New Canaan Police say residents have reported multiple break-ins of unlocked vehicles, including overnight last Friday. Several items were taken from a Mill Road vehicle, unlocked in its driveway, and two more cars on Silvermine Road were illegally entered. Darien saw 22 motor vehicle burglaries in a three-night stretch. Officials are urging residents to safeguard their valuables and lock their cars.
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There are about 514,000 gallons of water in Waveny Pool, Recreation Director Steve Benko said during a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting Wednesday night.
Volunteers helping in 2016 with the St. Mark’s Gospel Garden mulching effort. Contributed
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Here’s a call for volunteers: the St. Mark’s “Gospel Garden”—whose 2,000 pounds of harvested vegetables go directly to the New Canaan Food Pantry—needs your help. Please consider volunteering for one hour on Saturday to help move mulch from the parking lot above down into the garden. Families and individuals of all ages and abilities are welcome from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, at 111 Oenoke Ridge Road (drive all the way to the last parking lot, near the basketball hope and look for the large mulch pile). Bring a shovel or weeding tool, if you have one. For more info contact Margaret Roscoe at mgroscoe@me.com or 917-455-7949.
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Heads-up to those interested in the town’s pursuit of improved cell service, including through an inchoate plan to install towers on Irwin Park and West School property: The Utilities Commission has posted a FAQ here, ahead of a public information forum to be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday April 24 at Town Hall. The commission will present information and field public comments and questions during the forum.
Elizabeth Cooper, Untitled, 2017. Oil and enamel on canvas. 36 x 52 inches. To be exhibited during “Highlight: New Canaan.”
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The widely anticipated “Highlight: New Canaan” exhibition is set to open with a special event 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Silvermine Arts Center.
Guest-curated by Paul Efstathiou, a second-generation art dealer and recent Southport resident, the exhibition is organized by Eleanor Flatow, an art consultant and New Canaan resident. More info here.
Lolo Clear 3 Piece Set with Pink Baby Buggy
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New Canaan-based Lolo, creator of lightweight mesh, canvas and vinyl bags, next week is holding a 50 to 90 percent off sale in the retail space at 48 Elm St. It will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 26 to 28, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 29.
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The Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department this week issued five more tickets to New Canaan residents for failure to license their dogs. Officers went door-to-door and notified dog owners who haven’t had their dogs licensed since July 1 by certified mail after phoning them multiple times. The ticket carries a $75 fee.
Last year’s Rotary Club of New Canaan exchange student, Alvaro Riquelme, with one of his host families—Ben and Betsy Bilus. Contributed
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The Rotary Club of New Canaan is seeking three warm and caring families to welcome this year’s exchange student into their homes for about 3.5 months each, between mid-August and next June. For more information, please contact Alex Grantcharov at alex.grantcharov@edwardjones.com or 203-972-3260.
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Here’s Winston, a 7-year-old pit bull terrier who loves to get dressed up and then feast on hot dogs.
He is loyal to those who care for him, particularly one volunteer who visits him every Sunday at Adopt-a-Dog. Alas, he can’t adopt him, which breaks Winston’s heart because he is so fond of him. He would love a home with an older senior like him or perhaps two empty nesters. While he wouldn’t mind another dog for company, he doesn’t like cats. He has lived in his cage at Adopt-a-Dog for more than two years and longs to go on long walks or play catch in a yard. He will be totally devoted to whomever takes him home. Here’s how to reach Adopt-a-Dog.
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Finally, here’s a roundup of other news from around New Canaan:
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Be the frontrunner on Thursday, April 27th by joining L’Armoire for the New Canaan Mounted Troop Derby Party between 5 - 7pm. L’Armoire owner Diane Roth, is encouraging party guests to dress up ‘derby-style’ and has invited New York-based milliner - Ellen Christine – to show off her stunning Spring/Summer collection. Enjoy bites by Gates, SpeakEasy Confections decadent truffles, wine by Stewart’s Spirits and a special prize draw. A Kids Fashion show, curated by Groove will take place at 6pm. Celebrating its 77th year, New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT) is a non-profit organization that provides the most comprehensive educational Full Horsemanship and Equine Care Programs for youth in Fairfield County. In 2012, NCMT launched the Super Troopers Therapeutic Program to serve children and adults with special needs. . NCMT Therapeutic Program Coordinator, Caroleigh Evarts says: “Our 8-week long spring session which started April 2, offers adaptive riding and equine care classes. We work with children and adults from individual families, clients of STAR, Lighting the Way, New Canaan Public School, and River House. In 2016, we serviced 80 students in over 300 lessons.” NCMT Executive Director, Sara Tucker says: “New Canaan Mounted Troop is grateful and excited for the derby-themed cocktail party at L’Armoire. What a generous occasion and fabulous way to bring community awareness to our programs. There are over 100 children in the youth Troop program. Since all of our horses and ponies are donated, fundraisers such as this help us achieve our mission of enriching the lives of youth and individuals with special needs by giving these animals a second chance. We look forward to the event.” For more information on New Canaan Mounted Troop click here: https://youtu.be/onGVfttgu54
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L-R: Jack Dahill, Student Coalition President; Jennifer Richardson, NC Color Run Co-Chair, Steffi Loomis, NC Color Run Co-Chair; Jennifer Essigs, PFA Co-President; Allison Mennitt, NC Color Run Co-Chair; Emma Dahill Student Coalition Treasurer. The NC Color Run is one week away and will be held on April 29th at New Canaan High School. Please register today at www.nchs-sf.org for this community-wide event for all ages. Students and adults will run/walk in either the Kids’ Color Dash, .8 miles for younger children, or the NC Color Run, a 5K. Both events will start and end at the high school and run through Waveny Park. What is a color run? It’s a fundraising run/walk where color powder paint is thrown in the air at the start of the race and at five different color stations (purple, yellow, green, red, and blue) along the route. Runners get covered in color for a rainbow effect. For more information on the powder, please visit our website www.nchs-sf.org. Stay after the race for healthy foods and a D.J. to celebrate! The NC Color Run will benefit the New Canaan High School Scholarship Foundation (NCSF), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. William Egan, New Canaan High School Principal and Chairman of NCSF states, “The NC Color Run will be an incredibly fun event for all ages. We are hoping the entire New Canaan community will participate and come together as a community while raising funds for this important cause. Thank you to our Color Sponsors and Friends: Walter Stewart’s Market, Karl Chevrolet, Competitive Edge College Advisors, Oxygen Fitness, Bankwell, Summit Educational Group, Franco’s Wine, Coldwell Banker (Marsha Charles & Holly Slattery), Joe’s Pizza and Tony’s Deli. We could not have done it without your support and are honored to partner with you for this exciting event.” To register online go www.nchs-sf.org. The cost to register is $30 through April 28. Day-of registration opens at 8 am, with an additional cost of $10. Ages 5 and under are free! The first 500 online registrants will receive a t-shirt and sunglasses to be distributed at the high school a week prior to the event. Bandanas and other fun items will be for sale at the registration area. Register today! Please support this great cause! Come run and have fun!
