09/05/11 GOVERNOR MALLOY, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER PRAISE CARRIERS FOR WAIVING HURRICANE DEDUCTIBLES (UPDATED)

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Insurance Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi today announced that the Administration has been working closely with the insurance industry in wake of Tropical Storm Irene to address the issue of higher-cost hurricane deductibles that may be applied for some damages on coastal properties. As a result, the majority of the companies that write homeowners policies in Connecticut, including the Travelers and The Hartford, will be waiving the higher cost deductible.

“We should all be mindful that as our state and citizens continue to recover in these difficult economic times, there are some business decisions that could be extremely burdensome if imposed at the wrong time. I believe this is that time,” Governor Malloy said. “I applaud those companies who are waiving the deductible and commend them for taking this tremendous step of corporate goodwill. Failure to do this would result in many homeowners paying tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.”

Commissioner Leonardi said some carriers have outright waived the deductible even though their policy language permitted it; others did not invoke it because their policy triggers were not met.

“I am asking all other carriers to follow the lead of those in the industry, who I believe in this instance, have done the right thing and waived the hurricane deductible. There is no question that Connecticut was hit by a damaging storm, but it wasn’t a hurricane when it reached us,” Commissioner Leonardi said.

Commissioner Leonardi said talks are ongoing with other insurance carriers to resolve the issue. The Commissioner said the Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection are also looking into the matter. Currently, 17 companies that have nearly 70 percent of the homeowners market throughout Connecticut are not invoking the hurricane deductible on coastal policies.

Going forward, Commissioner Leonardi said the underwriting guidelines that permitted these deductibles will be changed and tightened.

“They currently do not carry the force of a regulation or statute and I will be reviewing whether legislative changes may be necessary,” Commissioner Leonardi said.

Companies that have waived the hurricane deductible:

ACE
Fireman’s Fund
Hartford
Liberty Mutual
MetLife
MiddleOak
Nationwide
New London County Mutual (NLC)
Safeco
Tower
Travelers
Utica National
Utica First
Vermont Mutual

UPDATE: On Tuesday, the governor’s office announced nine new companies have agreed to wave deductibles:

Allstate*
Bunker Hill*
Connecticut FAIR Plan*
Farm Family*
Farmers Insurance*
Fidelity National*
Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE)*
Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company*
Universal North America*

Companies not applying the hurricane deductibles because triggers were not met:

Chubb
Factory Mutual*
Hanover
Kemper
Peerless
*Added to list September 6, 2011

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09/05/11 CT News Alert: Homes In CT Without Power Drop Under 1,000

Homes In CT Without Power Drop Under 1,000

Fewer than 1,000 Connecticut homes remain without power a little more than a week after Tropical Storm Irene swept through.

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09/05/11 Warning: The Whitby School Is Under A Boil Water Advisory

The Whitby School in Greenwich remained under a boil water advisory Tuesday following Tropical Storm Irene.

The state Department of Public Health issued the advisory because the school's well system may have been compromised in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene on August 28th.

Following significant storms contaminated groundwater can flow into a well.

The state health department issued similar advisories for more than 90 public water sites statewide in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

The advisory will remain in effect until the school receives test results showing the water is not contaminated.

Signs warning of the advisory are posted at the school.

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09/05/11 Some Reporters Stay Quiet And Don't Fully Report On People And Places Where Angels Fear to Tread

Chris Fountain: "Ooh, I wish I could name names"

Just had a wonderful Labor Day family lunch on the deck (and celebrated Ma’s 87th, which arrives tomorrow – everyone wish Leatrice a happy birthday!) and I heard a simply woeful storm story. Turns out one of our Back Country residents is absolutely furious, and let his generator supplier know it, that his generator wasn’t powerful enough to light his tennis court and his swimming pool lights at the same time. I assume he will be suing for severe emotional harm but in the meantime, can’t we all shed a quiet tear for his troubles?

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09/05/11 Only Two Connecticut Light And Power Customers In Greenwich Were Still Without Power As Of 7:30 PM

As of 6 p.m., four customers had not had their electricity restored. Two of them were on Old Mill Road, one on Old Post Road and the other on Riversville Road.

The two remaining customers without power, have problems will not be resolved till sometime late tonight or early Tuesday morning.

