COLUMNS
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
Sentinel Webmaster
January 29, 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
Dominic
August 13, 2023
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
Sentinel Webmaster
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
Dominic
August 13, 2023
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
Dominic
August 13, 2023
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
Dominic
August 13, 2023
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
Dominic
August 13, 2023
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
Sentinel Webmaster
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
Sentinel Webmaster
December 19, 2025
Inside the Fight: Yale’s Pediatric Neuro-Oncologists and the Families They Serve
By Elizabeth Barhydt This three-part series examines how one family’s loss has sparked a broader effort to change the landscape of pediatric cancer care. The
Dominic
August 13, 2023
How Sweat Rewires the Brain: Exercise, Neuroplasticity, and Mental Health
By Teresa Alasio We have all heard and read recommendations from medical experts, fitness gurus and even official government offices about how much exercise adults
Dominic
August 13, 2023
Time to Sparkle
By Carl Franco Going to the gym, starting a diet, finally cleaning out that closet, maybe even dusting off that résumé, every New Year’s resolution
Sentinel Webmaster
December 19, 2025
Board of Education Appoints Dr. Raquel Harrison to Fill Vacancy
By Sentinel Staff The New Canaan Board of Education voted unanimously this week to appoint Dr. Raquel Harrison to fill a vacant seat on the
Dominic
August 13, 2023
How This Poem Claimed Christmas Eve
By Elizabeth Barhydt For many in New Canaan and around the world, treasured holiday traditions include a bedtime story that begins, “’Twas the night before
Sentinel Webmaster
December 19, 2025
Coffee: What You Order Makes a Difference
By Frank Gallo I like coffee. I drink a lot of it, and luckily, my travels have taken me to many countries where coffee is
Dominic
August 13, 2023
A Town Filled With Thanks: New Canaan Speaks From The Heart This Week
By Peter Barhydt New Canaan residents offered a wide range of reflections on gratitude this week, highlighting service, community trust, shared history, and the quiet
Dominic
August 13, 2023
When the Curtain Rises on Political Theatre, Healthcare Is Still on Stage
By Russell R. Barksdale, Jr. By the time this column goes to print, one hopes the federal government is open again—and that at least two
Dominic
August 13, 2023
Chamber’s Laura Budd: “Think Local First”
By Tom Williamson Speaking before the New Canaan Men’s Club recently, Laura Budd, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, who has been
Dominic
August 13, 2023
EDITORIAL
A Presence That Mattered | EDITORIAL
January 15, 2026
There was something about Tom Nissley that settled a room. It wasn’t his volume—he rarely raised his voice. It wasn’t a commanding presence—though his energy suggested a deeper current. It was his way: deliberate, measured, constructive. He
2026 | EDITORIAL
January 8, 2026
New Canaan begins the new year the way it ended the last one: with people in the room. That is the fact beneath the feeling. In 2025, residents did not retreat into private routines or outsource civic
Newspaper Magic | EDITORIAL
December 19, 2025
In 1897, newspaper magic happened. An eight-year-old girl, Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote a simple three-sentence letter to The New York Sun newspaper asking if Santa exists. Her father suggested she write: “Papa says, ‘If you see it in
OPINION
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
Keep Compounding New Canaan’s Success | LETTER
As a member of the NCHS class of 1980, I grew up in New Canaan and attended East & West