Around Town

‘Rays of Sunshine’: Norwalk, New Canaan Student-Athletes Earn Kelly Devine Awards

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College-bound seniors from Norwalk and New Canaan High Schools have earned awards created to honor the memory of a recently deceased teacher and swim coach beloved by both communities. Kelly Devine, Norwalk native and cherished New Canaan teacher, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness in April 2016. She had graduated from Norwalk High School in 1997, where she was captain of the girls’ swim team and ranked fourth in her class. Kelly obtained her bachelor’s degree in English and education from the College of William and Mary. Always proud to be from Norwalk, she added a new element to her identity over the 13 years that followed: She became a teacher infinitely proud of her students and the work communities at Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School.

Around Town

‘Not Your Average Librarian’: Kayla Del Biondo Joins New Canaan Library Team

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New Canaan Library is one of the few town venues where each age group can find its niche. It holds a special place in many of New Canaan hearts and our newest librarian, Kayla Del Biondo, hopes it will do the same for her. Del Biondo graduated from Syracuse University last month with a master’s degree in Library Information, or an ‘MSLI.’

“When I was looking for a job, I applied to a little bit of everything,” Del Biondo said. “But what attracted me here was the digital services piece.”

Since her internship at the West Point Military Academy library where she helped form their digital collections of archived newspapers, she has taken interest to digital work. “What’s really cool about digital collections is that people from all over the country or world can access their information,” Del Biondo said.

Faces of New Canaan

Faces of New Canaan: Hadley Pollet

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Hadley Pollet, a 1988 New Canaan High School graduate, moved back to town one year ago after growing up here (and attending the great, bygone Center School). She returned to New Canaan after attending NYU, moving to Boston, attending RISD and launching her own fashion line and business. A success story about an entrepreneur-and-artist following her talents and doing what she loves, Pollet in recent years has become involved with LiveGirl, the locally founded girl empowerment organization, as an inspirational speaker. She and much of her line are the central figures of a May 12 LiveGirl “FemPowered Benefit” at the Carriage Barn Arts Center. In this installment of “Faces of New Canaan,” we talk to Pollet about growing up here, her singular career arc, returning to New Canaan and the LiveGirl benefit (see transcription below).

Local People

Street Style: DIY Edition

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With summer in full swing, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of athletic shorts and tank tops. Kelly Adams of Ridgefield, who graduated from St. Luke’s this past spring, knows how to look stylish without sacrificing the comfort of those pieces. NewCanaanite: What are you wearing today? Kelly: I just put on an off-the-shoulder top from Brandy Melville in navy, which has been my favorite color to wear. The shorts are actually old jeans that my friend found at Goodwill and cut into shorts.

Around Town

‘A Tough Struggle’: With Community’s Help, Family To Throw Benefit Concert for New Canaan Woman with ALS

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About five years ago, Ann Depuy was close to earning her master’s degree in library science, happily married with two kids, when she began struggling to pronounce certain words. Soon, she was having trouble swallowing. Within one year, the 64-year-old New Canaan resident received a frightening diagnosis: progressive bulbar palsy. A form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, it attacks the nerves in the head and neck areas before affecting the rest of the body. In the years since, Depuy has lost the ability to speak and eat with her mouth, as well as almost all motor function, according to her husband, Warner.