Unattended cooking led to a fire Monday evening that has displaced a Twin Ridge family.

Around 7 p.m., a 13-year-old girl called the fire department, reporting a blaze in the kitchen at 16 Beechwood Lane. She and her younger brother and their babysitter had just returned home.

The dispatcher told the girl to close the kitchen door and for everyone to leave the house.

A general alarm was sounded, bringing all on-duty and available off-duty firefighters, and all volunteers to the scene.

“The fire was knocked down within 15 minutes,” Fire Chief Heather Burford said Tuesday morning. “Fire damage was limited to the kitchen, with some smoke damage elsewhere in the home and limited water damage. The home did have working smoke detectors.”

Fire Marshal David Lathrop has ruled the fire as accidental as a result of unattended cooking.

“The family will be displaced for some time due to the damage, but had made arrangements last night for a place to stay,” Chief Burford said.

The chief said that the fire was a reminder about “the importance of not leaving cooking of any sort unattended. In our busy worlds, it is too easy to become distracted once we have walked out if the kitchen.

“Stay with your food while you are cooking — kitchen fires continue to be the number-one fire in residential structures.”

In all about 30 fire department members responded to the General Alarm. There were no reported injuries to any firefighters or family members.

Rodney Anderson

Rodney Alton Anderson of Rochester, Vermont passed on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013.

He was born in Ridgefield, CT on July 11th, 1928. A son of the late Lyman and Ruth Anderson, he remained a Ridgefield resident for 75 years where he was Chief of the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department in 1972 and 1973. He also served terms as Town Constable and Civil Defense Officer.

Rodney was a Master Mechanic and a Lifetime Member of the Operating Engineers Union, holding a Crane Operator’s license. In his spare time, he frequented at his second home in Rochester, VT. In 2003, he retired there permanently to enjoy his most cherished place for the rest of his days.

Until the very end, he remained a member of the Rutland Italian Aid Club and the Antique Truck Club of America: Green Mountain Bull Dawg Chapter and Connecticut Yankee Chapter, receiving a Golden Achievement Award for his most prized restoration project, a 1950 Mack Truck called “Miss Ridgefield”.

To know Rodney was to love him. He loved trucks, car racing, the outdoors, working in his garage, and horticulture, but most of all, he was lovingly devoted to his family and friends.

Dedicated husband of the late Yolanda Anderson, he is survived by daughter, Cynthia Serra; daughter, Sandra Anderson-Howell and son-in-law, Charlie Howell; as well as son, James Anderson and daughter-in-law, Eleanor Anderson. He is also survived by his brother, Glenn Anderson and sister-in-law, Marie Anderson; companion, Sheila “Mitzi” Carter; four grandchildren, grandson, Trace Serra with wife, Courtney Serra; granddaughter, Amanda Hamet with husband, Michael Hamet; granddaughter, Jesse Rosenschein with husband, Michael Rosenschein; along with grandson, David Anderson; and three great-grandchildren. All will miss him dearly.

A graveside Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Rodney A. Anderson will be held on Saturday, June 22nd 2013 at 11am at the Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodlawn Drive off of Route 100 in Rochester, VT. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor can be made to the Rochester Volunteer Fire Department c/o Mike Harvey, 570 Clay Hill Road, Rochester, VT 05767.

Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home, Randolph,VT

No ticket was issued Monday after a police investigation into a report of a car passing a school bus on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road.

Anthony Provenzale submitted a video, showing a car passing a bus as it was stopping in front of his house at 75 Sugar Loaf Mountain Road, and maintaining it was a “school bus violation.”

“I couldn’t get the plate; maybe you could publicize so we can find this person?” Mr. Provenzale wrote.

The car driver was later identified as a teenager.

However, police investigated the incident and did not find a violation.

Mr. Provenzale requested Monday night that the video be removed from the Press website, saying “this issue has been resolved.”

He said he was “satisfied” with the police investigation.

The father of the teenager says that his son did nothing wrong, and that the school bus lights were not on red when the boy passed the bus.

“It’s just wrong” that his son was accused of passing the bus illegally when it was not true, the father said. “He was accused without giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

The father said that his son saw that he was being videoed, and found it disturbing. He told his father, and they called police.

“We took the initiative to go to the police,” the father said.

The police reviewed the video and found no infraction, he said.

He felt that the description of the incident should have included the word “alleged.”

Mysteries might be appealing to those seeking entertainment, but for those who want to know what’s in their food, uncertainties are a hindrance that should be avoided.

With that in mind, the Connecticut General Assembly became the first state legislature in the country to pass a law requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, or GMO.

Advocates and lawmakers hailed the legislation as a triumph for citizens concerned about their health and what they’re eating. Fairfield resident Tara Cook-Littman founded GMO Free CT to advocate for labeling laws and said that she was grateful the House, Senate and Gov. Dannel Malloy reached an agreement on the law.

The law “is historic and Connecticut will now set the standard for states around the country to follow,” she said.

The law, however, comes with several caveats that must happen before GMO labeling becomes a requirement in the Nutmeg State. Four other northeastern states need to pass similar labeling laws, and one state needs to border Connecticut. The combined population of these states needs to be at least 20 million.

