Did You Hear … ?

The Summer Theatre of New Canaan kicked off its 2016 season on Friday evening with a Broadway Stars gala featuring Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara, held at the Woodway Country Club. O’Hara was joined by fellow Broadway stars David Friedman, Robin de Jesus, Janelle Robinson, Jodi Stevens and Chip Zien. Scroll through the gallery above for images from the evening, including performances.

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We’re hearing that Democratic Registrar of Voters George Cody won backing from New Canaan Democrats at Tuesday evening’s caucus, held at Town Hall. For the first time since his election to the office in 1994, Cody this time faced a challenger for the position, from fellow New Canaanite Bernard Simpkin.

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Police, firefighters and EMTs at 2:02 p.m. last Wednesday, May 11, responded to a car fire on Oak Street near Main Street.

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We’re hearing a New Canaan mom has become a local hero by securing the Woodway Country Club pool for pre-Senior Prom photos this Friday.

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Here’s a fun one. New Canaanite reader Anne Cross put together this list with her kids, “You know you’re a New Canaanite when …”:

10. You loved the “Slow Down in Our Town” bumper stickers until that morning you were running late for work…
9. You’ll discuss religion & politics with your Darien friends/ acquaintances but NEVER high school sports.
8. You cringe when someone inserts a “L” or “R” (or both) when pronouncing WAVENY.
7. You’ve discovered why the drive-up ATM (in the parking lot on Pine) should be called “drive-up aggravation.”

6. When you sing carols on Christmas Eve at God’s Acre you imagine yourself a resident of Whoville (and imagine who the Grinch would be)
5. You know the difference between Rt. 123 and Rt.124.
4. Gates….’nuff said.
3. You know at least one woman over the age of 40 named Marie or Maria.
2. New Canaan has more pizza parlors per capita than any other town in Fairfield County and you’re fine with that.
1. You know why large chains have come and gone yet our beloved Walter Stewart’s Market still remains.

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Speaking of prom heroes, Junior Prom was held last Friday at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford. We heard from Molly Sawyer Ludtke that NCHS junior Claire Campbell—younger sibling of three NCHS grads—came up with an idea to host a pre-prom party open to anyone going to the dance. She put out the open invite on Facebook and the Campbells ordered up a tent to combat the rain. Parents brought hors d’oeuvres and one couple arranged for transport by school bus for the prom-goers. In all, more than 300 people attended. Thanks for sharing the story, Molly!

 

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NCHS sophomore Gillian Kane is up for the HAN Network Athlete of the Week after pitching a no-hitter vs. Central High School last week for the varsity Rams. She leads with 53 percent of the vote at the time of this publication. Full disclosure: She’s my niece. Go G!

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The 7^th Annual New Canaan Dog Days will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the lot outside Pet Pantry New Canaan on Grove Street. Face painting, caricature drawings, bouncy castle, scavenger hunt, lectures, demos and more. Be sure to check it out! It’s a benefit for Adopt-A-Dog and Strays & Others.

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Congrats to New Canaan resident and Fire Commissioner Kerry Smith, whose new book—“Experiential Marketing: Secrets, Strategies and Success Stories from the World’s Greatest Brands”—is the No. 1 business marketing book on Amazon. He co-wrote it with Dan Hanover.

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We’re hearing David Liebenguth, the Cos Cob man who hurled racial slurs at a New Canaan parking enforcement officer after getting a ticket at Morse Court in September 2014 this week was found guilty of breach of peace and tampering following a trial in Norwalk Superior Court. His sentencing is still to come.

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The Board of Selectmen during its meeting Tuesday held a moment of silence to honor the late Bill Sessions. He was “a dear friend of the town’s and a dear friend of ours,” First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said, calling on those in attendance and watching on TV to take “just a moment to reflect on what he meant to this community.”

 

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New Canaan merchants and residents helped raise more than $11,000 for the Horizons student enrichment program at New Canaan Country School as part of a broader fundraising effort for Horizons National Giving Day. The campaign, which ended May 12, accumulated more than $65,000 for the New Canaan affiliate. “The response was overwhelmingly positive,” Kerry Yeager Stevens, executive director of the flagship program in the Horizons national network, said in a press release. “Community members and dedicated merchants went above and beyond to make this day such a success.”

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Mallozzi, by the way, is not sitting down on the job. With his health in mind, the first selectman acquired a stand-up desk for his office at Town Hall. He showed it off during a visit with NCHS Senior Internship Program participants Emilia Savini and John Bemis, interning now with NewCanaanite.com.

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L’Armoire boutique on Park Street recently hosted a fundraiser for the New Canaan Mounted Troop.

The boutique raised $6,775 for the local charity to help with special programs such as the Super Troopers. The derby-themed fundraiser appealed to L’Armoire owner Diane Roth, a keen equestrian. Celebrating its 76th year, NCMT is a nonprofit organization that provides the most comprehensive educational Full Horsemanship and Equine Care Programs for youth in Fairfield County.

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Star Wars Film Fest Promo Video 2016

Uploaded by TheNCHSFilm on 2016-03-10.

Finally, a heads-up that the second annual New Age Film Festival will be held on Wednesday, May 25th hosted by the New Canaan High School Film Club (see video above).

The high school Film Club and their faculty advisor, Jennifer Sinski, received 100 submissions from nine different schools from around Fairfield County. After a red carpet preshow and light refreshments, students, parents, friends and members of the community are invited to celebrate the achievements of young filmmakers in an awards show from 6 to 8 p.m. It will be broadcasted live on NCTV channel 78.