Around Town

PHOTOS: Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale Held Downtown Saturday

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Hundreds of bargain-hunters crowded into the heart of downtown New Canaan on Saturday for the Chamber of Commerce’s popular Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale. 

Parts of Elm, Main and Forest Streets were closed to vehicular traffic on a comfortably sunny day. “We are thrilled at all the organizations that have come out, all the vendors and—most importantly—all the shoppers who seem to be enjoying the bargains,” said Laura Budd, the Chamber’s executive director. “And we’re very blessed with the weather.”

Dr. Elle de Moll of Elite Dermatology Physicians participated in her first Sidewalk Sale as a business owner, with a booth set up on Elm Street. “We’ve had a great day meeting people and talking about what we do,” de Moll said. Across the street, the Connecticut Stage Company also was participating in its first-ever Sidewalk Sale, co-founders Lorah Haskins and Kate Simone said.

News

Arthur E. Trotman, 85

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Arthur E. Trotman died on July 14, 2025 at the age of 85. He is remembered for his thoughtful leadership in business and for his work with churches and charities in the service of social justice. Universally seen as a people person, he was an optimist with a unique ability to champion causes and gain ardent followers. Born in New Haven, CT to Ruth Hessler and Stanley Trotman, Art graduated from Hopkins Grammar School, Choate School (‘57), Yale University (‘62) and Harvard Business School (‘64.) At first, all he wanted was to be a baseball pitcher. He loved working with the pitching coach during summers at Camp Lanakila in Fairlee, VT and at home with his American Legion team.

Homepage Featured

Former New Canaan Baseball Player Selected in MLB Draft

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As children, we are taught to dream big; to shoot for the stars; to pursue our passions to the ends of the Earth. Yet, for most people, that simply isn’t realistic. Most won’t grow up to be astronauts, movie stars, presidents, or professional athletes — not because they lack drive or talent, but because society doesn’t allow for it. Still, there are outliers. 

On Monday, former New Canaan baseball player Julian Tonghini became one of these outliers. 

Tonghini, a pitcher out of the University of Arizona, was selected by the Washington Nationals in the seventh round of the MLB draft, fulfilling a lifelong dream. “As soon as I saw my name pop up, I had so many emotions,” Tonghini said.

Board of Selectmen

Town Approves Contract for Lapham Center Flooring Upgrade

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[The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates.]

Municipal officials last week approved a contract for carpet removal and vinyl flooring installation in a heavily used town building. The Lapham Center in Waveny has “had issues with their carpet, so they want to replace it with vinyl flooring,” according to Superintendent of Buildings William Oestmann. 

The project will include replacing the carpet on the first floor and the coffee area with vinyls, and replacing the flooring in the kitchen, Oestmann told members of the Board of Selectmen during their July 8 meeting, held in Town Hall and via videoconference. According to Oestmann, Berlin-based M. Frank Higgins & Co. offered $49,922 with a 10% contingency for $54,914 for the flooring and kitchen construction. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with 

“It’s a tricky project because the Lapham Center is an old building, and underneath the carpet on the first floor is a little unknown,” he said.

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Man, 48, Charged After Bringing Firearm to Church Service at NCHS

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Police on Sunday arrested a 48-year-old Stratford man who brought a firearm to a church service held at New Canaan High School. At about 9:20 a.m. on July 13, officers working security at NCHS for Grace Church were approached by a representative of the church regarding a person they said was acting suspicious and possibly carrying a firearm, according to a police report. The church rep pointed out the man to New Canaan Police, the report said. As he entered the building, officers noticed a bulge in the small of his back underneath his shirt, it said. He admitted to carrying a firearm when police talked to him, it said. 

He was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, a felony offense.