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

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.

Look Out for It: New Canaan League of Women Voters Release 2015 ‘Know Your Representatives’ Brochure

In this local election year that will see voters place candidates in prominent offices—including seats on the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education and Town Council—the League of Women Voters of New Canaan is urging residents to be on the lookout for its 2015 “Know Your Representatives” brochure. The brochure is being printed and snail-mailed, and will include a list of all of New Canaan’s local, state and federal representatives. “Please watch out for your copy,” the nonprofit organization said in a press release. Selectmen serve two-year terms in odd-numbered years, while portions of both the Board of Ed and Town Council serve four-year terms. Elected officials whose terms are expiring in 2015 include (it isn’t clear yet who is running for re-election or what newcomers will put in for local elected offices):

Board of Education

Hazel Hobbs (chairman)
Scott Gress (vice chairman)
Gene Goodman
Alison Bedula

Town Council

Ken Campbell
Steve Karl (vice chairman)
Tucker Murphy
Roger Williams
Joe Paladino
John Emert

Copies of the brochure also will be available at the first selectman’s office, New Canaan Library and other sites in town, the league said. “The League would like to thank Bankwell in New Canaan (formerly Bank of New Canaan) for their financial support to underwrite the printing of this community resource,” the press release said.

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

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.