These “trigger clauses” were initially proposed with more demanding requirements by the House, but were later softened as legislators reached a compromise. Cook-Littman said she doesn’t think this will prevent the law from taking effect, as state legislatures in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all have similar labeling bills on the table or are slated to discuss in upcoming sessions. New York’s bill, however, was defeated in committee on Monday. California voters shot down a labeling bill late last year.

Labeling would become law on October 1 of the year that four states also enact similar laws. Malloy said the bill “strikes an important balance by ensuring the consumers’ right to know what is in their food while shielding our small businesses from liability that could leave them at a competitive disadvantage.”

Donald E. Williams (D-Brooklyn), said the bipartisan agreement means that Connecticut families will have “all the information they need to make informed, healthy choices when feeding their families.”

“There is mounting scientific evidence that genetically modified foods are harmful to our health,” he said in a press release.

John McKinney (R-Fairfield) echoed his colleague.

“This law doesn’t ban, or restrict, or tax anything,” McKinney stated in a press release. “It simply lets moms and dads know what’s in the food they’re buying for their children… I’m pleased Connecticut is a pioneer in passing this common sense legislation. I urge Washington [to] follow our lead.”

The law excludes alcohol from being labeled, along with food bought at a farmers market and unpacked foods intended for immediate consumption. It also prevents GMO foods from being labeled as “natural.”

In her testimony at the public hearing for the bill, Cook-Littman said one of the reasons she supports labeling is because GMO products are in majority of processed foods and appear under a variety of labels, such as lecithin, xanthum gum, maltodextrin and others.

“As you can see, it can be extremely difficult to identify GMOs and trying to educate someone on avoiding them,” she told lawmakers.

About GMOs

The majority of GMO crops in the United States are corn, canola, soybeans and cotton, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2012, 94% of cotton, 93% of soybeans and 88% of corn planted in the U.S. were genetically modified. The U.S. is also the largest exporter of GMO crops in the world, according to the Food & Drug Administration.

Other genetically modified crops approved for human consumption in the U.S. include potato, tomato, wheat, squash, plum, sugar beet, radicchio, papaya, flax, creeping bent grass, alfalfa and cantaloupe.

The new law does not specify if these specific items, if purchased in the produce section, would need to be labeled as genetically modified. The law would exempt most foods that are unpackaged and ready to eat from being labeled, and applies mostly to packaged and/or processed foods.

The FDA does not require biotech companies that make GMO foods, such as agribusiness giant Monsanto, to register with the FDA, but instead recommends developers consult with the agency during development of genetic strains.

While farmers have bred crops for centuries, the techniques used in genetic engineering often use organisms unrelated to the crop being altered. In the 1990s, the company DNA Plant Technology used fish genes from a flounder to develop a tomato that was resistant to freezing. However, the tomato was never marketed commercially.

“Genetic engineers can pull a desired gene from virtually any living organism and insert it into virtually any other organism,” wrote Jennifer Ackerman for National Geographic in 2002. “They can put a rat gene into lettuce to make a plant that produces vitamin C or splice genes from the cecropia moth into apple plants, offering protection from fire blight, a bacterial disease that damages apples and pears.”

Most plants are engineered to resist insects and diseases, delay ripening, reduce water needs and increase yields. However, 43% of the GMO crops listed by the FDA are designed solely to tolerate pesticides. In many cases, the crops are engineered to tolerate glyphosphate, which Monsanto markets under the trade name Roundup. The company produces the seeds that are “Roundup ready” and also produces Roundup.

Controversy

While many studies show GMO products have no adverse health or environmental effects, emerging evidence shows that DNA from generically altered foods could actually invade the DNA of the person consuming it.

In 2004, Dr. John Heritage, a microbiologist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology that microbes found in the human digestive tract are capable of acquiring and harboring DNA sequences from genetically modified plants.

“This finding raises important questions for those charged with risk assessment of transgenic plants destined for food use,” Heritage wrote.

In 2011, a Chinese study published in the journal Cell Research showed that micro ribonucleic acid, or miRNA, from GMO rice was found in the blood and organs of people who ate the rice.

Dave Murphy, founder of Food Democracy Now, an organization of more than 650,000 people concerned with GMO foods, lauded the Connecticut legislation but also called for more independent studies to determine the safety of genetically altered foods.

“We want President Obama top sign a federal labeling bill into law within the next 12 months,” Murphy told Hersam Acorn Newspapers.

While on the campaign trail in 2007, Obama appeared to support labeling when he said, should he be elected, “We’ll let folks know whether their food is genetically modified because Americans should know what their buying.”

The FDA offers voluntary guidelines for labeling, but it is not mandatory. All GMO foods are labeled in Europe, even if the end product used was not altered but was the product of another type of alteration.

Some companies and retailers have taken matters into their own hands. Whole Foods Market announced this March that all products in its American and Canadian stores that contain GMOs must be labeled within five years.

“We are putting a stake in the ground on GMO labeling to support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, in a press release.

Some GMO projects appear like something out of science fiction, as researchers experiment with genetically modified animals. AquaBounty Technologies is working on developing a modified Chinook salmon called AquAdvantage that grows twice as fast as natural salmon, according to the company.

