West Norwalk Wanderings

What makes West Norwalk so special?

Let’s hear from all you West Norwalkers!

Could it be the beautiful Five Mile River? Oak Hills Park? The walking trails at Dolce?

I enjoy the fact that I truly like all of my neighbors; it is great to be close to both I95 and the Merritt Parkway and yet live in a park-like setting. We are close to all the shopping necessities on Connecticut Avenue, and the restaurants and coffee shops in the area (that’s Starbucks, right Gay ). It is a quick trip to New Canaan or Darien for the specialty shops they have to offer.

So, West Norwalkers, Please tell us why you enjoy living here.
We also would be interested in hearing what are the challenges. We welcome utilizing this blog as a forum for change.

Speak up West Norwalk.

Have a Wonderful Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa celebration.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year, Peace.

Last Wednesday night, December 7th was the West Norwalk Association’s Annual Holiday party at the Dolce conference center.
The night was particularly nasty with stormy rain, thunder and loss of power for some areas.. However people did venture out to our
festivities. The WNA appreciated the effort and the bidding on the silent auction and buying of raffle tickets. The big winner of the raffle tickets was celebrating his birthday that night, and a wad of cash helped to make it special!
 
For those that could not come, stay tuned for our next big event in the early Spring (see details down the road). Visit our WNA website www.westnorwalk.org  to learn more about our other ongoing programs.
 
 We are all about  giving and helping all year long

Seasons Greetings West Norwalkers:

As the weeks come closer to key holidays, we are all running around trying to get chores such as, gift buying, cooking food, house decorating, home cleaning, final leaf clearing, and holiday cards (e-cards or traditional) all done , so we can then relax and enjoy the festive time period… or are we enjoying the festive time period?  During my usual jam packed weekend of squeezing everything in, I wondered when is the time to relax and enjoy this period? Does it fall on one day or one hour? Or am I missing the boat all together or rather the spirit? Am I alone in thinking this way?  Maybe… Let me hear from you … During the next few weeks, let me know when and how long you are relaxing and enjoying the holiday days… (it can be as simple as buying hot chocolate at Starbucks with your family) which by the way is on my list to do one weekend…Maybe we need to hear about simple pleasures to remind us of the spirit of the holidays and not get caught up in the mad rush…

 Looking forward to your feedback, meanwhile, let’s kick off the season with these fun events below: 

  Please note the following Holiday Festivities going on in West Norwalk this week!

 DEC. 7th WNA Annual Holiday Party at Dolce at 6:00 PM 

 Come enjoy the food, mingle with neighbors, meet the board members,and enter to win a cash prize, and silent auction for a picnic basket and gourmet food basket.

 DEC. 11th West Norwalk Meeting House Holiday Concert at  3:00 PM.

 Come listen to a mix of classical holiday music featuring the Harbor Winds Woodwind Quintet and a holiday sing along. The West Norwalk Meeting House is located at 168 West Norwalk Road. Free admission and  simple refreshments.

Welcome to West Norwalk Wanderings!

I hope your Thanksgiving was enjoyable.

There have been some interesting discussions concerning one of the “gems” of West Norwalk, Oak Hills Park. Budgetary restraints are requiring the Oak Hills Golf Authority to close the golf course for the winter. After a meeting of the minds of the Oak Hill Golf Authority, it was announced recently that they will allow the park to be used during the winter. This means the course will be officially closed, but will be available for golfing for free, sledding and cross country skiing after the snow falls and of course walking on the cart paths.
How do we continue to support the park?
Send us your ideas.
Do you have interesting facts to share about West Norwalk? We would love to put those facts and memories on this blog. Please let us know of events that you would like to share with the West Norwalk community. We look forward to hearing from you!
Have a great day!
Interesting fact: The West Norwalk Association was incorporated in 1947 and has been continually active since then.
Mark your calendars for the Annual West Norwalk Association Holiday Party! This is a great way to meet your neighbors!
From the West Norwalk Association website: www.westnorwalk.org

From the Five Mile River Watershed blog site: http://fivemileriverwatershedplanning.blogspot.com/
Meeting – Wednesday November 30, 2011 at Lapham Community Center in New Canaan, CT
Phase II of the Watershed-Based Planning Process for the Saugatuck, Five Mile, and Mianus Rivers will begin with a stakeholders workshop on November 30, 2011 in the Douglas Room of the Lapham Community Center in New Canaan from 6:30-8:30pm. The Center is located at 663 South Avenue, New Canaan in Waveny Park (the stone house beyond the swimming pool). Directions are available at: http://www.laphamcenter.org/welcome_directions.pdf.
This workshop represents the next step in developing final watershed-based plans for each watershed. The focus of the workshop will be to review and discuss the preliminary recommendations included in the draft plans and to get the community’s feedback on additional project concepts for the final plans

Ken and I are both residents of West Norwalk, and have lived here with our respective families for ten plus years.
We will be co-writers of the blog. Our goal for the blog will be to discuss timely issues, current events, and
topics with residents. We hope to inspire, and stimulate engagement from all citizens and welcome feedback
and thoughts for all subjects.

As we begin our first blog, we would like to reflect that as the final leaves of fall belatedly hit the ground this year, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. A time to remember and appreciate all that we have and to think of others less fortunate. In our fair city of Norwalk, we have a place for the less fortunate to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. The Norwalk Emergency Shelter is open Thanksgiving and all of the rest of the days of the year.

They serve 3 meals a day and offer food to over 12,000 residents per month. This holiday stop by to drop off canned goods or sign up to volunteer to work (they have flexible days and hours) or just wish our neighbors and friends a Happy Thanksgiving and let them know we are thinking of them.

Norwalk Emergency Shelter (Manna House of Hospitality)
4 Merritt Street
Norwalk, CT.
203. 866.1057

http://www.norwalkemergencyshelter.org/

Both Ken and I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgivings!

Gay MacLeod and Ken D’Arinzo