New Canaan Police are investigating a report received at 1:47 p.m. on Aug. 31 of a wallet stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked at the YMCA.
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First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan is holding its Rally Day at 10 a.m. on Sept. 11. Details here.
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The New Canaan Building Department on Aug. 29 received applications to demolish a number of structures on a 5.7-acre property at 672 Oenoke Ridge Road. They include 2,525-square-foot stables (built in 2022), 900-square-foot inground pool (2011), shed (1960) and detached garage (1960).
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The Board of Selectmen during its regular meeting Tuesday voted 3-0 in favor of hiring Rose Arduni as a staff accountant for the town, and Nancy Fields as an accounts payable supervisor.
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The Democratic Town Committee’s “2022 DTC BBQ” is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Carriage Barn in Waveny. Democratic candidates for elected office this year include:
- Ceci Maher (26th State Senate District)
- Victor Alvarez (125th State House District)
- Lucy Dathan (142nd State House District)
- Trevor Crow (36th State Senate District)
- Keith Denning (42nd State House District)
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Police at about 2:17 p.m. on Aug. 31 responded to a Main Street residence on a civil complaint regarding work that had not been performed after payment.
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The Children’s School is hosting an Open House from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 23 (RSVP required).
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Screenshot from Mailchimp of First Selectman Kevin Moynihan’s subscription to the New Canaanite daily newsletter.
During Tuesday’s Board meeting, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said following a discussion that touched on FOI matters, “I would make one further comment. Michael Dinan has made a number of requests but I think we give Michael 99% of what he asks for and occasionally when we hold drafts of things which, when we have to make a determination what’s in the best interests of the town, and I always choose the town over Michael getting clicks, so that’s something we have to continue to hold fast to have the primary interest of the town always at heart.” According to Mailchimp, Moynihan is one of New Canaanite’s most avid readers. Since subscribing in July 2014, he’s opened the New Canaanite’s daily newsletter at a 91% clip, and also carries a click-through rate of 55.5%. Sign up here for the daily newsletter.
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The New Canaan Rotary Club’s annual Lobsterfest is scheduled for Friday Sept. 30 and Saturday Oct. 1. Details here.
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The town’s 9/11 ceremony will be held shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday in front of Town Hall.
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Police at about 12:56 p.m. on Sept. 4 received a report from Richmond Hill Road regarding a stolen license plate.
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Kelly LeRose has joined the team at Rucci Law Group.
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A lawsuit regarding the town’s denial of a sewer application at 751 Weed St. was transferred Aug. 31 up to Hartford from the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, court records show.
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The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Bankwell to provide important financial content to members and the community at large. The goal for the project is to educate New Canaan businesses and residents on ways to maintain and expand their financial well-being. The 12-part Smart Money Resources series kicked off in September with “Tips For Staying Safe Online.”
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Police at 10:43 p.m. on Sept. 3 received a complaint of an erratic motorist in the area of Smith Ridge and North Wilton Roads. It turned out to be a lost driver who needed directions.
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The Town Players of New Canaan has some terrific upcoming shows—The Fantasticks will run Sept. 16 to Oct. 2, while The Rocky Horror Picture Show will run Oct. 28 and 20 (come in costume for prizes). Shows are at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny.
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Congratulations to Steve Risbridger, partner at Reynolds + Rowella on the announcement this week of his retirement after nearly 30 years at the highly respected accounting and consulting firm.
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Stand Together Against Racism and The Glass House have announced a high school student Art Showcase that seeks to recognize the role of art, design and/or architecture in advancing social justice related to inclusion, equity and diversity. Fairfield County middle and high school students are invited to create and submit art that reflects how social justice impacts their lives. All student art will be exhibited at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. The showcase opens with a reception 12 to 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will remain on view through Oct. 29. More details here.
Carriage Barn Arts Center
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Carriage Barn Arts Center has hired Kristin Peterson Edwards as director of special projects and Janet Dinger as events and programs manager. Jennifer Hladick continues in her role as exhibitions & gallery manager.
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Congratulations to New Canaan High School graduate Sage Fuhrman on winning one of three Richard E. Taber Citizenship Award scholarships from First County Bank Foundation. Fuhrman will attend the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Human Dimensions of Organizations.
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Finally, following publication of NewCanaanite.com articles about how the town exceeded its legal budget in fiscal year 2022 and hasn’t issued an RFP for legal services in a full decade, Town Attorney Ira Bloom on Tuesday said this news outlet reported inaccuracies with respect to a recently adjudicated Freedom of Information complaint. During this week’s meeting, Bloom said, “I want to correct a story that’s been reported incorrectly in the New Canaanite. It’s been reported twice, actually, incorrectly. There was a reference to a FOIA case, FOIA claim filed by David Markatos, a citizen… referring to the case, the New Canaanite said on Aug. 7, ‘In June, for example, the state FOIA Commission found that the town illegally withheld records.’ That is not correct. Never happened like that … There was a preliminary report prepared by a hearing officer that was presented to the full Commission. That’s the normal pattern here. You go to a hearing officer and he or she does a full report to the Commission. In this case, the full Commission met on June 22, 2022 this year. The full Commission did not accept the full Commission’s report because the hearing officer erred. A mistake was made.” Bloom appeared to refer to a voting body within the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. The state agency is composed of 15 staff members—mostly attorneys—as well as a volunteer voting body. As reported by the New Canaanite, the Commission recently found that the town illegally withheld documents from a complainant seeking town officials’ communications regarding Grace Farms. Specifically, the Commission hearing officer on the case said in a proposed final decision, “Accordingly, it is concluded that the respondents violated the FOI Act by withholding such records from the complainant.” Though Bloom acknowledged that the Commission’s voting body did not accept the hearing officer’s report, he failed to note that the voting body issued no ruling in the case, or that the town ultimately was compelled to turn over the withheld documents. The complainant in the case, Markatos, issued this statement following Bloom’s appearance at the selectmen meeting.