New Canaan Library

Recent Articles

‘It’s My Passion’: ‘Early Lingo’ Founder Returns to New Canaan with International Early Language Learning System

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Caryn Antonini grew up speaking foreign languages. The New Canaan High School graduate’s father ran an international division for his company and spoke different languages, “so I was always exposed to different languages and cultures,” the town resident recalled Friday morning. Fluent in French, Spanish, Italian and German (as well as English), Antonini continued her education at Georgetown University, where she studied children’s acquisition of language at the School of Language and Linguistics. Then, while in Europe on vacation and speaking to a friend of her husband’s, she was asked  why she wasn’t developing her own language program. The question stuck with her for the rest of the trip. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Business, Local Merchants, News, Caryn Antonini, Early Lingo, New Canaan Country School, New Canaan Library

‘Not Your Average Librarian’: Kayla Del Biondo Joins New Canaan Library Team

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New Canaan Library is one of the few town venues where each age group can find its niche. It holds a special place in many of New Canaan hearts and our newest librarian, Kayla Del Biondo, hopes it will do the same for her. Del Biondo graduated from Syracuse University last month with a master’s degree in Library Information, or an ‘MSLI.’

“When I was looking for a job, I applied to a little bit of everything,” Del Biondo said. “But what attracted me here was the digital services piece.”

Since her internship at the West Point Military Academy library where she helped form their digital collections of archived newspapers, she has taken interest to digital work. “What’s really cool about digital collections is that people from all over the country or world can access their information,” Del Biondo said. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town, Local People, News, IT Girl, kayla del biondo, New Canaan Library, SUNY Purchase, Syracuse University

Did You Hear … ?

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The owner of a commercial property in downtown New Canaan on Wednesday filed a lawsuit seeking $10,200 in back rent from a former tenant. According to the complaint, the plaintiff—ANCAR Inc., a company whose managing partners are Knapp Lane residents, according to Connecticut Secretary of the State records—is seeking two months’ rent due in March and April for a tenant at 149 Cherry St. at $4,600 per month and $1,000 owed for short payments amassed over the prior 10 months. The defendant is Devonshire Holdings LLC, owned by a Greenwich resident, state records show. ***

The New Canaan Fire Department had a very big turnout at the Katonah Fire Parade, as did the Mount Kisco Pipers. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town, News, Bankwell, Did You Hear, Elm Street Books, Kristi Carriero, New Canaan Fire Department, New Canaan Library

‘Lightened My Mood for the Day’: Popular ‘Goat Yoga’ Classes Come To New Canaan Library

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The dolphin, the eagle, the downward-facing dog, the extended puppy—yoga poses are full of animal references. On Wednesday afternoon, dozens of locals gathered on the lush green lawn of “Christine’s Garden”—the New Canaan Library property at the corner of South Avenue and Maple Street—to practice the popular discipline with baby goats. Organized through the library, “Goat Yoga”—led by a Hamden-based livestock rescue farm—sold out three sessions on a hot, sunny day in downtown New Canaan, two for teens and one for adults. “It’s an hourlong class with little goats running around, jumping on you, being obnoxious, eating your clothes or trying to, peeing on your mat, pooping on you,” Leah Hilton, co-owner of Nadeau Farm, said from outside a corral at Christine’s Garden while Tanya Sage led a class of smiling, laughing, photo-taking women practiced a “gentle” version of Eastern breathing and posing techniques inside it. Asked what the appeal of goat yoga is, Hilton said with a laugh, “That is the appeal.”

The working livestock farm has been in her husband’s family since 1939, Hilton said. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town, News, Dionna Carlson, Leah Hilton, Nadeau Farm, New Canaan Library

New Canaan Library Book Review: ‘Only Child’ by Rhiannon Navin

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[Editor’s Note: This is the first in a new monthly feature on NewCanaanite.com, a book review from Laura Cavers, the Readers Advisory at New Canaan Library, chosen specifically for our local readers. In her position, Cavers hears regularly from library patrons about what they like to read and makes recommendations based on individual tastes.]

Only Child, by Rhiannon Navin, is an astonishing gripping novel about a family and a community coping with the aftermath of a shooting at the town’s elementary school. I didn’t want to read this story – so much of this kind of tragedy is in the news, and Sandy Hook, not a far drive from New Canaan, is still very raw. However, I couldn’t put the book down. The young narrator is six-year-old Zach Taylor and his voice is calm, curious and even hopeful as he, his family and community work through grief and confusion. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town, News, Book Review, Laura Cavers, New Canaan Library, Only Child, Rhiannon Navin