Four FCIAC boys lacrosse teams — Greenwich, Ridgefield, New Canaan and Wilton — meet in Connecticut state semifinals this Wednesday, June 10, in Norwalk and you can watch both games are being presented live by the HAN Network and CIAC on the NFHS Network.

First, in Class L, No. 5 Greenwich takes on No. 9 Ridgefield, which upset top seed Simsbury on Saturday, 15-6. Greenwich beat fellow FCIAC foe Brien McMahon, ranked 20th, 19-5 on Saturday. Here is a link to watch that game.

You can view the whole Class L bracket here.

In the regular season, Greenwich edged Ridgefield, 14-13, in an April game at Cardinal Stadium. That game was carried live by HAN on the NFHS Network. You can watch that game on demand for free at this link.

More than a month later, the Tigers left little doubt in the FCIAC semifinals, beating the Cardinals, 13-6, at the same site of Wednesday’s state semifinals: Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk.

The winner of Wednesday’s lacrosse game will face the winner of the other Class L semifinal between No. 2 Glastonbury and No. 3 Darien, which won the Class M championship last year but was bumped up to Class L this year.

One half of the Class M state semifinals will follow the Greenwich-Ridgefield game live on the NFHS, presented by HAN, on Wednesday night. Here is a link to watch that game.

No. 2 New Canaan and No. 19 Wilton are scheduled to face off at 7:15 that night in Norwalk. You can view the whole Class M bracket here.

In its first two games of the Class M tournament, New Canaan has outscored its opponents, 34-3. Despite the low ranking for Wilton, the Warriors have not had much trouble either, outscoring their opposition, 48-10, in three games (including a qualifying round win followed up by a 19-1 win over No. 3 Berlin.

In their only meeting this year, the Rams trounced Wilton, 14-3, back in April.

New Canaan senior co-captain Teddy Dumbauld (42) and Wilton’s Matt Ravichandran scramble for a loose ball during a faceoff earlier this season. New Canaan and Wilton will meet in the Connecticut Class M boys lacrosse semifinals on Wednesday night. — Dave Stewart photo

Live games are available for a paid subscription period that can be as short as one day and as long as one year. You can sign up through the CIAC here.

If you’re interested in advertising in these popular broadcasts, contact your local Hersam Acorn sales representative at www.hersamacorn.com/advertising-representatives/ or call 203-438-6544. HAN broadcasts reach thousands of local viewers and listeners during and after the games thanks to on-demand replays and highlight reels and through our social media network, which reaches about 75,000 households in the area.

HAN Network’s production team will also be bringing you all three Connecticut lacrosse championship games in live streaming video through the CIAC and NFHS Network on Saturday, June 13, starting at 11 a.m. (Game times have not been made official yet by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.)

The post Watch CT lacrosse semifinals live on HAN appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Carl Anthony Maresca

Carl Anthony Maresca of Ridgefield died suddenly this past week. He was 66.

He was the son of Giuseppe Maresca and Anita Paradiso, Carl was born in Port Chester, N.Y., baptized at Resurrection Church in Rye, N.Y., and grew up in Rye.

He graduated Iona Prep in 1966 and Hofstra in 1970.

He worked in corporate sales for more than 40 years, most recently at New Page.  He was an athlete, growing up playing football through high school and college and then rugby for over 25 years while traveling the world competing.  He was helping to coach Iona College and New Rochelle High School this season.

Maresca is survived by his son, Stephen Maresca, daughter Amy Maresca LoBoen, and his four grandchildren (Vincent, Stella, Dominic, Matthias).

He was previously married for 29 years to Maureen O’Brien Maresca of Rye, N.Y.

There will be a wake at Graham Funeral home from 4 to 8pm on June 8 and a funeral mass at 10am on June 9 at Resurrection Church. Donations on Carl’s behalf may be made to Rye Youth Rugby (ryerugbyny.org).

The post Carl A. Maresca, 66, athlete, coach appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Patrick P. Maloney, 62, of Ridgefield; died on Thursday, June 4, at Danbury Hospital surrounded by family members.

Mr.  Maloney was born on March 19, 1953, in Greenwich, a son of E. Coyne and Genevieve (Kenny) Maloney.

