If you’re looking for family fun this summer, consider visiting one of this state’s many living museums celebrating our state’s rail heritage. And remember — kids get in free at Connecticut museums this summer! The Shore Line Trolley Museum
This museum in East Haven was founded in 1945 and now boasts more than 100 trolley cars in its collection. It’s on the National Registry and is the oldest continuously operating suburban trolley line in the U.S.
The museum is still running excursion trolleys for a three-mile run on tracks once used by The Connecticut Company for its “F Line” from New Haven to Branford. You can also walk through the car barns and watch volunteers painstakingly restoring the old cars.
Janice (Anderson) Brissette, 94, passed away on July 21 at Stamford Hospital. The only child of the late Loretta and William Anderson, she was born in Rockford, Illinois on June 9, 1928, and grew up in a close-knit Swedish American community. Jan graduated in 1945 from Rockford High School, where she met the love of her life, Richard Stacey Brissette. They were married on June 24, 1950 and moved to Massachusetts, where Dick attended college. Their first child, William, was born in Lowell, and their next two children, John and Roberta (Robin) were born in Westwood, New Jersey, as Dick began his career with Union Carbide.
There are still openings for a free, 90-minute women’s self-defense class on Wednesday, Aug. 10, taught in the Darien Library Community Room by Elliot Leung, founder of Club Kung Fu in Stamford. — an announcement from Darien Library
The goal of the self-defense class is to teach the student basic striking techniques and escape tactics from everyday situational threats. The student will learn how to effectively use her hands, elbows, and knees to convince an aggressor that she is not a target. Additionally, the student will learn how to dissolve and escape from various grabs and chokes.
Nature is alive at the Noroton Heights train station. There are fresh new plantings of native shrubs and plants with fragrant blossoms attracting bees, butterflies and birds. — an announcement from The Commuter Action Group
The new plantings are the work of Darien’s Beautification Commission and a grant from The Commuter Action Group, a rider advocacy group founded by Darien’s Jim Cameron. “Commuters deserve a break,” Cameron said. “I’m so glad we can bring a little beauty into their time at the train station.
Richard A. Alicandro, a lifelong resident of Darien, passed away on Thursday, July 28, at Stamford Hospital. He was 84. Richard was the youngest of 10 children, born on May 26, 1938, to the late Josephine and Bernardino Alicandro. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carole (Olsson) Alicandro; his a son, Richard Jr. (Rick), and Rick’s wife, Carolyn; and two grandchildren, Rebecca and Victoria. He is also survived by two sisters, Ida Henry and Lee Heitz, both of whom reside in Florida.
New York Times-bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid will speak in October at Darien Library’ seventh annual Novel Tea fundraiser at Wee Burn Country Club. — an announcement from Darien Library
Reid is the author of Daisy Jones and the Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Her upcoming book, Carrie Soto Is Back, is arriving this month. Copies of that book will be available for purchase courtesy of Barrett Bookstore. The event will also include a silent auction with “exclusive items.”
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tom J. Geraghty on June 26 from complications of kidney cancer. He was 79. Tom was born on Oct. 19, 1942 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the oldest of seven children. During his youth, his family moved to Cleveland and afterward ended up in Palatine, Illinois.
Luke Walter Kostrzewski, formerly of Darien, passed away unexpectedly on July 19 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was 25. Luke was born on Nov. 26, 1996 in Stamford and was a graduate of Darien High School, Class of 2015. He went on to graduate from the College of Charleston in 2021 and was looking forward to continuing his education.
To the editor:Jayme Stevenson, a Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District in the primary on Tuesday, Aug. 9, is our best chance to have a voice in Washington on what matters most to us. Jayme led Darien for 10 years in a way that made her name synonymous with expertise. In her role as first selectman of Darien, Jayme extended her hand to helping Connecticut towns like ours through her leadership role with the Connecticut Council of Municipalities. As chairman of Western Council of Governments, Jayme showed she can work with small towns and big cities on regional issues. As a candidate for lieutenant governor a few years ago, Jayme became well known in state politics.As a candidate for U.S. Congress, Jayme is continuing her roles as a strong proponent of Darien and Fairfield County, and as a practical, hard working, and dedicated representative of core values that make our country the true leader of the free world.Jayme is a great candidate we can all support, and she can win. Join me in supporting Jayme for U.S. Congress. Sincerely,Monica McNallyEditor’s note: Monica McNally is Darien’s current first selectman.
Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who has called Darien home for more than 25 years. She has been involved in many local organizations. She can be reached at 203-554-0897 or deirdre.mcgovern@cbrealty.com. More information here.
Connecticut needs a winner, and we’ve got one in Jayme Stevenson. Jayme Stevenson’s stellar track record should leave no doubt as to how she will perform on Capitol Hill. Astute Connecticut residents realize that corruption in D.C. has hit historic and unprecedented levels. The next generation of policymakers will need to be strong leaders, who espouse what is best for Connecticut and the country and who are willing to fight until they win. Lucky for us, Connecticut has a winner — Jayme Stevenson.
