News

New Canaan Man, 36, Charged with Breach of Peace

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Police last week arrested a 36-year-old Elm Street man and charged him with second-degree breach of peace. At about 9:35 a.m. on April 18, officers responded to the area of South Avenue and Maple Street on a report of an assault, police said. There, officers determined that the man had struck the victim while walking on the sidewalk, according to a police report. Police established probable cause to bring the misdemeanor charge, the report said. Under state law, a person is guilty of second-degree breach of peace—a charge that New Canaan Police filed to bring against a former first selectman in a 2022 arrest warrant application—when he or she “with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person … [e]ngages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior in a public place,” or “in a public place, uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture,” among other reasons.

Around Town

‘The Art of the Clash’ Book Party Set for Thursday at Carriage Barn [Q&A]

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The Carriage Barn Arts Center on Thursday evening is hosting a book party for New Canaan-based interiors and textile designer Sophie von Oertzen Williamson (register here). 

Her book, “The Art of the Clash: A Manifesto Against Mundane Design,” was published last week. Signed copies of Von Oertzen Williamson’s book will be available for purchase at the event, and she’ll be joined in a panel discussion by Amanda Loehnis of Puddleduck Designs and photographer Andrea Ceraso to talk about making “The Art of the Clash.”

We put some questions to Von Oertzen Williamson ahead of the book party. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: What was the inspiration for “The Art of the Clash”? Sophie von Oertzen Williamson: Throughout my life and my career, I have been asked many times about how to put colors together, how to create the colorful, layered and personal style of homes I’m known for—basically, how to make a house into a home that truly represents who you are; the book tries to answer some of these questions.

Government

Town Approves $27,000 Contract for Playground Repairs at Kiwanis

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The Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting approved a $27,000 contract with a Mamaroneck, N.Y.-based company to repair playground equipment at an Old Norwalk Road park. The repairs to the Kiwanis Park playground are in line with “a recent inspection report as a part of our annual playground inspection program,” according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. “Funding for this work is available within the Parks [Department’s] capital budget,” Restivo told the selectmen at their April 7 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “If approved, the work will begin as soon as possible.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Pat Corsetti Inc.

The selectmen asked whether the company’s bid included work at Mead and Dixon Parks (yes), whether the other parks are getting done (in the new fiscal year, yes, minor repairs at those parks), where are the quotes for those projects (the company separated them out) and how old the equipment at Kiwanis is (about 20 years). 

Murphy Carroll noted that once they’re in place, playgrounds are a cost in that they need maintenance and must be updated as required by law. Karl said, “Obviously, you’ve got to have these playgrounds safe and I applaud the idea that we’re going out there and looking at this stuff, because we’ve let some of the playgrounds over the years go a little bit, and this is something that we should be doing every year.”

Parks & Recreation Director John Howe noted that the playgrounds are inspected every year. 

Bill Egan

Police: TikTok Posts Directed at NCHS Originated Out-of-State; FBI Joins Investigation [UPDATED]

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[Note: This article has been updated with a press release from New Canaan Police and a Board of Education statement.]

Police said Monday afternoon that concerning TikTok posts directed at New Canaan High School originated out-of-state. New Canaan Police Department detectives “are working diligently to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the posts, which included derogatory content and messages suggesting students stay home from school,” according to a press release issued Monday afternoon by Police Chief John DiFederico. The FBI and a designated “fusion center” composed of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working with the New Canaan Police Department following the posts, he said in the release. “The department is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness while applying all available resources to bring it to a swift resolution,” DiFederico said. According to district officials, “mean-spirited and hateful posts” that appeared recently on a TikTok account (since deactivated) included “insulting” and “demeaning” language.

Around Town

‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan’ Set for May 16 [Q&A]

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Concerned that divisive national politics are infiltrating New Canaan, community leaders including local clergy are calling for residents to work toward a clearer, fuller understanding of each other. 

On the morning of Saturday, May 16, a new effort in town—a free workshop titled ‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan: A Community Conversation Across Political Differences’—will launch at Lapham Center (participation is limited, register here). We sat down with two representatives from The Congregational Church of New Canaan who helped spearhead the gathering—the Rev. Stephen Chapin Garner, senior minister, and Director of Spiritual Formation Marianna Kilbride—to get some background and details on ‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan’ (more info here). Here’s a transcript of our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Where did this effort that you are calling ‘Let’s Talk New Canaan’—where did it come from? The Rev. Chapin Garner: I think it was during the last election cycle in town, we heard from our own church members, community members, that the level of discourse was a little bit vitriolic.