Around Town

‘No Plans To Displace’ Teams: YMCA Responds to Community’s Concerns About Future of Valles Pool

By |

Though an aging pool at the New Canaan YMCA needs “extensive repairs,” the organization says, there “are no plans to displace” the Caimans or New Canaan High School teams that use it. Responding to an email for information about the “Valles Pool” after residents voiced fears following an internal YMCA board discussion about the facility’s problems and future, the Y’s vice president of financial development, marketing & strategic initiatives, Kristina Barrett, said that the organization has invested over time in “regular maintenance and significant repairs.”

Barrett continued in an email response: “However, we have extended the life of the roof for as long as possible and are now in need of a complete roof and building envelope replacement, along with some additional repairs.  The cost of the project will be significant and necessitates that the Y’s Board of Directors evaluates the investment needed and the best way to proceed with the space. The Board is taking into consideration facility usage, the experience of aquatics users in all pools, the experience of all YMCA members, the age of the pool itself, and the Y’s mission to address current community needs. A decision has not yet been made and any rumors of specific closing dates, plans, or program impact are inaccurate.”

Barrett said that parents of the New Canaan Y Caimans team and the NCHS athletic director are aware that “there are no plans to displace” those teams. 

Barrett said that the Y is hoping that the Board will make a decision regarding the Valles Pool in the next few months. The issue spread through the community following a post on social media last week, and this news outlet received several emails from concerned residents.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

By |

We got a heads-up on Twitter from New Canaanite Peter “The Bushman” Bush of The FOX 95.9 FM about a recently redecorated roof of The Veggie Barn on Cross Street. Looks like town resident and Veggie Barn owner Santo Silvestro supports Donald Trump in ’16. Silvestro wasn’t immediately available for comment. The rooftop likely will be visible to any planes passing overhead. As Bush later Tweeted: “A little something for the Donald to see from 10K.”

***

While Peachwave on Forest Street did close last weekend as planned (though the team there decided last-minute to extend by one day, through Sunday), company officials tell us now that a reopening is possible.

Around Town

The Kiwanis Club of New Canaan Grants $16,000 to Local Organizations Serving Youth

By |

The Kiwanis Club of New Canaan met at the New Canaan YMCA on Friday to give $16,000 to 16 local nonprofit organizations serving youth, thanks largely to funds raised at the Zerbini Family Circus last June. According to Kiwanian David Hoyle, an attorney who sits on the club’s Allocations Subcommittee, just three years ago the club was only able to give away $2,000. “I think it is just a wonderful thing to be able to give this much money away,” Hoyle told the New Canaanite. “You feel like you’re making that much more of a difference. It’s really great and it’s wonderful because of all of the work that the folks and [Kiwanian] Kathy [Holland] and [YMCA Marketing Director] Kristina [Barrett] do for the service.