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<channel>
	<title>Our Town</title>
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	<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers</link>
	<description>Writer and professional volunteer</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:35:12 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<item>
		<title>HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT TO BE UNVEILED</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/29/housing-task-force-report-to-be-unveiled/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/29/housing-task-force-report-to-be-unveiled/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:35:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=397</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my last blog posting on January 12, I wrote that the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) housing task force approved their report to the First Selectman, subject to minor revisions. The vote was unanimous. After nearly two years of regular meetings and hard work (the first meeting was February 22, 2010), a group [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/29/housing-task-force-report-to-be-unveiled/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>KUDOS TO HOUSING TASK FORCE MEMBERS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/12/kudos-to-housing-task-force-members/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/12/kudos-to-housing-task-force-members/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:52:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At 9:55 p.m. tonight (Monday, January 11), members of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) housing task force came to an easy consensus on the report they will formally present to the First Selectman at the task force&#8217;s January 30 meeting. The unanimous 13-0 vote, with 2 members absent and 1 participating by speaker [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2012/01/12/kudos-to-housing-task-force-members/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NATHANIEL WITHERELL SURVIVAL AT STAKE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/11/nathaniel-witherell-survival-at-stake/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/11/nathaniel-witherell-survival-at-stake/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:52:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=388</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let&#8217;s hope few RTM members buy the argument that a &#8220;no&#8221; vote on the $20.2 million bonding proposal for Project Renew is good for Nathaniel Witherell. Contrary to Budget Overview Committee Chairman Bill Drake&#8217;s assertions on the op-ed page of today&#8217;s (Sunday, December 11, 2011) Greenwich Time, a &#8220;no&#8221; vote Monday night will in fact [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/11/nathaniel-witherell-survival-at-stake/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NEW GREENWICH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS &#8211; SAME OLD</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/05/new-greenwich-assembly-districts-same-old/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/05/new-greenwich-assembly-districts-same-old/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:26:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=385</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The state&#8217;s Reapportionment Committee last week finally produced the new assembly district map. No surprises where Greenwich&#8217;s three districts &#8211; 149, 150, 151 &#8211; are concerned. It&#8217;s same old, same old. Last summer the Reapportionment Committee held public hearings throughout the state seeking input on a new districting plan. Greenwich attorney Edward Krumeich, who is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/12/05/new-greenwich-assembly-districts-same-old/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>THE NATHANIEL WITHERELL MOVES FORWARD</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/11/21/the-nathaniel-witherell-moves-forward/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/11/21/the-nathaniel-witherell-moves-forward/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:39:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=379</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8221; This is an important step forward for the town.&#8221; So said Board of Estimate and Taxation Chairman Steven Walko this evening after a unanimous BET vote to approve $20,205,000 as an additional appropriation with an accompanying bonding resolution that will enable The Nathaniel Witherell to move forward with its much needed Project Renew, years [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/11/21/the-nathaniel-witherell-moves-forward/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>WORKSHOP &#8211; BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/10/11/workshop-bullying-in-the-workplace/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/10/11/workshop-bullying-in-the-workplace/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:47:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Town of Greenwich Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, which I chair, seeks to provide programs that inform the public about important and timely topics that touch upon issues of diversity, fairness, respect and everyone&#8217;s right to feel safe in their environment. This year&#8217;s fall program is on workplace bullying. The speaker is Dr. Dale Atkins, a licensed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/10/11/workshop-bullying-in-the-workplace/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>THE RUSH TO APPOINT A NEW TENANT COMMISSIONER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/24/the-rush-to-appoint-a-new-tenant-commissioner-to-the-housing-authority/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/24/the-rush-to-appoint-a-new-tenant-commissioner-to-the-housing-authority/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:33:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=356</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Word has it that the Board of Selectmen plans to hold a special meeting this coming week for the purpose of appointing a new tenant commissioner to the Board of the Commissioners of the Greenwich