A Darien-New Canaan tussle played out ahead of this week’s highly anticipated Turkey Bowl, and just a few football fields away from Dunning Stadium.
Spencer’s Run dog park in Waveny.
At about 1 p.m. on Nov. 11, a 4-year-old miniature Australian shepherd from New Canaan attacked an 18-month-old Vizsla from Darien at Spencer’s Run, the dog park at Waveny. The local dog bit the puppy’s earflap and did enough damage to require stitching, according to a report on file with the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department. “All in all, Spencer’s Run as a rule runs very, very smoothly,” said Officer Allyson Halm, head of Animal Control. “Everybody self-polices and works to get along.” She added: “You enter the [dog] park at your own risk, because this kind of incident can happen at any time, with any kind of dog.” Both dogs involved in the incident, neutered males, were up-to-date on their shots.
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Conceptual rendering of future Mellick and Gamble Fields at Mead Park. Specs by Blades & Goven and McChord Engineering, courtesy of New Canaan Baseball
Two major changes highlighted a presentation from the private nonprofit organization New Canaan Baseball this week to upgrade the little league fields at Mead Park. First broached with the Park & Recreation Commission in March 2015 and presented in detail to the commission two months ago, plans have called for new facilities (bleachers, dugouts, scoreboards, lights) and a new orientation for Gamble Field, which is to be turned so that home plate would be located roughly where left field is now. During a presentation to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, baseball officials said they’re now seeking to create artificial turf infields for both Mellick and Gamble Fields (originally plans called for re-grading the dirt-and-grass fields). They also are asking the town to put about $435,000 toward the project (originally the private group was to fund all of it). The selectmen voiced support for the organization in general, and said New Canaan’s funding bodies, the Board of Finance and Town Council, would take up the specific request.
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Planning & Zoning commissioner Laszlo Papp will serve another three-year term, through Dec. 1, 2019, despite some talk in town that he would step down from the volunteer body. Here’s a full list of the appointments to volunteer town groups that the Board of Selectmen approved 2-0 on Tuesday (First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectman Beth Jones were in attendance, Selectman Nick Williams was absent):
Audit Committee
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Charles Jacobson
• George Maranis
Board of Finance
Four-year term ending November 15, 2020
• Neil Budnick
• Robert Spangler
EMS Commission
Three-year term ending November 15, 2019
• Jim Beall
Fire Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Jack Horner
Human Services Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Michael Allocca
• Tom Ferguson
• Carlyn Tiefenthaler
Parking Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Stuart Stringfellow
Parks & Recreation Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Sally Campbell
• Laura Costigan
• Kit Devereaux
• Matthew Konspore
Planning & Zoning Commission
Three -year term ending December 1, 2019
• John Flinn
• John Goodwin
• Laszlo Papp
Police Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Paul Foley
Spencer’s Run Volunteers
• Kathryn Devereaux
• Karin Fry
• Joan Guzzetti
• Jessica Havens
• Leslie Kammerer
• Candy Knott
• Wendy Sardanis
• Rona Siegel
• Debbie Simpson
• Pam Simpson
• Sack Siobhan
• Marcos Torno
• Gertrude Yip
Utilities Commission
Three-year term ending December 1, 2019
• Bob Clay replacing Scott Lashelle
• Wade Eyerly
• Daniel Welch
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LiveGirl is a New Canaan-founded nonprofit organization.
New Canaan-founded nonprofit organization LiveGirl and locally owned Oxygen Fitness from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 will team up for “Fitness for a Cause.”
The evening will feature a 30-minute fitness class—select intro to strength training, spin, or yoga—as well as award-winning nutritionist and author Jill Castle. It costs $40 and all proceeds will fund LiveGirl’s school year programming, provided free-of-charge to nearly 200 girls in Fairfield County.
