A car—unlocked, keys inside—was reported stolen from a Woodridge Circle residence at 5:47 p.m. on June 18. New Canaan Police are investigating.
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Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo and Kelley Franco Throop
New Canaan’s Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo joined New Canaan High School graduate and baseball media entrepreneur Kelley Franco Throop, the “Three Inning Fan,” on her popular podcast last week. Franco Throop (@threeinningfan) can be found here on X, Instagram and YouTube. The episode has already garnered more than 7,000 views on YouTube.
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Registration opened Monday for New Canaan YMCA Summer & Camp Programs. Week-long summer swim lessons for kids ages 3 to 12 at the Steve Benko Pool are also open for registration.
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The Mather Homestead, an historic home and property that operates as a museum and education center just over the New Canaan line in Darien—runners-up in seven straight Turkey Bowls—is hiring an executive director. Details here.
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Sarah Carey
Congratulations to Town Planner Sarah Carey on winning the “2025 Rising Star Award” from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, and to the New Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission on earning an Honorable Mention for the “Innovative Plan Award” for the 2024 Plan of Conservation and Development. “Sarah’s nomination highlighted her professionalism, political savvy, and perseverance as an emerging planner in the State of Connecticut,” the town said in a press release.
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A travel photography masterclass with photographer Emily Kelting will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 28 at the Carriage Barn Arts Center. Sign up here, there’s limited space.
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The Playhouse on Friday will mark one year since its reopening. CinemaLab, the movie theater’s operator, will be giving out presents to customers this weekend to celebrate the milestone, CEO Luke Parker-Bowles said.
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The Waveny Park Conservancy’s annual 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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L-R: New Canaan Land Trust Board President Rob Fryer and Executive Director Robin Bates-Mason during the nonprofit organization’s “Fireflies Take Flight” season kickoff event, June 24, 2025. Contributed
The New Canaan Land Trust on Tuesday night held a sold-out “Fireflies Take Flight” season kickoff party at the Colhoun Preserve on Davenport Ridge Road. It featured tours of a firefly meadow after sundown, comments from Rob Fryer, New Canaan Land Trust’s board president, and Robin Bates-Mason, the nonprofit organization’s executive director. The viewing season at NCLT’s hugely popular Firefly Sanctuary rapidly sold out. Here’s a 2021 podcast about the sanctuary.
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The selectmen on Tuesday approved the hiring of Michael Damiani and Robert Collins as Groundsmen II in the Parks Department.
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Congratulations to New Canaan’s Eleanor Flatow, director of sales at Manhattan art gallery Hollis Taggart, on expanding with a second location on the Lower East Side.
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Rainbow Station graduate Kiki Baba receiving her diploma from Rainbow Station Four’s Teacher, Jen
Congratulations to the New Canaan YMCA’s Rainbow Station Preschool graduates. “The Y wishes every graduate the best of luck in kindergarten and beyond,” the organization said.
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Police at 8:20 a.m. on June 19 received a report of an unlocked vehicle on New Norwalk Road entered overnight with items stolen. It’s under investigation.
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Left to right: Coach James Chesboro, Coach Rob Frangione, Captain Spencer Paine, Captain Rob Frangione, Captain Ryan Boulanger, Captain JD DiSturco, Head Coach Bill Martin (Captain not pictured: William Brooks.) Contributed
The New Canaan High School Varsity Track & Field team went undefeated in the regular season that wrapped up this month, and clinched the FCIAC East title.
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Police are investigating the theft of a wallet from a purse on Vitti Street, reported at 5:01 p.m. on June 20.
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Sharon Prince, CEO and Founder of Grace Farms and Chelsea Thatcher, Chief Strategic Officer of Grace Farms, on Tuesday announced the Foundation’s 10th anniversary season, which kicks off in September and runs through May 2026. Under the theme “We all build,” the organization will “celebrate Grace Farms’ journey, convene people with nature, present visual and performing arts, pursue justice across sectors, foster community with intergenerational activities, and explore faith through workshops and lectures,” a press release said. More information here.
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Police at 7:10 a.m. Sunday received a report of carpentry tools stolen from a Carter Street home under construction. The investigation is active.
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Annie Meyer (left) and Sophie Seaver (right).
Congratulations to New Canaan’s Annie Meyer and Sophie Seaver, musicians recently selected as winners in the YoungArts program—Annie for jazz guitar and Sophie in the Singer-Songwriter category—and on being accepted to Grammy Camp this summer. The two met through their participation in New Canaan School of Rock’s selective House Band, and as students at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. Quickly becoming friends through their love of music, each aspires to a career in music. Annie, a rising 12th grader at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, is a graduate of West Elementary and St. Luke’s Middle School. Sophie Seaver, a rising 10th grader, currently attends St. Luke’s School and is a graduate of West Elementary.
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A motion for a protective order from a deposition is before the state Superior Court in a contentious eviction case on New Norwalk Road.
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Kelly Leather Antonson
On June 1, members of The Congregational Church of New Canaan unanimously voted to affirm the nomination of Kelly Antonson and call her as the church’s Associate Minister for Children, Youth, and Families. She started in her new role immediately. Antonson received her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in May. There, she also earned a diploma from Andover Newton Seminary, the embedded seminary at Yale that forms ministers for congregational life. Antonson has been a part of The Congregational Church community since 2010 and has served as Senior Youth Director since 2019.
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Sora Yu (coxswain, Westport), Mackenzie Fosdick (stroke, Darien), Kate Weitz (Westport), Grace Baker (New Canaan), Caroline Zajak (Westport), Phoebe Bryan (Darien), Sophie Cochran (Westport), Carolina Proctor (Westport), and Mina Leon (Westport).
Congratulations to New Canaan’s Grace Baker, an athlete in the Saugatuck Rowing Club Junior Rowing Program, on taking gold in the Women’s Second Varsity 8+ at the recent 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Fla. Athletes competed in one of the largest youth rowing events ever, with more than 4,000 rowers from 230 clubs and schools racing for national titles June 12 to 15.
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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):
- 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)
- NCLT Chris Schipper Guided Walk at the Firefly Sanctuary (June 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am)