The Town Greeter is back! 

Stephanie Radman, a New Canaan resident for the past 8 years, has re-launched The Town Greeter, a local business that welcomes new homewoners and renters to New Canaan. Stephanie visits new residents in their  homes and shares useful information about the town, and hands out coupons and promotional items.

Formerly the CFO  of a real estate holding company in Fairfield,  Stephanie stayed home for ten years raising her three children.  Now that they are all in school, she found she had a little time and a lot of energy!  Stephanie  told About Town, "With my MBA business background and my love of people, the job of welcoming people to New Canaan and introducing them to our local businesses suits me perfectly!"  

The Town Greeter has more than fifty-five local businesses on board, including  M Milestones, Vineyard Gardens, The Filling Station, Langs Pharmacy, dermatologist, Dr. Sharon Littski and The Bank of New Canaan which supplies the large tote bag that holds all the goodies Stephanie delivers.

"Milestones is just wonderful because they do so much for our community and gave me a really nice offer for newcomers," Stephanie said. "I hand out the Iblast Card brochure to newcomers because they really promote buying and shopping in town and I think that is just terrific!"

Also, promoted at each visit are twenty five of the area's community groups and non-profits such as New Canaan Community Foundation, New CanaanCares, Center for Hope, Outback Teen Center and the Y.

Businesses pay Stephanie a flat fee per newcomer to visit them. "The businesses often take the next step and contact the newcomer, asking them to please come in and introduce themself so they can welcome them personally," she said.

The Town Greeter has been welcoming newcomers to town for the past few weeks. The combination of a friendly welcome to town coupled with a personal introduction to our local organizations and businesses is a small town touch with big rewards.  It is a win-win for everyone.

For additional information, please call Stephanie Radman at 203-966-4469, or e-mail The Town Greeter. 

Cat-astrophe!

We know of two cats that have met their demise on New Canaan's roads in recent weeks. One was killed on North Wilton Rd. Last week, Patch columnist, Randy Brown, aka Uncle Buck, told the story of his beloved Petey, who was hit by a car near his home on Michigan Rd.

About Town recently stopped short for a white cat that jumped in front of the car while driving on Seminary St. Officer Mary Ann Kleinschmitt, New Canaan's Animal Control Officer said she is well aware of that cat and is concerned for its safety. 

A cat lover, Kleinshmitt, has been with New Canaan's department for 11 years.  Yet, she told About Town, "Basically, cats are a problem."  

The state of Connecticut considers a cat wild and if found deceased is treated like any other roadkill.  In New Canaan, however, if a cat is found dead and unclaimed, its body  is held up to 14 days in a freezer at Animal Control Headquarters at the transfer station.  When a call is received about a missing or found cat, the department will log it in. If a cat is found to be in immediate danger, sick or injured the department will transport it to a local vet. 

Claudia Weber, founder of the non-profit Strays & Others has a different view. "Cats are not a problem in our town, they are a challenge," she said.

When her agency was founded 25 years ago, there were approximately 300 homeless and unwanted animals in New Canaan every year, most of them cats. Through its community outreach and education programs the number of homeless pets in New Canaan  has been reduced to fewer than 50 a year.

Kleinschmitt said, "Unfortunately, people often abandon their unspayed and unneutered cats when they move, for example, and the animals become homeless."

Weber said there are very few cat colonies in New Canaan but there are many homeless cats. Colonies are composed of feral cats.  Strays were once house pets, but are now homeless, wandering in woods and around people's homes trying to eat and survive. Feral cats were born outside and have always lived outside. "Feral" means wild and these cats are not socialized and live on instinct. 

There is a national movement called TNR: "Trap, Neuter and Release,"  in which feral cats are caught, vaccinated, sterilized and returned to their habitat. Strays and Others believes that putting any cat back into coyote territory is not an optimal choice so they try to tame them and place them for adoption.  

Kleinshmitt agrees, "The idea is to preserve the lives of the animals, but solve the crisis of their reproduction increasing the town's population of homeless cats."

For cats and their owners, times have changed.  

Twenty years ago, it was safer to let your cats outside. There weren't as many cars, life was slower and there wern't coyotes!

Both Kleinschmitt and Weber agree that the greatest danger to New Canaan's cats is coyotes. Weber said, "It's no longer a matter of "if" it's a matter of "when" an outdoor cat will be killed by a coyote. Cats are like hors d'oeuvres to them."

Kleinscmidt added, "Coyotes know exactly where the food is and cats are a primary food source to them."  Both sadly agree that the majority of missing cats whose owners say "he or she "just vanished" have been lost to coyotes.

The solution is to keep your cats indoors. If they are allowed out, have them safely back indoors from 3 p.m. until 8 a.m.  It is also advised to have your pet cat micro-chipped.

 "Strays & Others has been pleased to have been able to coordinate its efforts with New Canaan Animal Control on many occasions. Animal Control has often been helpful in identifying a situation that needs addressing, and we have been able to collaborate on a plan to help.  This is a good example of a private and a public entity working together."

Anyone who finds a cat that appears to be homeless or would like to volunteer to help New Canaan's homeless cat population can contact Strays & Others at 203-966-6556.