New Canaan’s Zach Allen Stars as Boston College Wins Quick Lane Bowl

Throughout his football career at New Canaan High School, Zach Allen always had a penchant for making the biggest of plays in the biggest of games. That trend seems to have carried on to the next level, as Allen had a stellar performance in Boston College’s 36-30 win over Maryland in Monday’s Quick Lane Bowl played at Ford Field in Detroit. Allen, a 6’5″ sophomore defensive end, recorded a career-high two sacks against the Terrapins to go along with two solo tackles that resulted in a loss of 15 yards. The Eagles’ defensive line—a consistent strong point for BC all year—won MVP honors as a unit after holding Maryland to just 128 yards rushing, including 80 yards of negative yardage in the win. Allen—a 2015 graduate of NCHS—finished this season with six sacks, good for third place on a Boston College defense that entered Monday’s game ranked eighth in the nation.

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We hear New Canaan native Bruce Pauley, retired last year to Vermont, has been putting on a timber frame addition to his house in the “Green Mountain State” that uses oak trees felled during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy in New Canaan (see photos above). He’s also using mostly storm-related white pine trees for the house’s exterior and the new addition is being called “The Storm Room.”

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A demolition crew on Wednesday came for the long-vacant and neglected home at 39 Richmond Hill Road—facing complaints from neighbors and the prospect of a blight citation. ***

The committee charged with studying public and private options for restoring the town-owned New Canaan Playhouse at the “50-yard-line” of Elm Street on Wednesday finalized a document that will see interested parties propose ways to purchase or otherwise acquire, renovate and operate the 1923-built brick building. The New Canaan Playhouse Committee is seeking to make a decision about the future of the cherished, cupola-topped structure by Thanksgiving. Town leaders say New Canaan is not in danger of losing the iconic building, though its capital needs are extensive.

Despite Season-Opening Loss, New Canaan’s Zach Allen Stars for Boston College Football

Boston College suffered a heartbreaking 17-14 defeat to Georgia Tech on Saturday, as the Yellow Jackets scored the game-winning touchdown with just 35 seconds left to win the game. Despite the devastating loss, Eagles fans watching the nationally-televised game played in Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium can take some solace when considering the play of BC’s defensive unit—a unit that led the nation in lowest yards allowed per-game last season. And a unit which this season features 2014 New Canaan High School grad and former Rams star, Zach Allen. Listed as a backup defensive end on BC’s depth chart entering Saturday’s season-opener, Allen had a significant impact while seeing substantial time on both sides of the D-line. The 6’5″, 272-lb.

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It’s Election Day, and the League of Women Voters of New Canaan created this one-page Web guide for local constituents, including a Voters’ Guide to the Candidates, New Canaan 2015 Sample Ballot, Voting District Map and Absentee Ballot Information. ***

We’re hearing the Gridiron Club made another outstanding choice for this year’s “Fall Guy.” It’s New Canaan’s own Keith Simpson, noted local landscape architect and civic-minded volunteer, who currently serves with the New Canaan Beautification League, Waveny Park Conservancy, Pop Up Park Committee and Plan of Conservation & Development Implementation Committee, among other groups. ***

Police received a report last week of a distressed animal at Whiffle Tree Lane. At about 10:13 a.m. on Oct. 27, the police department’s Animal Control section arrived at the residence to find a small animal caught in an elbow of a gutter.

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Congratulations to the Pauley family on the birth of baby girl Peyton Ann Elaine Joyner. The daughter of Michael Joyner and Lauren Pauley—and granddaughter of recently retired New Canaan Tree Warden Bruce Pauley and his wife, Elaine—Peyton was born at 10:04 p.m. on July 14 at Norwalk Hospital. Lauren Pauley is a 2000 Trinity Catholic High School graduate. The Joyner family resides in Stamford. ***

New Canaan High School 2015 graduate and football standout Zach Allen will wear No.