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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Taking Down Christmas Trees 

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

Taking down the Christmas tree isn’t nearly as much fun as putting it up. But the longer a tree stays up, the greater a fire hazard it becomes. All Christmas trees can burn, but a dried-out tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. In a year where many people began decorating their homes earlier than usual, trees have been in homes longer than usual, presenting an increased risk of fire as the days go by. 

When Christmas is over or the tree begins to drop needles, dispose of it. 
Do not leave it in the house or store it in the garage. 
Never burn a tree in the fireplace or wood stove. 
To dispose of your tree, it can be taken to the Steve Benko pool in Waveny Park through Jan. 12 where it will be recycled and used to resurface the trails at the Nature Center.

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The Grazing Ram: New Canaan High School to Offer SAT Tutoring with NCCF Grant

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[Leo Mikkola-Patel, author of ‘The Grazing Ram’ periodic opinion column, is a member of the New Canaan High School class of 2025.]

New Canaan High School is creating an SAT tutoring program available to all students. The program will be offered in classes at NCHS in partnership with Carnegie Prep, a leader in standardized test prep. The goal of this program is to better prepare NCHS students for college. This program will also level the playing field as all students who indicate a need for financial assistance will be funded by a generous grant from the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) creating the Equal Access for SATs (EOS) program. Working in conjunction with Principal William Egan, Assistant Principal Kristi Carriero, Meg Soffen from NCCF and NCHS Director of the College and Career Susan Carroll, I feel satisfied that 0ur team has been able to make a big impact on the whole school community. In addition, the whole team is thankful for the support of the Community Foundation for this project. 

What will the format of the program be?

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

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NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here. ***

Dear Editor,

Planet New Canaan could not be more thankful to the Town of New Canaan and residents for their continued support of the New Canaan Swap Shop. We are incredibly lucky to have our amazing volunteers and the Transfer Station staff—Don, Mark, Mike and Eric, who are always lending us a helping hand.  

As we officially enter the Winter season, the hours at the Swap Shop will vary. While typically open Wednesday through Saturday from 9am to 1pm, during the Winter season, Friday hours are 9am to 12pm.

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Op-Ed: Christmas Caroling on God’s Acre

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[Bruce Taylor, a tuba player in the New Canaan Town Band who says he “lives in New Canaan, sleeps in Wilton,” is planning to attend his 39th Christmas caroling at God’s Acre on Dec. 24. This Op-Ed drew inspiration from two New York Times pieces, cited below.]

There must be someone – somewhere – with the responsibility to pinpoint events that reflect important milestones in American life; the person that notates – in some great book – the precise moment when an era begins, when a second chance is lost, or the minute love is born. If there is such a person, he or she knows beyond a doubt, that Christmas in New Canaan, Connecticut starts each December 24th:  amid snow-covered hills where images of picture book Christmas stories so often take place (with an ample amount of snow, of course). To be there at the exact moment when it happens, and to take part in one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in the New York metropolitan region, one need only ride the 5:07 PM train from Grand Central Terminal to New Canaan – or arrange to be there beforehand.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

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NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com for publication here. 

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Dear Editor,

Thank you to the family or group who replaced the bench at the corner of Farm Road and Main St.  I have missed it and now a new one is there! Nice place for a break before or after going up or down Farm Road. Peter Accinno

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As I start to write this it is Saturday morning in mid-December and three gas leaf blowers are going next door. 

It is cold so I am being kept indoors today by the temperature outside and not just by the noise and toxic fumes of two-stroke leaf blowers like most Saturdays since early September. None of our neighbors have their leaves blown on the same day.