Government

Town Council Honors the Late Keith Richey

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New Canaan’s legislative body held a moment of silence Wednesday night for a longtime community volunteer who died this week. The Town Council remembered Keith Richey, who spent more than two decades on the Parking Commission, most of them as its chair, volunteered with the New Canaan Exchange Club, a service organization, and helped organize the annual “Mich-Rich Softball Game,” providing colorful roundups of the summer contest. Councilman Eric Thunem offered condolences to Marina Richey and the entire family at the start of the elected body’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “Keith Richey was a member of the New Can Exchange Club for 33 years,” Thunem said. “I think that’s about as long as the Exchange Club has been in New Canaan.

Eric Thunem

Editorial: My First May Fair ‘Date’ [PHOTOS]

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It was Eric Rehnberg who crossed over most successfully in third grade, our first year at East School. They’d closed Center School after the 1982-83 academic year, and our friend group got separated in the redistricting, never to fully re-form. Eric and I ended up at East, along with Alex Carles, Kristen Gannalo, David Palmer, Linda Pierson, Christina Mullin and Jenny Rubinfeld. Somehow that first year at East, Eric found the courage to ask the cutest girl in our class, a new face to us Center Schoolers—Joanna Avgerinos—to May Fair, and she said yes. I was in awe.

Around Town

‘Gridiron Show’ Honoring Tom Stadler Set for April 25-26 [Q&A]

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The annual Gridiron Show is coming up April 25 and 26 at Country Club of New Canaan, and this year’s honoree—or “Fall Guy”—is Tom Stadler. 

We put some questions to Gridiron Club member Eric Thunem about the upcoming organization, its history and this year’s show. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: Before we talk about this year’s Gridiron Show, please tell our readers a little bit about the organization. How and when did Gridiron Club begin? Eric Thunem: The first event, held on February 2, 1961, was initially organized as a testimonial dinner for departing local newspaper editor, Carlton Hill. State Senator Bob Bliss decided, however, that the dinner should be a roast, modeled after the tradition of the Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C. and he thought it would be a great way to bring people together and have a few laughs at the expense of the designated “Fall Guy”.

Election 2023

Election 2023: Eric Thunem Announces Candidacy for Town Council [Q&A]

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New Canaan’s Eric Thunem, a longtime resident who grew up in town and has a background in finance, on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the Town Council. We put some questions to Thunem ahead of the July 25 Republican caucus, where he will seek party backing. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering here in New Canaan? Eric Thunem: I spent 11 years in the domestic oil and gas industry, and twenty-six years in financial services.

News

Letter: Tom Butterworth ‘Is What We Need’ on Town Council

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Editor:

Tom Butterworth is running for Town Council, and I support his candidacy. Tom is a reasonable, energetic and spirited member of the New Canaan community, who is concerned about maintaining the integrity of our town’s political process in the context of fair-minded and rational debate. He has seen what happens when a few citizens armed with less than fully baked notions of public safety take on volunteer commissioners who have openly and thoroughly studied the pros and cons of a course of action—it’s not pretty, and Tom wants better for our town. He will listen to the citizens of New Canaan, but he will always seek to support and work cooperatively with our selectmen and the volunteer commissioners who love New Canaan. Tom Butterworth is a man who brings out the best in others; he knows how to lead, and he knows how to motivate.