News

Teen Charged with Possession of Alcohol

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Police last week arrested an 18-year-old New Canaan man and charged him with possession of alcohol by a minor on a public street or highway. At about 6:23 a.m. on June 24, the East Avenue teen turned himself in on an active warrant stemming from a car crash in May, according to a police report. Under state law, “Any minor who possesses any alcoholic liquor (1) on any public street or highway, or (2) in any other public or private location, shall, for a first offense, have committed an infraction and for any subsequent offense, be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars.”

He was released after promising to appear July 8 in state Superior Court.

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‘An Exceptional Level of Commitment’: NCPD Honors Officers, Citizens

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

The New Canaan Police Department honored 12 officers, two sergeants and two lieutenants in an awards ceremony, held Thursday morning inside the agency’s newly renovated headquarters. Town residents who helped in some incidents were also presented with awards. 

The Police Department gave out seven awards in total, including Unit Citation awards, Firearm Proficiency awards, Physical Fitness awards, Medical Awards, Meritorious Duty awards, the Civilian Award of Excellence, and the prestigious Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year Award. 

Lt. Jason Ferraro, Sgt. Thomas Callinan and Officers Jeffrey Pollock, Matthew Marzano, Robert Rizzitelli, Annamaria Ceci, Nicholas Rienzi and Mairee Castro were presented the Unit Citation awards, Police Chief John DiFederico said at the awards ceremony, held in the training room at NCPD. 

“I am pleased to acknowledge your exceptional work and efforts during the 3-11 shift on May 24, 2024,” he said. 

DiFederico referred to three incidents where the team aided a male who was going through a mental health crisis, dealt with a juvenile who threatened to harm another and handled a sensitive domestic incident with professionalism and care. 

“Your performance was a testament to your dedication to duty, your capability to work seamlessly as part of a team and your adept application of tactical training in real world scenarios,” the chief said. The department holds award ceremonies periodically for officers doing outstanding work. On Thursday, those in attendance included the families of those receiving awards, several police officers and First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Police Commission Chair Paul Foley.

New Canaan There & Then

New Canaan There & Then: The Telephone Comes to Town

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‘New Canaan There & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Bettina Hegel, Joanne Santulli, Dawn Sterner and Pam Stutz. A fascinating article by Marshall H. Montgomery titled “It Deserves to be Celebrated or The First One Hundred Years of the telephone in New Canaan” appears in the 1981 Annual published by the New Canaan Historical Society. It provides a broad overview of the milestones in bringing telephone service to the town New Canaan. Here are some of the highlights:

The first telephone system began operating in New Haven, Connecticut in 1878, two years after Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. It had a switchboard and a directory printed upon a plain card.

Andrea Lombardi

‘We Are Really Grateful’: Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant To Open Next Week

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

After months of anticipation, the owners of Dolce Café are opening a new authentic Italian restaurant on Elm Street. 

Lombardi’s Ristorante & Bar at 32 Elm St. (it has doors facing both Elm and Morse Court)—named for brothers Andrea and Daniel Lombardi, born and raised in Ischia, Italy—will open to the public next week, following a series of “soft-opening” invite-only dinners that started this Wednesday. “We are really grateful for the community,” Andrea Lombardi told NewCanaanite.com from inside the new restaurant on Wednesday afternoon. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be opening up.”

The food will be entirely Italian, with a modern twist, according to Andrea Lombardi, who will be working primarily in the kitchen, while his brother runs front-of-house/bar. “We want to keep our food traditional, but we also want to give it a little touch of modernity,” he said.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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A car—unlocked, keys inside—was reported stolen from a Woodridge Circle residence at 5:47 p.m. on June 18. New Canaan Police are investigating. ***

New Canaan’s Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo joined New Canaan High School graduate and baseball media entrepreneur Kelley Franco Throop, the “Three Inning Fan,” on her popular podcast last week. Franco Throop (@threeinningfan) can be found here on X, Instagram and YouTube. The episode has already garnered more than 7,000 views on YouTube.