Around Town

Va Va Vroom: Carriage Barn Arts Center Embraces, Celebrates Waveny Heritage in Upcoming Exhibition

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Since starting as co-directors of the Carriage Barn Arts Center 18 months ago, Eleanor Flatow and Arianne Kolb have noted how visitors to the Carriage Barn gallery react strongly when they learn of its original function at Waveny. Though locals tend to know well the grounds, mansion and individual outbuildings at the park, Kolb said, the way that those pieces fit together and tell the story of the Lapham family—the longtime owners of the property through the first half of the 20th Century, who kept horses, carriages and cars in the Barn—animates the familiar landscape and structures in new, profound ways. “When we explain what the space was used for, people have an ‘a-ha’ moment, where it makes sense in the bigger picture,” Kolb said. Starting next month, Carriage Barn Arts Center/New Canaan Society for the Arts will pay homage to that heritage in a new exhibition. “Va Va Vroom!

News

Letter: Bankwell ‘A Wonderful Role Model’ for Community Banking

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Dear Editor,

Community is more than where we live; it’s how we live. In New Canaan, we are so fortunate to live in what I call a community of choice. We choose to work together with our neighbors to make our Town the best it can be. In the spirit of community banking, Bankwell in New Canaan is a wonderful role model. The leadership of the Bank understands our special community and seeks to highlight what is unique and extraordinary about New Canaan.

Around Town

SLIDESHOW: NCCF’s ‘I [Heart] New Canaan’ Photo Contest Entries

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More than 30 residents, including several talented photographers, gathered in the gallery area at Bankwell on Elm Street on Thursday to mark the installment of the New Canaan Community Foundation’s “I [Heart] New Canaan” photo show. The first-ever show from the nonprofit organization asked locals to submit pictures that captured what was special to them about New Canaan, and scores of photographers came back with more than 120 entries, said NCCF Executive Director Cynthia Gorey. “We are so pleased to promote the ‘I [Heart] New Canaan’ idea,” Gorey told the crowd during a brief break in the wine-and-cheese event. “We love New Canaan the Community Foundation is an important part of this town. This was just an idea that came into our minds and we said we’d see if we get any photos, and were astounded by how many we got and how wonderful they were.”

The photos were judged by professional art appreciators from Carriage Barn Arts Center, Silvermine Arts Center and New Canaan High School.

Animal 411

Peeking behind New Canaan Dog Days

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On Sunday, New Canaan will see hundreds of town residents and their dogs descend on a cordoned-off portion Cherry Street for an annual, grassroots community event that organizers say is designed to celebrate our unconditional love for four-legged family members. New Canaan Dog Days—presented by our town’s owner-on-site pet store, Village Critter Outfitter, and local business Aetheria Relaxation Spa, both on Cherry Street—runs 12 to 3 p.m. on June 8. It benefits a pair of animal-focused nonprofits: STARelief, which provides life-saving pet food, veterinary care and medications to families in need with the goal of keeping pets out of shelters and in their homes; and PAWS, which rescues dogs and cats, offers shelter, takes care of medical issues and provides adoption services. Locally based event sponsors include New Canaan Veterinary Hospital, Bankwell, Fern’s Pet & House Sitting and NewCanaanite.com. To preview the event, we connected with Fern Pessin, who produces it, as well as Shirleen Dubuque, owner (and owner-on-site) of Village Critter Outfitter and Beth McCarthy of Aetheria Relaxation Spa.

Around Town

Q&A on Young Women’s League Annual Easter Egg Hunt

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Here’s something that doesn’t matter when you’re a kid looking for candy-filled Easter eggs: It’s raining outside. The Young Women’s League of New Canaan made accommodations for this icky weather by holding the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, at New Canaan High School. The event starts at 9:30 a.m today—Saturday, April 5—and benefits the Young Women’s League Giving Fund. NewCanaanite.com caught up with the organization’s president, Nicole Cribbins, to talk about the community event, the league’s work and the Giving Fund, specifically, and the critical importance of participation from our businesses. Sponsors for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt are Playland, Cobble Court Interiors, Bankwell, New Canaan Cleaners, Pepé Motors, Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee and New Canaan Toy Store.