Around Town

PHOTOS: Caffeine & Carburetors Makes 2016 Waveny Debut

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Despite a rainy forecast and some early-morning precipitation, scores of locals and auto enthusiasts gathered in New Canaan Sunday for the 2016 Waveny debut of Caffeine & Carburetors. Directed by police as well as by volunteers recruited by Doug Zumbach to help operate the popular event, attendees moved strolled around the grounds near Waveny House, chit-chatting and snapping photos of classic and specialty cars parked on either side of the main road through the park from Lapham Road and in the lots near the mansion. Zumbach, who founded Caffeine & Carburetors as a small Sunday gathering outside his eponymous gourmet coffee shop on Pine Street, told NewCanaanite.com that the event went “very, very well.”

“I think more and more locals are coming,” Zumbach said about one hour into the morning gathering. “They’re poking their heads out of the window and still coming. It’s turned out to be a very good show.”

Sunday also is set to be a busy day downtown, with the 7th Annual Dog Days New Canaan to run at 1 p.m. at Pet Pantry on Grove Street.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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The Cedar Knolls, N.J.-based company that brings in coaches from the United Kingdom to instruct youth soccer players in New Canaan hit a snag in immigration this year that’s limited its ability to bring back most of its coaches from last fall. The matter is being addressed head-on with parents by the New Canaan Football Club. The contracted company, UK Elite, has accelerated its search to bring in replacement coaches for the NCFC’s Travel and Academy teams this spring. ***

Police received a report at about 10:22 a.m. Sunday about a distressed dog in a car at the Acme (Food Emporium) lot on Elm Street. The owner turned up and left the with dog, according to Officer Allyson Halm of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section.

Around Town

PHOTOS: Caffeine & Carburetors Opens 2016 Season in Downtown New Canaan

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An estimated 5,000 people and 1,000 cars visited downtown New Canaan on a clear, comfortable spring morning Sunday for the 2016 season opener of Caffeine & Carburetors, the auto enthusiast event that town resident Doug Zumbach launched more than one decade ago as an small gathering at his eponymous coffee shop on Pine Street. Vintage and specialty car lovers joined photo-snapping parents and residents holding leashes and pushing strollers up and down Pine and Elm Streets, while police and the Community Emergency Response Team directed traffic and ensured safety. Zumbach said the sunny skies helped draw the big crowds, and that people have been phone for a few days ahead of time to make inquiries about the popular gathering. “Could not have done it without the governing body of New Canaan, so I’m very happy,” Zumbach said. Sponsors include Bankwell and Rand Insurance, and FM 95.9 The Fox’s DJ and local resident Peter Bush helped emcee Caffeine & Carburetors.

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Industrial-Grade Umbrellas, New Seating Coming To Pop Up Park, AKA ‘The Launchpad’

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The volunteers who oversee the soon-to-return Pop Up Park downtown say they’re upgrading the furniture there this summer and partnering with nonprofits to help the organizations gain visibility. As requested, the Pop Up Park’s organizers have checked with New Canaan’s Special Events Committee and are ready to run the makeshift park continuously from Aug. 5 to 28, according to Martin Skrelunas. Merchants have come to the Pop Up Park Committee requesting participation in the space this summer and “they are starting to refer to it as ‘The Launchpad,’ ” Skrelunas told members of the Police Commission at their meeting Thursday, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department. “I think we also have a grant opportunity that we are going to apply to add to the furnishings that we have.

Around Town

Parks Officials Support May 22 and Oct. 16 Caffeine & Carburetors at Waveny

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Following a successful trial of two Caffeine & Carburetors gatherings at Waveny in 2015 that yielded zero complaints, the event’s founder on Wednesday night secured support from parks officials to pursue two more dates this year. The Park & Recreation Commission voted overwhelmingly in favor of May 22 and Oct. 16 for Caffeine & Carburetors at Waveny—both Sunday mornings. Commissioner Jason Milligan was the sole member of Park & Rec not voting in favor of the event. Doug Zumbach, owner of the eponymous gourmet coffee shop on Pine Street where Caffeine & Carburetors was born as a far smaller gathering of automotive enthusiasts, told the commission at its regular monthly meeting that he’s already garnered Police Commission support for April 17 and Sept.