Around Town

‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan’ Set for May 16 [Q&A]

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Concerned that divisive national politics are infiltrating New Canaan, community leaders including local clergy are calling for residents to work toward a clearer, fuller understanding of each other. 

On the morning of Saturday, May 16, a new effort in town—a free workshop titled ‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan: A Community Conversation Across Political Differences’—will launch at Lapham Center (participation is limited, register here). We sat down with two representatives from The Congregational Church of New Canaan who helped spearhead the gathering—the Rev. Stephen Chapin Garner, senior minister, and Director of Spiritual Formation Marianna Kilbride—to get some background and details on ‘Let’s Talk, New Canaan’ (more info here). Here’s a transcript of our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Where did this effort that you are calling ‘Let’s Talk New Canaan’—where did it come from? The Rev. Chapin Garner: I think it was during the last election cycle in town, we heard from our own church members, community members, that the level of discourse was a little bit vitriolic.

Government

Elevator at Waveny House Now Projected for Late-Summer Use

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Though the town is trying to make the work site of a new elevator going in at Waveny House as inconspicuous as possible, the apparatus itself won’t be ready for use until late-summer, several months into the wedding season, according to new projections. The first wedding at Waveny was scheduled for Saturday, April 18, and while the elevator next to the grand staircase in the main hall originally was supposed to be done April 1, “we are now looking at the end of July, the latest mid-August,” according to Parks & Recreation Director John Howe. “So we’re going to be going through the whole spring wedding season where they’re going to be able to work during the week and then the whole place needs to be cleaned up and then they need to be out of there,” Howe told members of the Parks & Recreation Commission at their April 15 meeting, held at Lapham Center and via videoconference. 

“The main thing of note for this group [Parks & Rec] is: That means we’ve had to cancel almost all meetings, events during the week so they can work. So any community organization that was planning to have a meeting there et cetera, we’ve had the fun task of having to call them and say, ‘Listen we can’t accommodate you.’ ”

The comments came during Howe’s regular update to the Commission. 

Discussed for nearly a decade by municipal officials, the elevator had once appeared to be a priority for the town, which even created a Waveny House Renovation Advisory Committee to help plan for it. The Committee’s meeting minutes from October 2018 called for formal planning for the elevator to commence the following month for an early-2020 project completion.

News

Clearview Lane Colonial Sells for $3.7 Million

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The following property transfer(s) were recorded recently in the Town Clerk’s office. For more information about each property from the assessor, click on the street address. To get the history of a New Canaan street name, click here. ***

April 8

2 Wahackme Lane

$2,635,000
The Chi & Quynhchi Vanlang Living Trust to Talin Ghazarian

24 Clearview Lane

$3.7 million
Nancy Jean Groskopf, administrator, to James Doyle

April 7

12 Field Crest Road

$2.2 million
Elizabeth Barron to Maureen Walsh

April 6

276 Greenley Road

$5.6 million
Michael McGavick to Robert Eldridge

42 Hillcrest Road

$4,855,000
Mark Marshall to Mark Hollyhead

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police at 11:06 a.m. Monday received a report of vandalism to a building on reservoir property on Oenoke Ridge. The building’s door was damaged, police have no suspects. ***

The annual Kentucky Derby Party benefitting The Inn will be held at the Waveny LifeCare Network facility on Oenoke Ridge at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. Tickets here. ***

Congratulations to New Canaan’s Bridgy Nussbaum on being invited to MLB’s Trailblazer Series, a premier youth girls baseball development program taking place this weekend in Vero Beach, Fla.:

 

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A post shared by New Canaan Softball (@newcanaansb)

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The Friends of Irwin Park’s “Dink for Daffodils” pickleball fundraiser is set for April 24 at the Country Club of New Canaan.

Government

‘Snow Banks Obscured Any Signage’: Parking Ticket Appeals

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The New Canaan Parking Bureau recently received the following appeals letters from ticketed motorists. The Parking Commission adjudicates appeals. ***

“I parked at the Park Street Lot around noon time because I clearly remembered all the communication on new parking rules said that Park Street Lot allows 3 hour free parking. I did not notice the signs on the side regarding the permit. I checked the website and the map, there is no place on the map nor in the legend mentioning permit requirements.