Even if New Canaan hadn’t caught glimpses of spring from Mother Nature in the past week—and we’re supposed to see 54 and clear skies today—current community events and traditions would let all town residents know what time of year it is.
For example, just like the girls on the softball field, we’ve got the boys of summer hitting the baseball diamond (at least on the turf). We’ve also got the final budget vote set for Wednesday night, and Caffeine & Carburetors debuts at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Town Talker
We saw plenty of comments come in this week on the latest installment of local history feature “0684-Old.” In it, Terry recalls Revolutionary War-era resident (of “Canaan Parish”) Stephen Weed. Shell-shocked after battling the red coats, Weed is said to have grown paranoid on returning to town, constructing a fort along the Noroton River (off of Frogtown Road) to help protect the town from a British invasion. Terry used clues left by historians and believes he may have located the fort’s remains.
Dedicated Residents
We had a chance this week to catch up on two separate days with organizations out of New Canaan that are motivated by a strong sense of community.
We visited New Canaan resident Clif McFeely’s nonprofit organization Future 5, which helps Stamford public high school kids with college and/or career coaching. The organization’s board is consisted almost entirely of New Canaan residents, as are two-thirds of its volunteers.
Later in the week, we talked with New Canaan’s Miki Porta about Pesticide-Free New Canaan—the nonprofit organization’s roots, accomplishments, future and some of the medical problems it addresses.
Coming Up
- Today we see the long-awaited 2014 debut of Caffeine & Carburetors. An estimated 2,000 classic car owners and enthusiasts are expected for the event, which now will expand past Pine Street (where it still will be based) up Park to Elm.
- On Saturday April 12, from 12 to 2 p.m., New Canaan’s own FreshDine—a local business that sees nourishing meals prepared and delivered to homes here—will be at New Canaan Olive Oil “handing out samples of two of our favorite salads dressed with the fabulous products from NC Olive Oil!” according to a newsletter from FreshDine. “If you have not tried our salads, this would be a great opportunity to try them out, and explore all the other amazing products at NC Olive Oil. This is a store you definitely want to visit – absolutely wonderful products that you can’t get anywhere else!”
- Also on Saturday, from 12 to 3 p.m., our local pet shop, Village Critter Outfitter, is hooking up with a terrific area rescue organization, Outreach to Pets In Need, for an adoption event. Here’s some information, provided to NewCanaanite.com by Village Critter owner Shirleen Dubuque: “OPIN has a selection of dogs and cats [from Stamford’s animal shelter] to adopt that have been kept healthy and happy but in desperate need of a good home. Fostering and Adopting applications are also available online at the Stamford Animal Care and Control Shelter and OPIN websites.”
We heard from our local expert on coyotes—Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt—that the animals are pairing off this month to mate, and sure enough two pairs were sighted.
In other animal news, we heard about what appeared to be a mangy fox and brushes with death for a turkey and raccoon, and profiled a pair of lovely mature dogs in town: Coltrane the Labrador retriever and, today, Emi the Chow Chow.