Housing Authority. According to authoritative sources, this appointee will likely be Natalie Queen, one of the two outgoing Democratic members [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/24/the-rush-to-appoint-a-new-tenant-commissioner-to-the-housing-authority/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>COLUMN 9/18 &#8211; BRIEF ADDENDUM</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/18/column-918-brief-addendum/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/18/column-918-brief-addendum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:38:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=353</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In today&#8217;s column (Sunday 9/18) I referred to Lee Whitnum&#8217;s press release in which she claims the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union turned her away 3 times when she approached them about suing  the Town of Greenwich and the First Selectman for allowing an Israel Independence Day celebration and a Bar Mitzvah to take place on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/18/column-918-brief-addendum/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>RECYCLING A GREENWICH TRADITION &#8211; A BRIEF HISTORY</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/04/recycling-a-greenwich-tradition-a-brief-history/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/04/recycling-a-greenwich-tradition-a-brief-history/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:55:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=350</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my Greenwich Time column this week about a successful first month of single stream recycling in Greenwich &#8211; Smooth Sailing on Single Stream &#8211; I quote from Sally Davies and make reference to the Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board (GRAB) which Davies chairs. However, because my column is limited to 700 words, I was unable [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/09/04/recycling-a-greenwich-tradition-a-brief-history/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DISTURBING EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE VOTING RIGHTS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/08/20/disturbing-efforts-to-undermine-voting-rights/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/08/20/disturbing-efforts-to-undermine-voting-rights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:36:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=346</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My weekly column that appears in print in the Greenwich Time on Sundays and usually goes online Friday night did not appear on the GT website this weekend, so here it is as a blog posting for those of you who usually read it online. ************************************************************************************************************************ I recently opened an email from the American Civil [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/08/20/disturbing-efforts-to-undermine-voting-rights/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>GREENWICH JEWISH COMMUNITY CELEBRATES ISRAEL AT 63</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/14/greenwich-jewish-community-celebrates-israel-at-63/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/14/greenwich-jewish-community-celebrates-israel-at-63/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 01:56:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=343</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[HERE IS MY GREENWICH TIME COLUMN THAT APPEARS IN PRINT SUNDAY MAY 15: Sunday the Greenwich Jewish community gathers in joyous song and dance to celebrate Israel’s 63rd birthday. The celebration features live music and the raising of the Israeli flag. There is much to celebrate. After only 63 years, this tiny nation with few [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/14/greenwich-jewish-community-celebrates-israel-at-63/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>EARLY START TO THE 2011 CAMPAIGN SEASON &#8211; DTC MEETING MAY 11</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/07/early-start-to-the-2011-campaign-season-dtc-meeting-may-11/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/07/early-start-to-the-2011-campaign-season-dtc-meeting-may-11/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 00:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ONCE AGAIN, FOR SOME REASON, MY WEEKLY COLUMN THAT APPEARS IN PRINT EVERY SUNDAY FAILED TO GO ONLINE FRIDAY NIGHT. SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LOOK FOR IT ONLINE, HERE IT IS. The 2011 Greenwich election season is off to an early start. Greenwich Democrats, hoping to get a jump on the Republicans, will [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/07/early-start-to-the-2011-campaign-season-dtc-meeting-may-11/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Diversity Writing Contest Winners</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/06/diversity-writing-contest-winners/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/06/diversity-writing-contest-winners/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2011 22:30:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=336</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There were 68 entries in the 2nd annual diversity writing contest sponsored by the Town of Greenwich Affirmative Action Advisory Committee and the Greenwich Time. The entries were of very high quality and the contest was very competitive. The judges &#8211; Susan Ellis, Sarah Littman, David McCumber, Margaret Walsh &#8211; made their final selections this [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/05/06/diversity-writing-contest-winners/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/04/24/next-year-in-jerusalem/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/04/24/next-year-in-jerusalem/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:34:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=333</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[FOR SOME REASON TODAY&#8217;S SUNDAY COLUMN DID NOT GO ONLINE. SO HERE IT IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO USUALLY READ IT ON LINE. Next year in Jerusalem! These words conclude the Passover Seder. Introduced into the Hagaddah in medieval times, the phrase is multi-layered. At