The Rev. Whitney Altopp of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (center), is flanked by Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray and Rabbi David Reiner of Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties. The three form the leadership of the Ridgefield Clergy Association.
Ridgefield area residents may participate in a community-wide observance of Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 351 Main St., Ridgefield. The event marks the 74th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps at the close of World War II.
“Recalling the Shoah (Holocaust) must be more than an exclusively Jewish practice,” said Rabbi David Reiner of Shir Shalom. “Resolving to end hatred, and taking up the call of ‘Never Again,’ must be shared by all peoples in every community.”
Organized by the Ridgefield Clergy Association, under the leadership of Rabbi Reiner and Shir Shalom Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray, the 40-minute memorial service will include prayers, readings, and songs related to the Holocaust.
Yom HaShoah (Hebrew for “Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and Heroism”) pays homage, with a memorial candle lighting, to the 11 million people of various faiths who were killed under the Nazi regime. The solemn commemoration takes place all over the world. Since 1951, it has been observed in Israel as a national holiday.
The Rev. Whitney Altopp, of the Ridgefield Clergy Association, said, “In addition to the 6 million Jews who were killed, there were 5 million other victims, largely people of conscience — people who recognized the wrongness of the Nazi regime, and knew that they couldn’t stay silent. We want to honor them all.”
Cantor Katchko-Gray added, “As a student of Professor Elie Wiesel, I’ve learned that we must remember and speak truth to power whenever there is injustice. As we witness a troubling rise in anti-semitism throughout the world, we are painfully aware that the lessons from the Holocaust are needed today, perhaps more than ever.”
Ridgefield Lions Club, in conjunction with Oak Ridge, will host a document shredding day Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot behind Starbucks on Danbury Road.
The event will be shredding boxes of old papers, bill receipts, bank statements, medical records, checcks and tax forms.
The cost is $10 per box. Large boxes are extra.
For more information, call Mike and Teri Liberta at 203-438-0726.
State Senator Will Haskell testifies in opposition of forced regionalization March 1 in front of the Education Committee with Bethel Public Schools superintendent Dr. Christine Carver.
State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) applauded the removal of language that would mandate school regionalization as a cost-saving measure from the proposed 2019-2020 state budget. Sen. Haskell has fought against proposals that could negatively impact students across Connecticut since he was sworn in to the State Senate in January.
“For months, I’ve lobbied our state’s leaders to drop the issue of forced school regionalization and instead invest in student success in every district,” said Sen. Haskell. “While these proposals were made in an effort to improve our state’s fiscal situation, the reality is that forced regionalization risks negatively impacting students’ classroom experiences. For months, I’ve worked with leaders in my district, and heard from thousands of my constituents, about how important it is for our towns to maintain control of their classrooms. The budget released today reflects the belief that the best way to improve educational outcomes for every student is to invest in all classrooms and increase funding for the Education Cost Sharing Formula.”
Since January, Sen. Haskell has worked alongside his constituents to oppose forced regionalization and instead explore how to voluntarily build economies of scale, consolidate resources and save money. As a result, Sen. Haskell endorses his fellow legislators’ efforts to fully fund the Education Cost Sharing formula as presented Tuesday.
As part of his work, Sen. Haskell met with Governor Ned Lamont in the 26th District to discuss the issue. He also testified with Bethel Public Schools superintendent Dr. Christine Carver in front of the Education Committee to explain how many districts in southwestern Connecticut already work together to combine services in an effort to support student success and save taxpayer dollars.
“Together, we sent a clear message that broad-brush regionalization is not in the best interest of students,” said Sen. Haskell. “I’m thrilled that mandated regionalization is not included in the budget, and look forward to continue working with my colleagues to find new ways to support public education.”
Ridgefield Pride Art Center will open this summer in downtown Ridgefield above 850 Degrees Wood Fired Restaurant.
The private or semi-private studio will provide work space and marketing support to resident artists. The space, which is currently undergoing renovations, will also offer annual “drop-in” memberships and curriculum-based and independent study educational programs.
Ridgefield Pride Art Center is the vision of Ridgefield resident Dee Dee Colabella.
Colabella is a lifelong professional who says art has played a consistent role in her professional career.
“Whether I was working in fashion merchandising, marketing, or website design, art, in some form, was ever present,” Colabella said.
She drew from each professional experience when creating the concept for Ridgefield Pride Art Center.
“I knew I didn’t want to only create a shared studio space, or only create an educational space,” said Colabella. “It was my goal to create a community where artists could create art, of course, but also receive instruction from MFA-certified instructors, take part in community events such as critique groups, receive continuing education on topics Ridgefield Pride Art Center including marketing one’s art, and have the ability to showcase their art in a gallery with such a prime location here in Ridgefield.”
A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 2019. The celebration will feature art by RPAC’s resident artists as well as live music, refreshments and tours of the new studio. The public will be invited to attend this free event.
In September, will open the Ridgefield Pride Art Gallery. Ridgefield Pride Art Gallery will be a state-of-theart gallery located on Main Street, just steps away from the art center. Those interested in becoming a resident artist may fill out an application: ridgefieldprideartcenter.com/join-rpac/
For more information, please contact Ridgefield Pride Art Center via phone at 203-273-7455, or via email, info@ridgefieldprideartcenter.com. Ridgefield Pride Art Center is located at 424R Main Street.
