Around Town

Fate of Historic 82-Foot Oak Tree Uncertain After Major Branch Collapses on Route 106

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Heavy wind and rain brought down a massive branch belonging to one of New Canaan’s largest and most historic trees on Sunday, causing traffic delays and damaging several power lines. Department of Public Works officials have since removed the large branch from Route 106, though its remains can still be seen in the form of log piles next to Bristow Park’s main entrance. It’s still not yet clear whether or not the rest of the tree will be removed. 

Tiger Mann, head of DPW, said that the decision would come down to the state arborist and the town tree warden, both of whom he has already contacted. “If they deem it a hazard, it can come down immediately,” Mann said. “If not, if they were going to remove it, then it would need to be posted for 10 days by state statute, but again, if it’s deemed a hazard tree, it can be removed for obvious reasons.”

Located by the entrance to Bristow, the 82-foot-tall white oak has been recognized by Connecticut’s Notable Trees Committee.

Around Town

Residents Dedicate New Pavilion in Bristow Park

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Carriage Barn Arts Center. Residents and open space advocates gathered Thursday afternoon at one of New Canaan’s prized public open spaces to dedicate a new pavilion. 

About 20 people attended a ceremony in Bristow Park that featured live music and food. “It’s the third-oldest bird sanctuary in the country,” said Chris Schipper, chair of the Conservation Commission. “The fact that New Canaan, even 100 years ago, was thinking of conservation—this is an example of it. They set aside 17 acres, almost in the middle of town for birds and for wildlife, and for beautiful woods.”

The pavilion is the newest addition to Bristow, which is undergoing a major restoration ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2024.

Art Berry

Selectmen Approve $150,000 Allocation for Land Trust Purchase of Valley Road Home

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Carriage Barn Arts Center. The Board of Selectmen last week approved a request from the Conservation Commission to disburse $150,000 toward the New Canaan Land Trust’s purchase of a historic home, located next to the Grupes Reservoir on Valley Road. The Board of Finance and Town Council also must approve the $150,000 allocation for the Land Trust’s purchase of 1124 Valley Road, officials said at the June 20 selectmen meeting. The money will be paid out of the town’s Land Acquisition Fund. The property is currently owned by the Norwalk First Taxing District, and had been slated to be demolished. 

The First Taxing District has agreed to sell the house and adjacent property for a total of $500,000, according to Art Berry, treasurer of the New Canaan Land Trust.

Around Town

Q&A: Composting Talk To Be Held Thursday at New Canaan Library

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New Canaan Library, Planet New Canaan and the Conservation Commission are co-sponsoring a talk about composting on Thursday. Registration is open for ‘Anyone Can Compost: Approaches to Home Composting that Work for You,’ to be held at 6 p.m. on June 15 in the Jim & Dede Bartlett Auditorium at the library. It features Master Gardener and Composter Alice Ely, garden education chair at Wakeman Town Farm, one of the organizers of Westport’s Pollinator Pathway, a UConn Advanced Master Gardener and a UConn Master Composter. Composting is widely practiced in New Canaan. According to data supplied by the Department of Public Works, the total food scrap collection weight at the transfer station (in pounds) for the five weeks starting May 3 are: 1,110, 1,420, 980, 1,040 and 1,150.

Chris Schipper

Selectmen Signal Support for $150,000 Town Contribution toward Land Trust Acquisition of Valley Road Property

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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday signaled its support for a local nonprofit organization’s purchase of an antique house on Valley Road. Though the selectmen will wait for Conservation Commission approval before formally voting on the New Canaan Land Trust’s purchase of the ca. 1750-built home at 1124 Valley Road, the elected body voted 3-0 during its regular meeting to state its intent to support the purchase with a $150,000 town contribution. The money is expected come from the Land Acquisition Fund, established in 2017, and will require further approval from the Board of Finance and Town Council, officials said. The Land Trust plans to sign a purchase-and-sale agreement within about one week, and to complete the property transfer in September, according to the president of organization’s Board of Directors, Tom Cronin.