The Grazing Ram: Funding Bodies Voice Support for Public Cemetery Maintenance Plan 

[Editor’s Note: Leo Mikkola-Patel is a junior at New Canaan High School. “The Grazing Ram” is his periodic column on New Canaanite.]

My previous article described a plan to encourage the town government to allocate funding for the appropriate maintenance of all public cemeteries. After writing that article, I saw the true power and beauty of town government. 

I reached out to many organizations and gathered the support of both the Daughters of the American Revolution and the VFW Post 653 . There was also broad community support for this project as evidenced by a petition with nearly 1,000 signatures. 

Working with the head of the Department of Public Works, Tiger Mann, administrative officer in the first selectman’s office, Tucker Murphy, VFW Post 653 Senior Commander Mike McGlinn and Danielle Edwards of the DAR, this month we presented to the Board of Finance and Town Council with the goal of garnering support and starting the process of creating an annual budget line for cemetery upkeep. 

McGlinn said during the Nov. 14 finance board meeting that “the VFW stands 100% behind this project” and that “one of the principles of the VFW is to honor and remember every veteran, alive or deceased.” 

The consensus was that this project is very possible but more work still needs to be done.

Letters to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Email editor@newcanaanite.com to publish your letter here. 

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On Friday afternoon, families began arriving at the tree lot at Kiwanis Park to purchase trees, wreaths, roping, and other holiday decorations from the New Canaan Exchange Club. There was a supporter who purchased a large tree, wreaths, and roping. Unbeknownst to us we did not charge him for the tree. He had left the tree lot and he discovered that we did not charge him for the tree.

Letter to the Editor

Lauren Connolly Nussbaum is one of the very few “angels among us.”  Lauren lives about a block from us.  During Covid, Lauren called and volunteered to shop for us.  We are in our seventies and really appreciated all the help we received. 

We have been impressed with what a terrific job Lauren and her husband Matt have done, raising, and nurturing three daughters who all have different talents.   Although she is very busy with her family, Lauren believes in helping her community.  Lauren is well qualified to be on the Board of Education; she is an intelligent, sweet, energetic, and dedicated, person.  She always seeks to find common ground with people of opposing views.  We would certainly be lucky if she were willing to run again. Sara and Dave Hunt

Letter from First Selectman Kevin Moynihan 

Dear New Canaan Citizens,

As I complete a decade of public service to New Canaan — four years on the Town Council and six years as First Selectman — I want to thank all of our citizens, past and present, for giving me the opportunity to represent and lead our wonderful town. It has been an honor and privilege of a lifetime. When my wife Mim and I moved to New Canaan 42 years ago we had no idea what an amazing community we were joining. 

When I retired in 2009 from a very gratifying 35-year legal career on Wall Street, I never dreamed of running for public office or being First Selectman. It has been a pleasure working with so many of our fellow citizens on boards and commissions and with our town employees to help make New Canaan the best town we can be. To those who served with us, I say thank you for your friendship and your service.