New Canaan Police are investigating the theft of a Santa Claus statue from 18 Forest St.—the address of New Canaan Diner—reported at 8:25 a.m. on Dec. 13.
***
The Board of Education on Monday unanimously elected Dr. Raquel Harrison to fill a recently vacated seat. A founder of New Canaan Unplugged who has served on the Health & Human Services Commission, Harrison received supportive comments from school board members on both sides of the aisle.
***
The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted 3-0 to appoint Morgan Williams to the Ethics Board.
***
The Waveny Park Conservancy’s year-end appeal is underway. Details here.
***
Police are investigating a second-floor burglary on Lost District Drive, where entry had been gained through a master bedroom bath window using a ladder. It was reported at 8:44 p.m. on Dec. 13.
***
Animal Control on Dec. 9 removed more cats from an unsanitary Seminary Street home where 10 felines had been impounded, and on Dec. 11 and 12 removed more cats from an unsafe Jelliff Mill Road home where six kittens had been rehomed.
***
The New Canaan Land Trust protects more than 400 acres of open space and cares for more than 6.5 miles of walking trails. Support its Annual Appeal and double your impact through a generous matching gift.
***
Save the date: The second “New Canaan Sports Trivia Night” will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. Tickets here.
***
Police at 10:04 p.m. on Dec. 12 received a complaint of a barking dog on Carter Street.
***
L-R: Rich Townsend and Tom Butterworth (Town Council), Beth Jones (Fire Commission), Dr. David Reed (Health Department medical director) , Penny Rashin (Board of Education) and Tom Schulte (Board of Finance) at the ceremony. Photo courtesy of Steve Karl
The town on Dec. 10 held its “Civic Awards 2025,” where those who have served on municipal boards, commissions and committees receive special recognition for their volunteer service. In addition to honoring the six residents pictured at right, the event saw officials remember dedicated community volunteers who died this past year: Linda Andros, Jim Lisher, George Maranis, Keith Richey and Stuart Sawabini.
***
Here’s a starter list of Christmas and related services at churches in New Canaan:
Congregational Church of New Canaan
- 4 p.m. Dec. 24—Family Worship Service
- 6 p.m. Dec. 24—Worship Service
- 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24—Caroling on God’s Acre
- 7 p.m. Dec. 24—Worship Service
- 11 p.m. Dec. 24—Candlelight Worship Service
First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan
- 5 p.m. Dec. 24—Family Service
- 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24—God’s Acre Caroling
- 10 p.m. Dec. 24—Candlelight Service
St. Mark’s Episcopalian Church
- 5 p.m. Dec. 24—Christmas Pageant
- 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24—Prelude
- 10 p.m. Dec. 24 —Music and Holy Eucharist
- 10 a.m. Dec. 25—Holy Eucharist
***
The New Canaan Community Foundation’s annual appeal is open. Details here.
***
Finally—courtesy of event section sponsor April Kaynor & Kelly DeFrancesco of William Raveis—here are more local happenings worth checking out (add your event to the Community Calendar here and we’ll share it with fellow residents):
- South School 75th Anniversary Sing-a-Long (December 19 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm)
- ‘Edge of Darkness’ at The Dome @ NCHS – December 19 @ 7pm (December 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm)
- Ann Garden Walls by Hal Thorne (January, 7 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am)
Thanks, Mike. In case anyone wants to learn a little more about Dr. Harrison and the process the Board underwent, my comments from the meeting are posted below…
At our last meeting on Monday December 1st, I announced the Board of Ed vacancy to New Canaan residents and asked for indications of interest. Fortunately, we received several, and we thank everyone who threw their hat in the ring and hope they feel like their candidacies were given the attention they deserved.
Our two week process was a thoughtful and thorough one. Every Board member was an active participant, and the process involved countless meetings and phone calls. It culminated in parallel caucuses over the weekend after which we came together and collaboratively decided who we thought the best candidate for the vacancy was. I want to thank my fellow Board members for their time, energy and thoughts. I think we’re a better and more cohesive Board having gone through this process the way we did.
With that said, one candidate differentiated herself and proved to be the best fit for the Board at this time, and that candidate is Dr. Raquel Harrison. Raquel is the daughter of Cuban refugees and has lived in New Canaan for nearly 12 years. She and her husband Scott have three children in the schools…two daughters at Saxe (Hannah and Sarah) and another daughter at South (Mattie). Raquel attended the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate and went to Cornell for medical school. She did her residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital and spent five years as an Assistant Professor at The Yale School of Medicine. A former emergency room physician in Bridgeport, Raquel has served on the Health and Human Services Commission the last two years. She’s a co-founder of New Canaan Unplugged, a group that helps parents and families navigate the ubiquity of modern day technology, and she’s a frequent lecturer in lifestyle medicine at the library and for New Canaan Cares. Raquel is also the former head JV girls basketball coach at New Canaan high school, a former assistant coach for the girls varsity team, and a volunteer with Young Life, a faith-based group that helps kids find a sense of belonging.
If you’d like me to go on, I can. But I’ll leave you with this. I’ve asked around, and everything Raquel gets involved in she seems to make better. Her even-keeled temperament, evidenced-based approach, and positive, can-do attitude are exactly the types of traits this Board needs right now. I’m delighted and honored to bring her appointment for consideration to this Board. Needless to say I support it enthusiastically and unequivocally.