GHS Junior Lights up School for Orphans in Africa

Julia Bunte-Mein a rising senior at GHS. She plays tennis, runs both track and cross country, and participates in the school’s honors arts program. As ambitious as she is optimistic, she learned of an inflatable LED light right around the time a friend told her about orphans in a Malawi school who rely on homemade kerosene lamps or candles. Her fundraiser has resulted in the safe, waterproof Luci Lights arriving in the hands of grateful orphans in Africa. Continue Reading →

Tiny New York Kitchen: Okra & Corn Maque Choux

By Victoria Hart Glavin of Tiny New York Kitchen

Maque choux is a traditional dish of southern Louisiana similar to succotash. It is believed that the name of this dish is a Cajun French translation of the Native American name. INGREDIENTS

1/4 Pound Diced Spicy Smoked Sausage
1/2 Cup Chopped Sweet Onion
1/2 Cup Chopped Green Bell Pepper
3 Minced Garlic Cloves
3 Cups Corn Kernels
1 Cup Sliced Fresh Okra
1 Cup Peeled, Seeded, Diced Tomatoes
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper

In a large-size skillet sauté sausage over a medium-high heat for 3 minutes until browned. Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic to sausage in skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are tender. Continue Reading →

This Is It! DART Readies for Kenny Loggins to Perform at Annual Fundraiser

By Leslie Yager
Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) has announced that Grammy Award winning Kenny Loggins will perform at the non-profit’s annual Gala Benefit Concert on May 30. The concert is a benefit for DART, a non-profit that raises funds for medical research into Niemann-Pick type C disease. Year after year DART has secured major talent for their annual fundraiser. The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, America, Richard Dreyfuss and Rob Mathes have all performed concerts to benefit DART. How Many Kenny Loggins Songs Can You Name? Continue Reading →

29th Annual Jazz Festival at GHS “Essentially Ellington,” Totally Talented

Superlatives abound in describing the day-long jazz festival at Greenwich High School on Saturday. In a tremendous undertaking, showcasing stellar talent, the regional festival marked its 29th year. John Yoon, the band director for GHS, along with a host of student and parent volunteers welcomed ten ensembles from Connecticut and New York. The daylong event was attended by  jazz fans of all ages, some who traveled a great distance for the display of talent. With both a Jazz Lab Band a Jazz Ensemble, GHS was unique among the 10 bands who joined them at the festival. Continue Reading →

Tiny New York Kitchen: Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup

By Victoria Hart Glavin of Tiny New York Kitchen

Seriously, it doesn’t get much easier than this! Throw it in the slow cooker and go out and have fun. INGREDIENTS

1 Pound Boneless Beef Chuck Pot Roast (Cut Into 3/4 Inch Pieces)
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
4 Cups Water
1 Can Undrained Diced Tomatoes (14.5 Ounces)
2 Cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables
2 Medium Peeled & Chopped Potatoes
1 Ounce Onion Soup Mix
1 Teaspoon Instant Beef Bouillon Granules
1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Minced Garlic Clove

In a large-size skillet brown meat pieces in hot oil over a medium-high heat. Drain fat. In a 4 quart slow cooker place meat and remaining ingredients. Continue Reading →

PHOTOS: Spring Has Sprung in Greenwich

Thursday was the first day of spring, a vernal equinox, to be precise, meaning that over the world, days and nights are approximately equal. The weekend weather is appropriately mild, with a high near 62° on Saturday and a high near 40° on Sunday, which is fitting for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade which kicks off at 2:00 pm from Town Hall. The parade route moves from Town Hall up to Post Rd (Rt 1) and on to Greenwich Avenue. This year Bill Gallagher will serve as grand marshal. Continue Reading →

Greenwich Free Press Top Stories of the Week, March 21

GHS Bowling Team: Coed, Competitive and Displaying Character From losing almost every game in 2002, to becoming formidable opponents in 2014, the GHS Bowling team has come a long way since starting out with just five bowlers and a van. Coach Wayne Gioffre, who also coaches GHS football, has gone from cajoling students to give bowling a try, to having to cut 15 players in order to winnow down the roster to 27 this year. Talk Turns to Heroin in Norwalk Ginger Katz said her son Ian had a big heart, which she attributed partly to his sister, Candace, who has Downs Syndrome, and that he had a talent for karate and lacrosse. Katz spoke of her son’s long battle with drugs and categorized much of the reaction among adults as “enabling behavior.”

There was the cop who caught Ian smoking in the park and sent him home with a free pass. There was the time she waited an extra day to demand a urine sample, giving Ian time to get a clean sample. Continue Reading →

Greenwich Chamber Networking Night to Feature Samples from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce will host a networking event at Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom in Greenwich on Wednesday, March 26 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Demonstrations of salsa dancing, Spanish wines from WineWise and appetizers from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que located nearby in Stamford’s South End will be part of a lively evening that provides local business an opportunity to network. The Chamber of Commerce will also have some fun raffle items.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que located on Canal Street in a renovated factory, and boasts a menu that features BBQ beans with pork, mac and cheese, crispy cole slaw, broccoli and carrot salad and Texas Bar-b-que brisket. Dinosaur began as a mobile concession by founder John Stage, along with two partners. The public is invited to attend.  $15 for members; $25 for non-members.  Call (203) 869-3500 or visit greenwichchamber.com to register. See salsa dancing demonstrations by Arthur Murray dancers. Continue Reading →