Rich Shapiro, of Southbury, right, and Joe Savino, of Ridgefield, take part in a No Tolls Ct protest at the corner of Copps Hill Road and Danbury Road on Saturday morning, April 27, 2019, in Ridgefield, Conn.
“Rudy supports tolls. Do you?”
The signs were waved by protestors Saturday by Copps Hill Plaza on Saturday, April 27.
A few days later, First Selectman Rudy Marconi defended the logic of tolling as an answer to the state’s fiscal woes.
“I absolutely do,” he said when asked about the ‘Rudy supports tolls’ signs.
“I always have and will continue to do so,” Marconi said. “When you compare the expense of tolls to the average taxpayer, relative to some of the other issues. … I find it hard to believe that people would not pick tolls over some of the absolutely monstrous costs being pushed down to this community; I question what people are thinking about.
“When you look at tolls, you’re looking at a cost of 2.2 cents per mile for the everyday commuter who lives in Connecticut,” he said. “Forty percent of the cost of tolls, the revenue generated, will come from out-of-state vehicles, both trucks and cars.
“I ask you: What other expense or revenue of the state can we get non-Connecticut residents to pay 40 percent of the cost? There isn’t any.
“To me this is a ‘no-brainer.’ And I think those who recognize this need to stand up and be counted,” Marconi said.
Pension costs
Marconi views some of the other ideas being discussed in Hartford as potentially much more damaging to Ridgefielders’ interests.
“We are looking at the possibility of, in our town, 43 percent of the teacher pensions — current pensions — being passed down to the taxpayers in Ridgefield. This has been a cost that has, since its inception, been covered by the State of Connecticut,” he said.
“It is in the appropriations bill about to be voted on, which has huge consequences, financial consequences, for the residents of Ridgefield. And no one protests that. Really? I don’t understand it,” Marconi said.
How hard would Ridgefield be hit by the teacher pension cost state officials are talking about passing down to towns and cities?
“It starts this year at $468,000. Next year, it goes to $975,000. And in year three it goes to $1.34 million,” Marconi said.
The formula under discussion is to have town share 25 percent of the cost, with an additional tack-on for towns with higher teacher salaries, based on how much town’s average teacher salary exceeds the state average,” Marconi said.
“That is 25 percent of the actual cost, and 18 percent additional,” Marconi said, “… because we are being assessed a surcharge.
“Our average salary is $92,000 and we are 18 percent above the average, therefore we add that 18 percent to the 25 percent we’re going to have to pay. And yet, people go out and protest tolls — 40 percent of which is going to be paid by non-residents. It is, to me, mind-boggling.
“So, do I support tolls? Absolutely,” Marconi said. “But I also support some other changes that need to be made as well, organic changes in our state government.”
The Ridgefield and Caudatowa Garden Clubs will jointly host the annual Ballard Garden Plant Sale on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine in Ballard Garden and Greenhouse, at the rear of Ballard Park. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to CVS.
There will be perennials contributed from members’ gardens, plus, herbs, kitchen garden plants, perennials, shrubs, annuals, hanging baskets and Mother’s Day gift containers.
The sale is staffed by club members, many of whom are master gardeners, able to offer advice on plant selection and care.
The Outreach Committee of St. Stephen’s Church invites the public to a community pancake breakfast Sunday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge for the breakfast, free-will donations will be accepted to benefit BeFreegle Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing sanctuary, rehabilitation and placement of beagles that have been used for research. The church is located at 351 Main Street.
“Being small and docile, the beagle is the most common breed of dog used by laboratories,” said Bill Murrell, parishioner and committee member. “Come and meet several beagles that have been retired from biomedical research and are enjoying a second leash on life!”
The BeFreegle Foundation, located in nearby Putnam Valley, NY, is committed to helping retired laboratory dogs live out the remainder of their years as beloved pets in forever homes. For more information on the BeFreegle Foundation, visit befreeglefoundation.org/ or visit them on Facebook.
A cache of rifles and other firearms were seized from a Tackora Trail home Thursday, March 28. The weapon’s owner, Mark Albin, is scheduled to appear in court June 5. — Ridgefield Police Department photo
Mark Albin, 49, was arrested at his home after Ridgefield police uncovered six silencers, 16 unregistered assault weapons, and 76 unregistered high-capacity magazines on March 28. Ridgefield police originally responded to a domestic disturbance call made by Albin’s son.
Albin, who appeared in court Tuesday, April 30, is officially charged with one count of illegal bomb manufacturing (a Class B felony), one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun/silencer (a Class D felony), illegal possession of an assault weapon (a Class A misdemeanor), and illegal possession of a large magazine (an infraction).
He plead not guilty to all four charges, court records show.
Albin was additionally charged with one count of disorderly conduct — a Class C misdemeanor, stemming from the domestic dispute.
A mugshot of Mark Albin taken March 28.
If convicted, Albin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine for bomb manufacturing. Possession of a silencer carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Albin’s alleged possession of an unregistered assault weapon carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail, if convicted.
Possession of a high capacity magazine is listed as a payable infraction charge, because they were purchased before the ban went into effect in 2013, court records show.
In interviews, Albin described himself as a gun hobbyist. He also said the parts for the explosive device — a tear gas grenade — were never put together.
“I bought some parts online,” he said in March. “It wasn’t even assembled.”
“The (state police) bomb squad at the scene told the Ridgefield police that it was up to them to press charges,” Albin said. “And that’s because it wasn’t a weapon.”
He said he built several of the firearms in his basement, and never registered them because they were made by hand without a serial number.
