Most voters, including most Ridgefield voters, rejected Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton won Ridgefield with 55.3% of the vote, while Trump received just 39.7%. Clinton’s national lead is 2.7 million votes, about 2%. For context, Clinton matched Obama’s 2012 national total, while Trump underperformed Romney’s 2012 national total. But owing to structure of the Electoral College, Trump will be president. Similarly, a majority cast their ballots for Democratic Senate candidates, but owing to the geographic distribution of those votes, Republicans will retain control. Essentially, most Americans oppose the intolerance, dishonesty and ignorance the Trump campaign fanned and exploited.

To be clear, these facts don’t change or delegitimize the election results. But they do put the lie to any claim of a Trump or GOP mandate.

Democrats will not replicate the scorched-earth obstructionism perpetrated by congressional Republicans since 2008. Democrats will not seek to cripple government or harm the country, merely for partisan gain. Democrats will not threaten a catastrophic default purely out of spite, will not seek to embargo nominations without cause, and will not undermine the legitimate, regular exercise of foreign policy. Democrats will not allow blind partisan calculation to overrule our sacred commitment to safeguard our country, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Democrats will instead restore the cherished American tradition of principled, loyal opposition. Democrats will advocate and organize, will shine unrelenting spotlights, and will persistently and constructively oppose every harmful aspect of the Trump/GOP program at every level. That includes holding apologists accountable for their complicity in the Trump/GOP program.

The national Republican Party’s eager embrace of Trump is unsurprising, as Trumpism is merely the distilled result of the national GOP’s decades-long propaganda program. However, the Ridgefield Republican leadership’s zeal for Trump is extremely disconcerting. Even if they don’t personally exhibit the repugnant prejudices that fueled the Trump campaign, or promote the obscenely dishonest conspiracy theories in which the Trump campaign trafficked, the local Republican leadership’s unbridled enthusiasm for Trump reveals, at minimum, a depraved moral indifference and intellectual bankruptcy.

Marty Heiser, elected Republican member of the Board of Finance, has been a consistent, unapologetic and fervent Trump devotee since the primaries, as evidenced by his many public statements and Facebook posts. The Republican Town Committee (RTC) has published numerous GOP Viewpoint columns expressing unconditional support for Trump. Heiser and the RTC need to explain and justify their ardor for Trump to the more than 60% of Ridgefield voters who rejected Trump. They need to explain whether it was Trump’s “birther” promotion, global warming denialism, bullying attacks on immigrants, Muslims and reporters, exhortations to violence at his rallies, brags of sexual assault, professed admiration for authoritarian despots, or appointment of a white supremacist as his campaign CEO and chief White House strategist that motivates their devotion. They should explain how their professed hawkishness on deficits and national defense squares with Trump’s plans for unprecedented deficit increases and acquiescence to Russian imperialist aggression. We’re waiting.

The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee provides this column.

The post Democratic View: Principled loyal opposition appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Robert F. Walsh

When it comes to sports, we don’t often appreciate greatness in its time. Basketball in particular has a funny way of both celebrating and despising its dynasties. I remember fervently rooting against the Boston Celtics back in the 80s because I was sick of seeing them win. As an adult, however, I watch replays of their games against the thugs of the Detroit Pistons and hope Larry Bird will somehow make that last shot that keeps the Pistons from marching on. I am forever disappointed and horrified at the fickle allegiances of my youth.

I can only imagine what people were thinking when John Wooden and the UCLA men won 10 NCAA titles in a 12-year span, or when Red Auerbach and the Celtics won 11 of 13 NBA titles in the 50s and 60s. Everyone likes to watch great teams rise until the underdogs start building the Death Star. Suddenly, everyone’s rooting for Luke and that ancient Muppet to take them down.

Only with the passage of time comes the inevitable re-evaluation of a dynasty’s standing in history. Growing up, I was never a fan of Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt because her teams always destroyed the competition. However, she earned my respect over the years in the way she handled her program’s gentle nudge out of the top position at the hands of a young Jedi named Geno Auriemma. Auriemma and his UConn Huskies even referred to her program as the Evil Empire at the height of their rivalry.

It wasn’t long before Auriemma’s success became the focal point for all that was wrong with women’s college basketball: They were too good. UConn won too much, too often, and they rarely played close games. Casual fans complained the Huskies took the fun out of the sport with their dominance. And yet what were they really unhappy with? If sports is the impossible pursuit of perfection on the field of play, Auriemma’s teams have come closer than most teams ever have.

Right now we’re witnessing this UConn team accomplish something more impressive than those previous dynasties combined. They’re currently on a remarkable run of 84 (and counting) consecutive victories with a team dominated by underclassmen and inexperience. They’re doing it while scheduling a Murderer’s Row of opponents in these first two months featuring matchups against seven of the top 17 teams in the country. Never before in the modern history of collegiate basketball has a program challenged itself like this and yet continued to succeed at this absurd level.

So where’s the love?

Just last week, top-ranked UConn visited No. 2 Notre Dame in what was easily the most anticipated matchup of the season and the biggest rivalry game in the sport. ESPN gave it little respect, pushing the game off to ESPN2. ESPN.com barely covered it, burying the results amid the “Other Sports” category in favor of the latest piece on fantasy football. If local and national newspapers covered it at all, it was below the fold and off the main pages.

I would argue it’s never been more important to appreciate this particular brand of greatness while it lasts. Basketball is the most visible, most popular American sport in which women have access to the casual sports fan. It offers the only legitimate professional opportunity for women in a team sport, a platform to capture the public imagination in a way soccer or tennis never could. If our only opportunities to watch women’s sports come every four years with the Olympics, we all lose.

I hope more people tune out the negativity and tune in for the next big game against No. 12 Ohio State on Monday night. It’s probably the closest we’ll ever come to seeing perfection on a ball court.

You can read more at RobertFWalsh.com, contact him at RobertFWalshMail@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @RobertFWalsh.

The post Walsh: Ignoring greatness appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

On this week’s front page: Selectmen pan parking director position, spending cap worries school board members, Eversource’s tree work pays dividends four years later, Main Street realignment gets another plan from the state, and the library’s new tapestry has ties to Sweden.

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

• The school board cut a list of seven school closing and redistricting scenarios down to three Monday night — and then added two more options that will be evaluated and brought back to them Jan. 9.
• The fire department is not using hydrants around town as a means for water conservation while the state deals with a continuing drought.
• Main Street might get a face lift, but not quite the kind that state engineers proposed last Thursday to a room full of 30 people.
• Speaking of Main Street, tree work last week got The Press thinking if the men in hard hats have helped lessen the frequency of power outages in town. After major storms in 2011 and 2012, Eversource says the bucket trucks have helped — and that they’re here to stay.
• Heading into budget season, the school board is at full strength again following two resignation letters from long-time members.
• That wasn’t the only news coming from Monday night’s meeting. The district is going forward with a “project map” to start schools later. The first step: surveying parents, students, and staff.
• Scammers faking to be Comcast employees have gotten on the police department’s radar. The cops advice to residents? Don’t give away any personal information over the phone.
• The fire department has two new lieutenants.
• Ridgefield’s bravest were also in the headlines this week as the annual Santa-in-a-fire-truck fundraiser kicked off Saturday.
• Also happening last Saturday: a pep rally on Main Street for the high school’s football team, which lost to Darien in the state finals, 28-7.
• Now that the fall sports season is officially over, the sports section is full of team previews for boy’s and girl’s basketball, boy’s hockey, and wrestling.
• The Ridgefield Press is on Facebook — become one of more than 4,327 friends and get news updates at Facebook.com/RidgefieldPress
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A fourth plan to improve Main Street — shoulders on each side of the road to accommodate bikers, wider streets that would enable parallel parking, and a sensory median that would alert drivers of the village’s only non-synchronized crosswalk — was met with a tepid reaction from town officials, local merchants and residents at a special meeting that members of the state Department of Transportation hosted Thursday, Dec. 8, in Town Hall’s lower level conference room.

