Around Town

‘A Full Rich Experience’: Conservancy Reviews History of Waveny Park, Future Plans

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Perhaps the most important step taken by the last family to own privately what is today known as Waveny Park was in hiring the renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm to design its grounds and gardens, a local expert said Wednesday. Led by the Brooklyn-born founder of Texaco Oil Company, the Lapham family not only built Waveny House but oversaw creation of the carefully cultivated area immediately around it, including the walled garden, according to Keith Simpson, a New Canaan-based landscape architect. Yet since New Canaan acquired the property in 1967, its main house, outbuildings and grounds all have needed regular repair and upkeep, such as when Simpson and the Garden Club restored the walled garden east of the prominent brick structure in 1982. “But it’s only a small area,” Simpson told more than 100 listeners gathered in the Visitors Center at the New Canaan Nature Center for an hour-long talk on the cherished public park. “More places need attention.

Sports

FCSL Summer Swimming Round-Up: Country Club of New Canaan and New Canaan Field Club

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Featuring the perfect blend of competitiveness and fun, the Fairfield County Swim League – which includes swimmers from under age 8 to age 17 – is a gem of the summer. Both the Country Club of New Canaan and the New Canaan Field Club recently wrapped up their dual meet seasons and are preparing for divisionals and county championships. With a 1-4 record in Division 4, Country Club of New Canaan’s first year head coach Eileen Loveless said the amount of young swimmers – specifically in the age 8 to 10 and underage groups – shows that they are “starting to build our team back up again.”

Because the team is building from these young age groups, Loveless says she enjoys seeing the growth of her swimmers over the course of the season. Following a tough first loss to Greenwich Water Club, Loveless noted extremely “positive meet experiences” with both Shorehaven and Paterson Clubs because they were competitive, and the progress of CCNC swimmers was evident in the abundance of best times. “They were the most exciting meets for us because it’s where Country Club of New Canaan really rallied our spirit, where our team came together and our joy and enthusiasm seemed to reach its height,” Loveless said.

Business

New Canaan Family’s ‘Beachmate’ Business Finds Success in First Summer

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For locals Jeff and Beatrice Mellick, the sustained heat of late June and July has delivered more than drowsiness, discomfort and thirst. The founders of Beachmate say the “dog days” have been advantageous for the growth of their young company, now in the midst of its first summer. With predominantly online sales of their all-in-one beach system for families, the Mellicks say they are building a following through social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and “Mommy Bloggers.” Seventy percent of sales are local to the tristate area, according to Jeff Mellick, a 1993 New Canaan High School graduate—with the balance scattered across the nation. Two of the most popular products are Beachmate itself ($98.50) and the Turkish Towels ($38), he said.

Business

New Canaan Businesses “Not Anxious” About SoNo Collection, Darien Redevelopment Competition

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With the approved SoNo Collection mall in Norwalk and the proposed Corbin/Post Road redevelopment in Darien, the immediate area around New Canaan will see an influx of new retail shops during the next two to three years. These projects spark the question, what impact will these new stores have on local New Canaan businesses? Chamber of Commerce Marketing Associate Laura Budd said the Chamber is looking positively at the increased competition. “We like it that other areas close to us are upping their game in terms of shopping,” Budd said. “We believe it makes southwestern Connecticut and our town more of a destination for shoppers.”

Located just off I-95, the million-square-foot SoNo Collection will bring Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and 80 to 100 smaller retailers to Norwalk, according to The Hour.