‘This Way He Will Not Be Forgotten’: Golf Tournament Honoring Fallen New Canaan Police Officer To Support Scholarship for NCHS Students

A local nonprofit organization that helps police families throughout the area who have suffered from illness, disability or the loss of a loved one is creating a scholarship that will go to a deserving New Canaan High School student while honoring a local police officer who died while on the job 25 years ago. This year, proceeds from the New Canaan Police Benevolent Association’s annual Jim Martin Memorial Cops & Robbers Golf Tournament will fund a new, need-based scholarship at NCHS, according to the organization’s president, Officer Roberto Lopez, and vice president, Officer Ron Bentley. A local tradition since the 1970s that has been held in Martin’s honor since he died in 1991, the golf tournament in past years has raised money that went to the fallen officer’s widow and children. Those kids are grown now, the officers said, and approached with an idea of honoring her husband by helping a local student work toward their goals, Lauren Martin “was all for it,” Lopez said. “We came up with this to keep the tradition going and to keep something in his name,” he said.

Did You Hear … ?

New Canaan on Thursday put a lien on the Forest Street property cited for violating the town’s blight ordinance. Signed by Blight Officer Brian Platz, the town’s chief building official, the 1829-built multi-family home at 74 Forest St. is deteriorating and its .3-acre property is unkempt. The “Blight Lien and Certification of Continuing Lien” notice in the Town Clerk’s office says that $9,800 was owed as of May 22 and $100 per day additional is to be assessed as of that date (bringing the total to $11,500 as of Monday, June 8). ***

More than 40 residents attended NewCanaanite.com’s inaugural Community Coffee on Friday, and the sole topic of discussion for the hour-long talk was the Pop Up Park downtown, suspended by the committee that created and managed it after some merchants raised concerns about traffic and the makeshift plaza’s effect on business.

Great Cause: New Canaan Police Benevolent Association Boot Drive Runs through Dec. 17

The New Canaan Police Benevolent Association is asking locals to donate boots and shoes of all sizes—new or in good, clean condition—as the organization supports a Norwalk nonprofit that serves the homeless and working poor. A media release issued by PBA President Roberto Lopez calls for New Canaanites this holiday season to think of the less fortunate and support the Boot Drive—which runs through Dec. 17—for Norwalk’s The Open Door. “A collection box has been placed in the main lobby of the police department located on 174 South Ave. where donations can be made at any time of day,” Lopez said.