The two-hour presentation included a review of the state’s third concept, which about 20 Ridgefielders heard in July and a six-person committee has been evaluating, and the new plan estimated to cost $2.8 million.

“Overall, four is a better plan for corridor — it accommodates bicyclists, reduces driveway conflicts and removes vehicle conflicts that occur on the roadway,” said Sal Aresco, the project’s engineer.

Compared to the third proposed idea, which was estimated to cost $2.4 million and was presented alongside two other concepts in July, Aresco said the new plan would allow Main Street to keep one additional parking spot (44 total rather than 43), but would result in one fewer tree. The tree would be removed during road-widening construction and replaced at a later date.

The part of the village being studied — from Prospect Street down to Governor Street, including intersections at Bailey Avenue, Catoonah Street, and Big Shop Lane — currently has 54 parking spots and 54 trees, according to Aresco.

Residents and business owners shared concerns about the proposal, specifically with the reduction in spaces and the removal of trees — even if they were going to be replaced eventually.

They also didn’t favor the idea of adding bike lanes between Prospect and Governor or the proposed median at the crosswalk outside the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance at 444 Main Street.

“Residents don’t want Main Street to look like a state highway,” said Helen Dimos, who said she supported any effort that increased foot traffic and shopping downtown.  

“This is better for cars and worse for pedestrians,” she said. “We’re facilitating cars moving through town, not making the ambiance better for pedestrians.”

Syncing the lights

Main Street merchant Wayne Addessi, owner of Addessi Jewelers, was also critical of the presentation, specifically how much time was spent talking about trees.

“A little too much talk about trees and not enough on the meat of the issues,” he told The Press Friday, Dec. 9. “Traffic light synchronization is key, and I never did get an answer to my question on how they believe it won’t help while at the same time they did not know if we are synced or not. Not a good sign.”

Addessi also panned any plans to widen Main Street, “turning it into a speedway,” and said that no parking spaces should be removed.

Traffic calming device

As for the crosswalk median, which Aresco had highlighted in orange on his map, Dimos suggested the state create warning signals instead, or at least use cobblestone material that fits in with the character of Ridgefield.

“It needs to be stated: You’re entering a village, drive in a different way,” she said. “Nobody wants anything that’s painted.”

Rebecca Mucchetti, the current chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, attended the meeting last week after months of working on the unnamed, six-person committee that includes Billy Craig of Downtown Ridgefield, Dan O’Brien of the Ridgefield Historical Society, Tree Warden John Pinchbeck, Ursula Hanavan of Interiors & Designs by Ursula, and Charles Robbins, special adviser to First Selectman Rudy Marconi.

She said that the median wouldn’t necessarily have a color or paint.

“It’s a traffic-calming device that doesn’t necessarily have to be bright … it could be a cobblestone pattern,” she said. “What the state’s trying to do is get the driver’s attention through something sensory — that they can feel when they drive over it. …

“It’s supposed to be calming: You don’t see it, you feel it.”

Mucchetti said she was in favor of anything that preserves the character of the downtown area.

“It’s something you can’t replicate,” she said.

“It’s incredibly beautiful to walk down and look at our Main Street, so when you talk about removing trees, everybody’s blood pressure goes up.”

Robbins, who has been tasked with getting the committee together to review the most recent proposal, told The Press Friday that the goal is to have another meeting in the next couple of weeks.

“The goal is to have us weigh option four and compare it to option three while the presentation is still fresh in everybody’s mind,” Mucchetti said.

The post Main Street realignment: State presents fourth plan appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Quiet Christmas, a service of comfort and peace at the First Congregational Church, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary.

Quiet Christmas provides a hushed and candlelit sanctuary, with gentle music, for prayer and meditation, and the opportunity to light a candle in memory or honor of someone or of a personal hope.

For more information, call 203-438-8077, or visit the website at firstcongregational.com

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To the Editor:

How fortunate we are to have a rehab facility wanting to come to Ridgefield.

Mountainside is a successful experienced organization with facilities in Canaan and Wilton.

There is a need for such a facility to treat alcohol and drug addiction. It is a disease that many people avoid admitting for various reasons.

Hopefully the Planning and Zoning Commission will look favorably on Mountainside’s application so people can be helped to overcome their addictions.

I suspect there may be a number of people in Ridgefield and nearby towns that would use this facility instead of having to travel to one.

Approval would also bring some jobs to Ridgefield and help the Ridgefield economy due to the trickle-down effect.

In my view, helping sick people and creating jobs is a win-win situation.

Rocco J. Coscio

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The Ridgefield Guild of Artists 12th annual Festive Home continues until Dec. 23 at the Guild’s barn at 34 Halpin Lane. The annual holiday emporium offers gifts, holiday décor, handmade jewelry, stoneware, knitwear, and hostess gift items.  

The barn also has member artwork for sale, priced from $50 and up, as well as gift certificates for membership or classes.

Shopping hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 to 5. For more information, call 203-438-8863 or visit rgoa.org

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To the Editor:

As longtime customers of Craig’s Jewelers my husband and I were invited to the private party from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening of the Holiday Stroll and appreciated the gesture because of the very crowded conditions and “unfortunate behavior” referred to in Bill Craig’s letter to the editor in response to Tom Beck’s criticism of the party. Hopefully, Mr. Beck was asked politely to return after 8 p.m. Friday. Perhaps he is a relative newcomer to Ridgefield, because I assure him that neither Bill Craig nor any of his employees are “snobbish” or “elitist,” and reading Bill’s response on the editorial page of The Ridgefield Press supports that evaluation.

In my opinion, the merchants, restaurants, and businesses in general located in Ridgefield have been ever so generous in their offerings to residents, patrons, civic groups, PTAs, clubs, students, etc. They donate merchandise and/or buy ads in programs to support the countless groups who ask. They buy candy for the Halloween walkers every year, donate raffle prizes, provide refreshments and goodies in their establishments at events such as the Holiday Stroll. Do the members of the many groups who ask then patronize those businesses regularly or do too many shop at the mall, or online, after partaking of the freebies in town, or after receiving donations/discounts from owners or managers?

Bill Craig was not being snobbish or elitist by offering a special time for loyal patrons — he was thanking Craig’s “loyal customer base” before opening the small store to others. We hope Mr. Beck will shop and dine in Ridgefield often, and that he will visit Craig’s in the future to see for himself the quality of the merchandise and the staff.

Martha Campbell

The post Letter: Unfortunate opinion about Craig’s appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Ridgefield High School has released the first quarter honor roll for the 2016-17 school year.