one level, it expresses the Diaspora longing for a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/04/24/next-year-in-jerusalem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>THE 1% SENSE OF THE MEETING RESOLUTION APPEARS DEAD IN THE WATER</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/03/09/the-1-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-appears-dead-in-the-water/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/03/09/the-1-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-appears-dead-in-the-water/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:49:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=330</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Item #14 on the RTM Call for Monday&#8217;s March meeting appears, thankfully, to be dead in the water. This was a follow up to the October 25 Sense of the Meeting Resolution (SOMR) that called upon town leadership to &#8220;develop a fiscal policy based on savings and restraint that will control the rate of spending [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/03/09/the-1-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-appears-dead-in-the-water/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TOWN BUDGET CONVERSATION SHOULD MOVE BEYOND QUIBBLING</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/02/16/town-budget-conversation-should-move-beyond-quibbling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/02/16/town-budget-conversation-should-move-beyond-quibbling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:02:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=326</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It would be a mistake for the First Selectman to engage in a trivial back and forth over minutia with the 4 individuals who defended the District 7 report at yesterday&#8217;s press conference. Likewise, he should not acquiesce to the request that his &#8220;historical analysis be re-released&#8221; to reflect their analysis. The First Selectman&#8217;s analysis [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2011/02/16/town-budget-conversation-should-move-beyond-quibbling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NEW YEAR&#8217;S WISH &#8211; MAY INTERFAITH COUNCIL&#8217;S MESSAGE OF LOVE PREVAIL</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/28/new-years-wish-may-interfaith-councils-message-of-love-prevail/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/28/new-years-wish-may-interfaith-councils-message-of-love-prevail/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Dec 2010 23:11:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=324</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Computer problems prevented my December 26 column from making it onto the Greenwich Time website in the column section, so I am reproducing the column here on my blog: Thinking back on the events of 2010, I am reminded of the prayer vigil I attended last August on the lawn in front of Stamford’s First [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/28/new-years-wish-may-interfaith-councils-message-of-love-prevail/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>POLICE SHOULD NOT BE DIRECTING TRAFFIC ON GREENWICH AVENUE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/02/police-should-not-be-directing-traffic-on-greenwich-avenue/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/02/police-should-not-be-directing-traffic-on-greenwich-avenue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=320</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Kudos to Police Chief Ridberg for standing by his decision not to station a police officer at the Lewis Street intersection on Greenwich Avenue. Indeed, the police officers at all the intersections should be replaced with traffic lights. This past week I was at the East Elm Street intersection when the police officer directing traffic [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/12/02/police-should-not-be-directing-traffic-on-greenwich-avenue/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TONIGHT&#8217;S BET PUBLIC HEARING &#8211; BET ELECTIONS NOT A BURNING ISSUE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/tonights-bet-public-hearing-bet-elections-not-a-burning-issue/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/tonights-bet-public-hearing-bet-elections-not-a-burning-issue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 04:51:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The BET held a public hearing tonight on the method of election to the BET. This is the first time in just over 6 years &#8211; since March 2004 &#8211; that the BET is taking up this topic. If the BET is to vote on changing the way in which its members are elected &#8211; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/tonights-bet-public-hearing-bet-elections-not-a-burning-issue/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>BET ELECTIONS &#8211; OLD TOPIC RESURFACES</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/bet-elections-old-topic-resurfaces/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/bet-elections-old-topic-resurfaces/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:58:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=308</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A public hearing on the method of electing members to the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) is at the top of tonight&#8217;s (Monday November 15, 2010) BET agenda. While at the moment there is no specific proposal on the table, BET Chairman Stephen Walko thinks it is time to air this old subject once [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/15/bet-elections-old-topic-resurfaces/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>GREEN FINGERS GARDEN CLUB &#8211; TEAM 75</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/02/green-fingers-garden-club-team-75/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/02/green-fingers-garden-club-team-75/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:37:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On this crisp and sunny fall morning members of the Green Fingers Garden Club were busy planting daffodil bulbs in anticipation of spring. The planting of spring blooming bulbs at various locations in town is something the club, a member of the Garden Clubs of America, tries to do every year, according to club president [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/11/02/green-fingers-garden-club-team-75/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>RTM&#8217;S SOMR &#8211; A NEW PHILOSOPHY?