Around Town

Quiet Heroes of New Canaan: Scarlett MacAllister

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Though New Canaan’s Scarlett MacAllister, 13, was just three weeks old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis—a rare, genetic, life-threatening disease that makes it difficult to breathe—the condition has never defined her, according to those who know her best. Instead, said Sheena DiMatteo, head coach of MacAllister’s company team at New Canaan Dance Academy, the teen not only shines as a highly gifted dancer but also as a support to those around her, exuding qualities of ambition, leadership and generosity. “I feel Scarlett really is a well-rounded person in that she is very ambitious and she does have individual goals that she works very hard to achieve,” DiMatteo told NewCanaanite.com by way of nominating MacAllister for the “Quiet Heroes” series. “But in the same breath, she is the number one supporter of all the dancers around her. She will be the first one to show up at a competition early to make sure that she supports her teammates and doesn’t miss their performance and helps kids go on stage that have never even competed before.”

Those who know MacAllister from the Forest Street studio are “inspired by her talent, dedication, abilities and team spirit,” DiMatteo said.

Business

Podcast: Elaine Young of the New Canaan Dance Academy

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Elaine Young, owner and director of the New Canaan Dance Academy. Like other local businesses, the Forest Street dance academy has had to adjust during the COVID-19 pandemic—changing the way it offers lessons, attends competitions and puts on performances. Keep an eye on this area of the NCDA website for news about its June performances, to be held on the campus of the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Around Town

‘We Would Have To Move Our Business’: Local Business Owners on the Prospect of Reduced Rail Service to New Canaan

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Delivered with a thud last month and underscored by state transportation officials during a recent forum in town, proposed severe cuts in train service on the New Canaan branch line has prompted residents to decry the effect it would have on property values and the ability of visitors—for example, those traveling up from New York City to see the Philip Johnson Glass House—to get here. Less obvious though no less important is the effect that proposed elimination of weekend service as well as off-peak weekday service to New Canaan would have on local businesses, merchants and service providers say, largely because those who work here rely on the train. Steve Karl, vice president at Karl Chevrolet, said that as a business owner in New Canaan, “the news of limiting the train service to our community is the last thing we want to hear.”

“By cutting back the off-peak service and the complete elimination of weekend service it affects our business in a number of ways,” Karl told NewCanaanite.com. “First of all, the employees who use the train to commute will be affected and these are some of our hardest working employees who rely on the train every day. Secondly, due to the proximity of the train station to our store, we frequently sell vehicles to clients who travel by rail to pick them up at our location.

Around Town

New Canaan Chamber Of Commerce Announces 12th Annual Holiday Stroll

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The 12th Annual Holiday Stroll, presented by the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, will be held in the village center from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. As is the tradition of this highly anticipated, free kick-off to the holiday season in New Canaan, Friday evening will feature the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, who will help us officially kick off the holiday season! Residents of all ages and backgrounds gather on New Canaan’s Elm Street, which is closed to traffic, to enjoy the festivities: singing Christmas carols and enjoying musical performances by the Students of the Studio, Performing Arts Conservatory, The New Canaan Dance Academy, Saxe Saxaphones and the Magical Music Singers.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police Department 22 Push-Up Challenge for Vets
Uploaded by Michael Dinan on 2016-09-07. New Canaan Police on Wednesday joined a global initiative designed to support veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Launched three years ago by Honor Courage Commitment Inc., the #22KILL effort is being recognized by NCPD with members opting in to do 22 pushups daily for 22 days. Based on the statistic that 22 U.S. veterans commit suicide each day on average due to PTSD, it’s a way to “show veterans that they are appreciated and not alone in their darkest hour,” said Police Chief Leon Krolikowski, himself a veteran. The public, veterans and emergency responders are invited to join the police at 2:45 p.m. on each of the next 21 remaining days for the initiative.