High Honors

Grade 9
Julissa Acevedo, Luela Alexander, Callie Amill, Laura Anandappa, Robert Arent, Caitlin Aronson, Ian Austin, Kellan Barrett, Lucy Basile, Savannah Bell, Todd Benson, Lindsay Bertolino, Adam Biernat, Dominic Bonfiglio, Philip Bouchev, Alice Bradburn, John Briody, David Brodsky, Warren Brooks, Addison Brown, Hailey Brown, Lillian Brown, David Bryce, Grace Bucci, Jillian Buczek, Alison Campbell-Gibson, Pablo Carmona, Matthew Carpenter, Stephen Chen, Emily Christel, Simone Ciaccia, Jillian Collins, Kate Collins, Marie Condron, Emma Conley, Kate Connors, Ava Cowles, John Dale, Edward Daubenspeck, Jacob Dell, Dylan Desmarais, Nicholas Dillon, Allison Donnelly, Carolyn Donovan, Jack Dowd, Dennis Dowding, James Englert, Zella Ertl, Claire Filaski, Liam Flaherty, Dylan Flood, Audrey Forster, Alyssa Gagnon, Ella Gay, Isabella Giordano, Grace Goldberg, Hana Goldstein, Sabrina Grizzaffi, Amy Grove, Abigail Hadar, Alexander Hanna, Lexi Held, Kayla Hodge, Colin Hogan, William Hooker, Luke Hruska, Christopher Hulbert, Salvatore Iovino, Catherine Irving, Ella Isley, Shane Jaeger, Elizabeth Jasminski, Laura Jeniski, Aelish Johnstone, Grant Jones, Simon Jupp, Isabella Jureller, Melanie Kardos, Cassidy Kepcher, Emma Kiernan, Jeannette Kim, Alexandra Kinkead, Emma Klotz, Christopher Knachel, Aakanksha Koppisetti, Ana Kowalczyk, Jackson Kuwata, Colin LaCoille, Katherine Landler, Emma Langis, Katherine Langis, Tony Lee, Matthew Lefebvre, Juliana Lepanto, Julia Lin, Owen Luft, Katherine Lynch, Emma Lyons, Charles MacArthur, Taylor MacDonald, Caroline Malley, Alexandra Man, Nicholas Mantione, Grantham Martin, Cameron McClellan, Samuel McDonough, Madeline McGrath, Kiley McNamara, Questin McQuilkin, Makana Meier, Henry Meyler, Lily Meyler, Kaitlyn Mitchell, Elizabeth Moore, Margaret Moran, Aurora Mu, Charles Mueller, Madelyn Muldoon, Ajay Natarajan, Stephen Nazworth, Helen Ni, Linney O’Malley, Ryan O’Sullivan, Eliza Oakes, Eliza Overlock, Jennifer Paul, Margaret Pell, Jonah Pereyra, Timothy Porter, Ryan Pratt, Walker Pratt, Seth Prusko, Jack Rahlfs, Leo Rector, Hailey Robson, Alexander Rogoff, Gerard Rutigliano, Ben Sakdinan, Arshdeep Sandhu, Zachary Sawtelle, Mia Scarpati, Sarah Scheck, Maximus Schoepfer, Chelsea Schwartz, Timothy Sganga, William Sibley, Chiara Signorelli, Sophie Simonsen, Caitlin Slaminko, Joshua Smith, Sophia Smith, Trevor Soli, Brian Song, Matthew Sorgie, Christian Spallone, Alessia Standish, Kathryn Stevenson, Miles Stoddart, Samuel Sulzinsky, Alyssa Teutemacher, Lauren Thompson, Hannah Tomasetti, Delaney Towers, Lauren Tsai, Noelia Vargas, Harini Vel, Quentin Vergara, Leena Vieltojarvi, Kate Wagner, Jenna Walls, Eleanor Walton, Michael Wang, Tyler Waryas, Mya Watson, Olivia Wieland, Abigail Winkler, Stephanie Yee, Valerie Zhang, Cornelius van Wees

Grade 10

Dominic Ammirato, Cameron Andry, Sterling Bachman, Estelle Bah, Evan Bayer, Jessica Bell, William Berta, Liam Black, Cole Blackwell, Jeremy Blumrich, Ryan Bogursky, Nicole Bottone, Dackerie Bowes, Annabel Briody, Taylor Brown, Patrick Browne, Jenna Budicini, Robert Buthorn, Liam Byrne, Evan Canavan, Robert Carey, Weston Carpenter, Eugenia Cashman, Lauren Castle, Renee Cauchon, Andrea Chakraborty, Logan Chang, Sarah Chupka, Rebecca Cohen, Alexandra Colonna, Andrew Conte, James Crawford, Grace Cumming, Anthony D’Onofrio, Sydney D’Orso, Aras Dapkus, Kevin Davis, Elizabeth DeMassa, Megan DelGiudice, Anna Doman, Elaine Doman, Grace Egan, Molly Egan, Hannah Ehrlinspiel, Theresa Eland, Luke Faillaci, Ryan Francis, Emilie Frias Lizardo, Emily Furfaro, Julia Garrett, Nicholas Gasparo, Madeline Gellatly, Joanna Gengo, Gracie Girvalo, Sean Gordon, Tyler Gordon, Oliver Grail, Thomas Groves, Mark Habeeb, Sophia Haber, Vidur Hareesh, Jenna Harford, Michaela Harkins, Gretchen Healy, Avery Hermann, Anna Hirsch, William Hongach, Devin Hornig, Sara Hunt, Caitlin Inall, Connor Jewell, Bridget Kager, James Kane, Kenley Kegler, Anna Kelemen, Austin Kim, Katharine King, Ian Koh, Elisa Kovacs, Tarini Krishna, Daniel Krista-Kelsey, Samantha Lehaney, Jenna Leonard, Lea Letourneau, Donata Libonati, Caroline Lieder, Angela Lin, Alyssa Maiolo, Samantha Margolin, Claire Middlebrook, Gabrielle Mignano, Thomas Mitchell, Abigail Morris, Sterling Mosley, Colin Mulhern, Marina Murphy, Sam Nylen, Emily Paribello, Annie Perrone, Ward Perrott, Madison Peters, Connor Phair, Dane Phippen, Elizabeth Pnev, Margaret Pratt, Gabriella Puchall, Omkar Ratnaparkhi, Paige Raymond, Matthew Restivo, Helen Riser, Mackenzie Robson, Eduardo Saad, Jillian Savoca, Cameron Scott, Declan Seymour, Logan Shea, Ryan Sheafe, Hunter Sims, Fiona Sleigh, Karley Smith, Evan Smolin, Anna Sorgie, Carolyn Stark, Maeve Tobin, Miles Tullo, Claybrook Vaughan, Gabriella Viggiano, Matthew Vivian, Ashley Welter, Gracie West, Caroline Whelan, Jennifer Xiong, Rachel Zaslavsky, Sarah de Lange, Simon van Wees

Grade 11

Nicole Alindogan, Vivian Altopp, Tyler Aronson, James Ball, Scarlett Ball, Jason Bangser, Rosalie Benoit, Samantha Bertolino, Liliana Betschart, Samantha Blackwell, Katherine Bracken, Oliver Bradburn, Johanna Braun, Lindsey Brown, Emma Bruce, Robert Buckley, Caroline Bunt, Amanda Castelluccio, Dev Chauhan, John Christman, Maia Clarkin, William Coffin, Annabelle Colao, Nicole Colletto, Peter Columbia, Maxwell Cumming, Tanner Daubenspeck, Ian Davies-Welsh, Adrianna Davis, Chloe De Palo, Christian DeVivo, Michael Dobson, Lily Earle-Hecht, Abigail Fennell, Kylie Formisano, Thomas Formus, Max Gagnon, Liam Galloway, Joshua Gardos, Gabriella Gillman, Connor Goff, Matthew Gonley, Jennifer Gordon, Michael Grevers, Brandon Grizzaffi, Madeline Guter, Dillon Hammer, Nicholas Hanna, Noah Havasi, Julia Hergenrother, Jane Herlihy, Delmont Irving, Jacob Issokson, Eastlyn Jensen, Aurora Joblon, Kevin Johnson, Louisa Knapp, Anna Landler, Kathryn Lang, Matthew Lombardo, Thomas Lombardozzi, Robin MacDonald, Nora Maerean, Devin Maltas, Lucas Marczak, Paul McCarthy, Kieran McGowan, Claire McLoughlin, Caledonia McQuilkin, Julia McSpedon, Julia Meenan, Annette Meyers, Courtney Miles, Nicole Miller, Justin Mitchell, Rachel Moussavi, Dawson Muller, Carter Ogden, Katherine Ouellette, Alexa Pass, Carolyn Pell, Samantha Petruzzelli, Katherine Pieterse, Julia Restivo, Gillian Retter, Kathryn Ruscoe, Katherine Schoenherr, Elizabeth Schroppe, Sean Seavy, Mallory Shofi, Natalie Silver, Lindsay Spallone, Benjamin Sulzinsky, Raymond Sun, Caroline Suozzi, Omika Suryawanshi, Kayla Szczerba, Lindsay Toia, Francisco Turdera, Sage Tzamouranis, Schuyler Van den Nieuwenhuizen, Thomas Vilinskis, Halle Wilkes, Aidan Williams, Julia Wilson, Alycia Wong, Niels van Beek, Mitchell van der Noll