He was a Ridgefield resident for the past 20 years, and was an athlete and musician. He was a fan of the New York teams — the Yankees, Giants and Rangers. his family said. He also enjoyed playing golf, most often at the Ridgefield Golf Club.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Susan (Friend) Maloney and their daughter, Ryan Cathleen.

He is also survived by his brother Peter Maloney and by his four sisters; Anne Harris, Elizabeth Maloney, Mary Ellen Turner and Cathy (Tim) Claflin.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield.

Friends will be received at the funeral home from Noon until the time of the service. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield, 41 Governor Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.

The post Patrick P. Maloney, 62, athlete, musician appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

The Ridgefield assessor’s office will be accepting applications for the Tax Relief for Elderly Renters and Totally Disabled Persons program through Oct. 1, 2015 for those who have rented during the 2014 calendar year.

To qualify:

1.You must have lived in Connecticut for any one year prior to filing a claim.

2.Your income for 2014 must not exceed $42,200 for married applicants and $34,600 for single applicants, including Social Security.

3.Elderly renters or spouse must have been 65 years of age or older as of Dec. 31, 2014.

4.Totally disabled people must be under 65 years of age and on Social Security Disability of a Federal, State or Local Government Retirement or Disability plan, Railroad Retirement Act, or Government Teachers Retirement plan determined comparable to the Office of Policy and Management.

5.You are required to provide proof of your rent, electric, gas, water and fuel payments as well as income for the calendar year 2014.

More information and applications are available at the assessor’s office, or call 203-431-2706.

The post Tax help for elderly renters appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

A Planning and Zoning public hearing May 5 on a proposed contractor’s yard that neighbors are opposed to grew more heated than usual, and police are now involved.

Police said they are investigating a dispute that took place around 9:30 p.m., after the crowds had left but while the Planning and Zoning Commission was continuing its agenda on other matters.

“I cannot specifically say that it occurred in the parking lot,” said Capt. Jeff Kreitz, spokesman for the department.

Due to the fact it is an ongoing investigation Kreitz said he could not comment further, for example on whether there was an assault or if there were injuries.

The altercation was apparently between opponents of the proposed development and representatives of Larry Leary LLC, owner of the property.

“We don’t know the details. All we know is there was an altercation, that was the word used to describe it,” said Rebecca Mucchetti, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commissioners found out about it the next day, she said. “I don’t know who was provoked and who was provocateur,” she said.

As a result, Mucchetti asked for a police officer to be present during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting June 2, at which the hearing was continued. The officer watched over the parking lot after the meeting as well. Mucchetti announced at the June 2 meeting that something had happened on May 5.

“Something happened, so I decided to have an officer  present at the meeting and hang around the parking lot after people left,” Mucchetti said.

The proposed contractor’s yard is on Route 7. Many of the neighbors opposed to the project are from The Regency at Ridgefield condominiums.

The post Dispute after zoning meeting gets cops involved appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

June 10 is Maurice Sendak’s birthday and the Ridgefield Library is celebrating with a party.

Children in grades kindergarten through third are invited to drop in afterschool between 4:30 and 6, to enjoy crafts, games, refreshments and a short film.

The party is planned to honor the late Sendak’s long career committed to creating quality children’s picture books, including the 1964 Caldecott award-winning book Where the Wild Things Are.

Sendak lived in Ridgefield for several decades.

No registration is required to attend the party. Children may come anytime during the party hours to participate in any or all of the activities. For more information contact Children’s Services at 203-438-2282 ext. 12002.

The post Birthday party for Maurice Sendak appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Art by Diane Hunt, Joan Ogren and Carmen Martin, shown left to right, will be on view for an exhibition and sale that opens with a reception Thursday, June 18, 6 to 9 p.m., at Keeler Tavern Museum’s Carriage Barn.

A photographer, a painter, and a mixed-media artist have come together for Fantasies + Realities, an exhibit and sale that opens with a reception Thursday, June 18, 6 to 9 p.m., at Keeler Tavern Museum’s Carriage Barn, 132 Main Street.

