Just in time for Halloween
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Connecticut is showing residents how to build electric 'unwelcome mats' for bears
And trick-or-treaters, or Jehovah’s Witnesses, or your idiot nextdoor neighbor; I want one.
The ingredients are a rubber mat, preferably one with holes. Add galvanized metal hardware cloth, zip ties, wire cutters and an electric fence energizer. The recipe says to cut the metal so it sits flat against the mat, leave a narrow buffer around the edge, attach the clips, and test the voltage.
DEEP is now telling Connecticut residents how to build electric “unwelcome mats,” portable bear deterrents designed to deliver a brief shock to a black bear that steps near a door, window, deck or shed.
“An electric unwelcome mat is a portable deterrent that delivers a brief, unpleasant electrical shock to teach bears to avoid entryways and other areas around buildings,” DEEP says in its instructions.
The basic idea is simple. A bear steps on the mat and completes an electrical circuit. The shock is unpleasant enough that the bear learns not to try that spot again, but it is meant to be nonlethal.
That can probably be corrected, if necessary.
Just Sayin'
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Greenwich fraud suspect sent 17 stolen checks totaling $200K to co-conspirator, police say
GREENWICH — A New York man has been charged in connection with an organized financial fraud scheme after police detained him at a local bank with forged documents and stolen payment cards, officials said.Onyedikachi Chukwujekwu Agu, 30, of New Rochelle, was served with an arrest warrant Thursday as part of a monthslong probe, according to a Facebook post shared Friday by the GreenwichPolice Department.
Police said Agu was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft, conspiracy to commit first-degree identity theft, trafficking in personal identity information, third-degree forgery and conspiracy to commit third-degree forgery.
The investigation began on July 15 when plainclothes officers with the organized retail crime unit detained four suspects, including Agu, at a bank on Greenwich Avenue for suspected financial crimes, police said.
Police said officers recovered forged financial instruments, stolen payment cards, personal identifying information and numerous checks confirmed to have been stolen and altered from the suspects.
The name Onyedikachi Chukwujekwu Agu strongly suggests a Nigerian nationality, specifically from the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria.
Here is a breakdown of what the different parts of the name mean in the Igbo language:
Onyedikachi: This is a given name that translates to "Who is like God?"
Chukwujekwu: This is typically a middle or given name meaning "God will speak" or "God has the final say" (with "Chukwu" meaning God).
Agu: This is a common Igbo surname that means "Lion" or "Leopard," often symbolizing strength or royalty.
Price cut in (almost) Banksville
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991 Lake Avenue, from $6.750 million to $6.250. Depending on whether you believe the tax card or the listing, it was built in either 1962 or 1991, take your pick. It’s fair to say, however, that whatever was here in 1962 would have borne no resemblance to this mock-Tudor post and beam.
Set in “a coveted backcountry setting”, of course, and replete with a gourmet kitchen, this house is sure to tickle the fancy of any aspiring Armonk buyer. In fact, surely “this one won’t last!”
wallpaper books: the safe way to display one’s literary tastes without scaring off buyers.
Land sale on Bedford Road
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67 Bedford Road, listed at $2.895 million, sold for $2.815. It’s 4.3 acres, but in the RA-4 zone, so, one house. Buyer’s from Harrison, and if he’s builder, he may be in for disappointment.
Some years ago I had occasion to interact with a builder from across the NY border, who came to Greenwich after he’d served his time in Otisville for mortgage fraud, and proceeded to put up three or four spec houses here, all of which he lost to foreclosure. He was a very likeable guy, and we often had coffee together and talked. Explaining his spec (tacular) failures (including one on Bedford Road), he told me, “Chris, you gotta understand that to Westchester builders, Greenwich is the promised land, the gold standard; build a house here, doesn’t matter location, doesn’t matter the quality of the land, if you build a house in Greenwich you’re gonna make a million dollars. We all eventually learn better.”
We’ll see what happens here.
If this weren't Gideon's new listing I'd ask, are you friggin' kidding me?" As it is, I'll just wish home great good luck; my birthday's past, but Christmas is coming.
