Government

‘You Do the Best You Can’: Town Addresses Waveny Fireworks Decision

By |

The Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. The town’s highest elected official this week addressed the widely discussed decision to proceed with the July 4 fireworks at Waveny Park, saying the storm that cut the event short and sent thousands of attendees scrambling was not foreseeable when the go-ahead was given. First Selectman Dionna Carlson addressed the controversy at the Board of Selectmen’s regular meeting at Town Hall, where she said she’s received significant feedback from residents upset about the call. 

“I’m hearing lots of Monday morning quarterbacking on the call,” Carlson said. “I think it’s important for people to understand the decision-making process.” The show, she explained, had to be approved before the town’s fireworks provider crossed the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey into New York on Friday evening.

Around Town

‘Matilda’ Opens July 10 at Summer Theatre of New Canaan: Q&A with Melody Libonati

By |

The Summer Theatre of New Canaan is putting on “Matilda” this summer, running July 10 through 26 at New Canaan High School. We sat down with the nonprofit organization’s founder and artistic director, Melody Libonati, to talk about the show, cast and what makes this production special. Here’s a transcription of our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Tell us a little bit about the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. How long have you been putting on shows here and how did it get started?

Around Town

New Canaan Merchants Launch ‘Shop Summer Nights’ Every Thursday Through Labor Day

By |

The Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. A group of downtown New Canaan merchants is keeping their doors open late every Thursday this summer, hoping to draw shoppers into town during the evening hours under a new initiative. “Shop Summer Nights” is organized through the newly formed Shop New Canaan Association, more than one dozen independent retailers that began meeting in late May. Participating stores stay open from 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday, with a different theme each week. Parking is free after 5 p.m.

Carl Franco, owner of Franco’s Wine Merchants on Elm Street and one of the participants, said the idea came from a recurring conversation with customers.

Around Town

Waveny Fireworks Return July 4 with New ‘Launch Site’ and ‘Sensory Zone’ for the U.S. 250th

By |

The Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. New Canaan’s Fourth of July fireworks, set for this Saturday at Waveny, are getting two changes this year, officials say: a relocated “launch site” meant to ease post-show traffic, and a new Sensory Zone for attendees sensitive to the noise. Parks & Recreation Commission member David Shea said organizers are “very happy with the improvements we’re doing, which is moving the location of the fireworks so that the South Lapham Road egress is going to be open, so people getting out will be faster. The town is also rolling out a new traffic notification system tied to this year’s entrance passes, he said,” Shea told fellow members of the appointed body during their June 10 meeting at Lapham Center. “The next [new feature] is the usage of the notification system, where all entrance passes sold will have a QR code on them to receive traffic notifications,” Shea said.