Did You Hear … ?

Police on Saturday received a call reporting a sick fox at Waveny and an officer of the Animal Control section arriving on scene found that a woman had placed her jacket over the shaking animal, an adult rabies vector species. Events unfolded at about 9:19 a.m. near the trail that exits onto Farm Road. The woman had hoped to transfer the animal to Wildlife In Crisis, according to a police report, but it was not possible—the fox had no hair except on its back and appeared to be suffering from hypothermia. Police put down the animal.

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Hamptonite, the women’s clothing shop that opened last May in the former Butler Gallery space on Elm Street (roughly opposite Chef Luis), has moved next door into a larger space that used to be occupied by Jack Wills. After four years, Jack Wills closed in June and the space had been vacant since.

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Part of the district’s presentation for next fiscal year’s proposed spending plan year includes a slide that summarizes per-student spending in other Fairfield County school systems:

Per Pupil Spending, 2015-16

Town	Pupils	NCEP**
Greenwich	8,634	$21,331
Redding	1,488	$21,233
Weston	2,383	$20,759
Westport	5,655	$19,800
New Canaan	4,263	$19,576
Wilton	4,155	$19,337
Darien	4,859	$19,318
Easton	1,394	$19,233
Ridgefield	5,015	$17,013

*Source: Connecticut Department of Education
** Net Current Expenditures Per Pupil

 

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Animal Control is addressing five active barking complaints throughout town right now, in the areas of Village Drive, Journey’s End, Bald Hill, Weed Street and North Wilton Road. Officer Allyson Halm, head of the section, urges complainants first to talk to their neighbor about the problem, or else send an anonymous or neighborly letter about it. Typically, complainants come to police with a barking complaint without knowing just where the barking is coming from, according to Halm.

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The new mixed-use retail-and-residential building at 16 Cross St. has taken shape and should be ready for tenants in the spring, officials say. It will offer 12 residential one- and two-bedroom units, and up to three commercial tenants on the street-level.

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Here’s a reminder that a new installment in a speaker series held at New Canaan Library will be held at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 15 in the Lamb Room. “Brexit and the Problems Created If the UK Exits the EU” features Thomas Niles, vice chairman of the United States Council for International Business.

 

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Fourth-generation, independently owned Rand Insurance has appointed town native Meredith Bach as director of marketing and business development.

Bach, niece of well-known New Canaanite Jim Bach, grew up in her family’s business at Park and Cherry Streets, the Melba Inn, and in her new role with develop and executive strategic marketing plans for Rand, officials say. Now a Rowayton resident, she comes to the role with extensive luxury brands and sports marketing experience, such as with Ralph Lauren, American Express, United States Tennis Association and the PGA of America. A full-service agency, Rand supports local organizations including the Stamford Hospital, Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Run, Darien Nature Center and New Canaan Charitable Foundation.

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In an organizational meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday night that was presided over by First Selectman Rob Mallozzi, the volunteer group elected Sally Campbell as chairman and Francesca Segalas as secretary. Mallozzi thanked the commissioners for “the exceptional job you are doing.”

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Congratulations to New Canaan’s Alena Abramowitz who was presented with a Senate proclamation for her songwriting, singing and dedication to performing for special needs children by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 3.

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Go to the Stewarts Spirits website and there’s a pop-up form to earn a 10 percent discount on a wine purchase of $150 or more if you sign up for the shop’s newsletter.

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Finally, some heartening news: Police on Jan. 31 received a bedraggled, unwell female cat that had been found on Carter Street. Looking through the Animal Control section reports prior to bringing the cat to a veterinarian, Halm said she found that the animal had been reported missing earlier in the month—had been missing since Jan. 2, in fact. The cat and its Ludlowe Road owner were reunited Feb. 1.