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/26/rtms-somr-a-new-philosophy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/26/rtms-somr-a-new-philosophy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:29:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As predicted, the RTM approved the Sense of the Meeting Resolution on budgetary restraint by a wide margin last night ( Monday October 25). The vote was 135-41-12. It was, after all, a vote for &#8220;motherhood and apple pie.&#8221; Who could be against a vaguely-worded resolution that has no legally binding authority and calls upon [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/26/rtms-somr-a-new-philosophy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>RTM SENSE OF THE MEETING RESOLUTION &#8211; A HOT TOPIC</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/19/rtm-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-a-hot-topic/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/19/rtm-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-a-hot-topic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:43:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The sense of the meeting resolution on the RTM Call for next Monday&#8217;s meeting seems to be this week&#8217;s hot topic. It has been referred to all RTM committees.It will be discussed all week in committee and district meetings. It was discussed last night (October 18) at the regular BET meeting as well as at [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/19/rtm-sense-of-the-meeting-resolution-a-hot-topic/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A PROFESSIONAL TAX COLLECTOR &#8211; ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/18/a-professional-tax-collector-additional-thoughts/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/18/a-professional-tax-collector-additional-thoughts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:56:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=275</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my regular Greenwich Time column yesterday (Sunday, October 17), I argued that, given the recent problems in the tax collector&#8217;s office, it might be time to take a fresh look at an old issue and replace an elected tax collector with an appointed professional. The BET has twice voted in favor of such a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/18/a-professional-tax-collector-additional-thoughts/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>CANDIDATE FORUM TONIGHT</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/13/candidate-forum-tonight/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/13/candidate-forum-tonight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:49:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A candidate forum is being held tonight in the Town Hall Meeting Room. The forum, which begins at 6 p.m., will feature candidates for the 149th and 151st state assembly districts. All four candidates &#8211; Republicans Livvy Floren and Fred Camillo and Democrats Howard Richman and Claude Johnson &#8211; have been invited to participate in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/13/candidate-forum-tonight/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DEBATE OVER THE DEBATE &#8211; IMPORTANCE OF AN INFORMED ELECTORATE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/11/debate-over-the-debate-importance-of-an-informed-electorate/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/11/debate-over-the-debate-importance-of-an-informed-electorate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:03:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=263</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my first Greenwich Time column (October 3), I wrote about the importance of voter choice in a democracy and the fact that this year Greenwich voters have a choice of candidates for the state legislature in all but one of our state legislative districts. This choice is not a given. The Democratic candidates, running [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/10/11/debate-over-the-debate-importance-of-an-informed-electorate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>P&amp;Z EXECUTIVE SESSION &#8211; APOLOGY TO FRANK FARRICKER</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/28/pz-executive-session-apology-to-frank-farricker/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/28/pz-executive-session-apology-to-frank-farricker/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:58:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=258</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In all my blog postings I strive for accuracy. But if I make a mistake, I will do my best to correct it. And if an apology is in order, it will be forthcoming. I am told by Planning and Zoning Commissioner Frank Farricker that in my Sunday blog posting &#8211; Possible Law Suit Over [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/28/pz-executive-session-apology-to-frank-farricker/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>POSSIBLE LAW SUIT OVER BANK DENIAL &#8211; CONFUSION OVER LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR TOWN OFFICERS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/26/possible-law-suit-over-bank-denial-consequences-of-executive-session-leak/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/26/possible-law-suit-over-bank-denial-consequences-of-executive-session-leak/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=242</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the past week, inaccurate information reported in the media began to approach the status of &#8220;fact.