Grade 12

Matan Alon, Christina Anderson, Kristen Anderson, Caroline Andrews, Patrick Andrews, Camryn Bell, Kayla Bell, Robert Bello, Johanna Benson, Maxwell Berger, Jacob Bodner, Anthony Borrello, Jessica Boxer, Caroline Boyle, Megan Brady, Natalie Brassinga, Lucy Briody, Aneeka Britto, Holly Brooker, John Buczek, Alexander Burns, Kiera Burns, Dylan Carey, Tyler Carey, William Carpenter, Madeline Cartwright, Alexandra Caruso, Jackson Cashman, Lauren Chakraborty, Devlin Chang, Maya Christianson, Harrison Chuma, Liam Clark, Madeline Conway, Fiona Cooper, Rachel Cooper, Anabel Cordano, Sloan Coughlin, Brenna Creamer, Tobias Dalton, Alexandra Damron, Arianna Danzig, Elena Dapkus, Courtney Davis, Kenneth Day, Sydnie DeMarco, Bradford DeMassa, Robert DeSantis, Erin Desimone, Katie Dimm, Peter Dranow, Henry Droher, Lauren Dyson, Miriam Ehrlinspiel, Anna Fernandez, Cayla Fisher, Sarah Ford, Grace Franklin, Abigail Freeman, Ricco Froehlich, Sarah Furfaro, Julia Gerber, Gillian Giordano, Allison Gonley, Kendra Gordillo, Gabriel Gordon, Ariana Gravinese, Amelia Hadar, Sophia Hall, Daniel Halmos, Nicole Hamilton, Devon Hammer, Samuel Holzhauer, Matthias Howley, Katherine Jasminski, Megan Julier, Desmond Kager, Colleen Keenan, Ava Kelley, Mikaela Kiernan, Emma Kirchner, Sarah Klotz, Caleb Knapp, Benjamin Kotlov, Jennifer Kramer, Madeline Kutler, Lile Kvantaliani, Alexandra LaPorta, Karena Landler, Karen Lang, Patrick Lang, Emily Laramie, Emma Lee, Michelle Legan, Clara Lerchi, Catherine Li, Henrik Liapunov, Dylan Livingstone, Collin Lowe, Abigayle Lunsford, Thomas MacMannis, Marcella Maguire, Mikaela Markham, Andrew Mathes, Rachel Maue, Jack McGeary, Brianne McGill, Kaitlyn McMullan, Hannah McNeece, Kristina Mitten, Nina Moss, Owen Murray, Hazel Neil, Joseph Newborn, Dallas Nylen, Petros Papadopoulos, Nicholas Patterson, Robert Pesce, Danielle Pfleger, Lucie Picard, Charles Pratt, Joseph Rampolla, Helen Redmond, Liam Riebling, Kevin Riley, Noah Rosenblum, Patrick Ryan, Sean Santori, Kevin Santoro, Margaret Scott, Jane Searfoss, Jessica Seel, Margaret Senesac, Matthew Shannon, Eshita Sharma, Steven Signorelli, Matthew Sigworth, Josephine Simon, Jacob Skare, Fair Smith, Julia Sorgie, Lazaro Sotolongo, Rian Stewart, Amy Stoogenke, Erik Sullivan, John Thompson, Julia Tierney, Giuliana Tripuzzi, Nathaniel Trozzi, Joshua Verdejo, Julie Wang, Philip Wax, Brian Weaton, Natalie Whitton, David Yang, Julia Yu, Marissa Yulo

Honors

Grade 9

Eleanor Andresen, Emma Armstrong, Dennis Behunick, Sophia Behunick, Alexander Bissing, Reagan Bonadies, Ritwik Bose, Hannah Boylan, Ellie Brady, Sean Breen, Benjamin Brewster, Matthew Brooks, Frank Bua, William Carbonari, Emily Carr-Lonoff, Isabella Carrozza, Juliette Castagna, Jeevanjot Chana, Christopher Clark, Aidan Cobb, Annie Cozens, Emilia Daly, William Daly, Ramiro Davila Salgado, Jianni De La Cruz, Matthew DeLuca, Trevor DeMarco, Raymond Dearth, Madelyn Dec, David Deem, Griffin Dempster, Rory Dulecki, Connor Duncan, Madeline Edgerly, Emily Eichner, Julia Fandetti, Liam Ferguson, Michael Ferrandino, Philip Ferreira, Jillian Feurman, Gina Formisano, Kate Gallagher, Jack Gonzalez, Tatiana Gonzalez, Riley Gousse, Joshua Grossman, Dean Habeeb, Bailey Harriott, Colin Hartmayer, Zoe Higginson, Leah Hill, Sarah Isaac, James Isaacson, Hannah Jay, Simonne Jesuthasan, Gunnar Karlson, Graciela Kennally-Presslaff, Wujin Kim, Rian King, Megan Klosowski, Aidan Klotz, Julia Kocsis, Daniel Laudati, Matthew Lincoln, Kyra Linekin, Madison Londona, Lorence Lukanyuk, Ophelia Lynch, Ethan MacKenzie, Christopher Macchia, Nina Masi, John Mathes, Luke McGarrity, Caroline McGeary, Falyn McGoey, Kevin McNicholas, Finn Meachem, Paola Morgan, Daniel Moroney, Siobhan Morris, Kendal Mountain, Olivia Nazworth, Morgan Nolan, Catherine Petersen, Juliet Petersen, Danielle Piazza, Tess Pisanelli, Reva Podila, Holden Quane, Emma Ratnavel, Chloe Rees, Deziree Rendon, Patrick Rigby, George Rioseco, Mia Rizzo, Raquel Robinson, Alec Rodriguez, Lauren Rose, James Rush, Clodagh Ryan, Gabrielle Rynne, Ajeya Sathyagal, Liliana Scott, Olivia Seal, Emily Sganga, Nikhil Sheth, Ryan Sierakowski, Jemma Silvestri, Makena Skrobar, Liam Smith, Niels Sogaard, Clinton Stafford, Maxwell Stafford, Claire Tannian, Colin Tarpey, Max Thilow, Charlie Tidbury, Brendan Tierney, Isabel Trinkaus, Isabelle Trozzi, Brandon Tuccio, Logan Tunnard, Timothy Vanni, Mathilde Verbitsky, Jonathan Voves, Kiley Walsh, Brennan Ward, Lily Warren, Luke Welsh, Martin Wirth

