Around Town

‘She Is the Queen Bee’: Longtime Resident Jeanne Rozel To Leave New Canaan at Month’s End

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A longtime New Canaan resident who has been deeply involved in community organizations through her 46 years here is moving out-of-state this summer. 

Jeanne Rozel, a professional Realtor known to many for her involvement with the Merrie Bee Cabin and Democratic Town Committee, as well as years of service on the Board of Assessment Appeals and Zoning Board of Appeals, is moving back to her native Indiana at month’s end to be near her siblings. “It’s very hard to leave,” she told NewCanaanite.com. “Some things come up and it makes me cry. It’s hard to leave, I’ve enjoyed it so much and the people are so nice. Everywhere I look are friends I’m going to miss that I cannot replace.

Jim McLaughlin

Police Commission Votes 2-1 To Widen Sections of Sidewalk on Elm Street

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Municipal officials at a recent meeting voted in favor of a proposal to widen parts of the sidewalk along the one-way stretch of Elm Street downtown. The Police Commission at May 19 meeting reviewed a proposal to widen sidewalks at Elm and South Avenue, as well as along the north side of Elm Street between South and The Playhouse. Plans also call for a sidewalk “bump-out” at the crosswalk in front of the Bank of America building and converting six parking spaces on Elm into 15-minute spots, officials have said. Public Works Director Tiger Mann said the widened sidewalks would help restaurants accommodate outdoor dining and allow for expanded retail space. “In this day and age, the majority of people want to come downtown, that’s one of the reasons why New Canaan is so successful, we have a vibrant downtown,” he told members of the Commission at their regular meeting, held via videoconference. 

He continued, “It’s the walkability thereof that brought to the forefront.

Business

New Canaan Music Opens Second Store in Newport, R.I.

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An established New Canaan business has opened a second location in Rhode Island. New Canaan Music, which sells and rents out instruments and offers music lessons, opened its Newport, R.I. store on Saturday, according to owner and town resident Phil Williams.

“Newport New Canaan Music” is Williams’s first location outside of New Canaan. 

“I think we’ve got a pretty good formula and I wanted to broaden [the company] a little bit,” Williams told NewCanaanite.com. 

“I’m feeling really good about it,” he added. Asked why he chose to open a shop there, Williams said, “It’s a great little town.”

“There’s a big music community there and no music store,” he said. New Canaan Music is a membership business of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. Williams, a Planning & Zoning Commission member, is a former member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Allyson Halm

Animal Control Reminds Dog Owners to License Pets as Deadline Nears

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Town officials are urging dog-owners to renew their pets’ licenses as a June 30 deadline approaches. Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm said she wants people to know “how important [licensing your dog] is.” 

“Follow the rules, follow the laws,” she said. 

Dogs are property under state law, and licenses must be renewed by July 1. Residents should obtain and renew dog licenses through the Town Clerk’s Office (more information here). 

Town Clerk Claudia Weber said many local dog owners currently “are having difficulty licensing their dogs online due to a computer glitch with the software program.” “We’ve been getting lots of emails and calls about this,” she said. “We are working diligently to correct the problem, and hope to have it resolved in another 24-48 hours.

Around Town

NCHS Seniors Launch ‘Bussey’s Bomb Squad’ Merchandise Store Online

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A group of New Canaan High School seniors participating now in an internship program have designed and produced merchandise promoting fans of Rams sports teams. 

Ryan Caione, Colin Mennitt, Jack O’Donnell, Cameron Wheeler, and Callum Wood also designed a web page selling Bussey’s Bomb Squad T-shirts and hoodies. The commercial printer hosting the students, Norwalk-based Dye Hard is a digital printing, engraving and logistics company. 

Mennitt, a leader of Bussey’s, said he and his fellow interns conceived of the project themselves. “It was the first day and we were meeting, discussing ideas of what we should do for our entire project,” Mennitt told NewCanaanite.com. “Someone said ‘Bussey’s merch’ and we all immediately jumped on it.”

He continued, “We kind of stuck with that.”

The interns came out with two hooded sweatshirt designs and one T-shirt design featuring the familiar NCHS Ram mascot.  

Dye Hard owner Sean Calvillo said that the interns launched their own online apparel store. According to the site, orders will be accepted through June 11 and will be reduced in price if ordered in bulk.