Congratulations to New Canaanites Jan and Tom Stadler, whose new granddaughter, Katherine (Kate) Florence Stadler, was born March 2 to Lauren (nee Striffler) Stadler and Sean Stadler of Stamford.
Katherine (Kate) Florence Stadler, born March 2. Photo courtesy of her grandfather, Tom
Lauren’s parents, Anne and Steve, also live in Stamford. Lauren is a teacher in Stamford and Sean is an architect in New York City. Sean is a 2001 New Canaan High School graduate where he played football and baseball. Tom Stadler is known to many as Administrative Officer of New Canaan in the First Selectman’s office and the various other activities he has been involved in such as New Canaan Baseball/Softball, the New Canaan Community Foundation, Family Fourth, and New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. (The Stadlers had a granddaughter, Dylan Katherine Siegel, born Dec. 2, 2014 to daughter Nicole, a ’93 NCHS grad, and son-in-law Andy Siegel of New York City.)
***
New Canaan Public Schools through its insurer has paid a deductible of $50,000 to attorneys representing the district in an ongoing civil lawsuit brought last year by a lunch lady, according to a purchase order obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a Freedom of Information Act request.
***
The Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department at 8:43 a.m. on Thursday received a call about a bat inside of a Logan Road home. In those cases, the state requires residents to contact a nuisance wildlife control operator, to secure and kill the bat. A state lab found that the mammal did not have rabies.
Rob Mallozzi and Chase, Kent and Nick Williams at Yankee Stadium for a New York City FC game on March 13, 2016. The boys made the jumbotron for a trivia question (Chase got it right). Contributed
***
A few familiar faces ended up on the Yankee Stadium jumbotron Sunday during a soccer match that saw the New York City Football Club take on Toronto FC. First Selectmen Rob Mallozzi, Selectman Nick Williams and 2015 NCHS grad Chase Williams with sophomore Kent Williams joined 30,000 fellow “footie” fans in the Bronx home of baseball’s winning-est team, and the trio were picked out of the crowd to answer a trivia question on the big screen. They got it right—we’re hearing Chase, a George Washington University freshman, knew the answer. NYC drew 2-2 with Toronto.
Cookie Jar Mashup
***
The March “Flavor of the Month” at Baskin-Robbins is Cookie Jar Mashup: Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Nutter Butter cookies dunked in vanilla ice cream and swirled with a chocolate ribbon. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
***
New Canaan High School’s annual “Scholarship Sunday” will be held 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 3.
L-R: Brian Maccalla, Peter Swindell, Rajon Mitchell, James Freyre, and David Ferm.
At that time, NCHS students wearing Scholarship Drive T-shirts go door-to-door in New Canaan to collect donations for college scholarships for fellow NCHS students. Since 1967, the NCHS Scholarship Foundation has provided need-based financial aid for NCHS graduates pursuing a higher education. Last year, the Scholarship Foundation raised $82,500 from local businesses, residents, service clubs and memorials, and awarded 56 need-based scholarship grants. Advocates ask locals to give generously to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation on April 3. Donations may be handed to the student volunteers on “Scholarship Sunday,” made online, or sent by mail to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation, New Canaan High School, 11 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT 06840. Checks should be made out to “NCHS Scholarship Foundation.”
Julinda Qela opened ‘Jul’s Salon’ on Cherry Street. Contributed
***
We’re hearing from New Canaanite Jul Qela that her eponymous hair salon on Cherry Street will hold its grand opening from 1 to 7 p.m. on March 19—that’s this Saturday.
***
New Canaan’s Colleen Hann is pushing hard to achieve her $5,000 fundraising goal in this year’s Walk To End Lupus Now. She’s 89 percent there and would love to get over the hump this week. Check out Colleen’s story on her official Lupus Foundation of America page here.
***
NCPD Animal Control is going through its list of about a dozen remaining dogs on the “unlicensed” list. They knocked on the door of a Smith Ridge Road on Saturday, and another on Colonial Road on Thursday. Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm said she’s looking for residents to be responsive and communicative, or else risk a $75 fine.
