Around Town

Q&A: New Canaan Library on ‘One Book New Canaan’ Selections 

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Since launching the town-wide reading project “One Book New Canaan” here five years ago, New Canaan Library has had scores of locals not only reading the same books but also participating in a wide variety of programs built around them. This year, aided by a committee, the library selected “Spare Parts” by Joshua Davis for its adult One Book New Canaan reading selection, and added a children’s selection, too (see below). We put some questions about this year’s books and programming to library Manager of Public Services Christle Chumney and Manager of Services to Families Cheryl Capitani. 

Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: “Spare Parts” is a work of nonfiction that touches on some timely topics. What should locals know about this book?

Around Town

SLIDESHOW: Guys, Dolls Celebrate Roaring ’20s at New Canaan Library’s Speakeasy

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Dozens of residents donned flapper dresses, boater hats and other 1920s-era garb Wednesday evening as part of New Canaan Library’s “speakeasy” in the Lamb Room. The latest in a series of One Book New Canaan events that will culminate Saturday with “The Murder and Booze Cabaret” at Powerhouse Theater, the speakeasy featured a live piano player, silent films on the screen up front and local merchants—many of them also getting into the spirit by donning Roaring Twenties costumes—lining the edges of the party, offering drinks and food to the guys and dolls who dropped in. “We are thrilled to have such a good turnout tonight at our speakeasy,” Community Engagement Coordinator said. “We’re especially pleased that all of the participants are either New Canaan residents, businesses or members of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. I think everybody is having a great time.”

It looked like it—see photo gallery above.

New Canaan Library

A Blast into Our Past! Library Launches 2nd Annual One Book New Canaan with Bill Bryson’s ‘One Summer: America, 1927’

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Clear your calendars for March! New Canaan Library announces a month-long slate of lively and informative events to celebrate its 2nd annual One Book New Canaan town wide read of Bill Bryson’s One Summer: America, 1927. New Canaan Library encourages everyone in town to get involved by reading and discussing this epic narrative by bestselling author Bill Bryson. One Summer: America, 1927 zeroes in on a single summer in history when America truly came of age as a nation. This was the heady time of Prohibition, Lucky Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, and Babe Ruth’s amazing 60 home run feat.

Around Town

Looking Back at Our Town: New Canaan in 1927

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An estimated 200 residents filed into the Lamb Room at New Canaan Library on Monday night for a presentation led by NewCanaanite.com contributing editor Terry Dinan, on New Canaan in 1927. New Canaan Library’s selection of “One Summer: America 1927” for a community-wide reading initiative will culminate this week with Wednesday’s speakeasy in the same Lamb Room and Saturday’s original play at the Powerhouse Theater. Terry, who writes the news site’s popular “0684-Old” local history feature, walked the crowd through a rapidly changing time in New Canaan’s history. The 1920’s saw New Canaan’s population jump by 40 percent, and important pieces of the town’s downtown and landscape took shape in the period. In 1927 itself, both Karl Chevrolet and New Canaan High School were founded, and the town marked locally much of what Bryson chronicled in his book, including Babe Ruth’s 60-home run feat and Charles Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic flight.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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More than 10 motorists who received parking tickets came to Thursday’s Parking Commission meeting to fight them, and a strange thing happened: Two of those in attendance who by chance sat down next to each other also learned they have the same last name. Michael Dooley on Feb. 11 received a ticket when his fiancée (Jessica, she was there too) punched in the wrong number on a space she in fact had paid for (the car is registered in his name) at Talmadge Hill Station lot. Edward Dooley one week later typed in the wrong space number on the Pay-by-phone app when he parked in the lot on the south side of the train station. Both Dooleys brought receipts to the hearing, and the commission voided their tickets.