Updated: 5:15 p.m.
The following message was sent by OEM Director Mike Handler:
"We still have 598 homes without power and 93 crews working to complete Town-wide restoration. CL&P still stands by its promise to have substantially all power restored by 11:30 this evening. I urge anyone who is presently home and does not have power to call CL&P at (800) 286-2000 immediately. I know that you have already called multiple times, but it is important that CL&P get a current list of homes without power. Teams were out today evaluating the bus routes and securing any known hazards. All public schools will open tomorrow, Wednesday, November 7, at their regularly scheduled times. Families on walking routes are urged to either drive or accompany their children on the route as the potential for hazards such as downed wires may still exist. Please discuss with your child that all downed wires are considered live and dangerous and need to be avoided. First Selectman Mallozzi has just lifted the State of Emergency but would like to assure everyone that the Emergency Operations Center remains fully staffed until all power is restored. On another note, we are preparing in the EOC for what could potentially be another high wind event predicted to arrive tomorrow afternoon and lasting through Thursday. CL&P assures us that line crews will remain in Town should we sustain further damage to our electrical infrastructure. While Hurricane Sandy continues to test our resilience I assure you that we will be ready should the Town sustain any additional damage. Please continue to call the EOC at (203) 594-4100 with any concerns. Thank you."
Updated: 2:42 p.m.
Sandra Ross, a member of the Democratic Town Committee, has spent Election Day in front of New Canaan High School serving coffee and snacks to voters as they leave. She spoke with Patch about her great enthusiasm for volunteering on this day."The vote is a very precious thing and I’m glad to support it in anyway I can," she said.
This particular election, she added, is very signficant for her, especially on the national level. "I have never heard the truth flaunted the way it has been flaunted—seemingly with no consequence as it has been in this election," she said. "And I'm just waiting and hoping that people will see through the distortions, the way the money has been used, the way women's rights have been challenged... And it isn't a matter of party to me."
Just a few feet away Tom O'Dea, the Republican candidate for the 125th District race, had his table set up to greet voters. He told Patch that he had been up since 4 a.m. to get in some last-minute campaigning but remains "excited."
"I think we've run a postive campaign about we plan to do to fix some of the fiscal problems up in Hartford and I think we've sent a positive message that we're going to do good things," he said. "I look forward to winning and representing Wilton and New Canaan."
Original Story
Though more than 1,000 New Canaan homes remain without power, officials say they’re seeing strong voter turnout at both polling places in town.
As of 11 a.m., 4,278 town residents had cast ballots at New Canaan High School and Saxe Middle School, officials say.
“It’s been heavy, very heavy,” election moderator Jim Walsh said of voter turnout late Tuesday morning from the bustling high school gymnasium.
At tables outside the gym, candidates for state offices mixed with constituents, offering coffee amid a sea of campaign signs.
Meanwhile, town officials say they’re planning at 3:30 p.m. to make a decision about whether school will be held Wednesday with another storm headed our way.
“We’re surveying damage and making sure that kids are protected from hazards and downed wires at bus stops,” Michael Handler of the New Canaan Office of Emergency Management told Patch.
The OEM is targeting a full restoration time of 11:30 p.m. tonight, Handler said.
For information on all races affecting New Canaan residents, see the Patch Voter Guide. It includes links to individual race stories, historical voting information for New Canaan residents and profiles of candidates.
