Business

‘The Waveny Polo Bar & Grill’ Opens on Pine Street

By |

The owners of the popular Spiga restaurant in downtown New Canaan have opened a new eatery, The Waveny Polo Bar & Grill, on Pine Street. Located in the former South End space, The Waveny soft-opened last week and the Racanelli Restaurant Group is “feeling great,” according to principal Gino Racanelli. “We’re doing very well,” Racanelli told NewCanaanite.com one afternoon this week. “It’s tough in the beginning of any business, especially a restaurant. We created something we feel is perfect for New Canaan.

Ann Cheney

New Canaan Holiday Shopping: Walter Stewart’s Market [Q&A]

By |

For today’s installment in our local holiday shopping series, we spoke to Ann Cheney, store manager at Walter Stewart’s Market. (Note that the deadline for ordering for the holidays from the Stewart’s meat department is 12 p.m. Thursday and the catering department cut-off is 3 p.m. Thursday.)

Here’s a transcription of our conversation. 

***

New Canaanite: What’s it been like this holiday shopping season here at Stewart’s? Ann Cheney: It’s been very busy. Our customers are looking forward to the holiday with great anticipation, and preparing their homes for arriving family members. And we’re ready. 

What have been some of the special items or holiday-related items that have been moving well? 

The main event is, I think, the focal point when you’re starting to plan for the holiday.

News

PHOTOS: New Canaan Police Station Renovation Going ‘Very Well’

By |

The $20 million renovation of the New Canaan Police Station on South Avenue—about $29 million with soft costs such as insurance and creating a temporary police headquarters downtown—is on time and budget, officials say. Speaking from the bustling site on a rainy morning last week, Scott Tomkins, project manager with Turner Construction, told NewCanaanite.com during a tour that the work is going well and “we’re in good shape here.”

“We’ve got good things going on,” Tompkins said. “The main objective here is to get into the finishing stages. We’ve really now got to start moving ourselves out of the building so that the finish trades can come and do their work so that we can develop a quality project at the end.”

Town officials have discussed the need to renovate the Police Department at 167 South Ave. for many years.

Footer Featured Widget

NCFD Puts Out Fire Inside West School Late Monday [UPDATED]

By |

Firefighters late Monday put out a blaze inside West School. 

Alerted by a 10 p.m. fire alarm originating from the Ponus Ridge elementary school, the New Canaan Fire Department found that the fire was contained in an art room, officials say. “New Canaan firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire and stop any fire extension from the room of origin,” the department said in a press release. “The fire originated in the kiln room. Fire damage was limited to art supplies and furniture in the room. This was attributed to the properly closed door to the kiln.

Around Town

A History of Christmas Caroling at God’s Acre

By |

Caroling at God’s Acre for Christmas is one of New Canaan’s most cherished events of the year, a nostalgic, Rockwellian gathering that brings the community together unlike any other celebration. A sacred and treasured tradition, the Christmas Eve gathering distinguishes New Canaan from surrounding towns. Held on the plot of land above which the Congregational Church was built—the institution upon which the town was founded—the caroling sees scores of New Canaanites descend each year on what literally is hallowed ground, as it is believed many of New Canaan’s settlers are still buried at God’s Acre. But how did it start, and when? The first documented instance of caroling at God’s Acre occurred on Christmas Eve in 1916, according to historian Mary Louise King’s book Portrait of New Canaan, published by the New Canaan Historical Society.