Around Town

Local Organizations and COVID-19: New Canaan Nature Center

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For today’s Q&A with the head of a local organization, we talk to Bill Flynn, executive director of the New Canaan Nature Center. 

Here’s our interview. 

New Canaanite: The trails at New Canaan Nature Center recently reopened. What are your overall operations like right now? Bill Flynn: Currently, because we are a public park, the trails are open. So people can come and visit the Nature Center on the trails, maintaining social distancing. Our buildings are currently closed.

COVID-19 New Canaan

Local Organizations and COVID-19: New Canaan YMCA 

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For today’s Q&A with the head of a local organization, we interviewed Craig Panzano, executive director of the New Canaan YMCA. The Y’s doors are closed and the building is essentially shut down, though the organization launched virtual programming that includes on-demand and live workouts in areas such as yoga and pilates, as well as kids’ dance classes and sessions on nutrition. Some of the videos are live while others are pre-recorded, and the Y has had some 14,000 views on them since launch, Panzano said. Here’s our interview. New Canaanite: The YCMA serves so many local people and in different ways.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: Chef Prasad 

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For today’s Q&A with a New Canaan business owner, we talk to Prasad Chirnomula of Chef Prasad. The Main Street restaurant is taking orders from 12 to 7:30 p.m. every day except Tuesday for pickup or delivery. Last year, the Indian restaurant’s busiest day was Mother’s Day, Chirnomula said, with 400 dinners to-go and customers waiting two hours. The website is taking orders for Mother’s Day now. Here’s our interview.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: New Canaan Diner

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For today’s Q&A with a local business, we talk to Ritta Haralabidis, a manager at New Canaan Diner. The diner is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days per week for curbside pickup and delivery, with services including Uber Eats and Door Dash. Haralabidis during our interview noted that New Canaan families preparing for graduations can use the diner for catering needs. 

Here’s our exchange. 

New Canaanite: How are you doing at New Canaan Diner? It’s been tough out there. Ritta Haralabidis: It has been tough.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: New Canaan Pizza & Taqueria

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For today’s Q&A with a local business owner navigating the COVID-19 public health emergency, we talk to Jose Guttierez of New Canaan Pizza & Taqueria. 

After purchasing the East Avenue mainstay three years ago, Guttierez oversaw an extensive interior renovation and then reopened in 2018 with the addition of authentic Mexican cuisine to New Canaan Pizza’s classic Greek-style pizza menu. The restaurant is open 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day, offering pickup and delivery. 

Here’s our interview. New Canaanite: How are you doing? Jose Gutierrez: We are surviving in this pandemic situation. There are good signs of surviving. 

What has the response been like from the community?