News

Police Arrest Connecticut Teen in Theft of SUV with French Bulldog Inside

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New Canaan Police on Monday arrested a Connecticut teenager in connection with the widely publicized theft earlier this year of an SUV with a dog inside. 

The 19-year-old New Britain man was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle—a misdemeanor-level crime in case of a first offense—and conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, according to a police report. He was taken into custody at 9:30 p.m. on June 9 at the Darien Police Department, the report said. It wasn’t clear how the arrested man came into custody of Darien Police. New Canaan and surrounding communities were struck by the brazen daytime theft in February. According to police, a Range Rover was left running with a 2-year-old French bulldog inside around midday that Sunday from Main Street near East Avenue.

Business

‘A Great Journey’: Salon Anastassia Opens on Main Street

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It has been a lifelong dream of Anastassia Aida to own a salon. The Estonia native has spent her entire career working in the beauty industry—from obtaining her license in Europe to working at Greg and Tony Salon in Westport, Aida never stopped working toward her ultimate goal. Two months ago, those dreams became reality. Aida opened Salon Anastassia at 80 Main St. in April. 

Now, she said she’s learning how to be a business owner. 

“I love what I’m doing,” Aida told NewCanaanite.com Tuesday during an interview in the sleek, modern second-floor salon.

News

Woman, 36, Charged with Leaving Children Unsupervised in Vehicle

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Police last week arrested a 36-year-old New Canaan woman and charged her with leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle. At about 3:38 p.m. on June 4 (a Wednesday), officers were dispatched to the New England Academy of Dance lot on Main Street on a report of children left alone inside a vehicle, police said. Through an investigation, officers determined that the children had been left unattended for several minutes inside an open vehicle in the lot, according to a police report. The woman was charged with the misdemeanor offense. Under state law, “[a]ny parent, guardian or person having custody or control, or providing supervision, of any child under the age of twelve years who knowingly leaves such child unsupervised in a place of public accommodation or a motor vehicle for a period of time that presents a substantial risk to the child’s health or safety, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.”

She was released after promising to appear June 17 in state superior Court. 

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

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NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter to the editor. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here. ***

My good friend Keith, whom we sadly lost recently, loved to walk his dogs on the trails at Land Trust properties, almost every day. And he loved to talk about these walks in beautiful surroundings. In his official obituary his family suggested friends could donate to the Land Trust in place of sending flowers. 

We have received a number of donations marked in memory of Keith, for which we are very grateful.

Eric Thunem

Town Council Committee Discusses Next Steps Regarding Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

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Town officials say they need time to evaluate the merits of a citizen-led campaign to reduce the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in New Canaan. After receiving dozens of letters themselves and seeing similar ones in local news—calling for a reduction for reasons of noise, public health and environmental issues—members of New Canaan’s legislative body are calling for a comprehensive analysis before recommending any change to local ordinances. During a meeting last week of the Town Council’s Bylaws and Ordinance Committee, member Eric Thunem said: “I think we need to hear from a lot more people before we vote on an ordinance that could impact so many more things than just the noise in my backyard. There are a lot of implications that would restrict and change the economics of landscaping.”

Committee members during a June 4 meeting spent nearly one hour discussing the issue. One Committee member, Kimberly Norton, said she was “on board with moving ahead with [restrictions].”

“I think we’ve had an outpouring of letters from the public…there’s lots of interest in the issue, and I think it behooves us to take it forward,” Norton said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.