Backcountry

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments has given its support for resurfacing the Merritt Parkway between Lake Avenue and Round Hill Road.

The project will cost about $3.4 million and is being handled by the federal government and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Greenwich is a member of the council. First Selectman Peter Tesei outlined the work at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

“For those of us who traverse that road, we recognize in inclement weather there are routinely serious accidents,” Tesei said. “The state Department of Transportation is going to totally resurface it with (special) pavement that will hopefully reduce ...fatal motor vehicle accidents.”

According to the council, the work calls for reconstructing four curves along the Merritt through Greenwich to reduce the risk of a car skidding off the road as it travels through a curve. The curves were pinpointed because the state police and state DOT recorded a “high frequency” of crashes on the Merritt during wet conditions.

The special pavement is designed to give vehicles better traction.

The curves are north of Exit 27 near Bailiwick Road, near the Riversville Road underpass between Exit 27 and 28, near the North Street overpass between Exit 29 and 31 and near the Taconic Road underpass near Exit 31.

According to the council, the cost will be covered by an 80 to 20 percent split between the federal and state government. The project is expected to be completed by November 2018.

Western Greenwich

In an effort that involved Eastern Middle School, Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy and Christ Church Nursery School, members of the Greenwich Jr. United Way launched a hoodie drive that so far has garnered more than 100 items that will go to the town’s needy residents.

The donations of warm clothing were taken to Neighbor to Neighbor and Greenwich High School will soon begin a similar drive.

The Greenwich Junior United Way is made up of students from the town’s public and private schools. It started at GHS and is open to all Greenwich teens.

“These students are brought together by the common interest in making a difference in their community,” Program Coordinator Joanne Delone said. “Teen volunteers are able to learn about their town and have a lasting impact through hands-on experience in meeting critical needs.”

According to the Greenwich United Way, the members of the program have particularly been focused on working to help youth and at-risk families, which represents approximately 40 percent of Greenwich residents combined.

Additional work is being done with starting mentor programs and Finance Champions, a spin-off of the successful Reading Champions literacy program.

“Youth impact is a priority area in Greenwich and we are focused on developing ways to strengthen the skill set of students in our schools and fostering a forum for youth to work together for the betterment of Greenwich,” Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin said.

Members of Greenwich Jr. United Way teens are also working to support the Greenwich United Way’s annual campaign. According to the agency, the teens have set a $5,000 goal. Sacred Heart Greenwich students will be donating a portion of sales from fleece sweatshirts sold at the school’s bookstore. Brunswick and Greenwich Academy students are also creating fund-raisers.

Downtown

The deadline for signing up for winter programs at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich is rapidly approaching.

Sign ups can be done at the club, 4 Horseneck Lane, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 28; a list of programs is available online at www.bgcg.org but all paperwork must be brought to the club in person.

In order to register, children must be members of the club.

Membership is open to all kids ages 6 to 18 who either live in town or have a parent or guardian who work in Greenwich. The annual membership fee is $50 per resident child and $150 each for non-residents who meet the criteria. No additional programming fees are charged for the majority of the club’s winter programs.

An average of 350 Greenwich kids participate in club activities focused on academic success, character development and leadership, healthy lifestyles, arts and media and sports, fitness and recreation.

Winter programs include academic support, swimming lessons, the performing arts, creative writing and athletics.

Old Greenwich

Before it wrapped up its business for the term, the town’s Representative Town Meeting gave its approval to a series of lease agreements between the town and several popular organizations.

The RTM approved agreements for continued use of land by the Old Greenwich Yacht Club at Greenwich Point, the Greenwich Boat and Yacht Club at Grass Island and the American Legion Post 29 headquarters in Glenville.

The leases, which are used throughout town, allow the property to be loaned to community organizations for $1.

Each of the agreements are for 10 years with a 10-year option for renewal. The organizations are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the property.

The Old Greenwich lease is for the dock services building which is on the west side of Greenwich Point. The club oversees the building, its deck and the ground under it. No docks or seawalls are part of the lease.

The agreement with the Greenwich Boat and Yacht Club includes the building, the boat docking areas and the tip of the land.

Several committee heads called the leases “straight forward” and they were all approved with no debate.

The new term of the RTM is scheduled to begin on Jan. 16.