Fisherman, lawmakers and food producers formed a coalition along with 39 lawmakers claiming the genetically altered salmon might threaten their livelihoods by spreading unease about eating salmon, as well as create an unfair advantage by allowing GMO salmon to be harvested twice as fast as natural salmon.

The FDA is slated to approve the salmon after public comment ended in May this year. The federal agency released a report claiming the GMO fish would have “no significant impact” on the “human environment.”

Concerns grew recently when unapproved GMO wheat developed by Monsanto was discovered growing in Oregon. A shipment of processed wheat from the U.S. was halted by Japanese authorities on Monday who have no way of testing the wheat to determine if it’s genetically modified.

The USDA and Monsanto are investigating the incident.

In some cases, GMO foods have been shown to have health benefits. Some modified corn has low levels of fumonisins, a toxin made by fungi found on certain insects that has been linked to cancer in animals. Natural corn has higher levels of the carcinogen as it is more prone to insect damage, according to reports.

Nevertheless, advocates celebrated en masse over the weekend when Connecticut took the first step toward GMO transparency.

“The average American may not pay attention to every label,” said advocate Murphy, who lives in Iowa. “They have kosher and halal labels — for some people it means a lot. In our democracy, openness and transparency is the best.”

Dear EarthTalk: I’m concerned about toxic ingredients in my cleaning supplies, especially now that I have young children. Where can I find safer alternatives? —Betsy E.

It is true that many household cleaners contain potentially toxic substances, so parents especially should make an effort to keep them out of the reach of children or, better yet, replace them with safer alternatives.

“We use a wide array of scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, scourers, polishes and specialized cleaners for bathrooms, glass, drains and ovens to keep our homes sparkling and sweet-smelling,” reports the Organic Consumers Association. “But (many) contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested and can be harmful if inhaled or touched.” The group adds that household cleaning products are responsible for almost 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. poison control centers, with more than half of cases involving kids under six years old.

According to the Washington Toxics Coalition, leading offenders include corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. Contact with these chemicals can cause severe burns on the eyes and skin and can damage the throat and esophagus if ingested. The chlorine and ammonia contained in some can each cause similar problems, and the hazardous gases unleashed when they combine can be lethal. Other ingredients to avoid for many reasons include diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), 1,4-dioxane, ethoxylated alcohols, butyl cellosolve (aka ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), and p-nonylphenol.

Meanwhile, the fragrances added to many cleaning products can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and other symptoms in those with chemical sensitivities, allergies or asthma. And since fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets, manufacturers aren’t required to disclose constituent ingredients, leaving even educated consumers in the dark regarding what kind of nasty chemicals they may be spreading around their homes just to, ironically, make their cleaning products smell less chemically.

Fortunately there are plenty of safer alternatives available today, but deciding which ones are truly healthier or just designed to look that way isn’t so easy. That’s where the Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes in. The group’s “Guide to Healthy Cleaning” rates and reviews over 2,100 household cleaning products on the basis of health and environmental safety. EWG lists top products in each cleaning category-from dishwashing and laundry detergents to kitchen and bath cleaning to floor and furniture care — and also offers a “label decoder” that helps consumers learn how to spot trouble on product labels and ingredient lists. Some of the brands that garner high marks from EWG in more than one category include Ecover, Earth Friendly Products, Seventh Generation and Green Shield. Look for these online as well as at Whole Foods or other markets with big selections of healthy or natural products.

EWG also maintains a Hall of Shame where it lists cleaning products that either “greenwash” consumers with misleading label information or contain hazardous ingredients (or are banned abroad but still available in the U.S.). EWG makes all of this information free on its website, but a $5 donation will get you a wallet card packed with tips on how to read home cleaning product labels and shop smarter.

Contacts: Organic Consumers Association, www.organicconsumers.org; Washington Toxics Coalition, www.watoxics.org; EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning, www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners.

EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E-The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free trial issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

School will be out for summer in a month, but that didn’t stop the Board of Education from looking ahead last week, approving calendars for the 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years.

Several changes were made because of security considerations.

“These changes are based on recommendations provided to us from the security committee,” Superintendent Deborah Low said. “They would rather see kids not in school during Election Day.”

School buildings are used as polling places, drawing large crowds on election days.

As a result, the board decided:

• For 2013-2014: Oct. 15 was changed from a professional development for teachers to an instructional day for students; Nov. 5 from an instructional day for students to a professional development day for teachers.
• For 2014-2015: Oct. 14 was changedfrom a professional development for teachers to an instructional day for students; Nov. 4 from an instructional day for students to a professional development day for teachers.
• For 2015-2016: Oct. 13 became an instructional day for students, and Nov. 3 a professional development day for teachers.

Ms. Low said the original plan was to have professional development days in October to extend Columbus Day weekend into a four-day weekend instead of its traditional three day format.

However, after the security assessment, the calendars needed to be changed, she said.

The number of instructional days and professional days remain the same, despite the calendar change.

Some members of the board had reluctance to make the change, fearing that giving students an additional fourth day off in November — two for Thanksgiving and one for Veteran’s Day — would be too distracting for student’s learning process.

After a brief discussion though, the board voted unanimously to approve the revised calendars.

In 2013-2014, the first day for students kindergarten through 9th grade will be Aug. 27. Grades 10 through 12 will start on Aug. 28.

