Did You Hear … ?

New Canaan Police are investigating a report of vandalism on Marshall Ridge Road—a mailbox struck by a vehicle, complaint received at 4:37 p.m. on March 10.

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Happy 15th Birthday to Ella Konspore (March 17)! Wishing all the best to the New Canaan High School freshman, part of the team at Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee on Pine Street. 

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The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan will welcome Miroslav Volf as guest preacher and adult forum speaker, discussing his book “Life Worth Living” on Sunday, March 19 (10 a.m. worship service, 11:30 a.m. forum).

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The New Canaan Recreation Department is seeking lifeguards to work this summer at the Steve Benko Pool in Waveny, officials say. Lifeguards must be 15-and-a-half years old, according to Rec staff members at Wednesday’s meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission. Parks & Rec Director John Howe said the department is concerned about getting enough lifeguards for the pool because not all of last year’s lifeguards are returning this summer. Here’s a link to the town website’s Rec Department job application page.

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“Lent on God’s Acre”—the Congregational Church of New Canaan welcomes all to join (8 a.m. in the chapel, 10 a.m. in the Meeting House and Church School at 10 a.m.).

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We’re hearing that First Selectman Kevin Moynihan’s assertion during the March 7 Board of Selectmen meeting—that a nominee for the town’s Audit Committee “has all the support of all members” of that appointed body—was a falsehood.

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Congratulations to founder Marc Vandenhoeck and consulting architect Michele Rudolph of Riverside Design + Build, for winning the prestigious homebuilding industry award, the HOBI Award, for “Best Primary Bath,” “Best Entryway” and “Spec House Of The Year” for their New Canaan home on Oenoke Ridge.

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The Ethics Board convened a special meeting Monday night at Town Hall, holding an Executive Session—meeting out of the public eye, as permitted under state sunshine laws—to discuss a newly filed complaint.

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The NCHS Scholarship Foundation is hosting its third annual NC Color Drop at 10 a.m. on March 25. Buy a ball for $25 to support the fundraiser—there are some terrific grand prizes. Details here.

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The Stamford Therapeutic Consortium is running a Lyme Disease vaccine study for kids and teens. Those interested in learning more and applying to participate in the study can find more information here.

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Be sure to check out the “Rev’d Up” podcast, a “lively look at Bible readings” from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

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Part of the “Great Wall of New Canaan”—the 17th Century “Perambulation Line,” separating Norwalk from Stamford prior to New Canaan’s founding—has been discovered in Bristow Park, Conservation Commission Chair Chris Schipper told Parks & Rec during a presentation Wednesday.

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United Methodist Church is hiring a part-time office administrator. Details here.

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Town officials have inexplicably cut funding for the porta potties at the Waveny fireworks from the fiscal year 2024 budget, Family Fourth Committee Chair Tom Stadler said during the appointed body’s special meeting Wednesday. “No one notified me,” Stadler said of the change to a longstanding agreement in the Committee’s partnership with the town. The Committee, which organizes and runs the popular Independence Day picnic and fireworks at Waveny, is supported by sales of the $35 passes for the event (not taxpayer money). It will pick up the approximately $4,000 cost for portable toilets this year.

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Tickets are on sale now for the terrific New Canaan Mounted Troop’s “Breeches & Bowties” spring gala, to be held on Friday, May 19 at Wee Burn Beach Club. Details here.

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Police received reports of motorists passing stopped school buses on March 13 at 205 Main St. (9:19 a.m.), New Norwalk Road and Ledge Avenue (9:49 a.m.), 289 New Norwalk Road (9:49 a.m.), Smith Ridge Road and Twin Pond Lane (9:54 a.m.) and 94 New Norwalk Road (9:54 a.m.) and on March 10 (Locust Avenue and New Norwalk Road at 9:23 a.m.).

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The New Canaan Beautification League’s annual appeal is underway. Details here.

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The popular Disc Golf Course at Waveny on Saturday, April 22 will host its first tournament in more than one decade, Tim Smith, a local volunteer who helps maintain the course, told Parks & Rec. Spots are limited at the “Waveny Warmup,” a Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned tourney. Here’s a registration page.

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Congratulations to 2015 New Canaan High School graduate Zach Allen, the Rams all-time sacks leader, on signing with the Denver Broncos:

Broncos, DE Zach Allen agree to 3-year, $45.75M deal with $32.5M guaranteed. (via @Rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/wpgWvnjObx

— NFL (@NFL) March 14, 2023

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Two upcoming productions worth noting from the Town Players of New Canaan (performances at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny):

• “Drop Dead” (April 21 to May 7)
• “The Gynokid,” written and performed by Claire Ayoub (May 12-14) 

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The town of New Canaan uses the IntraFi Network of nearly 3,000 banks for the municipality’s cash assets, keeping balances below $250,000 at dozens of participating banks, Board of Finance Chair Todd Lavieri told the Town Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night. Lavieri said he asked last week, after the Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, whether the town had any money there “and the answer is ‘yes.’ ” “We found out that we have $248,530 in SVB,” Lavieri said. “The amount is safe. It’s less than $250,000. It’s FDIC-insured, of course, so it’s risk-free. But it was another reminder for us to stay very vigilant with our cash assets and protect them through these types of measures and steps. Our CFO and treasurer have just done a great job working on this with the Board of Finance.”  

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Congratulations to New Canaan’s Zachary Weiss and Jack Ericson on earning awards in the Youth Division (through 8th grade) for their submissions to the Wilton Art Council’s 23rd annual photography exhibit, FOCUS ’23, now on display at Wilton Library:

• 1st Place—“The Misty Woods” by Zachary Weiss 
• 2nd Place—“At The Cloud Line” by Jack Ericson 
• 3rd Place—“Serpent” by Jack Ericson 
• Honorable Mention—“The Double-Decker Shopping Cart” by Zachary Weiss

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The town’s 2023 revaluation will launch March 20 and run through Oct. 31, officials say. More info here.

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Grace Community Church will celebrate Easter Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on April 9.

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We heard from Ice Skating for Everyone Founder and CEO Emily Kelting that she met 2022 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Chen last week at Darien Library for reading of his new children’s book, “Wei Skates On.” 

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Officials noted during the Parks & Rec meeting Wednesday that there have been break-ins to the New Canaan YMCA-managed shed and apartment at Kiwanis Park, with items removed and strewn about the grounds and swimming hole there. Betty Lovastik, a neighbor and watchdog of the Old Norwalk Road park, said the vandalism has occurred during the daytime as well as at night.

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Finally, New Canaan CERT recently hosted a regional CERT Training Class for 2023, bringing in 30 new CERT volunteers from New Canaan, Stamford, Westport and Monroe. The candidates met over a four-week period in seven sessions for a total of 20 hours. Volunteers received training in CPR, First Aid, Triage, Traffic Control , Fire Suppression and Search & Rescue. “The volunteers are now qualified to aid and assist first responders in the event of their being overwhelmed by a large disaster and to help in non-emergency planned events,” organizers said in a press bulletin. “These trained volunteers will now be available and are an enormous value to their communities when called upon.”