Around Town

‘Everyone Helped To Make It Happen’: Family Fourth at Waveny Draws Thousands [PHOTOS]

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About 2,000 New Canaan residents purchased family passes to attend the 37th Annual Family Fourth of July Celebration on Tuesday—a figure that organizers are pointing to in noting the great success of yet another picnic and fireworks show. Funded not by taxpayer dollars but by ticket sales, the hugely popular, iconic New Canaan event has rebounded nicely in just a few years after monies from the private fund were depleted, prompting the all-volunteer Family Fourth Committee to urge those who drive or walk in to get a pass. According to committee Chairman Tom Stadler, the work of volunteers is essential. Stadler told NewCanaanite.com that his very simple message to those people is “Thank you.”

“So many people make that thing happen,” Stadler said. “There are guys there at six in the morning setting up.

Around Town

Town to Waveny Walkers: Use the New Footpaths, Not the Road

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Frustration with pedestrians who walk in the main road through Waveny—rather than on new pathways specifically created for them—is quickly turning into action, parks officials say. According to Recreation Director Stephen Benko, despite the recent additions of three brand-new pedestrian paths that hug the roadway, many who come to the park to jog, walk their dogs or push baby strollers favor the roadway that’s meant for cars, raising traffic and safety concerns. “Unfortunately, we might have to put up a ‘No Pedestrians’ ” sign,” Benko said of the rising problem. He said that visitors may be walking in the road because of the seasonal dryness of the pathways—a problem that will soon be addressed. The Department of Public Works is currently contracted to lay down a .25-inch layer of stone.

News

New Canaan High School 4th Quarter Honor, High Honor Rolls

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With another year under their belts, many NCHS students can now celebrate their achievement of making either the Honors or High Honors roll for the fourth quarter. Congratulations to these students. Below is the High Honors list, followed by Honors. Names are listed alphabetically by grade. Grade 12 High Honors

Bhaskar Abhiraman
Rachel Annulli
Jackson Appelt
Ellery Baran
Brittany Barber
Olivia Barden
Kaylin Bean
Matthew Berger
Meghan Brady
Shannon Bucci
Jackson Butler
Jason Campe
Lauren Catalano
Amy Chu
William Conley
Faustino Cortina
Courtney Coutts
James Crovatto
Madeleine Culpepper
Kavya Dagli
Edward Dahill
Emma Dahill
Drew Davis
Camaren Dayton
Trevor De Ghenghi
Abigail Deery
Maggie DeFrancesco
Shea Delehaunty
Spencer DeVito
Catherine Ellsworth
Laura Endres
Maria Fagerstal
Angelina Fagundes
Katharine Ferguson
Mariana Ferreira
James Freyre
Paige Freyre
Casey Gallup
Alice Gelhaus
Hannah Gelnaw
Kimberly Genuario
Andrew Gibbens
Christopher Greene
Annalee Greenspon
Anne Greer
Francesca Guyn
Christopher Harte
Quinn Hays
Tyler Hill
Jack Hoelzer
Edward Holappa
Robert Hoover
Nicole Howard Krog
Graham Jameson
Evelyn Jensen
Maura Kelley
Carolyn Kemp
Molly Keshin
Rachel Keshin
Caroline Knightly
Caroline Leeber
Scott Luntz
Dana Lurie
Anna Lysenko
Grace Manges
Julia Means
Hazel Montano
Liam Mooney
Andrew Morris
Aurelie Moutran
Caileigh Murray
Siobhan Naughton
John O’Connor
Brendan O’Halloran
Mackenzie O’Malley
Maria Oliveira
Kameron Ong
Sofia Paloka
Michael Pelli
Tessa Piontkowski
Giuliana Ponterotto
Hugo Potter
Charlotte Pratt
Chiara Rapuano
Jack Rechtermann
Bailey Reehl
Cameron Rhind
Molly Rochlin
Brooks Rosenberg
Graham Russell
Brian Sandor
Holly Santero
Camryn Schlim
Rebecca Serven
James Shapiro
Andrew Shizari
Paige Skyrm
Madeleine Smith
Patrick Song
Michael St.

News

‘We Strive To Hire the Absolute Best’: New Canaan Police Department Poised To Add Fourth Female Officer to Its Ranks

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Town officials on Tuesday started the hiring process for the New Canaan Police Department to take on a 28-year-old Stamford woman as its newest officer. The Board of Selectmen’s 3-0 vote in favor of the classification and compensation for Nicole Vartuli clears the way for the department to hire its fourth female uniformed officer, officials said. Vartuli, who underwent intense testing, was selected from a pool of 114 candidates, and the department is thrilled that such a decision improves the diversity of their officers, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “We strive to hire the absolute best person, and when it turns out to help diversity it is a great victory,” Krolikowski said at the meeting, held in Town Hall. He added: “It’s a very competitive market, and Stamford was actually on the cusp of hiring her, so we’re lucky that we got her.”

Vartuli has a degree in accounting, and was previously employed by the Stamford Police Department as a financial clerk, the chief said.

News

New Canaan High School Celebrates Senior Athletes

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Graduating senior athletes and their families gathered Monday at New Canaan High School for the 36th Annual Varsity Senior Athletes’ Picnic & Athletic Awards. The event, which celebrates the achievements of seniors who participated in a varsity sport during their time at the high school, traditionally is held outdoors at Waveny, but was moved to the NCHS gymnasium this year due to weather concerns. With family members and coaches present, each senior athlete was awarded a plaque in recognition of his or her contribution. A handful of students received special honors, as follows:

Firstly, the Vin Iovino Scholarship Award was granted to field hockey star Mariana Ferreira, diving captain Katie Kushner, and football player Chris White. Named for former NCHS coach Vin Iovino, the scholarship is granted to senior athletes who exemplify the qualities of leadership, loyalty, and humility.