By John Kriz
The New Canaan Exchange Club https://newcanaanexchangeclub.com held a ‘Day of Service’ on Saturday, the project being to support the New Canaan Land Trust https://newcanaanlandtrust.org by performing some heavy lifting at the NCLT’s Grupes House, its headquarters building on Valley Road, adjacent to its Browne Preserve.
“The Exchange Club was absolutely amazing – how hard the guys worked,” said Robin Bates-Mason, NCLT’s executive director.
NCLT is developing a pollinator garden at the site, and Exchange Club volunteers helped build up the soil for the garden, as well as haul large stones and construct a garden perimeter. Other tasks included moving equipment from the nearby barn to the house in preparation for the barn’s renovation, installing solar lights on walkways and building a coffee table.
“It was great to lend a helping hand to such an important organization in New Canaan as the Land Trust,” said Patrick Edmonds, one of the Exchange Club’s volunteers.
The Exchange Club is one of New Canaan’s largest civic groups, and in addition to various volunteer activities, it raises funds which are donated to local charities.
Keith Richey Bench
In addition, a wooden bench was dedicated to the late Keith Richey on Saturday at the Browne Preserve.
Mr. Richey, an attorney, passed away suddenly in May. A 30+ year New Canaan resident, he was an enthusiastic community volunteer, having been president of the New Canaan Exchange Club and of the Men’s Club, among other civic activities. In addition, Mr. Richey was chairman of the town’s Parking Commission for more than twenty years, and served on the Parks & Recreation Commission at the time of his passing.
Donations to New Canaan Land Trust were requested in lieu of flowers. Those donations more than covered the cost of the bench, which was placed where Mr. Richey would sit with his dogs during regular walks.
“He was a friend of the Land Trust, and did much for the town,” noted NCLT executive director Robin Bates-Mason.
