The Sunday Paper: Local News, Movie Review, Rick Steves' Europe, Comics

And the Jumble!

Journal & Press

Jul 06, 2025

Good morning!

Welcome to another Sunday Paper Edition of our newsletter.

Let’s start by warming up the brain with a Jumble, Can you unmix these letters to form a word?

Here’s another.

Answers at the end…

Running for Office

By Darren Johnson
Journal & Press

In a previous edition, we ran an announcement that current Democratic Greenwich Town supervisor Jim Nolan would not be running this fall for a third term and board member Jim Mumby would vie for the top spot on the Democratic line. The Democrats also recently announced other incumbents will also seek to keep their town posts. Local Republicans have not yet officially announced their slate.

To replace Mumby on the council, Democrats have nominated Nicole Carner. She recently finished her 18th year as librarian at the Greenwich Jr./Sr. High School and formerly was an English teacher at Mount Anthony High School. She also has been a Director of the Town of Greenwich Youth Summer Camp program, has helped deliver Thanksgiving meals via Comfort Food Community, and has worked part-time at Windy Hills Golf Course and Double H Ranch.

She recently consented to a Q&A with The Greenwich Journal. Here it is:

Greenwich Journal: What is your motivation for running for office?

Nicole Carner: I realize I am lucky to live in such a lovely, historic town. I want to ensure that Greenwich remains a desirable place to raise a family and for those children to return to Greenwich to raise their own children someday. The current team at the helm has a healthy collaborative relationship with the village and is protecting the history of our town while also ensuring that businesses, established and new, thrive. I can see myself as part of that team.

GJ: What skills and traits do you bring to the table?

NC: As a librarian, I teach my students to recognize bias when seeking information, including confirmation bias, which we all bring to the table. Being aware of it is key. I recognize that I may have a different perspective than someone else and therefore do my best to listen and be open-minded before making any decisions. In addition, I like to verify the facts when it comes to my research, which is another skill I teach my students. I also bring thoughtfulness and consideration to the table.

GJ: What are the most important things the board does?

NC: The board is tasked with ensuring that community members have the services they need, providing access to opportunities for recreation, maintaining infrastructure, and supporting existing and new businesses, among other vital roles, including fostering a sense of community. I appreciate that in order to operate effectively, the board deliberates and comes to a consensus after being presented with the facts of the issue, acting in the community’s best interest.

GJ: Is there a certain topic you would like the board to address that perhaps it hasn’t considered?

NC: At this point, I do not have additional items that I would like the board to address, as I am new to town government and need to get a complete lay of the land before making any suggestions. But I like learning about what goes on behind the scenes to make things run effectively, especially in organizations, committees, and boards with which I’m involved.

GJ: What will be your governing style? Will you be vocal, a listener, accessible to constituents?

NC: I do not seek the spotlight...unless karaoke is involved. I consider myself a good listener. I actually like to hear people’s stories and the experiences that have shaped them. If someone is passionate about something there’s definitely a reason behind it. Understanding their reasoning allows me to make better informed decisions. I also think I’m quite accessible and may be a voice for members of the community that, historically, haven’t been as involved in town government.

GJ: Do you believe it’s important for citizens to step up and serve local government?

NC: I think if someone has the time and inclination to give back to the community it’s a win for everyone involved. I truly understood the value of service after working at the Double H Ranch during the summers of my college years. Helping others, especially those at their most vulnerable, has obvious benefits for all involved, including a sense of fulfillment. At this point in my life, I have the time, ability, and desire to dedicate to the Greenwich Town Council.

GJ: Anything else you’d like to add?

NC: The only other thing I’d like to add is that I’m grateful for the opportunity to run for Town Council.

Businesses raise protest concerns

By Jan Baxter
The Salem Press

The Saturday morning protests on Salem’s Main Street have led businesses to see their customer numbers dwindle during the hours of the protests due to parking issues.

A note posted on social media by Stacy Loya, co-owner of Nu You Hair Studio on Main Street in mid-June brought the subject of the business concerns to the forefront and discussions ensued, some turning political in nature when Loya had clearly stated her intention was not political. She said she understood and supports the right to protest, but was hoping a solution could be discussed for the parking problem affecting.

As a result of the many participants from both the business community and the people who have been consistently protesting, as well as the opposition protestors who have only recently joined the Saturday morning gatherings, Salem Supervisor Sue Clary agreed to have an open forum following the Town Board meeting on Monday, June 23 that was called to review the Town’s Memorandum of Understanding with The Georgi Museum.

The meeting at the Proudfit Community Room saw close to 100 people in attendance, business owners, people who have organized and attend the Saturday morning 10am protests since their inception in January of this year, counter-protestors, and Salem residents. Supervisor Clary began the discussion with the announcement that the meeting was called to listen to one another and propose solutions and that the purpose of the time together was not to state political preferences.

