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Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan High School senior Will Hetherington jumped into action on Sept. 25, and rescued two young girls caught in a submerged vehicle during the heavy rain storm and flash flooding that took place that day throughout the area. Hetherington, who’s been a volunteer fireman for the Darien Fire Department since he was 17, was on duty when, at approximately 4:30 p.m. that Tuesday, the DFD got a call for a car and water rescue. A Jeep Cherokee with three young girls, aged 6, 8 and 12, and their grandmother, was submerged under the Tokeneke Railroad Bridge in Darien, with flooding waters reaching half way up the car windows. Hetherington was on the rescue truck that was dispatched, and he volunteered to suit-up, donning a yellow waterproof rescue outfit, known as a “mustang suit.” With DFD safety officer Andy Malowitz, Hetherington approached the trapped family’s vehicle. They decided not to break any windows but were able to pull the young girls from one of the slightly open car windows.

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Though regular phone calls to 9-1-1 remain the best and fastest way to contact emergency services, all New Canaan Police Department officers who operate the emergency call center there have been trained in the state’s new 9-1-1 texting feature, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. Anyone texting the numbers ‘911’ as a recipient on a mobile device may send a brief written message that includes the location of the emergency and what services are needed—police, fire or ambulance. The technology “is useful for the hearing impaired, during a domestic violence incident or active threat incident, and during medical emergencies that render a person incapable of speech,” Krolikowski said in a press release. More information is available here. ***

The lead sponsor of the 2018 “Chamber Cup” golf event—to be held Oct.

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The Board of Education is hiring a forensic accountant to help figure out whether the lunch ladies arrested last month for stealing nearly $500,000 in cash from cafeterias at the middle and high schools also depleted parents’ charge accounts, according to New Canaan’s highest elected official. The district is “hiring a forensic accountant, I understand, to examine the possible overcharge,” First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said during a press briefing Thursday. Noting that the district was reimbursed by an insurer, Moynihan said: “I am just a bystander, but my idea would be that the $500,000 should be used to reduce their budget next year because all of the taxpayers would benefit from that. So if they are looking for $93 million, they ought to get $500,000 less. They are going to argue that you cannot lose money out of an enterprise operation into the education side of the ledger.” It isn’t clear whether the forensic accountant has been hired yet, who it is or how much he or she is being paid—district officials could not be reached for comment.

Business

Locals Gear up For ‘Taste of the Town Stroll’ on Thursday

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Residents are gearing up for a popular event downtown that’s designed to showcase local businesses while raising food for the New Canaan Food Pantry as well as gently used eyeglasses and hearing aids for the Lion’s Club of New Canaan. The eighth annual “Taste of the Town Stroll” runs 6 to 8 p.m Thursday and will feature more than 15 stores, businesses and restaurants offering food and prizes. To earn a map of those locations and participate in the Stroll, people should bring (unopened and unexpired) goods—such as coffee, juice boxes, crackers, pasta sauce, canned stew, canned chicken, mayonnaise, tea bags and family-sized snacks—to the area out front of the Playhouse on Elm Street. 

For those seeking a one-stop shop for an appropriate donation for the pantry, Walter Stewart’s Market has generously put together bags of goods with a retail value of $30 that the cornerstone New Canaan business is selling for $20. “It is our pleasure to team up with the Chamber and support this fun event again this year,” said Doug Stewart of Walter Stewart’s. “We hope to help stock the New Canaan Food Pantry with much-needed groceries.”

Around Town

New Canaan Merchants on Keeping Up Summer Business

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As we enter the end of July and August, many New Canaan residents will bear the beach, mountain, and city traffic for annual summer vacation trips. With the decreased foot traffic, many merchants routinely describe business as slow during this time. NewCanaanite went around town to some local businesses to see how they actively avoid the end of summer sales slump. Phil Williams, New Canaan Music

“How do we deal with the New Canaan Business Clear? We’re staying open our regular hours, a lot of businesses close for a week or reduce their hours, but we keep our lessons going year round.