New Canaan Police investigated a report of a damaged mailbox on Route 123 near the Merritt Parkway’s Exit 38 interchange, received at 5:44 p.m. on May 10. There are no suspects and the investigation has been closed, police said.
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New Canaan High School Theatre’s final show of the season, “Disaster!”—described as “Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films”—is showing at 7 p.m. on May 25, 26 and 27. Ticket info here.
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A “sneak peek” into one kitchen on New Canaan CARES’ annual Home Tour, coming May 24. Credit: Katie Kinsley Photography
The New Canaan CARES Home Tour is coming up, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24. Background info here.
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We’re hearing that Verizon became operational Tuesday on the Soundview Lane cell tower, boosting service in northeastern New Canaan.
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Tickets are available now for “Step Into Summer,” the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s fundraiser, to be held 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2. Dinner by Diane Browne catering, tunes by DJ “Dance to the Music,” an auction and Giving Tree. Tickets here.
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Parks & Recreation Director John Howe said during this month’s meeting of the Parks & Rec Commission that the town has received no noise complaints from neighbors regarding the hugely popular pickleball courts in Mead Park.
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Check it out: “Gentle Yoga at the Carriage Barn” is coming, running 12 to 1 p.m. on six Tuesdays from June 20 – Aug 1 (no class July 4). Registration is $120 for non-members, $100 for members. More info here.
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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted 3-0 to appoint Lindsey Heron to the Parks & Recreation Commission. She fills the seat that had been held by Carl Mason, who stepped down in January after taking a new job.
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The wonderful Staying Put in New Canaan’s “Summer Soirée” will be held 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7 at Waveny House ($75 per ticket, info here).
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Volunteers needed: VFW Post 653 in New Canaan is asking for help in placing new flags at the graves of fallen soldiers for Memorial Day. All are welcome to participate 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Lakeview Cemetery. Please use the entrance from Main Street and drive in over the bridge, to gather at the lower Veterans section. Details and info on how to donate here.
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Police are investigating a report of wire fraud from a New Norwalk Road resident, lodged at 5:42 p.m. on May 14.
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The New Canaan Farmers Market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in the Lumberyard Lot next to the train station downtown.
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The Rev. Peter Walsh blesses the Jesse Betts marker.
On May 6, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, together with the Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated two commemorative markers in St. Mark’s West Road Cemetery. One marker commemorates Capt. Stephen Betts, a founder and first warden of the worshiping community that became St. Mark’s, and a Revolutionary War hero. The other marker commemorates Jesse Betts, a man who was an enslaved member of Betts’ household and is buried alongside the Betts family in West Road Cemetery. “With these markers St. Mark’s and the DAR recognize both the extraordinary contributions of Captain Betts to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Revolutionary War and his lamentable enslavement of Jesse Betts and others,” the church said in a press release. “The markers also bring new attention to the contributions of Jesse Betts and other enslaved members of the Betts household to the community.” Connecticut DAR State Regent and St. Mark’s parishioner Lisa Melland initiated the research on Betts in the summer of 2020, and discovered his role as a slaveholder. That fall, the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, St. Mark’s diocese, passed a resolution at its Annual Convention that “each parish … shall take steps to discover their historic complicity in racism through research of parish registers and archives.” At St. Mark’s this historical research and racial reconciliation work was already underway.
Dedication attended by local historians, DAR representatives, New Canaan First Selectman, neighbors and St. Mark’s parishioners
St. Mark’s rector, the Rev. Peter Walsh said in a statement, “The whole process of coming to know the fullness of our history has been illuminating and sacred. In our partnership with the DAR, we have learned more about the particulars of the lives of Captain Stephen Betts and Jesse Betts, Marker Dedication, and we are grateful to be able to acknowledge the tribal peoples who inhabited the land where the cemetery now rests. To come to know them as real people is to bring them alive, and to bring them alive is to honor and love them as people of God. The commemoration day was so much more than we ever could have hoped for or imagined. It was holy. Christians believe in what we call the communion of saints, that great collective of souls that transcends time and space. On that dedication day I sensed that all the people of the Betts household and the tribal peoples were there in the power of the Spirit to join our prayerful commemoration, dedication, and remembrance.”
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Police received reports of motorists passing stopped school buses on May 12 in the areas of 295 Smith Ridge Road (at 2:03 p.m.) and New Norwalk Road (2:05 p.m.), as well as on May 11 in the area of Smith Ridge Road and Norholt Drive (10:01 a.m.).
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The New Canaan Men’s Club last week honored Roger Williams with its 2023 Distinguished Service Award, presented to members who have provided exceptional, long-term service to the club, the town and its surrounding communities. Awards Committee Chairman Ralph Hills said the honor is an example of how the New Canaan Men’s Club’s 370 members donate their time and talents to support numerous public and civic organizations, both locally and across the state. An active club member since 2017, Williams served as president in 2020, leading the club through its transition as a 501(c)3 organization. “With his technology interest, Williams helped establish the Men’s Club’s Zoom capabilities, enabling the club to remain active through the Covid pandemic, a capability still available to members unable to attend meetings in-person,” officials said. “As Technology Committee chairman, Williams leads the club’s audio-visual and web presence, connecting guest speakers every Friday for its 10 a.m. meetings at St. Mark’s Church.”
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A state Superior Court judge on Tuesday granted a motion that could see the New Canaan Preservation Alliance withdraw its four active lawsuits against the town and New Canaan Library. “The New Library has been constructed and the relocation of the original Library has begun,” according to the NCPA’s Motion To Stay, filed and approved this week. “If the relocation of the original Library is completed in accord with the approvals issued by the New Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission, the Plaintiffs agree to withdraw all four pending appeals.”
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New Canaan CERT volunteer James Westlake assists May Fair attendees crossing the entrance to the midway at St. Mark’s.
More than 30 New Canaan CERT volunteers worked the two-day May Fair in shifts helping pedestrian traffic and parking at the Nature Center. New Canaan CERT has participated in the event for several years and it is one of the larger deployments in town. This June New Canaan CERT will mark it’s 20th year in helping the community .
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Memorial poppies will be available for any donation made to our local VFW on the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day weekend (May 20 and 21) at ACME, Dunkin Donuts, Walter Stewart’s Market and Zumbach’s.
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The New Canaan Garden Club is presenting “Gardens in Bloom,” a garden tour to be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 (rain or shine). Details and tickets here. Organizers say it’s the first public garden tour in New Canaan since 2016 (previously held by New Canaan Nature Center). “Docents will be on hand to provide history and insights into these New Canaan gems and each of the residential gardens,” organizers say.
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Finally, here are more events worth checking out (add your event to the Community Calendar here and we’ll share it with fellow residents):
- Men’s Club Speaker To Discuss Late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (May 19 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am)
- Amanda Craig Discussing God’s Creation (May 21 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm)
- Bo Hickey – A Celebration of Life (May 21 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
- Violin Piano Duo Sunday at First Presbyterian Church (May 21 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm)
- Glass House Presents: Architecture Now: New York, New Publics (May 25 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm)
- Emergency Preparedness in New Canaan (May 31 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
- Glass House Presents: Sinfonietta Cracovia in partnership with St. Mark’s Church (June 3 @ 6:00 pm)
- Courts for a Cause Pickleball Tournament (June 4)
- New Canaan Museum & Historical Society Ice Cream Social (June 4 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
- The Glass House Summer Party Saturday (June 10 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm)