Around Town

‘The Ticks Are Back’: Three New Canaan Ticks Test Positive for Lyme

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Three ticks submitted last month to a state facility via the New Canaan Health Department tested positive for Lyme disease, officials say. In all, 13 ticks were submitted in March to the New Haven-based Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, according to New Canaan Health Director Amy Lehaney. “The ticks are back,” Lehaney told members of the Health & Human Services Commission during their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. “So make sure you’re doing your tick check. It was a long cold winter and apparently it has ended.

Amy Lehaney

New Canaan Health Director: ‘Flu Numbers Are Way Up’

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New Canaan has seen an unusually strong and early flu season, health officials say. The town “definitely had a nice peak before Christmas, unfortunately, which is not typically where we peak,” according to Health Director Amy Lehaney. “We typically peak two weeks after the Near Year-ish,” Lehaney told members of the Health & Human Services Commission during their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. “So I’m curious to see if we end up having a second peak or if we kind of just peaked early this year. But the flu numbers are way up.

Government

Meet Amy Lehaney, the Town’s New Health Director

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Amy Lehaney started last week in the position of health director for the town of New Canaan, succeeding Jenn Eielson in the role. 

Monroe’s health director since 2022, she had worked for Bridgeport, Stamford, Fairfield and Redding before that. Lehaney earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. and a master’s in public health from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. 

We talked to Lehaney on Tuesday afternoon at her office in Vine Cottage. Here’s a transcription of our interview. ***

New Canaanite: What are your early impressions of Town Hall and the community? 

Amy Lehaney: It’s great. It’s a beautiful downtown.

Government

Town Hires New Health Director

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The town this week hired a longtime municipal professional in Fairfield County as New Canaan’s health director. Amy Lehaney has worked since 2022 as Monroe’s health director, and had worked for Bridgeport, Stamford, Fairfield and Redding before that, according to her resume. “We are very lucky to have had her apply and I think she’ll be a great asset to the town,” New Canaan Human Resources Director Cheryl Pickering Jones told members of the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectman Steve Karl voted 2-0 in favor of the hire. Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll was absent.