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Here’s a photo gallery spotlighting other news from around New Canaan:
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Photo, Back row is Coach John Winchester. Standing row (left to right) is Teddy Whittaker, Griffin Bramwit, Will Langford, Ben Michels, Cooper Smith, Felipe Galavis, Jack Jensen. Kneeling (left to right) Bill Roscoe and Christofer Ippolito. New Canaan 5th Grade Boys NCBA Travel Basketball Black Team Wins Milford Tip-Off Tournament The New Canaan Fifth Grade NCBA Boys Basketball Black Team edged out seventeen teams from across the state to win the Seventh Annual Milford Knights Pre-season Tip-Off Basketball Tournament on November 20, 2016. The boys were undefeated, winning all six games over the course of two weekends to claim the championship. The action started on Saturday, November 12th against a tenacious Mashantucket team. The score was tied at 32 apiece in the fourth quarter before the New Canaan boys went on a 16 - 2 run to win the game 48 - 34. It was a solid team effort all around. Teddy Whittaker led the team with 21 points. Point guard Griffin Bramwit tossed in 11 points, while forward Jack Jensen notched 7 points to secure the victory. The next game on November 13th had New Canaan matching up against the Trumbull Blue Team. The issue was never in doubt with the NC boys pulling away early and winning easily by a score of 40 - 26. The tournament continued this past weekend with a slate of four games in two days. The NC team jumped off to a 28 - 6 lead against Milford in last Saturday's first game and closed the deal easily with a final score of 51 - 15. Griffin Bramwit led the team with 18 points. Teddy Whittaker had 8 points. Jack Jensen had 6 points. Luke Bryant, Christofer Ippolito and Felipe Galavis each had four points. Will Langford had 3 points, while Ben Michels and Fletcher Heron garnered two points each. Next up on Saturday was the Trumbull Gold team. New Canaan jumped out to 24 - 9 lead, then pulled away, finishing with a final score of 38- 21. Griffin Bramwit and Teddy Whittaker had 11 points each to lead the team. Christofer Ippolito had 7 points, including one three-pointer. The tournament was completed on Sunday, November 20th. The semi-final game was against a gritty Milford squad who leaped out to a 12 - 5 lead. The NC boys soon found their footing and finished out the first quarter down 12 - 11. The second half was all New Canaan with the boys taking off on an 18 - 4 run in the third quarter. The final score was 44 - 26 in favor of New Canaan. Griffin Bramwit led the team with 15 points, followed by Teddy Whittaker who had 13 points. Christofer Ippolito scored 10 points and Ben Michels had 6 points. The championship game took place Sunday afternoon and was a rematch against Mashantucket. New Canaan was down early, trailing by the score of 6 - 4 in the first quarter before surging out to a 24 - 12 lead. New Canaan pulled away in the second half, steadily increasing their lead. Teddy Whitaker led the scoring for NC with 21 points. Cooper Smith and Ben Michels controlled the offensive and defensive paint, pulling down rebound after rebound down the stretch. Christofer Ippolito caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 13 points, including two back-breaking three-pointers in the last few minutes to ice the game. When the dust settled, New Canaan was victorious, winning by the score of 50 - 35. "I'm proud of the kids and the parents should be too. They played together and they played well," said head coach John Winchester. "It was a great way to start the season," he added. The NCBA 5th Grade Basketball Black team starts off their regular season on December 3rd against New Haven.
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Community Day 2016 at The Glass House campus. Photo, L-R: Scott Drevnig, David Dineen, Diane Knetzger and Greg Sages.
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L-R: Bankwell President & CEO Chris Gruseke, Fairfield Theatre Company Executive Director John Reid and Fairfield Theatre Company Board Chairman Dave Rosenfeld. Fairfield Theatre Company honored Bankwell by presenting Bankwell President & CEO Chris Gruseke with the “Corporate Citizen of the Year” Award at FTC’s annual Encore Gala on November 12th. In the words of John Reid, Executive Director of Fairfield Theatre Company, “Fairfield Theatre Company was especially pleased to present Bankwell with our Corporate Citizen of the Year Award at our annual Encore Gala. Bankwell consistently demonstrates their commitment to the community through their support and volunteer efforts on behalf of many local causes and their love of the arts. As our banking partner and as an FTC season sponsor, they played a crucial in the creation of our new venue – The Warehouse – which is quickly becoming an important landmark in Fairfield County. Congratulations to Bankwell CEO, Chris Gruseke, and the entire Bankwell team for their vision and their support. I can’t think of any business that is more deserving and we look forward to working closely with them for many years to come.” The Fairfield Theatre Company is a nonprofit center for the arts and culture located in the heart of downtown Fairfield, Connecticut that brings together a community of musicians, actors, artists, writers, fans, and supporters. The Organization’s mission is to connect and enrich the community through the transforming power of the arts. More about Fairfield Theatre Company can be found at fairfieldtheatre.org. Bankwell is a community bank that serves the banking and lending needs of residents and businesses throughout Connecticut. The bank’s mission is to provide the highest level of service to customers and give back to the communities it serves. More about bankwell can be found at mybankwell.com.
No, no, no! Do not put artificial turf infields at Mead Park. That place is a town treasure and baseball has been played on grass and dirt there for over 100 years. Please do not do this. And while we are at it, there is no need to flip Gamble field around. Just because you have money, does not mean you need to spend it all.