‘A Shining Light Where Every Person Is Seen’: New Inclusive Playground Opens at Waveny

More than 50 New Canaan parents, kids, municipal government officials and parks and public works employees on Friday attended the formal opening of the new Waveny Playground. Gathered outside the roomy, inclusive play space near the Orchard Field on a clear, warm morning, the crowd heard from Parks & Recreation Director John Howe, Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo and First Selectman Dionna Carlson—a trio that cut a ceremonial ribbon before throngs of little kids funneled onto the playground’s Poured-In-Place rubber surface to climb, swing, slide and otherwise enjoy brand-new play structures. “As we celebrate the opening of this wonderful new playground, before we officially dedicate this space, I would like to thank everyone who played a role in bringing this project to fruition,” Howe said from a podium placed on the playground’s “donor walk” as passersby joined the large crowd.

He continued: “It took the efforts of many people over many years to turn an idea into what we see before us today. While there are many individuals deserving of recognition, I would like to take a moment to recognize someone whose vision, dedication, perseverance helped make this project a reality: our Superintendent of Parks, Ryan Restivo. This journey began nearly five years ago when Ryan— then a young member of our staff, attended one of the very first meetings to discuss the possibility of building a playground here at Waveny Park.

Canoe Hill Road Colonial Sells for $3 Million

The following property transfer(s) were recorded recently in the Town Clerk’s office. For more information about each property from the assessor, click on the street address.

June 4
202 Weed St. $2,075,000
Jeffrey Norman to Maria Farani de Azevedo

June 3
35 Canoe Hill Road
$3 million
John Bagshaw to Jack McGivney

June 2
71 St.

Did You Hear … ?

New Canaan Police at 12:32 p.m. Sunday received a report of a vehicle stolen from Ponus Ridge. The investigation is active.

Happy Pride Month. Show your support for our LGBT+ friends and neighbors with a New Canaan Pride sign. Email New Canaan’s Hilary Ormond for purchase and pickup details: hritter@gmail.com.

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On May 5, the Canaan Parish chapter of National Charity League gathered at the Roger Sherman Inn to celebrate a successful year of volunteering, leadership, learning and connection.

Superintendent: Saxe Undergoes 30 Minutes of ‘Sheltering In Place’ Wednesday Morning

Saxe Middle School underwent about 30 minutes of “sheltering in place” Wednesday morning after the Farm Road facility “received a non-credible, anonymous communication,” according to the superintendent of schools. The incident triggered “a brief safety protocol,” Dr. Bryan Luizzi said in an email sent around 11:30 a.m. to the New Canaan Public Schools community. “Following our established security procedures and operating out of an abundance of caution, administration immediately initiated a ‘shelter in place’ protocol for all students and staff in the building,” Luizzi said in the email. “The situation lasted for approximately 30 minutes before normal operations resumed.”

Under the district’s safety procedures, sheltering in place is triggered “when a problem occurs outside the school or a non-crisis event inside of the school (i.e. medical emergency).” When sheltering, all exterior doors are locked, no one is allowed in or out of the building and regular classroom instruction continues. The school day was “minimally interrupted, and students are safely continuing with their regular schedules,” Luizzi said.

Kathryn ‘Tinka’ Hawkins Goslee

Kathryn “Tinka” Hawkins Goslee passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026 after suffering a long debilitating illness. Raised in New Canaan, CT, Tinka was the middle child of 5. She lived a nice life in a few different places, ending up in Putnam Valley, NY with her 3 children. She then moved to Ocean Grove, NJ having lived there for the past 25 years.

Tinka is predeceased by her son, Christopher Wright and her siblings, Margaret (Rusty) Hawkins Quaintance, Heidi Hawkins LeVasseur, and Dewey Dellay. Tinka is survived by her husband, Alfred (John) Goslee, her daughter Stacy (Scott) Bennett, her son Todd Wright, her grandchildren Tara (Vinny) Engesser, Ryan Bennett, Noah Wright, Ella Wright, her great granddaughter Sydney Engesser and her brother John Hawkins.

Condolences may be offered online at www.elyfuneralhome.com.