Greenwich Leaders' New Year's Resolutions For 2021

GREENWICH, CT — If there's one thing that can be said about 2020, it's that it has been a wild ride filled with a number of ups and downs.

With news of coronavirus vaccinations and other developments to come in the new year, 2021 is already looking a bit brighter. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

As with any new year, many residents will find themselves making a list this week of new year's resolutions for when the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1.

In light of this, Patch reached out to various leaders in town and asked what their new year's resolution was for Greenwich, or their department, in 2021. Here is what they had to say:

First Selectman Fred Camillo

"My new year's resolution for the town of Greenwich is to continue the progress we've made on many initiatives started in the past year, while at the same time having us get through safely to the other side of the pandemic, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later."

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin

"Continue to be a community of caring for one another and resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate to the aged, sympathetic to the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong, as sometime in life we will be all of these."

Selectwoman Jill Oberlander

"My hope and wish for 2021 is that individually and collectively our community will approach each day with a mindset of kindness, forgiveness, and gratitude. Greenwich is very fortunate to have wonderful natural and public resources, including our shoreline, parks, library and more. However, what really sets this community apart is its people. 2020 was a challenging year for so many Greenwich friends and neighbors. Through encouragement and thoughtfulness, let's each of us provide one-another the support needed to move past the challenges and towards a better future. Oh, and I also hope we will see a return to full-time, in-person schooling, activities and community events! My best wishes to all for a healthy, safe and joyous 2021!"

Fire Chief Joseph McHugh

"My new year's resolution for the Greenwich Fire Department would be to smile. [This year] was a tough year for the members of our department with all they had to endure. I hope 2021 will bring normalcy, and smiles back to their faces."

Superintendent Toni Jones

"My hope for 2021 is that the vaccine will be everything that we need it to be so that we can once again see all those wonderful smiles from behind the masks in our classrooms, give exuberant high-fives when we celebrate our successes, and take all that we have learned from 2020 to make this world a better place."

Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein

"I hope that the new normal for 2021 is better than the old normal, that our students and community have learned the value of resiliency and we can keep our primary focus on student achievement."

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce President Marcia O'Kane

"[This year] demonstrated how resilient our local businesses were in overcoming incredible challenges. We witnessed countless examples of innovation, courage and kindness as everyone pulled together in ways we never could have previously imagined. May we carry these lessons into the New Year while embracing those things that will continue to sustain us: supporting local business, staying connected and helping each other."

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