New Canaanites on Wednesday turned out in large numbers for the funeral of longtime DPW worker Ben Olmstead, an emotional service and fitting tribute to a man remembered by his family and pastor as one who gave generously of his spirit and good will while asking little in return.
Ben Olmstead. Contributed photo
Our thoughts are with Olmstead’s survivors, friends and many coworkers in New Canaan, including the emergency responders who came to his aid and did what they could on the scene of a terrible accident.
As the calendar turned from July to August, our summer intern Alex Hutchins caught up with residents involved in longstanding summer programs here in town—Fresh Air Fund and Town Players of New Canaan.
Here’s the Week in Review.
Town Talker
With so much development in New Canaan—much of it rather conspicuous and rarely embraced by neighbors concerned about aesthetics, property values, traffic, runoff and other important matters—anticipation was understandably high this week when an application came before P&Z to dissolve what had been a 10-lot subdivision up on Dan’s Highway.
Huguette Clark estate. Contributed photo
Support was wide and seemingly unanimous for the re-forming of the former Huguette Clark Estate into a single lot—among P&Z commissioners and those attending the volunteer group’s meeting this past week. P&Z voted in favor of the application and, during the meeting, New Canaanites got some more information about the new owners of the property and details of the work going on there—namely, the New York City couple plans not only to restore and preserve it, but also to live here in town.
L-R: Jim O’Neill and Phil Williams of New Canaan Music, located up the alley at the top of Elm Street. Credit: Michael Dinan
Business
We at NewCanaanite.com this past week launched our Business Directory for the town—one by one, we are adding each and every business and organization to it (you can kickstart your own free directory listing here)—and we started with Elm Street’s New Canaan Music, which earned its first review:
“Great staff, great teachers… we love New Canaan Music!” —Jenn Hladick
Advocates for a plan to expand and renovate the pool pavilion at the New Canaan Field Club, pictured here in an artist’s rendering, say it’s attractive and in the style of the neighborhood. Glen Drive neighbors, primarily, have asked P&Z to reject the application, saying the new building is considerably larger than the one it’s replacing (though it conforms to regs) and would take on new uses.
Land Use
A plan to renovate and expand the pool pavilion at New Canaan Field Club is running into opposition from neighbors who say it will bring unwanted noise, light, traffic and new uses of the club to their neighborhood.
Officials representing the club say their regulation-conforming plan is mindful of each concern and is really just designed to bring the facility up-to-date and create an indoor option for some events where none now exists, and that their attempts to communicate directly with neighbors have been unsuccessful.
P&Z heard both sides a public hearing this past week and will reconvene around the matter at its Aug. 26 meeting.
Meanwhile, New Canaan is seeing new construction on the corner of Summer and Cross Streets, and an interesting-looking new home is planned for Lambert Road.
Here’s NCHS ’69 grad Jeff Caldwell during the fall of his senior year, playing the game he loves most of all—and for Joe Sikorski, on New Canaan’s first undefeated team.
Traffic Matters
Ponus Ridge motorists for the next year will be looking at the alternating one-way light installed last week at the Merritt Parkway overpass.
Ex-Canaanites
For our feature of former town residents with strong connections to the town, we caught up with NCHS ’69 grad Jeff Caldwell of Stamford.
Our Animals
Here’s Randy, a brindle Chihuahua found roaming down on Carter Street. He’ll be adopted out of the NCPD Animal Control shelter. Contributed photo
New Canaan Animal Control has another adoptable pet at its shelter—this one a lively brindle Chihuahua mix seeking his forever home.
The NCPD unit also reported some disturbing matters related to town animals—in one case, some teens threw rocks at a kitten later placed with an adoption agency, and in another a decaptiated rabbit turned up on Heritage Hill Road (the work of wild animals, not people, officials surmise).
A puppy (whose St. John’s Place owner later was located) survived a downtown romp that included running back-and-forth across Main Street at God’s Acre, and the staff at the New Canaan Field Club is trying to figure out a way to help the Canada goose who’s in danger of losing a limb, or worse, from fishing line tangled round her leg. Every time they try to get to the bird so they can secure her and cut her loose of the wire, she flies off across their pond.
Public Safety
New Canaan police are investigating a claim of ID theft and trying to track down a man who appears to have stolen a motor scooter from the train station.
They’re also looking into similar car break-ins, on the same day, at the field and country clubs.