Pre-registration is open for kindergarten for the 2024-25 New Canaan Public Schools academic year. Click here.
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Due to predicted rain showers, the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce has decided to move the evening portion of the Holiday Stroll from Friday Dec. 1 to Saturday Dec. 2. On Saturday during the day, Santa will be at Houlihan Lawrence from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Vermont Waffle Cabin will be in front of The Playhouse and the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream truck will be in front of their new store. Saturday night features the show at South and Elm with some of New Canaan’s favorite singers and dancers performing, with Santa and Friends there as well.
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Register now for the Silvermine Art Center’s winter session, running Jan. 8 to March 17. (Also note that SAC’s “Holiday Arts & Crafts Show” will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16.
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A town resident wrote this letter to the Parking Commission, appealing a $30 ticket issued Oct. 19: “It was a challenging day to find parking with all the construction on Elm St. plus this was the day that ‘Taylor Swift’ was at elm so town was busier than usual.”
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The Carriage Barn‘s annual wreath auction ends Dec. 2 at 12 p.m.—bid here. It features 40 wreaths created and donated by local designers, artists, businesses and organizations including New Canaan Mounted Troop, Planet New Canaan, Earth Garden, Grace Farms and Robert Dean Architects.
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The Friends of Bristow Park has now identified the 117th species at the bird Sanctuary—a purple finch. Frank Gallo will lead the next bird walk at Bristow from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. Pre-registration is required through the New Canaan Nature Center and the walks are canceled if it’s raining.
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Sunday, Dec. 3 is a great day for local happenings, including:
- 3 p.m.—Norwalk Symphony’s “Holiday Pops!” at the Norwalk Concert Hall (tickets here);
- 3 p.m.—Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 80th Celebration Benefit Concert”;
- 5 p.m.—A Festival of Five Lessons and Carols at the Congregational Church of New Canaan Meeting House.
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Registration for the New Canaan YMCA’s winter session is open—details on new programs for kids, teens and adults here.
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St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will hold its “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas” at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Police received a report of a motorist passing a stopped school bus on South Avenue near Church Street, at 4:32 p.m. on Nov. 21.
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New Canaan’s Chris DeMuth Jr. is raising money for the National Blood Clot Alliance following a life-threatening health issue. DeMuth’s “Stop the Clot” campaign has raised more than $2,000 to date.
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“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” The Town Players of New Canaan is putting on “A Christmas Story” Dec. 1 to 17 at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny. Tickets here. (It will sell out.)
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The New Canaan Human Services Department has launched a campaign urging residents to avoid drinking and driving, a practice that can increase during the holidays. Those struggling with drugs or alcohol can contact Al-Anon or Alateen at 888-825-62666. Those struggling with drug abuse can contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-4357. For more community resources and help, contact New Canaan Human Services at 203-594-3076.
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Congratulations to Ceci Murray, who was honored with a lifetime membership to the New Canaan Beautification League. The award was presented at the NCBL fall luncheon at the Country Club of New Canaan. Ceci was a member of the organization for decades. Her contributions include “holding the offices of VP Public Relations, Publicity Chair, Newsletter Chair, maintaining a triangle and leading garden tours, is hereby proclaimed an honorary member of New Canaan Beautification League and thus accorded the fellowship,” the citation said.
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The New Canaan Community Foundation’s Annual Appeal is underway.
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Town officials say they’ve completed a revaluation of all real property in New Canaan. Property owners will receive a ‘Notice of Assessment’ for their property by snail mail between Dec. 4 and 15. The assessed values are based on 70% of estimated fair market value. More info here.
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High five to 2015 New Canaan High School graduate and UConn alum Sarah Maddox who is working in the news:
My latest article for @CBSNews :
Miles from treatment and pregnant– here’s what it’s like living in a U.S. county without maternity care.https://t.co/O2Onw7nprO— Sarah Maddox (@sarahmaddoxnews) November 27, 2023
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The Police Department will move into its temporary headquarters downtown on Dec. 4. The department will be at 39 Locust Ave. while its South Avenue home undergoes an extensive renovation, scheduled for completion in late-2025.
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Book it: New Canaan Chamber Music presents “Anticipate the Unexpected: The Barbican Quartet”—3 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan.
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Safe travels to the MLB Winter Meetings for New Canaan attorney Kelley Franco Throop, a baseball historian and podcaster who has lectured at the MLB Hall of Fame:
⚾ More news for the 2023 SMWW Baseball Conference! Announcing four more outstanding speakers who will be sharing their expertise: Dan Szymborski, Kelley Franco Throop, Elvis Martinez, and Maury Brown.
🌟Join us in Nashville, TN, on Dec. 3-4 for a weekend of insights,… pic.twitter.com/KjyffJlQTt
— SMWW 🌎 (@SMWW) November 24, 2023
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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):
- Mark Nunan To Speak to Men’s Club about President Van Buren (December 1 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am)
- Advent Forum: Learn about the Psalms with J. Chester Johnson (December 3 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm)
- The Beatles: From Liverpool to Abbey Road (December 5 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm)
- Art Bar: Hand Lettered Holiday Ornaments Workshop at the Carriage Barn (December 5 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
- Jason Jewhurst Presents “The Living Village” (December 6 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
- New Canaan YMCA Zumba Party (December 8 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
Congratulations, Ceci!