The artists are photographer Carmen Martin, painter Diane Hunt, and Joan Ogren, who creates mixed-media assemblages and collages. After the opening reception, show hours will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 19 through 21, 11 to 4, and Wednesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 28, 11 to 4. A portion of the artists’ sales will go towards the restoration of the historic Carriage Barn, which was designed and built by renowned architect Cass Gilbert in 1910.

Photographer Carmen Martin — a longtime resident of Pound Ridge, N.Y., who moved to Ridgefield, five years ago — studied art at Manhattanville College and is a member of the Wilton Arts Council and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists.

Ms. Martin said of her work that it “presents a moment that typically goes unnoticed.” She attended the first exhibit at the museum’s Carriage Barn and was impressed by the quality of the work on display. “I am thrilled to have been invited to become one of the prestigious artists who have come before and will come after me in this historic place.”

Diane Hunt of Pound Ridge, N.Y., an oil painter, holds a bachelor of fine arts degree and is a founding member of the Pound Ridge Artists’ Association. She has studied sculpture with William Katz, art history with Irving Sandler, and a variety of media at Silvermine School for the Arts. Her paintings are informed by extensive travel to art museums in the U.S., Russia, Europe and South America. “My art is not to imitate reality,” she said, “but to make visible my personal realities.”

Joan Ogren of Wilton, who will show her whimsical mixed media collages and boxed assemblages as well as watercolor paintings, has an associate’s degree in fine art. She studied printmaking at the State University of New York in Purchase and has studied at the Art Students League of New York. Her work has been shown at the Guild Hall in East Hampton, N.Y., and at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists’ juried shows. She said of her work that it “reflects my passion for unusual, offbeat found objects and flea market finds.”

The post Three artists exhibit at Carriage Barn appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Ridgefielders should finally have the opportunity to vote Wednesday on a $1-a-year land lease designed to allow Ability Beyond, an organization that serves the disabled, to build a group home for six on Prospect Ridge.

The Board of Selectmen propose leasing of half an acre at the corner of Prospect Ridge Road and Halpin Lane to Ability Beyond, and the agreement is scheduled to go to both a public hearing and a town meeting next Wednesday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. in town hall.

Based in Bethel, Ability Beyond operates about 100 group homes, mostly in Connecticut but also in New York state.

It has run a group home for the disabled for more than 20 years on Ritch Drive in Ridgefield.

In addition to housing, the group also provides disabled people with employment support and a variety of other services.

“We have a very simple mission, which is to make it possible for people with disabilities to be full participants in the community,” Ability Beyond President Tom Fanning told a May 6 hearing. “…Make it possible for disabled individuals to enjoy the same things you and I do.”

The organization has “a 62-year history” of serving disabled people in southwestern Connecticut, he said.

The proposed group home for six planned on Prospect Ridge would be staffed 24 hours a day, Fanning said, similar to the Ability Beyond home on Ritch Drive.

The proposal had an initial public hearing May 6, and was scheduled for a town meeting May 27, but that had to be canceled and rescheduled due to a mix-up with meeting notice requirements.

At the initial public hearing on the plan  heard speakers on both sides of the issue.

Bev Barnard, a resident of the Quail Ridge I condominiums, raised concerns about developing the site, which is right next to the condo project’s entranceway.

“You’re taking the last little bit of woods on Prospect Ridge,” Barnard said.

Ed Tyrrell, a regular at town meetings and selectmen’s meetings, supported the plan.

“Given the choice between keeping some trees and taking care of some disabled people, I vote for the disabled people and so should you,” said Tyrrell.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi defended the proposed site as good for a group home, noting that it is walking distance from town and a variety of amenities.

“The location itself, it makes this particular piece of property very attractive for this exact kind of use,” he said.

Marconi discussed the plans with Barnard and also with Ray Goddard, the president of the Quail  Ridge Condominium Association.

He told them he would urge Ability Beyond and its architect to make its plans clearer to neighbors.

“They have Mr. Craig Studer, landscape architect, working on the plans, illustrating the location of the building, and which trees are to come down, trees to be saved, and future screening to the north side, which is the Quail Ridge side,” Marconi said.

Goddard told The Press May 27 that the proposal hasn’t sparked widespread concern among Quail Ridge residents.

“I have had a couple of inquiries from owners, all of which were supportive of Ability Beyond,” Goddard said.

He did say that he’s still hoping to see more detailed plans.

“I asked Rudy to let me know when the architect had completed his plans so we could review them to discuss any concerns,” he said.

The plans should be fully discussed at the hearing and town meeting on June 10.

“If people do have an interest, I hope they do show up and have their questions answered,” Marconi said.

The post Ability Beyond lease again heads to voters appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Gigi Bazarian

Gigi Bazarian of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty’s Ridgefield brokerage has earned the nationally recognized Accredited Buyer’s Representation designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors.

In order to receive this certification, real estate professionals are required to successfully complete a comprehensive course on buyer representation, as well as an elective course focusing on this specialty. Additional documentation verifying professional experience is required to be awarded the highly recognized designation.

“Successfully completing this course allowed me to bring my business to a whole new level,” said Bazarian. “The designation provides me with true insight as to what buyers want, allowing me to make the most efficient transactions possible when it comes to finding the perfect home. I always try to focus on catering to my clients’ needs, and receiving the Accredited Buyer’s Representation designation brings me that much closer to representing my buyers to the best of my ability. This insight can also benefit my sellers, allowing me to prepare and market their property to attract serious buyers in a timely manner.”

Upon graduating from New York University with a bachelor of science degree in communication studies, Bazarian had a successful career in the field of corporate event marketing for various luxury brands. Transferring many of these skills to her real estate profession, Bazarian is a top-producing sales agent for the Ridgefield community, and a recent recipient of the firm’s Silver Award for her high sales performance in the Ridgefield brokerage for 2014. She currently lives in Ridgefield with her husband and three children.

The post Realtor Gigi Bazarian earns buyer accreditation appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

The organizers of the free CHIRP concert series in the park said tonight’s show will go on, outdoors.

“As of now radar looks clear after six and while there may be possible thundershowers as we set up, evening should be fine,” said Barbara Manners. She said that because the ground is wet, people should “bring tarps or chairs and a rain jacket might not be a bad thing just in case.”

The performing band is Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. The concert starts at 7.

The post CHIRP concert remains outdoors Tuesday appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Most of the public calls to police over erratic driving do not result in charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to police.

In most cases, the operator was either driving aggressively, such as passing in a no passing zone or tailgating, or was possibly suffering from a medical emergency, said Capt. Jeffery Kreitz, spokesman for the department.

Kreitz was asked about the erratic driving cases because those that result in DUI charges attract attention on the police log. A reader requested the information.

The dispatchers try as best they can to get a lot of specific details about erratic operation when those complaints are made, Kreitz said.

The post Most erratic driver complaints do not result in arrest appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Rear Adm. Kathleen M. Creighton

Kathleen M. Creighton, a native of Ridgefield, has been promoted to rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Creighton graduated in 1988 from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and was commissioned through the NROTC program. She graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1997 with a master of science degree in information technology management.

Creighton has served in information dominance billets at all levels, afloat and shore, with multiple command and officer-in-charge assignments.

Her shore assignments  have included Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic as fleet telecommunications operations center watch officer, operations management officer and officer in charge, Naval Telecommunications Center Breezy Point; Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Europe Central as plans and requirements department head; Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Europe Central, Detachment London, as officer in charge; the joint staff, directorate for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (J6), serving on the Director’s Action Group; and OPNAV N2/N6 as chief of staff, Task Force Cyber Awakening.

Fleet assignments have included flag communications officer to Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 embarked on USS John F. Kennedy and USS Harry S. Truman; assistant chief of staff for C4 to Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12 embarked in USS Enterprise, where she completed two Fifth Fleet deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; and N6/Deputy Maritime Operations Center director to Fleet Cyber Command/Commander 10th Fleet.

She commanded both Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily and Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Bahrain.

Creighton is currently serving as the director for Command, Control, Communications and Cyber, U.S. Pacific Command.

She holds various decorations and awards, including two awards of the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

The post Ridgefielder, Navy admiral, holds high tech position appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

The latest data from the U.S. Census Department shows a larger Ridgefield than just five years ago, reinforcing school officials’ belief that families with children are moving here for the quality of the schools.