Winter break will go from Dec. 23 through Jan 1.

Spring break will go from April 14 through 18.

In 2014-2015, the first day for  kindergarten through ninth grade will be Aug. 26. Grades 10 through 12 will start on Aug. 27.

Winter break will go from Dec. 24 through Jan. 2.

Spring break will go from April 13 through 17.

In 2015-2016, the first day for students kindergarten through 9th grade will be Aug. 25. Grades 10 through 12 will start on Aug. 26.

Winter break will go from Dec. 24 through January 1st.

Spring break will go from April 18 through 22.

Matthew Jawlik and Cristina Metcalf

Cristina Metcalf, daughter of Robert and Marty Metcalf of San Diego, Calif., was married to Matthew Jawlik, son of Andy and Jane Jawlik of Ridgefield, on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012.

The ceremony took place at The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield. The groom’s brother Paul officiated.

Ms. Metcalf graduated from Point Loma High School in San Diego in 1998 and from Columbia University, where she met Mr. Jawlik, in 2002. She attended graduate school at UCLA and received a master’s degree in bilingual/elementary education. She is currently writing Common Core Math Curriculum.

Mr. Jawlik graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1998 and from Columbia University in 2002. He attended graduate school at the University of Southern California and received degrees in industrial engineering and business.

He works for Realization Technologies.

An dinner at Bernard’s followed the ceremony.

The couple lives in San Diego.

Bernard Crowe

Bernard Francis Crowe of Ridgefield, CT died at home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.

Mr. Crowe was born on November 2, 1921 in New York City, son of Bernard and Elizabeth Egan Crowe. He and his wife of 61 years, Mary Austin Crowe, were married on October 18, 1952.

He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, and then went on to Fordham University, where he received a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1943.

After graduating he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in England, Northern Ireland, and Germany. He left the service as a captain in 1946, and after returning home from Europe, he continued his education at Fordham, where he earned an M.S. degree in chemistry in 1948, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1950.

He worked as a research chemist from 1950 through 1963 for Texaco, Olin Mills, and Airco.

In 1958 he started attending law school as a night student and received his law degree from New York Law School in 1962. He worked as a patent attorney for Union Carbide from 1963 through 1986. He worked for Crompton & Knowles as a patent attorney from 1988 through 1996.

He joined the Union Carbide Health & Fitness Center as a retiree member in 1993 and continued his fitness routine of treadmill, ergometer and stationery bike until 2012. He was an avid reader before suffering a stroke in December 2012.

His other hobbies included vegetable gardening, surfing the internet, listening to big band music, and watching General Hospital. His five grandchildren were his greatest joy in his golden years.

He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Caroline Bristol of Ridgefield, Lorraine Crowe of New York, NY, Bernadette Macdonald of Wilton, CT, and son-in-law Jamie Macdonald. He is survived by   five grandchildren:  Caitlin and Emily Bristol, Matthew, Lily, and Luke Macdonald.  His sister Marie English of Bloomfield, NJ predeceased him in 2002.

The family will receive friends at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield on Sunday, June 9, 2013 from 2 to 5 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Seton Church; 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 10:00 am.

Interment will take place following the funeral mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Stroke Association.

Following a second referendum in which voters rejected the proposed school budget as too high, the anti-spending group that orchestrated a month-long campaign announced that it was satisfied with the $200,000 cut to the school budget made by the Board of Finance, the June 6, 1988 Press reported.

Friends of Ridgefield spokesman Peter Warren said that his group had agreed to recommend that its members back the adjusted budget and that the matter be taken to a town meeting rather than a third referendum. Forty-one percent of Ridgefield voters — the highest budget referendum turnout on record — turned out and rejected the proposed school budget by a narrow 148 votes.

Following the vote, and after a subsequent six-hour meeting, the Board of Education and School Superintendent David Larsen finally found ways to cut $1.2 million from its proposed 1988-99. The largest single item to go, and the one that drew the most debate, was the extended-day kindergarten program. Seven teachers, a staff evaluation program and much equipment were also slashed from the budget.

Superintendent Larsen’s disappointment was obvious. He had attempted to rally school supporters with a statement, “Ridgefield has been here before. A dozen years ago the Ridgefield schools were without up-to-date textbooks, classes were large at every level and programs for students with special needs were limited … SAT scores were low and less than half of our students went on to four-year colleges. In town, few houses were selling….”

After decades of running full page ads of the Marlboro Man, the Press applauded a recent federal court decision finding tobacco companies liable for damages because of their misleading advertising which had promoted their product as healthy.

Dr. and Mrs. James Finklea announced the birth of their second child, Graham. As announced in last week’s Press, Mr. Finklea recently graduated with a master of science degree in interactive media from Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications.

Other recent births included Dean Marchison, son of Guy and Eileen Marchison of Island Hill Avenue; Diana Rubin, daughter of Jonathan and Amy Redfield Rubin; and Charles Szentkuti, son of Richard Charles and Cynthia Miller Szentkuti.

David Gelfman, son of Dr. and Mrs. Nelson Gelfman of Hessian Drive, received the Frederick Remington Art Prize from St. Lawrence University for his outstanding achievement in art.

Joseph Walsh, former assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, L.I., joined the law firm of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. He and his wife, Barbara moved to Ridgefield a month earlier.

Paul Biagiotti, son of Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Biagiotti of North Salem Road, received a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Tufts University.

Police sergeant John Roche presented a championship plaque to Tiger baseball coach Frank Lancaster in recognition of the Tiger’s 1988 FCIAC championship.

The Board of Education approved an April financial report Tuesday, May 28, that projects the school district will have a $172,697 surplus at the end of the fiscal year, an increase of nearly $100,000 over an earlier estimate.

According to a report given on May 13, the Board of Education approved a March financial report that projected the school district will be $76,169 under budget at year end June 30.

Paul Hendrickson, the district’s business manager, said the projection could change with two district projects — improvements to the water line at Barlow Mountain Elementary School   and renovations at East Ridge Middle School — that need additional funding.

According to Mr. Hendrickson’s report, the energy budget is projected to be $114,877, or 5.67%, over budget at year end.

He added that the natural gas connection will be operational this week after a delay in installation that has caused the district to rely heavily on fuel oil.

Some of the items that have help balance out the additional energy expense have been Curriculum and Instructional Improvement and Pupil Personnel Services, which were under budget $46,476 and $112,892, respectively, in April.

In addition, health insurance benefits, reflecting the CIGNA Medical Loss Ratio, are projected to be $127,919, or 0.88%, under budget at year end.

Mr. Hendrickson noted his projection includes the unbudgeted $215,192 that has been spent on additional school security in the wake of Newtown.

In April, the district paid $21,040 for enhanced security. In March, it paid $16,636.

The year end forecast for security is $33,014 over budget.

Here are some of the stories and features in this week’s Ridgefield Press, out today in print and e-editions.

• Plans to turn the Ridgefield Tennis Club into parking for new cars will face a public hearing Tuesday.
• Aquarion, the water company that serves more than half the town, wants a 19% rate increase.
• The state police investigation of the police shooting of a Ridgebury man continues.
• After years of planning DestinationRidgefield.com is live.
• The former Chambers Army & Navy will become a “family-friendly” restaurant.
• There will be yarn-tagging (but no bombing) on Saturday.
• Five years after work started, a Ridgefielder’s movie will finally make its debut June 15.
• RHS sophomores won the Euro Challenge, and a trip to Washington, D.C.
• Where have all the squirrels and chipmunks gone? Some answers.
• The RHS girls soccer team has a new coach.
• A public hearing Tuesday will look at the town’s request to rezone some Schumberger property for multifamily units.
• For the first time in the U.S., kids will lead an Alzheimer’s walk, and it will be at the Rec Center.
• The school board will begin discussing significant security measures for the schools this month.
• One game into his Major League Lacrosse career, former RHS star Matt White is making an impact.
• RHS’s principal immediately recognized her new assistant principal.
• Chairish Ridgefield is returning.
• Comedy and music will help build a website community for special needs adults.
• A Ridgefield church is having conversations about its role in the modern world.
• When you’re cutting open a car, which tool is best? Firefighters investigated this week.
• A Scotts Ridge fashion show Monday will help fund Sandy Hook scholarships at UConn.
• Wiremill Academy of Theater Arts in Georgetown teaches stage skills that translate into life skills, say its founders.
• The 2013 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD is a large SUV (seats 7) that is really fun to drive, says test driver Steven Macoy.
• The Ridgefield Press is on Facebook — become one of more than 1,460 friends and get news updates. Facebook.com/RidgefieldPress.
• 7,224 people have signed up for Ridgefield Press news bulletins via Twitter. You can, too, by stopping by twitter.com/RidgefieldPress.

For newsstands carrying The Press, click here.

Elizabeth Jo Gutierrez, 47, of Ridgefield, pleaded guilty June 4 before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to embezzling $30,000 from the Fairfield Housing Authority.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ms. Gutierrez served as the executive director for the Fairfield Housing Authority from about July 2010 to December 2011.

In the summer of 2011, she issued two checks, each in the amount of $15,000, from the Housing Authority’s checking account and subsequently deposited them into her own checking account.

Ms. Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on Aug. 27, at which time she faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Ms. Gutierrez has been released on a $50,000 bond since her arrest on Jan. 31.

Library Board Chair Peter Coffin congratulates Patricia Tenney (left) and Barbara Dobbin (right) for winning the Paccadolmi Award for leadership for their work to get the library established in temporary quarters during construction.

Nearly 150 library supporters gathered recently at the library’s temporary location on Governor Street for the 10th annual Library Social, to celebrate the successes of the past year and share their excitement about the big changes coming in the next 12 months.

A highlight of the evening was awarding the 2013 Paccadolmi Awards. Named for long-time librarian Phyllis Paccadolmi, these awards were established following “Miss P’s” death in 2006 and honor those whose commitment to the library exemplifies her spirit and dedication.

Former library board members Barbara Dobbin and Patricia Tenney were recognized for their outstanding work in locating a temporary facility for library operations during construction and getting it ready to open to the public in record time.

The family of Evan, Kathie, Kasey, Ethan and Riley McGerald received a Paccadolmi Award for their individual and collective efforts on behalf of the library in so many ways, from initiating the Ridgefield Kids Read readathon to cooking up fabulous treats at a Table of Contents fundraising dinner to helping ensure passage of the town referendum in support of the New Ridgefield Library.

