Business

Teaching, Fixing and Enriching at Greenwich’s MacInspires

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By Leslie Yager
Two years ago Travis Sluss trusted his gut and moved MacInspires from a tiny storefront in Byram to a spot at the top of Greenwich Avenue, quadrupling square footage and gaining coveted classroom space. It was a big leap at the time, but Sluss, who had previously lived and worked on the Avenue, recognized the space and location as ideal. Four Legs Remain Steady
The MacInspires team has also expanded. Continuing the mission to inspire, Sluss said, “We get a huge kick out of seeing customers learn and create things they didn’t think they were capable of.” Expanding education offerings to “tours” and camps, they’ve remained true to the original four “legs” of the operation: Repair, Consulting, Retail and Education. Continue Reading →

Tiny New York Kitchen: Tomato Basil Soup With Asiago Cheese

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By Victoria Hart Glavin of Tiny New York Kitchen 

Here is a delicious hearty tomato soup that’s quick to make. If you want to make a vegetarian version of this soup substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. INGREDIENTS

3 Pounds Washed Roma (Plum) Tomatoes
2 Cups Sliced Yellow Onions
6 Minced Garlic Cloves
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
32 Ounces Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
1 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil
1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme Leaves
2 Bay Leaves
6 Tablespoons Shredded Asiago Cheese

Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and seed. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Toss tomatoes, onions, garlic and olive oil together in a medium-size bowl. Continue Reading →

Holiday

Thanks, Easter Bunny. Pros and Cons of Pet Rabbits

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By Leslie Yager
Eddy and Lilly are two lucky Mini Holland Lops. They have the run of the Sperduti-Matesevacs’ home on Valley Rd and follow their humans from room to room, up and down the stairs. Correction. They need to be carried downstairs. But even though they occasionally vanish only to be found in the coat closet or laundry room, the two rabbits have got it made. Continue Reading →

Schools

Greenwich Gov. 101: Greenwich Public Schools

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By Leslie Yager
At Tuesday night’s primer on Greenwich government at Town Hall, Deputy Superintendent for Schools Dr. Ellen Flanagan stepped in for Superintendent McKersie. Flanagan previously served as Principal of Glenville School and late as Director of Human Resources for the District. Dr. Flanagan, who has been Deputy Superintendent since 2009, said the district services 9,000 students every day, which breaks down to 11 elementary schools with about 4,000 students and almost 2,000 across the three public middle schools. She said that between GHS and the two alternative high schools, there are about 2,500 students. Rising Minority Student Enrollment
Flanagan summarized enrollment and demographic data from Greenwich Public Schools over 50 years. Continue Reading →

Government

Greenwich Gov. 101: Accountability, Citizen Participation, Voter Choice

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On Tuesday night a crowd of about 50 showed up at Town Hall for a primer on Greenwich government. The event, organized by Shelly Cryer and moderated by Jara Burnett of the League of Women Voters, allowed each panelist to sum up the function of their department or board, starting with the First Selectman. First Selectman as Full-Time Chief Executive
Tesei, now in his fourth term, said his job was made full-time in 1978 after a charter revision was approved by Greenwich voters in1975. The change took effect in 1977-78. In 1977  the election for First Selectman was deemed a tie, and, after a re-vote, Ruth Sims was elected the Town’s full-time chief executive, first woman and first Democrat in 75 years. Continue Reading →

Tiny New York Kitchen: Simple French Toast

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By Victoria Hart Glavin of Tiny New York Kitchen

Everyone deserves a good breakfast so make extra and freeze it. No need to defrost, just pop into the toaster for a quick breakfast. Make sure to completely cool French toast before freezing. You can also make this French toast a day in advance. Just refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, and then heat on a cookie sheet (400 degree preheated oven) for 10 to 15 minutes. Continue Reading →

Schools

Register Online for 2014 Greenwich Public Schools Summer School

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Greenwich Public Schools announce a brand new Elementary curriculum for the 2014 Summer School program as well as online registration. Registration for the 2014 Summer School program will begin on April 4. There will be on-site registration at the following schools:

Tuesday, April 8th at Hamilton Avenue School from 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, April 9th at North Mianus School from 6-7:30 PM
Thursday, April 10th at New Lebanon School from 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, April 23rd  at Julian Curtiss School from 6-7:30 PM

All registration brochures, registration meeting updates and links to the online registration  can be found on the GPS Summer School website beginning Friday, April 4. Summer School will be held at the following schools:
Pre-Kindergarten – 5th Grade at Hamilton Avenue School, July 1- August 12
-All Pre-Kindergarten students
-Kindergarten – 5th Grade students from New Lebanon, Hamilton Avenue, Glenville School

Kindergarten – 5th Grade at Cos Cob School from July 1- August 12
All other elementary school students will attend summer school at Cos Cob School

6th Grade- 12th Grade at Central Middle School from July 1- August 5
Comprehensive Secondary Special Education Program July 1-August 12

The Summer School Coordinator is Jennifer Bencivengo, North Mianus School Assistant Principal
  Continue Reading →

Real Estate

Valleywood Rd Home in Cos Cob Sells for $1.2M

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Property Transfers as recorded in the Assessor’s office in Greenwich Town Hall March 24-28, 2014:

68 Northridge Rd from Elisabeth Anne Denatale and John Francis DeNatale to William C Harnett on March 24, 2014 for $975,000

203 West Lyon Farm Drive from Bety H Hogin to Sharon and Milton Fuller on March 24, 2014 for $1,050,000

1465 East Putnam Ave Unit 526 from Barbara Ochen to Nichole Lombard on on March 25, 2014 for $317,263

54 Doubling Rd from GM Mortgate Inc to Joseph Hammond and Cathryn Colson on March 27, 2014 for $1,100,000

44 Valley Rd #B from Jose Lapadula and Brigida Pittier-Lapadula to Ryan C Kluster on March 27, 2014 for $1,130,000

11 Steep Hollow Lane from 11 Steep Hollow Lane, LLC to Laura B and Kyle W Daniel on March 26, 2014 for $1,155,000

15 Chestnut Street from Helen G Plaia to Roberton A Carboni on March 27, 2014 for $500,000

53 Valleywood Rd (feature photo) from Shawn Fisher and Pauline Fisher to Kevin Thomas Hoffman on March 27, 2014 for $1,200,000

8 Riverview Court fro Stephen DePasquale, Executor to Karen B Kline on March 28, 2014 for $507,500

75 Long Meadow Rd from Alexander Etinger and Nadejda Etinger to Michael Ingrassia on March 28, 2104 for $1,112,000

51 Forest Ave, Unit 34 from Eljean Adams, aka Eleanor Adams to Elena L. Fleury on March 28, 2014 for $938,500

24 Hearthstone Drive from 24 Hearthstone drive LLC to Daniel A Bellissimo and Darlene Collins on March 28, 2014 for $3,895,000

22 Nawthorn Rd from Martine Family Trust to Mary Anne McNiff and Adiran Owles on March 28, 2014 for $2,525,000

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Letter to the Editor

Reader Responds to “GHS Grads Break Silence on Drugs from Marijuana to Heroin”

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This comment from Greenwich Free Press reader Will was submitted in response to last week’s feature “GHS Grads Break Silence on Drugs from Marijuana to Heroin.” The piece focused on the story of Mark Pelazza, who shared this story of addiction and recovery during a parent seminar hosted by the YMCA of Greenwich and Liberation Programs. The story was widely shared, drawing 397 likes on the GFP Facebook page and thousands of views. “Certain drugs are easier to access and more readily used in Greenwich, and other places in the area such as Rye and Harrison, because of the affluence of the town and lack of activities available to teenagers. These towns are built for 30- and 40-somethings with families who still want to work in New York City but have a safer environment to raise their children. Unfortunately a byproduct is a lack of entertainment available on the weekends: Concerts are expensive and often 21+, non-alcoholic dance clubs are 18+, the beach closes at 3pm in the winter, Arch Street has turned into a middle school ritual, GHS rarely has weekend events, etc. Continue Reading →