Grade 10

Scott Alexander, Olivia Anderson, Osmar Apuril, Isabel Armas Sanchez, Haley Barkan, Lauren Bayer, Dylan Bean, Peter Behnke, Cassidy Bell, Olivia Bellusci, Francesca Bermudez, Olivia Bernstein, Rachel Bodner, Jessica Bosavage, Tristan Brandt, Quinn Brewer, Yohann Britto, Conor Broderick, William Bryant, Andrew Bryson, Joshua Burns, Mary Grace Butala, Ryan Canavan, Lily Carnicelli, Sophia Carnicelli, Hannah Carr-Lonoff, Jesse Chelednik, Owen Cherner, Daniel Chittenden, Nicholas Clavi, Nicholas Coku, Lucy Collins, Catherine Conroy, Stephanie Coraci, Jack Costello, Julia Culhane, Nicolas Cullinan, Lila Cumming, Carrina Dabroi, Chandler Dabroi, Lucas Dalton, Dylan Davis, Maia Debarbieri, Emma DiMiceli, Sarah DiMiceli, Alison Dickson, Ian Dyson, Ava Fazio, Ian Ferguson, Allan Feygin, Jessica Fine, Quinn Fleming, Christopher Flynn, Sara Flynn, William Forrest, Mackenzie Fowler, Henry Garlick, Ryan Garson, Dylan Garst, Sebastian Gasparo, Thomas Gioffre, Sydney Girolamo, Brendan Gleeson, Emma Goldstein, Diana Gozman, Arden Grant, Sierra Gundersen, Christopher Hagele, Allison Hard, Alexandra Hart, Emma Hawkes, August Heminway, Amelia Hynes, Emma Jaeger, Spencer Jamieson, Emma Jelkovac, Cecilie Johnsrud, Annabelle Jones, Evan Jones, Julia Kerr, Christina Kinsbourne, Samuel Klotz, Ann Koelzer, Anthony Krista-Kelsey, Luke Krys, Anna Kuhn, William Kynast, Cassandra Lebl, Sean Livingstone, Anna Lourenso, Rachel Lynch, Jacob Lynne, Richard Mahoney, Sophia Maiolo, Andrew Masciotti, Kasey McGerald, Grace McInerney, Braeden McSpedon, Briana Melecio, Ruben Mendoza, Logan Milot, Matthew Misurelli, Jackson Mitchell, Leah Moroknek, Andrea Murphy, Hayley Murphy, Ethan Murray, Henry Namiot, Jacob Nelson, Victoria Nylen, Elizabeth O’Connor, Rosemary O’Keefe, Emily Parker, Daniel Parson, Caroline Patafio, Spencer Peters, Elisa Petit, Charles Poremba, Audrey Porter, Anna Price, Kiili Quick, Dylan Rapp, Nicole Rdzanek, Connor Riebling, Benjamin Riek, Caitlin Rogan, James Rudnicki, Pierce Savino, Eric Schaefer, Michael Schneider, Aidan Schwartz, Samuel Seter, Brandon Shafer, Jack Shickell, Molly Shields, Isabella Sica, Jack Sjoberg, Alexia Skor, Caroline Smith, Cassandra Smith, Hannah Snyder, Sylvana Soto, James St. Pierre, Gillian Stone, Julia Sullivan, Nicholas Sumberaz, Samantha Sutcliffe, Jackson Tatge, Sarah Tewes, Danielle Trant, Michael Vasconcelos, Matthew Walker, Delaney Walsh, Madison Wanicka, Nicholas Ward, Ben Warner, Shannon Watters, Evan Wein, Jonathan Welter, Gabrielle Woda, Nidhish Yarlagadda, Grant Yaun, Nicholas Yulo, Daniel Zvon, Marcus von Recklinghausen

Grade 11

Olivia Acquadro, Riya Ahuja, Kennison Amill, Kevin Andros, Sarah Armstrong, Kevin Arnold, Ben Baker, Kathryn Barlow, Erica Bell, Stephanie Bittick, Rachel Blieden, John Blood, Johannes Bonwetsch, Annie Boscia, Nicholas Bradley, Taylor Brand, Brendan Burke, Alden Burns, Zoe Butchen, Catalina Carmona, Emily Carr, Michael Carruthers, Destiny Chang, Kunal Chauhan, Elizabeth Chomiak, Benjamin Cohen, Domenika Coku, Alexander Colon, Madison Cone, Sophie Conley, Sarah Cordisco, Lien Corley, Christopher Cozens, Isabella Critchell, Elton Cross, Caroline Curnal, Christopher D’Entrone, Gehrig Daly, Nicholas David, James DeMatteo, Andrew Dec, Noah Decaminada, Angele DellaCorte, Julia Di Cioccio, Sophia Di Cioccio, Leonardo DiPietro Lopez, Grace Dinkel, Claire Dollins, Jason Donovan, Seamus Doyle, Marlee Dubin, Hailey Eichner, Joseph Fazio, Carolyn Feurman, Daniel Feygin, Blythe Filaski, Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, Julia Fuchs, Ty Fujitani, Jenna Gaglione, Gregory Gatto, Luke Gaydos, Kyle Getz, Taryn Gibson, Megan Giordano, Alexander Glass, Jakob Goodwin, Michael Hamilton, Alaina Harris, Emily Hawker, Paige Hearon, Morgan Held, Michael Heller, Jack Hicks, Alicia Hill, Caroline Hinkle, Kathleen Hoban, Natasha Hoffner, William Hunter, Kelly Ingram, Noah Isaacson, Valentina Janerico, Sarah Jimenez Miles, Rachel Johnston, Olivia Jones, Phoebe Jones, Reid Kagan, Elizabeth Kaiser, Robyn Karashik, Meredith Karle, Connor Kepcher, Paul Kim, Peter Kirchner, Fiona Klotz, Andrew Knachel, Chloe Kubrin, Christina Kudera, Eustache Kuhn, Gabrielle LaCoille, Olivia Lescinskas, Garrett Levine, John Liguori, Mukyu Lim, Erika Linke, Charles Luft, Alexander Lust, Matthew MacGregor, William Malwitz, Benjamin Mardis, Matthew Masi, William Maue, Brandy Mauro, James McCann, Quinn McDonald, Delia McInerney, Claire McLam, Brenden McNamara, Kate McNicholas, Lauren Melagrano, Brendan Munnelly, Nicole Napoli, Emma Nelson, Henry Nelson, Nicole Nielsen, Meah Nizan, Ethan Nowak, Micaela O’Malley, Inbar Ofer, Ian Ostrosky, Krista Panageas, Oona Pecson, Nathaniel Pereyra, Margaret Peters, Nicole Potel, Simon Preston, Alexander Price, Lauren Prisco, Taylor Putman, Julian Quinn, Molly Reiss, Daniel Rothwell, Michael Saccucci, Nicholas Salazar, Benjamin Sasse, Kristen Savino, Daniel Sawtelle, John Schneider, Stephen Scribner, Margaret Seidenberg, Philip Sheridan, Hillary Sherpa, Trinity Shinsky, James Siano, Kieran Smith, Julian Spagnolo, Benjamin Spiegelman, Matthew Stamatis, Connor Stevenson, Peter Stokes, Mathew Szpakowski, Paige Tarpey, Alana Taylor, Lauren Thrasher, Connor Tobin, Alice Townsend, Evan Tucci, Michael Turner, Margaret Vanni, Alexis Vucci, Dylan Weaver, Lauren Whalen, Brian Williams, Eyga Williamson, Alice Zanini, Julie de Lange, Eric von Recklinghausen

