Trick-or-treating “probably” will not happen in New Canaan this year, though “no definitive decision has been made,” Dr. Harrison Pierce, chair of the New Canaan Health & Human Services Commission, said during the appointed body’s regular meeting Thursday. He was responding to a question from Commission Secretary Alicia Meyer about Halloween amid the COVID-19 pandemic. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan—a guest at the meeting, held via videoconference—said the town expects the state to provide guidance on Halloween and that the CDC has advised against trick-or-treating.
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Congratulations to the following New Canaan High School students who are 2021 National Merit semi-finalists. More than 1.5 million juniors from 21,000 high schools sat for the qualifying test, the PSAT, in the fall of 2019. From that pool,16,000 students have been named semi-finalists. They will go on to compete for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million offered next spring:
- Elyssa Grogan
- Mark Levin
- Gabriel Smock
- Nicholas Stiles
- Hannah Swimm
- Elena Unger
- Peter Vigano
- Olivia West
- Yikuan Zhou
- Claudia Zhu
- Andrew Zuo
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NCPD from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday is hosting a food drive at Acme on Elm Street to benefit the New Canaan Food Pantry. See the list of items needed at right.
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Spiga restaurant on Main Street aced its unannounced health inspection on Sept. 25, records show, scoring 92 points out of a possible 100. The lone low-level “risk factor violation” cited by the inspecting sanitarian was for having “no hand soap available at hand-washing sink in dessert work station.”
The NCPD “Pink Patch” will raise awareness for breast cancer and money for research and treatment. Contributed
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The New Canaan Police Department is joining a nation-wide campaign called “Pink Patch” to raise awareness for breast cancer and money for research and treatment. In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, officers can substitute their traditional uniform patches for the pink ones they purchased for $10 each. NCPD also is selling the $10 patches to the public (contact the chief’s office at 203-594-3512 to make a purchase). All monies raised from patch sales will be donated to the Smilow Family Breast Health Center at Norwalk Hospital.
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In calling the Cincinnati Reds–Atlanta Braves postseason game Wednesday on ESPN, sportscaster Matt Vasgerjian said, “Curt Casali going back to his New Canaan High School basketball days, shuffling across the floor.” He referred to the 2007 NCHS grad, a catcher, blocking a pitch behind home plate. New Canaan’s first Major League Baseball player, Casali was called up in June 2014. Casali was a three-sport athlete here, and went on to Vanderbilt University.
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Francos Wine Merchants on Elm Street has received shipment of rare and limited wines from Napa Valley: Harlan Estate and Bond Estate. Sold in their 3-bottle wood cases, the wines are expected to lure serious collectors, and Francos is inviting locals to stop in and see these wines or take a look at this week’s installment of the “Francos Wine Minute”:
Francos Wine Harlan and Bond from One Spin Media on Vimeo.
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Jackie D’Louhy, youth and family services coordinator with the New Canaan Department of Human Services, will mark 15 years working for the town on Dec. 15.
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New Canaan Police are participating in the state’s “Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement” campaign from Oct. 1 to 15. Officers will be on patrol in marked and unmarked police vehicles looking for distracted driving behaviors and taking enforcement action, NCPD said in a news bulletin. Citations for distracted driving are down with other motor vehicle violations in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Sept. 27 of this year, police said, 20 tickets had been issued for distracted driving, down from 85 in the same period in 2019.
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The new Teen Talk counselor at New Canaan High School is Grace Burke, a NCHS graduate, officials said during Thursday’s Health & Human Services Commission meeting. The town approved $56,000 for nonprofit organization Kids In Crisis for this fiscal year to support the important position.
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The League of Women Voters of New Canaan’s nonpartisan Voters Guide is being sent by direct mail this week to every New Canaan household for voters to learn about local candidates and access handy voting information. A more extensive version—featuring more candidate answers to questions, candidate videos for young voters, and more—is already available on the organization’s website. On Oct. 19, the League’s annual “Candidates Debate” will live-streamed, including on its Facebook page and a local public access channel. Questions should be submitted through the League’s website by 12 p.m. on oct. 19. They must be nonpartisan, relevant to the office, and applicable to all candidates.
L-R: Planet New Canaan’s Rebecca Tribelli and Diane Maglaris; Tiger Mann, Director of New Canaan Public Works.
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Starting this month, the town will pick up collected food waste from the Transfer Station weekly and transport it to one of three Connecticut-based industrial composting facilities as part of a new sustainable initiative. At the facility, the food waste decomposes into nutrient-rich compost, ultimately delivering a benefit back to gardens and lands throughout Connecticut. Planet New Canaan led a crowdfunding campaign to fund the program, reaching its $4,000 fundraising goal in just five days. Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund brings the total to cover firs-year expenses to $8,000. More than 35 residents and three local businesses and —Walter Stewarts Market, Garden Club of New Canaan, and New Canaan Moms—contributed to the campaign.
Event hosts, the Piscitell Family, enjoying STAR’s benefit Golf Tournament.
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Finally, STAR’s fourth annual Golf Tournament will be an 18-hole best ball scramble with a shotgun start on Oct. 19 at the Connecticut Golf Club in Easton. STAR supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event will feature prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, putting contest, beat the pro and team low gross along with a silent auction featuring unique golf experiences and memorabilia. Golf will play from 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. with lunch on the turn and all-day open bar followed by drinks, dinner and awards from 4-7 p.m. Tickets for golf and dinner/awards can be purchased online. The event is open to the public and the club ensures extensive COVID-aware safety protocols.