News

‘Cancer Definitely Messed with the Wrong Girls’: Gracie Soap Box Derby Draws Hundreds

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An estimated 300-plus people gathered at New Canaan Country School on Sunday afternoon for an old-fashioned soap box derby in support of children and families facing pediatric cancer. Launched by New Canaan’s Falsetta family when Grace Falsetta was diagnosed with leukemia in middle school (she is cancer-free today), the Gracie Fund for Pediatric Cancer is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children facing life-threatening cancer by supporting the people, programs, and organizations that care for them. On a picture-perfect fall afternoon, the first-ever Gracie Soap Box Derby saw kids race 20-plus cars along a haybale-lined track, cheered on by dozens of families who enjoyed music, bouncy play structure, face-painting, food trucks and community connection. 

“I could not be more excited,” dad Chris Falsetta said moments before the races got underway. “We have such a crowd. We have 20 cars, we have tons of kids.

Government

Parks & Rec To Propose New Fee for Out-of-Towner Use of Lapham Center

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Saying there’s wide support among adults who use Lapham Community Center, recreation officials are proposing a new fee category for nonresidents who use the facility and avail themselves of some programs there. Officially, the one-story building in Waveny Park is set up to serve New Canaan adults, offering a wide range of education courses, health and exercise programs and special events. 

Yet for many years, “there’s been a number of out-of-towners” who also use it, according to Parks & Recreation Director John Howe. “We’re looking at a policy to allow out-of-towners to come to Lapham,” he told members of the Parks & Recreation Commission at their regular meeting, held Oct. 14 at Lapham and via videoconference. Howe continued: “Most likely, there’ll be a yearly fee for an out-of-towner to use, but residents don’t have to pay, and there’d be an extra charge on any program that does cost where they could do that.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a Thurton Drive, reported at 10:25 a.m. Sunday. It was recovered in Wallingford. ***

Early voting starts Monday. Info here. ***

The Town Players of New Canaan presents “Pen Pals,” running this weekend at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny.

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Podcast: New Canaan ‘Community Health & Well-Being’ Survey Is Live Through Oct. 31 

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Lauren Patterson, president and CEO of the New Canaan Community Foundation, about the Behavioral Health Alliance’s 5-minute “Community Health & Well-Being Survey.” The confidential survey runs through Oct. 31—click here to participate. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Bill Oestmann

‘I Enjoyed My Work’: Buildings Superintendent To Retire After 31 Years

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New Canaan’s buildings superintendent, a 31-year employee of the Department of Public Works, is retiring next year. In his highly visible role for the past dozen years, Bill Oestmann has been responsible for the safety and integrity of all town-owned buildings and structures in New Canaan, scheduling, planning and overseeing their maintenance. 

“Time has gone by so fast, but I enjoyed my work and the people here in New Canaan,” said Oestmann, who added that when his March 31 retirement date takes effect he will have worked for the town for 31 years and four months. He started with the town in 1995 as assistant superintendent of the Highway Department, responsible for town vehicles and equipment. Asked about highlights of his career here, Oestmann said he “modernized the fleet and added much needed equipment” during that period. 

“I was also involved with relocating the Highway [Department] to its new and current location,” he said. “I assisted with building repairs and upgrades, and managed FEMA Storm recovery costs.”

In 2012, he took the position of buildings superintendent and soon took on the renovation and expansion of Town Hall during the administration of then-First Selectman Rob Mallozzi.