In Sight

Cars parked on Hope Street over the weekend were covered in snow after being plowed in by trucks working during Sunday’s storm.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

TOP: Louis Reyes carries bags of groceries collected by Brien McMahon students involved in the Peace Project.  The groceries were given out to day laborers in Norwalk.  ABOVE: Maritza Diaz, 23 of Stamford, hugs Suzanne Danylko, of Spencer Stuart, as Diaz receives a cash donation and wrapped gifts for her family from the employees at Spencer Stuart at the Famly Centers in Stamford.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of the holiday.  Our days are filled with end-of-year work issues, last minute shopping, holiday parties and family gatherings.  But it’s stories like these that bring me back to reality.  Brien McMahon High School’s “Peace Project” and The Advocate/Greenwich Time’s “Giving Fund” are giving back to those who need it most.  Both great stories with happy endings.  Check them out in this week’s Advocate.

A view of the Manhattan skyline from a Shippan Point residence this afternoon as the Shippan Point Garden Club judged the “Doors of Shippan” competition.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

I always know the holiday season is in full swing when the “Doors of Shippan” assignment creaps up.  It was a bit chilly this morning as I followed the Shippan Garden Club around their seaside community for the judging of the holiday wreaths and doors.  One contestant invited us in to see her Christmas tree but it was this view that caught my eye.  She said some days the sky is so clear that you feel like you can reach out and touch Manhattan.  Home sweet home.

Joshua Chachques, 9, wrestles a chilly tyrannosaurus rex in Scalzi Park.

Keelin Daly/ The Advocate

Joshua was the only soul braving the cold for some playground fun this afternoon. He sees no reason more people aren’t out, “It doesn’t matter about temperature, you just gotta ignore it.” But he did add that he prefers more kids coming out so for that reason the warmer weather has some appeal. He wouldn’t disclose where he picked up his lassooing techniques but clearly all the time alone with this rex has helped him there.

TOP: Members of the glee club at AITE rehearse for an upcoming concert.  The club will perform at the Stamford Town Center on December 14 from 4:00pm-6:00pm.  ABOVE: Rudy Camacho sings with other students in the glee club.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

I could hear the singing as I walked down the hallway at AITE.  A group of students were gathered in Room 105 with a keyboard, sheet music and enormous amounts of energy, talent and excitement.  I’m sure this is just one of many such clubs formed all over the country thanks to Fox’s hit show “Glee.” I’m not a gleek, but I do watch the show when I happen to be sitting home on a Tuesday night with nothing better to do.  And I like it.

Shoppers walk by the Apple Store on Black Friday at the Stamford Town Center.

Kathleen O’Rourke/Staff photo

I happily avoided the Black Friday 5:00 am lines at Best Buy, Walmart and Toys”R”Us this morning and opted for some photographs of shoppers at the Stamford Town Center.  There are strict rules for photographing at the mall and I’m only allowed to shoot outside the stores and in center court.  No need to go inside when I had the Fab Four posing in the window of the Apple Store.

TOP: The fourth-graders from room 256 enjoy lunch in the school cafeteria at Stark Elementary School .  ABOVE: The fourth-graders from room 256 in gym class on Friday morning.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

Today marks my last day of fourth-grade, actually my second last day of fourth-grade but the first one was so many years ago I can hardly remember.  A good friend of mine taught fourth grade for many years and just started a high school position in the same town.  She commented on how interesting it is to see the students she taught so many years ago now all grown up and graduating.  Advocate reporter Maggie Gordon and I will have to stop by Stamford or Westhill in 8 years and revisit this group as teenagers.  If their energy, enthusiasm and innocence is any indication of the people they’ll become, then I look forward to watching them grow.  Not sure how long the innocence will last.  Enjoy it while you can.

Fourth-graders solve problems in their workbooks during math class at Stark Elementary School.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

Advocate education reporter Maggie Gordon is spending this week immersed in Room 256 at Stark for a six day series that takes a closer look at today’s students and curriculum.  I’ve been able to tag along for three days and will finish off the week with Maggie and the 256ers.  Going back to school at age “40-something” has been interesting and educational; fractions, possessive nouns and talking white boards.  I’m learning something new every day.  Be sure to check out Maggie’s blog and our daily coverage in The Advocate.