NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com. (We will publish referendum-related letters through July 22.)
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A good law is one that folks can follow. Recently, the Town Council passed, in a bi-partisan vote, an ordinance to ban gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I know this because I was not only one of the yes votes on Town Council for the ban, but I also sit on the sub-committee that helped write the ordinance.
This decision was not lightly or hastily made. Conversations proposing this ban came from the electorate and were a steady drumbeat starting in 2021, growing louder until we passed the ordinance earlier this year. When I joined the sub-committee in 2025, much of the language of the proposed ban had already been authored by Hilary Ormond. She and I, along with four Republican and two additional Democratic town council members on the committee convened multiple meetings to which the public was invited to speak. Several members of the community came to these meetings and weighed in on the proposal, with most of the voters asking that we enact the ban. While crafting the proposal in committee, we recognized the need to balance the strong desire in the community for the peace and quiet that the ban would bring to their outdoor living space, while being sensitive to those who prefer the power and convenience of a gas-powered leaf blower.
An April 15th to October 1st ban was requested and rejected by our sub-committee; instead, we opted for a Memorial Day to Labor Day ban that delivers quiet in the peak summer months but allows for spring and fall clean-up in the shoulder seasons. We discussed a complete ban on all gas-powered leaf blowers during the summer months and a complete ban on electric-powered blowers from 7am to 7pm. These were rejected, and instead we put in a carve-out for one gas blower that can be used on hard surfaces, so you can clear grass clippings or leaves from your walkways, terraces, driveways, pool decks, and tennis courts. Electric-powered leaf blowers can be used between 8am and 4pm, so you or your landscapers can tidy up after mowing.
After passing the draft proposal in the sub-committee, it was sent over to the Town Council, where it was debated, and there were two public meetings at which town residents were invited to speak. Once again, most of the public that spoke asked for this proposal to become law. Leading up to the vote, Town Council members received multiple e-mails from community members, with the final tally being 163 for the proposal to become law and 46 against or 78% asking for the ban to be enacted.
I don’t think that a small, vocal minority got this ordinance passed. Indeed, I believe that this is a law that people in town want, and that it is a good law that is sensitive to both sides of the issue. Now that we are having a vote on it, we can put this belief to the test. I respectfully and humbly ask that you vote yes on July 25th or vote by absentee ballot in town hall now to uphold the ban and the thoughtful process that went into creating it.
Regards,
Mike Rodgers
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As NC250 Parade Co-Chairs, we thank all who supported the spirit-filled parade that occurred on Saturday morning, June 27th. We thank, most especially, the 35 local organizations that participated in a variety of ways and the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route. We hope that New Canaan’s children take away a fond memory of this celebration as many of us do from our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976.
We express sincere gratitude to:
–First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Town Administrator Tucker Murphy for their vision, support, leadership and overall positive energy.
–New Canaan Police: John DiFederico, Andrew Walsh and Jason Ferraro and all the officers who drove bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts and cars to keep the marchers and spectators safe during the parade.
–Tiger Mann and his whole DPW crew for keeping the route safe and making sure the town streets were prepared for this milestone event.
–The Parks Department: John Howe, Ryan Restivo and Stefano DiFederico who provided vehicles, pulled floats and assisted in many months of advanced planning.
–New Canaan Fire, EMS, Emergency Management and CERT including Bill Perritt, Russ Kimes, Barb Clayton, Tony Calanca, Peter Bergen, Tracey Hamill and Jim Davis who supported the parade in a myriad of ways.
–The Ranieri and Davis families and their flag distribution team for handing out almost 2000 flags preceding the parade, to Bob Doran and his group for recording the parade on video.
–Graydon Pihlaja and Barry Zhou for pulling together the town and high school bands to march together, to National Charity League for their hours of float decorating, the United Methodist Church for serving as a water station along the parade route, Marissa Lambrinos, Patricia Spugani, Joel Reynolds, Susan Wylie, SLOBS and the entire New Canaan 250th Planning Committee. Special thanks go to Brownie Troop 50230 for providing hours of volunteer effort preparing float decorations and then marching in the parade.
–The drivers who transported town floats or the parade’s Honored Guests, Frank Gallo and Janet Karl: Jim Bakal, Lisa DiFulvio, John Engel and John Murphy.
–Karl Chevrolet for hosting the decorating of the town floats and providing overnight storage. A special shout out to Mark DiFulvio, Jonathan Green, Johnny Sanchez and Rob Ferraro for helping in a special way.
–Katie Melland Proctor who drew the original illustrations of town hall, the fire station, Wayside Cross, God’s Acre, Lapham Community Center and Elm Street that formed the beginnings of the town float murals and to Dan and Elisabeth Mulhern of Milestones for allowing use of these illustrations.
–Citizens who donated to the New Canaan Chamber Charitable Fund. Your generosity helped fund Uncle Sam, the Shriners little cars and other parade details.
Lastly, gratitude is expressed to our amazing and patient husbands Scot Melland and Steve Karl. We truly appreciate your help and support as well as our kids Kevin and Brian Karl, Katie Proctor and Lydia Melland and Color Guard Colonial Soldier/Melland Son-in-Law Woodrow Proctor.
It was an absolute pleasure to plan and execute this New Canaan America 250 Parade.
Lisa Melland & Tracey Karl
NC250 Parade Co-Chairs