Around Town

Local Organizations and COVID-19: New Canaan Library

By |

In today’s Q&A, we hear from New Canaan Library Executive Director Lisa Oldham about services that the organization is offering through the COVID-19 emergency and how the staff is faring, among other matters. 

Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: I want to talk about the library. First, though, how are you faring? 

Lisa Oldham: Thank you. I’m well. Give me a rundown on what library services are available while the building is physically closed. There are a lot! Digital lending, live-stream programs and technology help are three of the big ones. Our digital collections are excellent and we continue to add more digital content to meet the huge increase in demand. Many library members have not previously borrowed e-books or e-audio books from us so we’ve created how-to videos to help them get them started.

COVID-19 New Canaan

Police: Fining, Charging Those Violating Order on Closed Parks ‘An Absolute Last Resort’

By |

New Canaan Police will only bring fines or charges against those violating an order to stay out of the town’s public parks as a last resort, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. According to an opinion from the town attorney, those violating formal orders issued during a public health emergency risk per-offense charges of $1,000 and a year in jail. Citing a desire to reduce transmission of COVID-19, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan on March 30 ordered New Canaan parks closed to the public through April 30. Since then, New Canaan Police have received complaints about people walking past yellow police tape or other barriers at park entrances, though those have subsided, according to Krolikowski. Ticketing violators or bringing charges that range from infraction- to felony-level, under state law, would be “an absolute last resort,” Krolikowski said.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: Rosie

By |

For today’s Q&A with a local business owner navigating the COVID-19 emergency and safety-related restrictions, we hear from Rose Bonura of Rosie, the popular eatery on Elm Street that’s doing a brisk business in dinner pickups. Here’s our exchange. 

How are you all doing there? We are hanging in with curbside delivery and everyone is healthy, thank God. We are taking temperatures when people [staff] walk in, and everybody has to wash their hands. And so far, everybody is good.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: Francos Wine To Reopen Tuesday with Curbside Pickup, Delivery

By |

After voluntarily shutting down for two weeks—the first in its 87-year history—Francos Wine Merchants is set to open Tuesday under a new schedule and operating model. The Elm Street mainstay’s new hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday). It’s offering free local delivery in addition to curbside service. What follows is our Q&A with Carl Franco (see additional business information at bottom). New Canaanite: You all are known in this community well beyond the wine shop itself.

Footer Featured Widget

After One-Time Suspension, Board of Ed To Reinstate Public Comments Monday

By |

After suspending the practice for one meeting, members of the Board of Education said last week that they’re hoping to find a secure way for the public to offer comment before the elected body during remote meetings in the future. Receiving people’s emails isn’t an adequate substitute for the live public comment period that’s part of regular meeting agendas, according to Board member Dionna Carlson. 

“I wouldn’t want to see this going to the emails that just come to the Board, because that’s not public,” Carlson said during the Board’s March 30 meeting, held via videoconference. 

“There is a lot going on right now and I do think we need to find a way for the public to be able to address us through the digital platform,” Carlson said. She added, “I think it is is important for us to see and hear the public and for the remainder of the public to see what is being addressed to the Board. So I would not want to see this go to emails and things like that. We just need to figure out how to work with [New Canaan Public Schools Technology Services] to keep these random things off the Zoom platform or go to a different platform that is more secure.”

She referred to inappropriate material that appeared during recent public meetings held by other municipal bodies in New Canaan on Zoom videoconferencing software—a practice known as “Zoom-bombing.”

Board member Bob Naughton suggested the district look into webinar platforms that require advance registration. 

Board Vice Chair Brendan Hayes said it was a good idea to “pre-clear those who are going to speak.”

“It is a bit difficult, I think, but my guess is we are not going to have a huge number of people during this period of time,” he said.