More about the awards and this year’s winners is available at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Also on the 17th, former library board member and committee co-chair Cloris Pearson unveiled the preliminary output of the library’s recent strategic planning effort anticipating the move into a new facility next year. As part of this work, the library board recently adopted updated Vision and Mission statements, along with a strategic framework for additional planning.

The new Vision Statement for the Ridgefield Library is: “To be the centerpiece of Ridgefield, an essential partner and destination of choice for our community: the place where people go to read, discover, question, connect and thrive.”

The new Mission Statement reads, in part: “The Ridgefield Library is an intellectual and cultural gathering place, adapting to the changing needs of our community in an evolving world.”

Altogether more than 600 people participated in creating this new Strategic Plan. The work was accomplished through a town wide survey, focus groups, a staff workshop and a board retreat. The library leadership wanted to learn what people in the community value about the library and what they consider important for its future. All the information gained has been summarized and is being used as library board, staff and others plan and move forward.

Details may be found at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org.

Aaron Crook of Ridgefield photographed this large snapping turtle in the intersection of Knollwood and Old Barlow Mountain Roads on May 29.

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents to be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads.

Especially snapping turtles.

The months of May and June are the nesting season when many egg-bearing aquatic turtles often cross roads in search of terrestrial nesting sites.

“Connecticut’s landscape is highly fragmented by busy roads, and many turtles are forced to travel greater distances to find suitable nesting habitat,” said Rick Jacobson, Director of the DEEP Wildlife Division.

“Helping a turtle move across the road can be the difference between life and death for the animal, and for future generations, but your safety comes first. Be sure to assist a turtle in the road only when it is safe to do so and do not attempt to stop traffic.”

Always keep the turtle pointed in the direction it is going. If you turn it around in the other direction, the turtle will only make another attempt to cross the road.

Also, DO NOT move the turtle to a “better spot.” Turtles have a home range and females often return to the same general area to lay their eggs.

Snapping turtles can be large, heavy, and feisty, so if you are unable to “shoo” them across the road, pick them up by the back of their shells, NOT by their tail, to avoid a bite. Some people use a shovel or a stick to push or skid snapping turtles across the road.

“Research has shown that aquatic turtle populations across the United States have uncommonly high proportions of males because so many female turtles are being killed on roadways,” said Mr. Jacobson.

Turtles have a long lifespan, take a long time to reach sexual maturity, and have low survivorship when newly hatched.

Because of these attributes, turtle populations cannot compensate for losses due to adult mortality without experiencing long-term consequences.

With turtle populations requiring high levels of adult survivorship, every individual is important to a population’s stability.

This concern is even greater in recent years because many U.S. turtle populations are becoming fragmented, isolated, and progressively smaller.

In your travels, if you encounter a turtle in the road, just remember this motto: “If it is safe, help turtles cross the road.” If you are interested in learning about Connecticut’s turtles,   visit the DEEP’s turtle webpage at www.ct.gov/deep/yearofturtle.

A wide-ranging weekend offers remembrances of the Civil War and the Holocaust, as well as comedy, music, art, and even some beer and wine. Some may be “weather permitting”; if so, check with sponsors.

• Saturday Night Live comedian Jim Breuer will be at the Playhouse Friday.
• ‘I Do! I Do!’ continues Friday through Sunday at the Ridgefield Theater Barn.
• Civil War Remembrance will take place in Ballard Park Saturday.
• Flamenco-jazz guitarist Ottmar Liebert will be at the Playhouse Saturday.
• A free concert for Relay for Life will take place Saturday evening in Ballard Park.
• Wine and beer will be among the treats at the outdoor ROAR benefit Saturday.
• A Holocaust survivor will be featured in a documentary at the Guild of Artists Saturday.
• Photographs from the Whitney will open at the Aldrich Saturday.
• Artist Suzanne Benton will have an open studio Saturday.
• The Youth Orchestra will play for party-goers Sunday at Bernard’s.
• A Walk and Talk with artists will take place Sunday at the Guild.

Details on all of these events will be found in this week’s Press. The basics on many are in the Datebook.

For information on regional events, see Arts & Leisure’s This Weekend listings.

BMW of Ridgefield’s new showroom building along Route 7 has been open about a year, and the dealership wants to buy the Ridgefield Tennis Club and use the area of its courts and bubble, behind and right, for parking. —Macklin Reid photo

Parking expansion plans by BMW of Ridgefield, including the eventual use of parts of the Ridgefield Tennis Club property for parking, are up for public comment next week.

The BMW dealership’s plans to buy the tennis facility and park cars there has stirred up a good deal of lamentation among tennis players and club members, as is evident in The Press’s letters column for the third week in row.

The plans will be discussed at a public hearing of the Planning and Zoning Commission next Tuesday, June 11, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall annex.

The proposal is a revision of an earlier application. The first plan didn’t include the tennis club, which the BMW dealer has now contracted to purchase.

Town Planner Betty Brosius described the plans, which would need permits from the  Inland Wetlands Board as well as the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“The original application proposed an expansion of the parking lot at the front of the property going to the south. They were trying to create another row of spaces going toward the wetland,” Ms. Brosius said.