&#8221; It was accepted that volunteers who serve on our town boards and commissions are somehow personally liable and not protected by the town when their decisions lead to law suits, although this is not true. A statement in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/26/possible-law-suit-over-bank-denial-consequences-of-executive-session-leak/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DENYING THE BANK, BANNING SEX OFFENDERS AND LINDA McMAHON ON THE ISSUES S</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/21/denying-the-bank-banning-sex-offenders-and-linda-mcmahon-on-the-issues-s/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/21/denying-the-bank-banning-sex-offenders-and-linda-mcmahon-on-the-issues-s/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:23:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Starting on October 3, I will be writing a weekly Sunday column for the Greenwich Time, with a focus on Greenwich issues. My blog, Our Town, will, for the most part, tie in with this new column. I will no longer be posting articles in the format I have been doing since starting this blog [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/21/denying-the-bank-banning-sex-offenders-and-linda-mcmahon-on-the-issues-s/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>GREENWICH DEMOCRATS ANTICIPATE NOVEMBER VICTORY</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/13/greenwich-democrats-anticipate-november-victory/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/13/greenwich-democrats-anticipate-november-victory/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:20:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=227</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If the 2010 November election is destined to be bad news for the nation&#8217;s Democrats, there was no such indication at yesterday afternoon&#8217;s (Sunday September 12) Annual Greenwich Democratic Picnic where the mood was decidedly upbeat. The event, held in the Garden Education Center at the Montgomery Pinetum in Cos Cob, was well attended. Although [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/09/13/greenwich-democrats-anticipate-november-victory/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>AS-SALAMU &#8216;ALAYKUM &#8211; PEACE BE UNTO YOU</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/25/as-salamu-alaykum-peace-be-unto-you/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/25/as-salamu-alaykum-peace-be-unto-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:25:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=222</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday (Tuesday, August 24), in the hour before sunset, about 200 people gathered for a prayer vigil on the lawn in front of Stamford&#8217;s First Congregational Church. A Greenwich contingent was present. The vigil, organized by the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, was a display of interfaith solidarity with area Muslims who face growing hostility [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/25/as-salamu-alaykum-peace-be-unto-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>MOSQUE OPPOSITION THREATENS AMERICA</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/23/mosque-opposition-threatens-america/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/23/mosque-opposition-threatens-america/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:05:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=211</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A battle for America&#8217;s heart and soul is being waged over Ground Zero. And too many spineless politicians are backing away from the fight, as has the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that should be on the front lines in defending the First Amendment from any assault. So much is at stake in this war against [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/23/mosque-opposition-threatens-america/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>JEWS CAN&#8217;T BE SEVERED FROM THE LAND OF ISRAEL &#8211; THE BOND IS ETERNAL</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/08/jews-cant-be-severed-from-the-land-of-israel-the-bond-is-eternal/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/08/jews-cant-be-severed-from-the-land-of-israel-the-bond-is-eternal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=200</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An opinion piece written by my husband, retired NBC news producer Donald Snyder, appeared in the Greenwich Time this past Wednesday, August 4. It focused on the new anti-Semitism now plaguing most of Europe, and more specifically the situation in Malmo, Sweden where my husband conducted extensive interviews at the end of May and the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/08/jews-cant-be-severed-from-the-land-of-israel-the-bond-is-eternal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>CORDOBA HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN WAY</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/04/cordoba-house-and-the-american-way/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/04/cordoba-house-and-the-american-way/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:32:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=195</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday morning (August 3, 2010) the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission denied landmark status to the severely damaged 152 year old former Burlington coat factory building at 45 Park Place, two blocks from Ground Zero. The building was damaged on 9/11 when landing gear from one of the airliners ripped through its roof. The [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/08/04/cordoba-house-and-the-american-way/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SHAME ON THE STATE, SHAME ON THE TOWN</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/23/shame-on-the-state-shame-on-the-town/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/23/shame-on-the-state-shame-on-the-town/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:39:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=192</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Connecticut&#8217;s Department of Economic and Community Development has just dealt a severe blow to the future of affordable housing in Greenwich. By accepting the town&#8217;s argument that Greenwich has met the requirement to build 24 units of affordable housing in exchange for the former Cos Cob power plant site, the state has given its blessing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/23/shame-on-the-state-shame-on-the-town/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>PASSION IS IMPORTANT: POCD HOUSING TASK FORCE UPDATE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/15/passion-is-important-pocd-housing-task-force-update/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/15/passion-is-important-pocd-housing-task-force-update/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:17:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Housing