Did You Hear … ?

An estimated 1,000 New Canaan High School students joined in a nationwide, 17-minute “walkout” Wednesday to rally for what organizers call “federal gun reform legislation” following last month’s mass school shooting in Florida. Principal Bill Egan in a letter addressed to the ‘NCHS Family’ said that “every school district in the area allowed students to have their voice during this time.” His letter continued: “Our students honored the lives of people lost to gun violence and showed solidarity with students in Parkland, Florida. Our students’ efforts focused on their desire to keep schools safe in New Canaan and around the country.”

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The 1836-built Greek Revival at 63 Park St.—formerly the home of famed Scribners editor Maxwell Perkins (Hemingway, Wolfe, Fitzgerald)—is back on the market at about $2.9 million. Its owner since 1973 last summer had applied for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to gain more flexibility in the stately house’s home-office use, but after two continuances that application did not come before the ZBA again. Instead, the Planning & Zoning Commission in August voted in favor of a Special Permit for the same.

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Well-known New Canaanite and animal advocate Cathy Kangas has joined the board of the venerable New Canaan Historical Society.

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Bankwell donated $2,500 to Arts for Healing.  The New Canaan based non-profit organization provides integrated music therapy and art therapy for individuals with emotional, physical, developmental, and social needs. Integrated music therapy and art therapy is a clinical process used to address a variety of individual therapeutic goals, including improving communication skills (expressive and receptive) and social interaction, enhancing motor function, stimulating emotional development, and fostering self-expression.

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New Canaan Police at about 5:47 p.m. Wednesday cited a 26-year-old Norwalk man for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to drive right after finding pot on him during a traffic stop. He had crossed the double-yellow line while traveling southbound on Main Street, according to a police report.

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The Building Department on March 8 issued a demolition permit for a house at 67 Oenoke Lane, a 1951-built ranch with nearly 4,000 square feet of living space. The 1-acre property was sold two summers ago for $1.2 million.

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Congratulations to the New Canaan Basketball Association players who competed in the Fairfield County Basketball League Skills Competitions. Special congratulations to NCBA players Natalie Plosker and Blake Wilson.

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The Town Council on Wednesday re-appointed Chris LeBris and Tom Schulte to the Board of Finance, and appointed Michael Chen to the same funding body.

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Fun fact: Harrison Avenue was laid out as a real estate development in 1892 and named for Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States in 1888-92, at the time Harrison was defeated for re-election by Grover Cleveland. See background info on how each street in New Canaan was named in our Street Name Database.

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The New Canaan Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2018 Civilian Police Academy, a 9-session program which will run every Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., April 26 through June 21. It gives attendees an overview on how NCPD operates. The class size will be limited to 20 attendees. Applications must be submitted by March 31. For further information and to obtain an application, go here and direct questions to Sgt. Brian Mitchell at brian.mitchell@newcanaanct.gov or 203-594-3506.

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Caffeine & Carburetors is poised to kick off its 10th season with four Sunday events in New Canaan this year, and Bankwell has returned as the title sponsor. The first gathering of automotive enthusiasts will take place at 8 a.m. on April 22, and the theme is “Strada Italiana.” The event draws from the tri state area and beyond, and will feature some of Italy’s best on Elm Street, including Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos and Lamborghinis.

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The New Canaan Exchange Club is accepting qualified applications for grants through April 4. Interested applicants should visit the Exchange Club’s website for

details on how to apply and the requirements for a potential gift from the foundation. Through its fund raisers such as the annual Christmas tree and wreath  sale and annual golf outing, the Exchange Club has been able to return more than $1 million to community-based organizations in the past 10 years. Organizations such as the Parenting Skills Center for the prevention of child abuse, ABC House, GetAbout, Meals on Wheels, Kids in Crisis (Teen Talk), Pivot Ministries and many other nonprofit organizations have received grants in recent years. Submit applications to the New Canaan Exchange Club, P.O. Box 1163, New Canaan, CT 06840 or e-mail grants@newcanaanexchangeclub.com.

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Finally, SLOBs has been helping the Girl Scouts with their cookie sales by unloading the boxes of cookies and distributing them to local troops for several years.

On a recent weekend SLOBs worked together with National Charity League members to unload two tractor trailers filled with thousands of boxes of cookies.

[Editor’s Note: The item on 63 Park St. has been updated to reflect the actions of P&Z, in addition to the ZBA.]