New Canaan Police on Monday arrested a 42-year-old Bayport, N.Y. woman by warrant and charged her with first-degree failure to appear, criminal impersonation, third-degree identity theft and second-degree forgery. The warrant stems from a fraud investigation. According to Connecticut Judicial Branch records, the woman is facing more than 30 felony counts out of New Canaan, including for illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
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The New Canaan Land Trust’s firefly season kickoff party— “Fireflies Take Flight” — will be held 8 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 at the Colhoun Preserve ($75). Tickets here.
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Chris Schipper with Robin Bates-Mason, executive director of the New Canaan Land Trust
Congratulations to New Canaan’s Chris Schipper on receiving the Aquarion Environmental Champion Award for 2025. Schipper is a former Conservation Commission chair who led the New Canaan Land Trust when the organization hired its first-ever executive director and also led the public-private partnership that has seen the Bristow Park restored as a bird sanctuary. The Aquarion award comes with a $5,000 grant to the environmental nonprofit of the winner’s choice, and Schipper chose the Land Trust.
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Great news for the community: The town has received a $300,000 state grant toward the widely anticipated Waveny Playground, Parks & Recreation Director John Howe said during Wednesday night’s Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. 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 Board of Selectmen during its June 3 meeting voted 3-0 to approve the hiring of Ryan Stacy as the town’s manager of budgeting and financial systems. A former employee of Danbury, Stacy has earned a bachelor’s degree in management and MBA, both from Northeastern University, according to his resume.
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Register here for the free “Hearts of Freedom” Juneteenth celebration organized by local nonprofit Stand Together Against Racism or “S.T.A.R.” To be held 3 to 7 p.m. next Thursday on the lawn at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, the Juneteenth event’s sponsors include Walter Stewart’s Market, The Glass House, Carriage Barn Arts Center, Bankwell, NewCanaanite.com, NCM&HS and Rotary Club.
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At the NCCF 2025 Grant Awards Coffee.
This year, the New Canaan Community Foundation awarded more than $1 million to 90 nonprofits through its annual grant cycle, focusing on areas of greatest community need. Guided by findings from the recent Community Health & Well-being Survey, NCCF prioritized Behavioral Health—with large-scale investments supporting early access to care, substance use programs, and parent education. Human Services funding addressed sharp increases in food insecurity and critical crisis response needs, while Early Childhood grants—nearly doubled from last year—supported programs that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and family stability during the vital 0–5 years.
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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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Rockets & Ice Cream 2025. Credit: Stephen Prostor
Congratulations to Cub Scout Packs 45 and 70 on hosting a well-attended and successful “Rockets and Ice Cream” gathering June 3 at Waveny.
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Kiwanis Park will open Saturday, Howe said at Parks & Rec. And the town’s free Summer Concert Series at Waveny opens next Wednesday (7:30 to 9:30 p.m.) with The Tommy Duffy Band, sponsored by Waveny LifeCare Network.
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The selectmen last week approved an approximately $19,000 contract with Norwalk-based ABC Exterminating for exterminating services at town buildings.
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Bill Flynn and Amy Gildea
The New Canaan Rotary Club at a recent lunch welcomed New Canaan Nature Center Executive Director Bill Flynn as its guest speaker. In addressing the service organization, Flynn “reminded us that the well-loved NCNC Preschool is the oldest nature-based preschool in the country while the summer camp hosts about 800 kids each year,” the club said.
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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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As of June 1, here’s what New Canaan’s voter count looked like, according to the Registrars of Voters:
- Unaffiliated: 5,520
- Republican: 5,092
- Democrat: 3,820
- Other: 155
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Coppo Field, the new baseball facility at Waveny for the New Canaan High School varsity boys baseball team, is closed temporarily for insurance reasons, Howe said at Parks & Rec. The field itself must undergo a final inspection and that is expected to happen within two weeks, he said.
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The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan is hosting an Ice Cream Social at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, during its coffee hour. All are welcome.
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Staying Put members, donors, and friends enjoy a festive celebration at Waveny House. The 2025 Summer Soiree was held June 5, 2025. Photo courtesy of Staying Put
Staying Put in New Canaan held a successful 2025 Summer Soirée at Waveny House on June 5. “SPNC extends its deepest gratitude to the event’s generous sponsors, whose support made the night possible,” the organization said in a statement. “Their contributions ensure that Staying Put can continue to provide vital services, transportation, and social programs to older New Canaan residents.”
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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):
- Learning with Nature: Start a Beehive (June 14 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm)
- The Glass House ‘Summer Party’ Honoring Gaetano Pesce (June 14 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
- Candlelit Sound Bath (June 16 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm)
- Author James Frey in Conversation with Gina Gershon (June 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
- Lunch & Learn: Jake Gorst, on his grandfather, Andrew Geller (June 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm)
- The Light Eaters with Best-Selling Author Zoë Schlanger: Pollinator Pathway Lecture (June 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
- Family Drop-In: Dance, Create, and Celebrate Summer! (June 22 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm)
- The Hidden History of Slavery in New York (June 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm)
- Spring Hikes with Tom Turrentine (June 26 @ 9:15 am)
- Summer Reading Kickoff Party: FUN for ALL AGES (June 26 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
- Illume Fertility Presents LGBTQ+ Family Building 101 For Pride Month (June 26 @ 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm)