Animal 411

New Canaan Woman Bit in Hand During Dog Attack

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A New Canaan dog finished a 10-day home quarantine last weekend after attacking another canine passing by his house, records show. Police on March 25 received a report from a local woman saying she’d been walking with her son and dog on Cedar Lane at about 6 p.m. “when a black lab ran out from behind a home and started attacking her dog,” according to an incident report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. The attacking dog “was dragging a retractable leash and a young boy came running after him,” the report said. The woman “asked the boy to grab the leash but he did not respond,” according to the report, filed by New Canaan Police Officer Ryan Nero. She  then “tried to separate the two dogs and at some point, got bit on her right thumb,” the report said.

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Michael J. McDonagh, 81

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July 15th, 1943 – April 5th, 2025

With profound sadness and unwavering faith, we announce the passing to heaven of Michael Joseph McDonagh, 39-year New Canaan Resident, on Saturday April 5th, 2025, with his wife of 56 years, Jeanne, by his side. His legacy will live on through his loving family; his wife Jeanne, his son; Sean Michael McDonagh (Laura) of Pittsford, NY, his three daughters; Michelle McDonagh Baxter (David) of Princeton, NJ, Christine McDonagh Conroy of Pelham, NY, and Katie McDonagh Small (Jonathan) of New Canaan, CT, and his nine adoring grandchildren, who he lovingly referred to as the littlest pickles; William, Brook, May, Bernadette ”Bea”, Ava, Michael, Jack, Blake, and Duke. Michael was born on July 15th, 1943, in the Riverdale section of the Bronx to proud parents Anne and Michael J McDonagh from county Mayo, Ireland. Michael was their fourth child of five and their first son, and grew up alongside his three older sisters, Mary, Anne, and Bernadette, and his younger brother, William “Billy”.  As a young man, Michael worked in his father’s Irish pub on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, learning the value of hard work, honing his people skills and discovering his love of community. He graduated from Cardinal Farley Military Academy in 1962.

Around Town

New Canaan Museum & Historical Society Buys St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Property

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One of New Canaan’s most venerable nonprofit organizations has purchased an 1830-built church next door, officials say. The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society announced in a press release that it has acquired the adjacent 2.3-acre St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on Oenoke Ridge. “The property, adjacent to the Museum’s campus, contains the oldest church in New Canaan, formerly St. Mark’s Episcopal and now St.

Government

Town Council Passes $181 Million Budget for FY26

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New Canaan’s legislative body on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a $181 million budget for next fiscal year, a 3.47% increase over current spending. The fiscal year 2026 spending plan includes a year-over-year increase of 4.36% for the Board of Education—a $150,000 reduction from the budget request that the school board had brought to the Town Council after going through New Canaan’s two other funding bodies, the Boards of Selectmen and Finance. The final major discussion item in the budget was funding for the Board of Ed. The Town Council initially explored a $300,000 reduction to the school board’s spending request. Advocates to fully fund the request noted that two staff positions were on the line—an elementary school classroom coach and high school math interventionist. 

Ultimately, the Town Council—Chair Michael Mauro, Vice Chair Hilary Ormond, Vice Chair/Secretary Cristina A. Ross and members Maria Naughton, Penny Young, Tom Butterworth, Rita Bettino, Luke Kaufman, Kimberly Norton, Janet Fonss, Eric Thunem and Jennifer Zonis—voted 12-0 in favor of the budget.

News

New Townhouse on Down River Road Sells for $2,050,000

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The following property transfer(s) were recorded recently in the Town Clerk’s office. For more information about each property from the assessor, click on the street address. To get the history of a New Canaan street name, click here. ***

March 27

6 Down River Road Unit 2

$2,050,000
Cypress Group LLC to Down River Associates LLC

March 24

244 West Road (vacant land)

$2,450,000
226 West Road LLC to Joseph Apuzzo Jr.

230 West Road (vacant land)

$2,350,000
230 West Road LLC to Carol Apuzzo

205 Main St. #19

$1,250,000
Laura Beechwood to The Timothy Patrick O’Rourke 2024 Revocable Trust