/11 The Raw Byram News Feed
| Ex-wife testifies in attempted murder trial Greenwich Time Byram resident Michael Parrotta is facing attempted murder and first-degree assault charges for allegedly stabbing his wife with a screwdriver in April 2009. Photo: Contributed Photo / CT STAMFORD -- The ex-wife of a Greenwich man accused of stabbing ... |
Sunday, October 2, 2011
10/02/11 The Raw Byram News Feed
| Greenwich Open Houses: 49 Houses from $349K to $16MM Sunday, Oct. 2nd Patch.com By Mark Pruner We have 49 open houses in Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside, Glenville, Pemberwick, Byram, mid-country and backcountry Greenwich. There's one high end rental for $17500 a month in mid-country, 11 condominiums and 21 houses ... |
Saturday, October 1, 2011
10/01/11 The Raw Byram News Feed
| 176 Byram Shore Road Find Connecticut real estate news, homes for sale, market stats, foreclosures, property taxes, real estate agent reviews, condo, neighborhood & subdivision ... ct.blockshopper.com/property/04.../176_byram_shore_road/ |
Thursday, September 29, 2011
9/29/11 The Raw Byram News Feed
| Byram man accused of stabbing wife headed to trial Greenwich Time STAMFORD -- A Byram man charged with stabbing his estranged wife has rejected a plea deal, electing instead to receive a court trial, according to his lawyer. Michael Parrotta, of 26 Byram Terrace, is facing first-degree assault and attempted murder ... |
| Police blotter: Byram man attempts to flee, kicks in police car window ... A Byram man attempted to flee from police officers and then kicked out the back window of a police vehicle Saturday night after he was allegedly involved in a ... www.greenwichtime.com/.../Police-blotter-Byram-man-attemp... |
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
08/30/11 The Latest News From Greenwich Roundup
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN GREENWICH YOU GOT TO
READ AN OUT OF TOWN NEWSPAPER OR LOCAL NEWS BLOGS
JUST LOOK AT ALL THE NEWS THE GREENWICH TIME MISSED .....