Albin has hired Eugene Riccio, a criminal defense lawyer, court records show.
He was released from jail after his initial bail of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000 for the weapons charges, and $500 for the disorderly conduct charge.
Something exciting is in the air in Ridgefield. Over the past couple of years, some residents have been putting partisanship aside to support pro-Ridgefield issues. Ridgefielders who have become increasingly concerned with the planning and preservation of the town are gathering to identify and support pro-Ridgefield candidates for the November 2019 election.
Last fall’s overwhelming referendum vote to split the Inland Wetlands Board (IWB) from the Planning and Zoning Commission spurred the formation of the IWB Candidate Search Group. (IWBSearch@gmail.com)
This group is an assembly of non-partisan, environmentally-minded folks hoping to help identify and support highly qualified candidates for the new IWB. Registered Republican, Jack Kace, was pleased to find himself in a room with Ellen Burns and Daniel C. Levine, registered Democrats, all committee members working towards a shared goal.
“So far we are thrilled to have coordinated with six extraordinarily qualified Republican and Democrat candidates, including three from each side, that we look forward to supporting in November,” Kace said. Ellen Burns added, “We’re pleased to have identified and encouraged so many environmentally credentialed individuals from both political parties interested in serving our community and willing to run for public office.”
The IWB Candidate Search Group plans to share its bipartisan candidate slate with another newly formed nonpartisan group of residents called Ridgefield Voters United (RVU). RVU will share candidate recommendations on its Facebook page and email distribution list (email ridgefieldvotersunited@gmail.com to receive email updates.)
RVU spokesperson, Lori Mazzola, is excited to share the IWB Search Group’s recommendations as well as promote unbiased Planning and Zoning Commission candidates who will “advance an exemplary balance between sensible retail and commercial development, 8-30g housing needs and laws, and residential zoning protections, and value the retention of Ridgefield aesthetics and charm.”
The last couple of years have also seen the formation of neighborhood alliances joined by a common goal of opposing commercial enterprises in residential neighborhoods within the broader context of zoning and preservation, again without any desire to advance political posturing. The groups, Ridgefield Neighborhood Preservation Alliance (RNPA), Circle Drive Neighborhood Alliance (CDNA), and Peaceable Neighbors Alliance (PNA) have email distribution lists that they will use to promote candidate credentials before the election. RNPA spokesperson, Catherine Neligan encourages residents to tune into this important conversation in the community.
“I hope that residents will join the effort to cross party lines to vote for the best candidates, rather than voting strictly along party lines, which has historically resulted in some interest-conflicted elected officials. RVU seems an ideal place to learn about the candidates on both sides of the ballot,” said Neligan, who is a Republican. PNA leader and Democrat, Jeff Hansen, plans to support candidates who have an interest in updating antiquated and incomplete zoning regulations that leave homeowners vulnerable.
“Most currently we see the consequences of incomplete/loose regulations regarding the use of ground-mounted solar panels. Our regulations still have undefined terms like ‘private clubs’ that leave too much discretionary decision-making authority to the whims of the commission members, when nearby Wilton, Darien, and New Canaan defined the same term for the protection of their residents long ago.”
Most importantly, both the Republican and Democratic town committee Chairmen are also making nonpartisan strides to identify, vet and endorse environmentally credentialed and concerned candidates for the new IWB. Both town parties are always on the lookout for qualified candidates they will assess, which by law is their responsibility and role. They are each pleased to see the grassroots efforts of resident groups rallying around the same nonpartisan cause they are initiating. Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Hope Wise shares her hope that both parties will support a slate of bipartisan candidates.
“I’ve been in touch with Mr. Harris, and we are both excited about working together toward what I believe will be an exciting first for Ridgefield,” expresses Ms. Wise. Democratic Town Committee Chair Alex Harris says the DTC is very enthusiastic about receiving recommendations and said, “All Ridgefielders, regardless of party, hope for public-minded boards–these efforts help fulfill that shared hope.”
For more information contact: Catherine Neligan catherine.neligan@gmail.com 917-596-645.
There will be a tree planting dedication to honor Ridgefield’s Sustainability CT across from the Lounsbury House Monday, May 6, at 10 a.m. This past fall Ridgefield was among twenty-two cities and towns in Connecticut were recognized as the first “Sustainable CT Certified Communities” by Sustainable CT, a high-powered partnership that is working to get Connecticut’s communities thinking about their future in sustainable terms.
In May of this year, these 22 communities will each receive a tree from Sustainable CT in recognition of their accomplishments. The CT Tree Protective Association is supporting this effort by donating these trees, doing its part to help this initiative get off the ground.
A little background
In 2016 and 2017, municipal leaders and residents from across the state, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and people from non-profits, businesses and key agencies such as DEEP all got together. Their vision was to create a program that would recognize communities for acting in a way that advances sustainability — that takes stock of what they have and how they might move themselves forward. In a way that balances economic, social and environmental goals. The sustainability goals are broad and inclusive. They include such items as supporting local economies to improving transportation options to better energy planning. ‘Well-Stewarded Land and Natural Resources’ is one of the Action Areas, with ‘Managing Woodlands and Forests’ being an item within that.
Through this effort, Sustainable CT seeks to encourage more communities in the state to work consciously towards being better in the long-run. The idea from the start was to provide municipalities with a menu of coordinated, voluntary actions. Communities would select would actions to focus their efforts on, incorporating them into the way they do things, with the Sustainable CT partnership assisting with the resources and tools needed to achieve these milestones.
