Around Town

New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Adds Eight Directors

By |

The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of eight new members to its Board of Directors as well the creation of a new, dedicated board composed of past chamber presidents that will help oversee the organization’s charitable foundation. Nimble, engaged and innovative, the new chamber directors form an exciting group of business and organization leaders in town, according to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the chamber. “Our mission is ‘connecting community with commerce,’ and we kept those four words very much top of mind in putting together this board,” Murphy said. “Our new directors not only represent successful local businesses stories—they’re also deeply involved in our town. Beyond participating in chamber events such as the Sidewalk Sales, Holiday Stroll and Taste of the Town, they actively fundraise for community agencies, volunteer with service organizations and connect with each other for their mutual benefit.”

The newly appointed directors each have started serving a 3-year term, and they are:

David E. Hoyle Esq.—Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance
Lisa Oldham—New Canaan Library
Mamoune Tazi—Le Boudoir
Anna Simons—New Canaan Pediatric Dentistry
Michael Dinan—NewCanaanite.com
Ben & Elaine Young—New Canaan Dance Academy
Sara Koch—Oxygen Fitness
Kinsey Ferguson—Vineyard Vines

Helping to acclimate them are three current directors who now form a new executive committee for the chamber: Steve Risbridger of Reynolds & Rowella is president, Tom Stadler of the Town of New Canaan First Selectman’s Office is treasurer and HamletHub’s Rachel Lampen is secretary.

Around Town

‘Pretty Good Doggone Show’: Waveny Fireworks Revenue Up $20,000

By |

Final figures from the New Canaan Family Fourth show a year-over-year increase of $20,000 in revenue—a figure that covers losses from the prior year and puts the volunteer-run event on solid footing, officials say. Anchored by the Waveny fireworks, the popular gathering garnered around $75,000, according to Tom Stadler, who serves as chairman of the Family Fourth Committee. A combination of rising costs the prior year—due mainly to police seeking straight pay instead of a comp day in 2014 (an $18,000 cost)—and a drop in family passes, had put the Family Fourth fund in a precarious state, prompting Stadler and the committee to push for greater community support. This year, Stadler said, all but three police opted to “bank” the day, which helped control costs, and greater numbers of residents seem to have purchased passes at $35—up from $30, Stadler said. “Right now I feel very good about [the health of the fund],” Stadler said.

News

Letter: ‘Thank You’ for Supporting the New Canaan Family Fourth at Waveny

By |

On behalf of the Family Fourth Committee, I would like to thank all who supported the 35th Annual New Canaan Family Fourth Celebration at Waveny Park by purchasing an entrance pass and attending this Independence Day celebration. All week the weather forecast presented a challenge for us, but we ended up with a beautiful day and clear skies. The fireworks show was spectacular. It was another memorable 4th of July celebration……an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display. Your financial support makes this great New Canaan tradition possible; whether you drove in or walked in, thank you for buying an entrance pass.

Around Town

New Canaan Family Fourth at Waveny [PHOTOS]

By |

Despite a little rain in the morning, the New Canaan Family Fourth came off in fine style on Saturday, as thousands of town and nearby residents unwound and socialized around picnicking, relaxing, reading, eating, drinking and otherwise enjoying one of the community’s most cherished annual traditions. With plenty of help from New Canaan Police Department officers and Community Emergency Response Team volunteers, residents found their way to open areas on the grass running away from Waveny House overlooking the corner by the old mulch pile on Lapham Road where the fireworks fly to mark Independence Day in New Canaan. While small children enjoyed inflatable bouncers, others bought refreshments from the Exchange Club or Garelick & Herbs, interacted with NCPD officers, NCVAC EMTs and other emergency responders and got comfortable for an always-impressive show. The Family Fourth is funded entirely through the sale of passes ($35) and generous donations. After a shortfall of about $15,000 last year hit the self-sustaining fund that puts on the event, the committee that oversees the Family Fourth called for more residents to purchase passes and support the show. Through Tuesday, some $48,742 in passes and donations had been collected, against an estimated expense line of about $70,000, officials said.

Around Town

$24,000 in Entrance Passes for Waveny Fireworks Sold So Far; Safety Tips

By |

Though online sales for passes to the Waveny Fireworks once again are showing increases year-over-year, the volunteer committee that runs the event is urging more residents to purchase the passes so that the Family Fourth may remain financially viable. Through Monday, $24,100 in entrance passes had been sold, against expenses for last summer’s event of about $70,000, according to Tom Stadler of the Family Fourth Committee. The group reported at its July 16 meeting that to-date overall sales had nearly doubled, and that a handful of residents had made very generous donations above-and-beyond the baseline $35 fee for a pass in order to support the Family Fourth, a cherished New Canaan tradition (tickets are available here for this year’s fireworks, to be held on Saturday, July 4). Even so, a misonception that the event is supported by the town (it isn’t, the Family Fourth fund is entirely standalone) still prevails. Plans are underway to launch social and online media campaigns to drum up support for the event and to hand out a flyer to residents who walk into Waveny on the day, encouraging them to support the fireworks through a donation to the fund.