Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police at 1:39 p.m. Sunday received a report of “no parking” signs that had been stolen from a Main Street commercial property. It’s under investigation.

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Tickets here for the New Canaan Garden Club’s “Gardens in Bloom” gardens tour, to be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Thursday, June 5.

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The 2025 New Canaan High School Varsity Boys Volleyball Team, FCIAC champions. The team is coached by Amy Warren. Photo published with permission from its owner

Congratulations to the coach Amy Warren and the New Canaan High School Varsity Boys Volleyball Team on winning its first-ever FCIAC championship with a 3-1 win over Staples on Thursday night. We hear that Nolan McLaughlin was named MVP.

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Get tickets while you can: The Town Players of New Canaan is putting on “The Shawshank Redemption” June 6 to 22. The Stephen King short story and beloved Frank Darabont movie has been adapted for the stage by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns. Tickets here.

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The Congregational Church of New Canaan will hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday, following the 10 a.m. worship service. Details here.

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Kaleigh Harden

Congratulations to Kaleigh Harden (New Canaan High School ‘22), a starter on the University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse team. The Tar Heels defeated Northwestern 12-8 this past weekend to capture the NCAA Division 1 National Championship.

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The New Canaan Nature Center’s expert birder and senior naturalist, Frank Gallo, is leading a free birding walk in Bristow Park at 8:30 a.m. Friday. It starts at the Apple Cart parking lot in Mead Park. Sign up here.

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Other than the town attorney’s retainer, the three most costly legal items for the municipality in the current fiscal year are the New Canaan Housing Authority loan (about $15,000), moratorium application ($14,000) and New Canaan Playhouse ($13,000), according to a legal bill approved last week by the Board of Selectmen.

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The New Canaan Old Timers Association’s 11th Annual Vin Iovino Golf Outing is set for Tuesday, June 24 (1 p.m. shotgun start) at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course. Sponsorship and ticket info here.

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The escaped peacock on May 27, 2025. CC photo

A rare white peacock that escaped its home near Wahackme Road around midday Tuesday has been safely reunited with its owner, officials say. The birds do not have to be registered with the state or town, though Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn said residents should phone his office at 203-594-3510 if they see a loose peacock. (Godejohn noted that he typically guides the birds where he wants them to go, though he’s never been able to catch a peacock.) A peacock escaped from its Ponus Ridge home in 2018. 

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Staying Put in New Canaan’s annual “Summer Soirée” will be held 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5 ($75) at Waveny House. Tickets here.

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Les Misérables Nominated for Best Classical Musical, Best Chorus, and Best Scenic Design and/or Execution (latter specifically nominated to Henry Tate, Bennett Gropper, and Andrew Meli). Photo courtesy of NCPS

Congratulations to New Canaan High School Theatre (which is putting on “The Wedding Singer” Friday and Saturday, tickets here) on earning 13 nominations in the prestigious Halo Awards, presented by Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury. “This year’s nominations recognize both the outstanding individual performances of NCHS student actors and key elements of their productions of Les Misérables and Jack the Ripper: Monster of Whitechapel,” the district said in a press release. 

Nominations for Les Misérables include:

  • Thomas Pisant – Featured Actor. Photo courtesy of NCPS

    Thomas Pisant as Marius — Best Performance in a Featured Male Role in a Musical 

  • Isa Temple as Éponine — Best Performance in a Featured Female Role in a Musical
  • Henry Tate as Jean Valjean — Best Performance in a Leading Male Role in a Classical Musical
  • Serena Peterson as Cosette — Best Performance in a Leading Female Role in a Classical Musical 
  • Nicholas Mohamad as Javert — Best Performance in a Supporting Male Role in a Musical
  • Andrew Meli & Radea Raleva as Thénardier & Madame Thénardier — Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical
  • New Canaan High School — Best Chorus in a Musical 
  • New Canaan High School — Best Classical Musical

Nominations for Jack the Ripper: Monster of Whitechapel include:

  • Jack Dooley as Sir Charles Warren — Best Standout Performance in a Male Role in an Ensemble Production 
  • Jack Dooley as Sir Charles Warren — Best Performance in a Comic Male Role in a Play
  • Radea Raleva — Best Costume Design and/or Execution Bennett Gropper, Henry Tate & Andrew Meli — Best Scenic Design and/or Execution 
  • New Canaan High School — Best Classical Play 

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It’s here: “Art in the Windows” launches Friday with the Downtown Kickoff & Art Stroll, organized by the Carriage Barn Arts Center and with sponsors that include Merrill, Karl Chevrolet, The Playhouse, Hutchinson Tree Care and the New Canaan Board of Realtors. 

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Susan Borst (L) and Mary Ntiri (R) from S.T.A.R with award recipient, Susanna Rittenberry. Photo credit: Katherine Rittenberry

Congratulations to NCHS senior Susanna Rittenberry, recipient of the annual Senior Award from New Canaan-based Stand Together Against Racism or ‘S.T.A.R.’ Presented May 23 during the annual New Canaan High School Senior Awards ceremony, the award went to Rittenberry “for her active efforts to foster an inclusive environment both in and out of the classroom,” according to a press release. It continued: “Susanna has been a leading voice in promoting respect, acceptance, and a sense of belonging, particularly in relation to issues such as race and ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and access for individuals with disabilities within the school.  She has also served as an active and valuable member of S.T.A.R’s Operating Board for the past year.” (Register here for S.T.A.R.’s annual Juneteenth celebration, to be held 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.)

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The Waveny Park Conservancy’s Spring Appeal is underway, giving opportunities here. (Here’s a page that details some of the nonprofit organization’s significant work in the park.)

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Coming 6 to 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday, June 3 at Waveny Park: “Rockets and Ice Cream.” Hosted by Cub Scout Packs 45 and 70, the free event includes model rocket launching and ice cream for attendees (register here).

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Here’s where to donate to the Waveny Playground, including by purchasing a brick for the Donor Legacy Walkway. Those seeking their family’s or business name on the Waveny Playground Welcome Sign, prominently displayed at the playground entrance, should contact the project committee at ncwavenyplayground@gmail.com.

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The Glass House “Summer Party”—called “our town’s best party” by “Who Knew?” columnist Laura Ault—is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. Tickets and info here.

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Finally—courtesy of event section sponsor April Kaynor & Kelly DeFrancesco of William Raveis—here are more local happenings worth checking out (add your event to the Community Calendar here and we’ll share it with fellow residents):

One thought on “Did You Hear … ?”

  1. For anyone interested, the New Canaan Land Trust guided bird walk in Bristow Park, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled due to forecasted rain to Sunday, June 1st, at 8 am. You can sign up for free at the Land Trust website.

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