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D’Amelio attorney says arrest expunged; threatens lawsuit

Republican District 25 State Senate candidate Marc D’Amelio, in a promotional video.

The election is Nov. 6.

NORWALK, Conn. – Republican State Senate candidate Marc D’Amelio says a 2014 arrest has been removed from his legal record and is only surfacing now because of political opponents.

D’Amelio, who is seeking to unseat State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25), contends publication of his arrest is injurious to his reputation, and his attorney has threatened to sue NancyOnNorwalk if it reports the incident. Continue reading D’Amelio attorney says arrest expunged; threatens lawsuit

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Griebel: Tapping pension funds risky — doing nothing is worse

Oz Griebel, independent candidate for governor. (Mark Pazniokas)

Oz Griebel concedes that his proposal to defer state pension contributions is a gamble.

He just doesn’t believe that this approach poses any more risk than continuing along the problematic path of tax hikes and program cuts that have vexed state finances over the past decade.

In a recent interview with the CT Mirror, the independent gubernatorial candidate said he’s aware of the criticism that’s been directed at him  since Sept. 13, when he said he would consider deferring a portion of the estimated $2.6 billion Connecticut owes next fiscal year to its pension funds for state employees and municipal teachers. Continue reading Griebel: Tapping pension funds risky — doing nothing is worse

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Opinion: Indigenous people invented the ‘American Dream’

The indigenous communities of the Americas knew none of these modern-day national borders. (USGS)

When President Barack Obama created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the 2012 program that offered undocumented young people brought to the U.S. as children a path into society, for a moment the ideals of the American Dream seemed, at least for this group, real.

We call these kids, many of whom are now adults, “Dreamers,” because they are chasing the American Dream – a national aspiration for upward economic mobility built on physical mobility. Fulfilling your dreams often means following them wherever they may lead – even into another country. Continue reading Opinion: Indigenous people invented the ‘American Dream’

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Opinion: Columbus believed he would find ‘blemmyes’ and ‘sciapods’ – not people – in the New World

The statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle, New York City. (Zoltan Tarlacz/Shutterstock.com)

 

In 1492, when Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a fast route to East Asia and the southwest Pacific, he landed in a place that was unknown to him. There he found treasures – extraordinary trees, birds and gold.

But there was one thing that Columbus expected to find that he didn’t. Continue reading Opinion: Columbus believed he would find ‘blemmyes’ and ‘sciapods’ – not people – in the New World

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SoNo parade honors Christopher Columbus and Norwalk Italian Americans

Updated, 10:02 a.m.: Copy edit

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk marked Columbus Day with a parade Sunday through South Norwalk.

“Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2018 occurs on Monday, October 8,” according to History.com.  “It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage.” Continue reading SoNo parade honors Christopher Columbus and Norwalk Italian Americans

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Opinion: Deciding Connecticut’s future

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I think I speak for many Norwalkers when I say the results of the November election will have drastic consequences for my future in Connecticut as well as for my friends’ and families’ futures. 

Because the stakes of this election involve Connecticut’s ongoing fiscal crisis, the specter of more tax increases, and the availability of good jobs in this state, I decided I couldn’t sit on the sidelines as the incumbent representative of Norwalk’s 137th House district seeks reelection.  Continue reading Opinion: Deciding Connecticut’s future

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Opinion: Cafero will make excellent Probate Judge

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I am writing to lend my support to Larry Cafero in his campaign to become Probate Judge for the Norwalk-Wilton District.

I have been a practicing attorney in Norwalk since 1975.  Much of my practice involves estate planning and estate settlement.  Consequently, I have had extensive dealings with the Norwalk-Wilton Probate Court.  During that time, Norwalk and Wilton have been well served by three superb Probate Judges: Alfred Santaniello, Sr., John E. Vallerie, and Anthony DePanfilis. Continue reading Opinion: Cafero will make excellent Probate Judge

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Opinion: Shout out for data learning opportunities

Anthony Allison

Anthony Allison is the executive director of Norwalk ACTS.