Grade 12

Lauren Ahern, Evan Anandappa, Christopher Auslander, Jake Barrett, Nola Barricelli, Julia Batti, Daniel Behnke, Macrae Benziger, Alyssa Bonanno, Kelsey Bordash, Alec Boxer, Evan Brenner, Danielle Brown, Connor Bryant, Landon Byers, Nora Carr, Grace Cartwright, Jonas Chang, Michele Ciaccia, Matthew Cocchi, Robert Cohen, Matthew Colin, Christopher Costello, Catherine Costigan, Lauren Coughlin, Emma Cowles, Leanna Crafford, Lauren Cushman, Maxwell Davis, Burke Depuy, Eric Dollins, Jared Donnelly, Caroline Dyson, Matthew Fernandes, Joshua Finn, Conor Flanagan, Andrew Fowler, Nicholas Frost, Ryen Fujitani, Lucas Furneri, Julie Gaisser, Benjamin Giangrasso, Michaela Gleeson, Braedon Gold, Lauren Gonet, Grace Goodwin, Lindsey Gordon, James Green, Haley Greene, Nicole Greene, Peter Guasti, Hailey Guerra, Jenner Hagele, Erik Hanson, Edwin Hassenstein, Katelyn Hellrigel, Colin Hughes, Daniel Ignatowich, Rianna Iorillo, Ruby Isley, James Jaffee, Zachary James, Grace Jeffries, Adam Jeniski, Nils Johnsrud, Sean Keegans, Jordan Kegler, Margaux Kelley, Megan Keough, Anna Kesten, Eleanor Keyes, Nicole Kiernan, Joshua Kim, Griffin King, Nicholas Kinkead, Robert Kinsman, Ethan Knapp, Nile Korobkov, Kaitlyn Kynast, Corinne LaManna, Caroline Lanzarone, Hannah Latorre, Nicholas Laudati, Jack Lincoln, Kathryn Linekin, Briana LoCicero, William Lombardi, Christopher Longo, Connor Looney, John Lynch, Cara MacKenzie, Anthony Macchia, Isabella Maisonet, Jacqueline Mandel, Ryan McIntire, Kevin McSpedon, Devin Meenan, Daniel Mellinger, Andrew Mercorella, Elizabeth Middlebrook, Nicholas Misurelli, Courtney Mitten, Nicholas Molyneux, Riley Morrison, Matthew Mortinger, Eva Murphy, Jenna Nassar, Eve Nastasi, Molly Nethercott, Jared Nussbaum, Meaghan O’Hara, John Odeen, Justyna Orlowski, Shane Palmer, Shalaina Parikh, Cassandra Pavain, Myles Peckham, Kelley Phippen, Laura Piazza, Claire Pisanelli, Nia Pollard, Daniela Puchall, Paul Purvis, Brogan Quick, Taylor Ranney, Julia Realander, Georgia Rich, Emily Rodgers, Kendall Rogoff, Jenifer Rojas, Alison Ryan, Peter Rychlik, Christopher Sacchi, Elizabeth Sacchi, Gordon Santiago, Sara Santisi, Carmen Sanz, Oliver Savino, Isabelle Seward, Lauren Sganga, Byron Sleight, Owen Smith, Hayley Snyder, Nicholas Squitieri, John Stafford, Rose Staudt, Matthew Tarantino, William Taranto, Francis Thomas, Sarah Thorn, John Thrasher, Andrew Tregurtha, MacKenzie Tunnard, Ciara Van de Merlen, Nicholas Van den Nieuwenhuizen, Ruby Verbitsky, Sara Vivian, Juliana Waite, Nathan Walker, McKinley Walsh, Abbey Walter, Muge Wang, Drew Warren, Carly Wein, Casey Wishna, Brandon Wong, Kaiya Zupan, Niko Zupa

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Pigs! Pigs in Ridgebury?

Sheep, goats, llamas, cattle — a variety of animals have passed summer days on the town’s former McKeon farm property, under arrangements between the town and a couple of different farmers. But the thought of pigs being kept on the Ridgebury property, not far from subdivisions and million-dollar homes, sent a ripple of concern through a public hearing last week on a proposed lease of the farmland — though First Selectman Rudy Marconi did manage to calm fears of a porcine invasion.

Voters will get a chance to say yes or no to the proposed lease at a town meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall’s large lower-level conference room.

The agreement would lease 15 acres of the town’s 42 acres of pasture and orchard, between Ridgebury and Old Stagecoach roads, to Whitney Freeman of Henny Penny Farm, which is a little farther north on Ridgebury Road. The lease would be for five years, at $1 a year.

The notion of pigs at the property — something Freeman hasn’t proposed — was actually introduced into the discussion at the Dec. 7 hearing by Marconi, when he gave a hypothetical example in response to a question about wording in the lease.

“Tenant is hereby granted permission to graze a maximum of 30 sheep, 10 goats and two llamas,” the lease says. “No other livestock shall be permitted hereunder, except with consent of the landlord.”

John Collins of Langstroth Drive asked about the procedures involved.

“Suppose Henny Penny Farm wanted to raise pigs. They’d have to come to the town,” Marconi said.

And this started it. The hypothetical example brought some chuckles right away, but later came back into the discussion.

“To myself, pigs are not a joke,” said one Ridgebury Road neighbor.

Marconi assured the hearing that if any significant changes were proposed to the lease conditions, town officials — the Conservation Commission, or the selectmen — would not approve them without consulting the neighborhood.

“All neighbors would be notified, and we’d definitely want your input,” Marconi said.

John Katz, a Ridgebury Road neighbor, is also co-owner with other family members of the former “farmer’s house” of the McKeon dairy farm, which is virtually surrounded by land that’s part of the lease. He offered some historical perspective.

“There were hogs on the property for several years,” Katz said, “and I don’t think they annoyed anybody.”

The town’s 42 acres were purchased 16 years ago for about $3.4 million, when the McKeon property was being subdivided and townspeople didn’t want to see what many viewed as the last working farm in town being turned into building lots. Most of the remaining property — including the main house and barn east of Old Stagecoach Road — was sold to a private buyer who made it into a showplace horse farm.

The 15-acre lease that will come before Monday’s town meeting was initially put forward by the Conservation Commission, which oversees town open space land. The lease was subsequently approved by the Board of Selectmen and sent to voters who will decide on it at Monday’s town meeting.

The lease will aid Freeman’s efforts to get a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to drill a well to provide water for animals that graze there, seasonally — Freeman’s sheep, goats and llama and Hans Williams’ cattle. They’ve been drinking water provided as a favor from the nearby house owned by Mr. Katz and his family — an arrangement discussed in the lease, though Katz has an out-clause in view of the drought.

Among the requirements of Freeman as tenant are that she maintain electric fencing around grazing areas, maintain her livestock “using organic farming principles” and “preserve natural grassland” and also “provide goats to control invasive plants along fences and stone walls.”

There was a little other discussion at the hearing.

The Conservation Commission, which has jurisdiction over town space land, is committed to helping pay for the well drilling if the cost exceeds what Freeman gets in the grant. Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark wondered if there should be a stated maximum the Conservation Commission would spend.

“We didn’t feel we needed a maximum number,” said Jim Coyle of the Conservation Commission.

He said the commission had gotten a “ballpark” idea of what the drilling project should cost.

“You drill a well until you hit water,” Marconi said. “Some in Ridgebury I know of are 600 feet.”

The contract actually stipulates a “goal” of seven gallons a minute, and if that is not reached by drilling to 400 feet, and then to 600 feet, in both instances further work “must be agreed to by the Conservation Commission.”

Chris McQuilkin of Nod Road wondered what the lease would mean for a hiking trail that’s currently on the open space land. A map provided shows a portion of the loop trail going through a small part of the proposed lease area.

Town Attorney David Grogins, however, replied that the lease would not pose a problem for hikers.

“That trail is outside, the trail is off limits,” Grogins said.

McQuilkin was generally supportive of the lease to Freeman’s farm.

“I love the idea,” he said. “I love seeing the animals up there.”

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Natalie Kennedy.

Natalie Kennedy of Ridgefield, a student at Immaculate High School in Danbury and a young ambassador for the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation, is hosting a Christmas public skating for charity night at the Danbury Ice Arena, Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8:10 to 10:10.

The public skate event will benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation.  

Kennedy has been involved with the Garden of Dreams since 2009, when she was recovering from childhood cancer. “I’m so happy to be able to give back to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. They are an amazing organization and they bring a lot of joy and happiness to kids going through really tough times.”

Price of admission is $10. Guests wearing a Santa hat will get a free raffle ticket. Additional tickets are available for purchase with each paid admission and other raffle prizes will be available.  

Danbury Ice Arena is at 1 Independence Way.

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The St. Stephen’s Festival Choir at a recent rehearsal. First row, from left: Jeannette LaForte, Nancy Brandt, Barbara Lawrence, Lydia Toperzer, Connie Donohue, Isabel Forbes, Glenys Burton, Nancy Algire, and Kathleen Haavarsen; second row: Scott Toperzer (conductor), Richard Cutting, Claire Simard, Erika Hagan, Sarah Blandford, Victoria Secunda, Jane Mears, Cathy Norgauer, Karen Brotherhood; third row: Jack Herr, Christopher O’Neill, Charles Prescott, Louise Klump, Michael Forbes, Thomas Carr, Arno Steinig (organist), John Brotherhood. Missing: Linda Berry, Thomas Figgatt, Margaret Mack, Jason Thomas, and Stephen Zimmerman.

