New Canaan tradition and memories of things past anchored the news this past week, a short week for many work-wise with Memorial Day on Monday.
Gary Macintyre of New Canaan was guest speaker at the 2014 Memorial Day ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery. Here’s part of what he said: “There is no tomb to the unknown sailor, or sentries pacing back and forth. There are no grave markers with names and dates upon them. There are no monuments to famous battles fought. There is no American flag stuck in the ground next to them. There is no fancy entry with large bronze gates, nor is there any grass to cut. There are no visitors meandering around to pay their respects.” Credit: Michael Dinan
We had fine weather for the wonderful, annual parade on Main Street—here’s a video and here’s a slideshow of it—and the always moving ceremony honoring our nation’s fallen servicemen and women in Lakeview Cemetery. The ceremony absolutely is one of the defining community gatherings of New Canaanites and it’s always an honor and privilege to attend and hear from our guest speakers—this year was Gary Macintyre of New Canaan, a U.S. Navy veteran.
We additionally were honored to have the home, memories and photo albums of one prominent New Canaan family, the Conner Leflers of Douglas Road, opened for us in recalling two fallen servicemen in their own family, one killed in combat and another during his time of service (both NCHS grads, classes of ’41 and ’60).
U.S. Army Signal Corps First Lt. Creighton Conner, a New Canaan High School 1960 graduate, in Vietnam. Contributed photo
The balance of the week saw a hodgepodge of local news: We had a Park Street cat bite its owner, we saw the town take one major step toward addressing a parking concern downtown, we saw a longstanding complaint about a garbage enclosure rear up again in our historic district, and the week was capped with a great fundraising event at New Canaan Library.
Here’s the Week in Review.
Though Mrs. Green’s officials have assured P&Z that a proposed, shrubbery-enclosed corral for shopping carts would be largely inconspicuous, the commission has called for a smaller footprint in the plan. Credit: Michael Dinan
Town Talker
We saw strong reactions come into our Facebook page after posting on a concern that’s emerged out of Mrs. Green’s market on Pine and Park Streets.
P&Z flagged two issues regarding Mrs. Green’s shopping carts: First, an original note on a site plan that would’ve seen the carts stored inside has gone by the wayside, and the market now is trying to get approval for a designated storage area outside the building, Second, there’s an aesthetics problem where the store’s carts—due in part to a perceived shortage of parking for customers—are being left here and there around the area of Park and Pine.
Sandra Pelletier, owner of Sorelle Gallery at 84 Main St. Asked why she chose New Canaan as the location of her second year-round gallery, Pelletier said: “We liked Greenwich and Westport, this whole area here, but New Canaan is a very small, unique little town.” Credit: Michael Dinan
Coming Up
There’s a grand opening from 5 to 9 p.m. this Friday at Sorelle Gallery at 84 Main St. (near that upstairs entrance to Gates). Here’s some background on the gallery, including instructions on the correct pronunciation of ‘Sorelle’ and where the word comes from. (This event is featured here because it was uploaded via our new community calendar—take a look.)
Real Estate
We had major real estate news this week, as well.
Mimi Findlay of the New Canaan Preservation Alliance at 8 Ferris Hill Road, a 1735 home whose future concerns the the nonprofit organization. Credit: Michael Dinan
First, preservationists are concerned about a 1735 antique home at Canoe and Ferris Hill Roads—recently sold to a new owner, there’s a site plan that includes reference to keeping the home, but the special permit required to do so has been withdrawn. Some believe the structure once was occupied by a man said to be Connecticut’s last slave.
We also saw a 1910 Tudor-style home on Rosebrook Road sell for $5.85 million to an entity called ‘Jumping Cat LLC,’ and learned about what’s planned for the two-family home lot at the corner of East Avenue and Hoyt Streets (much larger, new condos would go in where the visibly deteriorating structure now sits).
Sadly and finally, it seems that the widely anticipated sale of 4 Main St.—a 1780 Greek Revival-style home that’s in our historic district—has fallen through. More on that here, and here’s to hoping this home sees an owner take over who is in a position to invest in the home (as its current owners once had).
Raccoons (Animal 411)
Two raccoons found their way into human spaces in New Canaan this week, with some newsworthy results.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor), female, Ottawa, Ontario. April 2009.
First, we heard about one raccoon that got into an Echo Hill Road home, where a Labrador retriever mix kept it trapped inside until a boyfriend at the home wrapped it up in his sweatshirt and set it free. The bold beau also ended up putting that sweatshirt back on, meaning he needs to go see his own doctor about possible rabies infection.
Then we heard about a lucky raccoon who happened upon an open SUV full of junk food. When the family’s kids climbed into the vehicle the next morning, they found the slumbering animal in front, with discarded popcorn, soda and candy all around. Animal Control officers responded and let the raccoon out.