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09/05/11 Topix News, Which Is Owned By McClatchy Newspapers, Tribune and Gannett Media Companies, Covers Hearst Newspaper Failings In Greenwich

GREENWICH ROUNDUP'S ADVOCACY FOR BILL EFFROS GETS RESULTS

Full story: greenwichroundup.blogspot.com

Greenwich Board Of Education President Steve Anderson, Greenwich Town Attorney John Wayne Fox, Hearst Newspaper Editor David McCumber And Greenwich Time Reporter Neil Vigdor Forced To Take Action ....

09/02/11 BIll Effros: Please Change Public Forum Location

Please change the location of the upcoming "Public Information Forum on the Environmental Impact at Greenwich High School" scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Greenwich High School.

As an abutting neighbor, I clearly have a direct interest in the information disseminated.

The Town of Greenwich Police have stated I will be arrested if I so much as set foot on the High School property.

The MISA Building Committee and the PTA are aware of this, and it has been confirmed by the Chief of Police, the First Selectman, the Board of Education, and the Legal Department.

I have a right to participate in the planned public forum.

Please change this public meeting location so I can attend.

Bill Effros

GHS Abutting Property Owner

PLEASE ALSO SEE:

09/01/11 Shame, Shame, Shame On Greenwich Board Of Education President Steve Anderson For Not Helping This Greenwich Taxpayer

08/30/11 QUESTIONS: Where's The Transparancy? - Why Is It So Hard For A Taxpayer To Get Access To Public Documents? - Where Is The Greenwich Time?

08/27/11 ONCE AGAIN THE GREENWICH TIME IS MIA: Greenwich Taxpayer Wants Information From The BOE: Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan - FOIA Request

08/22/11 If This Report Has Been Filed, It Changes, Forever, The Town's Ability To Grant Itself Permissions And Waivers For Use Of The GHS Site

Here Is A Question The Greenwich Time Wont Ask ... What Is Greenwich Board Of Education President Steven Anderson Hiding From This Taxpayer And Greenwich High School Parents?

UPDATE:

GREENWICH ROUNDUP GETS RESULTS .....

GHS grants access to neighbor banned from campus for meeting

Public forum on soil contamination: GHS allows homeowner charged in '09 trespassing incident to attend meeting

By Neil Vigdor, Greenwich Time - Staff Writer

The owner of a residential property abutting Greenwich High School who was banned from campus two years ago after he was arrested for trespassing there will be allowed back on the grounds for an upcoming public forum on soil contamination discovered at the site.

Bill Effros appealed to school board members by e-mail Friday to allow him to attend the information session, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 7 in the GHS auditorium.

His property at 41 Old Church Road is adjacent to the school's athletic fields, all but one of which remain closed as a safety precaution after toxins were found this summer during initial construction of a new campus auditorium.

Town Attorney John Wayne Fox sent Effros a reply Friday afternoon telling him the town would temporarily lift the ban, which he said stemmed from the 2009 trespassing incident.

"He is a neighbor," Fox told Greenwich Time. "He has a right to be informed of the process that we are pursuing."

Effros called on the school board to change the meeting location.

"As an abutting neighbor, I clearly have a direct interest in the information disseminated," Effros wrote. "The Town of Greenwich Police have stated I will be arrested if I so much as set foot on the High School property."

Effros was charged with first-degree trespass and breach of peace June 23, 2009, after he refused to leave the high school property on orders of police who found him taking photos and video of construction work there, according to an arrest report.

He still contends that it was his legal right to be at the high school to gather evidence for separate contempt-of-court rulings that he planned to file against the town....

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09/05/11 Greenwich Power Outages Shoot Back Up To 179 Customers In The Dark

As of 4:18 PM The Outages in Greenwich Have Shot Up To 179 From Only 18 Outages This morning.

And then there were 179.

CL&P had earlier today report that power has been restored to all but 18 of its 27,898 customers in Greenwich.

Crews are working on Labor Day in hopes of restoring power to the finial 18 customers in town who have been without it since Hurricane Irene hit over a week ago Saturday.

Some in Greenwich now doubt that CL&P will meet it's self imposed deadline of having all power restored in Greenwich tonight. Could that the lights might be out for another 24 hours?

Call seeking a comment to the Greenwich emergency operations center, seeking an explanation, went unanswered.