St. Stephen’s Festival Choir and Choristers, 44 adult and young singers, will perform Once in Royal David’s City in candlelight procession to open the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church annual Carols by Candlelight concert Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. The concert, held in the church, will also include the Connecticut Chamber Players, a 28-piece orchestra. Scott Toperzer will conduct. 

Carols by Candlelight will feature works of George Frederich Handel, including six choruses from Messiah, as well as traditional anthems, carols and scripture readings.

The concert will highlight the St. Stephen’s Choristers, 15 young singers in third grade through high school. They will perform their own pieces as well as solo verses in traditional carols and narrator and angel voices in Messiah.   

Among the choruses from Messiah will be And the glory of the Lord, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, and the sublime Worthy is the Lamb. One chorus, How Beautiful are the Feet of Him, will be the version performed at the premiere of the work in 1742 in Dublin.

The evening will conclude with the glorious Amen, the final chorus of Messiah.

There is no charge for admission, though donations will be accepted.

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Green Maid Organics, located at 426 Main Street, has closed for business along with its neighbor, Pure Bar. — Steve Coulter photo

Two businesses at the former Finch building at 426 Main Street — Green Maid Organics and Pure Bar — have closed shop.

Wing Biddle of Urstadt Biddle, which purchased the foreclosed property formerly owned by Barry Finch for $1,730,000 on Dec. 8, said that neither tenant was paying rent for the space and surrendered their stores this week.

Green Maid Organics opened in May 2015 and Pure Bar opened in October 2014.

“We’re looking for an ideal tenant for that space,” said Biddle, president of Urstadt Biddle Properties LLC, which owns adjacent buildings that house Tazza Cafe, Books on the Common, 850 Degrees, Subway and Bailey’s Backyard, among other Ridgefield properties.

“The new tenant could combine them,” he said. “They were split by Barry Finch but the goal is to find a retail tenant who could convert the space. The challenge is that it’s up a few steps with no ramp.”
Biddle said that he was currently in negotiations with two potential tenants who would be using the space for “food use.” Both would combine the two storefronts and make the inside business a U-shape by knocking down an interior wall, the property owner said.

As for the building’s other notable vacancy — the space that 50 Coins formerly occupied, Biddle said that he was targeting another restaurant and has shown the space to a couple of prospective buyers.

“There’s no lease yet,” he said.

Currently, the building has only one commercial occupant — ReserveBar, an online wine and liquor retailer.

In addition to the Main Street storefront, Biddle said he’s looking to fill a second-floor office space in the front of the building and a one-bedroom apartment in the back of the building.

Biddle said for anybody interested in leasing the building should contact leasing agent Ryan Mitchell at 203-863-8200.

“We’re trying to fill this thing up as quickly as we can,” he said.

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No. The page-long job description didn’t do it. Nor the enumerated “essential duties and responsibilities.” The prioritized list of “specific tasks assigned to Ridgefield Economic Development Administrator” didn’t convince the selectmen.

Arguments from Economic Development Commission members and the Parking Authority chairman couldn’t pry open the municipal wallet for a $20,000, half-year consulting gig to share economic development and parking director duties.

But First Selectman Rudy Marconi said he’ll try again.

“I would like to bring it back,” Marconi said Monday, Dec. 12, five days after the Board of Selectmen had, for a second time in a month, passed on hiring a combined “economic development/parking director” as recommended by the consultants who studied the town’s retail and parking issues for two years.

“I recognize the Board of Selectmen’s concerns, and the availability of any funding. But after an investment to do two studies  — about $25,000 total — to review both situations, it is time now that we commit to working on a solution.”

The selectmen worried about working outside the town’s budget process.

“It’s a budget issue,” said Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark. “I think it’s unfair to the other departments. It’s not an emergency — it’s not like we have to buy salt to put on the roads.”

The job was originally envisioned as promoting economic development and overseeing parking.

There would be zoned parking with areas designated for workers, and streamlined enforcement with a computerized license plate reader replacing the chalk mark-on-tires method. But additional parking hasn’t been created, no computerized equipment has been purchased.

“What is this person going to do?” asked Selectman Steve Zemo. “What are they going to do with the problem if we can’t tell this person to park somewhere else?”

“There are some merchants who don’t even want to see enforcement,” Kozlark added.

The consensus was that the initial focus should be economic development, since there are parking questions that need to be resolved before someone is asked to manage it.

“If you’re going to hire someone, I think they need to concentrate on the business end, and then we need to see what we can do with the parking,” said Parking Commission Chairman Dick Moccia. “Parking is an important element, but I don’t know how that one person on a part-time basis is going to be able to do both.”

The economic development director duties include being a “single point of contract” for new businesses and economic development questions, pursuing “a targeted list of new strategic businesses” that would fit well in town, working with landlords to attract them, and helping business owners through the town’s daunting permit process.

“The business community is really the heartbeat that supports this town,” Economic Development Commission Chairman Arnold Light said.

Marconi said he’ll bring the question back “sometime in January” and try to convince the selectmen.

“I don’t think their minds are closed to this,” he said. “It’s just that these are difficult economic times.”

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A winter weather advisory for snow and ice is in effect for Fairfield County and the tristate area from midnight Friday until Saturday at 1 p.m.

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After months of public comments and petitioning for the health of Ridgefield students, the Board of Education initiated a “project map” at its meeting Monday night that will help administrators determine if implementing a change to school start times is both desired and feasible.

The first step in the outline — creating a revised transportation schedule with the high school starting at 8:30 a.m. and determining its financial impact — is already underway between business manager Paul Hendrickson and transportation director Rick Lupinacci, according to Superintendent Karen Baldwin, and the next piece of the puzzle will begin next month, when a survey is developed for students, staff and parents.

“It’s quite complex if we want to do this well,” said Dr. Baldwin, revealing a 10-step project map to the board that includes sending out the surveys no later than March 1.  

“We need to be responsive to the entire shareholder group — not just high school parents. We need to survey parents at all three levels, and get feedback from all our students and staff. …

“It’s a great deal of work that needs to be done in addition to figuring out the bus route and transportation schedule.”

Earlier in the meeting, eight residents spoke in favor of later school start times — adding to the list of more than 30 residents who spoke at earlier board meetings.

“Sleep deprivation is a form of torture,” said Tara Butzbaug, who grew up in Wilton and recently moved to Ridgefield.

She told the board that she has two nieces at the high school, along with several other nieces and nephews who attended neighboring schools, and that they share a universal complaint about getting up early.

“All nine teens say the same thing: We don’t get enough sleep,” Butzbaug told the board.

“This decision could help limit obesity, fight off drug and alcohol addiction, and reduce anxiety,” she said. “If you could do this, why wouldn’t you?”

Dr. Lisa Ipp, who works as an adolescent specialist, said she rarely sees a medical issue that’s as straightforward as starting school later.

“All the evidence points in one direction,” she said, noting that a later start at the high school could also limit car accidents and produce better grades.

Colleen Broderick, who founded the Ridgefield chapter of Start School Later and started a petition that’s collected 807 signatures, asked for the 20-plus people in the room attending specifically for later start times to stand up.

“We want you to see us, we want you to hear us,” she said.

Two elementary parents, Gigi Christell and Jennifer Meres, offered their perspective on the matter — signaling that the issue affects more than middle school and high school parents.

“We want to see it now, not later,” said Christell.

“We want you to listen to what this segment of the school population has to say,” Meres added. “We’re very much in support of this effort and we have the foresight to know that it will affect our families soon enough.”

The two most personal anecdotes came from Meredith Harris and Angela Tzamouranis, who talked of their children being stressed and sick from lack of sleep.

“My 12-year-old daughter has migraines from stress that’s outside of her control,” Harris said. “And you have the power to lower kids’ stress by increasing their sleep.”

Tzamouranis said she’s had to take her daughter, a junior at RHS, to the doctor several times already this year because of swollen glands.

