First Selectmen: Memorial Day Parade, Waveny Fireworks Canceled 

New Canaan’s highest elected official said Friday that the town is canceling two of its most cherished annual community events due to the COVID-19 virus public health emergency. An “appropriate alternative ceremony” will be held Memorial Day instead of the parade, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, and municipal leaders are taking suggestions on how to hold a safe alternative to the traditional July 4 fireworks at Waveny. As of Sunday evening, 25 people in New Canaan had succumbed to coronavirus disease, officials said. “We grieve for these losses and our thoughts and prayers are with their families,” Moynihan said. The news of cancellations came days after local leaders reopened public parks for trail-walking only, and as the community pursues what Moynihan called the “measured and disciplined reopening of our local economy.” 

Gov. Ned Lamont last week sketched out a plan that would see businesses including “nonessential” retail shops, salons and outdoor areas at restaurants reopen as long as coronavirus disease hospitalizations decline, more testing is made available and a program for contact tracing is established.

Local Businesses and COVID-19: New Canaan Veterinary Hospital 

For today’s Q&A with a local business owner, we talk to town resident Dr. Paul Potenza of New Canaan Veterinary Hospital. Established 70 years ago, the Vitti Street veterinary practice is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. 

Here’s our interview. New Canaanite: Tell me about how you’re operating now. Dr. Paul Potenza: We cut ourselves back to essential services only, which is only the veterinary and the medical-surgical side of it. So we shut down the kennel.

Did You Hear … ?

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.