PLEASE SEE:

09/05/11 Connecticut Light And Power: 18 Customers Away From Full Power Restoration (11:32 AM)

UPDATE:

6:00 PM

UP AGAIN AND DOWN AGAIN

NOW CL&P IS REPORTING THAT ONLY 6 GREENWICH CUSTOMERS ARE WITHOUT POWER

=======================

UPDATE #2

09/05/11 Only Two Connecticut Light And Power Customers In Greenwich Were Still Without Power As Of 7:30 PM

As of 6 p.m., four customers had not had their electricity restored. Two of them were on Old Mill Road, one on Old Post Road and the other on Riversville Road.

The two remaining customers without power, have problems will not be resolved till sometime late tonight or early Tuesday morning.

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09/05/11 Associated Press: Mark Teixeira Is Complaining About The Cost Of Sending 3 Kids To Private School In Greenwich. Alex Rodriguez Backs him up

Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez Join 'Entourage'

BY RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Instead of guarding the lines, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez got to say them.

The New York Yankees stars took a little time off from the pennant race to make guest appearances as themselves on the next-to-last episode of the HBO Comedy "Entourage," which aired for the first time Sunday night. This is one time players didn't mind being accused of acting.

"I'm not going to quit my day job," Teixeira said with a laugh before Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

In the episode, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) calls Teixeira during batting practice at Yankee Stadium and asks him to double his investment to $500,000 for a planned Los Angeles-area branch of Don Peppe, an Italian restaurant in New York. Teixeira turns him down, complaining about the cost of sending three kids to private school in Greenwich, Conn. A-Rod places a separate call during which he tells Turtle to stop pestering Teixeira.
Not all Yankees caught the cameos. When team community relations consultant Ray Negron shouted congratulations to Teixeira across the clubhouse, pitcher A.J. Burnett chimed in "Good job!" before turning to Negron and asking, "What he do?"

Teixeira said he's friendly with Doug Allin, the series' executive producer, and the genesis for the appearance was a dinner around Christmas last year in Queens.

"Doug and I were eating at Don Peppe's, and we had a bunch of guys together. 'You know what?'" Teixeira remembered saying. "'We should have Turtle open up a Don Peppe's and invest in it.'"

Teixeira wrote his own lines together with Allin.

"We did it a few different ways, just to kind of see what worked the best with the episode," the two-time All-Star first baseman said.

Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman, became part of the project along with the Knicks' Amare Stoudemire and former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, also sought as investors by Turtle.

Teixeira's parents and wife watched, but the show was inappropriate for his young children. He's looking forward to having future at-bats in front of the camera.

"If someone wants to throw me in some cameos and let me have some fun in the future, I'll definitely do it," he said.

SOURCE:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/wires/09/05/2010.ap.bba.yankees.teixeira.entourage.1st.ld.writethru.0485/

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09/05/11 Two Greenwich Residents Were Arrested Monday Morning In Connection With An Incident At Their Church Street Apartment

Greenwich Police reports say Maximilian Adolf Hutter and Jillian F. O'Farrell, both of 56 Church St., Apt. 1, were involved in a dispute and both intoxicated at the time.

O'Farrell complained of injuries to her lower back after the dispute and Hutter received a scratch on his face, police said. O'Farrell was taken to Greenwich Hospital for treatment.

Mr. Hutter, 34, was charged with third-degree assault and is scheduled to appear in court September 6th.

And Mr. O'Farrell, 28, was charged with disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court September 6th.

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09/05/11 Stamford Waitress Reportedly Used Skimming Devices To Capture Credit Card Data - Several Town Residents And Families Reportedly Affected

A former waitress at a popular Stamford restaurant who used skimming devices to steal credit card information from unsuspecting patrons pleaded guilty Aug. 30 to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.

Natasha Smith, 25, of Georgia, formerly of Far Rockaway, NY, waived her right to indictment before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport. She is scheduled for sentencing on November 18, 2011, at which time she faces a maximum prison term of five years.

