Around Town

Civic-Minded New Canaan Teens Take to Town on Snow Day

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By Michael Dinan

If you’re walking downtown Friday, chances are you’re running into a New Canaan teenager or two giving away Valentine’s Day carnations and talking about their participation in a nonprofit organization. High school junior Emma Crowley and her sister Abby, a freshman, are members of the New Canaan High School Free the Children Club, part an international charity that works to help youth become more civic-minded. “They just do a lot of fun stuff,” Abby said of the club during a break at Dunkin Donuts on Elm Street. “The snow may have messed up today a little bit, but we’re still out here.” The “Carnation Drive” itself is about bringing awareness to the club as well as raising money for its general fund.

Schools

New Canaan Public Schools Closed Friday, Library on Delay

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NEW CANAAN – With “poor overnight conditions” caused by additional snowfall and freezing rain, New Canaan Public Schools will be closed according to the NCPS website. New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent Mary Kolek announced last night that with Friday already scheduled as a half-day, any potential delay would necessitate a cancellation. The closing now pushes the last day of school to June 18. There are currently two snow days left in the academic calendar. Anything after that will be taken out of April vacation.

Schools

New Canaan Schools To Make Decision on Friday in Morning

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By Michael Dinan

New Canaan Public Schools officials say that although it looks like classes could be cancelled for Friday, a final decision won’t be made until the morning. As it is, Friday is already scheduled as a half-day. Combining that with a delayed opening wouldn’t make sense, so classes would just be cancelled if conditions are poor, according to a bulletin posted to the district’s website, from Superintendent of Schools Mary Kolek. Because predictions for weather and conditions overnight are varying, I will be making the call about school in the morning,” Kolek says in the bulletin. “The posted schedule calls for an early dismissal for students.

Sports

New Canaan High School Boys, Girls Basketball Postponed

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By Terry Dinan

NEW CANAAN – With the winter storm slamming our region with heavy snow and freezing rain, tonight’s New Canaan – Darien boys and girls basketball games have been postponed yet again. According to FCIAC.net, the girls (3-14 overall, 3-12 in the FCIAC)will play on Saturday at 2pm. The boys (3-12 overall, 3-10 in the FCIAC) will play on Thursday, February 20th at 7pm. Both games will be at Darien High School. This is the second time these contests were moved due to the weather.

Business

New Canaan Dog Owners: Protect Their Paws

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By Michael Dinan

Most of us wisely are staying off New Canaan roads Thursday, as a wet, heavy snow turns to sleet (and then snow again), and roads feel more like Mill Pond than Main Street. What awaits us are slush and ice. What awaits our dogs is a painful, dangerous landscape of rock salt.

As Shirleen Dubuque, owner of Village Critter Outfitter on Cherry Street—yes, she’s open Thursday, until about 2 or 3 p.m.—says in a recent blog entry, booties for your pal’s paws are a primary source of protection. Paw wax, from Village Critter Outfitter in New Canaan, helps protect dogs who walk on rock salt following winter storms. Credit: Shirleen Dubuque

“A dog will lick to clean his paws, as well as ingest the chemicals found in the salt and sand,” Dubuque says. “The booties will offer paw and digestive protection.”