Congratulations to 2012 New Canaan High School graduate Lex Najarian, who was prompted by a friend three months ago to join her first-ever Miss Nebraska USA competition—and won. Najarian moved west in 2013 to attend the University of Nebraska and now is certified as a personal fitness and nutrition specialist. Here she is on Instagram.
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The natural gas expansion will come to downtown New Canaan this summer, instead of the summer of 2020, as originally planned, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan told the local media during briefing Thursday in his Town Hall office. The work hopefully will be undertaken in July and August, he said.
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On Thursday night, the NCHS boys basketball team upset Stamford High School 52-49. Aaron Fishman hits three free throws to tie it and Ryan McAleer nailed a half-court buzzer beater, as Roman Cebulski captured below. Congratulations all around.
Ok, this just happened…New Canaan wins on stolen pass & half court buzzer beater! @NCTV78 @ncramsathletics @NCHS_CT #SCTop10 @CoachMelzer @mrmcateer pic.twitter.com/p086ra1KSL
— Roman Cebulski (@mrcebulski) January 11, 2019
Pine Street Concessions. Credit: Michael Dinan
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We wish the very best in his future endeavors to Peter Lane, the developer of two notable business centers in New Canaan that serve countless locals: Halo Studios and Pine Street Concessions. Lane recently sold his interest in several properties to a local investor group, including 45 and 59 Grove St., 75 Pine St. and 208-212 Elm St. Between the health and wellness concept of Halo and the food model model on Pine Street, Lane helped bring 15 new businesses to New Canaan.
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The town on Dec. 31 issued building permit after-the-fact for an estimated $265,000 job at 712 Oenoke Ridge Road for a new accessory structure on the four-acre property. The 1,595-square-foot, one bedroom structure included one full bath, a half-bath, kitchen, full foundation and basement to be used as storage and pool equipment, according to the permit. The applicant was New Canaan-based Gardiner Group LLC, the permit said. The town collected $5,567 in fees for the work, it said.
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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday appointed George Perkins to the Inland Wetlands Commission, replacing Tom DeMartino. In addition, Commissioner Kristen Mitrakis was appointed as a regular member, while Penny Ross was made an alternate.
New Canaan Police Sgt. Peter Condos on Jan. 5 received the First Responders Appreciation Award for 2019 from the Masons of New Canaan. Contributed
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On Jan. 5 the Masons of New Canaan gathered at their building, Harmony Lodge No. 67 to install the officers for the ensuing year. The lodge gave a round of applause to outgoing Worshipful Master John Ruth and thanked him for his dedicated service. As for the new officers, in the East were installed Michel Gomez as Worshipful Master; Andrew R. Melillo as Senior Warden; Ted Thomas as Junior Warden; Al Belcher as Secretary; Max Briones as Treasurer; Derek D’Ambra as Senior Deacon and David McMahon as Junior Deacon. After an installation ceremony performed by Most Worshipful Brother Walter Kaechel, past Grand Master of the State of Connecticut, the brothers of Harmony Lodge presented to Sgt. Peter Condos of the New Canaan Police Department the first annual, First Responders Appreciation Award for 2019. Condos had helped the lodge with acting upon and resolving an unfortunate matter some years ago. In addition to the award, Harmony Lodge donated $1,500 to the NCPD K-9 unit.
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The Parking Commission on Thursday re-elected Keith Richey as chairman and Pam Crum as secretary. Both were voted in unanimously to their offices, 5-0. Other Commissioners voting included Stuart Stringfellow, Peter Ogilvie and Chris Hering.
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New Canaan’s Eleanor Flatow and business partner Paul Efstathiou have curated a contemporary art exhibition, “Highlight: Gramercy,” which is to launch Jan. 31 at The National Arts Club in New York City. It features works by eight emerging and established contemporary artists based in Athens, Vienna, New York City, Connecticut and Los Angeles. The artists included in the exhibition are Marcel Dzama, Amir Fallah, André Hemer, John Knuth, Liz Leggett (of Westport), Olga Migliaressi-Phoca, Evan Robarts and Anne Vieux. The exhibition runs through March 2.
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Moynihan said during the press briefing of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi’s proposed $92 million spending plan for next fiscal year, “The superintendent worked hard.” He added, “The town side going to come in surprisingly low.”
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The town on Tuesday issued an after-the-fact building permit for a $28,600 job at 748 South Ave., and collected $766 in permit fees. The job, performed by the owner-builder of the property, is for an approximately 666-square-foot finished basement with playroom, laundry room, store room and two mechanical rooms, the permit said. “Kindly note that all the above work was done without obtaining the necessary permits. This means that all required inspections during construction were not performed,” it said.
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A bit of good news from another NCHS graduate, Curt Casali:
The #Reds and C Curt Casali have avoided arbitration and agreed to terms on a contract for the 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/c0EDrRxiLp
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) January 11, 2019
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NCHS Boys Squash Team Jan 2019. Contributed
Finally, congratulations to the New Canaan High School boys and girls squash teams, which notched wins on Jan. 5 at the Kent School versus Kent and Canterbury. The following write-up was submitted by Lisa Platt:
The boys’ Varsity beat Kent 6-1 and followed up with a 6-1 win over Canterbury. Reid Dahill and Bradley Hennessy each won exciting 3-2 matches against Kent and also won their matches against Canterbury. #1 player Will Comyns and #2 player Teddy Manges each contributed one win apiece and Jamie Cutler, Austin Platt and Charles Brossy each contributed two wins on the day. The Varsity is having a fantastic 7-1 season and is currently 2nd in the FairWest League. The boys’ JV team also traveled to Kent and won its matches against Kent and Canterbury due to the fine play of Chris Richardson, Nick Lambrinos, Doyle Catlin, Shea Smith and Henry Lindberg.
The girls’ Varsity beat Kent solidly 6-1, with Sophie Havens winning her match 3-1 and teammates Lili Beecher, Jenny Loomis, Chloe Sigg, Charlotte Sigg and Meghan Griffiths each winning 3-0. Liza Cuoco, playing #1, fought hard but fell to Kent’s top player. The girls’ Varsity is having a great season and is currently second in the FairWest League.