=============================

United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut

Press Release

Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force: FORMER WAITRESS AT STAMFORD RESTAURANTADMITS ROLE IN CREDIT CARD FRAUD SCHEME

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NATASHA SMITH, 25, of Georgia, formerly of Far Rockaway, New York, waived her right to indictment and pleaded guilty yesterday, August 30, before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2008 to January 2009, SMITH worked as a waitress at a restaurant in Stamford, Connecticut. In pleading guilty, SMITH admitted that, while working at the restaurant, she and a co-worker, Chibuzo Okafor, stole credit card information from customers through the use of “skimming” devices. When restaurant customers would pay with their credit cards, SMITH and Okafor would swipe the cards through hand-held skimmers before running them through the restaurant’s own legitimate credit card verification system. The skimming devices would copy and store the account information encoded on the magnetic strips on the back of the credit cards.

Every few weeks, an individual who supplied the skimming devices would meet with SMITH or Okafor so they could turn over to him the credit card information stored on the devices. That person would pay them either $20 or $25 for each credit card they successfully swiped through the skimming device and then give them new skimmers so they could continue with the scheme. The stolen credit card information was later used by members of the conspiracy to make unauthorized purchases.

While SMITH and Okafor were employed at the Stamford restaurant, approximately 92 credit cards were compromised, the majority of which were compromised by Okafor, resulting in losses of approximately $135,888.

SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Janet B. Hall on November 18, 2011, at which time SMITH faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

On March 10, 2010, Okafor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. She awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, notably the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service. The Task Force also includes members from the United States Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Connecticut State Police; and the Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, New Haven and Shelton Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Murphy.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

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09/05/11 Greenwich Sports: Ward Bests Field of 33 to Win Classic Grand Prix

Full story: southampton.patch.com

In the end, it all came down to just over a tenth of a second. That's all it took for Olympian McLain Ward to walk away from Sunday's $250,000 Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic with the first place check for $75,000, leaving second-place finisher Kent Farrington with the red ribbon and a check for $55,000. The winner was decided in an exciting ...

... Open Jumper class on Thursday. In a press conference held after the class completed, Farrington, who lives in Greenwich, Conn. said that although he had set a fast pace, he felt he may have left the door open for Ward to go just a little faster ..

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09/05/11 Are You Ready For Some More Flooding? A Flash Flood Watch Is In Effect For Greenwich Through Tuesday Morning

Are you ready for the rain?

According to the National Weather Service, showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon into Tuesday could produce rainfall of more than 1 inch per hour capable of producing local flooding in Greenwich.

During the day Monday, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms, which are more likely after 4 p.m.

The hazardous Weather Outlook warns that a slow-moving cold front and increasing tropical moisture brings the possibility of heavy rain late Monday through early Tuesday morning.

Localized flash flooding will be possible, just as Greenwich kids are preparing to go back to school.

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09/05/11 Connecticut Light And Power: 18 Customers Away From Full Power Restoration

CL&P has been working around the clock on Labor Day in hopes of completing power restoration for all of Greenwich.

The utility reports that power has been restored to nearly all of its 27,898 customers in Greenwich.

Crews are working on Labor Day in hopes of restoring power to the last 18 customers in town who have been without it since Hurricane Irene hit over a week ago Saturday.

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09/05/11 Hearst Newspaper Editor David McCumber Celebrates Another Holiday By Putting Up Old News And AP Reports On The Greenwich Time Website

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• 

  When was your power restored?

  We need your help compiling data on how long residents and businesses were without power due to the storm.

• 

  Seeking the spirit of Ethel

  Vivian Vance, who played Ethel Mertz on "I Love Lucy," was the focus of a paranormal inquiry this weekend.

• 

  Girls share passion for scouting

  Several girls from troops in Greenwich are set to earn their "Gold Award," the highest achievement in Girl Scouts.

Breaking News

• GHS grants access to neighbor banned from campus for meeting

  

  Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer

  Public forum on soil contamination: GHS allows homeowner charged in '09 trespassing incident to attend meeting more »

  Photo

• State employee unions struggle to maintain clout

  Brian Lockhart, Staff Writer

  Labor day: State employee unions struggle to maintain clout in changing times more »

• CL&P: Greenwich power outages down to 125 on Sunday night

  David Hennessey, Staff Writer

  An estimated 125 Connecticut Light & Power customers in Greenwich are without... more »

• Conn.'s 2 utilities promise power restored soon

  Connecticut businesses and individuals tired of having no power a week after... more »

• Obama to inspect flood damage in New Jersey

  DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

  A week after Hurricane Irene caused massive flooding as it barreled up the... more »
  
  PLEASE SEE .....
  
