New Canaan Police at 11:43 a.m. on Jan. 6 received a report of a purse that had been stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the Pride’s Crossing condo complex on Elm Street
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The Parks & Recreation Commission during its regular meeting Wednesday voted 10-0 in favor of a new sign to be installed at the Mead Park Playground. Monica Capela, who co-founded the Friends of Mead Park Playground with Allyson Mahoney, noted during the meeting that New Canaan’s late, longtime Recreation Director, Steve Benko, will receive special recognition on the sign as he was so helpful in their project to improve the popular playground, working on it “weekends, Saturdays, it didn’t really matter,” she said. “Steve Benko, of course, has a place in our hearts for all of the time that he put into this project.” The tribute on the sign itself will read: “A debt of gratitude for the late Steve Benko, whose tireless support for our mission was both meaningful and inspiring.”
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Police are investigating the theft of an unlocked vehicle reported stolen at 9:13 a.m. on Jan. 8 from a Woodridge Circle home.
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There’s a GoFundMe page up for the victim in the near-fatal Dec. 28 vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Old Stamford Road, 25-year-old Zachary Devine. A volunteer firefighter and West Redding resident, he is related to beloved late New Canaan Public Schools teacher Kelly Devine, whose father is a cousin to Zachary’s family. He has already gone multiple back-to-back leg operations and life goals of being a “mechanic, a firefighter and an outdoorsman will be a challenge,” the GFM page said. Here’s more information on Zachary as well as how to donate to the cause, and a video about him:
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Parks & Recreation Director John Howe reported during the Commission meeting Wednesday that tickets to the department’s Feb. 5 “Father-Daughter Dance” at Waveny House sold out in just 18 hours. “We are happy about that,” Howe said.
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Please note two events planned for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 16:
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service (10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church)
- Infinite Hope: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Building Activity (2 to 4 p.m. in the Wagner Room at the New Canaan YMCA)
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Police recovered a vehicle, parked and unoccupied in New Canaan, that had been reported stolen at 8:42 a.m. on Jan. 8 from an Oenoke Ridge home. It had been left unlocked with the keys inside. The police investigation into the theft is active.
Source: https://russfirlik.com/about-the-book-1
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South School’s former principal, Russ Firlik, has published a book titled “Travel and Go: Two Seniors and Year of Slow Travel on a Budget,” is a memoir and travelogue detailing Firlik’s post-retirement experiences in Rome, Florence and Paris with his wife.
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Carl Mason is stepping down from Parks & Rec after taking a new job, he said during Wednesday’s Commission meeting. Chair George Benington said, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Carl for the great work that he’s done for many years on the Commission and he will be missed.” Mason said, “It’s been fantastic being on the Commission.”
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The Town Players of New Canaan presents “Ordinary People,” showing Feb. 17 to March 5 at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny. Ticket info here (their shows sell out).
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Finally, here are more worthwhile local happenings (add your event to the Community Calendar and we’ll share it with New Canaan):
- Chamber’s Budd Speaks to Men’s Club Friday (January 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am)
- iPhone Photography Workshop At The Carriage Barn (January 14 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm)
- Kids Menu: The Substances Available To Our Kids These Days And The Effects On Their Lives (January 19 @ 7:00 pm)
- The Romance and History of the Hooked Rug (January 25 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)