GFP Highlights June 1-7, 2014: Triumphant 23, Painting the Ave Purple, Cos Cob Synagogue Proposal, World Cup Soccer

On Sunday Ella Dawson shared her Five Must-Read Tips for College Freshmen. Dawson, a member of the GHS class of 2010 graduated from Wesleyan University and reflects on her four years in Middletown.

Dawson’s tips had over 1,300 page views and 31 Facebook likes.

On Monday the AVID class of 2014 graduated in a ceremony at Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. This program has grown in leaps and bounds in the few short years since it was implemented with much help from the Greenwich Alliance for Education.

Next year it doubles from one 9th grade section to two and benefits from the return of Ken Alcorn to 9th grade AVID after seeing through the Triumphant 23! Congrats to all!

The Lovallos who have lived at 90 Orchard Street for decades say they stand to lose if the GRS gets the green light for their new house of worship at 92 Orchard Street. Credit: Leslie Yager

On Tuesday night at Town Hall, in the marathon P&Z meeting, the Greenwich Reform Synagogue returned after having made multiple concessions in their original plan. This reporter left the meeting around 10:30pm and watched another hour of the meeting live on TV (Thank you GCTV!) to see the P&Z vote to move the Synagogue proposal from Preliminary to Final Site Plan. The Cos Cob neighbors of the proposed site were not happy.

The meeting room was full of residents: about half opposed and the congregation members in favor.

Toward the end of the week, the Celebrating Hope 2014 committee convened at Richard’s of Greenwich for a talk by Christopher H. van Dyck, MD, Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit at the Yale School of Medicine and then begin the task of decorating hundreds of trees with purple ribbons in honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness. The team is readying for their fundraiser at Richards of Greenwich on June 13.

Soccer enthusiasts Matt Pignataro and Ailton Sousa of Elton’s Cafe in Greenwich Library. Credit: Leslie Yager

GFP intern Matt Pignataro got a stern talking-to by Ailton Sousa of Elton’s Cafe at Greenwich Library. The subject? World Cup Soccer in Brazil. It was all in good humor, but Matt knew he had to make it right. He hit the ball out of the park on this one! 42 Facebook likes and many more page views on GFP home page. Don’t Tread on Them: USA World Cup Hopes

PTAC Essence award winner Gayle Hagagard receives her award. Her name will also appear on a plaque inside the Havemeyer building! Credit Leslie Yager

This week the PTA Council honored five nominees for the Essence Award. The winning volunteer was Gayle Hagegard. But all the nominees are tireless workhorses who add value to our public schools. Thank you to all of you for your hard work!

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