One after one, people in the meeting stood to speak to the group. Napa Auto Parts Manager, Larry Snow, was one of the first businesspeople to speak. “I have had complaints, growing more so every week, from so many of my customers, of how difficult it is to get in and out of my parking lot with the people that line both entrances. My customers are either deciding not to come to Salem on these Saturdays, or they’re just simply driving by, when they see all the commotion at the traffic corner.” He continued, “Since the start of these demonstrations, I have noticed the slow decline of what are normally, very busy and profitable Saturdays.”

Rebecca Park stood to speak, pointing out we are ‘all the same community’ and applauded the ‘peaceful conversations’ being held during the evening adding ‘we want this to work for everybody, there’s a lot of positive energy here tonight”.

Stacy Loya, spoke impassionedly about her experiences owning a business on Main Street, stating the decline of customers is very noticeable for her salon. She also suggested “a compromise of one day of protests on the four corners per month or protesting on the corner of routes 22 and 29” as a possible resolution.

Jackos owner, Asif Ismail, asked that his comments be read to those in attendance, stating that while Jackos has always said “yes to the Salem community’ and has hosted functions for Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and other groups using his space, that he, too, has felt the impact of the protestors impact on his business. “At Jackos, a party canceled on Saturday – this is really hurting us.” He also included having protestors sitting on the steps of Jackos, commenting “sitting on steps isn’t protest”.

Town Board member and Salem business owner Tom McMorris, showing the crowd a copy of Norman Rockwell’s painting “Freedom of Speech” stated, “I believe the issue is about listening and being good neighbors.”

Many comments returned to the “right to protest”, including Tina Fleming saying. “It is my right to protest but I am okay with moving the location or time” (to not disrupt the business district on Saturday mornings).

As the meeting concluded, an Ad Hoc committee was formed to suggest alternatives to the current 10-11am protest location and time that would be agreeable to the businesses in town and the protestors. Supervisor Sue Clary asked for volunteers for an ad hoc committee and Sherri Slater of Salem, along with other volunteers to form the committee, will meet to suggest alternatives for protest times and locations.

During the following week, Hannie Varosy posted on social media a recap of the meeting and asked those attending the protests to be vigilant in where they parked, offering many locations that had been brought forward at Monday night’s meeting. Additionally, she offered alternative suggestions to be discussed on the protest location, day, and time. A drawing of the village business area was distributed via social media during the week showing specific areas to not park in.

Speaking with Larry Snow of Napa Auto Parts following the Saturday, June 28 protests, he noted that while the parking was not blocking his store, as had often happened in the past, he had a rush of customers prior to the 10am protest start time and then no customers at all from 10am to 11am due to residual effects of previous week’s difficult parking for customers.

Saturday morning also saw some protestors move from the four corners of Main Street to protest at Memorial Park in Salem, located on the corner of Archibald Street and Route 22.

The Ad Hoc committee has yet to make their proposals known and it is expected that the Saturday morning parking situation will continue to be enforced to allow customers easy access to Main Street businesses, the library, and the Post Office.

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What’s on HBO Max Movie Reviews

By Darren Johnson
Journal & Press

While it costs a little more than my other streaming subscriptions, and doesn’t have the same quantity of content as Netflix, HBO Max is worth the price based mostly on their ability to curate and capture the zeitgeist of what may be interesting at this particular point in time.

Here is a quick review of an older movie that recently queued on the service. I may keep doing these HBO Max reviews each Sunday, if there’s interest.

‘Showgirls’ (1995)

It’s the 30th anniversary of this much mocked movie.

I have to admit, the avalanche of horrible reviews from when it was released convinced me to avoid it … until now. Back in 1995 when “Showgirls” debuted, I was working as an editor at a newspaper that subscribed to many wire services for me to scan, and the bad reviews for this movie kept rolling in from the myriad papers that fed the wire.

Common criticisms of “Showgirls” at the time was it was gratuitously sexual and poorly written. So I wrote it off — not worth my money to buy a ticket, or even rent at Blockbuster.

Funny how I used to trust critics.

It stars Elizabeth Berkley of “Saved by the Bell” fame, which also was low-brow fare.

However, you have to remember, 1995 was a different era. Newspapers were very powerful, and movie critics who wrote for them were well-paid and entrenched, acting as a moral authority of sorts, and also a bit elitist.

But now, in these more trying — even dystopian-feeling — times, I find myself wanting to see movies from the perspective of everyday people. For example, I recently enjoyed the comedy series “Tires” on Netflix, about a bunch of dysfunctional mechanics at a chain tire shop. I’m wanting to watch stories about people who haven’t been touched by the hand of God.

I also find myself interested in that “in-between” Las Vegas era — the time between “Casino” (also a 1995 release, but it was a look-back to the city’s early gangster era) and the over-the-top commercialization of Las Vegas today, with three sports stadiums now in the middle of the city and everything wildly overpriced.

“Showgirls,” along with “Leaving Las Vegas” and even “Vegas Vacation,” show us that brief period when Vegas was practically down and out, and not all that glamorous and family friendly.