“All she does is study,” she said. “She goes to bed around 12:30-12:45 and wakes up at 5:45.  … She stops for dinner and functions the rest of the way on four or five hours.”

Bye-bye buses?

Board Chair Fran Walton, facing the state-imposed 2.5% municipal spending cap for the 2017-18 school budget, wanted to make sure the change was financially feasible, while board member Mike Taylor wondered about the traffic problems at the high school’s campus if its start time were to align with Scotts Ridge Middle School.

What drew the most conversation during the hour-plus dialogue, though, was the low ridership at the high school level — only 40% of the high school buses are estimated to be running at capacity, and how it could be used to the district’s benefit.

Assistant Superintendent Kim Beck proposed eliminating some buses to offset any costs associated with making the switch to later start times.

“This level of inefficiency can’t exist in transportation,” said board member Doug Silver, who voiced displeasure with the high volume of empty buses.

Board member David Cordisco said reducing the number of buses could increase ride times, which could further decrease the number of riders.

Hendrickson suggested the easiest way financially to make the change, without reducing the number of buses, was to swap the high school with the two middle schools — an idea that’s been proposed over the years but has received opposition from middle school parents as recently as this year.

“Is the cost of this so significant that we’re not willing to follow medical advice?” asked Silver, drawing applause from the room. “And if so, why? We’re going to have to explain that to a lot of people. …

“We’re not following what is the science, and that to me is hard. We have to make a heck of an argument in the opposite direction. The cost must be so unbelievably substantial that we can’t do it.”

Silver asked that the board come up with a dollar amount to show that the cost to changing start times is prohibitive under the district’s current financial situation.

“What’s our marker, where we going to go from there? How much is too much?” he said.

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The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced today that Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center’s medical marijuana research program has been approved by the state.

The primary goal of the research program is to compare the effectiveness of medical marijuana versus oxycodone in patients with post traumatic acute, subacute and chronic pain from multiple rib fractures.

“We’re pleased to see our research program move forward so quickly in Connecticut,” Jonathan A. Harris, consumer protection commissioner said. “Our Medical Marijuana Program has already given nearly 15,000 patients relief from severe debilitating conditions, and these research programs will provide medical professionals the information they need to help their patients make good healthcare decisions.”

Harris said he expects to see “more thoughtful programs like the one developed at Saint Francis to start here in Connecticut in the coming months, and look forward to the medical progress we can make for families suffering from severe illnesses in the state.”

Dr. John F. Rodis, president of Saint Francis Hospital, said, “The opioid epidemic is devastating families and towns across the country. We need to find alternate methods to effectively and safely treat illnesses and diseases that can save lives and not ruin them. I am very proud that Saint Francis Hospital is at the forefront of this research, which is an integral part of our mission to be a transforming healing presence in the communities we serve.”

Dr. James M. Feeney, director of trauma services at Saint Francis, said opiate addiction is an “ongoing scourge on Connecticut families and on American society. We believe that through creative leadership in medical research, we at Saint Francis Hospital can help to end the problem of opiate dependence. We’re ready to start today.”

Public Act 16-23 was passed during the 2016 legislative session and allowed Connecticut Department of Public Health-licensed medical facilities, higher education institutions, and Connecticut-licensed medical marijuana dispensary facilities and producers to apply for research program licenses as of Oct. 1.

Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program currently has 584 registered physicians, and 14,858 patients.

Applicants for research programs may apply on a rolling basis, and DCP welcomes applications and questions. Candidates looking to apply for research licenses may reach out to DCP’s drug control division at 860-713-6165 or dcp.mmp@ct.gov<mailto:dcp.mmp@ct.gov>.

Medical marijuana producers are tightly regulated.

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Halpin Court, a privately developed affordable housing complex built 25 years ago, was a new home to 25 residents, the Dec. 19, 1991, Press reported.

The project on Halpin Lane off Prospect Ridge was built on town-owned land by the Nolan brothers of Danbury, using federal aid to keep rents down. Some 75 people applied for units. Of the 25 selected, 17 had connections with Ridgefield.

Because of a complaint, Mike Pontello’s handmade holiday bear decorations were removed from various locations along Main Street. Some people were outraged at the action, including Charles Knoche, who, along with others such as John Frey, Lou Fossi and Robert Blaisdell, signed a letter saying the town’s “other 21,000 residents [should] be allowed to enjoy the efforts of Mike Pontello. No other single citizen has shown the same care for our lovely Main Street and sought to add to its beautification the way Mike has.”

The police department budget called for adding seven more officers to the force of 37. According to Chief Thomas Rotunda, the FBI recommended 44 officers for a town of Ridgefield’s size.

Lois Street interviewed 16-year-old student John Maly, son of James and Carol Maly of Mimosa Circle, who was the SysOp of a BBS (bulletin board system) operated from a computer in his bedroom. Called The Dark Side, the BBS had more than 800 followers, who connected using modems. It offered more than 150 downloadable games and other software, 150 message boards on a wide variety of topics, and the ability for two people logged on at the same time to “chat” with one another.

George and Gyda Harrison were the new owners of Ridgefield Photo Shop, which they bought from Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Korker.

50 years ago

Voters at a Town Meeting turned down a proposed loitering law, aimed at dispersing teenagers in the center of town, the Dec. 22, 1966, Press reported. The vote was 59-48. “The main arguments against the ordinance were that it would not solve whatever problems Ridgefield has with teenagers and that enforcing it would create more disharmony between teenagers and the police and among adults,” The Press said.

Maren Sirene was Junior Prom queen. Her escort was Andrew Gaeta.

The town’s cozy and comfortable appearance were two of the characteristics that caused Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lecher to move from Norwalk to a new home that Mr. Lecher built on Rising Ridge Road. Mr. Lecher was both a technical writer and a home builder.

Paced by the shooting of Bob Donahue and the hard rebounding of Dennis Moylan and Tom Egan, St. Mary’s basketball team won its first game of the season against St. Joseph’s of Danbury, 65-40.—J.S.

The post Looking Back: Affordables are popular, loitering law, not so much appeared first on The Ridgefield Press.

Widespread community support of the 2016 Wreath Festival raised almost $40,000 for lifelong learning at Founders Hall. We are indebted to our event sponsors Union Savings Bank, Ridgefield Crossings, and Joanne and John Patrick, and to the six table sponsors at the Beefsteak Community Feast. We are also grateful to the 40 businesses and individuals who donated goods and services for fund-raising raffles. Heartfelt thanks to 70 wreath designers for their beautiful creations, which drew in crowds from Ridgefield and beyond. Many thanks to the friends of Founders Hall who emceed and shared stories at the Beefsteak Community Feast, judged the wreaths, and filled the building with song and dance throughout the weekend. We so appreciate the contributions of our hard-working committee, staff, and volunteers whose time, energy and talent were invaluable. Lastly, we thank the many ticket buyers and shoppers whose joyful participation ushered in this wonderful season of giving.

We are grateful and blessed to be part of a community that embraces and generously supports lifelong learning for all.

Grace F. Weber

Executive Director

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Alternating one-way traffic at the Route 35 bridge project will be paused Monday, Dec. 19 for at least a week.— Macklin Reid photo

A brief announcement from the state Department of Transportation on Friday confirmed that work will be suspended at the Route 35 bridge project, by the Fox Hill condominiums, for the entire week before Christmas.

“No construction activity is planned for th eweek of Dec. 19th to Dec. 23rd,” Ryan Wodjenski of the state DOT said in an email Friday to town officials

The suspension of work was announced in early December, after Main Street jeweler and landlord Wayne Addessi led a lobbying campaign for a holiday shopping halt to the bridge job. The construction creates long lines of “alternating one-way traffic” in the middle of the day. Work doesn’t go on during the morning and evening commuter rush hours, when the highway is so overloaded with traffic that just the normal stop lights at intersections create long lines of cars.

The suspension of construction, as originally announced, is expected to last past new year’s.

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