The influx of school-age children helps to balance an otherwise downward enrollment trend as the town’s birth rate has slowed, according to data.

According to the U.S. Census update of 2014, the town had a population of 25,205, up 527 from 24,678 in 2010. There was generally steadily growth each year.

The age of the people moving to town can’t be known from the Census data because it does not report on demographics, only raw numbers, but the school district sees it from a different perspective.

“We are getting a disproportionately greater share of people moving to Ridgefield for our school system,” said Christopher Murray, vice chairman of the Board of Education. “The birth rate is still low but the move-in factor has increased to compensate for it. Its a trend we’re seeing forming.”

There are 5,113 students in the district this year, down 116 from 5,229 the year before,  2013-2014.

Mike Zuba of Cheshire-based Milone and MacBroom, a district enrollment consultant, said last November that in the next five years all the elementary  schools will experience significant declines. All the schools will flatten and enrollment will stay flat or begin to rebound in 2021-2022.

However, those are said to be better projections than just a couple of years ago, when a different analyst’s numbers were used. The previous data showed a far more steep downward enrollment trend.  School officials have long considered closing an elementary school, but that’s on the back burner now. What’s causing the projections to be adjusted upward and move closer in time are Zuba’s persistency ratios, which are calculated from historic enrollment data to determine growth or loss in a class as it progresses through the school system.

Marked by an increase in estimated migration over the last three years and confirmed by analysis of housing sales, Zuba said the persistency ratios show a continued uptick in Ridgefield over the next 10 years.

He added that 289 housing sales yielded 124 new students in the district in 2013-14 and 78 of the 124, 63%, were elementary students, indicating an in-migration of families with school-age children.

“It’s emphasizing a housing market uptick, which usually means parents are moving in and kids who are not necessarily born here are coming into the schools,” he said.

That is exactly what Murray believes.

“We are a pocket of excellence, and the town itself is the number one town in Connecticut,” Murray said.

From the perspective of the Chamber of Commerce, which keeps a close eye on the community’s development, the quality schools draw people to town, said Annette Hasapidis, chairman of the board for the chamber.

“It’s a confluence of factors. First you have an excellent education system,” Hasapidis said. She said there is also community spirit and the appeal of a small but dynamic community that draws people to Ridgefield.

The Census data showed Fairfield County in general has an increasing population, compared with other areas of the state where the population is declining.

The post Population is growing and it’s showing in schools appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

The emerald ash borer, a “jewel beetle” named for its iridescent green color, is an invader from the Far East that threatens the ash trees that make up a significant parts of Ridgefield’s forest.

“In the U.S. they figure we will lose 7.5 billion ash trees from this,” said Ridgefield Tree Warden John Pinchbeck. “That’s more than the chestnut blight and the Dutch elm disease put together, so it’s a real problem.”

Ash trees are about 3% of Connecticut forests overall, but there are areas — along the western border with New York, an area including Ridgefield, is one — where ashes are up to 19% of the woods.

The town’s population of ash trees was previously thinned by a different affliction, a bacterial disease known as “ash yellows.”

Closing in

Hannah Reichle, from the forestry division of the Connecticut  Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the emerald tree borer — a beetle she refers to by its initials EAB — is a threat that’s getting closer to Ridgefield pretty quickly.

“While EAB has not yet been discovered in Ridgefield, it is in Fairfield County,” she said. “EAB has been found in Newtown, Sherman, along with Bridgeport, Shelton and Trumbull.

The beetle was first discovered in the U.S. in Michigan more than a decade ago, but it’s been documented as spreading in Connecticut for the last few years now.

“The first finding of EAB was in 2012 in New Haven County and has spread to Hartford, Middlesex, Litchfield, Fairfield and New London counties,” Reichle said.

“The loss of ash trees from the forest, like the loss of any specific kind of tree, would lead to rippling effects on other organisms living in the woods,” she said.

“Butterflies and moths from nearly 30 different families live on ash trees. Seeds of ash are eaten by wood duck, bobwhite, purple finch, pine grosbeak and fox squirrels.

“Foresters report that as ash is being lost in a forest stand, undesirable invasive plants are often quick to fill the gap created.”

