Around Town

NCCF Awards More Than $1.25 Million in Grants

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The New Canaan Community Foundation on Monday announced that it’s awarding more than $1.25 million in grants this year—a total that the nonprofit organization believes is a record high. Each year, the NCCF convenes “grant review teams” composed of community members and leaders to assess requests for funding among local and area nonprofits. On Monday, the NCCF held its Grant Awards Coffee at New Canaan Library. There, the organization shared that it is awarding grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to nonprofits that cover a wide range of human services and other needs, including ABC New Canaan, The Glass House, New Canaan CARES and Waveny Park Conservancy. The NCCF is “grateful to all of the donors that supported our work this year,” NCCF President and CEO Lauren Patterson told NewCanaanite.com during the coffee.

Around Town

‘Come In and Enjoy’: Public Welcome to Spectacular Lee Garden on Chichester Road

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A vast and unique garden in New Canaan that’s open to the public recently finished its final bloom, inviting visitors to a spectacular experience. Located off of Chichester Road, the New Canaan Beautification League’s Lee Garden is a publicly accessible place for residents to enjoy in the warm weather. The garden was founded after George Lee moved to New Canaan in the 1940s, longtime NCBL member Faith Kerchoff said. “Goerge asked if he could leave it to us, and we said ‘yes,’ ” Kerchoff said. “So we’ve had the garden since 1978.”

Several features of the Lee Garden are most enjoyable in the summer, following the widely anticipated azalea bloom within, Kerchoff said.

News

‘Stay Away from Wildlife’: Animal Control Issues Warning as Summer Nears

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As summer nears, New Canaan residents should be aware of wildlife that emerges in the warmer weather, officials say. 

Officer Sean Godejohn, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section, noted that the town has “coyotes, bobcats, deer and the occasional bear.” “Those animals should be reported to my office if seen,” Godejohn said. According to the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, pet owners should be aware of coyotes as they can be not only a danger to children, but also dogs and cats. Residents should take precautions, Godejohn said. “Stay away from wildlife,” he said.

Board of Selectmen

Town To Replace Southwood Drive Sidewalks

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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a contract with a Rocky Hill-based company to replace the sidewalk on Southwood Drive. Together with Southwood, neighborhoods scheduled for new sidewalks include Heritage Hill, East Avenue and South Avenue, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “We’ll be looking for a grant on East Avenue,” Mann told the selectmen during their meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “That’s really where we’re dialing it in.”
The sidewalks will be fully concrete, apart from the downtown area, and won’t require granite curbing, he said. Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll said, “Sidewalks are expensive.

Government

Town Hires 103 Part-Time Summer Workers

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The Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting voted in favor of hiring more than 100 part-time employees for the 2026 summer recreation season. Parks & Recreation Director John Howe told the elected body at its May 19 meeting that he is seeking to hire 103 this summer, as the town does each year, to help operate a wide range of municipal facilities, including revenue-generating ventures such as the pool at Waveny and camps. “103 kids,” Howe said at the Board of Selectmen meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “This is anything from lifeguards for the Steve Benko Pool to supervisors to summer camp counselors and even umpires. It’s all our seasonal help for the summer.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted in favor of the request.