Sarah Warden of New Canaan. Contributed
***
1994 NCHS graduate Sarah Warden on March 5 participated in a “Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer” fundraiser at the Theatre on Ice of Boston. Warden, as shown in this photo, skated to honor her mother, the late Ellen Smythe Brakeley, who succumbed to the disease on Nov. 14, 2014. Created by Scott Hamilton, the event featured world-class figure skaters performing jumps and spins to support cancer research. It raised more than $13,000. Click here to learn more about the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation’s efforts.
***
A meeting of the CT Commuter Rail Council will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Darien Town Hall Auditorium. Organizers say: “The public and commuters are invited to attend to learn about upcoming improvement projects at Noroton Heights station and Atlantic Street/Stamford Transportation Center.”
***
The New Canaan Parking Commission last week voted in favor of this new slate of fees for next year:
New Canaan Parking Permit Rates, 2016-17
| Parking Lot | 2015-16 Rate | % Increase | 2016-17 Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RR/Lumberyard | $564 | 6.4 | $600 |
| Richmond Hill | $444 | 2.7 | $456 |
| Talmadge Hill | $444 | 2.7 | $456 |
| Park Street | $408 | 2.9 | $420 |
| Locust Lot | $384 | 6.3 | $408 |
| Telephone Lot | $408 | 2.9 | $420 |
| Center Lot | $132 | 9.1 | $144 |
Clockwise from top-left: Nina Manipon, Katherine Takayasu, Will Heins and Loryn Galardi.
***
Halo Studios on Grove Street is launching a new “Wellness Wednesday” lecture series to the public this spring, featuring a variety of experts on wellness topics. It starts Wednesday, March 23, and all lectures are free and open to the public. “It has always been our intent to empower people in our community to lead healthier and more balanced lives,” Halo Studios Director Cindy Ziegler said in a press release. The series includes:
- Naturopathic Medicine, a talk by Nina Manipon (1 to 2 p.m. on March 23)
- Stress Reduction for the Mind and Body, a Talk by Katherine Takayasu, MD (1 to 2 p.m. on April 6)
- Eating & Living to Reduce Inflammation and Disease: Comprehensive Nutrition, A Talk by Loryn Galardi, MS, Clinical Nutritionist (1 to 2 p.m. on April 13)
- Mindfulness & Stress Reduction, A Talk by Will Heins (1 to 2 p.m. on April 20)
Christian Camporin (center – who performs Michael in Finding Neverland on Broadway) with fellow students, parents and teachers from the Performing Arts Conservatory of New Canaan following recent performance.
***
Performing Arts Conservatory students and teachers recently enjoyed performances of not only Matthew Morrison and Kelsey Grammer, but also by New Canaan’s own Christian Camporin during the Broadway production of Finding Neverland. A New Canaan native, Christian is a 5th grader at Saxe Middle School. He is currently starring on Broadway as Michael in Finding Neverland. Following the performance he and cast members held a talk back on stage for the students, their families and teachers. The outing to Broadway was a fundraiser to help the education programs available this summer from the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. Christian began his training at the Performing Arts Conservatory under the direction of Melody Libonati who is also the Artistic Director of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. He went on to perform in four of Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s musicals, South Pacific, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, My Fair Lady and The Little Mermaid.
L-R: Parents Jodey Lazarus, Nia Dominguez, Ulrika Veroude, LiveGirl speaker Simone Marean, Patricia Mee and Anne Wagner.
***
About 100 parents gathered at New Canaan Library on March 8 to hear an important talk about “Raising Resilient Girls in the Digital Age” hosted by local nonprofit organization LiveGirl. Keynote speaker Simone Marean described a ‘wellness gap’ for girls and said stress and anxiety are amplified by online media consumption. Said one parent of a sixth-grade girl, Irena Wells: “The LiveGirl parent education presentation was enlightening, to say the least. I learned so much about the ‘buffet’ of social media sites out there, their impact on adolescent girls, and the importance of embracing technology with boundaries.”
New England Academy of Dance in New Canaan with An American in Paris cast member, Attila Joey Csiki.
***
Finally, we’re hearing that members and students at the New England Academy of Dance in New Canaan recently enjoyed a Master Class with An American in Paris cast member, Attila Joey Csiki.
The session included 1.5 hours of ballet technique including choreography from the Tony Award winning production of An American in Paris, where Attila is currently making his Broadway debut.