The communities response
The response from the communities has been strong. To date, 83 communities, nearly half of those in the state, are participating in the program, with 22 having reached a level of accomplishment that the organizers deem worthy of recognition. Of these 22, 5 have reached a silver level of certification (Hartford, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Stamford and Fairfield) while 17 have reach a bronze level (Bristol, Coventry, Madison, Milford, Hebron, Middletown, New Haven, New London, New Milford, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Roxbury, South Windsor, West Hartford, Westport, Windham and Woodbridge).
These are the communities that will be receiving a tree, along with a small plaque announcing the reason for the honor. At the same time, Sustainable CT considers this as a project that has just begun, as new communities seek to reach this first level of accomplishment and those already honored seek to move up to the next level.
For CTPA, being a part of this effort just seemed natural. What better way to symbolize sustainability than a tree planted in each sustainable community. Many of these planting will be occurring in conjunction with Arbor Day.
To learn more about Sustainable CT, please visit SustainableCT.org.
Infrastructure — from roads and bike paths to sidewalks, sewers, schools, wireless communication — will be the focus of the last “listening session” the Planning and Zoning Commission and its staff and consultants have organized as they work on a revision of the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
The listening session is scheduled for next Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex off Prospect Street by Yanity gym. It’ll be in one of the first-floor conference rooms of the annex.
The commission lists “topics related to infrastructure” as:
Community facilities and services — education, recreation, police, fire, emergency medical, public works;
While the public is welcome, the commission also has a list of people specifically invited to discuss relevant subjects at the listening sessions. These include: the first selectman and Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, school superintendent, fire and police department representatives, Board of Finance, Water Pollution Control Authority, Parks and Recreation Commission, the town information technology department, Commission on Accessibility, Commission on Aging, emergency preparedness and safety director, the Ridgefield Library, representatives of the senior center and community center, Ridgefield’s state legislators, and the local Sustainable CT organization.
There is also a “public input” session planned for June 18.
Written comments may be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department at the Town Hall Annex prior to the meeting or via email at planning@ridgefieldct.org.
The two previous listening sessions were in early April on town development and in March on the town’s natural resources and sustainability.
Melanie Kardos was the first-place winner at last year’s Chalk Festival.
Ridgefield has become a destination for the arts, and its students have taken notice.
Forty-one young artists will flood the sidewalks of Main Street this weekend as part of the annual Spring Stroll’s chalk festival.
They will work from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, before having their work reviewed by a panel of three judges, who will hand out four cash prizes.
“We want to encourage shop locally for Mother’s Day and for upcoming graduations and weddings but what I’m most proud about this year’s Spring Stroll is the 41 kids who have signed up to come to the downtown area and create beautiful artwork,” said Ursula Hanavan, a member of the Downtown Ridgefield merchants association who owns and operates Interiors and Designs By Ursula. “Our community is really behind these students and that’s really encouraging to see, and I can’t thank their teachers enough for helping organizing what will be our best chalk festival yet…
“Last year, we had 26 students participate and this year we’ve added to that quite significantly, which is awesome,” added Hanavan, chair of the stroll’s planning committee. “We’re becoming known for our art scene here in town and we’re thrilled that the chalk festival has taken off.”
About six of the artists are coming from the middle schools and the rest are coming from the high school.
In addition to the student art work, there will be a scavenger hunt for young children. Members of the National Charity League’s Ridgefield Chapter will help stamp scavenger hunt cards, which can be collected at Squash’s, from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The hunt features seven tigers — drawn by chalk artist Mark Panzarino — that will be positioned outside of various downtown storefronts.
Panzarino, who is sponsored by Fairfield County Bank, will be back Saturday to help the young artists.
“In the past, we’ve had several professional chalk artists come in and do work,” said Hanavan, “this year’s going to be a bit different as we have Mark hosting a master class for all our student artists on Saturday from 11 to 12 before they go out. He will be teaching them a little bit more about the medium and giving them some prospective ideas. … It’ll be a really awesome lesson for the kids.
“He’s going to nurture their love of art,” she added. “We’ve made a very conscious effort to have it about the kids and have him teach them and then let them go out and create.”
On stilts
Beyond the sidewalk chalk art, the Spring Stroll will feature a cadre of circus performers — stilt walkers, jugglers, cyclists, and a Hula Hoop specialist. They will parade down Main Street from 1 to 4 p.m.
“The Hula Hoop person is new this year, we’re excited to see all the tricks she can perform,” said Hanavan.
The strolling performers are from Bethel’s Circus Moves and the Newtown Circus Club. They are sponsored by the Ridgefield Playhouse, RVNA, Olley Court, Ridgefield Cleaners, 850 Degrees Wood Fired, and Books on the Common.
“There will be balloon artists and face painting, too,” said Hanavan.
The ballon artists are sponsored by Ridgefield Running Company and the Toy Chest while the face painting is sponsored by Whip Salon, Bissell Pharmacy and the Loft at Bissell’s.
“You can find them in front of those respective businesses from 1 to 4,” Hanavan said.
Spring tradition
There will be music, too.
Bach to Rock will host an “Instrument Exploration” for kids three and older in front of town hall from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
The School of Rock will perform classic rock favorites outside of Prime Burger from 1 to 2.
The Nightingales — the high school acapella group — will be singing like they do at the Holiday Stroll in December. They will perform from 2 to 2:30 near Chez Leonard hot dog cart at 440 Main Street.