Task Force, which has been meeting at 8 a.m. every other Wednesday morning since  March, is currently in the process of hearing status reports from its subgroups. These groups are engaged in a review of the housing action items outlined in the town&#8217;s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). At this week&#8217;s meeting, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/07/15/passion-is-important-pocd-housing-task-force-update/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A LITTLE-KNOWN SLIVER OF BELLE HAVEN HISTORY</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/06/24/a-little-known-sliver-of-belle-haven-history/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/06/24/a-little-known-sliver-of-belle-haven-history/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=185</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An article in today&#8217;s Greenwich Time describes Belle Haven as &#8220;home to not one but two billionaires and some of the town&#8217;s priciest real estate.&#8221; It is true that this private waterfront community has long been an exclusive enclave. Around the turn of the last century, wealthy industrialists were transforming Greenwich potato farms into expensive [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/06/24/a-little-known-sliver-of-belle-haven-history/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NO HOUSING CONSENSUS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/30/no-consensus/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/30/no-consensus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 May 2010 10:39:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=183</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;The committee couldn&#8217;t come to consensus on the meaning of consensus.&#8221; This was an observer&#8217;s comment overheard after the most recent meeting of the POCD Housing Task Force. Members of the task force spent approximately one hour &#8211; a full 2/3 of the one and a half hour meeting- discussing procedural matters. After considerable discussion, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/30/no-consensus/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BANKS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/22/what-to-do-about-the-banks/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/22/what-to-do-about-the-banks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 May 2010 02:51:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=172</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Planning and Zoning Commission at its May 18 meeting took no action on an application for final site plan and special permit approval to replace the Bella Nona Restaurant at 371 East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob with a 2,379 sq. ft. Chase Bank that includes drive-thru facilities. The hearing on this application was held [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/05/22/what-to-do-about-the-banks/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>INTERFAITH TRIP REVISITED AT PASSOVER AND EASTER</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/04/04/interfaith-trip-revisited-at-passover-and-easter/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/04/04/interfaith-trip-revisited-at-passover-and-easter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=83</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been almost a month since my blog postings from the Holy Land. The passage of so much time has diminished my ability to tap into the intense energy of that extraordinary and exceedingly complex place, but I will try. Now, during this week of Passover, I find myself reflecting back upon our 10-day [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/04/04/interfaith-trip-revisited-at-passover-and-easter/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>BET ELECTIONS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/29/bet-elections/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/29/bet-elections/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:27:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[More competitive elections for BET members is not a new topic. Steve Walko is right about this, just as he is right when he observes in today&#8217;s Greenwich Time that &#8220;the Republican caucus of the BET has consistently requested that the BET elections be competitive,&#8221; while the Democratic caucus has opposed the method of election [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/29/bet-elections/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DEFINING DIVERSITY WRITING CONTEST &#8211; APRIL 16 SUBMISSION DEADLINE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/26/defining-diversity-writing-contest-april-16-submission-deadline/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/26/defining-diversity-writing-contest-april-16-submission-deadline/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:30:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=145</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As chair of the town&#8217;s Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, I would like to take the opportunity to use my blog to help publicize a writing contest that should be of interest to high school students in Greenwich. The AAAC is co-sponsoring this contest with the Greenwich Time in the interest of increasing awareness of diversity [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/26/defining-diversity-writing-contest-april-16-submission-deadline/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>COS COB POWER PLANT SITE &#8211; STATE APPROVAL STILL REQUIRED</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/11/cos-cob-power-plant-site-state-approval-still-required/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/11/cos-cob-power-plant-site-state-approval-still-required/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:33:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=136</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Tuesday (March 9), as expected, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the town&#8217;s plan to turn the former Cos Cob Power Plant site into a park that includes an athletic field. This is a