Around Town

New Barn for Donkeys at Nature Center Delayed

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The New Canaan Nature Center’s construction of a barn for donated donkeys has been delayed due to pending approval from various town bodies, officials said, but is expected to break ground in the fall. Because the land is owned by the town, more approvals are needed before construction can begin, according to New Canaan Nature Center Executive Director Bill Flynn. “It’s a town-owned property so it’s a lot more complicated than just getting the normal planning and zoning permits,” Flynn told NewCanaanite.com. “It requires another level of approval.”

The Board of Selectmen in May unanimously approved an initial request to begin planning construction. However, the Nature Center must gain approval from municipal bodies including Inland Wetlands, Health and Planning & Zoning, he said.

News

Board of Selectmen Approves Purchase of Grass Treatment for School Athletic Fields

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The town’s Board of Selectmen approved two requests from the Parks Department at its regular meeting last week for the purchase and application of grass treatment products for school athletic fields. According to Parks Superintendent John Howe, the strategy of purchasing and applying products separately has been effective. “This has been successful because we can control how the product is applied and what we’re using,” he said. The Parks Department’s budget for the purchasing products included the treatment products and seed, focusing “on more organic products and more seeds.”

Selectmen Kit Devereaux asked if the materials comply with “what is allowable for the town.”

Howe assured that the rules for chemical treatment on school property were being followed. “We do not buy any pesticides for the fields near the school grounds,” he said.

New Canine-ites

Buddy the Goldendoodle ‘Chews on Just About Anything’: New Canine-Ites

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In this installment of “New Canine-ites,” featuring profiles of local dogs, we speak to town resident Lee Robbins about his canine companion, Buddy, a lively Goldendoodle puppy. The nine-month old standard Goldendoodle is “very sociable,” according to Lee Robbins, who was taking the dog who belongs to his adult daughter—also a New Canaan resident—for a walk. “He loves dogs other dogs and people.”

Robbins said that New Canaan is a great place to own a dog, due to the walkability of downtown and accessibility to Spencer’s Run at Waveny. “We go to Waveny almost every day,” Robbins said. “There’s always a good mix of dogs there and it’s great exercise for him.”

It’s good to get Buddy out of the house and as active as possible throughout the day, he said.

Business

‘A Very Stressful and Exhausting Year’: Roger Sherman Remakes Itself with New Plans for Interior and Business

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The Roger Sherman Inn has been a landmark in New Canaan since its construction in the 18th Century. Following public debate over its planned sale and redevelopment in December of 2016—an effort that eventually stalled—the business’s owners have seen locals rally behind the restaurant and inn during the past 18 months. Now, owner Nes Jaffre said, she’s focused on breathing new life into the business, with a new and popular chef already hired and $160,000 in renovations planned for this year. “We’re changing all of this,” Jaffre told NewCanaanite.com on a recent morning from the inn’s dining room. “We’re changing the look of this nice, but old and tired antique inn.”

Plans include $160,000 in interior renovations.

Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Vandy Reh Likes The Whitney Shop

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As part of the “Biz on Biz” series—where local business owners give us tips about favorite products or services at other businesses—we stopped by Brad and Vandy Reh Fine Jewelry on Elm Street. A family business, Brad Reh and his wife Vandy run the New Canaan shop that specializes in estate and signed jewelry from brands such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Boucheron, Tiffany and Bulgari. When asked about a favorite product or service at another local business, Vandy Reh said she struggles to choose just one to focus on, spotlighting Found, Dorothy Mann, Sara Campbell, Francos, Shoes ‘N’ More and Groove. “It’s hard for me because to be honest with you I try to buy from everybody,” Randy Veh said. “I really want all of us to help each other.”

“She likes the whole block,” said Brad Veh, overhearing his wife’s comments.