The MTA, parent of Metro-North, did something rare last week: They told us the unvarnished truth. Not that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has outright lied to us before. Well, at least not very often. But they are the masters of obfuscation and garbled communication. Consider these gems:
Martha Cherry (“Martie”) Fiske, a pioneering teacher and spirit, died in her Weston home on July 21, 2022, with her husband at her side. She was 86. She was born in Albany, New York, on Jan. 16, 1936, the daughter of Harold Schwarz Cherry and Catherine Field Cherry. She grew up in Darien, where she met her future husband, John Adams Fiske, in seventh grade.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton real estate from July 21 to 28, 2022:
THIS WEEK’S DARIEN HIGHLIGHTS
9 New-To-Market Listings2 Price Reductions8 Accepted Offers10 Closed Sales17 Open Houses
THIS WEEK’S ROWAYTON HIGHLIGHTS
1 New-To-Market Listing0 Price Reductions4 Accepted Offers1 Closed Sale0 Open Houses
New Listings
35 Old Farm Road, Darien | $1,150,00093 Holmes Ave., Darien | $1,200,5268 Timber Lane, Darien | $1,745,00046 Sunswyck Road, Darien | $1,795,00036 Pleasant St., Darien [PICTURED] | $1,799,00011 Highfield Lane, Darien | $2,149,00029 Highview Road, Darien | $2,150,0002 Turnabout Lane, Darien | $2,200,0000 Long Neck Point Road, Darien | $85,000,00021 Crockett St., Rowayton | $2,995,000
Price Changes
27 Shields Road, Darien | $2,195,000 / $2,175,000152 Goodwives River Road, Darien | $2,750,000 $2,600,000
Accepted Offers
30 Lake Drive, Darien | $799,00020 Joseph St., Darien | $850,0002216 Boston Post Road, Darien | $950,000135 Raymond St., Darien | $1,225,000220 Tokeneke Road, Darien | $1,375,00039 Fitch Ave., Darien | $1,700,00059 Five Mile River Road, Darien | $3,349,000115 Christie Hill Road, Darien | $3,950,00016 Ledge Road, Rowayton | $695,0007 Drum Road, Rowayton | $1,499,000371 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton | $1,795,00018 Covewood Drive, Rowayton | $2,195,000
Title Passed / Sold
27 Brookside Drive, Darien | $895,000 / $925,00064 Camp Ave., Darien | $1,300,000 / $1,275,00025 Raymond St., Darien | $1,195,000 / $1,421,00093 Raymond St., Darien | $1,799,000 / $1,800,00060 Kensett Lane, Darien | $2,490,000 / $2,350,00033 Highfield Lane, Darien | $2,450,000 / $2,735,0008 East Trail, Darien | $2,985,000 / $2,800,00011 Arrowhead Way, Darien | $2,590,000 / $2,825,0006 Outlook Drive, Darien | $3,349,000 / $3,600,00016 Half Mile Road, Darien | $3,799,000 / $3,750,0008 Roton Ave., Rowayton | $825,000 / $735,000
Open Houses
152 Goodwives River Road, Darien | Saturday | 12 noon to 2 p.m.108 Leeuwarden Road, Darien | Saturday | 1 to 4 p.m.8 Timber Lane, Darien | Saturday | 2 to 4 p.m.22 Wakemore St., Darien | Saturday | 2 to 4 p.m.46 Sunswyck Road, Darien | Saturday & Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.36 Pleasant St., Darien [PICTURED] | Sunday | 12 noon to 2 p.m.6 Warner Drive, Darien | Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.96 Leroy Ave., Darien | Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.93 Holmes Ave. Darien | Sunday | 1 to 4 p.m.121 West Ave., Darien | Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.71 Hale Lane, Darien | Sunday| 1 to 3 p.m.18 Camp Ave., Darien | Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.108 Leeuwarden Road, Darien | Sunday | 12 noon to 3 p.m.27 Shields Road, Darien | Sunday | 2 to 4 p.m.8 Timber Lane, Darien | Sunday | 1 to 3 p.m.541 Hoyt St., Darien | Sunday | 1 to 4 p.m.
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Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who has called Darien home for more than 25 years. She has been involved in many local organizations. She can be reached at 203-554-0897 or deirdre.mcgovern@cbrealty.com. More information here.
James Ryan Morrison died Nov. 14, 2021 in Spokane, Washington, with son Jameson and carers Samantha and Syvanna at his side. It was one day after his 97th birthday and three nights after polishing off a whopping great slab of apple pie before going to sleep. He was born Nov. 13, 1924 in Pawling, New York during the Coolidge Administration.