Back to Rock’s adult band will take over and play from 2:30 to 3 on the green next to Prime Burger — the same location as the live ice sculpture that takes place during the Holiday Stroll.
“We’re building on this Spring Stroll tradition, and we want it to gain traction just like the Holiday Stroll,” said Hanavan. “This really is the spring version of the Holiday Stroll, and our chalk artists and student singers are to the Spring Stroll what the horse and carriage rides are to the Holiday Stroll — we want them to be the symbol of this event.”
Around town
The student drawers will be working on Main Street and its various side streets, including Bailey Avenue, Prospect Street, and Catoonah Street.
Kids from the Boys and Girls Club will also be chalking a patchwork quilt outside of Fairfield County Bank Insurance on Catoonah Street froom noon to 3.
A little bit down the street, Jump Drum will be giving lessons next to Planet Pizza like they did last year.
“That was a big hit so they’re coming back,” said Hanavan.
That’s not the only musical lessons residents can attend Saturday.
Dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio will be providing dance demonstration outside of Northeast Cabinet Design on Bailey Avenue from 10 to 4.
There will also be free fencing lessons at Way of the Sword at 10:30 and 2, and a jewelry making class for all ages at the SPHERE pop-up shop on Main Street from 10 to 3 p.m.
Up the road, Ridgefield Action Committee for the Environment will be hosting a “make your own wildflower seed” demonstration from 10 to 2. At the library, the Ridgefield League of Women Voters will be hosting voter registration.
There will also be free tours at the Keeler Tavern Museum from 1 to 4.
Volunteers
In addition to Hanavan, the Spring Stroll planning committee consists of Kathy Graham, Lynn Vaughan, Andy Forsyth, Kim Bova, Samantha Cassano, Suzanne Bellagama Brennan, Hilary Micalizzi, Megan Searfoss, MaryBeth Prunty, Kristin Fedders, Terri Garlick, and Whitney Williams.
Downtown Ridgefield would like to give a special thanks to art teachers Michael Rivera, Hillary Lewis, Jenny Hench, Jane Harris, Deborah Chodd, and Lisa Liebowitz.
“The teachers get a ton of credit — they recruited the students to make this all possible,” said Hanavan. “Samantha Cassano organized everybody and did a lot of communication with the teachers.”
Williams — owner of Squash’s on Main Street — will provide the chalk. Ridgefield Supply is supplying the knee pads for the artists. Planet Pizza is supplying lunch for the students.
West Lane Inn is putting Panzarino up for the weekend — free of charge, and Hanavan’s design shop will decorate the lampposts with the help from the Boys and Girls Club
“We couldn’t do this without the support of our volunteers and Downtown Ridgefield business associates,” Hanavan said. “The teamwork that goes into an event like this is what makes it worth it.”
Ridgefield police released this photo of the scene at Governor Park following the field fire in April.
To the Editor:
It’s disappointing to read that the town has decided to sweep the baseball field fire under the rug just because some money came in.
I think the people responsible should have come forward and taken ownership rather than hiding behind their big bank accounts. Shame on the town for allowing this coverup to take place. Students could have been hurt. We’re just going to give everyone a free pass?
The perception of stupidity and corruption will take a while to erase from our town’s reputation. And it’s no guarantee that it will ever go away.
The only good news to come from this is that the taxpayers won’t be the ones footing the bill, as one letter writer wondered in your paper recently.
I won’t debate the point of anonymity any further as the police and town leadership have made their decision and it’s final. But I will say power this absolute should give us something to fear.
The only message I can takeaway from this situation is that it’s OK to hide the truth as long as there’s enough money to go around to conceal it. Now there’s a scary thought.
Are we really supposed to act as if nothing ever happened?
Our days and lives are filled with decisions. Some quite small (what to have for snack today), and many are quite large (where to live, work, and who to share our life with).
At every stage of our life, we make decisions to match the life we want to lead, to meet our own personal wishes. Yet there is one stage of life where we often leave the decisions to others, End-of-Life. This can be very difficult for loved ones and the decisions made may not reflect our true wishes. Through Mortality over Muffins, RVNA hospice experts help us take a more thoughtful, rewarding, and even enjoyable role in our end-of-life planning.
Mortality over Muffins is an informal, café-style program for all ages and the intent is simple: to get everybody thinking and talking about end-of-life wishes and decisions — well before they happen. If we take the time to do this now, it will make the ends of our lives more meaningful and less stressful for both ourselves and our loved ones. It will reflect who we are, what we want, and what is most important to us.
Mortality over Muffins is a two-part program. Session 1 is for discussion, education, stories. Session 2 is for participants to share their thoughts, progress, and experiences in the weeks following the first session.
Mortality over Muffins is led by Cindy Merritt, MSW, LCSW. As RVNA’s Hospice Social Worker, Merritt is dedicated to supporting, comforting, and educating hospice patients and their families. She collaborates with RVNA hospice nurses, physicians on staff, and chaplains in the community to ensure that each patient’s medical, emotional, and spiritual needs are fully met.
The Mortality over Muffins program is sponsored by the Union Savings Bank Foundation. Programs are being held this spring in Ridgefield, Danbury, and Southbury.
Mortality over Muffins in Ridgefield will take place at the Ridgefield Library, 472 Main Street, in the Dayton Program Room. Part I is on Thursday, May 23 and Part II is on Thursday, June 6. Both sessions run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 16 participants. For more information or to RSVP, contact RVNA at 203-438-5555 or write to marketing@ridgefieldvna.org.