  UPDATE: GREENWICH ROUNDUP'S ADVOCACY FOR BILL EFFROS GETS RESULTS
  
  Greenwich Board Of Education President Steve Anderson, Greenwich Town Attorney John Wayne Fox, Hearst Newspaper Editor David McCumber And Greenwich Time Reporter Neil Vigdor Forced To Take Action ....
  
  09/02/11 BIll Effros: Please Change Public Forum Location
  
  http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/09/090211-bill-effros-please-change-public.html
  
  Please change the location of the upcoming "Public Information Forum on the Environmental Impact at Greenwich High School" scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Greenwich High School.
  
  As an abutting neighbor, I clearly have a direct interest in the information disseminated.
  
  The Town of Greenwich Police have stated I will be arrested if I so much as set foot on the High School property.
  
  The MISA Building Committee and the PTA are aware of this, and it has been confirmed by the Chief of Police, the First Selectman, the Board of Education, and the Legal Department.
  
  I have a right to participate in the planned public forum.
  
  Please change this public meeting location so I can attend.
  
  Bill Effros
  GHS Abutting Property Owner
  
  PLEASE ALSO SEE:
  
  09/01/11 Shame, Shame, Shame On Greenwich Board Of Education President Steve Anderson For Not Helping This Greenwich Taxpayer
  
  http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/09/090111-shame-shame-shame-on-greenwich.html
  
  08/30/11 QUESTIONS: Where's The Transparancy? - Why Is It So Hard For A Taxpayer To Get Access To Public Documents? - Where Is The Greenwich Time?
  
  http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/083011-questions-wheres-transparancy.html
  
  08/27/11 ONCE AGAIN THE GREENWICH TIME IS MIA: Greenwich Taxpayer Wants Information From The BOE: Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan - FOIA Request
  
  http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082711-greenwich-taxpayer-wants.html
  
  08/22/11 If This Report Has Been Filed, It Changes, Forever, The Town's Ability To Grant Itself Permissions And Waivers For Use Of The GHS Site
  
  http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/08/082211-if-this-report-has-been-filed-it.html
  
  Here Is A Question The Greenwich Time Wont Ask - What Is Greenwich Board Of Education President Steven Anderson Hiding From This Taxpayer And Greenwich High School Parents?
  
  UPDATE:
  
  GREENWICH ROUNDUP GETS RESULTS .....
  
  GHS grants access to neighbor banned from campus for meeting
  
  Public forum on soil contamination: GHS allows homeowner charged in '09 trespassing incident to attend meeting
  
  By Neil Vigdor, Greenwich Time - Staff Writer
  
  The owner of a residential property abutting Greenwich High School who was banned from campus two years ago after he was arrested for trespassing there will be allowed back on the grounds for an upcoming public forum on soil contamination discovered at the site.
  
  Bill Effros appealed to school board members by e-mail Friday to allow him to attend the information session, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 7 in the GHS auditorium.
  
  His property at 41 Old Church Road is adjacent to the school's athletic fields, all but one of which remain closed as a safety precaution after toxins were found this summer during initial construction of a new campus auditorium.
  
  Town Attorney John Wayne Fox sent Effros a reply Friday afternoon telling him the town would temporarily lift the ban, which he said stemmed from the 2009 trespassing incident.
  
  "He is a neighbor," Fox told Greenwich Time. "He has a right to be informed of the process that we are pursuing."
  
  Effros called on the school board to change the meeting location.
  "As an abutting neighbor, I clearly have a direct interest in the information disseminated," Effros wrote. "The Town of Greenwich Police have stated I will be arrested if I so much as set foot on the High School property."
  
  Effros was charged with first-degree trespass and breach of peace June 23, 2009, after he refused to leave the high school property on orders of police who found him taking photos and video of construction work there, according to an arrest report.
  
  He still contends that it was his legal right to be at the high school to gather evidence for separate contempt-of-court rulings that he planned to file against the town.....
  

U

UPDATE #2:

12:27 PM

THE GREENWICH TIME EDITOR DAVID McCUMBER JUST UPDATED THE
MONEY LOSING GREENWICH TIME'S SO CALLED LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE

Homeland Sec. head tours state

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will tour damage from Irene with Gov. Malloy. Click to see their route.

=====================================================
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