“It’s the Rams. We’re coming.”
New Canaan High School defeated rival Darien in the Turkey Bowl Thursday, 17-14.
Senior co-captain Jack Conley holds the Joe Sikorski Memorial Trophy high after the 2018 Turkey Bowl, won by New Canaan 17-14 over Darien. Nov. 22, 2018 at Boyle Stadium in Stamford. Credit: Michael Dinan
The game featured two early interceptions by NCHS senior Charlie Cunney, rushing TD by sophomore Christian Sweeney, field goal by sophomore kicker Nicholas Radman and Drew Pyne-to-Wyatt Wilson TD pass and terrific defensive stand by the Rams to effectively close out the game, spoiling Darien’s perfect season. The result means that New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan collects on his $100 charity bet with his Darien counterpart, Jayme Stevenson. He will donate the winnings to the New Canaan Athletic Foundation (a timely gift).
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Police at about 7:47 p.m. Monday charged a 27-year-old Norwalk man for driving with no insurance after stopping him at Jelliff Mill Road and Spring Water Lane for driving an Audi with a license plate registered to a Mazda. He additionally was cited for operating under suspension, misuse of plates and possession fo less than .5 ounces of marijuana.
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The 2018 New Canaan High School Rams football team, after the 2018 Turkey Bowl, won by New Canaan 17-14 over Darien. Nov. 22, 2018 at Boyle Stadium in Stamford. Credit: Michael Dinan
A reminder that the New Canaan Turkey Trot will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25. Also: Town Hall is closed Friday for Thanksgiving weekend.
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Book it: Waveny Adult Day Program is holding a free open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Details here.
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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted 3-0 to approve a request to hire Benjamin Winter as an assistant zoning inspector with the New Canaan Planning & Zoning Department. Winter had worked most recently as a seasonal resource assistant in the Dam Safety Division of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University in Environmental Geography with a minor in GIS. Moynihan and Selectmen Kit Devereaux and Nick Williams voted in favor of the hiring.
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All are invited as a New Canaan Menorah is lit the first evening of Hanukkah-The Festival of Lights, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. This year, the eight days of Hanukkah start that evening and run through Dec. 9. “The first night is special, as clergy from Temple Shalom in Norwalk will lead prayers and songs,” organizers say. “Volunteer families light the candles and lead the singing on the following seven nights at 6 p.m.” If your family would like to volunteer to light the menorah for a night, please contact Jonathan Levine at 203-247-7820 or JonBoginLevine@aol.com.
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Here’s information on now to support the fabulous New Canaan Land Trust by becoming a member.
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Moynihan during a media briefing in his office at Town Hall Wednesday reiterated his commitment to seeing that the ‘Mead Park Brick Barn’ on Richmond Hill Road is demolished. He said he hadn’t read a proposed lease for the structure, drawn up by the New Canaan Preservation Alliance, and that the organization is “playing out the string on something that they know is over.” Noting that both the Planning & Zoning and Parks & Recreation Commissions recently voted unanimously to abandon and raze the structure, respectively, Moynihan said, “The town bodies have spoken. It is crazy to be re-litigating something that has been decided.”
STAR clients enjoying a Thanksgiving meal. Contributed
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A heartwarming note on this cold holiday weekend: New Canaan’s Polly and John Lowman once again hosted a Thanksgiving feast for locals with developmental disabilities who are unable to be with family and friends. The Lowmans have been hosting STAR clients for 17 years, and the tradition outgrew their own home a number of years ago. Now they host the celebration, with games and karaoke, at Martin House on the Norwalk waterfront.
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Text ‘06840’ to 44321 to support New Canaan in this year’s “Most Generous Town” competition between New Canaan and Darien. Donations that come in now through “Giving Tuesday” on Nov. 27—to the New Canaan Community Foundation and Darien Community Fund—will count toward the tallies. The fundraising effort is organized in part by the NCCF, with thanks to Karl Chevrolet. Other events include “sip & shop” at J McLaughlin on Elm street from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, and “guest bartending night” at Gates Restaurant and Bar from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, when all proceeds will go to the “Most Generous Town” competition. (I’ll be one of the guest bartenders!)
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New Canaan Police during Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting reported that year-over-year noise/nuisance calls are down year-over-year, from 123 in 2017 to 91 in 2018. Motor vehicle accidents with property damage are up, from 338 to 389 over the same period, while ID thefts are up to 49, compared to 19 at this time lsat year.
L-R: Future 5 Executive Director Rachel Dewey, Peterson Alcinot, Melanie Brito, Bankwell AVP Peter Hermance, Bankwell SVP Rob Mallozzi and Future 5 Founder Clif McFeely.
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Bankwell has donated $5,000 to Future 5 and will sponsor the Future 5 holiday party at the Ferguson Library on Dec. 19, when students, alumni, coaches and supporters will come together to celebrate the holidays and kick off Future 5’s 10th Anniversary.
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The selectmen on Tuesday voted 3-0 to appoint Dr. Marie Antoinette Handler as the town’s director of behavioral health. She works as assistant medical director at Silver Hill Hospital.
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This in from Sarah Kennedy, a town resident who graduated from NCHS in 2011: Her organization, Inspirica, which works to break the cycle of homelessness, each year collects 6,000 gifts for nearly 3,000 needy children in Connecticut. Inspirica still has 800 kids to sponsor as part of its Holiday Gift Collection initiative. More details can be found here and wish cards may be requested here.
L-R: Dylan Antonioli, Carmela Caratozzolo, Oliver Richardson, Kate Dalia, Liz McKay, Janet Prior, Stacey Taylor, Kyle Gerardi and Mike Donnelly. Not pictured: Peter Ayoub, Andrew Mbabaali, Grayson Smith, Meghan Kloud, Debbie Fasano.
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Congratulations to the New Canaan Emergency Medical Services’ Winter 2019 EMT Class. The future active EMTs, currently probationary members, are working toward gaining experience to run calls independently as Crew Chiefs. To those looking to serve your community and join a fun and active group of volunteers: NCEMS is currently looking for new members and a winter EMT class is open for sign up now. Contact membership@newcanaanems.org or visit the organization’s website.
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Finally, the New Canaan Newcomers Club is kicking off a ‘Meet a Merchant’ social media series highlighting local businesses in an effort to keep shopping local. Created in cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce, the series will highlight one local business each week along with their ‘hot list’ or fun facts that they’d like the public to know about, organizers say. Local merchants interesting in participating should email info@newcanaannewcomers.com and follow the Newcomers Club on Instagram @newcanaannewcomers.