Looking Glass Animal Rescue volunteers are raising funds by guest bartending at Gallo, 5 Grove Street, Ridgefield on Thursday, May 16, from 6-9 p.m.
During the event all cash and credit card tips from the bar will be donated, 10% of liquor sales from the bar will be donated, and 10% of food from the dining room will be donated if customers mention the LGAR fundraiser. There also will be raffles and silent auction items.
Looking Glass Animal Rescue is volunteer-based 501c3 nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Ridgefield. All of all donations received go to the care of their rescue animals. For more information, visit lgarinc.org.
Trucks, tanks, trees, plows and painting jobs — nearly $900,000 worth of projects and purchases proposed as capital expenditures in 2019-20 town budget will be put before voters at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 6, starting at 7:30 in the Ridgefield Playhouse.
The annual meeting will also be asked to affirm the selectmen’s previous vote to schedule the referendum vote on the $148 million town and school operating budgets for 2019-10 for Tuesday, May 14, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with all voting in Yanity gym.
“The Board of Selectmen already approved the call of the Annual Town Meeting and Referendum,” First Selectman Rudy Marconi said, “but this will also be an additional approval for the referendum to be held on May 14.”
While the operating budgets are sent to voters at the referendum, they are sometimes the subject of questions and discussion at the Annual Town Meeting.
At the referendum votes will decide questions on the finance board’s proposals for: a $98,193,000 school budget representing a 3.36 percent spending increase; a $38,319,000 town departments budget, reflecting the “zero percent increase” achieved by the Board of Selectmen, which would actually be an almost $5,000 decrease from this year’s 2018-19 town allocation; the town budget also includes about $11 million for debt service; and there would be $1,840,000 for roads and infrastructure maintenance that will likely be a separate question.
The referendum will also ask voters to approve some of the more expensive capital spending proposals, such as a $1.2-million ladder truck for the fire department, $466,000 for school computer network infrastructure replacements, and $279,000 for school energy and water saving projects.
At the meeting
While the machine-vote referendum balloting will include the more expensive capital spending proposals, the less costly items — generally, those under $100,000 each — will be up for discussion and approval or rejection by voters who gather in Playhouse for the Annual Town Meeting the evening of May 6.
“It’ll be done by department,” First Selectman Rudy Marconi said. “Representatives of each department will be there if there are any questions.”
The $898,100 in proposed capital expenditures to be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting include construction jobs and equipment purchases —both replacement and new acquisitions —ranging from trucks and plows for the highway department, to trees for the tree warden, mowers for the golf course and parks department, replacement of oil tanks and doors, the painting of school interiors.
The Parks and Recreation Department has the largest total, nearly $305,000 up for a vote at Monday’s meeting, and also the most costly single item — $98,500 to complete ongoing locker room repairs at the recreation center.
Parks and Recreation Commission officials had to answer a lot of questions from both the selectmen and the finance board over the request for another $98,500 for to finish what’s already a roughly $1-million project to repair extensive water damage in the recreation center walls. Parks and Recreation Chairman Phil Kearns recalled the way the original $1 million request had been trimmed by one board after another in the approval process last year, and said it wasn’t really surprising that more money is needed to finish the job properly.
Other repair and maintenance projects in the parks and recreation capital budget that are going to the voters at Monday’s meeting include: redoing basketball and tennis courts at the Venus complex ($52,000) and Ridgefield High School ($12,000); $60,000 for safety improvements; $16,000 for playground fencing at Branchville School; and $20,000 for ADA compliance work.
The proposed equipment purchases headed for the town meeting include $45,000 for a turf tractor for Parks and Recreation and $80,000 for large area rotary mower for the golf course.
The highway department’s requests include $40,000 for guardrail replacements, $8,900 for snow plows and $4,600 “snow pusher” plow for the backhoe.
The town engineer’s list includes of projects and purchases includes: underground tank removals at Yanity gym ($22,000), town hall ($14,000) and the police station ($12,000); $59,000 for door replacements; $22,000 for work at the Branchville train station; and $17,000 for painting projects in the schools.
The tree warden would get $55,000 for replacement trees.
The police department is seeking $14,000 for a laser crash and crime scene mapping system and $11,000 for a call recording system.
The fire department requests coming to the annual meeting are: $62,000 for firefighters’ protective gear; $20,000 for air tanks; $30,000 for cardiac defibrillators, and $19,000 for a CPR device.
The Planning and Zoning is seeking $44,000 for the second half of a consultant’s two-year effort to help produce a new Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) for the town.
The library is seeking $26,000 to replace the material handling system known as “the beast.” which automatically reads catalog numbers and sorts returned books. The library also wants $13,000 for lighting upgrades, and $20,000 to replace desktop computers used by both the public and the staff.
Marconi said his support for the projects and purchases going to the Annual Town Meeting were evident when the selectmen passed the capital budget.
“I already voted to pass it on to the town meeting and the people of Ridgefield,” Marconi said.
On the operating budgets going to referendum, he noted that the selectmen approved a town departments budget at a zero percent increase, which was subsequently approved by the finance board, but had recommended a slightly larger cut to the school budget than the finance board made. The selectmen’s recommendation on the school budget called for a $460,000 cut to the $98 million school budget, and the finance reduced the school request by half that, $230,000.
“The Board of Selectmen voted and made a recommendation — a non-binding recommendation — to the Board of Finance on the Board of Education budget,” he said. “We approved our budget. And we approved the capital budget.”
The $148 million town and school operating budget which will go referendum would, if approved, required a 1.24 percent tax increase.
The capital budget proposals — both those voted on at the Annual Town Meeting and those going on to voters at the referendum — wouldn’t show up in next year’s tax increase because they would be financed with borrowing in the bond market. But repayment of the bonds would show up in subsequent years’ budgets.
Michael Cunningham’s Bridge Street Premium Ice has gotten a permit from the selectmen to sell sorbet from his vendor tricycle at events and parties.
Hot dogs, burgers and fries, cold tasty sorbet — the season of outdoor eating got an official start when the selectmen approved permits for three food vendors last month.
Bridge Street Premium Ice Company, selling sorbet from a tricycle-cart, is new to Ridgefield, although owner-operator Michael Cunningham and his wife Maureen have lived in town eight years. The other two vendors approved by the selectmen April 17 are long established local businesses that got permit renewals: the Chez Lenard hot dog stand on Main Street, run by Mike Principi; and the Zwack Shack lunch truck operated off Route 7 by Greg Zawacki.
“My goal is to serve a premium product,” Cunningham told the selectmen. “.. .I’m just trying to fulfill a dream I’ve had in life.”
“I’m a retired firefighter from New York City and I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he later told The Press.
“I have a red white and and blue trike. I’ll be serving exclusive sorbet,” he said.
“It harkens back to a unifying American theme — my whole message is to bring people together. My tagline is: ‘Bringing people together one ice at a time.’ Wherever you fall on whatever spectrum, or ideology, we can come together over a really good sorbet.”
Cunningham will serve six flavors — lemon, cherry, passion fruit, mango, coconut and chocolate — with up to four available at a time. He can get up to 20 flavors, he said, and he’ll try to honor specific flavor requests from event organizers.
“I’ll be primarily doing special events and private parties,” he said.
He’ll be out at the softball tournament to benefit Sunrise Cottage that’s planned for the weekend of May 4 and 5, on various fields around the village —Veterans Park, East Ridge, and Governor Park.
Cunningham also hopes to be out on Main Street for the Memorial Day Parade.
“I’m looking to partner with Lounsbury House and Suzanne Brennan. We’re going to try to work something out for Memorial Day. I’m partnering with the American Legion, as well,” he said. “… I will be making a donation to the American Legion in town, based on my sales that day.”
Cunninghan’s vending trike was made at Worksman Cycles in New York City, and is street legal in Connecticut, he said.
The Board of Selectmen, in granting him a permit for events and private parties, specified that they didn’t want him riding the sorbet trike on town roads or sidewalks.
Cunningham agreed to that condition, adding he has a trailer to haul the trike to events.
The selectmen voted 4-to-1 to grant the permit, with dissenting vote by Maureen Kozlark. She has long sought to limit competition that low-cost mobile vendors give to the town’s brick-and-mortar businesses — “the people who are also trying to build businesses, in their little shops,” as she told Cunningham.
“I’m sorry, I’m opposing it,” she said when the vote came up.
Cummingham told The Press he doesn’t see himself as competition for established businesses.
“I’m here to just get along with everybody and I just want everybody to thrive, and just want to be one business that operates in town that may be a little unique, and has a really good product to serve at a private event,” he said.
“I’m looking to enhance the charm of the town.”
Greg Zawacki told Ridgefield’s selectmen in April 2019 that he’s in his ninth year of running the Zwack Shack lunch truck on Route 7.
Zwack Shack
Greg Zawacki came to the selectmen for renewal of a permit for The Zwack Shack, a lunch truck he sets up on a pull-off area long Route 7, across from the motel, between Branchville and Florida Hill Road.
“Eight years,” he told the selectmen. “This is going to be the ninth.”
“It’s been good,” he said.
The Zwack Shack sells a lunch menu with a variety of specialty burgers like “the bacon blue” with blue cheese, bacon and caramelized onions, or hot dogs like “Dad’s dog” with chili, cheese and house-made onion sauce. He also offers grilled cheese sandwiches, fried chicken sandwiches, fries, onion rings, cheese fries.
“We do have a new plant-based protein burger,” Joan Zawacki, Greg’s mother and business partner, told the selectmen.
Selectman Bob Hebert asked about the food trucks at The Nod Hill Brewery just down the street from the Zwack Shack.
“They seem to be getting a good rotation of trucks,” Zawacki said.
“It hasn’t hurt you?” Hebert asked.
“Not noticeably,” said Zawacki.
The Zwack Shack is open 11:30 to 4, Monday through Saturday.
The vote to renew his permit, which covers his location as well as events and parties, was unanimous.
Mike Principi came before Ridgefield’s selectmen April 17 and renewed the permit for his Chez Lenard hot dog cart, a Main Street institution for 41 years.
Chez Lenard
The Chez Lenard hot dog cart, long a fixture in Ridgefield’s village, also had it’s permit unanimously renewed by the selectmen.
“How long on Main Street?” asked Hebert.
“We’re celebrating 41 years,” said owner Mike Principi.
Chez Lenard began selling hot dogs with fancy garnishes and French names — “Le hot dog Choucroute Alsacienne” and “Le hot dog Garniture Suisse” — on Main Street back in 1978. Principi is the third or fourth owner over that time.
Principi estimated he also works about 200 events a year, traveling all around the tri-state area for them.