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A new face will be greeting seniors when they enter the offices of Staying Put in New Canaan. Nicola Holzberger has joined the non-profit organization, which helps seniors stay safely in their homes as they age, as the Director of Member Services. Holzberger, a public health professional who has been a New Canaan resident for 20 years, will oversee support services for Staying Put’s 300 members, including transportation, consultations, member recruitment, and community outreach. “Nicola is a great addition to the Staying Put team,” said Board President Judy Bentley. “She brings a wealth of experience advocating for diverse age groups and populations. Her natural friendliness, warmth and enthusiasm make her a perfect fit for our seniors.” Holzberger earned a B.A. from Weslyan University, a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University, and a Nursing degree from Norwalk Community College. She has been an active participant in addressing global health issues for three decades. She worked at the United Nations, where she developed health-related programs in New York and oversaw international conferences. At Save the Children, she managed a USAID-funded grant program and facilitated training of field staff. She also taught English in Zaire, Africa while in the Peace Corps. In Holzberger’s most recent role as a Public Health Promotion Specialist in the Greenwich Health Department, she worked directly with the public to raise awareness of health issues, particularly those facing vulnerable populations, including seniors. Her work focused on prevention, wellness and maximizing community resources. “Nicola’s extensive experience as a public health professional will be critical to Staying Put’s success as we continue to address the changing needs of the seniors in our town,” said Executive Director Barb Achenbaum. “And her passion for helping others is clear from the minute you meet her. We are thrilled to have her.”
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From left to right: Community Fund of Darien Executive Director, Carrie Bernier, Gilman Hill Asset Management CEO, Jenny Harrington, The Impact Vine Project Director, Susan Serven The Community Fund of Darien is pleased to announce that Gilman Hill Asset Management has come on board as sponsor for The Impact Vine’s “ProjectPitch” shark tank-style online competition for nonprofit agencies, taking place this month, in partnership with the Fairfield County Community Foundation. The Impact Vine is a free online crowdfunding site, developed by The Community Fund of Darien, which allows donors to support projects they care about, and provides a platform for local nonprofits to use as a tool to raise funds for socially impactful projects in the community. 100% of each donation goes to the nonprofit organization when the project is fully funded; no fees are taken out. Gilman Hill Asset Management, located in Westport, CT, is a boutique investment management firm that seeks to protect and grow client assets through capital appreciation and consistent income generation. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with an organization that is committed to making a meaningful difference in our local community,” noted Jenny Harrington, Gilman Hill's CEO. New Canaan resident Susan Serven Project Director of The Impact Vine, noted, “Another terrific aspect of The Impact Vine is that it’s a “back door” way to promote the work these wonderful agencies do, right in our own backyards. Many of us do our banking online, shop online, even socialize online, so we’re more likely to give online, as well. It’s one-stop shopping for learning ways to help solve social issues in our community.” The Community Fund of Darien is an independent, results-oriented, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that addresses health and human services needs in Darien and our surrounding towns of Stamford and Norwalk. We are dedicated to building a healthy community by: • Identifying and prioritizing critical local needs • Strategically investing funds to meet local goals • Measuring results and evaluating effectiveness • Fundraising cost effectively • Fostering collaborative efforts to identify solutions to local needs
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Photo of RTC, L-R: Wade Eyerly, Michael Mauro, Jack Hawkins, James McLaughlin, Maria Weingarten, Chairman Patrick Donovan, John Kriz, Treasurer Gene Goodman, Patricia Nietsch, Janice Schaefer, Vice Chairman William Gardner, Daniel LaGattuta, Robert Avery, Secretary Mary Anne Marcella. Not pictured: Arvind Bajaj, George Harvey, Kevin Moynihan, James O’Hora, Cristina Ross. The New Canaan Republican Town Committee is set for its 11th Annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event will be held on Friday evening, May 5, 2017 at Woodway Country Club. It is the principal fundraising event and annual meeting of all New Canaan Republicans. The keynote speaker this year will be Ed Rollins. Mr. Rollins served at the White House in four presidents’ administrations and he was Chief Political Advisor to the House Republican Leadership. He is now a regular political analyst on Meet the Press, Face the Nation, This Week, Nightline, Hardball and many other network and cable television news programs. Persons wishing to attend the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner may request invitations by visiting the website of the New Canaan Republican Town Committee (www. newcanaanrepublicans.org), sending an email to secretary@newcanaanrepublicans.org or phoning Vice Chairman William Gardner at 203-966-2870.