COLUMNS
Wildlife Photographer Shares Extraordinary Path
By Anne W. Semmes On a recent January afternoon in midtown Manhattan, prize-winning wildlife photographer Melissa Groo addressed some 40 attendees on how she was
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February 6, 2026
Many Traditional Skills are at Risk of Disappearing
By Emma Barhydt In May 2023, Heritage Crafts released the fourth edition of its Red List of Endangered Crafts, a comprehensive assessment of traditional craft
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February 6, 2026
Eat This, Drink That – Super Bowl Edition
By Carl Franco The Super Bowl is here, and it’s time to pick a side. Are you Patriots or Seahawks? Do you spell it Super
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February 5, 2026
Does Anyone Know When Spring is Coming?
By Stuart Adelberg Punxsutawney Phil just pissed me off! Six more weeks? Really?? Forty-two more days of this crazy cold! Maybe you want to throw
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February 5, 2026
The Owls of Winter
By Frank Gallo Amherst Island, Ontario, February 1984. It was -5°f and nearing dusk. Trudging back through the deep snow with icicles hanging from my
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January 29, 2026
May the Day Be with You
By Elizabeth Barhydt There’s an Irish phrase that came over the radio Sunday morning, just as we were pouring coffee and watching the snowfall build:
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January 29, 2026
Aging Well, Right Here in New Canaan
By Dr. Teresa Alasio If you’re in midlife, you have probably noticed some subtle changes in how your body feels. Maybe your energy dips more
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January 29, 2026
The “Sweet Spot” of Teen Sleep: Why a Little Weekend Catch-Up Can Go a Long Way
By Annie Harrington As a parent, you’ve likely seen the classic teen routine: a whirlwind of early school starts, demanding extracurriculars, and late-night study sessions/phone
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January 22, 2026
Eat This. Drink That. Recipes, Wines, and some thoughts in between
By Carl Franco Eat This. Drink That. Recipes, Wines, and some thoughts in between Now that the holidays are over, it’s nice to return to
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January 22, 2026
Out of Darkness
By Icy Frantz We spent Christmas Eve in a no-frills New England church in northern Vermont. One of our kids likened it to a box
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January 22, 2026
Two Major Issues and One Possible Solution
By Mimi Santry The lack of affordable housing is a concern facing many younger people in the U.S. Construction hasn’t kept up with demand, and
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January 15, 2026
From Fire Safety to Fiscal Strategy: January Launches New Canaan’s 2027 Town Budget Process
By Dionna Carlson Wishing you a safe and healthy start to the year. As we begin the new year, January 6 marked the formal start
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January 15, 2026
As Flu Surges Across Fairfield County, Health Officials Urge Residents to Roll Up Their Sleeves
By Teresa Alasio Clinics and emergency rooms across Fairfield County are reporting a sharp rise in patients with high fevers, cough, and body aches as
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January 8, 2026
What to Drink When You’re Drinking Less
By Carl Franco The season’s magic has worn off. Perhaps some garland still wraps the railing, a stray stocking hangs from the mantel, Three Kings
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January 8, 2026
The Anatomy of a Crisis: Connecticut’s Unsustainable Healthcare Costs
By Russell R. Barksdale, Ph.D. For thousands of Connecticut families, the end of the year brings a familiar anxiety, one that has little to do
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January 8, 2026
The Dumbing Down of American Politics – Let’s Resist it in CT in 2026
By Tina Courpas The dumbing down of complex policy issues into partisan shorthand attacks is a characteristic of today’s politics that I am working to
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January 8, 2026
The things I learned while driving a Kia (Scouting an ecotour in Puerto Rico)
By Frank Gallo Write this down. Never drive up route 388 into the mountains of Puerto Rico (PR). It doesn’t matter if GPS says it’s
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January 8, 2026
Town Hall’s December Message: Holidays, Taxes, Aquarion Fight, Charter Review
By Dionna Carlson December is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate our community, and look ahead with hope and optimism. I want
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December 19, 2025
EDITORIAL
The Power of Letting Go | EDITORIAL
February 6, 2026
New Canaan is a town that thrives on connection. Our schools, town events, volunteer networks, and neighborhood gatherings give life to a sense of shared purpose. But even in a place built on community, grievances accumulate. People
What Works | EDITORIAL
January 29, 2026
New Canaan is considering revisions to its town charter, and it is a big deal. It really is. The charter is the constitutional architecture of municipal life — a governing document that affects how power is distributed,
Charter Revision | EDITORIAL
January 22, 2026
New Canaan is engaged in a consequential exercise: examining the document that orders its civic life. Charter revision lacks glamour, which is precisely why it deserves attention. The charter is the town’s operating manual, not a slogan
OPINION
What Does Not Work | LETTER
I disagree with the Sentinel editorial board’s January 29, 2026, editorial, “What Works,” which relies heavily on comments made by
Local International Singer-songwriter Drops New Album and Performs Locally | LETTER
Laura Budzelek is a multilingual singer-songwriter and actress. The artist’s operatic background makes her stand apart from other pop rock
Martin Luther King Day Celebratory Service on January 19 | LETTER
The Interfaith Council of New Canaan is proud to host its 24th Annual Celebration of the life of the Rev.
Thank you to the New Canaan Community | LETTER
To the Editor, As a recent transplant to New Canaan, I moved here expecting a charming town, but I wasn’t
YMCA Campaign Chairs Seek Community Support | LETTER
Dear Editor, On behalf of the New Canaan YMCA Annual Campaign Committee, we are writing to ask our fellow community
Transparency in Schools Was Never Optional And Now the Law Confirms It | OP-ED
Transparency in public education isn’t optional. It never was. The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission just made that crystal clear.
Proud to support Julie Toal | LETTER
To the Editor, I am proud to support Julie Toal for the New Canaan Board of Education. We need voices
Support for Julie Toal | LETTER
Never in the history of New Canaan politics has an attack mailer singled out one individual from a slate of
Courage, Leadership on BOE | LETTER
I wish to enthusiastically endorse Hugo Alves, Philip Hogan and Julie Toal for their courageous track record of leadership at
Vote Kim Norton for Fiscal Responsibility | LETTER
This summer, the Board of Education unveiled a proposal to spend $328 million on constructing a new North School elementary
Support Kim Norton for Town Council | LETTER
Dear Residents of New Canaan, Having served on the Town Council and other Town bodies for several years, I have
Support for Incumbent Kimberly Norton | LETTER
Please join me in voting for Incumbent Kim Norton for New Canaan’s Town Council on November 4th. On Town Council,
Kim Norton Puts Residents and Fiscal Responsibility First | LETTER
Over the past four years, I’ve gotten to know Republican incumbent Kim Norton. She is one of the few public
Keep New Canaan Strong: Proven Republican Leadership Matters | LETTER
Dear Editor, New Canaan is truly special — a town defined by its strong schools, vibrant civic life, fiscal responsibility,
Hilary Ormond Deserves Re-election to Town Council | LETTER
New Canaan is extremely fortunate that Hilary Ormond is seeking a second term on Town Council, and I encourage all
The View of the Election From a Senior | LETTER
As a senior, it is important to me that the Democrats running for Town Council and the Board of Education