Alyssa MacKenzie

Q&A: Residents Launch ‘New Canaan Pride 2021’ for June

By |

Dozens of rainbow flag signs and window clings featuring the hashtag #NewCanaanPRIDE are appearing on residential and commercial properties throughout town—the result of a local grassroots effort to mark Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or LGBTQ Pride Month here in New Canaan. New Canaan’s Hilary Ormond, Julia Stewart, Marley Thackray, Tami Wilkinson, D.J. Kornell, Alyssa MacKenzie, Shona Goldenberg and an organizing committee of 10 others have launched a “New Canaan Pride” Facebook page that has swelled to 360 members in just two weeks, and have sold dozens of the signs (to cover the cost of producing them). In all, more than 150 lawn signs and 75 window clings have been sold. We put some questions to Stewart to learn about how the idea to bring Pride Month to New Canaan started, how it’s being received and what the organizing group plans. New Canaanite: Tell us about “New Canaan Pride 2021.”

Government

Police Chief ‘Thrilled’ That Security Cameras Now Are Being Installed at Waveny’s Entrances

By |

The chief of the New Canaan Police Department said he’s “thrilled” that security cameras are being installed at Waveny’s two main entrances. 

Asked about the pole-mounted security cameras—there’s one already in place at the park’s Lapham Road entrance—Police Chief Leon Krolikowski noted that New Canaan has seen motor vehicle break-ins in recent weeks at both Waveny and Irwin Parks. “We have seen video cameras work well specifically at the YMCA, preventing people from breaking into vehicles,” Krolikowski told NewCanaanite.com. “And if they do commit a crime, it will help us catch and and arrest them and prevent future crimes from occurring. These groups will enter a vehicle if they believe that there are valuables inside. Very typically they strike public parks and public common areas in Fairfield County, recently in Monroe and in our town and other parts of Fairfield County.

Footer Featured Widget

Police: Purse, iPhone, House Keys Stolen in Smash-and-Grab at Waveny Park

By |

Police say a Longchamp purse, iPhone 6, cash and house keys were reported stolen Saturday afternoon from an SUV in a smash-and-grab at Waveny. Credit cards, a driver’s license and reading glasses also were stolen after the right rear passenger window of a 2018 Lexus RX 350 was smashed while its owner was using the popular park, according to a press release issued by Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. The larceny was reported to police at about 3:33 p.m. on Feb. 6, the chief said in the press release. “Many towns in Fairfield County are experiencing similar crimes,” Krolikowski said in the release.

News

Cameras at Waveny: Town Approves Contract for Security Upgrade

By |

In a major step forward for the grassroots push to install security cameras at Waveny, town officials last week approved a contract with a Shelton-based company that specializes in areas that include video surveillance and network infrastructure. The Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting Aug. 4 voted 3-0 in favor of the $57,222 contract with Advanced Security Technologies, Inc.

“We have committed improve security,” First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said at the meeting, held via videoconference. “This is one piece of that—creating a backbone and capability to expand more easily with more modern technology.”

Security systems at New Canaan’s municipal buildings and town-owned properties have been developed piecemeal. The planned upgrades will see cloud-based systems for Waveny park, as well as Waveny Pool, Town Hall, Waveny House and municipal parking lots all connected to the New Canaan Police Department, officials have said.

Board of Selectmen

Town Approves Contract with Firm To Solicit Plans for Security Upgrade, Including Cameras at Waveny

By |

The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted unanimously to hire a Bridgeport-based technology consulting firm to put together an RFP for updating security systems in New Canaan. The $16,000 contract with D’Agostino & Associates is a step toward security upgrades at municipal buildings, parks and other town-owned properties, officials said. “Right now, Waveny House, Waveny Pool, this building, everything is standalone,” First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said during an interview after the Board’s meeting, held at Town Hall. “We want a system that all connects to the Police Department. But we need a backbone for that in the cloud, because right now each system is standalone.