As Ridgefield tree warden, Pinchbeck recommends people act sooner rather than later.

“Anybody with an ash tree, that wants to save it, should take precautions now,” Pinchbeck said.

“There are arborists, and they’ll treat the tree with Merit — it’s a systemic insecticide.”

Protection, firewood rules

Reichle, from the state forestry division, urged people to become informed and take action to protect their trees.

“There are a number of options that homeowners can do,” Reichle said. “It’s important to know what an ash looks like and keep a close eye on those ash trees that you are responsible for.

“Please act quickly to report any ash trees that are declining and may pose a danger to people or structures,” she said.

“And be especially careful when moving any firewood or young trees. It is best to purchase and burn firewood less than 10 miles of your home or destination. Moving firewood is most likely how EAB has moved into Connecticut.

“In these upcoming summer months it is crucial to understand firewood regulations,” she said.

There is information on firewood  rules under advisory on emerald ash borer at the state DEEP’s website: www.ct.gov/deep

Know the signs

Early summer is a time to be on the lookout for emerald ash borer.

“June and July are typically the months that the insect can be found emerging. So it is important to familiarize yourself with what the insect looks like and know the signs and symptoms,” Reichle said.

“The first symptom that an ash tree is infested with EAB is often thinning and dieback in the tree’s upper canopy. This is because EAB infests the top of the tree first.

“The presence of a D-shaped exit hole in the bark of an ash tree: This hole is left by the emerging adult, as it chews its way out of the tree. There are several other borers that attack ash. None of them produces that same D-shaped hole.

“When ash trees are seriously infested, often the entire upper crown of the tree will be dead,” Reichle said.

“In an effort to survive, these trees may be sending up numerous shoots from the lower part of the trunk or the root flare. In such heavily infested trees, one can scrape back the bark to reveal the S-shaped tunnels characteristic of the burrowing EAB larvae.

“With so many larvae active in the tree, woodpeckers will also likely be stripping the outer bark off in patches and pecking holes in the bark to find EAB grubs to feed on.”

Are there things people can do to protect their ash trees from the beetle?

“The best option for this is to contact a local arborist that can help homeowners plan for the future,” Reichle said.

“While there are insecticide options to preserve trees, it can be costly. There is always the option to have the tree removed and perhaps utilize the wood, or to replace the tree with a native tree choice.”

The post Beetle threatens ash trees appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Newly sworn-in Greenwich police Officer Jonathan Mirra and his dad, Joseph Mirra.

Ridgefield High School graduate Jonathan Mirra was officially sworn in as a new police officer in the town of Greenwich on Monday, May 18.

First Selectman Peter Tesei welcomed Mirra and three other new officers to the Greenwich police family at Greenwich Town Hall.

Greenwich police Chief Jim Heavey presented Mirra with his police shield.

Mirra graduated from Ridgefield High School in 2009 and from the University of Maryland with a dual degree in criminal justice and economics.

While pursuing a job in law enforcement, he worked as a project manager for Pyramid Custom Homes in Ridgefield.

Mirra headed to New Britain for his six-month police academy training on May 22.

The post RHS grad Mirra sworn in as Greenwich police officer appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

William E. Taylor Jr., 82 of Ridgefield, passed away on June 6, 2015 at Danbury Hospital.

Mr. Taylor was born on August 26, 1932 in Providence, Rhode Island; a son of the late Ida (Austin) and William E. Taylor, Sr.

A Ridgefield resident for the past 47 years, coming from White Plains, NY. Mr. Taylor was a retired Engineer for AT&T. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He dedicated 40 years of service to the Connecticut State Police Auxiliary. He was a life long and loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and also enjoyed vintage model trains in his spare time.

Mr. Taylor is survived by his three children; Mary E. Taylor-Goff, her husband Patrick and grandson Kyle of Massachusetts, Margaret Taylor of Ridgefield and William E. Taylor III and his wife Bobbi Jo of North Carolina.

In addition to his children he is survived by a sister, Anne Newbery of Long Island.

Friends will be received on Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 5 to 8 pm at Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield.

A prayer service with military honors will take place at 7:30 pm in the funeral home.

