Town To Impose Fee for EV Charging Station Use in Town Hall Lot

Town officials last week approved a fee of 53 cents per kilowatt hour for the electric vehicle or ‘EV’ charging stations in the Town Hall parking lot. The figure is expected to cover the cost of electricity for the town at the stations, according to Public Works Senior Engineer Joe Zagarenski. The Board of Selectmen during their regular meeting also approved what Zagarenski called a “parking fee equivalent” of $1.25 per hour. “I say ‘equivalent’ because it’s calculated based on a charge rate of 7.2 kilowatts per hour divided by $1.25 an hour,” he said during the Board’s regular meeting, held Nov. 4 at Town Hall and via videoconference.

‘Remember Some of the Guys’: New Canaan Marks Veterans Day in God’s Acre Ceremony

Rich Mercado can still feel the hug that his mom gave him on returning from Vietnam. Raised in Spanish Harlem as the son of a cab driver, Mercado was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 at age 18. “I went to basic training, I went to advanced training, and five months later, I’m in Vietnam,” Mercado recalled Monday morning, addressing more than 200 people gathered at God’s Acre for VFW Post 653’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. “It was so hot, I couldn’t believe it. And boy, did I miss my mom.”

A helicopter crew chief, Mercado and the 10 other young men in the squad were charged with protecting 30 local farms in the Mekong Delta, each of them worked by 10 to 12 family members.

Police: Stolen Vehicles Nearly Double in 2024

The number of vehicles stolen from New Canaan has nearly doubled in 2024, statistics show. The town saw the number of stolen vehicles rise from 17 to 33 through the first nine months of the year, according to data presented by New Canaan Police Chief John DiFederico. Asked whether the thefts track with what’s happening across Fairfield County, the chief said, “Yes they do.”

“This is not just a New Canaan thing,” he told members of the Police Commission during their most recent meeting, held Oct. 16 in Town Hall and via videoconference. “It’s certainly a regional epidemic.”

The comments came during a discussion of monthly statistics that the department brings before the Commission at each meeting.

‘Happy Hour’ Author Elissa Bass Coming To Playhouse on Wednesday [Q&A]

Connecticut author Elissa Bass will be at The Playhouse for “Cocktails & Conversation” 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday to talk about her debut novel, “Happy Hour.”

The event—free to register here, limited space—will feature a Q&A with Bass (moderated by me), signature cocktails from “Happy Hour” and book sales/signings. 

The evening is presented by CinemaLab in partnership with Elm Street Books. 

I put some questions to Bass ahead of the cocktail hour (or two). 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: Your first novel, “Happy Hour,” was published this spring. What has the last six months been like? Elissa Bass: The last six months have been far beyond what I could have ever possibly imagined. The response I’ve gotten to ‘Happy Hour,’ to KK and Jay’s story, has been incredible, and the support I’ve received from friends – and even total strangers – has been humbling.

Eagle Scout’s ‘Cornhole Area’ Installed at Mead Park

A local park is now benefitting from an Eagle Scout project that town officials approved earlier this year. Troop 70 Life Scout Jason Generalis received unanimous approval from the Parks & Recreation Commission when he came before the appointed body in March seeking approval to install a cornhole area at Mead Park. At the Commission’s most recent meeting, Generalis reviewed the work that went into creating the new area, which on completion immediately began drawing passersby and players, he said. “I hope the town can get a lot of use out of it,” Generalis told Parks & Rec members during their Oct. 9 meeting, held at Lapham Community Center and via videoconference.