News

Louis L. Lapolla, Jr., 86

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Louis L. Lapolla, Jr. “Jack,” a lifelong resident of New Canaan, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on January 15, 2025. He was born on June 15, 1938, in Norwalk, CT, to Louis L. Lapolla, Sr. and Anita Ventrella Lapolla. Jack was predeceased by his parents and son Shannon “Shaun” Lapolla. He is survived by his loving wife Kathleen B. Lapolla, son Jon C. Lapolla, daughter Patricia A. Lapolla, daughters-in-law Danielle Roth Lapolla and Tina Anselm Lapolla, and grandchildren Amy L. Lapolla and Jon L. Lapolla. He graduated from New Canaan High School in 1956 where he played baseball and football.

News

E-Bikes in New Canaan: Police To Focus on Educating Core Group of Young Riders

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New Canaan Police are preparing to educate local youth about e-bikes, officials say, as authorities expect young riders to re-emerge downtown once the weather warms up. Police Chief John DiFederico said this week that he plans to assign the department’s school resource officers downtown on Thursday or Friday afternoons when the e-bikes appear to get the most use. “So they [the SROs] can put a name to the face and we can get a roster of who’s riding their bikes up and down Elm Street,” DiFederico told members of the Board of Selectmen during their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. The chief’s comments came during a discussion of the Police Department’s proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2026. 

New Canaan last year began seeing young people using the motorized vehicles with some frequency, especially in the downtown. In Connecticut, e-bike motors are not supposed to exceed 750W.

News

New Canaan Woman, 48, Charged with Violation of a Protective Order

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Police last week arrested a 48-year-old New Canaan woman by warrant and charged her with violation of a protective order. The woman, a Lakeview Avenue resident, is already facing a slew of other charges recently brought by New Canaan Police, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records. Those include:

Third-degree assault and disorderly conduct (September 2023)
Risk of injury to a child, disorderly conduct and violation of a protective order (October 2023)
Violation of a criminal protective order (November 2023)
Violation of a protective order, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct (December 2023). first-degree criminal trespass and two counts of second-degree violation of conditions of release
Third-degree assault, violation of a protective order and disorderly conduct (January 2024)
Violation of a protective order (October 2024)

Police withheld information regarding the most recent arrest, saying it’s a domestic matter. The woman turned herself in on the warrant for the felony offense at about 10:55 a.m. on Jan.

Government

Town: Demand Rising at New Canaan Food Pantry

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The New Canaan Food Pantry has seen rising use in the past two years and the need appears to be growing, officials say. The number of individual shoppers using the pantry increased by 22% from fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (from 863 to 1,056) and is already at 769 in fiscal year 2025 (which runs through June 30), according to Marcella Rand, director of the Department of Human Services. “Our food pantry participation has really increased,” Rand told members of the Board of Selectmen during a regular meeting held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. “This year I did year-to-date so you could see where we are and how we think that the use is really going to be increased.”

Here’s a table showing data on food pantry use:

The Food Pantry provides non-perishable items to qualified individuals and families living in New Canaan. It’s open every other Tuesday for two one-hour distribution sessions, where volunteers sort, stock and bag groceries.

News

DUI Charge for 43-Year-Old Man

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Police after midnight Saturday arrested a 43-year-old Stamford man and charged him with driving under the influence. At about 1:33 a.m. on Jan. 18, an officer on patrol saw a car run a flashing red light after exiting the Merritt Parkway’s Exit 36 off-ramp, according to a police report. The vehicle turned up Old Stamford Road and was stopped at Jelliff Mill Road, the report said. During the stop, the officer smelled alcohol on the driver and found other signs of impairment, it said.