Private interment will take place in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday June 12th, 2015.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Connecticut State Police Troopers Memorial Fund, Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection, Division of State Police, c/o Brian Meraviglia, phone 860-685-8230.

The post William E. Taylor Jr., 82, served in Marine Corps appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

A town meeting supported having a group home for the disabled on town land, voting 93 to 23, with one abstention, in favor of leasing a half acre off Prospect Ridge to Ability Beyond, the Bethel-based organization that serves the disabled.

The 50-year renewable $1-a-year lease with Ability Beyond was approved at a special town meeting Wednesday night, June 10, after a public hearing at which nine of 12 speakers were in favor of the lease.
Several of hearing speakers were parents of disabled people, who offered moving testimonials about Ability Beyond and its work to improve the lives of the disabled — as well as the ways disabled people contribute to the communities that accept them.

“My son is 22 and autistic,” said John Richards of East Farm Lane. “He lives in a group home in Prospect.”

He described how, when the family moved after living for a time in Japan, there was a big turn-out of neighbors to say good-bye to the then 10-year-old autistic boy.

“There was weeping and crying and hugging,” Richards said.

“He had touched the lives of people.”

The post Voters approve lease for group home appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Dear EarthTalk: Summer is near and I am planning a big road trip. Do you have any tips for boosting my car’s fuel efficiency on long, hot drives? —Esther McCoy, Burlington, VT

Ah, the summer road trip, that classic American experience. But long drives through steamy weather can burn through a lot of gas and cause untold wear and tear on your car’s engine and systems while putting you at risk for overheating. Doubling down on tactics to help your car run better will not only improve fuel efficiency, but could also help you avoid spending a large chunk of your vacation time in the breakdown lane waiting for a tow.

• Read more Earth Talk

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), there are lots of ways to conserve fuel on hot weather road trips that also will help prolong the life of your car. “In summer, drive during cooler parts of the day,” reports the group. “Cooler, denser air can boost power and mileage.”

While it may seem counterintuitive, using your car’s air conditioning is actually a smart idea in hot weather. “Today’s air conditioners create less drag on the engine than driving with the windows open,” says AAA. Meanwhile, if you have a hybrid, pre-cool it before you get in so it can devote more electricity to driving when you are out on the road. But don’t warm-up (or pre-cool) a conventional car, as the extra idling doesn’t do the car any good and just wastes fuel and creates extra heat. Another key tip for hot weather driving is to park in the shade when you can.

The Green Car Reports website suggests utilizing cruise control and overdrive features on cars that offer them on long summer roads trips; these features help normalize the energy demands of the engine which in turn helps conserve fuel.

According to AA1car.com, a leading online information resource on auto repair and maintenance, placing a sunshade under the windshield and cracking the windows when parked can help keep the interior cool between drives. This can also “lighten the cooling load on the air conditioner when the vehicle is first started.” The website also reports that changing old dirty motor oil with a fresh higher viscosity one will help keep your car’s engine lubricated and running smoothly on those summer road trips. “For example, you might want to change from 5W-30 to 10W-30, 10W-40 or 20W-30 for hot weather driving,” reports AA1car.com. “Synthetic motor oils are even better for high temperature protection.”

Of course, some fuel saving tips apply any time of year. For instance, jackrabbit starts are a big no-no; drivers should always try to accelerate gradually. Taking your foot off the gas as early as possible when approaching a red light is another way to save gas. Keeping filters clean, maintaining recommended tire pressure and driving at the speed limit are additional ways to conserve fuel, reduce emissions and treat your ride nicely.

Of course, summertime road trips can also be hard on drivers and passengers, so pack plenty of sunscreen — especially if you plan to have the windows open (or top down)—and bring along a cooler with healthy drinks so everyone can stay hydrated.

CONTACTS: AAA,  www.aaa.com; Green Car Reports,  www.greencarreports.com; AA1car.com,  www.aa1car.com.

EarthTalk is produced by Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer and is a registered trademark of Earth Action Network Inc. View past columns at:  www.earthtalk.org. Or e-mail us your question:  earthtalk@emagazine.com.

