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Urged by local leaders, dozens of New Canaanites attended Tuesday night’s ConnDOT hearing in Stamford on proposed service cuts to the New Canaan branch of Metro-North Railroad—reductions that government and business officials both have called potentially devastating. Scroll through the gallery above for photos and a transcription of First Selectman Kevin Moynihan’s comments at the hearing.

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South School failed the most recent surprise health inspection of its cafeteria kitchen, and East School and New Canaan High School, as well as St. Luke’s School, also failed recent inspections. Food items in a 2-door Hobart at South were discarded after the cooler was found to be at 63.7 degrees—far higher than required—during a May 2, 2017 inspection. The chlorine sanitizer in a wiping cloth bucket at East was found to be at a toxic level during a Sept. 16, 2016 inspection. A 2-door reach-in fridge at NCHS was found to be at 50 degrees—also higher than required—during a Sept. 23, 2016 inspection. And St. Luke’s School was found to have tomato basil soup at just 101 degrees in a warmer at its salad bar during a Sept. 28, 2016 inspection. Several items—such as cream cheese at overly warm 52 degrees, turkey and fruit salad—were removed and discarded as “potential hazardous food” at St. Luke’s School.

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The Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting Tuesday approved the appointment of Miki Porta as an alternate member of the Historic District Commission by a 3-0 vote. Selectman Kit Devereaux said: “She is going to be a great asset to that commission.”

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Officials with New Canaan CARES say the nonprofit organization’s Executive Board has spent the past two months with the background of its search process—building a committee and conducting interviews and focus groups within the community to get a strong sense of what everyone values about New Canaan CARES and what they are looking for in a new Executive Director. In December, the organization announced that Meg Domino will step down after this academic year. New Canaan CARES compiled the feedback and created a job description that’s available for viewing here.

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The Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday continued its public hearing on a divisive application from New Canaan Country School to build a new athletics facility near a property line it has shared since the 1930s with a local family.

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A Ponus Ridge man said he saw a large male bobcat catch a squirrel at tusk on Feb. 19, on a New Canaan Land Trust easement adjacent to his property.

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Fun event to share here from Ally Bally Bee, the handcrafted gift shop that opened last March at 134 Elm St. The class “Sips and Succulents: Create Your Own Easter Garden” will be held 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29: “Join Elissa, from Imaginariums by Elissa, for an evening of hands on fun while you learn how to design, create and care for your very own miniature world. Options will include an Easter themed table centerpiece.” Details here, sign up to reserve your spot now.

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A broad coalition of local nonprofit organizations including the New Canaan Land Trust, New Canaan Historical Society, New Canaan Preservation Alliance, New Canaan Conservation Commission as well as the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation have banded together in an effort to preserve a ca. 1802 Valley Road home whose owner, the first taxing district of Norwalk, has put in for a demolition permit.

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While reviewing legal bills prior to approving payment, Moynihan at this week’s selectmen meeting said, “We do have some annoying FOIA litigation bills.” The selectmen voted 3-0 to pay the $1,139 bill to Westport-based Berchem Moses PC. The town elected to hire an attorney in response to a Freedom of Information Act complaint from NewCanaanite.com that a local committee held illegal meetings last summer. According to a copy of the bill, attorneys Ira Bloom and Matthew Studer charged $220 per hour for the following:

  • Set up a conference call with Penny Young and Amy Murphy Carroll (co-chairman of the Town Building Evaluation & Use Committee)—.1 hours;
  • Review a draft brief and revisions to brief—1.4 hours;
  • Further research regarding legal issues; preparation for telephone conference with Young and Carroll—.6 hours;
  • Interoffice conference re: FOIC brief—.2 hours;
  • Telephone call with Young and Carroll; prepared file and exhibits—.7 hours;
  • Emails (2) from administrative officer, first selectman’s office—.1 hours;
  • Emails to Young and Carroll; preparation for hearing—1 hour.

The bill included $914 for “professional services” and $225 for “reimbursable costs.”

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