One of the men brought up on misdemeanor charges by New York City police for climbing the Brooklyn Bridge in order to get a nice photo of Manhattan at sunrise Saturday was a 24-year-old New Canaanite, the New York Post reports.
Scenes from NC Boys Lax at Darien on April 30, 2016. Credit: Chris Cody
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Some of the New Canaan High School students who attended the boys varsity lacrosse game Saturday versus rival Darien misbehaved to the point where the principal of NCHS sent a letter that went to the wider school community to address the problem. The letter references “a number of incidents at the game” including alcohol consumption and profanity. It continues: “Consuming or possessing alcohol, threatening or harassing others, acting disrespectfully, and/or any behaviors that would not be tolerated in school will not be permitted at these contests. If it is witnessed, students will be removed from the game and may face significant disciplinary action in school, up to and including suspension. Also, it is important to note that it is illegal for anyone, regardless of age, to possess alcohol on school grounds at any time.” School administrators could not be immediately reached for comment.
Scenes from the May Fair’s “Friday Night Lights”, May 8, 2015. Credit: Terry Dinan
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May Fair kicks off in just a few days with “Friday Night Lights,” to be held 5 to 9:30 p.m. on St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s grounds. The main fair will run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Introduced last year, “Friday Night Lights” will see all carnival rides, music and special food concessions—including pizza from Lorenzo and Joe’s Pizza and ice cream from Anna and Baskin Robbins, both locally owned favorites—made available to attendees. An “unlimited rides” wristband for that night can be had for $25.
Ponus Ridge Chapel—July 23, 2014. Credit: Michael Dinan
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An attorney acting on behalf of Elizabeth Weed of Ponus Ridge on Friday filed a formal appeal after losing a lawsuit versus the New Canaan Zoning Board of Appeals and a neighbor, court documents show. Weed had lost her lawsuit regarding the deteriorating Ponus Ridge Chapel, after a Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the town’s ZBA.
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Speaking of the ZBA, the municipal body continued to a May 16 special meeting the matter of a dispute between Grace Farms and one of its neighbors, a couple who say their backyard is not adequately screened from the sprawling property.
Google Analytics screenshot of New Canaanite traffic since launch in January 2014
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Here’s a quick thank-you to our NewCanaanite.com readers. In April, we hit our all-time high traffic month, reaching 119,632 pageviews, eclipsing a high-water mark that had been set in March. Amazingly, the 66.5 percent open rate and 31.4 percent click-thru rates on our free daily newsletter have sustained, even as we take on dozens more subscribers each day (sign up here).
New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski
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If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the New Canaan Police Department chief is feeling pretty good right now. According to sister site Darienite.com, Darien PD is launching its own “diversionary program,” in which underage drinking violators are given an option to get educated on the dangers of the practice in lieu of an arrest. NCPD Chief Leon Krolikowski conceived of the program last year and is rolling it out now.
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Bankwell Financial Group reported net income of $3 million for the first quarter of 2016, and reached record loan levels of $1.2 billion, “driven by strong organic growth,” the company reported. In a press release, CEO Christopher R. Gruseke said: “Bankwell has begun 2016 with its best financial performance to date.”
This injured cat was turned into a local veterinarian on April 25, 2015. The Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department is seeking information on the woman who brought in the cat, as well as how he may have been injured. Photo published with permission from its owner
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The male cat that was dropped off at a New Canaan veterinarian last week with a gaping wound on its shoulder has healed to the point where he can be transferred to the NCPD Animal Control shelter at the Transfer Station later this week. Because it isn’t clear how the animal was wounded, he needs to undergo a type of isolation for six months rather than 45 days. Police are still trying to contact the woman who left him at the vet, to determine just how he was hurt.
First Selectman Rob Mallozzi reads his letter of congratulations to Saxe Middle School seventh-graders Peter Vigano (L) and Henry Benton (R) in his office on April 28, 2016. Credit: Michael Dinan
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Saxe Middle School seventh-graders Henry Benton and Peter Vigano have a new fan. First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said he read about the boys’ project to launch a weather balloon into outer space, and was so impressed with the kids that he invited them to his office and gave them an official letter of congratulations. “I said, ‘I have to have these kids in because I just can’t believe the initiative they took,’ ” Mallozzi recalled. “I love the spirit of adventure and science that captivated them such that they would fundraise a trip to Texas to do that deal.” Peter told the first selectman that the experiment “went great” and was “very educational and fun.” The boys had one issue during launch, whereby the GPS device attached to the weather balloon lost its connection, so that they weren’t able to recover the device and video immediately. “You are still psyched about what you did and will improve on it for next time, right?” Mallozzi said.
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At about 8:49 a.m. on April 27, police received a report of a dog struck by a motor vehicle on Old Norwalk Road. Onlookers who spotted the injured animal said he appeared to be dragging his back legs, and they followed him. When Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm found the animal, she discovered he was a 50-pound coyote who had sidled up against a house. She dispatched (that’s right, CW: ‘dispatched’) the suffering animal.
Saxe Middle School sixth-graders Lily Martucci and Clara Bloom with their desalinator. Contributed
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Two STEM students under teacher Vivian Birdsall, sixth-graders Lily Martucci and Clara Bloom, represented Saxe at the the Connecticut Invention Convention at the University of Connecticut in Storrs on April 30. They were chosen as “recognized inventors” in their judging circle, and they jointly won one of three Petit Family Foundation Promising Young Woman Inventor awards for their “Developed Desalinator,” a solar-powered lunchbox-sized desalinator. They will now go on to the national convention.
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The Waveny Town Pool Committee and Recreation Department are sponsoring a Kick Off to Summer Party at Waveny House, to be held 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 27. The band Mind The Gap perform and drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased here.
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Police at about 9:29 p.m. Sunday responded to a report at Town Hall of a dog inside a vehicle with the windows all the way up. Officers responded and found that the animal was not in distress (it was a rather cool night).
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive 10 percent of sales at Manfredi on Elm Street during its “Mother’s Day Jewels” sale, to be held 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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Bankwell will host a free lunchtime seminar from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 at its 208 Elm St. branch. “Finding Balance: Mothering Teens and Yourself” will be presented by Counselor and Prevention Specialist and Ram Council Foundation President Joyce Sixsmith.