Allison Rees

Local Couple Gifts $3 Million to New Canaan Library; Children’s Room Renamed

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New Canaan Library announced Monday that a local couple has donated $3 million toward the organization’s capital campaign. The library’s Children’s Room has been renamed The Rees Family Children’s Library after Michael and Allison Rees, according to a press release. Lisa Oldham, executive director of the library, said in a statement, “Michael and Allison’s generosity accompanies an exemplary fidelity to culture and civic life in New Canaan and reflects their sincere desire to make a difference. The Rees Family Children’s Library will forever reflect their exceptional vision.”

The new 42,000-square-foot library opened four months ago, about three years after officials unveiled a dramatic new plan for the organization’s block at the edge of downtown New Canaan. Awash in natural light and featuring the new Jim and Dede Bartlett Auditorium, multiple meeting rooms, an instantly popular café, heavily used teen area and spacious children’s room, the facility replaced an aging facility with a failing, costly physical plant that hadn’t seen a significant renovation in four decades.

Around Town

PHOTOS: Demolition Underway at New Canaan Library Site

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Demolition of the former New Canaan Library building commenced last week, as the organization prepares to remake the largest part of its campus, overlooking the corner of Cherry and Main Streets. The 1970s-built children’s wing had been razed by the weekend after demolition commenced Wednesday. Over the next several months, passersby can expect to see the widely anticipated library “Green” take shape, with the original 1913 building slated for a 115-foot move within the property this summer. “We are all very excited to see the progress,” Library Executive Director Lisa Oldham told NewCanaanite.com in an email in response to questions about “Phase Two” of the project. “There is great anticipation throughout the community to see the Green completed as per the planning approvals and available for the enjoyment of all, by this autumn.”

Designed by Boston-based Stimson Landscape Architects, the nearly 1-acre community green space will feature native plantings and play host to events such as music concerts, theater, films, gardening and nature programs and exercise classes, library officials have said.

Board of Selectmen

Officials: Legacy Library Building To Be Moved in June (Regardless of the Town’s Future Land Acquisitions)

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The remnants of the legacy library building, which is currently undergoing asbestos abatement, will be moved to a slab near the Gulf station in June, as widely anticipated new features of the campus come online, officials said Tuesday. Approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission in November—during a meeting where that appointed body’s chair noted that preservation doesn’t necessarily mean the building in question remains in place—plans call for the so-called “1913 library” to be secured and moved out of the way of a town green. Asked for an update on that part of the library project, Bob Butman, president of the organization’s Board of Trustees, told members of the Board of Selectmen during their regular meeting that “at this point in time we have been working with our architects and with various construction planners and obviously Turner to build all the plans to move the 1913 building to the location that was approved by P&Z, which is up the hill, sort of backing up against the Gulf station.”

“That will not happen until such time as we finish the demolition of the surrounding parts of the library, which includes an effort underway right  now for abatement of asbestos and other work associated with preparing that 1913 building to be moved,” he said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We would anticipate that that would occur roughly in the June timeframe, but can’t be held to specifics because it’s going to be all dependent on weather, it’s going to be dependent on what else they find as part of the abatement process and how long it takes Turner and their team to finish their work.”

The comments came during a wider discussion and approval of the first tranche of the town’s long-planned library construction loan. During the legacy library discussion, Selectman Kathleen Corbet appeared to ask whether, should the town purchase the Gulf station property at South Avenue and Cherry Street, the old building still would need to be moved.

Around Town

‘We Are Really Excited’: The Farmer’s Grind Opens Café in New Canaan Library

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Visitors to the spectacular new New Canaan Library can now grab a coffee and pastry or other snack while visiting. The Farmer’s Grind on Monday opened its widely anticipated café beside the floor-to-ceiling windows at the rear of the main floor. 

“It’s amazing,” Erich Smith, who co-owns the business with his wife, Michelle, told NewCanaanite.com Tuesday as first-time customers sampled coffees, grab-and-go wraps, salads and other lunchtime items. “It’s a whirlwind but it’s amazing.”
Based in South Salem, N.Y.

The Farmer’s Grind offers an extensive menu of hot and cold coffees—Nutella Lattes, Macchiatos, Matchas, Mochas, Chais and Espressos, among others—as well as flavors such as caramel, local honey, Mike’s hot honey, maple, white mocha, lavender oil and peppermint oil. The Farmer’s Grind seasonal menu includes “The M.C. Hammy”—ham, Swiss, Ross Croissant, pressed ($9.75), “The Perfect Pita”—homemade hummus, Greek mix, homemade Greek dressing, organic gem lettuce, whole wheat pita ($10.50), “Gettin’ Figgy With It”—Vermont cheddar, organic apples, fig jam, Orwasher’s multigrain, pressed ($11.50), “The Muffin Top”—Ross corn muffin, butter, BFK seasonal jam, toasted ($6.50), “The Avocado Toast”—Avocado mass, cilantro aioli, paprika, sea salt, Ross Sweet Earth bread ($10.50) and “Kids Grilled Cheese”—American, Orwasher’s wheat bread ($8.50). Asked what some of the most popular items appear to be in the early-going, Erich Smith said Tiramisu Overnight Oats (“Those things fly”) and grab-and-go lunch items such as Orzo salads. The café itself is visible from much of the library while also set in its own area, with a number of tables, chairs and stools and laptop space.