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Tuesday, apr 16

Donna Christopher

Contributing Writer

dchristopher@dailyvoice.com

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Schools

Teens Hope Their Signs With Anti-Racism Messages Around Westchester Bring Changes A fundraiser and public relations effort among a handful of Westchester teenagers is bringing their anti-racism ideals and messages right to the front door of community members. Called signs4change it is a grassroots campaign that calls upon artists who support the Black Lives Matter movement and make their feelings known on social media to create signs that carry such messages as "United We Stand" and "This House Supports Black Lives Matter." Shivi Jain, one of the five Edgemont High School rising juniors speaking for the teens leading the cause said as of this past weekend, 40…

by Donna Christopher

08/06/2020

Schools

Here's A Fun, Easy Way To Break The Boring Streak And Help Fairfield County Children In Crisis If your kids are complaining they're bored, it's time to break the monotonous routine. Here's a way that seems fun, can engage the whole family and can help other kids whose lives are much direr. Kids in Crisis in Cos Cob invites all county residents to download a free app today and join a Scavenger Hunt. The fun started Monday, July 27 but it's not too late — you have two weeks to complete 60 missions, until Friday, Aug. 7. The game is entirely virtual and calls upon participants to download the free app called Goosechase and then access various challenges, ranging from "Family …

by Donna Christopher

07/29/2020

Lifestyle

Grace Farms Continues With PPE, Food Mission, Will Reopen To Public When 'Safe' You cannot walk the meandering trails on the 80-acre property in New Canaan nor settle in for lunch at The Commons or walk through the common space to admire the SANAA building and drink in its sleek sloping glass and steel architecture under one metal roof — on a hill that suggests it is floating on a river. But make no mistake, while temporarily closed for the public's safety, Grace Farms is fully operational, continuing with its mission to provide medical supplies to first responders and healthcare workers in Connecticut and food relief to people in Fairfield County. Since March whe…

by Donna Christopher

07/27/2020

Schools

Literacy Initiative Central To Stamford Children Who Need It Most The typical summer slide in children's reading skills is additionally impacted this summer by students having less access to free books the past four months. And even though most Fairfield County libraries have steadily reopened since being allowed to July 7, kids still need to get to the branches. While online access to library books is plentiful, some families lack the technology tools for their children to checkout the books online. The challenge in Stamford is being addressed thanks to a partnership between a nonprofit called Cradle to Career, which runs under the umbrella of United…

by Donna Christopher

07/22/2020

Schools

Around Fairfield County Schools: Founder Of Diverse NYC School Hired, Top Teen Citizens A former assistant principal and founder at a small progressive school in Manhattan, Kristina Wylie-Colmenares has been hired as assistant principal, Academy of Information Technology & Engineering (AITE), effective Tuesday, July 21, Stamford Public Schools has announced. Wylie-Colmenares fills the position vacated by Lawrence Keller, who is returning to the classroom to serve as the Career & Technology Education Teacher for the Early College Studies (ECS) Program at Stamford High School. Wylie-Colmenares has 15 years of experience in education, most recently as an assistant princip…

by Donna Christopher

07/21/2020

Schools

Westchester County Schools: '400 Years' Talk Open To Students, Teachers, 'Hybrid' Plan Parents and students in one of Westchester's largest school districts can expect a "hybrid blend" of education when the schools can safely reopen, according to an educator there. The formula that will be used to reopen schools across New York State was released this week. Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at a COVID-19 news briefing on Monday, July 13 in Manhattan. White Plains Superintendent of Schools Joseph Ricca said the schools' Reopening Committee is "working diligently to implement the requirements of the guidelines established by the New York State Departm…

by Donna Christopher

07/17/2020

Lifestyle

Walkers, Shoppers Back At Mall With Plenty Stores Open, Some Restaurants Reopen Mall walkers are back in Danbury Fair — but visibly absent are common seating areas dispersed throughout the two-level mall. There is seating in the food court, though it is arranged for social distancing. Not all food court vendors are open for business, and sit-down restaurant Cheesecake Factory has reopened. Plenty of shoppers, however, are back as was evident this past Sunday. As of earlier this week, there are 120 shops and restaurants currently open, said Melissa Eigen, the mall's senior marketing manager. "We have many new protocols in place related to cleaning, sanitizing, queu…

by Donna Christopher

07/17/2020

Schools

Here's Where To Sign Up For Piano Lessons If You Are An Essential Worker In Fairfield County For those essential workers needing a creative outlet in Fairfield County, free piano lessons are about to begin. Did you know playing the piano takes away the pressures of daily life and can improve your mental health? So says research published by the National Institute of Health. A remote piano program for essential workers will begin this weekend, offered by a Greenwich-based nonprofit organization run by Fairfield County piano teacher Felicia Feng Zhang. Zhang is well known in the region as a piano educator and music advisor. She teaches piano through her school …

by Donna Christopher

07/14/2020

Schools

After Months In Home School Kids Clammor For Camp Around Fairfield County COVID-19 may have put the kibosh on many a popular children's summer camp, but there are still several running at reduced capacity that are filling up quickly. Here are a few creative options. Woodcock Nature Center camp started the first week in July with fewer children so as to comply with state safety guidelines. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of excitement, according to the center's Executive Director Lenore Herbst. The site, a 150-acre nature preserve with property in Ridgefield and Wilton, is inherently going to appeal to playful children, she noted in a conversation. The cam…

by Donna Christopher

07/14/2020

Politics

New Senior Rabbi After 43 Years At Westchester Congregation Arrives With Hopeful Message For only the second time in its 43-year history, Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners has a senior rabbi as its leader. Before flying into New York from Israel at the end of June, Rabbi David Wilfond, who started the new role at the reform temple on July 1, was asked what hopeful message he might bring to the congregation in the midst of the world’s health crisis and fight for social justice. "Hope, respect and inclusion” summed up his response. “We, as a community can help one another get through this," said Rabbi Wilfond. "And we can help the larger community get through …

by Donna Christopher

07/09/2020

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