Around Town

Caffeine & Carburetors Clears Final Hurdle for Oct. 19 Event in Waveny

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The popular grassroots gathering of classic and specialty car enthusiasts—an event whose only location in New Canaan, to date, has been the downtown—has cleared its final hurdle for a Sunday, Oct. 19 trial run at Waveny. Launched four years ago out of New Canaan resident Doug Zumbach’s eponymous gourmet coffee shop on Pine Street, Caffeine & Carburetors has grown so large that, logistically, it cannot be held downtown more than twice per year. One long-term vision for the event is a combination of installments downtown and at Waveny—for example, two at each spot between April and November. On Thursday, an administrative team known as the ‘Special Events Committee’—overseen by Tom Stadler of the first selectman’s office and including parks, police, emergency management, health and recreation officials—voted unanimously in favor of the October trial run.

Opinion

Letter: ‘Thank You’ To Residents, Volunteers, Organizers for Great Family Fourth at Waveny

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Editor:

On behalf of the Family Fourth Committee, I would like to thank all who supported the 34th Annual New Canaan Family 4th Celebration at Waveny Park by purchasing an entrance pass to attend this Independence Day celebration. The decision to move to the rain date of July 5th worked out well. We had a beautiful warm day, clear skies and a nice breeze. The fireworks show as spectacular. It was another memorable 4th of July celebration … an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display.

Around Town

New Canaan Family Fourth at Waveny Moved to Saturday (Still 5 p.m.)

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With rain now expected to fall into Friday evening, town officials are postponing the Waveny fireworks to Saturday. Though the town had been holding out hope to get the Family Fourth Celebration in as planned, it’s not possible to set up fireworks in the rain, said Tom Stadler, administrative officer in the first selectman’s office. The event will go on exactly as planned but one day later—so that’s at 5 p.m. at Waveny with the fireworks expected to start around 9 p.m. It will include our New Canaan Town Band, food, drinks, ice cream and entertainment for kids. The forecast calls for a clear and comfortable Saturday. Here’s a guide to what is open and closed in New Canaan this weekend.

Around Town

Iconic Maple Tree at Waveny Is Dying, Volunteers Plan for a Successor

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A prominent and well-loved tree at Waveny appears to be dying, and members of a volunteer group that oversees the park’s popular Fourth of July celebration are preparing to contribute toward a new tree when the time comes. The big maple just off of Waveny House’s sprawling patio has provided shade to thousands of park-goers through summers and long has formed an important part of the iconic view from the fields at what many would call New Canaan’s most treasured amenity. The New Canaan Family Fourth Committee (the $30 passes to the event are being sold now to town residents; a limited number of $60 nonresident passes also will be sold) wants to make sure there’s a tree there for people to enjoy, said Tom Stadler, administrative officer in the first selectman’s office. “It won’t come down until it’s dead, but sometimes you can plant a new one under it or nearby,” Stadler, who helps oversee special events for New Canaan, said after a meeting of the Family Fourth Committee, held at Waveny House (which itself is the object of preservation efforts). “We just want to be ready to contribute a new tree,” he added.