Around Town

‘A Smart, Level-Headed Consensus-Builder’: Fond Farewell for New Canaan Library Board’s Christian Le Bris

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The New Canaan Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday evening bid bond farewell to Christian Le Bris, its president for the past two years whose steady head and hand are credited with helping to build consensus and, together with Library Director Lisa Oldham, strengthen the institution’s relationship with the town. Le Bris in serving for the maximum of two consecutive 3-year terms on the board has been “invaluable to the library and instrumental in making it the wonderful institution that it is today,” new board President Alicia Wyckoff said during the library’s annual meeting, held in the Lamb Room. “He has been a clear and effective representative of the library to the town. He has led the board with quiet strength and has governed by consensus, creating a governing body that fully supports the library and the library organization and its executive director. Chris is smart, level-headed, a consensus-builder and most importantly, he can really make you laugh.”

During the 30-minute meeting, board members and staff: updated attendees on the library’s finances—total support income of $2.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, mostly through the annual campaign, exceeding budget by 2 percent, with an endowment fund of $1.1 million and capital fund of $1.5 million; received an operational update from Oldham, including on personnel, programming, investments in technology and newly defined role’s (such as the very popular Reader’s Advisor); voted to amend a part of the library’s bylaws; and formally appointed new board members.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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For the first time ever, May Fair will open its rides to visitors on the Friday night of the weekend that the hugely popular event runs. “Friday Night Lights” will run from 5 to 9 p.m. on May 8—featuring just the rides, a performance stage and select food vendors Baskin-Robbins, Joe’s Pizza and Chicken Joe’s—and the full, cherished annual fair running about 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the following day, said Richard DePatie, parish administrator at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. “We’ve been talking about it, off and on, for a number of years, and weather is a factor,” DePatie told NewCanaanite.com. He explained that in recent years, foul weather has caused organizers to hit pause on May Fair for periods of time on the selected Saturday, and that affects how much money can be raised (the fair benefits charities through the St.

Local People

CT Challenge Bike Ride: New Canaanites Ride for Cancer Survivors

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. The first CT Challenge bike ride for cancer survivors took place one decade ago, and New Canaan’s own John Murphy—who participates in honor of his sister, nephew and many friends—has been involved since its inception. Mr. Murphy, current captain of the New Canaan Riders for Survivors bike team that participates every year in the ride, credited his teammates with doing “an incredible job” in raising more than $23,000 to date for the special ride. “Many of the team members are Road Warriors (riders who commit to raising a minimum of $3,000),” Mr. Murphy told NewCanaanite.com. “Everyone rides for family and friends who are struggling with cancer, and they are true spokespersons for the groundbreaking support CT Challenge provides.”

A fundraiser for services and grants that support cancer survivors, the race begins at the Interlaken Inn way up in Lakeville and ends in Fairfield after miles of picturesque Connecticut countryside. This year’s ride will take place across two days (July 25 and 26) and up to 100 miles (or however far participants choose to ride). There also are options for more leisurely Saturday-only rides of 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 miles, as well.