Allyson Halm

Animal Control: Dog Chases Mountain Lion Out of Yard

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The head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section is asking residents in the area of Conrad Road to check their security cameras for a possible mountain lion sighting. It occurred at about 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, when a husband and wife “observed a mountain lion jump a four foot fence into their backyard and their mini Australian shepherd chased the cat to a back fence which it jumped over and disappeared into the wetlands behind the residence,” according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm. “This was the second sighting in two weeks,” she said. And at least the third this year, with an earlier sighting also coming near the Merritt Parkway corridor. Last July, a man told Halm that he’d seen a mountain lion pass in front of him while jogging on Hoyt Farms Road.

Government

Moynihan: Police Likely Will Occupy Office Building Downtown During Renovation of NCPD

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The New Canaan Police Department likely will move into an office building downtown while its headquarters is extensively renovated and in some ways rebuilt as part of a long-discussed and sorely needed upgrade, officials say. The town has “tentatively agreed” with the owner and property manager at 39 Locust Ave.—known to many as the offices of the Board of Education, which is moving to Elm Street—for NCPD to use as “swing space” during the police station project, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan. 

“That will blend great with what the superintendent has been paying for the space, and so that will be through 2024 and the lease otherwise would have gone to 2026 but the superintendent had already given notification of terminating that,” Moynihan told members of the Board of Finance during a general update at their May 10 meeting. It isn’t clear just when the project at 174 South Ave. will get underway or how long it will take. A town committee now is weighing two proposals that have different visions for the back-half of the 1926-built police station—one to renovate and another to completely rebuild.

Government

Group Calls for Creation of Formal Committee on EV Charging Stations

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A citizen-led group is asking New Canaan’s highest-elected official to appoint a formal committee to plan for creation of electric vehicle charging stations in town. The group, which includes Leo Karl III, Chris Hering and members of the Department of Public Works, has met informally to talk about EV charging stations, according to Laura Budd, chair of the Parking Commission. Karl “is working something up send to the first selectman that we’d like to get an official committee working, because it’s so complicated.”

“There are so many options with the EV chargers,” Budd said during the Commission’s May 5 meeting, held via videoconference. “There is one going up at the Town Hall Annex, the former Outback [Teen Center], which is great and then they are hoping from some rebates they get from that to put the second one in Morse Court. So we are trying to get ahead of it but it’s so complicated.

Business

‘Boba Tea Shop’ Planned for Main Street

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A new tea shop is planned for a vacant commercial space on Main Street, records show. ‘Boba Tea Shop’ at 162 Main St. will serve hot and cold drinks, according to a building permit application filed May 4 with the town. Located next to Coldwell Banker, the long single-story brick-exterior building had housed a tea shop—Betsy’s Teas—in the past. The new tea shop is registered with the Connecticut Secretary of the State as Migoto LLC, records show.

Around Town

Did You Hear

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Police are investigating the theft of two safes from a Lukes Wood Road home, reported at 10 p.m. on May 8. The safes had cash and jewelry inside. Broken glass was found at the rear door of the house. ***

Save the date: The dedication for the Steve Benko Pool in Waveny is set for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. The dedication will be open to the public, details to follow in the coming weeks.