A large-breed Japanese dog stopped traffic last Wednesday afternoon on Carter Street after getting off his property and making his way to East School. It happened around midday on Jan. 4, when the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department was called to Little Brook Road on a report of a roaming brown dog. The Akita made his way up Clapboard Ridge Road toward Carter, and was spotted trotting down the middle of the street, police said. He wanted nothing to do with an Animal Control officer wielding a snare, so he trotted happily back to his home. The homeowner had an invisible fence in place though the dog got out and off-property without his collar on.
From the Glass House Summer Party on June 13, 2015. Credit: Michael Dinan
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Tickets now are available to visit The Glass House during the 2017 tour season, which opens in May.
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Clemson University alumnus Dr. Bryan Luizzi, the superintendent of schools for New Canaan, had his alma mater on his mind during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. While he presented a proposed budget to the school board, the Tigers took on Alabama for the college football championship game (and won, on a touchdown with one second remaining). During a discussion of a $27,000 carpet replacement in one school as part of the capital budget, Luizzi noted that some of the carpet looked as though it had been installed “before Clemson won its last national championship in 1981.” (We note here that NCHS varsity diving coach Joe Somma also is a Clemson alum, and 2015 NCHS grad Brigid Stanley is at the South Carolina school now and can be seen at the end of this celebratory video.)
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The town on Jan. 4 received an application to do $250,000 of interior work at a 3,200-square-foot restaurant at 96 Main St. in New Canaan. That’s Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant, the popular spot at Forest Street damaged in a Labor Day nighttime fire, which will reopen this spring following an extensive renovation.
New Canaan Town Hall. Credit: Michael Dinan
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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted 3-0 to approve $5,245 contract with New Canaan’s Hutchinson Tree Care for the following work:
- Remove oak tree at 559 Cheese Spring Road
- Remove dead maple tree at 26 Beech Road
- Remove dead oak tree trunk from New Canaan Land Trust property on Davenport Ridge Road
- Remove marked tulip tree at back parking area of 172 East Ave.
- Remove broken Norway maple tree and dead ash tree west of driveway at 26 Farm Road
- Remove four decayed maples at 1 Ogden Road by the New York state line.
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Speaking of trees, Department of Public Works Director Tiger Mann told the Park & Recreation Commission on Wednesday night that a forrester hired by the Waveny Park Conservancy met with the tree warden and they tagged 43 hazard trees in Waveny, most of them dead or nearly dead.
New Canaan’s Colleen Hann at the 2014 Walk to End Lupus Now. Contributed
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New Canaan’s Colleen Hann has launched her 2017 page for the Walk to End Lupus Now. She’s raised $640 toward her $5,000 goal so far. The walk is to be held May 6 in New York City.
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The selectmen on Tuesday put off to the regular budget discussions a voting item that would have moved a part-time administrative assistant at Town Hall who supports the fire marshal’s and chief’s offices to expand her role on a full-time basis and include the superintendent of buildings.
Wendy Lowy Sloane. Contributed
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New Canaan’s Wendy Lowy Sloane, host of “What’s Up With Wendy” on 1490AM –WGCH out of Greenwich will celebrate her 8th anniversary show on Friday, Jan. 13. Her co-host will be Monica Potter, who starred on the NBC hit drama “Parenthood.” Listen live here.
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Finally, here are a few big announcements from New Canaan’s Bankwell:
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Willmar Acevedo has joined Bankwell as Assistant Branch Manager of the two New Canaan branches, it was announced by Benjamin Fetterman, Bankwell’s Director of Retail Services. With more than 9 years of experience in the banking industry, most recently at First County Bank, Mr. Acevedo has expertise in sales, service and branch operations, and has also trained and managed branch staff throughout Fairfield County. His diverse experience and skills also include project management, strategic planning and team leadership. In addition to assisting in managing the New Canaan branches, Mr. Acevedo’s responsibilities will include Business Development in local markets. He graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, CT with a B.A. in Psychology. Mr. Acevedo resides in Norwalk, CT with his wife and newborn daughter. Bankwell is a commercial bank committed to serving the banking and lending needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield County. More information about Bankwell can be found at www.mybankwell.com.
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As part of an ongoing effort to give back to the community, Bankwell contributed $1,500 to The Tiny Miracles Foundation. Photo left to right: Lori Church, The Tiny Miracles Foundation Board Member with Bankwell VP and Branch Manager Peter Olson and Bankwell EVP and Head of Community Banking, David Dineen
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Pictured are: (from left) Diane Knetzger, Bankwell’s director of marketing; Genevieve Halloran, the Aquarium’s Manager of Strategic and Corporate Development; Aquarium President Dr. Brian Davis; Alicia Wettenstein, the Aquarium’s Director of Development; and David Dineen, Bankwell Executive Vice President/Head of Community Banking. BANKWELL SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S OPPORTUNITY FUND OF THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK NORWALK, CT – Hundreds of area children and families in need will be able to visit The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, thanks to a $12,000 grant by Bankwell to the Aquarium’s Children’s Opportunity Fund. The Children's Opportunity Fund is a restricted fund that ensures The Maritime Aquarium is available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The Aquarium works with social-service agencies in the area to identify underserved youth and families who could benefit from the educational and entertaining aspects of the Aquarium, as well as the “safe-space” it provides. “We are grateful for Bankwell’s continuing support, and especially appreciate their enabling access to the Aquarium by so many children and families who otherside would not be able to afford it,” said Alicia Wettenstein, Director of Development for The Maritime Aquarium. Bankwell also sponsors the IMAX® movies “National Parks Adventure,” currently showing daily at The Maritime Aquarium, and “Dream Big,” the first STEM-focused IMAX movie, opening daily Feb. 17. Notes David Dineen, Bankwell’s Head of Community Banking, “As part of Bankwell’s ongoing commitment to provide value to the community, we are very pleased to support the Children’s Opportunity Fun. The enrichment opportunities that the Maritime Aquarium delivers to underserved youth and families inspire an appreciation of the Long Island Sound ecosystem and the global environment through its unique exhibits, educational and entertainment programs.” Bankwell is a commercial bank with nine branches and a loan production office that serve the personal and business banking and lending needs of customers throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties. Bankwell was founded on the principles of providing an exceptional banking experience to its customers – and adding value to the communities it serves. Learn more at www.mybankwell.com. Get more details about exhibits, IMAX movies, programs and other offerings at The Maritime Aquarium this winter at www.maritimeaquarium.org.