Shout Out to Fairfield County Community Foundation / Center for Nonprofit Excellence for two upcoming data learning opportunities:

1. Data Bootcamp – a daylong training focused on data analysis and data visualization for nonprofit professionals Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. http://fccfoundation.org/event/data-bootcamp/ Continue reading Opinion: Shout out for data learning opportunities

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Opinion: Questions and answers about Probate Court

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On November 6th we will go to the polls to elect our state and federal officials.  We also elect a Judge to preside over the Norwalk/Wilton Probate Court.  Incumbent Judge Anthony DePanfilis, who has served so ably for the past 21 years, is not running for re-election.  Over the several months, while campaigning for the Office of Judge of Probate, I’ve been asked many questions about probate and the Probate Court.

What follows are my answers to frequently asked questions.

Continue reading Opinion: Questions and answers about Probate Court

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Opinion: Adopting new programs is only the first step

Norwalk Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski, right, and Gov. Dannel Malloy, second from left, mark the opening of the Norwalk Center for Specialized Learning in Literacy on Sep. 25.

The Norwalk media regularly covers Board of Education meetings.  That enables the public to develop a general grasp of what’s going on in our schools.  In contrast, our media does not often cover committee meetings of the board, where much of the nitty-gritty work on program development is accomplished.  In most cases, by the time an item reaches the full board for a vote, detailed discussions have already been completed at the committee level, sometimes over many months. Continue reading Opinion: Adopting new programs is only the first step

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NPS responds to SpEd allegations

 

Norwalk Public Schools Chief of Specialized Learning and Student Services Yvette Goorevitch talks about Special Education at a March meeting.

Updated, 2:55 p.m.: Copy edits, photo added.

NORWALK, Conn. — School officials issued a statement Friday in response to a complaint regarding Norwalk Public School Special Education practices.  Seventeen schoolchildren alleged in the complaint that the district’s Special Education practices have systematically violated federal and state laws which require a free and adequate education for all students.

The statement was issued midday Friday by NPS Chief Communications officer Brenda Wilcox Williams, and is presented below in its entirety: Continue reading NPS responds to SpEd allegations

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NPS accused of violating state and federal SpEd laws

Attorney Marsha Moses explains Special Education laws to the Norwalk Board of Education in February 2017. (File photo)

Updated, 2:30 p.m.: reference to NPS response added; for full response, click here; PDF replaced; 7:13 a.m.: Information added; re-formatting; 6:11 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. – Attorneys working pro bono on behalf of 17 Norwalk school children filed a complaint Wednesday with the Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) alleging that Norwalk Public Schools “systemically and pervasively violates federal and state laws that guarantee all children the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE),” according to a press release.

“The complaint requests that SDE perform an independent program audit of special education practices at NPS to develop a corrective action plan to include three years of independent monitoring to ensure compliance with state and federal law. The complaint also seeks individual relief for each of the 17 children named, and systemic relief for all Norwalk children,” the release said. Continue reading NPS accused of violating state and federal SpEd laws

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Norwalk roundup: Parks & Rec removes unauthorized sculpture, Hebert talks parking, and a blight complaint

The pile at 32 Algonquin Road, on Sept. 29. (Contributed)

An unofficial West Avenue art installation. (Contributed)

Updated, 2:45 p.m.: Comment from Tim Sheehan added, regarding parking; 9:29 a.m.: Corrected photo credit; 6:40 a.m.: Copy edits, revised headline; 5:59 a.m.: Copy edits, new headline

NORWALK, Conn. – Some noteworthy Norwalk happenings:

  • Indigenous peoples’ statue quickly removed
  • Hebert responds to Wall Street area parking concern
  • Blight issue ‘in limbo,’ with statutory process ongoing

Continue reading Norwalk roundup: Parks & Rec removes unauthorized sculpture, Hebert talks parking, and a blight complaint

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