Saying it’s owed more than $19,000 for work and materials related to a Sturbridge Hill Road home-building project that’s nearing completion, a Meriden-based lumber company in February placed a mechanic’s lien against the construction company owned by Fotis Dulos, according to records on file in the Town Clerk’s office.
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Pet Pantry Warehouse raised $15,000 at the 10th Annual New Canaan Dog Days event last month, funds that will be divided equally between beneficiary organizations Adopt-a-Dog and the New Canaan Nature Center. “We’re really pleased with this year’s event,” Pet Pantry Executive Vice President Adam Jacobson said. His company, which includes a retail store on Grove Street in New Canaan, has donated more than $45,000 to pet rescue groups through the event.
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The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Robin Bates Mason, Sue Holland, Maria Weingarten and Pat Wood to the Family Fourth Committee.
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Congratulations to the following New Canaanites who graduated May 31 from King School (here’s a full matriculation list):
- Emily Barnard (Boston University)
- Mallory Ehlers (Brown University)
- Alexander Kearns (Stanford University)
- Joshua Palmer (Purdue University)
- Anna Patten (Colby College)
Ehlers, one of three class valedictorians, said in her commencement speech: “In college, I will look for professors who mirror the teachers I had at King. Teachers who are so passionate about a topic that they sparked that same interest in their students, or helped them to develop an interest they never knew they had before.”
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New Canaan Police at 1:26 a.m. Wednesday arrested a 25-year-old Danbury man and charged him with second-degree failure to appear. He was stopped at Canoe Hill and Smith Ridge Roads after an officer on patrol clocked him at 63 mph in a 40 mph zone on Route 123, police said. During the stop, police found that a paperless re-arrest warrant had been issued in connection with a July 2017 incident in Monroe where he’d been charged with driving while under suspension and failure to maintain a proper lane. This time, he was additionally ticketed for speeding.
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Congratulations to New Canaan’s Kishauna Soljour, who last month “became the first black woman to earn a PhD in history from Syracuse University,” according to The Black Detour. Soljour is a 2009 graduate of King School, where she was a Nuzzo’s Scholar and won the Alumni Award.
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A Center School Celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at the New Canaan Historical Society. For more information, contact Mary-Ellen McDonald at centerschool@yahoo.com. “The idea started one night at dinner when Hazel and Mike Hobbs, Gail and Bailey Stewart and Bill and I were talking about Center School and the movie Hazel made ‘Center In On Kids,’ ” McDonald wrote. “Hazel and Bailey have both been on the Board of Governors of the Historical Society and I worked years ago with Bev Greenberg on the Center archives there. We thought it would be fun to gather as many Center School alums —students, parents and faculty—as possible to reminisce and watch the movie and enjoy the memorabilia.”
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The selectmen on Tuesday approved the hiring of Brista Pental as an accountant in the New Canaan Finance Department.
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The New Canaan Community Foundation’s 2019 Community Impact Award winner, Anna Meli, has chosen LiveGirl as the recipient for this year’s $500 grant.
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New Canaan is listed as one of the “15 Best Small Towns To Visit in 2019,” according to an article published on smithsonian.com.
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The selectmen approved at $10,000 contract with Hutchinson Tree Care for the following tree pruning and removal work:
- Triangle at North Bald Hill Road: remove dead cherry tree
- 71 Lantern Ridge Road: remove dead red maple and ash trees, grind stumps
- Corner of Lukes Wood and Oenoke Ridge Roads: remove dead ash tree, grind stump
- South of 274 Mill Road: remove decayed sugar maple
- 39 Juniper Road: remove two dead ash trees, grind stumps
- 66 Fieldcrest Road: remove dead ash tree, grind stump
- 117 Marshall Ridge Road: remove two dying Norway maples, grind stumps
- 151 Summer St.: remove leaning Norway maple
- End of Parish Road North: remove dead spruce tree, grind stump
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Bankwell has donated $7,500 to support the Cathy Kangas Foundation in bringing awareness to the homeless pets in our community and finding them their “furever” homes. Kangas, a town resident and CEO of PRAI Beauty, created “Free the Shelters” events that take place throughout the nation, where her foundation covers all adoption fees at shelters. The next one will be held over Father’s Day weekend in June. The participating shelters are: Bridgeport Animal Control, Stamford Animal Control and PAWS-Norwalk.
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New Canaan’s United Methodist Preschool or “UMPS” recently held a retirement luncheon to celebrate the career of Pauline Mooney. The luncheon, which was hosted at the home of former UMPS parent, Kelly Ratner, was well attended by current and former teachers and parents. For the past 33 years, Mooney has been a loving, dedicated preschool teacher at UMPS. Her presence and enthusiasm for nurturing young children will be missed by all.
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Finally, the Board of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Awards Luncheon at 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at Pesca Restaurant.
This year’s recipients are:
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Business of the Year will be presented to Bankwell. Bankwell not only supports and celebrates the business community but is also committed to supporting the non-profits and service organizations that make New Canaan unique.
- Golden Shovel Award will be presented to the New Canaan Land Trust and the Nature Center for the GreenLink Program. Opened on Earth Day 2018, the GreenLink is New Canaan’s newest walking trail. The GreenLink traverses three land trust properties and easements via a series of raised walkways and bridges and enables visitors to enjoy the beauty and serenity of wetlands and woodlands protected by the Land Trust.
- Volunteer of the Year award will be presented to the Fourth of July Committee. 2019 will be the 39th Annual Fireworks in Waveny which is a great tradition for all to enjoy. Much planning goes into creating an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display.
Anyone wishing to join the Chamber in celebrating the hard work of these individuals can sign up here.