As far as the gratuitous sex goes, two thoughts: 1. “Showgirls” was released before the Internet became the Internet, and far worse things can be easily found today in what has become the entertainment mainstream; and, 2. Maybe there’s a certain honesty in what this film is saying about such sexual exploitation, in retrospect, considering what we know now about Weinstein, Epstein, Cosby, Diddy, etc. There is a celebrity-led rape scene in the movie that perhaps at the time seemed quite improbable to critics.

Berkley does a great job playing Nomi, the main character, who shows up in Vegas as an unknown, wanting to be a dancer — we only learn her true story at the end of the movie.

Sure, the movie is tacky at times, but so was Vegas in the 1990s, when topless follies were still a thing. Maybe it’s not bad writing but instead writing that actually captures the feel of a time and place.

If you have avoided this movie, as I had, because of its poor reception 30 years ago, perhaps, seeing it through a 2025 lens, you might think it’s actually quite watchable now and wonder what all the disdain was about back then.

Signs like this line freeways across the 27 countries of the European Union, reminding drivers where the funding came from.

European Union 103: How the EU impacts travelers in Europe

By Rick Steves
Rick Steves' Europe
Special to Journal & Press

When Jean Monnet brainstormed the modern European Union, he based his peace-driven idea on America’s model of independent states, united by a greater goal. With the help of the US, Monnet planted the seeds for a bloc that has not only established today’s European peace and prosperity – but also impacts how we experience Europe.

When European integration hit full swing, I (like many of my European friends) feared each country's independent pride and individual culture would be threatened. But just the opposite seems to be happening. The EU promotes identity among its nations by annually allocating hundreds of millions of euros for cultural heritage protection. Ireland, for example, receives EU funds that keep traditional Irish dance schools alive, help preserve the Irish language, and ensure the Cliffs of Moher receive proper maintenance. All 27 EU countries receive similar funding.

But this goes deeper than just protecting national culture. Borders can get messy, and don’t always line up perfectly with cultural identity. (Just ask the Basque people, who live on both sides of the Spanish-French border.) The EU is filled with ethnic groups that have their own heritage, and a lot of Europe’s historic troubles have come from fears of their identities being squashed. Preserving peace on a sprawling, multi-ethnic content requires respecting and celebrating diversity beyond just a national flag. It means understanding that residents of Palermo aren’t just Italian, they’re Sicilian.

Therefore, the EU works to protect ethnic heritage – sometimes even more than "national" heritage. A friend of mine is an archaeologist in Tirol, a region spanning parts of Italy and Austria. When he wants money to excavate a castle, he goes to the EU. If he says, “I want to do something for Austria,” he often comes home empty-handed. So instead, he says he wants to do something for Tirol … and gets funding.

The result of this is that the EU impacts who we meet in Europe. If you share a table with a local at Munich’s Hofbräuhaus, they might say they’re Bavarian. They also might say they’re German, or European. On Sundays in Barcelona, you’ll clasp hands and dance the Sardana with someone who identifies as Catalan – and Spanish, and European. Many city halls fly three flags, reflecting three loyalties: region, nation, and Europe. And, in the eyes of the EU, they all have an important part to play in this greater project of collaboration.

The EU also helps us travel Europe. Bolstering infrastructure was an early ideal of the bloc. I don’t remember freeways in Portugal or Greece when they first joined – now, you’ll drive EU-funded highways in both, getting to your destination hours earlier than you once would have. You’ll cross between Austria and Slovenia without a passport stamp or currency exchange … just a sign on the road and a different cheese at your next breakfast. Trains are faster and better – and soon, you’ll be able to buy and manage train tickets across the EU in one seamless digital platform.

And the EU affects how we enjoy Europe. In Italy, it works to protect a key element of regional and national pride: food. If you spot an EU logo on your prosciutto di Parma, you can rest assured that the dry-cured ham is not only from Parma, but it’s aged at least 12 months in just the right conditions. (No shortcuts allowed.) You’ll pour a glass of Chianti from a bottle with a sticker on it, confirming that every step of the wine’s production took place in Chianti. EU funding also helps protect Neapolitan pizza recipes. …The list goes on, but you get the point: Like Italians, the EU believes Italian food should be Italian.

These efforts don’t always resonate with the American worldview. We might reasonably point out that, while US troops are fighting for global peace, Europe is busy making sure Champagne only comes from Champagne. Why, then, should America continue supporting Europe?

I see it as two different approaches for defending peace. While Europe has invested in “soft power” measures like building infrastructure and protecting identity, America has sunk its funds into “hard power” – building a military industrial complex. Both have proven effective in protecting against global warfare. … So is one “right” and the other “wrong”? There are pros and cons to both, and I think we could all benefit from getting together and trading notes. Travel is the best way to do this.

And when you travel Europe, you’ll see the impact the European Union has had on the Continent. Now 75 years old, the EU is once again assessing its role in a changing world. But remembering how it started – as a peace project, dreamed up in a park in Washington, DC – is crucial to appreciating how far it’s come. And I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick's favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.