Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Bruce Willis—star of Christmas season film favorite “Die Hard”—dropped into Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee on Pine Street on Monday morning for a cup of brew. ***

A sign posted Wednesday on the door at Hamptonite, a women’s fashion boutique that opened on Elm Street in May 2016, says “no sales can be transacted” there due to a sales and use tax permit issue. ***

The man who was arrested earlier this year after filming a woman in a bathroom at Grace Farms while he worked as a chef at the Lukes Wood Road organization, pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records. ***

The Board of Education opened its meeting Monday with a moment of silence for former President George H.W. Bush. ***

Farmers Table on Nov.

News

National Weather Service: It Was a Tornado 

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The powerful storm that struck New Canaan Tuesday evening was in fact a tornado, officials confirmed. 

Representatives from the National Weather Service after surveying the town said that New Canaan experienced an “EF1 tornado” with winds reaching 100 mph, according to Mike Handler, the town’s director of Emergency Management. 

“Clearly the damage we sustained yesterday was different from prior storms,” Handler said in an email update. “Unlike past hurricanes or Nor’easters, this storm was predominantly isolated to a band along the New Canaan/Norwalk border. Damage to both trees and our electrical infrastructure was severe.”

The Office of Emergency Management opened as the tornado took down trees, limbs and power lines, knocking out power to more than 1,400 local homes, some 75 of which still had not been restored as of 6 p.m. Wednesday. With this storm, we have all just been introduced to severe weather patterns with far less predictive warning than previous storms,” Handler said. “The Town will continue to update its emergency operations plans to ensure that we utilize the very latest and best practices.”

Handler is urging residents to notify police as they discover branches on power lines or downed electrical lines, at the general number of 203-594-3000.

News

Emergency Management: ‘Most’ Town Roads Should Be Passable Wednesday Morning After Violent Storm [UPDATED]

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Update 12:15 p.m.

As of midday, White Oak Shade Road between Gerdes Road and Shagbark Lane remained closed for restoration efforts by Eversource due to Wednesday night’s storm, police said. Eversource now expects power to be restored by 5 p.m. “This is just an estimation and could be longer depending on work that needs to be completed by Eversource,” according to Police Lt. Jason Ferraro. “Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes through the afternoon rush hour.” Update 6:39 a.m.

Roads are blocked at Marvin Ridge, Conrad and Wydendown Roads as well as White Oak Shade Road at Brookside, according to the Office of Emergency Management. Most of the 402 New Canaan homes still without power will be restored this morning, officials said, citing information from Eversource.

Government

Michael Handler, New Canaan Republican, Takes Major Step Forward in CT Gubernatorial Bid

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New Canaan resident Michael Handler is poised to take an important step forward in his bid for the Connecticut governor’s seat, as his campaign announced Monday that it has surpassed a key fundraising threshold. By exceeding $250,000 in qualifying contributions—none of which came from lobbyists or state contractors—the Republican is expected to qualify for public financing under the Citizens’ Election Program or ‘CEP.’

“I am extremely proud of the support that our campaign continues to receive,” Handler said in a press release. “Clearly, our message is resonating—the challenges we face as a state are fixable. I will address our threatening fiscal situation, reduce taxes and excessive regulations, and attract new businesses to our state. As CFO of Stamford, I fixed the mess Dan Malloy left behind after 14 years as mayor.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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The town on Feb. 27 received an application to build Merritt Village, the 110-unit complex on the Maple and Park Streets block at the edge of downtown New Canaan, approved in November 2016 by the Planning & Zoning Commission. The application calls for four multi-family residential buildings with 167,746 gross square feet and a combination of underground and surface parking. ***

And now, a photo of Parking Enforcement Officer Mike McCargo with New Canaan’s Lummi Roscoe, a Pomeranian. ***

The Board of Finance on Thursday night voted unanimously to approve a town-wide budget for next fiscal year of $150.9 million—an overall increase of 1.89 percent—including a Board of Education operating budget of $89.7 million.