New Canaan Necessities

Four New Canaan restaurants announced a novel competition, the “Iron Sommelier” that’s sure to challenge each restaurant’s wine professional and engage restaurant-goers. Carpe Diem, Harvest Supper, Roger Sherman Inn and Thali New Canaan have allied to foster a friendly competition among their sommeliers to determine the best wine pairing with the featured meal.

The competition will be comprised of four rounds, enabling each restaurant to host a tasting event. Each event will feature a three-course meal matched with the wine choices of the competing wine professionals. Best yet, participating customers will judge the selections, a total of twelve over the course of the evening, and vote for the wine that works best with each course. (Wine tastings will be presented anonymously so participants will not be able to identify which restaurant made the different wine choices). The first round will take place at the Roger Sherman Inn on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m.

As Nes Jaffre, co-owner of the Roger Sherman Inn, explained “We are thrilled to host the very first round of New Canaan’s Iron Sommelier Competition on March 7. It’s guaranteed to be a very special night at the Inn. This is the first time that four New Canaan restaurants have collaborated to create this kind of premier wine competition. Customers will have so much fun judging the wine choices while enjoying a great meal.”

Plus, a local philanthropy will benefit from the competition. Participants will have

Carpe Diem is one of four New Canaan restaurants prticipating in the "Iron Sommelier" competition.

the option to order their favorite wines from New Canaan Wine Merchants at each event, and 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the New Canaan Community Foundation. In addition, after each contest, New Canaan Wine Merchants will feature the winning wines in their retail store, enabling participants and other New Canaanites to enjoy the sommeliers’ selections at home. The competition will through April, culminating in the final event at Carpe Diem on April 25 when New Canaan’s Iron Sommelier will be determined. The prix fixe for each event including 3-course and 12 tastings is $80. For reservations to be a Judge March 7, starting at 7 p.m., call Roger Sherman Inn at 203-966-4541 or email info@rogershermaninn.com.

A potential 16-unit townhouse complex on Jelliff Mill Road near the Noroton River will be the subject of a special public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission tonight.

At a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Jan. 24, the crowd filled the town hall auditorium to the brim prompting Chairman Lazlo Papp to postpone public comment to another special hearing specific to the Jelliff Mill development.

He advised all residents to come up with specific input and concerns they have and to appoint one speaker for groups if they have similar sentiments in order to save time.

The public is invited to enjoy Feb. 29, the extra night of the year, at a “Leap Into Action” social event featuring dinner by the bite and entertaining political commentary from Patricia Russo, President of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale and a New Canaan resident. The event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at Waveny House from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

For over twenty-five years, Patti Russo has been a social activist and has held numerous leadership positions in public, private and not for profit sector arenas centered on women’s rights. In addition, she has been actively involved at all levels of federal, state and local political campaigns.

As President of the Women’s Campaign School, Ms. Russo seeks to change the fact that women are under-represented on all levels of public service regardless of political affiliation. The Women’s Campaign School at Yale – a non-profit organization founded in 1993 – targets talented, committed women who are looking to make a difference. The Campaign School offers women the opportunity to gain the confidence and the know-how to run for office, manage a campaign or in some other key way – influence public policy.

Ms. Russo also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Commissions for Women Foundation based in Washington, DC; as Vice President of the Board of the Foundation for Connecticut Women; and, the Advisory Council of Women’s Health Research at Yale. She is commissioner emerita for the CT Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, and recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Tickets may be purchased for $50 per person in advance online at www.newcanaandems.info or by check made payable to NCDTC and mailed to PO Box 1294, New Canaan, CT 06840. Tickets will also be available at the door for $60 per person. For further information, contact 203-832-2609.

The Town of New Canaan Clean Your Mile Committee is looking for a new community agency to volunteer time to help coordinate the annual Clean Your Mile effort. For the past several years The New Canaan Garden Club has helped the town organize and facilitate the planning and recruitment of volunteers. Any individuals or agencies interested should contact Catharine Sturgess at 203-966-2747 to learn about the volunteer position and time commitment. Clean Your Mile meetings will start mid-February and conclude by mid-April. Those interested are also welcome to attend the committee planning sessions to learn more. Please email Kathleen Holland at Kathleen.holland@newcanaanct.org to be included on email list.

Preparations for New Canaan CARES 20th Annual Kitchen and Home Tour are well underway. This year’s tour will be held Thursday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature some of the most beautiful kitchens and homes in New Canaan, according to event chair Joni Schaefer. “We are fortunate to have such a wonderful array of properties and design elements on the tour this year,” Schaefer said.

Tour homes range from new construction to thoughtful renovations and represent the pinnacle in quality construction and design. While each home exudes a unique personality, the tour houses collectively illustrate that creative designs can help maximize family living spaces. Some specific trends to watch for include the evolution of living rooms into adult family rooms, still elegant, but used more frequently; the addition of porches and pergolas to extend living spaces outdoors, and the incorporation of creative cabinetry and specialized appliances to maximize kitchen functionality.

As CARES’ largest fundraiser, the tour is vital to CARES’ mission of advancing the health and well-being of youth and families. “The Annual Kitchen and Home Tour is the foundation of our charitable work in the community,” adds Doreen Conley, CARES Board President. “As a nonprofit organization, we absolutely depend on this event to help support our programming objectives.”

This past year, New Canaan CARES impacted over 2,200 youth and over 2,400 parents with more than 100 programs. CARES programs encompass three core areas: health promotion, parenting skills and leadership training and are delivered through classroom instruction, after-school workshops, and youth and adult group presentations. All CARES programs are offered free of charge to the community.

Tour tickets go on sale the week of March 12 through the CARES website. For more information, contact New Canaan CARES at 966-7862 or www.newcanaancares.org.

Brandman’s Paint and Decorating Center at 38 East Avenue closed its doors after 105 year’s of service to New Canaan.
“After 105 years, Brandman’s is forced to close the doors,” the sign on the door says. “We would like to thank the community for all their support over the years.”

After 105 years, the paint shop shuts down.

According to a press release from Democratic senate hopeful William Tong, opponents Susan Bysciewicz and Chris Murphy have agreed to hold a debate March 3 at the Norwich Free Academy sponsored by the Norwich Bulletin.

Tong, a state representative of the 147th district, originally challenged his opponents to a series of six debates more than a week ago before they finally agreed to give it a shot with this first one in Norwich.

“I look forward to traveling the state with Susan and Chris in order to explain to voters why I’m best suited to represent Connecticut in the United States Senate,” Tong, who represents north Stamford and a part of New Canaan, said in the release.

“Connecticut has a choice in this election. There are three candidates with very different life, professional, and legislative experiences, and voters deserve a chance to hear us explain why we want to represent them in the U.S. Senate. They deserve to hear how we plan to help this state and this country back onto the road to economic recovery. We can’t afford to allow Washington — and, frankly, Senators from other states — make this decision for us.”

A temporary Town Council subcommittee charged with reviewing the Lakeview Avenue Bridge arbitration report will meet in Town Hall tonight for a special meeting at 6:15 p.m.

According to the agenda posted on the town’s website, the subcommittee will “discuss the process for a review of the Lakeview Avenue Bridge Arbitration Subcommittee’s report in order to recommend actionable changes to the Town Council as the Temporary Subcommittee deems necessary”