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Bankwell announced Thursday that it is leasing the 30,000-square-foot, three-story building at 258 Elm St. in New Canaan—formerly known as the “Unimin” building—from New York-based full-service real estate advisory firm Besen Partners, LLC, which acquired it in October. 

Bankwell is to use the office space for its headquarters, and Bankwell CEO Chris Gruseke said in a a press release that the company would gather more than 100 employees there. “With the addition of over 50 of our team members relocating to New Canaan, I am personally gratified to be part of a plan that will bring economic stimulus to our town,” Gruseke said in the release. “We are mindful that, despite our growth throughout Fairfield County and into New Haven County, our bank has its roots in New Canaan and would not enjoy the success we have today without the original support from our local community. I would also like to thank Dan Steinberg of Besen Partners for the patience and flexibility which allowed us to plan this physical transition during these very trying times.”

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New Canaan Library is expecting to begin self-service pickups of books and other materials as soon as June 15.

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Jennifer Dulos went missing one year ago, on the Friday headed into Memorial Day weekend—May 24, 2019—and has not been found. In January, weeks after officials charged estranged husband Fotis Dulos with murder, he tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning and died. On Thursday, Connecticut State Police in a press release corrected news reported by the Hartford Courant among other legacy outlets that detectives had been searching Fotis Dulos’s Avon home in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation. 

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The Town Council during its regular meeting Wednesday approved an organization’s plan to replant the forecourt of Waveny House. The Waveny Park Conservancy’s plan includes removal of cherry trees dedicated to the memory of former First Selectman Charles Kelley—a prospect that drew concerns from Kelley’s own daughter, a New Canaan resident, and other survivors. Conservancy board Chair Caroline Garrity said she now has spoken with Kelley’s daughter.

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2020 Vision from Jeanne McDonagh on Vimeo. The 33rd Annual New Canaan High School Senior Art Show, “2020 Vision,” is being shared and celebrated virtually (video above). It includes 17 one-person retrospectives in media such as drawing, painting, photography, digital media and film. Congratulations to the following students, who are featured in the show: Claire Batchelor, Brooke Barber, Audrey Bloom, Jane Charlton, Josh Cohn, Skye Curren, Devin Findlay, Kiera Finnerty, Charlotte Gardner, Emily Gelchie, Andrew Jameson, Mary Joyce, Jeronimo Reyes, Caroline Tuffy, Emma Uzgiris, Dustin Valenti, and Pablo Villa. 

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New Canaan Police at 1:04 a.m. Sunday cited a 40-year-old Bridgeport man on marijuana-related charges after spotting him in a car in Waveny. The park closes at sundown, under local ordinance. 

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The Board of Education during a special meeting Thursday voted unanimously to institute days off from distance learning on Friday, May 11 and Mondays June 1 and 8.

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First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said during a press briefing Thursday that municipal officials are working on a plan to close off parallel parking on the north side of Elm Street “so that it can become the pedestrian walkway and the sidewalk will be given over to the merchants.” Designed to help boost the local economy, the plan would take effect no sooner than May 20, as per Gov. Ned Lamont, Moynihan said during the briefing held via videoconference. The restaurants specifically would have the ability to use that stretch of sidewalk for outdoor dining, Moynihan said. “We will have to decide what we will allow the retail stores to do out on the sidewalk, if anything. There has been talk about allowing them to have tables once a week on a Saturday for a few hours.”

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Pryority Wellness on Grove Street has closed, owner Julie Pryor said in a press release. 

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A male and female bluebird were released Tuesday at Bristow Park, according to Chris Schipper, a local open space advocate who serves as chair of the Conservation Commission and is an ex-officio member of the New Canaan Land Trust board. The release was arranged by the Friends of Bristow Park and Wildlife in Crisis.

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New Canaan Police said that at 9:02 a.m. Wednesday a 2019 Volvo SUV was reported stolen from a Rosebrook Road home. Unlocked with a key fob inside, it was later recovered in Waterbury. At 12:23 p.m. that day, a 2016 Ford SUV was reported stolen from a Parade Hill Road driveway, while another vehicle there was entered and cash stolen from inside, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. Both vehicles were unlocked, and the owner didn’t know whether the key was left inside the stolen SUV or if someone took it from an unlocked mudroom door, the chief said. ***

New Canaan CARES Executive Director Ellen Brezovsky posted Thursday on the nonprofit organization’s Facebook page that it was her last day there.