Thumbs up to Toquam Magnet Elementary School fifth-grader Brian Chen, for having the fortitude to use his experience being bullied to help others. Brian, 10, developed a necklace he dubbed “Belly Button,” which children can use to alert others they are being bullied. It earned him runner-up honors in Scholastic’s national “If Kids Could Cure” contest. Kudos to Scholastic as well for reminding educators of the value of collecting input from their students.
Thumbs up — perhaps a webbed or iron-fisted one — to Paul Salerno for maintaining his A Timeless Journey comic book shop in Stamford for 28 years. Salerno will close the store in a few weeks, leaving Stamford without one, but his run in a streaky business has been admirable.
Thumbs down to the fight that got out of control at a freshman boys basketball game in Stamford between Trinity Catholic and Norwalk high schools. Norwalk coach Tom Keyes, who was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault, complained that “Every time we come here, there’s always an issue. There’s never security here. I did nothing.” The Trinity athletic director said officials are considering banning spectators from the junior varsity and varsity games. That’s not a solution. That security is needed at a freshman basketball game is the real problem that needs to be addressed.
Thumbs up to Madonna Badger for using her lawsuit against Stamford to require the city to notify the state fire marshal whenever a house fire results in a death, and to do the same before demolishing a structure involved in a fatal fire. Badger lost her three daughters and parents in a 2011 fire. Hopefully, other communities will take notice that these mandates — along with one requiring reflective markers to be placed on hydrants — are common sense.
Thumbs up to the 14-year-old daughter of Stamford resident Gloria Gonzalez, who recognized her mother’s financial distress and organized a fundraising effort through the Giving Fund to help address it. The annual fund helps residents by identifying their needs and urging members of the community to contribute to the cause. The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time oversee the fund with Family Centers and Person-to-Person. There’s still time to help neighbors in need, at stamfordadvocate.com/givingfund/
Thumbs down to residents — and business owners — who fail to clear their sidewalks after snowfall. Angela Carella’s story about legally blind Stamford residents navigating sidewalks was a vivid reminder that we all need to clear the way for neighbors. It’s one thing to fail to clear paths within 12 hours of a storm (as required under a city ordinance), but property owners that don’t break out the shovels immediately tend to just ignore the problem. Chances are, everyone will get more chances to do the right thing in the weeks ahead.
Thumbs up to the Board of Representatives following the suggestion of the state’s first transgender lawmaker and deleting “he/she” and “his/ her” from its rules of order. Under the proposal of new Rep. Raven Matherne, the board will now use specific titles, such as president and clerk. The movement shouldn’t end there. It’s just an example of modifications that should be addressed throughout the city, and beyond.
Thumbs up to the Greenwich YWCA for holding a community discussion about youth sex trafficking, with a focus on Connecticut. The panel included Joette Katz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, who put faces on the 202 victims identified in 2016 alone. This is a discussion that must continue.