The Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday decided to postpone to next month its decision regarding the closely followed application from the Philip Johnson Glass House to expand its operations. Designed to help boost revenue in order to keep up the sprawling Ponus Ridge property and its buildings, the National Trust for Historic Preservation site’s plans had drawn some concerns from neighbors. P&Z commissioner Dick Ward said during the meeting that he intended to vote against the Glass House’s application, while chairman John Goodwin said he favored it.
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Police at about 5:30 p.m. last Monday received a Waveny jogger’s report of a sick skunk in the park, went there, found the animal and dispatched it.
Danish Rotary Youth Exchange student, Rikke Holst, greeted at airport by Host Family members Grace, Barbara, and David Rucci. Contributed
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The Rotary Club of New Canaan says it’s seeking “three warm and caring families” to volunteer for its well-established exchange student program, involving teens between ages 15 and 19. Each family would welcome an exchange student into its home for about 3.5 months from mid-August 2016 to June 2017. Anyone who’s interested should contact Ann Cheney at ann@stewartsmarket.com or 203-966-4848 x117.
David Leibenguth. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Department
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The case of the Cos Cob man arrested 18 months ago for using racial slurs in addressing a New Canaan parking enforcement officer after getting a $15 ticket—later charged by the state with felony tampering—appears headed to trial, according to CT Judicial Branch records. Here are more details on the unusual incident involving the arrested man, David Liebenguth.
Cheryl Capitani (L) and Rose Marie Zaharek. Credit: Michael Dinan
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Rose Marie Zaharek, manager of the children’s room at New Canaan Library, is retiring after 15 years. A public farewell with the library’s children will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. “I love you all and keep reading and come to the New Canaan Library all the time, as much as you can,” Zaharek said. “We love to have you here.”
Cheryl Capitani, known to many as the teen librarian at New Canaan Library, will succeed Zaharek as manager of services to families, children and teens. “I’m very excited,” Capitani said. “[Library Director] Lisa [Oldham] is broadening the role to include families, children and teens so that reflects kind of the broader nature of focusing on youth services holistically from an all-family perspective which is really important for the development of children and families in this town.”
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P&Z this week approved a plan to install a 9-foot-high barrier fence beside the chillers and generator on the south side of Town Hall. Designed to block noise from a neighboring commercial property owner, the barrier puts to bed a longstanding dispute.
Alena Abramowitz. Contributed
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Congrats to NCHS junior Alena Abramowitz, a discus and javelin hurler with the Rams girls track and field team. Alena qualified for states on her first discus throw of the season in a meet against Warde last week. The throw went 86 feet for Abramowitz, who was named best in field as a freshman two years ago.
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Police at about 2:25 p.m. last Wednesday responded to a report of dog left in a hot car at Waveny.
Animal Control officials arrived and discovered that the dog—a little Pomeranian—was inside a car on a cool day with the windows opened appropriately and a bowl of water inside. The animal had drawn attention because it was yapping at passersby.
Jens Risom
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New Canaan’s Jens Risom, a Danish-born furniture designer whose work, including signature web chairs, have been hailed as modern classics and even art, will turn 100 on May 8. Risom came to town with his family in 1949, joining prominent architects such as the Harvard Five and Victor Christ-Janer.
Here’s a video interview with him on the Philip Johnson Glass House website.
David Burns
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Here’s a touching story about how 1994 New Canaan High School graduate David Burns met the husband of the woman who saved his life by becoming an organ donor. Burns, an educator and father of two, serves on the board of the American Liver Foundation.
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Our sister site, Darienite.com, reports that the Darien and New Canaan boys lacrosse teams, though bitter on-field rivals, are joining forces to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis. Members of both teams will be wearing “Unite for the Fight Against CF” t-shirts to school on Friday, and Saturday’s game at Darien High School stadium will be dedicated to the teams’ “CF Awareness Day.”
Elaine and Dan Douglas. Contributed
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Elaine and Dan Douglas, who live at the corner of Main Street and Farm Road, will start their annual spring plant sale Thursday afternoon, May 5. They sell a variety of annuals, perennials and vegetables including large tomato plants.
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New Canaan nonprofit organization LiveGirl is hosting New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver as a mentor for its upcoming Leadership Summit, geared toward girls in grades 5 through 8, to be held Friday May 13 at the New Canaan Nature Center.
LiveGirl Leadership Summit held at the New Canaan Nature Center on Nov. 3, 2015. Contributed
Oliver has written several young adult novels, including “Before I Fall,” “Panic” and the Delirium trilogy, which have been translated into more than thirty languages.
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New Canaan High School Theatre’s 26th annual Drama Festival titled “Everything Must Change” will be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at the NCHS auditorium stage. Students entered their one-act play based on the theme “Everything Must Change,” and four were chosen for the festival. The winners of this year’s festival are as follows. First Place: Floss by Chloe Rosenberg, Second Place: Everything’s Changed 2025 by Joseph Turner, Third Place: The Science of Farrah Fawcett Hair & How to Survive High School by Kaitlyn Sandvik, and Fourth Place: The New King by Nick LaMorte. Honorable mentions went to Restarting by Jack Dunn and Thorns by Katie Colwell.
Books and Beats fundraiser co-chairs at the library. Contributed
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New Canaan Library’s 5th annual spring fundraiser party has a totally new vibe: a “white-hot Miami style party,” Books and Beats, will be held 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 20, featuring a DJ for an evening of dancing and dinner under festive white tents on the library’s grounds. “In Miami Chic attire, guests will enjoy dance music in a lounge atmosphere while enjoying a gourmet menu from On the Marc Catering with multiple food stations and cocktails featuring Casamigos tequila, beer from Half Full Brewery and spirit selections from Diageo’s stable of luxury brands,” organizers say. The benefit co-chairs are Maya Frey, Sue Mackey, Sapna Shah and Jen Gallagher. This year’s event is generously supported by lead corporate sponsors: Goldman Sachs Gives, RMS Construction, Karl Chevrolet and Hoyt Livery. Additional sponsorship support has been provided by People’s Bank, April Kaynor Homes, Silver Hill Hospital, ONS, Donut Crazy and Playland Nursery School.
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Finally, P&Z on Tuesday approved unanimously a new awning planned for The Whitney Shop on Elm Street. Andrew Stinchfield, son of owners Bob and Karen, attended the commission’s meeting. He told its members that the shop was not creating a different store, and that the awning was designed to “highlight and differentiate a department in the store.” The shop as been in New Canaan since the 1940s, he said, and is striving now to “reach younger demographics.”
New awning on Elm Street for Little Whitney, part of the Whitney Shop.