Did You Hear … ?

We’re hearing that the wonderful New Canaan Beautification League hosted its second annual Mead Park Breakfast on a recent sunny morning, as a way to say ‘Thank You’ to town employees including many DPW crewmen for their support and partnership in making our village lovely throughout the year (see gallery above). The event was held in the colonnade at Mead Park (a popular spot that had been WPA-era children’s wading pool, originally). Recognized at a recent Town Council meeting for its effective local work, the nonprofit organization creates the hanging baskets downtown and manages many of the traffic triangles around New Canaan. “This non-profit organization of volunteers is open to all, whether for social, civic-minded or educational purposes,” league memberts tell us. “No green thumb is necessary. A membership form is available on the website.”

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We’re hearing that there’s been grumbling about certain members of the Town Council texting with fellow New Canaanites during the group’s meetings. They’re broadcast live on Channel 79.

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It isn’t clear what’s happening with Silvermine Market.

Closed for several weeks now, the market—whose ‘Big Kalooski’ sandwich ranks among New Canaan’s 10 best—on May 26 had been issued a building permit by the town to do about $25,000 of work. Specifically, the permit refers to building “interior partition walls to expand kitchen from 250 square feet to 340 square feet.” A sign posted on the door in late June referred to a June 22 opening, nearly one month ago.

Though the market’s Facebook account is active, it’s not possible to leave a voicemail there and emails seeking a timetable or clarification of future plans have not been returned. It isn’t clear from looking at the market whether any work has been done or is planned. Earlier this year, officials reported that the property (not the business) was on a short list of parcels for which local taxes were owed. The roughly $15,000 owed for the property that includes the market later were paid, officials said.

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The Logan Road home purchased last week by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will serve at the rectory for the Rev. Peter Walsh and his family.

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Rick Kilbride is stepping down from the Park & Recreation Commission, the group’s chair, Sally Campbell, announced at the commission’s July 8 regular meeting. The longtime commissioner teaches at the University of New Hampshire and will not be able to attend Park & Rec’s Wednesday night meetings. “We will miss you,” Campbell said. “They are lucky students. I have to thank you particularly for the attention you pay to the Waveny Pool, and getting it on sound financial footing.”

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The town on Tuesday removed New Canaan firefighter Damien Sheerin from probationary status. A firefighter in town since last summer, the Northern Ireland native is extremely disciplined and diligent, and has been a great addition at the Main Street firehouse, First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday. “That gentleman is always doing something. He’s got a rag in his hand. He is cleaning an engine. He is always, always busy. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s a wonderful young man.”
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“I am not going to resign.”—That’s what Board of Education Chair Hazel Hobbs told town resident Michael Nowacki when the latter called for her resignation at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. Nowacki alleges that a majority of school board members gathered socially at a party overseen by the chair to introduce certain BOE candidates and discuss public matters. Said Hobbs on the matter: “I did not have a party, did not give a party and it was given by my son and daughter-in-law. There was no quorum there, any group, there were three representatives from three completely different legislative groups and that’s all that attended. The rest were all guests of my son and daughter-in-law.”

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Opposite ends of downtown New Canaan appear on track to get major new buildings. The Building Department received permit applications on July 10 for the new Pine Street Concessions marketplace on Pine Street as well as the proposed new Post Office building for Locust Avenue.

The Pine Street structure—a planned gourmet retail market—will cost about $450,000 to build and will include 2,700 square feet, according to the application (Clark Construction Inc. of Norwalk is the contractor on the job). The Locust Avenue building will cost about $2 million to build and will include 4,110 square feet on each of the first two floors (the contractor on the job is Sillo Construction of Stamford).

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Put this in your weekend calendar: Local Zydeco band Zydelicious will play a benefit for the Horizons student enrichment program at New Canaan Country School at 6 p.m. on Saturday out front of Baskin-Robbins on Main Street. “We encourage people to pick up one of our extra scrub boards and play along with us,” Band member and New Canaanite John Jensen tells us. Locals should know that Baskin-Robbins additionally has been hosting local musicians out front of its store on Friday nights and has two more dates left—those Friday concerts start at 6:15 p.m.

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The New Canaan Democratic Town Committee is announcing formally that party members recently have been appointed to three of the local, volunteer boards and commissions that help run the town. Transportation and land use planner Claire Tiscornia will serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission; Katie Owsley, a board member of the New Canaan Lacrosse Association and co-president of the Saxe PTC, will serve on the Park & Recreation Commission; and Ben Bilus, a retired attorney with extensive expertise in environmental, energy and real estate law, has been named to the Zoning Board of Appeals. “They will be an asset to these boards and they’ve shown through their past efforts on behalf of various programs, that they have a sincere interest in contributing to New Canaan and maintaining the qualities that make the town special,” DTC Chair Jane Himmel said in a press release.

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Finally, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty this week announced that it’s listed a” modernist masterpiece uniquely built into a rocky, tree-lined plot of land in New Canaan.”

According to a press release from the agency: “The residence, which was originally constructed by civic architect and homeowner Willis Mills, who is best known for his work designing churches, libraries, college buildings and more, consists of glass and redwood as well as stone and steel. Seamlessly embracing its natural environment, the house boasts recent renovations that compliment this distinct design.” More information is available here. The home is listed for $2,725,000.