“What they’re proposing to do in that location is remove some dry materials from the wetland area and create bigger wetland area in exchange for a bigger parking area.

“The previous application included some parking around the cell tower in the southeast corner of the lot. There’s a lease area they have to work around; they’ve reduced the disturbance in that area.

“Then, Phase II, they’d need to merge the BMW lot with what is now the tennis court property at the back,” she said.

“Their purpose is to use what is now the tennis courts and is covered by a bubble as a parking area.

“They’d remove the tennis court surface and expose the gravel base which is under the tennis court — it’s a compacted gravel base — and they’d use that for vehicle inventory storage.”

A lot of cars could fit there.

“The plan for using the bubble area shows that could hold 289 vehicles,” Ms. Brosius said. “It’s a fairly large area.”

This fawn was found in a cemetery and did not move until the photographer was within two feet of it. The fawn then jumped up and ran off into nearby woods.

Last week, a Redding family found a fawn on their deck. The animal seemed dirty so the family brought it indoors and gave it a bath.

Then they called police to find out what to do with the young deer.

The answer is: They probably should have left it alone in the first place.

In spring and summer, people are spending more time outdoors and the chances are greater that someone may come across a young bird or mammal that may appear to be orphaned or injured.

“In situations where young animals are found, keep in mind it is normal for many animals to leave their young alone for long periods of time, so your help may not be needed,”  said Rick Jacobson, director of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division. “In all likelihood, the adult is nearby watching and waiting to return.”

Here is DEEP advice on various wildlife:

White-tailed Deer: This is especially true with deer, as the only time a female (doe) will be found with a fawn is during feeding times. Fawns are fed three to four times a day, each feeding lasting about 15 minutes. During the long periods left alone, newborn fawns instinctively freeze and will lay motionless when approached.

“If you come across a fawn, it is best to leave it alone for at least 48 hours to determine whether the adult is returning for feedings,” said Mr. Jacobson. “While waiting for the doe to return, it is important that both people and dogs stay away from the fawn. A truly orphaned fawn may show signs of distress by walking around aimlessly and calling out for several hours.”

Birds: Many people find young birds hopping around the yard in June and July. “Most of these birds are old enough to leave the nest, but are still not efficient fliers,” Mr. Jacobson said. “If you find a fully feathered, young bird that is unable to fly, it is best to leave it where it was found. The adults are probably still caring for the young bird, which should be capable of flying within a few days.”

Remember to keep pets away from the bird and watch it closely for at least an hour to see if the adults are returning to feed it.

If you find a young bird on the ground that appears to not have feathers, look for a nest, Mr. Jacobson recommended. If a nest is in a nearby tree or shrub and the bird feels warm to the touch, try to place the nestling back into the nest. If the nest has fallen on the ground, make a new nest with a wicker basket and some dry grasses and hang the basket with the nestling in it in a nearby tree or shrub.

Most birds have a poorly developed sense of smell and will not be scared away if you touched the young bird. Be sure to watch the nest carefully for at least an hour to see if the adults return to find and feed their nestling.

Injured Animals: If you find an animal that is definitely injured or orphaned, remember to:

• Avoid direct contact;
• Keep pets and children away;
• Use heavy gloves to transfer the animal to a cardboard box or escape-proof container;
• Keep the animal in a warm, quiet place;
• Contact an authorized wildlife rehabilitator.

Wild Animals As Pets: Keeping wild animals as pets is discouraged, may be illegal, and when legal is subject to state and federal regulations.

“Raising wild birds and mammals for successful return to the wild requires considerable knowledge of feeding formulas, countless hours of care, and appropriate outdoor caging,” Mr. Jacobson said. “Improper care results in underweight and undernourished animals or animals that are not releasable because they have become too accustomed to being around people.

“Although it may be natural to want to assist young animals, caring for them may actually do more harm than good,” added Mr. Jacobson. “It may be dangerous too, as direct contact may result in exposure to rabies or other diseases carried by wildlife. Be aware that even young mammals can carry and transfer the rabies virus in saliva. Handling a potential rabies carrier, such as a baby raccoon, without proper precautions may require that the animal be euthanized for rabies testing.”

In Connecticut, there are approximately 250 authorized volunteer wildlife rehabilitators with the skills and training to care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. To obtain the names of wildlife rehabilitators in your area, check the DEEP Web site at www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife; contact the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM); the DEEP Emergency Dispatch Center at 860-424-3333 (after hours or on weekends); or contact your local nature center. Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a wildlife rehabilitator should contact Laurie Fortin of the Wildlife Division, at 860-424-3963 or laurie.fortin@ct.gov.

Organizers said Friday afternoon that the Civil War fair will go on as scheduled Saturday afternoon in Ballard Park.

“The weather forecast seems to be improving steadily, so we have made the big decision,” said Mary Rindfleisch of the Ridgefield Library, one of the organizations behind the  “Ridgefield Remembers the Civil War” series that culminates in the Soldier’s Fair.

The event is scheduled from 1 to 4:30 and will feature a battle re-enactment, children’s games, exhibits, and music from the era.

This year marks the first time in 50 years the town has honored those who fought in the Civil War.

