Did You Hear … ?

Here’s a look at single-family home sales in June compared to last year. The median sales price declined year-over-year, from $1.6 million to $1,450,000:

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New Canaan is getting another nail salon. The town on July 11 issued a permit for $60,000 of interior work to fit out 32 Forest St. for “Belle Visage Nail Salon.”

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Family disputes reported to New Canaan Police year-to-date have declined from 33 to 27 since 2017, according to Chief Leon Krolikowski. During Wednesday night’s regular meeting of the Police Commission, he also said that identity theft incidents are up from 11 to 28 year-to-date.

‘He Took Care of People’: Classmates, Friends Remember 1993 New Canaan High School Graduate Robert M. Amen Jr.

As news of Robert M. Amen Jr.’s untimely passing last week spread through the town and wider community, friends and fellow 1993 New Canaan High School graduates remembered a widely liked and singularly kind, compassionate person who smiled easily and moved effortlessly among various social circles. A Boston College graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran who served for six years with distinction, including multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Amen died Thursday at age 42. He is survived by his wife, Kerith, and their daughter, Adair. His life will be celebrated at a funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Aloysius Church.

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The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found a West Nile Virus-infected mosquito in New Canaan, state officials said Thursday, in what’s called the ‘Hoyt Swamp.’ That’s located up against the Merritt Parkway near Exit 38 (here). No human cases of the virus have been reported in the state this season. Officials say using mosquito repellant and covering up when the insects are most active (dawn and dusk) are simple, effective prevention measures. ***

Pet Pantry Warehouse on Grove Street—host of the annual Dog Days New Canaan—is hiring management and entry-level personnel for its store here in town. ***

The Board of Selectmen this week voted 3-0 to approve the hiring of Nathan Vass Jr. as a welder equipment operator in the Department of Public Works.

Did You Hear … ?

A mother turkey hopped out into Valley Road around 12:30 p.m. on June 7 to keep at bay a town woman walking her dog up near the Grupes Reservoir. The mama turkey apparently was guarding her three baby chicks nearby—unfortunately, a passing motorist struck the big bird and killed her. The pedestrian phoned the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department, and Officer Allyson Halm spotted the baby turkeys but lost them on retrieving a carrier from the van. ***

Congratulations to New Canaan resident Pasquale Poccia, who became a U.S. citizen this week after taking the Oath of Allegiance on Wednesday during the 6th annual Flag Day Naturalization Ceremony at Mystic Seaport. Poccia is owner of Pasquale’s Osteria, an Italian and International/Continental cuisine restaurant on Main Street in Norwalk.

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Congratulations to New Canaanites Jan and Tom Stadler, whose new granddaughter, Katherine (Kate) Florence Stadler, was born March 2 to Lauren (nee Striffler) Stadler and Sean Stadler of Stamford. Lauren’s parents, Anne and Steve, also live in Stamford. Lauren is a teacher in Stamford and Sean is an architect in New York City. Sean is a 2001 New Canaan High School graduate where he played football and baseball. Tom Stadler is known to many as Administrative Officer of New Canaan in the First Selectman’s office and the various other activities he has been involved in such as New Canaan Baseball/Softball, the New Canaan Community Foundation, Family Fourth, and New Canaan Chamber of Commerce.