Andy Towers

New Canaan Alumni Athletic Association/New Canaan Old Timers Association Annual Picnic

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Former stars of New Canaan’s sports past will shine again as the New Canaan Alumni Athletic Association/New Canaan Old Timers Association will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, September 18 at Waveny. This year’s event will feature eight honorees: Bill Brown, Kara Devlin, Paul Devlin, Cari Hills, Mario Lopez, Jeff Mellick, Bob Schott and Andy Towers. The celebration runs from 10am to 3pm and includes a continental breakfast, beverages and lunch. The cost is $50 for adults, $20 for students. Children under 14 are admitted for free.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Bill Brown

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One of our most recognizable names, voices and faces, Bill Brown is a true New Canaan institution. A town treasure who has positively impacted generations of students from the last days of Center School in the early 1980’s right up to the present, Brown is also one of the most prolific coaches in New Canaan High School history, having guided the Rams to four FCIAC titles, 12 FCIAC East and 1o state championships in his 17 seasons at the helm of the Varsity boys golf team. Born in Norwalk and raised in New Canaan on Parade Hill Road—a veritable breeding ground for great athletes in town—Brown was the youngest of four boys who all played sports at New Canaan High School. It was in the mentoring of younger athletes where Brown found his niche, as the NCHS Class of 1978 grad began coaching PONY League baseball while still in high school. Brown coached Pop Warner Football in the early 80’s, where he helped develop many future New Canaan Rams gridiron stars.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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The Planning & Zoning Commission at its most recent meeting decided to forego approving two signs for new businesses that had been submitted to the town (see photos above). Commissioner Elizabeth DeLuca, head of P&Z’s sign committee, said that a sign for Spiga, the new Italian restaurant opening on Main Street, was meant to be “burnt orange” according to its application “but it appears to be a very bright orange color.”

“They put it up,” DeLuca said at the July 26 meeting. “It’s up. It’s there.”

Though P&Z did not specify just why, the group also forewent voting either way on a new sign for the New Canaan Psychic, to open at 179 Cherry St. Regarding Siga, Town Planner Steve Kleppin noted window signage and said that it is more attractive than banners inside downtown businesses that hang behind the glass.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Robert Jones

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To say Robert Jones has sports in his blood would be an understatement. The 1980 New Canaan High School grad’s grandfather Deacon Jones played pro baseball for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League before embarking on a long career as a top scout for the New York Yankees. Jones’ father Gordon played in the Cleveland Indians organization, getting as high as Double-A while older bother Lee Jones made it to Triple-A in the California Angels system. And while Robert Jones never realized his dream of playing pro ball, he has made a huge impact on the local scene, starring for the New Canaan Cannons in the Connecticut Senior Men’s Baseball League since 1998. “I was blessed by good coaches growing up in New Canaan including Ed Ready, Gordon Jones, Bill Brown, Mark ‘250’ Rearick, Bob and Roger Fulton, Bill Brown, Joe Ditolla, Jerry Quinn, Dave Prutting and Art Mazmanian—my closest friend for the past 30 plus years,” Jones wrote in his bio submitted by the New Canaan Old Timers Association, who will be honoring the diamond star at their annual celebration on Sunday, September 20th at Waveny.