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45 Glen Avon Drive, Riverside, $8.6 million. Great street, fantastic views down the Sound, and unlike 26 Glen Avon across the street which Gideon sold for $6.25 last June, none of this home’s footprint is in the flood zone. Mind you, 26 included a beautiful, modern house in move-in condition and 45 has an old (but very charming) farmhouse on its lot, but … direct waterfront, so ….
Coming our way; count on it
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barbarians at the gate
Greenwichwise.com’s Kathy Smith keeps any eye on Hartford so that we don’t have to. Unfortunately, with the Democrats holding a lock on all three branches of the government, her reports are more like NOAA’s tornado alerts than anything that can be done to stop them, but the early warnings will give you time to remove your assets and perhaps yourself out of harm’s way and out of state.
Hartford's 2027 Tax Agenda: Targeting Greenwich High Earners, Hurting All CT Residents
State Rep. Tina Courpas (R–District 149, covering mid- and backcountry Greenwich) recently released a compelling message to constituents as she campaigns for re-election this fall.
Her warning is clear: If the Democratic supermajority in Hartford maintains control, they plan to vote on three new tax proposals in 2027 that target Connecticut’s highest earners. Here is what could be in store for local residents:
1.Annual Statewide Surcharge on Homes Over $3 million
A proposed statewide property tax surcharge on homes valued over $3 million. For example, a house assessed at $3 million would face an additional $3,000 annual tax burden. …
2.A New Capital Gains Surcharge
A proposed 1.75% state surcharge on capital gains, making Connecticut one of only three states to levy such a tax. ….
3.A Spike in the Top Personal Income Tax Rate
An increase in the top state personal income tax rate from 6.99% to 7.99%.
Currently, CT classifies single filers earning over $500,000 as "high earners." Crucially, that threshold includes wages, capital gains, dividends, interest, and realized real estate or business sales. (It doesn't take much to trigger this top bracket if you sell a business or realize gains in the stock market.)
"Bills like these are exactly why people are leaving Connecticut for states with less punitive tax structures, like Florida, Tennessee, and Texas."— State Rep. Tina Courpas
Between the Lines: When state policy continuously targets high earners, those taxpayers eventually relocate. When they leave, the tax base shrinks—leaving the remaining residents to pick up the tab for lost state revenue. Ultimately, this high-tax agenda doesn't just hit the wealthy; it hurts every taxpayer across Connecticut.
Both Rep. Courpas and Smith are right about the ultimate result of the these ctions, but it’s anger at the thought that someone has more money than they do that drives Democrat voters, not the fear of everyone having less. “Better I have no cow, than my neighbor have two.”
24 days on the listings and only a 3% price cut? I think the current market is sending a stronger message than that.
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1 Deepwoods Lane, a 1957 split-level renovated in 2000, came out September 8th at $4.025 million, and has today reimagined that price to $3.895. The house appears to be in very nice condition, and this north-of-the-Village Old Greenwich development is a good neighborhood, but perhaps the home’s location on Laddins Rock, even though its shielded from that road by a thick (tick?) copse, may be deterring buyers.
Anti-disirregardless, three-weeks-plus without a buyer surfacing suggests that, again, judging only by this red-hot market, suggests that even the new price may miss the mark. Or not; these days, who knows? Mamdani’s still out there serving as the Greenwich Realtor Association’s prime ambassador.
Of course, the actual reason for this failure to sell may be the presence of two shelves of terrifying objects that the present generation of buyers has never seen; fear of the unknown can be a powerful deterrent.
Meadow Lane's "Road Apple Acres” has hit the market this morning
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14 Meadow Lane, 14,000 sq. ft. home and stables, 14.5 acres, $34.995 million. Built in 2010 and purchased by these owners in 2011 for $32,5 million, I don’t know the reason why it hasn’t appreciated in fifteen years.
Back in 2003-2005, Brother Gideon had the listing and found the buyer (at $8.725 million) for the original mansion here, when it was still owned by Trish Vandever, wife, then widow of George C. Scott. Beautiful land, but the mansion had deteriorated during the actors’ ownership, as they rarely visited from California or paid it very much attention.
