Now & Then

New Canaan Now & Then: The ‘First’ Methodist Church

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‘New Canaan Now & Then’ is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens Realtors Joanne Santulli, Karen Ceraso, Bettina Hegel and Schuyler Morris. Spiga Wine Bar & Salumeria, located at 134 Main Street directly across from the Morse Parking Lot was built in 1833 as the first Methodist Church in New Canaan. It was originally located on the corner of Church and Main Street, but it was quickly too small for its growing congregation and in 1850 was moved by ox teams up Main Street to its present location. In its new location, the second floor was remodeled into a concert hall and the first floor was remodeled as a retail space.  The concert hall could seat 500 people and was used for amateur theatrical productions and for political speeches. P.T. Barnum, the well known entrepreneur and entertainer, produced a show in the venue and the former editor of New York Tribune, Horace Greeley, addressed a Republican meeting there.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Police at 6:20 p.m. on May 17 received a report of a motor vehicle “keyed” in the parking lot behind Athletic Shoe Factory on Forest Street. Authorities have no suspects and the case is closed, police said. ***

There’s still time: New Canaan High School Theatre’s final show of the season, “Disaster!”—described as “Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films”—is showing at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, May 26 and 27. Ticket info here. ***

Sign up here to volunteer at the New Canaan Combine on Oct.

Around Town

VFW Plans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

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[Note: The following press release was issued on behalf of the VFW Post 653 in New Canaan.]

The Town of New Canaan and the Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are pleased to announce plans for a traditional New Canaan Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29th, and Memorial Day Ceremony following the parade at Lakeview Cemetery. Each year we gather to remember with gratitude and honor the proud men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect and preserve a life of freedom for all Americans. All residents are invited to attend the parade and ceremony. 

This year’s parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church on Oenoke Ridge Road and returns to its former route on lower Main Street. 

This year, the VFW selected John F. McLane to act as the parade’s Grand Marshall. Mr. McLane will also serve as this year’s keynote speaker.

News

Griffin Carter Crowley

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Our precious angel, Griffin Carter Crowley, passed away peacefully May 20th, 2023 surrounded in love with his family at Yale New Haven Hospital. Griffin was born on March 30th, 2023 as the youngest of three boys. Although Griffin was only 7 weeks old, he was immensely loved and brought so much joy to everyone’s life he touched. Griffin is survived by his parents, Daniel and Catherine (Youle) Crowley, his brothers, Brooks Crowley (1) and Harrison Crowley (3); along with his maternal grandparents, Jeffrey and Catherine Youle; paternal grandparents, Leo and Claudia Crowley; his aunts and uncles, Joshua Youle and Catalina Jaramillo, Kara and Gareth Bunney-Youle, Matthew Crowley and Sarah Binstok; and his cousin, Sofia Youle Jaramillo. A private family service will be held on Thursday, May 25th, in New Canaan, CT, where Griffin lived his short, beautiful life with his family.

Around Town

Podcast: The Gracie Fund for Pediatric Cancer

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in iTunes), we talk to New Canaan’s Chris Falsetta about the Gracie Fund for Pediatric Cancer. Founded by the Falsetta family following a recent diagnosis of leukemia in their 12-year-old daughter, the Gracie Fund is the designated beneficiary for this year’s New Canaan Combine, a fun athletic competition between the New Canaan Police and Fire Departments, as well as community members of all ages. The Combine is scheduled for Oct. 1 (here’s a signup form to volunteer at the event and here’s information on how to sponsor and join a team—click here to contribute directly). Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0: