Board of Education

Board of Ed Elects Officers in 5-4 Votes

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A divided Board of Education on Monday voted 5-4 three times in electing its chair, vice chair and secretary. Current Chair Hugo Alves was re-elected to a second year in the post. In nominating him, Board of Ed member Erica Schwedel said he has “led our Board with steadiness and dedication” over the past year, ensuring that “we all stayed focused on what is best for our students.”

“He has developed strong working relationships with the administration and staff, serving as a critical bridge to the Board,” Schwedel said during the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School. “He developed trust among Board members and fostered an environment of listening and collaborating.”

Alves also “dedicated significant time to representing the Board of Ed by speaking to groups such as other town bodies at countless budget meetings, our teachers at Convocation, and parents and students at graduation. In addition to serving as chair of the Board, and a member of the executive committee, Hugo also participates in meetings for all four of our Board committees.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police received two vandalism complaints—damaged political signs on Weed Street, near Irwin Park—at 4:46 p.m. and 5:54 p.m. on Nov. 4. Both cases are closed. ***

The Board of Selectmen on Monday approved the appointment of Steve Doka to the Board of Finance. Longtime member Tom Schulte has stepped down for work-related reasons, the selectmen said.

Around Town

New Canaan’s VFW Post To Celebrate Veterans Day Nov. 11

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At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2024, New Canaan’s VFW Post 653—officially known as Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States—will lead the annual Veterans Day ceremony to honor and commemorate military veterans at the Wayside Cross on God’s Acre. Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day in May, which honors those who died while serving in the military. The date and time of the commemoration of Veterans Day links back to Armistice Day, the date

that marked the end of World War I. To honor those who served, New Canaan’s VFW Post 653 placed 400 flags on God’s Acre just above the Wayside Cross on Saturday, Nov. 2, with the assistance of the Young Americans for Freedom Club members Ethan Aronson and Andrew Moor along with their co-advisors Kristine Goldhawk, Hsuan-hui Wang and Tom Peter. In addition to the VFW, various town officials and the Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will participate in the ceremony.

Government

Affordable Housing: New Canaan Housing Authority Purchases ‘Avalon’ Complex for $75 Million

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The New Canaan Housing Authority last week closed on the approximately $75 million acquisition of a 104-unit apartment complex on Lakeview Avenue. What locals have long known as the “Avalon” property, a 9.1-acre parcel whose closest neighbors include Lakeview Cemetery, Mill Pond and Canaan Parish, will be known in the future as “Riverwood at New Canaan,” according to Housing Authority Chair Scott Hobbs. The acquisition of 106 Lakeview Ave. is expected to help the town achieve relief in the future from a widely discussed state law that allows developers to skirt local planning decisions in municipalities such as New Canaan, where less than 10% of all housing stock is deemed “affordable” under the state’s definition. According to Hobbs, the “vast majority of the units will remain market based and will be managed by Greystar who is a premier property manager.”

“As units turn over, we will be converting 21 of the units to 80% Area Median Income units which will essentially become ‘workforce housing,’ ” Hobbs told NewCanaanite.com in an email.

News

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Fireplace Safety

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New Canaan has experienced two brush fires in the past week due to improper disposal of fireplace ashes. With all of Connecticut being under “Extreme Fire Risk,” it is important that we properly dispose of fireplace embers/ashes. The following are some useful fireplace safety tips as we move into the fall and winter fireplace season:

Ashes may contain hot embers for several days.  If cleaning is required, always use a metal ash bucket with a tight sealing lid. These buckets are available at most hardware or home improvement stores. Place the bucket away from the house and other combustible material for several days before disposing.