green light for the town to proceed to develop the entire property of approximately 9.7 acres exclusively for recreational and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/11/cos-cob-power-plant-site-state-approval-still-required/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/07/what-happened-to-the-affordable-housing/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/07/what-happened-to-the-affordable-housing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:18:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=125</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All indications are that on Tuesday evening (March 9) the Planning and Zoning Commission will grant final approval for a coastal site plan on &#8220;a 9.678 acre property located at 22 Sound Shore Drive in the R-6 zone,&#8221; so described in the tentative agenda for the Commission&#8217;s Tuesday meeting. This 9.678 acre property is otherwise [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/07/what-happened-to-the-affordable-housing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>BUILDING LIVING BRIDGES &#8211; AFULA TEENS IN GREENWICH AT PURIM</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/04/building-living-bridges-afula-teens-in-greenwich-at-purim/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/04/building-living-bridges-afula-teens-in-greenwich-at-purim/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:30:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=100</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most people in town probably do not know that Greenwich is partnered with Afula, a city in northern Israel&#8217;s Jezreel Valley. It is a partnership worth knowing about. The Greenwich Jewish community is one of 13 Jewish communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, a group known as the Southern New England Consortium, that fifteen [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/03/04/building-living-bridges-afula-teens-in-greenwich-at-purim/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>HOUSING TASK FORCE OFF TO A GOOD START</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/23/housing-task-force-off-to-a-good-start/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/23/housing-task-force-off-to-a-good-start/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:29:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=75</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Members of the town&#8217;s newly created Housing Task Force held their first meeting yesterday morning (Monday, February 22). This is the first time in many years that Greenwich has a broad based community group looking at affordable housing. The Board of Selectmen appointed the members of this task force in response to a recommendation in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/23/housing-task-force-off-to-a-good-start/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>ASH WEDNESDAY IN THE UPPER GALILEE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/19/ash-wednesday-in-the-upper-galilee/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/19/ash-wednesday-in-the-upper-galilee/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:46:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=70</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[NOTE: This is the fourth of a series of postings from Israel, a journal account of the Temple Sholom/Christ Church interfaith trip. Yesterday (Wednesday, February 17) was Ash Wednesday. We marked this first day of Lent with a service in a mountain forest about 3 miles north of the city of Tzfat (Safed) in the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/19/ash-wednesday-in-the-upper-galilee/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>PRAYING TOGETHER AT MASADA</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/16/praying-together-at-masada/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/16/praying-together-at-masada/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:01:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=60</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday (Monday) we went down from the mountains of Jerusalem into the Judean Desert. On our way, we passed the oldest city on earth. Although smaller settlements elsewhere may have been this old, archaeologists have as yet found no walled city as old as Jericho. This oasis city, twelve thousand years old, dates back to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/16/praying-together-at-masada/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SHAVUA TOV FROM JERUSALEM</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/14/shavua-tov-from-jerusalem/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/14/shavua-tov-from-jerusalem/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:12:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=49</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An hour before sunset, as Shabbat was about to descend upon Jerusalem, the members of our group stood in a circle and held hands as we prepared to welcome Shabbat Shekalim, our first of two Sabbaths together in the land of Israel. The city lay before us, an awesome sight. The Reverend Jim Lemler of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/14/shavua-tov-from-jerusalem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SHABBAT SHALOM FROM ISRAEL</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/12/shabbat-shalom-from-israel/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/12/shabbat-shalom-from-israel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:38:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=43</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am on an interfaith trip to Israel with a group of 28 people led by Rabbi Mitchell &#8220;Mitch&#8221; Hurvitz of Temple Sholom and the Reverend Jim Lemler of Christ Episcopal Church. This is the first of what will be a series of postings from Israel over the next ten days. The day we left [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/12/shabbat-shalom-from-israel/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS A COMMUNITY GROUP FOCUSED ON TOWN&#8217;S AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/11/for-the-first-time-in-many-years-a-community-group-focused-on-towns-affordable-housing-needs/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/11/for-the-first-time-in-many-years-a-community-group-focused-on-towns-affordable-housing-needs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:04:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=37</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Board of Selectmen&#8217;s creation of a Housing Task Force this past January means that, for the first time in many years, Greenwich will have a group of community members focused on strategies for meeting our town&#8217;s affordable housing needs. While this newly created Housing Task Force is a creature of our town government,  private [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/02/11/for-the-first-time-in-many-years-a-community-group-focused-on-towns-affordable-housing-needs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>COMMUNITY CENTERS, INC. &#8211; SERVING OUR TOWN FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/27/community-centers-inc-serving-our-town-for-more-than-fifty-years/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/27/community-centers-inc-serving-our-town-for-more-than-fifty-years/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:53:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=34</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although Community Centers, Inc. has been serving the Greenwich community for more than fifty years, many people in town are still unaware of the good work it does. Located at 61 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, across from the YMCA, the non-profit agency, also known as CCI, offers educational and recreational programs for those who [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/27/community-centers-inc-serving-our-town-for-more-than-fifty-years/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SOLDIERS FOR PEACE &#8211; ISRAELIS SAVING LIVES IN HAITI</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/20/soldiers-for-peace-israelis-saving-lives-in-haiti/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/20/soldiers-for-peace-israelis-saving-lives-in-haiti/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:58:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=32</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[NOTE: Although this blog is devoted to commentary on Greenwich people and Greenwich issues, with the intent of celebrating our town&#8217;s diversity, I will occasionally write on larger issues that affect us all, no matter where we live. I am here commenting on something that fits this description. Last week, late on Tuesday afternoon, a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/20/soldiers-for-peace-israelis-saving-lives-in-haiti/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. &#8211; MUCH WORK REMAINS</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/17/the-legacy-of-martin-luther-king-jr-much-work-remains/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/17/the-legacy-of-martin-luther-king-jr-much-work-remains/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:45:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=30</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greenwich kicked off the local events celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a program at the YWCA this past Thursday. I was honored to be part of this kick-off which featured an awards ceremony recognizing the achievements of two outstanding high school students. I was participating in my role as chair [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2010/01/17/the-legacy-of-martin-luther-king-jr-much-work-remains/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>McKinney Terrace &#8211; Where Do We Go From Here?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/12/14/mckinney-terrace-where-do-we-go-from-here/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/12/14/mckinney-terrace-where-do-we-go-from-here/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:07:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=12</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Affordable senior housing has been at McKinney Terrace, in the former Byram School building, for almost a quarter century. This housing has always met a neighborhood need. Half of the 55 residents currently living in the 51 senior apartments at McKinney Terrace lived in western Greenwich prior to moving into this senior housing. They come [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/12/14/mckinney-terrace-where-do-we-go-from-here/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SAY NO TO NIMBY &#8211; THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGE</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/29/say-no-to-nimby-the-affordable-housing-challenge/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/29/say-no-to-nimby-the-affordable-housing-challenge/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:12:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=8</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our town has a long history of support for affordable housing going back to 1946 when the town established the Greenwich Housing Authority in response to a shortage of affordable housing for returning World War II veterans. Since 1946, the Housing Authority, the town&#8217;s chief developer of affordable housing, has created 708 affordable units, seventeen [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/29/say-no-to-nimby-the-affordable-housing-challenge/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NAMES DAY AT GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/20/names-day-at-greenwich-high-school/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/20/names-day-at-greenwich-high-school/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:48:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alma Rutgers</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/?p=5</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the first posting on &#8220;Our Town,&#8221; my new Greenwich Time blog. Everyday life in Greenwich is the subject of the blog. But to my way of thinking, there is not just one Greenwich. There are different social layers that, taken together, make up our town. My blog seeks out this diversity. Greenwich is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/2009/11/20/names-day-at-greenwich-high-school/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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