Arthur Conley

Silvermine Residents Call for New Traffic-Calming Measures

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Carriage Barn Arts Center. Residents of Silvermine said last week that additional traffic-calming measures are needed in their neighborhood, as frequent speeding in the area creates a public safety issue. In 2017, the speed limit on Silvermine Road was reduced from 30 to 25 mph. However, residents such as Mark Thorsheim say it is not enforced frequently enough. Motorists speed and even pass each other on the narrow roadway, creating a hazard for the area’s many pedestrians, Thorsheim told members of the Police Commission at their June 21 meeting.

News

‘We’re a Little Frustrated’: State Denies Request to Change Speed Limit on Route 123 

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One year after the town formally requested that the state make the speed limit along Route 123 in New Canaan 40 mph throughout, the Connecticut Department of Transportation issued its denial, officials say. Citing safety concerns, the Police Commission last April backed the town’s request to convert two 45 mph zones—at the southernmost and northernmost stretches of the state road through New Canaan—to 40 mph. The state “took over a year to analyze it and came back and basically said they’re not going to change anything,” Police Chief John DiFederico told members of the Police Commission at their April 19 meeting, held at police headquarters and via videoconference. “They agreed to extend the 45 mph zone a little bit further south of the Lakeview area but that was it,” DiFederico said. “They are not going to change it.”

He added, “This is all residential areas, all residential roads.

Business

Dunkin’ Donuts Plans May 20 ‘Grand Opening’ in New Location at South and Elm

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Dunkin’ Donuts is planning a May 20 grand opening in its new space at South Avenue and Elm Street, officials say. The chain coffee shop plans to put a pop-up tent in a no-parking area outside the store, with “wind wavers” and a balloon arch on the sidewalk on that Saturday morning, handing out samples and swag to passersby, according to Laura Budd, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve got a whole promotion planned for the event,” Budd told members of the Police Commission meeting, held April 19 at police headquarters and via videoconference. “And because that tent can’t go on the sidewalk, they want to put it up flush against the curb. Customers would access whatever’s happening in the tent from the sidewalk side.”

Budd referred to a photo submitted to the Commission on behalf of Dunkin’ showing where the promotional materials would be located. 

“They didn’t need the whole ‘Pop-Up Park’ space but they did want to make a splash of it,” Budd said, referring to the first block of South Avenue, between Elm Street and Morse Court, which is sometimes blocked off to motor vehicle traffic for special events.

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Police: New Canaan Sees Uptick in Residential Burglaries

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The chief of police is asking New Canaan residents to take precautions following a recent uptick in home burglaries. The New Canaan Police Department responded to five burglary calls in January, up from zero in December and just two in the year-ago month, Chief John DiFederico reported at the Feb. 15 Police Commission meeting. “We had quite an uptick in the burglary trend,” DiFederico said during the meeting, held at police headquarters and via videoconference. 

“It’s one of those things that seem to be cyclical and when a crew gets going, they kind of hit hard and fast and we’ve had some go through town,” he continued. “We put out some social media tips to keep the lights on, keep the doors locked, obviously.

News

‘Truly Professional and Dedicated’: Letters of Appreciation for New Canaan Police

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Police Chief John DiFederico shared the following letters for appreciation for New Canaan Police at Wednesday night’s Police Commission meeting. ***

Officer Owen Ochs

“Chief, I just wanted to convey my appreciation to Officer Ochs for his diligence and investigative work into a check fraud case. Last month, I had put out an alert on CrimeDex, seeking identification of a suspect that had hit several of our branches. Officer Ochs recognized the photos as being the same suspect active in your town, as well as several other cities and towns in CT. Through diligent investigative work and coordination with other agencies, he was ultimately able to identify the suspect.