“I’ve been to New Jersey,” he said. “…Montauk.”
“My son said some people in Lake Winnipesaukee want you to come up there,” said First Selectman Rudy Marconi.
The selectmen asked about non-meat offerings.
“Veggie dogs?” said Selectmen Steve Zemo.
Principi said he’d had requests for them at private parties, and had figured out how to keep the veggie dogs hot without having them “contaminated” by the water from the meat hot dogs.
He has yet to make them a regular part of his menu out on Main Street, but is considering the addition.
“I’m warming to the idea. It’s just one more thing, and simplicity is the key,” he said. “Am I going to sell one a week?”
Drivers on Ridgefield town roads — from straight flat Farmingville to winding, hilly Ned’s Mountain — are supposed to keep to a town-wide speed limit of 25 miles per hour.
Voters will likely be asked to give the Police Commission the authority to change that — possibly on any town road, but maybe just on the town’s 16 scenic roads.
Two versions of a proposed amendment to town ordinances have been under discussion by town officials.
They are working to get a proposal before voters — probably at a quarterly town meeting scheduled for June 19. The Police Commission, the Board of Selectmen and the town attorneys are collaborating to come up with appropriate language they all agree on.
Currently, Section 340-3 of the town ordinances reads: “The speed limit on all town roads in the town, other than state roads, shall be 25 miles per hour.”
Both versions of the ordinance revision that have been discussed would give the power to change the speed limit to the “local traffic authority” — which is the Police Commission.
The simpler and more straightforward version, favored by the Board of Selectmen, mirrors much of the original language: “The speed limit on all roads in the town, other than state roads, shall be as determined by the local traffic authority.”
Another version that the selectmen discussed at their April 17 meeting, after it was sent to them by the Police Commission, was less broad.
It would use the same language that “speed limits … shall be determined by the local traffic authority,” but would add a second sentence: “Provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the speed limit on any road designated as a ‘scenic’ road may be further decreased with the approval of the local traffic authority in accordance with state statute.”
Given the two potential amendments, Selectman Steve Zemo said he favored “the simpler one.”
Selectman Bob Hebert agreed.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi was also on board. “I’ll send it back,” Marconi said. “Keep it simple.”
Aside from the profusion of language, the principal difference appears to be the second ordinance proposal’s raising of the idea that authority to change to the speed limits should be focused on the town’s 16 official “scenic roads.”
First Selectman Rudy Marconi said in an April 22 interview that after their discussion the selectmen are suggesting to the Police Commission and Police Chief Jeff Kreitz that they rethink the proposal.
“We’re sending it back to the Police Commission to approve more general language without any specificity to the scenic roads,” Marconi said. “That’s up to them.”
“They didn’t want to do it now. They felt at this time all they wanted to look at were scenic roads. The Board of Selectmen didn’t understand that, so it’s been sent back to them for reconsideration.”
The Police Commission is scheduled to meet again Thursday, May 9.
The selectmen’s April 17 discussion meeting touched on the practicality of the blanket 25 miles per hour limit on all roads in town that aren’t state highways, and the possibility of varying the 25 limit for scenic and other narrow, hilly, winding roads.
“How are people going to know?” asked Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark.
“Speed limits are posted,” said Marconi.
“A sign isn’t necessarily going to stop someone,” said Hebert.
Marconi offered a case in point. “Farmingville is 25. They can do 45 or 50,” he said.
The Police Commission, if given the authority, could address speed limits in areas where 25 miles per hour seems too fast — like Ned’s Mountain Road.
“There are some serious curves on the road, where they may want to drop it to 10 or 15,” Marconi told fellow selectmen.
The Police Commission’s initial discussion was prompted at least in part by the appearance of large numbers of arrow signs along curves on Ned’s Mountain Road and also Ridgebury Road back in December.
“…We have been dealing with this signage issue for awhile,” Police Commission Chairman George Kain said in an April 15 email to The Press. “My understanding is that Chief Kreitz and Rudy met with Dave Grogins on this issue, and his suggestion was to create a town ordinance that would give the local traffic authority (i.e. the Police Commission) the authority to establish limits on town scenic roads.”
To be officially listed as scenic, a road has to meet certain criteria and residents of the road have to petition for the designation. The town’s 16 officially designated scenic roads are: Florida Road, Lounsbury Road, Ned’s Mountain Road, Old Branchville Road, Pelham Lane. Pine Mountain Road, Silver Spring Road, Clearview Terrace, Clearview Drive, Lake Road, Lakeside Drive, Lakeside Drive Extension, Mountain Road, Rainbow Drive, Shady Lane, Woody Place.
The arrow signs along Ned’s Mountain appeared in December — 26 of them, and another 17 on the curvy stretch of Old Stagecoach Road between of the big horse farm and the intersection by the Ridgebury Firehouse. They’d been put there by the state, which had approached the Police Commission some time before about putting up safety signs, but hadn’t made it clear how many there would be.
“Those signs are supposed to be coming down,” Marconi said.
“It’s almost a joke to be a scenic road with all those signs on them,” said John Katz, a Ridgebury resident who serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission and attends most selectmen’s meetings as an interested citizen.
“It was a federal program where they just put up signs for free,” Marconi said, reflecting the Police Commission’s previous statements. Town officials weren’t told how many signs would be going up along relatively short stretches of roads.
“…We didn’t know,” Marconi said.
“What I fear,” said Katz, “ is a codified desecration of these roads.”
