Government

Officials Seek Workable Site in Kiwanis Park for Proposed Open-Air Ice Rink

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Town officials said Tuesday they’re trying to identify just where in Kiwanis Park would be the best place for a proposed open-air ice rink. 

A leading contender for a seasonal rink site in New Canaan that would be open to the public with an admission charge, Kiwanis is attractive in that it has sufficiently large areas, parking, access to bathrooms, running water and electricity, and structures that could house changing areas, snack bar and skate shop, members of the Parks & Recreation Commission have said. Yet a level area out front of the main pavilion traditionally has been used by a local service organization for a large chunk of the late-November-through-February trial season that Parks & Rec has floated. 

And early cost estimates to level out an area behind the pavilion and install a retaining wall there appear cost-prohibitive, a group of town officials and community volunteers said during a meeting of a Parks & Rec subcommittee. It’s also unclear whether installing the ice rink deeper into the park—on the far side of the swimming hole—would create a sufficiently attractive and workable facility, officials said during the Parks & Rec skating subcommittee meeting. While excavation, fill, retaining wall construction and other costs would push the total expense for an ice rink located between the rear of the pavilion and swimming hole to an estimated $200,000 to $250,000, creating a facility out front of the building, where the Exchange Club of New Canaan in past years has set up its approximately month-long Christmas tree sale would be far less money, official said. Rona Siegel, chair of Parks & Rec, asked whether the club had ever looked at setting up its sale in the Waveny Pool parking lot instead. 

“It’s ideal,” Siegel said at the meeting, held in a conference room at Town Hall.

Around Town

‘A Really Nice Way to Be Outside Together’: Outdoor Movie Night at Waveny Returns Friday

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A little more than three years ago, town resident Jonathan Breen came up with the idea of hosting a family-friendly outdoor movie night at Waveny Park. 

“I’ve always loved the idea of having outdoor movies,” he told NewCanaanite.com. 

“I just reached out to the town and pitched them the idea,” he added. With the blessing of the Recreation Department, Breen said he reached out to a number of sponsors around town. Steve Karl, vicepresident of Sales at Karl Chevrolet—one of the event’s sponsors—said the project has been “a grassroots effort.” “It seemed like a great idea, and over the last few years that we’ve done it it’s really been a nice event,” he said. 

“We actually have a lot of fun,” Karl added, “because there’s a little popcorn stand and it really feels like you’re going to a movie, but it’s a different kind of venue because you’re outdoors.” This year’s free Outdoor Movie Night will take place this Friday, Aug.

Election 2019

Podcast: Town Council Candidate Steve Karl

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free weekly podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Steve Karl, a three-term incumbent on the Town Council who is seeking re-election to the legislative body. Following last month’s caucuses, Karl and his fellow Republican nominees—Mike Mauro, Maria Naughton and Cristina A. Ross—are entering a contested race versus Democratic nominees Robin Bates-Mason, Colm Dobbyn and Mark Grzymski. This week’s podcast is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, a favorite family dessert destination for New Canaanites. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Podcast: Here Comes the New Canaan Sidewalk Sale

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free weekly podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Tucker Murphy of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce and Steve Karl of Karl Chevrolet about the planning, activities and uniqueness of the Sidewalk Sale & Village Fair, which will be held Saturday. This week’s podcast is sponsored by Walter Stewart’s Market. Look for their signature Model T at Saturday’s Sidewalk Sale for special sales on Connecticut’s freshest local produce. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Government

‘It’s on the Horizon’: Town Council To Look at New Restrictions on Real Estate Signs

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Members of New Canaan’s legislative body said last week that the town is still looking at a proposed trial period banning real estate signs so that residents can have good first-hand information prior to deciding whether they want a permanent ban. The new language in New Canaan’s ordinances or Zoning Regulations could be wrapped into an updated policy that covers other types of commercial signs, such as for home services, members of the Town Council said at their June 19 meeting. During a future trial period, locals would be able to compare what New Canaan looks like with ‘for sale’ signs and without them “and the public can weigh in and say which they like better,” Councilman Steve Karl said at the elected body’s meeting, held in Town Hall. “What we are talking about so far would be a temporary experiment,” he said. Co-Chair of the Council’s Bylaws and Ordinances Committee, Karl said the group is seeking feedback from local Realtors, too.