The post Earth Talk: Fuel efficiency for summer road trips appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

June 11, 2015

Here’s a look at some of the headlines in this week’s Ridgefield Press:

• A lot of gunk came out of Lake Mamanasco.
• A bill would remove one of the many tests students take.
• A problem with the SATs has been smoothed over pretty well, the high school principal said.
• A drought affecting other Connecticut towns hasn’t hit Ridgefield.
• A Ridgefield philanthropist was sentenced to prison and fines for hiding money.
• an RHS student inspired Rep. John Frey to call for Dwarfism Awareness Month in Connecticut.
• You can sign up to receive daily news emails from The Press or change your settings, by clicking here.
• There’s a long wait list for those looking to grow in community gardens.
• The firefighters carnival is set for late June.
• The school district said goodbye to retiring educators, including the superintendent.
• About Town: Revolutionary leaders in Ridgefield.
• For dealing with open space violations, the town’s first tactic is talk.
• A safe, alcohol-free party for graduates needs volunteers and donations.
• A bad mix of household chemicals led to a house being evacuated.
• Police are looking into a fight that followed and zoning meeting.
• The Ridgefield Press is on Facebook — become one of more than 2,778 friends and get news updates. Facebook.com/RidgefieldPress
• More than 11,347 people have signed up for Ridgefield Press news bulletins via Twitter. You can, too, by stopping by twitter.com/RidgefieldPress

The post In this week’s Ridgefield Press appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Too much “high stakes testing” junior year? Maybe a little less next year.

A bill passed by the legislature would reduce the tangle of tests juniors contend with by at least one, replacing the controversial “Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium” tests in 11th grade with a test such as SAT or ACT college readiness exams.

“This bill passed both the House and Senate. It has not yet been signed by the governor,” said State Sen. Toni Boucher, whose 26th District includes Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and New Canaan.

“The question is, will the governor sign it? Will the Department of Education support this? I’m hoping the governor will sign it,” Boucher said.

The bill would replace the Smarter Balanced Consortium or SBAC tests with what Boucher described as “a nationally recognized college readiness assessment” — most likely the SAT or ACT.

The bill would have the state Department of Education decide what test 11th graders take — with the added benefit that the state would pay for the exams, relieving parents of that burden for the official state-administered version of the test, Boucher said.

If students elected, as they often do with SATs, to take the exams more than once in hopes of improving their scores, the parents would have to pay for the additional tests — and the second set of scores wouldn’t be used by the state, they would only be for college admissions purposes.

The bill that passed only concerns the tests given to high school students. Testing with the smarter balanced assessments will continue for students in elementary and middle school.

Under the bill, whatever tests the state decides to give to high school students rather than the SBAC would be in 11th grade, which is a bit of a disappointment to Boucher, who’d like to see the state testing moved back a year to 10th grade.

“The problem is 11th grade. Let’s face it, these kids are taking every test imaginable,” she said.

When the state Department of Education dropped the old Connecticut Mastery Tests and replaced them with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) exams — that are based on the controversial Common Core curriculum — the testing got moved from 10th to 11th grade.

“By 11th grade most students have a heavy test burden. Juniors in high school could potentially be taking the SAT, the ACT and the PSAT and oftentimes a multitude of AP exams,” Boucher said. “This is not a good time to also add the controversial SBAC that recently replaced the Connecticut Mastery Test.”

This is exactly the complaint three Ridgefield High School juniors brought to the Ridgefield Board of Education in February.

“Junior year is arguably the most stressful year of a high school career,” Luke Tannenbaum told the school board. “This is compounded in part by the May testing schedule that includes SAT, subject tests, AP exams, and now the SBAC.”

In addition to being an additional test in 11th grade, the SBAC tests were problematic, according to Boucher, because they test for knowledge from the Common Core curriculum that has only recently been introduced in Connecticut — so many high school kids haven’t been taught from it, or studied it.

“They’re based on a curriculum that is being rolled out, that many of the high school students haven’t been exposed to,” Boucher said.

With the bill passed by both houses of the legislature, it needs only the governor’s signature  — or his indifference.

As long as it isn’t vetoed by the governor, or amended in special session of the legislature, a bill will become law.

“All bills passed, if not signed or vetoed by the governor in 30 days, automatically become law,” Boucher said.

The post Under bill, juniors would have one less big test appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.