Back with a new agent and a reimagined price — the phoney name lives on
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“Welcome to "Nor Tor," one of Greenwich's most distinguished English manor estates, privately nestled on 3.44 acres in the heart of town. An extraordinary residence where architectural heritage, timeless ….”
190 North Street, $13.995 last year, $12.750 today. The “Nor Tor Estate”? Never heard of it before the previous owners bought the place for $7 million in 2007, fixed it up, gave it a fancy name, and sold it to these owners for $11.5 in 2012.
Always curious, I asked Google’s AI about the appellation:
Q. I've been a Greenwich resident for 70+ years and never heard of an estate called "Nor Tor". Is there any reference/mention of that name before this particular real estate agent used it (which happens here, a lot)
A: Your 70 years of local knowledge serve you well.
There is no public historical record of the estate at 190 North Street being called "Nor Tor" prior to recent marketing listings. [1, 2]
You are completely right about the local trend. Real estate agents frequently invent names for estates to generate prestige, and in this case, "Nor Tor" appears to be a brand-new marketing label.
The evidence points to this being a modern moniker rather than historic fact:
The Marketing Timeline: The name "Nor Tor" only began appearing in real estate copy and luxury home blogs around 2025 and 2026, corresponding with the property being prepped for the market. [1, 2]
Etymology Clue: The name is likely a play on its location. The estate sits directly on North Street, and the word "Tor" is an old English term for a high, rocky hill or crag. Because the home is built on a slightly elevated 3.44-acre parcel with a granite facade, the agent or owner likely combined "North" and "Tor" to make it sound like a century-old British manor. [1]
Actual History: Historically, the property is simply known by its address, 190 North Street. It was built in 1929 and underwent a massive, three-year restoration by architect Ira Grandberg that was completed around 2010. [1]
The Greenwich Historical Society tracks the town's historic landmarks, subdivisions, and prominent estates (like Khakum Wood or Milbrook), but "Nor Tor" does not exist in any archival town records. It is purely a product of a modern real estate brochure. [1]
But wait! There’s more!
Okay, so the name’s a fake, but there’s still some real tradition here: the home’s new agent has reached deep into the decades-old pool of real estate cliches and put them all to use; well, almost all — it’s a deep pool.
Welcome to ''Nor Tor,'' one of Greenwich's most distinguished English manor estates, privately nestled on 3.44 acres in the heart of town. [How’d she miss “Greenwich’s most coveted street”? “Copy editor!”] An extraordinary residence where architectural heritage, timeless craftsmanship and modern luxury converge atop beautifully appointed grounds. Meticulously preserved and thoughtfully enhanced [okay, that’s new one to me, but it’s sure to be added to the lexicon soon, perhaps as a predicate to “curated”] through a comprehensive three-year restoration led by renowned architect Ira Grandberg, this magnificent manor encompasses four exceptional levels of living space. The front-to-back entrance hall, enveloped in bespoke Gracie wallcoverings, establishes an immediate tone of refined elegance for the rooms beyond. In one direction, the English oak library offers a richly intimate retreat, while the other leads to a grand living room defined by its sophisticated proportions. This space flows effortlessly into a sun-drenched lounge with three exposures, where French doors offer a seamless transition to the gardens and the pool. At the heart of the home, a gourmet center-island kitchen and breakfast room serve as a vibrant hub, connecting gracefully to a well-appointed butler's pantry and the beautifully adorned formal dining room. Beyond the main entertaining spaces, a private office, media center, wine cellar, and dedicated rooms for exercise and leisure provide an exceptional collection of spaces tailored for both quiet productivity and grand-scale celebration. The private quarters set above it all are equally distinguished. Upstairs, the five bedrooms and six bathrooms include a grand primary wing designed as a retreat unto itself, with a gracious sitting room and fireplace, dual marble bathrooms and dressing rooms. The four additional bedrooms all have their own private en suite bathrooms. Outside, beautifully landscaped grounds unfold around a stunning walled garden and shimmering Shoreline pool….
