Did You Hear … ?

To help promote the 2015 Books, Blues, and BBQ party to benefit the New Canaan Library, the event’s committee members are encouraging residents to post on the library’s Facebook page photos of themselves wearing a favorite cowboy hat. “Over the years, cowboy attire has become associated with this important fundraising event,” Holly Parmelee, committee co-chairperson, said in a press release. “It is common that party-goers come decked out in cowboy hats and boots. So we thought it would be fun to encourage community members to show their support for the library and the event by posting a photo of themselves wearing their favorite cowboy hat.” See the gallery above for some familiar faces around town that are already participating.

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Some disturbing news here: We’re hearing that some residents of Spring Water Lane last Wednesday discovered ‘#WhiteLivesMatter’ flyers, in Zip-loc bags and weighed down with rocks, on top of their mailboxes. The flyers—an alteration of the rather more sincere “All Lives Matter” slogan that has accompanied demonstrations nationwide since last summer, protesting police killing men of color (including in New Canaan)—also have appeared in recent weeks in Fairfield and Westport, according to the Hartford Courant. New Canaan Police say they’ve received no other reports of the flyers.

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The Monaco Grand Prix fundraiser at Carriage Barn Arts Center—an event that ties into the “Va Va Vroom: The Art of the Vehicle!” exhibition—is on for Saturday. Read more about it here including ticket information.

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We shared the very sad news last month that Tango, the well-loved and loving golden retriever owned by Phyllis Weinstein of Mackenzie’s—and a fixture at the store, had died at age seven following a sudden diagnosis of cancer. One New Canaan girl, Grace, who had known the dog, had taken a selfie with Tango and posted it on Instagram nine months ago. When she heard that the dog had died, Grace came in to show Weinstein the photo and the pair cried together. Weinstein asked for a copy of it, and the photo now stands on the shelf behind the counter.

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Sallea Antiques at Elm Street and South Avenue is set to close, according to a sign in the store’s window. The shop has occupied the space since 1989, and the business has been around since the 1970s, according to Sallea’s website.

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Officials say this year’s Memorial Day Parade, to be held on Monday, May 25, is designed to help “remember with gratitude and honor the proud men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect and preserve a life of freedom for all Americans.” Veteran Ruth Gutt will serve as the Grand Marshal and veteran Boyd Harden will be its Guest Speaker. The Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. up by St. Mark’s and conclude with a ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery.

The Rev. Peter Walsh from St. Mark’s will give the Invocation and Benediction. In the event of heavy rain, a cancellation notice will be posted and in place of the parade a Memorial Ceremony would take place in Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Church on Oenoke Ridge with limited seating.

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New Canaan High School teacher David Harvey raised an extra $209.72 by retaining his pink hair for a full week instead of one day, as part of an effort to raise money for the Rising to a Cure Club at the school. According to Olivia Park, who founded the club, Harvey not only sported pink hair at NCHS but also attended a baby shower, putting challenge, brunch at a country club, taught a college class, had two union meetings and went to a show in the city. What a great sport. Local resident and businessman Arnold Karp, on hearing about the original “Pink Hair Challenge,” upped the ante by offering to match dollar-for-dollar any extra funds that could be raised in a full week by Harvey and the club.

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Registration for New Canaan Youth Cheerleading is open, officials say, and it’s open to any student in New Canaan, whether they live in town or not. Any girls from this past year and anyone who has registered are all welcome to march in the Memorial Day Parade, said Sondra Banford, who leads the organization. Banford, who also helps run the ladies’ doubles tennis at Mead Park, including levels 3.0 to 4.0, said the league also is open for registration at the Recreation Department. “It’s a very flexible league” and runs to the middle of September, Banford said.

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We mentioned that during last week’s Plan of Conservation and Development Implementation Committee meeting, it was noted that local landscape architect Keith Simpson and his firm came up with a plan for the area outside of Bank of America on Elm Street. The area’s landscaping has been neglected and is drawing criticism from officials eager to see it improved. (BoA officials say it is the landlord’s responsibility, under the terms of the lease.) In any case, here is a look at those plans from Simpson:

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