Actors will be portraying several historical figures, including Eddie Pickett, Henry Keeler, Edward Knox, John Jarvis, Phineas Lounsbury, Jacob Dauchy and Hiram Davis.

Admission is free.

For more information, click here.

As we approach the truly spectacular national remembrance of our fight for independence, appreciation for the sheer audacity of democracy and the vision of our founders runs high.

They took enormous risks, fashioned a rebellion, found success, and commenced to create a system of rights, laws and governance unparalleled in their time, as well as ours. The thought that citizens not only had rights equal to those of the titled aristocracy, but also that they should participate in government to create a “more perfect union,” elevated aspirations and spawned imitation across the world.

Today we perpetuate their dreams and the democracy they created whenever we attend a community meeting, participate in debate, write or call, gather in support or protest, and of course, vote.

As a party, Democrats believe that wise government by and for the people has a beneficial effect upon the lives of its citizens. In Ridgefield, our Democratic Party, led by the “town committee,” lives this belief in democracy in numerous ways. We are active in local, state and national issues from gun safety to school building. We champion fair society, fiscal discipline and the rights of all. We work with community organizations as volunteers at road races, at the library, women’s shelters, environmental groups, human rights organizations and children’s organizations.

As a party we find great candidates to run for office, then take up their cause by running campaigns, and helping elect officials in Hartford, Washington, D.C., and town hall. We meet with senators, congressmen, constitutional officers, state legislators and town officials. And we are vocal … with letters, forums, columns, digital media and grass-roots action. We have ears open to those who want to help make our community better and stronger.

You might call us “fans of democracy.”

And that is where you come in. Ridgefield’s Democratic Party is seeking a few more “fans of democracy” to join the party’s town committee. Yes, you must be a registered Democrat in Ridgefield. Which also means that you have to be 18 years of age. We meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at town hall. Each of us takes a supporting role … from writing a letter, sending emails, organizing a meeting or event … to contacting neighbors or contacting Congress. We work as a team — “many hands make the work light” — according to our time and interests. We have fun. We respect each other and we make a difference … sometimes great, sometimes small.

Ridgefield Democrats wants you to join our team. Experience is not required. All it takes is an email (see below), and a meeting with the town committee members to get a “look” at who we are and what we do. Oh, yes, and you must be a fan of democracy, willing to participate and contribute to the most audacious and inspiring form of government ever created. Intrigued? Contact me: scocco@ridgefielddems.org.

The author is chair of Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, which supplies this column.

Gilda Meier and some of her sixth grade English students from East Ridge Middle School, who will be responsible for running the Kids Walk for Alzheimer’s on Father’s Day, June 16, at the Recreation Center. Joining these students will be other sixth graders from Scott’s Ridge. It’s the first “Kids Walk for Alzheimer’s” in the country.

When Scott Russell, early onset Alzheimer’s patient, and Dr. Darla Shaw, creator of the Alzheimer’s Awareness Program for Students, talk to classes about the disease that affects every family, they ask students to raise their hands to indicate if they know someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

At least 60% of the student hands go up, even at the third grade level.

After the sixth graders in Gilda Meier’s English class heard about Alzheimer’s first-hand two years ago, they decided that they needed to help the cause. These students began to write letters to their legislators, letters to the editor, write stories about caregivers, and even attended the Legislative Breakfast in Hartford to speak personally to local representatives.

One sixth grader, Hannah Park, a cancer survivor, spent an entire semester illustrating a children’s book about early onset Alzheimer’s called Silly Mr. Scott.

“I could so relate to Mr. Scott and what he was going through, I wanted to illustrate his book,” Hannah said.

By the fall this book, written by students by Western Connecticut State University in Dr. Shaw’s education classes, will be available for purchase, with proceeds going toward Alzheimer’s research.

On Father’s Day, June 16, the Ridgefield middle school students, under the direction of Ms. Meier and Janice Pauly, retired East Ridge Middle School teacher, will unite with the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association to sponsor the first ever national Kid’s Walk for Alzheimer’s.

The event will take place, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the Ridgefield Recreation Center. Individuals, families, and other groups may take the mile loop as many times as they want to support a great cause. Students will register and monitor the walk site.

Food will be provided by Piccolo’s and there will be continuous entertainment from 9 through 1, emceed by Big Daddy Sean McKee. Performing bands include Apollo’s Creed, Marmalade Sky, the Founder’s Hall Band and the WCSU Drum Circle Ensemble.

Individual singers will be Judy Barnak, who wrote the original song to go with the book, Silly Mr. Scott, and George Brennan.

Tables for making Alzi Animals, recycled stuffed animals, will be available and after being accessorized the animals will be put up for adoption by donation. There will also be tables for face painting, streak your hair purple for Alzheimer’s, baked goods, and book sales for Silly Mr. Scott. 

The RVNA will have a well child clinic on the premises. Registrants may go to www.scottsalzianimals.info to register or to donate time or money to the cause.

The organizers thank the following for their support: MetLife, Pepsi, Concentrics, The Olde Crabs Men’s Hockey Club, Ridgefield Hardware, Piccolo’s, St. Stephen’s Church, and Party Depot.

“Come support the cause and the kids,” said Ms. Meier. “They need to know that Alzheimer’s is not only about older people, but about families, and that they can make a difference.”